"Go now, return to your training."
Dugu Shuo waved his hand.
"Yes, Father." Dugu Feng bowed and quickly left the ancestral hall.
Inside his dantian, the Pill Pearl was trembling violently.
With the awakening of his martial soul, soul power surged through his meridians at incredible speed. Threads of it streamed directly into the pearl.
The egg-sized pearl shook uncontrollably.
Just as he was about to reach his room, his vision blurred.
Another pearl appeared beside the first.
The two were identical in size.
But the energy within had dropped to a third, its quality far denser than before.
Dugu Feng's mind buzzed. So this was how the Pill Pearl evolved after being filled.
Would it eventually become two, then four, then eight?
With multiple pearls, what fear did he need to have of poison outbreaks?
I'll create pearls endlessly…
He laughed inwardly.
The pearls could even control others. Didn't Dugu Bo once use his to control Tang San?
Heh, this will be fun.
He entered his room and sat cross-legged to cultivate soul power.
Old Snake had long since taught him the method. With innate full soul power, his energy was on the verge of overflowing, making it easy to sense.
When he focused his mind on his martial soul, the energy flowed naturally through his meridians.
Strands of heaven and earth's vitality seeped into him, strengthening his inner flow.
Perhaps because of the Pill Pearl's nurturing, his meridians were firm and unyielding, even the smallest channels fully open.
His circulation was smooth.
Every cycle of energy increased his soul power slightly, but all of it was drawn away by the two pearls.
With innate full soul power, he could only truly advance after obtaining a soul ring.
For now, all his cultivation went to feed the pearls.
Eventually, fatigue set into his meridians. He quickly stopped.
Better to hold back than overreach.
The pearls showed little visible growth, but the energy inside was now sharper, more refined.
To fill them again would take time.
He rose and walked to the training ground.
His father had given him one month to adapt to soul power circulation.
It was not only for cultivation, but also for battle.
In combat, soul power flowed at its fastest.
Though he had no ring yet, even raw soul power could increase his attack strength.
"Young Master, take this."
A figure leapt down from the treetop.
Little Snake, of course.
In his hand was a short sword, which he passed to Dugu Feng.
Dugu Feng blinked in surprise. He hadn't sensed a thing.
He was now at rank ten, his senses sharpened by the Pill Pearl, yet he hadn't noticed Little Snake at all.
That meant he had hidden with no breath, no heat. Truly a natural-born assassin.
He accepted the sword. It was tiny, only three fingers wide, just over six inches long, the hilt barely the length of his forearm.
"This will train your soul power control. Infuse your energy into it and strike," Little Snake said seriously.
Dugu Feng understood.
They moved before an ancient tree, its trunk scarred with countless cuts. Clearly, it had been used for sword training many times.
"There is only one sword technique we need—Serpent Belly Strike.
Inspired by the way a snake's belly presses against the ground as it springs forward.
The blade doesn't need to hit with great force. Just pierce the skin, and poison will do the rest."
As he spoke, a similar sword appeared in Little Snake's hand.
His body flickered, and in a flash, a white mark appeared on the tree. He had already retreated several steps.
"One strike, then withdraw. Let the poison finish them. Never let a dying enemy drag you down."
His eyes were cold, as though the tree before him were a living foe.
Attack with the blade, but the true killing blow came from venom.
Dugu Feng gripped his own sword, channeling soul power into it until the blade shimmered.
In his mind, he pictured the movements of the Jade Phosphor Serpent.
The serpent raised its head, body coiling and springing, belly scraping the ground. Each bounce carried explosive speed.
With a single flash, it would strike, sink its fangs, and the prey would be finished.
"Crack!"
His sword struck. Pain jolted up his arm, forcing him back.
He had forgotten to release the force.
The Serpent Belly Strike required retreat with the blow, borrowing momentum to withdraw.
He tried again, and this time it was smoother.
His soul power coursed rapidly, making his body quick and responsive. With his mind guiding each muscle, the training felt almost natural.
During battle, his circulation doubled in speed.
Normally, his power flowed like a gentle river. But in combat, it roared like a raging flood.
"Your speed… too fast. Is your body stronger than mine?" Little Snake's eyes widened.
He rarely spoke so much, unless truly shocked.
Dugu Feng was taller and broader, his bloodline giving him the physique of a warrior.
Little Snake's small frame made him ideal for assassination. He had always believed his hardened bones, toughened meridians, and years of training gave him the edge.
But watching Dugu Feng, his confidence wavered.
How could he know the boy's body was nurtured by the Pill Pearl—a treasure only Title Douluo could form.
For a six-year-old, the effect was immeasurable.
Dugu Feng kept his face calm and mysterious. He owed no explanations.
Outside the training ground, Dugu Shuo observed quietly.
"You killed so many by your birth, yet you are no ordinary child.
To endure two years of venom from age four to six… your talent surpasses all.
Innate full soul power. As long as you live, you will reach Title Douluo without obstruction.
But this world grows restless. Survival is no easy thing.
Next year brings the competition of the six great clans. Everyone covets the fat meat left behind by Clear Sky Sect. We will see who has the teeth to bite it.
Feng'er, you will shine brightly."
A dark, cold smile curved across his face.