The glow of Ye Qingxin's Nine-Heart Begonia flowed endlessly, his healing light powerful and steady.
The stronger it looked, the heavier Dugu Feng's heart became.
For a Soul Sage to treat with such effort—just how badly was Old Scorpion hurt?
From the outside, the man looked pale but uninjured. The wound must be internal.
"Old Scorpion's fifth soul skill is Burrow. He must have been struck underground. The shock traveled through the earth and shattered his organs.
To wound him like this, the attacker had to be at least Soul Sage level."
Old Snake's voice entered Dugu Feng's ear, low and grim.
Dugu Feng's thoughts turned to the continent's state.
Tang Hao's ambush of Qian Xunji had happened six years ago, around the time of his birth. That meant his age was almost the same as Tang San's.
After that came Bibi Dong's rise to Pope, followed by the Haotian Sect's retreat.
The storm had quieted on the surface.
But power had already shifted. Behind the scenes, every faction would be maneuvering to claim a new balance.
Bibi Dong was ambitious, cunning, and ruthless. After so many years, she had surely pushed her influence deep into both empires and the major sects.
In such a climate, even the Dugu clan could not stand apart.
And now—was Old Scorpion's injury tied to all this?
At last, Ye Qingxin withdrew his martial soul.
"The injuries are stabilized," he said calmly, though sweat shone on his brow. "But to restore his organs completely, I will need at least three more treatments."
Exhaustion lined his features. Ye Lingling rushed to support him.
"Thank you, Brother Ye," Dugu Shuo said heavily.
"You and I are beyond such words." Ye Qingxin waved him off, then turned to Dugu Feng. Surprise flickered across his refined face. "So this is Feng'er? It has been years, and already you've grown this tall."
"Greetings, Clan Leader Ye." Dugu Feng bowed properly.
"No need for formality. Call me Uncle Ye."
Dugu Feng blinked. That would put him a generation above Ye Lingling?
He quickly obeyed. "This nephew greets Uncle Ye."
Ye Qingxin smiled faintly. "You will soon enter Heaven Dou Academy. Lingling still has a year left there. Look after each other."
"Yes, Uncle Ye." Dugu Feng's reply was steady. Out of the corner of his eye, he glanced at Ye Lingling. She remained calm, as if unaffected.
Ye Qingxin turned back to Dugu Shuo. "I won't stay longer. Times are restless, Brother Dugu. Be cautious."
"I understand."
After sending the two away, Dugu Shuo returned to the hall.
Old Scorpion had regained some color. Slowly, he opened his eyes. "It was definitely Huyan Lie." (T/N : Not Huyan Li. It is Huyan Lie. Part of same clan but different guy.)
A name Dugu Feng didn't know. But he recognized the surname. The Elephant Armored Sect had Huyan Zhen. Could this Huyan Lie be his kin?
"Huyan Zhen is only a Soul Douluo. For Huyan Lie to dare strike you…" Old Snake's voice was like ice.
"Then the Elephant Armored Sect must be plotting something. Old Scorpion, at the recent Six Families Council, did they show any irregularities?"
Dugu Shuo's eyes were cold. Then he turned to Dugu Feng.
"Feng'er, now that your martial soul has awakened, you must begin to understand clan affairs.
The Great Spirit Arena is more than a place of duels. It is the very balance that keeps the soul master world in order.
Seven families control it—seven powers. We are one of them.
Six years ago, after the Clear Sky Sect retreated, the Yu family, their representatives, were expelled from the council.
That share of profit is immense. The Arena is richer than kingdoms, earning gold by the day. Even one slice is worth fighting for.
The other six fought bitterly, but the compromise was to divide it equally, each taking turns.
Old Scorpion was sent to collect our half-year share. That is when he was ambushed."
Dugu Feng's mind reeled.
The Great Spirit Arena—every city had one. Soul masters fought, crowds filled the stands, tickets and gambling flowed like rivers of gold.
And the Dugu clan was one of its masters.
But more shocking was his father's words.
The Arena was not merely for profit. It was the battlefield of the soul master world, the court where disputes were settled through combat. It replaced law itself.
"What about the other six powers?" Dugu Feng asked carefully.
"The Ge family of Heaven Dou. The Five Elements Alliance. The Zhu family of Star Luo. The Tuoba family. The Dai family. And the expelled Yu family."
Dugu Shuo's voice was patient, as if teaching a lesson.
Dugu Feng frowned. Something felt off. "The Arena doesn't belong to the empires or Spirit Hall. Why is the Dai family counted among them?"
Old Snake chuckled. "Because there are two Dai. One is the Star Luo royal line. The other is the White Tiger Sect. They are tied, but not one.
The Ge family is loyal to Heaven Dou's emperor. The Arena looks neutral, but behind every family stands an empire or a sect.
Even the Upper Three Sects move the pieces from the shadows."
Understanding dawned on Dugu Feng.
Tuoba family—wasn't that Spirit Hall's pawn? They had already founded the Holy Dragon Sect, barely hiding their allegiance.
In the end, Douluo Continent was ruled by the Upper Three Sects, Spirit Hall, and the two empires.
As for the Dugu clan's backers, that was obvious. They had ties to the Heaven Dou throne.
Old Scorpion drew a shaky breath. "At the council, Huyan Lie showed nothing unusual.
But after leaving, instead of returning, he lingered near Sunset Forest. I suspected something and followed with Burrow.
It turns out they had discovered a soul bone. They were hunting the one who carried it.
I pursued, but before reaching the forest, the ground beneath me erupted. The attack was crushing. My insides… I almost died."
Even now, his eyes held fear.
"A soul bone…" Old Snake's sharp intake of breath echoed in the hall.
Dugu Shuo's expression darkened.
The news was earth-shaking.
Even for a clan as rich as theirs, they had no soul bones.
Too rare, too coveted. Those who obtained them absorbed them instantly. They could not be bought at any price.
The Dugu clan's foundation still could not compare to the Upper Three Sects or Spirit Hall.