"Jade Phosphor Twelve Fingers!"
Dugu Feng's hands moved like butterflies among blossoms, unleashing his third, then fourth volley of attacks in quick succession.
Standing firm on the dueling stage, his eyes were sharp, both palms continuously flicking out needle-thin beams of violet light.
But after the third strike, his meridians had already started to burn faintly.
He immediately drew on the Pill Pearl's energy, shielding his meridians, allowing him to continue.
Looks like my meridians still need more tempering, Dugu Feng thought coldly.
His gaze swept over the figures hovering in the air above.
This Twelve Fingers is only raw force… and already you're crumbling. But my true strength is poison!
He knew clearly: Feng Ling, Feng Li, and even Ning Rongrong were on the brink of poisoning.
"This boy is terrifying! Barely half a year since awakening his spirit, and already his spirit skill has such power!"
On the sidelines, Ge Ying, their teacher, was utterly speechless.
But there was someone even more unsettled,her emerald-green eyes flashing, short purple hair trembling slightly with agitation.
Dugu Yan.
He's this strong?
Dugu Yan couldn't believe what she was seeing. She herself had just become a Grandmaster not long ago, obtaining her second spirit ring.
Following her grandfather's arrangement, her second spirit skill was Jade Phosphor Blue Poison, also known as Paralysis Toxin. Its effect was simple: to numb the nerves, dull pain, and increase defense by 30%, it was a supporting skill.
Her first skill was Jade Phosphor Red Poison, the Frenzy Toxin, stimulating the nerves, boosting attack power and speed by 20%.
Her grandfather's reasoning was that she would walk the Control System path. Those two skills were foundations, she was capable of boosting allies, paving the way for the poison domain she would someday wield.
But watching Dugu Feng's razor-sharp toxic strikes…
Are we even cultivating the same martial spirit?
Her mind went blank. Compared to his venomous assault, her own spirit skills seemed… worthless.
Tonight… I have to ask Grandpa. I need to know the truth.
Back on the dueling platform—
By the time Dugu Feng unleashed his fourth volley of Twelve Fingers, the Feng brothers' sword formation finally collapsed.
It wasn't just the force of his violet beams.
The true danger lay in how, after impact, his poison dispersed into mist.
Unlike the dense clouds he spat out before, this fog was subtle, silent, insidious.
Against the defenses of Ning Rongrong and the Feng brothers—it slipped straight through.
The poison spread quietly.
The swords carrying them aloft wavered, trembled—then faltered.
What had looked so graceful and heroic moments ago turned into a farce, as the Feng brothers tumbled from the sky, crashing onto the ground in a roll. Ning Rongrong too fell, her fairy-like aura gone in an instant.
Only Dugu Feng stood calm and composed, strolling forward at an unhurried pace.
"D-Don't come any closer! We admit defeat!" Feng Li stammered, face pale, body shaking, mind fogging from the venom.
He thought Dugu Feng still meant to strike.
"Dugu Feng! Don't go too far! If you kill us, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan will never forgive you!" Feng Ling shouted, his tone fierce but hollow.
Poisoned, in pain, delirious—they had lost their senses. This was a duel. How could Dugu Feng kill them?
It was Ning Rongrong who kept her composure.
"Need me to detoxify you?" Dugu Feng chuckled.
At once, the Feng brothers' expressions flipped. "Y-Yes! Detoxify us!" They looked at him with desperate eyes.
"Hehe… bear with it."
Dugu Feng extended his right hand. A flash of green light, and his Nine-Segmented Jadeite Snake sank its fangs into Feng Ling's wrist.
The serpent had already grown to its mature form—five inches long, able to coil twice around his wrist.
In just three months, nourished by the Pill Pearl, the two little snakes had leapt in growth—now possessing the power of three-hundred-year soul beasts.
As its soul power circulated, its fangs exuded a suction force, drawing the poison cleanly out of Feng Ling's body.
Then Feng Li.
Finally, Dugu Feng turned toward Ning Rongrong. His tone teased:
"I'll detoxify you with my snake. It'll hurt a little, so don't be afraid."
But Ning Rongrong, though dizzy, glared back coldly. "Dugu Feng! The past three months, I've been keeping snakes, spiders, centipedes in my room. I've overcome my fear of these creatures!
"You think I'm still the same as before? Bite me!" (T/N : Do people actually use bite me as a slang? Shouldn't it be something like f**k off, kiss my a**, screw you...you get the gist.)
Her eyes never wavered, fixed directly on the snake.
No one knew how much she had endured these past months. Everyone saw her as a pampered princess, but she herself refused to be weak.
The Jadeite Snake's crimson eyes gleamed. It had never seen such pale, delicate skin.
With a snap, it bit down.
Ning Rongrong's jaw clenched, her eyes remained locked on the serpent.
She was determined—overcoming fear was not just words.
Soon, the poison was drawn out.
"I'll deliver your wager soon," Ning Rongrong said coldly.
"No rush. I trust you, Rongrong, I know you won't default," Dugu Feng replied lightly, stepping off the stage.
This time, none of the three demanded he call Ning Rongrong their leader. After two crushing defeats, even their thick skins couldn't find words to salvage pride.
But when Feng Ling and Feng Li glanced at Ning Rongrong—they realized with dread—she still hadn't given up.
Indeed, Ning Rongrong wasn't done.
The road of cultivation is long. You think you'll always stay ahead? Just you wait, Dugu Feng. One day, I'll conquer you.
As Dugu Feng left the platform, the crowd parted instinctively, opening a clear path for him.
Poison always inspired awe. Poison that was this sharp - it inspired fear!
His eyes caught Dugu Yan in the crowd. Their gazes locked for a brief instant—before she glanced away coldly, turned with Ye Lingling, and left.
So, she really sees my bloodline as enemies, huh?
What happened between my grandfather and Dugu Bo?
Curiosity stirred in Dugu Feng's heart.
Tonight, I'll return home and ask Father. He must know the truth.
That night, a troubled Dugu Yan returned to the Dugu estate.
Her mind was restless, her heart unsettled.
She had to ask.
Why was Dugu Feng's poison so fierce, while hers was nothing more than minor buffs?
"Yan'er, why do you look so down? Who dares bully my Yan'er? I'll go settle the score for you!"
It was Dugu Bo, voice full of care.
"No one bullied me, Grandpa. But today… I saw Dugu Feng duel Wind Sword Sect's two brats."
She hugged his arm tightly and recounted the entire battle.
At first, Dugu Bo listened with a faint smile.
But as she went on, his expression grew heavier, darker, more and more serious.