According to his father's words, the so-called Seven-Colored Poison Pill would serve as a vessel to contain all the venom in the body.
Once it formed, every poison technique would no longer draw directly from the martial soul's power. Instead, the toxins would be released from this poison pill.
That meant the poison would no longer course through the body, harming the host.
It was just like a venomous snake—its flesh wasn't toxic. Only its venom sac and fangs carried poison.
The Seven-Colored Poison Pill should serve the same purpose, concentrating all venom in one place.
But it was completely different from the Poison Pearl.
The Pearls were more like a soul beast's inner core, containing not just poison but soul power and physical essence as well.
Combining what he knew about cultivation past the Titled Douluo realm, Dugu Feng guessed that the Poison Pill was more like a poison-aspected soul core—like a venom sac within a serpent.
Yes, that would explain it.
But for now, it was all theory. The truth would depend on his future cultivation.
"Father, I'll work hard at the Academy!"
After getting the answers he wanted, and seeing his father lapse back into silence, Dugu Feng left the ancestral hall.
There, under an old tree, he spotted a small figure waiting for him.
It was Little Snake, standing straight with his short, thin shadow making him look like a stone post.
"Young Master, I've prepared food for you." His tone was utterly flat.
A line that could've sounded warm, but from Little Snake's mouth, it was lifeless.
"…It's not snake meat or fried scorpions again, right?" Dugu Feng frowned.
"No. There's wine, meat, and… Young Master's favorite whale Rubber. Old Snake just got some. It is five thousand years old."
Dugu Feng's face darkened. "Who spread that nonsense about me loving whale Rubber?!"
"Last time Old Scorpion visited you, he went back and told Old Snake. And Old Snake's such a chatterbox… now even the snakes in the jars know you love whale Rubber."
"…The snakes in the jars know?!"
Dugu Feng almost spat blood.
Damn that Old Scorpion! And that Old Snake—utterly shameless!
Still… five-thousand-year whale Rubber?
Angry or not, he wasn't about to pass that up.
He followed Little Snake back to his room.
Little Snake neatly took food boxes from his storage soul guide and set out the dishes.
Sure enough, it was the same rich meat dishes Dugu Feng often asked him to buy—straightforward, no surprises.
Among them was a small bowl of crystalline whale Rubber. Somehow, Little Snake had melted it down.
"Young Master, Old Snake may not believe you eat whale Rubber for cultivation. But I do." Little Snake's eyes were serious.
Dugu Feng beamed. "At last! A lad I can teach!"
He tore into the pepper chicken, eating with satisfaction.
Yes! This was trust. After so long together, he knew Little Snake wouldn't doubt him. Not everyone was like that shameless Old Snake.
Little Snake quietly chewed on a single steamed bun, sipping soup. Just like always.
By the time Dugu Feng had eaten nearly all the meat, Little Snake had just finished that one bun.
Dugu Feng then downed the piece of five-thousand-year whale Rubber.
The Dan Beads in his body began spinning, breaking it down instantly.
"Young Master," Little Snake suddenly spoke again, "tomorrow Old Snake and I are going to the Heaven Dou Auction. He plans to buy me a catgirl. He said catgirls are humans with partial beast-bloodline mutations at martial spirit awakening. Their soul beast blood is strong, so they might withstand our Jade Phosphor poison.
"I've saved up a lot these years. Young Master, I'll buy one for you too. That way, when you finish eating whale rubber, you won't have to… hold back."
For the first time, Little Snake spoke so many words.
Dugu Feng, mid-cultivation, nearly choked.
"…Little Snake, aren't you supposed to trust me?! I eat whale rubber for cultivation! To strengthen my body and handle higher-aged spirit rings!"
"I do trust you, Young Master," Little Snake replied earnestly. "But you shouldn't keep suppressing yourself. It's bad for your health."
His thin, sharp face actually creased with worry.
"…Get lost! You don't believe me at all!"
"Yes, Young Master!"
Without another word, Little Snake packed up the food boxes and ran out—even though it was his own room.
"...Sigh. Even Little Snake's lost his purity."
Dugu Feng sighed heavily.
Why didn't anyone believe him?!
Fine. Once he absorbed a second spirit ring far beyond the limit, they'd all understand he wasn't bluffing.
He closed his eyes and sank into cultivation.
By the next morning, he returned to school.
Over the next three days, he observed carefully.
Ning Rongrong was surprisingly quiet. Even Feng Ling and Feng Li never provoked him again.
Whether in class or at the mimicry training grounds, they were all silent.
It was as if nothing had ever happened between them.
As for the wagered stakes…
Ning Rongrong didn't renege. A month later, Dugu Feng received everything.
When handing them over, her gaze carried confusion and a trace of disdain.
To her, Dugu Feng trained so diligently, so obsessively - he didn't seem like someone addicted to lust.
So why did he want ten-thousand-year whale rubber?
Was he really just a shameless scoundrel hiding under a calm mask?
She couldn't understand him.
But Dugu Feng accepted the prizes with a calm smile.
Now, at last, he had some wealth of his own.
After that exchange, the two sides rarely interacted again. Only an occasional polite word when they met.
And Dugu Feng was happy to leave it that way.
More time for training.
Time passed quickly.
Half a year flew by. Dugu Feng turned seven. His soul power had reached Rank 16.
His two Pearls had already accumulated 54% energy, nearly halfway to fullness.
Soon they would split again, becoming four. The thought thrilled him.
One day, outside the Dugu estate.
A luxurious carriage pulled up at the gates, flanked front and back by Heaven Dou Imperial Guard knights.
These knights rode elite warhorses. Every one of them was a soul master—soldiers among soldiers.
Though waiting, not one of them showed impatience.
When Dugu Shuo and Dugu Feng stepped out, the knights' eyes turned respectful.
The two boarded the carriage.
Inside, Dugu Shuo spoke gravely:
"Three years ago, the Second Prince suddenly died of poison. Two years ago, the Third Prince also died of poison.
"Since then, every three months, I must enter the palace to check the royal family for toxins.
"You're sharp, Feng'er. This time, come with me. Watch carefully. See if you can find any clues."
Dugu Shuo's eyes glinted with thought.
"Yes, Father!"
Dugu Feng's heart clenched.
Three years ago… that was when he had just transmigrated.
By age, it matched perfectly.
He remembered—Dugu Bo once told Tang San that Qian Renxue, disguised as Xue Qinghe, poisoned the Second Prince at age fourteen, and the Third Prince the following year.
And now, here he was, seven years old.
Three years ago, at four years old—the Second Prince had died of poison.