A moment later, Dugu Shuo withdrew the multicolored light.
"His Majesty's body is in excellent health. There is absolutely no sign of poisoning," Dugu Shuo said calmly.
Only then did Dugu Feng secretly let out a heavy breath of relief.
"Xue Xing, I told you that you are being overly cautious," Emperor Xue Ye smiled. "Every few months you trouble Patriarch Dugu. Yes, the Second and Third Princes were poisoned to death, but the palace has been on guard ever since. No matter who the enemy is, how could they possibly repeat the same method? Every meal is checked layer upon layer, maids and guards are rotated monthly. How could I be poisoned?"
"Exactly, Father. The enemy cannot be that foolish. Uncle, elder brother, if there is nothing more, I will return to the academy. I still have to cultivate."
Xue Beng's tone was dismissive, and before Emperor Xue Ye or anyone else could respond, he turned and left the hall.
"This Xue Beng," Emperor Xue Ye sighed. "Xue Xing, Qinghe, keep an eye on him. He is out making trouble again. Ministers keep complaining to me. He rides wildly through Heaven Dou City, injuring people in the streets."
"Father, little brother is still young," Qian Renxue, disguised as Crown Prince Xue Qinghe, spoke with warmth. "Besides, the city is full of wayward nobles far worse than him. Once he enters the Advanced Academy, Uncle and the three deans will discipline him properly."
It was like watching a grand performance.
Brotherly harmony. Fatherly kindness. Filial children.
Dugu Feng thought to himself that he was learning a lot just watching this act.
"Patriarch Dugu, forgive me for taking so much of your time. Qinghe, escort Patriarch Dugu."
Not long after, under Qian Renxue's guidance, Dugu Shuo and Dugu Feng left the emperor's hall.
As they walked together, Qian Renxue spoke gently. "Brother Feng, you are about the same age as my younger brother. Both of you are studying at the Royal Junior Academy. From now on, just call me Brother Xue."
At this time, Qian Renxue should be about seventeen, the prime of youth, yet she had to play the role of Xue Qinghe, unable to show her true face.
Dugu Feng nearly wanted to shout it aloud : "The daughter of the former Pope of Spirit Hall, Qian Renxue, is right here!"
Just to see how she would react.
But her performance was simply too flawless.
"Yes, Brother Xue. May I come to visit you often in the future?" Dugu Feng responded politely.
Qian Renxue froze for an instant. She had only been being courteous, yet this boy immediately latched onto her words. Truly, he had inherited the slippery cunning of a snake.
"Of course. This is my prince's token. If you ever need anything, bring it to the Crown Prince's residence."
She smiled faintly, pulling out a golden token and handing it over.
Dugu Feng quickly accepted it. The golden surface bore the character for Heaven. He cupped his fists, then stored it into his soul tool.
"Thank you, Brother Xue. I will visit when I have time."
Dugu Feng smiled lightly. A small show of goodwill, perhaps it would buy some stability.
Qian Renxue personally escorted the father and son to the carriage. Only when it vanished into the distance did she let her mask drop, her expression returning to calm.
"A man without guilt, yet guilty for what he holds. The Dugu Clan's time is almost over. Who told you to master such deadly poisons while standing on the side of Heaven Dou? A pity about Dugu Feng. Such a talent. But compared to the greater cause of seizing a throne, what is he worth?
Elephant Armored Sect, Yang Wushuang… you had better not disappoint me."
With a faint smile, Qian Renxue turned back toward the palace.
—
The Dugu Clan.
Deep within a hidden cavern.
It was called a cavern, but it was more like a vast underground labyrinth, winding and twisting, its stone walls scarred with irregular claw marks.
After leaving the palace, Dugu Shuo had immediately brought Dugu Feng here. The entrance lay beneath the ancestral tablets in the family shrine, concealed from all eyes.
A faint hiss echoed.
Dugu Feng looked up to see a centipede crawling along the wall.
He instantly recalled Old Snake's words. To cultivate stronger poisons, the clan had intermarried with other poison-type spirit masters. Over the generations, at least five different poison-type martial spirits had been born within the family.
The Nine Heaven Centipede was one of them.
Among spirit beasts, there was a powerful species called the Nine Heaven Dragon Centipede. Though the name differed by a single word, it was already a formidable venomous creature.
As they walked deeper, more and more centipedes skittered along the walls. Their countless legs sent shivers through the scalp.
"Feng'er, the Nine Heaven Centipede line is the clan's hidden force. Unless we face a true crisis, they will never show themselves. Not even Old Snake or Old Scorpion know of their location.
Other powers only suspect we have something lurking in the shadows. That is the real foundation of why the Dugu Clan fears no rival."
Dugu Shuo's tone was calm.
"Then why bring me here, Father?" Dugu Feng asked.
Dugu Shuo sneered coldly. "Someone dares to play with poison in our territory. Do they think their toxins can compare to mine?"
Dugu Feng tested him with a question. "So Emperor Xue Ye really is poisoned?"
Dugu Shuo nodded. Indeed, Emperor Xue Ye had been poisoned.
In terms of poison, he possessed the complete inheritance of the clan's compound venoms.
Dugu Bo, who had left to cultivate alone, only held the knowledge of serpent-based spirit ring combinations.
As patriarch, nothing in this world could escape his toxin-sense.
Dugu Shuo's expression grew solemn. "For the enemy to poison again and again means they do not put us in their eyes. Either they are arrogant, or they are truly powerful. Feng'er, which do you think?"
So Father had also sensed the poison within Emperor Xue Ye. He simply dared not expose it, wary of the force behind it, thought Dugu Feng while genuinely admiring his father's wisdom.
"Father, I believe it is strength. The enemy is powerful, perhaps powerful enough to target our clan directly."
Dugu Shuo nodded. "You are right. This time, the clan faces calamity. The poison within Emperor Xue Ye is a compound toxin. Even I would have to exhaust great effort to cleanse it. And that is only because the enemy held back, for the sake of secrecy.
The hand behind this must have a strong expert immune to poison.
Such people are rare on the continent.
And to dare plot against the Heaven Dou Empire itself… the force behind it must be either the Dai Clan of Star Luo, or Spirit Hall."
His words were cold and precise.
Dugu Feng was surprised. He had expected Spirit Hall, but his father also suspected the Dai Clan.
Clearly, in his father's eyes, the Star Luo Empire had long harbored designs on Heaven Dou. That alone showed his recognition of Star Luo's strength.
From what Dugu Feng knew, in the eyes of Heaven Dou nobles, Star Luo was the greatest enemy.
Border wars between the two empires were constant.
As for Spirit Hall, there was comparatively less animosity.
"Father, you must be thinking of the upcoming Six Great Clan Assembly. This matter involves both the Dai Clan and Spirit Hall. And since the assembly is not held in Heaven Dou City, if they consider us enemies, they might strike at that moment."
Dugu Feng spoke quietly.