Dugu Feng thought to himself, Flender still has value to exploit.
Later, Yu Xiaogang, Tang San, and even Tang Hao would all come here.
That tied directly into the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan and the Clear Sky Clan.
If he wanted to become the Poison God and strengthen his family, he would eventually clash with those two forces.
Since that was inevitable, why not plant a bomb here first?
And seeing him, Flender immediately wanted to draw the Dugu Family into cooperation.
One had to admit — Flender was a man who squeezed into every crack of opportunity.
That was perfect.
Dugu Feng smiled faintly. "Little Snake, give Dean Flender a hundred thousand gold spirit coins."
Both Little Snake and Flender froze.
But Little Snake was obedient, so without hesitation, he produced the money.
Flender's crafty eyes spun rapidly, flickers of greed flashing.
He wanted to accept it, but didn't know what Dugu Feng meant.
He quickly looked to Dugu Feng for a clue.
"Dean Flender, take it. You have no right to refuse. Cooperation is certain, but not now. Someone else will come to you later."
Dugu Feng's tone was cold.
Flender's thoughts spun. Had the Dugu Family set their eyes on him?
Combined with Dugu Feng's earlier questions about the Dai Family, it had to mean this was tied to the struggles of great powers.
He gritted his teeth. It wasn't like he'd never seen the world.
Hadn't he offended Spirit Hall's Zhao Wuji and still lived well? Wasn't the Blue Lightning Clan's young master still his sworn brother?
Only an idiot wouldn't take money.
Flender clenched his teeth and snatched the pouch of coins with talon-like hands.
"Hahaha, Dean Flender, bold indeed. We'll meet again."
Dugu Feng said no more, and left with Little Snake.
But my money isn't so easy to take, Flender.
Watching Dugu Feng's back, Flender's heart sank.
The Dugu Family's reputation wasn't good. He felt like he'd just been targeted by a poisonous snake.
He'd seen those arena duels. At such a young age, Dugu Feng was already ruthless.
His Shrek Academy had Soul Emperors and even a Soul Sage, but compared to the Dugu Family, they were ants before an elephant.
"Since they've come to me, even if I didn't want the money, I'd have to take it. Hopefully this doesn't mean trouble."
Flender, a hardened survivor, had climbed from nothing into a man tied with every major power.
He wasn't afraid of conflict.
In fact, his face even showed pride. To be noticed by the Dugu Family was an honor.
After all, they were one of the clans that controlled the Great Spirit Arena — and they had a Titled Douluo, the Jade Phosphor Douluo.
For two days Dugu Feng wandered Soto City until Old Scorpion sent word, it was time to leave.
Right now, Ning Rongrong and Dai Mubai hadn't arrived, even Tang San and Xiao Wu were still training at Nuoding Academy.
It was dull!
So one night, dressed in tight black clothes, the two slipped out of the north gate and disappeared into the dark.
Meanwhile, in a luxurious suite high in the Great Spirit Arena —
Zhu Zhuyun and Zhu Zhuqing lay on a lavish bed, dressed in revealing underclothes, their postures somewhat improper.
Leaning close, the sisters whispered.
"Big sister, do I really have to attend this Shrek Academy in Soto City?"
Zhu Zhuqing frowned, her voice tinged with displeasure.
Zhu Zhuyun sighed. "You're engaged to Dai Mubai. Father never agreed, but what can we do? Against the will of the clan we're powerless. Dai Mubai is six years younger than the Crown Prince and he has no chance at succession.
That engagement is basically pushing you into a pit of fire. But it's done. Your only hope of survival lies in the Heaven Dou Empire!
If you can earn merit, all the better. If not, stay in Heaven Dou and don't return."
Zhu Zhuqing's face dimmed. "Just because of that Dai family's Titled Douluo, the clan has to obey? If only our Zhu Clan had a Titled Douluo—"
Zhu Zhuyun glanced around, exasperated. This silly sister dared to say anything.
"The power of a Titled Douluo is beyond our imagination!
Zhuqing, isn't it your dream to become one?
Hehe, if you became a Titled Douluo, the Zhu Clan's standing in the continent would change overnight!
Look at the Dugu Family — why are they so arrogant, fearing no one? Partly because of poison, but also because they have the Jade Phosphor Douluo!"
Zhu Zhuyun chuckled.
She had benefitted most from marrying into the royal family, but as a spirit master, who didn't long to become a Titled Douluo?
A Titled Douluo's position was far higher than some empress or crown princess.
"I understand. I want to become a female Titled Douluo. I'll start cultivating harder!" Zhu Zhuqing suddenly grew determined.
Zhu Zhuyun, pleased, sat with her sister to cultivate together.
The room grew silent.
Meanwhile, kilometers outside Soto City, the cold night wind blew over the dark wilderness.
In the branches of a swaying tree, Dugu Feng sat quietly cultivating. Suddenly, his heart stirred.
The Zhu sisters had begun cultivating again.
"Good, good. These two are like my worker-snakes. Twelve hours of training a day but that's already their limit based on their meridian endurance.
But that's not enough. Twelve hours means twelve hours wasted.
Pearls, give them a little sweetness — let their meridians endure thirteen hours of cultivation. Within a year, raise their limit to eighteen hours.
Other than meals and rest, all time must be spent cultivating. Workers can't waste time.My pearls need to evolve faster!"
He turned to the two Nine-Segment Jade Snakes on his wrists.
Their red eyes showed innocent looks: "We haven't been slacking!"
Dugu Feng smiled with satisfaction.
In the luxurious suite, the Zhu sisters were fully immersed in training.
The pearls silently absorbed the spirit power they generated, so slowly they never noticed.
Then, a faint heat flowed from the pearls into their spirit power, merging into their meridians.
Zhu Zhuqing suddenly felt her power flowing far more smoothly.
At six, with one ring, her cultivation was already fast.
But remembering her utter defeat by Dugu Feng the other day, she felt all the more motivated.
She drove her spirit power through every meridian, determined.
The sense of progress made her forget the passage of time.
Only when her meridians tingled with soreness did she stop.
She glanced at her sister — Zhu Zhuyun was still training.
Then her eyes narrowed. Morning sunlight streamed in, dazzling.
"How long did I just train? It's already morning!
Maybe I was too carried away by motivation."
Zhu Zhuqing thought nothing more of it.