The root problem of the poison hadn't been solved yetT, how could he not focus on cultivation?
How could Ning Rongrong possibly understand the life of a Dugu clansman, always racing against time?
Dugu Feng had already made up his mind. Within one month, he must break through to Soul Elder, his strength advancing another step.
During this time, Ning Rongrong had begun to develop feelings for him.
But Dugu Feng wasn't stupid. For all he knew, there could be two Titled Douluo watching them from the skies right now.
Through her, he had also learned more about the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.
The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda Martial Soul could never escape its fatal flaw—it lacked offensive power.
Thus, every auxiliary soul master of the sect had to find a strong combat-type partner. This was the sect's long-standing rule.
From childhood, Ning Rongrong had been raised this way. Since the day she entered the academy, she had been tasked with seeking someone suitable.
In such circumstances, emotions were never the priority.
Just like in the future, when she was able to suppress her budding feelings for Oscar. Only after Oscar gained his sixth soul ring, proving his strength, did the two finally come together.
Think about his father—he had lost eight wives in succession! Did Ning Fengzhi really not understand? How could he ever push his daughter into a fire pit? Perhaps, changes were bound to come sooner than expected.
But if he allowed himself to fall into emotions now, the one who would be hurt was only himself.
In this world, where strength was everything, only power mattered.
With enough power—what kind of woman could he not obtain?
...
Lost in thought, Dugu Feng walked with Ning Rongrong into the simulated training grounds.
The lakeside had nearly become his private cultivation spot.
Here, he had planted poisonous herbs and lush vegetation, perfect for practicing soul skills.
"From now on, I won't go to the classrooms anymore. I'll be focusing completely on cultivation!"
"Good! I'll use the time to practice split-mind control more."
As her voice fell, a terrifying aura surged from Dugu Feng's body.
Killing intent and bloodlust rose into the sky, sharp and overwhelming.
Though Ning Rongrong had seen this before, her heart still trembled.
This must be the killing aura forged in the time he had vanished from the academy.
Yet even after all this time, she hadn't been able to find out how he had trained. It made her grit her teeth in frustration.
Dugu Feng was already immersed in increasing the power of his techniques.
The Killing God Domain, it was not merely momentum.
It amplified himself, while suppressing his opponent.
And if fused into his soul skills, its might would be even greater.
Of course, his main goal remained to temper his killing aura, to advance the Killing God Domain further.
The Killing God Domain was tied directly to godly inheritance.
Dugu Feng didn't dare relax for even a moment.
Inside his dantian, two pearl-like cores spun endlessly, barely balancing against the other two.
The pearls' energy had reached seventy-six points, but their growth had slowed noticeably.
The remaining twenty-plus points no longer depended heavily on physical energy or soul power.
The problem was—poison.
His two Emerald Serpents provided him with too much physical energy, while Zhu Zhuyun's rapid progress gave plenty of soul power.
But the pearls now lacked toxins to feed on.
Every day, he had to condense mixed poisons for them to absorb.
Before acquiring his third soul ring, he would also detoxify the clan's soul masters again, which should give the pearls another boost.
...
Time flowed quickly.
The month's deadline was nearing, and Dugu Feng was on the verge of breaking through to level thirty.
He never noticed that Ning Rongrong's gaze had grown more and more complicated.
Her mind was filled with Bone Douluo's words:
"Rongrong, the soul masters of the Dugu family… their lifespan is far shorter than others.The chances of dying young are frighteningly high.
As far as I know, Dugu Feng's father, Dugu Shuo, lost several wives in succession before finally having him. His mother died shortly after giving birth.
It's the same with Dugu Yan...her father, Dugu Xin, also perished young.
I suspect their soul skills are indeed powerful, but the poison-type Martial Soul also curses them—and even endangers their partners' lives!"
Bone Douluo had ultimately been unable to hold back.
He couldn't bear to watch Ning Rongrong sink deeper.
Even he was shocked by Dugu Feng's talent.
To defeat Yu Tianheng across an entire major realm gap?
To cultivate with such relentless effort?
With at least innate level nine soul power—Bone Douluo even suspected he might be innately full soul power!
Such a genius if not born into the Dugu clan would have been Ning Rongrong's perfect match.
But within that clan, the highest death toll was among their partners. To this day, none of their spouses had ever survived.
Could that really be a coincidence?
Bone Douluo didn't believe it.
Only, the Dugu clan had been clever. They rarely married into great families, instead taking wives of humble birth.
So no storms had ever been stirred.
...
Dugu Feng still hadn't noticed Ning Rongrong's change.
After several days of distraction, she steadied herself again.
She became more focused, cultivating with serious dedication, just like him, sparing no rest.
Her soul power rose again, reaching level twenty-five.
And finally—Dugu Feng broke through to level thirty!
"Eleven years and one month old, level thirty! Dugu Feng, you've shattered the soul master cultivation records of all time!"
Ning Rongrong praised him excitedly.
"You're not bad either, Rongrong. Eleven years old at level twenty-five—you're the brightest talent besides me.
But next, I'll go absorb my third soul ring.
You'd better keep working, or I'll leave you too far behind."
Dugu Feng chuckled.
He couldn't wait to step into the realm of Soul Elders.
"Dugu Feng… will you remember me in the future?" Ning Rongrong suddenly asked.
Dugu Feng blinked, finding her words a little strange.
"The little princess of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect? How could I forget? Besides, we've trained together so long, doesn't that make us childhood companions?"
For once, he teased her lightly.
"Who's childhood companions with you! You only know how to cultivate, do you even understand these things?"
Ning Rongrong's heart thumped wildly, her fair face flushed with red, making her look even more stunning.
Dugu Feng froze for a moment.
That fairy-like face really was beautiful.
"What are you staring at!" Ning Rongrong's heart leapt. Finally noticed my beauty? Where were your eyes before?
But beneath the joy, she felt a trace of sadness.
"Cultivate hard. I'll break every record in the soul master world. I'm off!"
With that, Dugu Feng turned and left in one smooth motion.
Ning Rongrong watched his departing back, murmuring softly:
"You're not a block of wood. You understand everything.
You're just held back by my identity.
But I believe in you. You'll not only break every record… you'll also shatter the curse of your Dugu clan."
Her eyes glimmered with hope as the words left her lips.
Dugu Feng's hearing was sharp—he caught every word.
Yet in his heart, only the faintest ripple stirred.
He didn't stop.
Without looking back, he strode swiftly out of the academy.