"Seven Titled Douluo?!?"
Little Snake's eyes lit up. That many?
Old Snake and Old Scorpion, however, were stunned. "Young Master… is this true?"
The more they thought about it, the more it made sense.
After the Clear Sky Clan sealed itself off, no outsiders knew their condition. If the clan's members cultivated in seclusion with resentment fueling them, breaking through wasn't impossible.
Those elders weren't old. Back when the gates closed, all of them were already Soul Douluo.
Now more than eleven years had passed and if not even a single one broke through, that would be hard to believe.
"Anything is possible," Dugu Feng said with a mysterious smile.
In truth, there really were seven. Add in the old sect master Tang Bo lurking in the shadows, and that made eight.
And Tang Chen, possessed by the Slaughter King.
The Clear Sky Clan's hidden strength was far from weak1
Spirit Hall had been feeding the tiger, both blind and foolish.
"I understand. Young Master, I'll head to Star Dou Forest and leak the news from one of the supply towns nearby. It'll spread fast, and no one will trace it back to the clan."
Old Snake chuckled darkly. For an old schemer like him, spreading rumors was child's play.
Old Scorpion looked eager as well. He couldn't help but feel excited. He wanted to see the waves this news would create.
Of course, Dugu Feng, with his Blue Star memories, understood best how rumors spread.
Wasn't Blue Star news just all kinds of shocking headlines and clickbaits?
Shock! Did you really think there were only a dozen Titled Douluo on the continent?Stunned! What has the Clear Sky Clan been doing all these years?Breaking News! The largest hidden force on the continent revealed!
Thirty years east, thirty years west, the Clear Sky Clan's revenge is coming. One day they will shake the world!Why are the ten-thousand-year soul beasts fleeing Star Dou Forest? Because too many Clear Sky Clan elders broke through to Title!
Once these stories spread, every soul master's first bit of gossip would be about this.
Not just the soul master world, even nobles in teahouses and taverns would be talking about it too.
Dugu Feng shared several such methods with Old Snake and Old Scorpion.
"Young Master, you're a genius!"
"Clear Sky Clan's going to get played to death by you!"
Their eyes shone with admiration.
"It's up to you now, Old Snake," Dugu Feng said seriously.
Old Snake pounded his chest. "Rest assured, Young Master!"
With this plan in motion, Dugu Feng finally felt relieved.
He thought again about the Four Single-Attribute Clans. Originally, he intended to pull them in, especially the Breaking Clan.
But when he remembered Tang Bo hidden in the dark, he dismissed the thought.
Who knew how many of the four clans still had ties with Tang Bo?
The Dugu Clan couldn't reveal its ambitions too early.
For now, cultivation came first. Their top combat power was only three Soul Sages, which was far too weak.
Soon his father would break through to Soul Douluo, and Old Scorpion was on the verge of advancing to Soul Sage. By then, their high-end strength would be one Soul Douluo and three Soul Sages. The clan's standing would be entirely different.
A poison-type Soul Sage could already do much with stealthy toxins, but how much more a Soul Douluo could do?
That very day, Old Snake departed. Old Scorpion entered seclusion, determined to break through.
Dugu Feng then had Little Snake summon another clan soul master.
This was the Flower Spider user who had appeared during the trip to Soto City.
The Flower Spider was a small soul beast, its abdomen and back covered with bright patterns. It loved weaving webs in forests and flowers.
Its vivid colors were also a warning that it was venomous.
This clan member, known as "Flower King," was already a Soul King years ago, level fifty-five back then.
Now he was fifty-seven, still Soul King, one of the strongest in the clan outside Old Scorpion.
When Flower King entered the hall, Dugu Feng was surpised, this man was handsome.
Is this the influence of his martial soul?
His complexion was pale and delicate like a woman's, his features refined and soft, appearing no older than twenty. In noble circles, he'd be a prize.
But in truth, Flower King was already over forty.
"Flower King, Old Scorpion and Old Snake are both occupied. For now, clan affairs will fall to you."
"Ah—Young Master, I'm not suited for this!" Even his voice was soft and delicate, sending shivers down Dugu Feng's spine.
"You're already a high-rank Soul King, almost at Soul Emperor. You must shoulder clan responsibilities. When the clan grows, I intend to establish an elder council. You'd be one of them.
You're the fourth strongest in the clan—don't you have any ambition?"
Dugu Feng painted a beautiful picture with serious words. He didn't count Old Nine in his ranking—those hidden strengths remained a secret.
"Nothing major, really. Just stay in the clan. Guide cultivation, distribute pills, help with spirit rings during breakthroughs. Simple matters."
With a casual wave, he sealed the matter.
Flower King blinked. What he says makes sense… Elder of the clan?
He left, filled with thoughts.
Meanwhile, Dugu Feng spent time communicating with every clan soul master.
Besides Flower King, there was an Ice Toad martial soul user, level fifty-three.
The rest of the thirty-plus soul masters were Soul Elders and below.
With his comprehension of cultivation, Dugu Feng was more than qualified to teach them.
Whether it was combat, meditation, or poison research, his insights were unmatched.
After all, he had been "chicken-babied" by Dugu Shuo since childhood, plus his external bone, Pill Pearl, and domains. His experience far exceeded theirs.
He spent over a month guiding them.
Not out of vanity, but because he knew that the clan was still too weak. He had to do something.
"Young Master, you are now a god in the eyes of the clan!"
Little Snake's tone brimmed with admiration.
He had followed Dugu Feng closely, learning much in the process.
Dugu Feng sat cross-legged, white ripples pulsing from his body which were flashing and fading, again and again.
He was cultivating the Killing God Domain.
Little Snake's words rang true.
Since Dugu Feng had detoxified the clan soul masters, not a single one had died from poison since.
Relieved of torment, they threw themselves into cultivation, their spirit power steadily rising.
How could they not revere him as a god?
"Little Snake, so many Titled Douluo in Clear Sky Clan. Do you have any thoughts?"
Little Snake's face flushed, his eyes firm. "Leave one for Old Snake, one for Young Master. I'll take the rest!"
"You're far from that. Keep cultivating, or I'll surpass you."
Little Snake fell silent, diving back into training.
Once Dugu Feng secured immortal herbs, he would give Little Snake one—an herb that could transform talent, make him a true genius.
Dugu Feng made a silent promise in his heart.