Apart from these, there was another significant piece of news.
It was an order issued by the Spirit Hall.
A severe crackdown on Evil Soul Masters. Anyone who could provide clues to the Spirit Hall would be rewarded with a Soul Bone.
As for the age of the Soul Bone, it wasn't specified, but Dugu Feng guessed most would be under ten thousand years.
He chuckled inwardly—this was probably Bibi Dong venting her anger for Hu Liena's sake!
He wondered if Tang San and Yu Xiaogang would unite with the Spirit Hall against a common enemy after hearing this news.
Tang San, Yu Xiaogang, and the entire Shrek Academy had already arrived in Heaven Dou City.
Following the original timeline, they intended to join the Heavenly Dou Royal Academy to borrow their resources.
However, they encountered Xue Beng, and then Prince Xue Xing and Dugu Bo made their appearance, directly driving Shrek Academy away.
Next, the Golden Iron Triangle reunited, and Shrek Academy joined the Blue Tyrant Academy.
Of course, this time, there was no incident where Dugu Bo kidnapped Tang San, exposing the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well.
After all, Tang San was Tang Hao's son, and Dugu Yan had already learned this during the Soul Duel in Suotuo City.
No matter how foolish they were, the grandfather and granddaughter wouldn't dare to target Tang San.
As for the Azure Phosphorus Violet Venom being broken, Dugu Shuo had specifically discussed it with Dugu Bo.
They both concluded that it was mainly due to Ma Hongjun's Phoenix Flames.
It was common knowledge that fire, when strong enough, was the bane of poison.
Moreover, the Azure Phosphorus Violet Venom Dugu Yan had used was too concentrated.
It wasn't surprising that it was broken.
The Shrek Seven Devils arrived in Heaven Dou City and had been training at the Blue Tyrant Academy. Without the opportunity of the Immortal Herbs, their progress had slowed significantly.
Yu Xiaogang also took them to compete in the Great Soul Arena in Heaven Dou City.
They managed to make quite a name for themselves.
Through the Pill Plant, Dugu Feng could clearly sense the progress of Ning Rongrong and Zhu Zhuqing.
Sunset Forest was so close to Heaven Dou City.
He was fully aware of every move the Shrek Seven Devils made.
It gave him the feeling of being a mastermind behind the scenes—quite exhilarating.
Indulging in this twisted amusement, Dugu Feng quietly continued his cultivation.
No matter how much the outside world changed, he wouldn't leave the Underground Training Field during this period.
Time flew like a white steed, and several months passed.
The Fox Tail External Soul Bone had fully fused, yet Dugu Feng still hadn't ended his cultivation.
Only now, his training location had shifted to the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well.
The Eight-Angle Black Ice Herb became Dugu Feng's rival.
After absorbing the fourth Spirit Ring from the Zhu Jing Bing Chan, he had rushed to Suotuo City, and later, his plans to seize Hu Liena's External Soul Bone delayed him.
Dugu Feng hadn't had the chance to properly refine the Cold Poison.
Now, returning to the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well, Dugu Feng was exhilarated.
He couldn't wait to approach the Eight-Angle Black Ice Herb.
His fourth Spirit Ring manifested, the black ten-thousand-year Spirit Ring exuding an overwhelming aura.
This time, he didn't immediately reveal his External Soul Bone.
He wanted to test whether his body could directly resist the Cold Poison of the Eight-Angle Black Ice Herb.
Dugu Feng extended his right hand into the ten-meter radius around the herb.
Instantly, an intense chill enveloped his body.
His entire form was covered in frost, like grass and trees on a winter morning.
At that moment, Dugu Feng's mind fell into a daze.
His thoughts were numbed.
He had been poisoned.
But this state of confusion lasted only an instant.
His fourth Spirit Ring trembled, and he regained clarity.
A surge of cold energy was already rapidly circulating through his meridians.
This chilling energy was a combination of cold and poison, filled with a sinister coldness that sought to freeze and corrode Dugu Feng's body and spirit.
However, upon careful comprehension, Dugu Feng realized his body was urgently absorbing this cold energy. Every cell, every bone fragment was drawing it in. His Soul Power was even merging with the cold energy.
Dugu Feng immediately understood—the bloodline power of Zhu Jing Bing Chan had altered his body, significantly enhancing his adaptability to Cold Poison. The speed of refinement now was at least ten times faster than when he was a Soul Expert.
The cold energy on his body's surface rapidly dissipated, completely absorbed and fused into him.
The Immortal Herb, possessing sentience, grew furious upon sensing Dugu Feng absorbing its cold energy. The crystalline pistils of the Eight-Angle Black Ice Herb trembled, releasing specks of icy light that transformed into intense cold energy, once again enveloping Dugu Feng.
A contest of wills ensued.
One side—the Eight-Angle Black Ice Herb—could not tolerate this human Soul Master's immunity to its Cold Poison, relentlessly condensing cold energy to attack. The other side—Dugu Feng—gradually refined the cold energy, making his body increasingly adaptable to the herb's venom.
Though Dugu Feng still dared not approach within ten meters of the Eight-Angle Black Ice Herb, the fact that he could now withstand its cold energy with his bare body was already tremendous progress.
Dugu Feng's heart remained as still as an ancient well. It was like returning to his childhood, when Old Snake trained him, forcing him to survive solely on snake gallbladders, snake meat, and snake blood. Now, he would survive on cold energy—to fully refine the Eight-Angle Black Ice Herb.
One day, Dugu Bo arrived. Seeing Dugu Feng covered in frost, he was shocked. This kid better not die here! That Eight-Angle Black Ice Herb contained extreme cold energy—even he, a Titled Douluo, couldn't stay near it for long. Once infected by its venom, even his Titled Douluo-level Soul Power would require painstaking effort to purge it.
Only upon approaching did Dugu Bo notice Dugu Feng's steady breathing—he was actually absorbing the cold energy.
"Madman! A complete madman! Is he dissatisfied with the potency of his poison and seeking death?!" Dugu Bo inhaled sharply. Based on his understanding of Jade Phosphorous Snake Venom, the priority was evasion and delaying its onset. He simply couldn't comprehend the Poison Cultivation Lineage's mindset of charging headfirst into adversity.
Seeing Dugu Feng wasn't in mortal danger, Dugu Bo found a spot to cultivate. Every time he came to the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well, it was to suppress the toxins in his body as they flared up.
That night, Dugu Bo easily endured the poison flare-up. A pleased expression crossed his face. After gradually forcing the toxins into his Soul Bone, his stagnant Soul Power—unchanged for over a decade—had broken through to rank 92. The toxins could no longer threaten his life.
Hmph. Instead of cultivating properly after resolving the toxin issue, he's still trying to enhance their lethality. He'll poison himself to death sooner or later.
Dugu Bo soon left, paying no further attention to Dugu Feng—who likewise ignored him.
Time passed. Every time Dugu Bo returned to the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well, Dugu Feng remained in the same state—ceaselessly refining cold energy day and night, his body shrouded in white frost.
This continued for over half a year.
Finally, Dugu Bo saw Dugu Feng free of frost. He was startled.
Dugu Feng stood calmly at the edge of the cold spring, his gaze sharp as a sword, his entire being exuding an icy aura. To Dugu Bo, Dugu Feng's demeanor now bore an eerie resemblance to the Eight-Angle Black Ice Herb.
A strong chill ran down his spine.
"Kid, you're really dedicated to cultivation. Prince Xue Xing has visited several times to invite you to join the Royal Fighting Team for the Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Elite Tournament, but your father turned him down each time."
"Just a few days ago, he even came begging to me!"
Dugu Bo said indifferently.
(End of Chapter)