The family had invested many resources—the academy's simulated cultivation environment, medicinal herbs to boost cultivation, and constant talent poaching.
This was how such results were achieved.
"The championship still seems a bit out of reach," Little Snake cautiously remarked.
For the Dugu Family, the Spirit Hall's Golden Generation was no secret.
They were three Soul Kings.
If it were an assassination, Little Snake was confident he could eliminate them.
But an arena Soul Duel was different.
With limited time and space, and their explosive power giving them a significant advantage, even Little Snake dared not be overconfident.
It seemed he would have to visit Canghui Academy to meet Shi Nian. Just how powerful was the Seven-in-One Fusion Skill performed by three Soul Ancestors and four Soul Experts?
He needed to experience it firsthand.
The championship was a must.
Shortly after, Little Snake left with Little Little Snake.
Meanwhile, Dugu Feng arrived at Heavenly Dou Royal Academy with a glorious mission.
He went straight to the villa where Ye Lingling resided and had the Emerald Dragon Snake announce his presence.
The door soon opened.
Ye Lingling and Dugu Yan stepped out.
"Senior Ye, I'm here to take you to absorb a Spirit Ring," Dugu Feng said straightforwardly.
Ye Lingling seemed to have anticipated that the Dugu Family would send Dugu Feng.
She glanced at Dugu Yan beside her. "Yan Yan, I'm going to hunt for a Spirit Ring. Let's cultivate together when I return!"
Dugu Yan's face twisted with displeasure. "Ling Ling, you refused help from the academy teachers and even me—just to wait for him?"
Ye Lingling wore a veil, but her expressive eyes and soft, ethereal voice conveyed her thoughts.
"Hunting Spirit Beasts is no trivial matter. We must be cautious. Focus on your cultivation, Yan Yan."
With that, Ye Lingling walked up to Dugu Feng. "Thank you for your trouble, Dugu Feng."
Dugu Feng smiled lightly. "Just a fourth Spirit Ring, no big deal. Cousin, we're off now!"
With a wave of his right hand, the Emerald Dragon Snake's body gradually enlarged, its round form flattening.
Dugu Feng leaped onto it and extended his hand to Ye Lingling.
Ye Lingling hesitated, surprised by his directness. After a brief pause, she placed her hand in his.
"Goodbye, Yan Yan!"
Ye Lingling stepped onto the Emerald Dragon Snake, and with a gust of wind, they soared into the sky.
Only Dugu Yan remained on the ground, utterly dumbfounded.
"That shameless couple!
Ye Lingling, I—"
Dugu Yan stammered, unable to form a complete sentence.
Ye Lingling's reaction had caught her completely off guard, leaving her stunned.
Ye Lingling had actually taken Dugu Feng's hand.
Was this still the same aloof Ye Lingling?
"I hate you, Ye Lingling..."
After stewing for a while, Dugu Yan stormed off to the training grounds, needing to vent.
High above, the Emerald Dragon Snake maintained a steady speed as it flew toward Sunset Forest.
Ye Lingling had only allowed Dugu Feng to hold her hand for that brief moment.
Once steady on the Emerald Dragon Snake, she subtly withdrew her hand.
After a long silence, Ye Lingling mustered her courage. "Dugu Feng, why won't you join the Royal Fighting Team?
After the captain's death, the team's morale has been low.
The entire academy hopes you'll join. You could lead us to victory in the Soul Master Competition!"
Dugu Feng looked into her eyes and teased, "Does your captain, my cousin, also want me to join?"
After Yu Tianheng's death, Dugu Yan, the former vice-captain, was promoted to captain.
Though she was quite strong herself—having advanced to Soul Ancestor shortly after the Soul Duel in Suotuo City—she still couldn't rally the entire team's confidence.
With their strength, they could make it to the finals.
But when it came to winning the championship, not a single one of them had faith.
Under the temptation of the three Spirit Bones offered by the Spirit Hall, Dugu Feng's role became all the more crucial.
Ye Lingling hesitated. "You siblings aren't actually that hard to get along with, so why do you clash so much?"
"Yan-Yan has been working hard too. For the sake of the team's progress, she's shouldered a lot of pressure."
"I believe that even if you take over as captain, she'll cooperate with you!"
It was rare for Ye Lingling to speak so much in front of Dugu Feng at once.
After finishing, she felt a bit uneasy—hoping she hadn't angered him.
This Spirit Beast hunt had been arranged by her grandfather, and she already knew his intentions.
After meeting Dugu Feng a few times, she didn't find him as cold or difficult as rumors suggested.
That was why she didn't resist her grandfather's arrangement.
Dugu Feng must also know the intentions of both families—but what was his stance?
Ye Lingling was still a little nervous.
"Some things, you wouldn't understand," Dugu Feng said indifferently.
The Venom Cultivation and the Cultivated Serpent Lineage had two generations of grudges between them, tangled with hatred, jealousy, and disputes over cultivation methods.
Even if they cooperated now, completely erasing the rift between them wouldn't happen overnight.
It would require one side's strength to completely overwhelm the other.
For now, Dugu Bo had shared the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well with the family, aligning with them to some extent.
Dugu Feng felt this state was acceptable for the time being.
Later, once his strength grew, he'd fully subdue Dugu Bo.
At the very least, he'd make him his enforcer!
Ye Lingling was speechless. I wouldn't understand?
You're younger than me—what wouldn't I understand?
But seeing Dugu Feng's calm demeanor, she didn't press further.
Soon, the two arrived at Sunset Forest.
Without pause, Dugu Feng headed straight for the mountaintop beside the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well at the forest's center.
This was also the highest peak in Sunset Forest.
Standing atop it, they could see the endless expanse of the great forest.
Ye Lingling stared in awe at the scenery, realizing for the first time how important flight was—to witness views others couldn't.
"What Spirit Beast do we need to hunt?" Dugu Feng asked.
"A Moonlight Butterfly. My grandfather said this kind of Spirit Beast exists in Sunset Forest."
"Its Moonlight Bloodline can enhance my healing abilities!" Ye Lingling answered without hesitation.
Dugu Feng nodded and released two Nine-Section Jadeites.
"These two pets of mine usually roam freely in Sunset Forest—there's nothing here they don't know."
"A Spirit Beast like the Moonlight Butterfly, which has no offensive power, will be caught by them in no time."
Ye Lingling was stunned. "It can be done like this?"
She had assumed they'd have to venture deep into Sunset Forest and search step by step.
Was it really this simple?
Indeed, it was. While Dugu Feng cultivated in the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well, the two Emerald Dragon Snakes hadn't been idle.
They had been freely roaming and enjoying themselves in Sunset Forest.
A Spirit Beast's growth required wildness.
Dugu Feng felt that these two Spirit Beasts had been following him all along, and once they reached a certain level of growth, they would inevitably hit a bottleneck.
So he simply let the two Emerald Dragon Snakes run wild for a while.
The results were striking.
The two Spirit Beasts recklessly provoked other Spirit Beasts in the Sunset Forest.
They had practically fought against every powerful Spirit Beast there.
(End of Chapter)