"You're saying he can unleash the Azure Phosphorus Violet Venom through his fingers, swift as a sharp sword!" Dugu Bo confirmed.
Dugu Yan nodded eagerly, her eyes filled with anticipation.
In that moment, Dugu Bo understood his granddaughter's thoughts—she must be envious of the power of Dugu Feng's Soul Skills.
He pulled Dugu Yan down to sit beside him.
With a sorrowful expression, he sighed, "Yan Yan, you've grown up now. It's time I told you about our Martial Soul.
Our Azure Phosphorus Serpent Spirit has a flaw—its venom is extremely potent. Enemies struck by it will dissolve into pus within moments.
But the first to be poisoned is ourselves. Your father died because of it, and your mother couldn't withstand the Azure Phosphorus venom either.
You..." Dugu Bo sighed again. "You were born with this venom in your blood. Once your cultivation reaches a certain stage, it will erupt."
Dugu Yan's face turned deathly pale as her suspicions were confirmed—the truth was even harsher than she'd imagined. "What about you, Grandfather?"
"Me? Hah. Even though I've reached the rank of Titled Douluo, I still suffer from venom outbreaks. The only reason I've survived this long is because I found a special herb garden that suppresses the toxins in my body!" Dugu Bo said helplessly.
Others only saw his strength, unaware of the suffering he endured behind the scenes.
"What about Dugu Feng and the others?" Dugu Yan was particularly worried that they might not suffer from venom outbreaks—that would make her feel terribly unbalanced.
If their Soul Skills were more powerful and they didn't have to endure venom outbreaks, she'd go mad.
"They have it worse than us. I've told you before that the Dugu family is divided into two branches—we follow the control path of Serpent Cultivation, while they pursue the assault path of Venom Cultivation.
Your first two Soul Skills are enhancements, and the Spirit Rings you absorbed weren't from poisonous Spirit Beasts. Based on my judgment, your venom outbreak should at least be delayed until you reach Soul King rank.
But Dugu Feng was born with the venom. At his age, to have mastered the Azure Phosphorus Violet Venom so thoroughly... he's probably already suffering outbreaks as a Great Soul Master.
The greater the talent, the sooner the death!"
Dugu Bo spoke coldly.
Dugu Yan was stunned. So this was why her Spirit Rings had been arranged this way—her grandfather had been trying to delay her venom outbreak to prevent an early death.
"If that's the case, then they..." Dugu Yan still didn't fully understand.
She wanted to say—wasn't that just seeking death?
Why would they cultivate that way?
"They're all madmen. Starting from your great-grandfather, they went completely insane.
For the so-called 'family glory,' your great-grandfather stubbornly believed that the Azure Phosphorus Serpent Spirit should only absorb Spirit Rings from Deadly Poison Soul Beasts and should cultivate Mixed Poisons.
Either succeed in solving the venom problem, or die. He even said it was better to die from poison than to die of old age!"
Dugu Bo's face twisted in pain as he continued, "He was my father, yet he cut off all my family resources and gave everything to my elder brother. He said I lacked the courage of a true Soul Master, that I feared death.
And what was the result? He couldn't withstand the deadly poison and died before reaching Soul Saint rank. My elder brother didn't reach Soul Saint either.
My nephew Dugu Shuo did break through, but his body is ravaged by Mixed Poisons—who knows how long he has left?
Dugu Feng inherited his venom and could die from an outbreak at any moment.
And I? I cultivated all the way to Titled Douluo!"
By the end, Dugu Bo's face was contorted with fury, clearly recalling painful memories.
Back in the family, all he had ever received was disregard and mockery.
When he and his elder brother Dugu Hao engaged in a Soul Duel before reaching Soul Saint rank, he unleashed all his pent-up resentment in one go, nearly crippling the other's Martial Soul.
At that moment, he proved himself right, making everyone who had looked down on him regret their actions.
Dugu Yan finally understood everything.
Whenever Grandfather mentioned Dugu Feng's lineage, his expression would darken. He hadn't even allowed Dugu Shuo to pay respects when Father died. Now she comprehended it all.
After a long silence, Dugu Bo regained his composure and said, "Yan'er, even if we follow the control path, it only delays the onset and severity of the poison. Whether one survives still depends on themselves."
"Your father loved your mother too deeply. After her passing, his will shattered—that's why he couldn't endure. But I believe my Yan'er would never abandon her grandfather."
In the Dugu family, affection was a luxury, and death was all too common.
Dugu Bo knew exactly how many women Dugu Shuo had lost—the man was truly cold-blooded.
He understood better than anyone that the Poison Cultivation Lineage raised their descendants with utter ruthlessness, nurturing nothing but cold-hearted, viperous individuals.
"Grandfather, please don't say more. I'll train diligently—I'll never leave you." She threw herself into Dugu Bo's arms, sobbing.
Dugu Bo gently patted Dugu Yan's shoulder, his eyes filled with reminiscence and hope.
According to his granddaughter's description, Dugu Feng was exceptionally talented.
But the more gifted one was, the stronger the internal toxins—and the earlier death would come.
In truth, had Dugu Feng not crossed over, the original host—inheriting Dugu Shuo's potent bloodline toxins—would have succumbed to poisoning at age four.
Father, Elder Brother—you were wrong. I was right.
Dugu Bo saw clearly: that lineage would inevitably die out.
To him, they were already madmen.
In another Dugu Mansion.
Within the ancestral hall.
Both Dugu Shuo and Dugu Feng knelt there.
They prostrated before the memorial tablets of Grandfather Dugu Hao and Great-Grandfather Dugu Hai.
After returning, Dugu Feng had questioned Dugu Shuo about past events, ultimately bringing them to this hallowed space.
"...Your great-grandfather concluded that by cultivating Overlord Venom to its extreme, one could condense a Seven-Colored Poison Pill upon reaching Titled Douluo rank. This would contain all toxins, completely eliminating the risk of poisoning—even gradually correcting the Martial Soul's flaws."
"Thus he decreed all clan members must follow the Poison Cultivation Lineage. The Cultivated Serpent Lineage would receive no resources—better to let the family lineage die out than leave the Martial Soul defects unresolved."
"This caused your second grandfather to leave in anger, pursuing solitary cultivation."
"Later, he challenged your grandfather to a duel before Soul Saint rank."
"Your grandfather still regarded him as a younger brother, but he already saw your grandfather as an enemy—showing no mercy in their clash."
"How could your grandfather's Soul Skills, cultivated through Overlord Venom, be inferior?"
"But a moment of soft-heartedness left him vulnerable to a Soul Skill attack, damaging his Martial Soul beyond repair—forever barring his path beyond Soul Saint."
Dugu Shuo recounted these events with detached calm.
How ruthless Dugu Bo was!
Dugu Feng was shocked—this was practically Dugu Bo murdering his own elder brother.
The great-grandfather's decision couldn't be called wrong.
But it had undoubtedly planted seeds of hatred in Dugu Bo.
That hatred transferred to Dugu Feng's grandfather, yielding this tragic outcome.
"By the time your grandfather lay dying, your second grandfather had already broken through to Soul Douluo."
"But he remained convinced Venom Cultivation was the only true path—success or death."
"Ancestors bless you, allowing you to awaken Innate Full Soul Power. I believe you can fulfill your grandfather's dream—cultivating the Seven-Colored Poison Pill and completely altering our clan's Martial Soul defect!"
Dugu Shuo began murmuring again.
Naturally, another round of kowtowing was unavoidable.
Dugu Feng sighed inwardly. Dugu Shuo's obsession ran deep—this was the fixation of three generations. To cultivate the Overlord Venom and condense the Seven-Colored Poison Pill, unafraid even of death... they were truly madmen.
Had he not transmigrated here, Dugu Feng suspected Dugu Shuo would have continued finding women to bear children, then coldly training them.
Until the bloodline was utterly extinguished.
Dugu Feng was also deeply curious—when he reached Titled Douluo, could he truly condense such a poison pill as his great-grandfather envisioned?