According to his father's description, the Seven-Colored Poison Pill was where all bodily toxins would be contained. When using Poison Arts in the future, toxins would no longer be condensed from Soul Power but would instead be drawn from the Seven-Colored Poison Pill.
This way, since the toxins wouldn't come into contact with the body, they wouldn't poison the Soul Master.
Just like venomous snakes—their flesh isn't poisonous. The only toxic parts of their entire bodies are the venom glands, poison sacs, and fangs.
The purpose of cultivating a Seven-Colored Poison Pill should be similar—to concentrate all toxins in one place.
But this Seven-Colored Poison Pill was completely different from a Core Pearl.
A Core Pearl was akin to the inner core of snake-type Spirit Beasts, forming part of their strength. Besides containing poison, it also held Soul Power and physical energy.
Combining this with cultivation beyond the Titled Douluo level, Dugu Feng felt the Seven-Colored Poison Pill resembled a toxin-type Soul Core, similar to a Spirit Beast's poison sac.
This poison-attributed Soul Core would serve as the vessel for all toxins.
This explanation made sense.
However, it was still just speculation for now. The truth would reveal itself through his future cultivation.
"Father, I'll train hard at the academy!"
Having gotten the answers he sought, Dugu Feng noticed his father had fallen silent again.
He left the ancestral hall.
Outside, he found Little Snake waiting for him. The short figure stood beneath an ancient tree, his stubby shadow making Dugu Feng mistake him for a stone stool at first glance.
"Young Master, let's eat!" Little Snake said flatly.
It was a phrase that could have been delivered enthusiastically, but from Little Snake's mouth, it sounded utterly lifeless.
"Please tell me it's not snake meat and fried scorpions!" Dugu Feng replied.
"No. There's wine, meat, and the Whale Oil you love—Old Snake just acquired some, five-thousand-year grade!" Little Snake stated matter-of-factly.
Dugu Feng was furious: "Who's spreading that I love Whale Oil?!"
"Old Scorpion went to see you last time and told Old Snake afterward. Old Snake's a chatterbox—now even the snakes in the jars know the Young Master loves Whale Oil!" Little Snake reported calmly.
Even the snakes in the jars knew?
Damn it, Old Scorpion—such a troublemaker.
And you, Old Snake—utterly shameless.
Angry as he was, the promise of five-thousand-year Whale Oil was too good to pass up. This meal was happening.
Dugu Feng followed Little Snake to his room.
With practiced efficiency, Little Snake retrieved food containers from his Storage Soul Tool, laying out dish after dish.
Sure enough, it was the same hearty meats Dugu Feng often asked Little Snake to buy. He'd known this straight-laced guy wouldn't come up with anything creative.
Among them was a small bowl containing crystal-clear Whale Oil—somehow, Little Snake had managed to melt it.
"Young Master, Old Snake doesn't believe you eat Whale Oil for cultivation. But I do!" Little Snake said earnestly.
"Now that's what I call a good student!" Dugu Feng nodded approvingly as he tore into a Sichuan Peppercorn Chicken.
At least Little Snake trusted him. After all their time together, there had to be some mutual faith.
Not everyone could be as shameless as Old Snake.
Little Snake picked up a steamed bun, nibbling at it in small bites—just like always.
By the time Dugu Feng had nearly cleared the table of meat dishes, Little Snake had predictably finished his single bun and bowl of soup.
Dugu Feng consumed the small portion of five-thousand-year Whale Oil as well.
Inside him, his Core Pearl began rotating, already starting the digestion process.
"Young Master, tomorrow Old Snake and I are going to the Heaven Dou Auction House. Old Snake plans to buy me a Catwoman. He said Catwomen are those whose bodies mutated during Spirit Awakening, with a strong portion of spirit beast bloodline in them. They might be able to withstand our Azure Phosphorus Serpent Venom.
I've saved up quite a bit of money over the years, Young Master. I plan to buy one for you too, so you won't have nowhere to vent after consuming the Whale Oil!"
This was the first time Little Snake had spoken so much.
Dugu Feng, who had been cultivating, widened his eyes.
"Little Snake, don't you trust me? I eat Whale Oil for cultivation, to strengthen my body so I can absorb higher-year Spirit Rings!"
"Young Master, I can trust you, but you shouldn't suppress yourself. Long-term suppression isn't good for your health!"
Little Snake's thin face twisted into a frown.
"Get out! You still don't believe me!"
"Yes, Young Master!" Without caring that this was his own room, Little Snake swiftly packed up the food box and ran out.
"Ah, even Little Snake isn't pure anymore!"
Dugu Feng sighed.
Why doesn't anyone believe me? Once my second Spirit Ring far surpasses the normal limits, they'll know I wasn't just boasting.
Dugu Feng decisively closed his eyes and resumed cultivation.
He continued until dawn the next day before returning to the academy.
Over the next three days, Dugu Feng observed carefully.
He noticed Ning Rongrong was keeping a low profile, and even Feng Ling and Feng Li no longer provoked him.
Whether in class or training in the Simulated Training Field, everything was peaceful.
It was as if there had never been any conflict between them.
As for the bet's prize—
Ning Rongrong didn't go back on her word. Within just a month, Dugu Feng received it.
When handing it over, Ning Rongrong's eyes held both confusion and disdain.
In her view, Dugu Feng cultivated with such dedication—
He couldn't possibly be someone obsessed with women.
So why would he want ten-thousand-year Whale Oil?
Was he truly a man with a composed exterior but a shameless heart?
Ning Rongrong found Dugu Feng incomprehensible.
No matter what she thought, Dugu Feng accepted the prize without hesitation.
He was now somewhat well-off.
After this incident, the two sides had almost no further contact, exchanging only occasional polite greetings when they met.
Dugu Feng was perfectly content with this arrangement.
It gave him more time to focus on cultivation.
Time flowed quietly, and nearly half a year passed in the blink of an eye. Dugu Feng turned seven, and his Soul Power reached level 16.
The energy in his two Core Pearls had accumulated to 54 points—only 46% remained before they would be fully charged again.
Once they split into four, Dugu Feng would be thrilled.
On this day—
At the gates of Dugu Mansion—
A luxurious carriage stood at the main entrance, flanked by a squad of knights dressed in the royal guard's uniform.
These knights rode elite warhorses, each one a Soul Master—truly the elite among the royal guard's finest.
Though they were waiting, not a single knight showed impatience.
Only when Dugu Shuo emerged with Dugu Feng did the knights show reverence, ushering the two into the carriage.
As the carriage moved forward—
Inside, Dugu Shuo spoke to Dugu Feng.
"Three years ago, the Second Prince suddenly died of poisoning. Two years ago, the Third Prince met the same fate. Since then, every three months, I've been summoned to the palace to examine the royal family for signs of poisoning.
You've always been sharp. This time, accompany me and observe carefully—see if you can uncover any clues!"
A thoughtful glimmer appeared in Dugu Shuo's eyes.
"Yes, Father!" Dugu Feng felt a chill run down his spine. Three years ago was precisely when he had first transmigrated here.
Judging by the timeline, this was indeed the period.
Dugu Bo had once told Tang San that Xue Qinghe poisoned the second prince at age fourteen, then poisoned the third prince the following year.
He was about the same age as Tang San, while Xue Qinghe and Qian Renxue were roughly ten years older than Tang San.
So it must have been when he was four years old that the second prince was poisoned!