The Great Soul Arena's controller resolution, held once every six years, was about to commence.
This was a grand event involving various factions.
With the Defense Clan, supported by the Clear Sky Sect, withdrawing and leaving behind interests up for grabs, it was bound to be a fierce battle.
Dugu Shuo's eyes turned icy. "Whoever dares to make a move had better be prepared to lose a few teeth.
Playing with poison? Let's see who outdoes whom!"
Dugu Shuo snorted coldly.
Eventually, the two arrived at a slightly larger cave.
"Greetings, Clan Leader! Greetings, Young Master!" Two figures stood waiting inside.
One was older—an elderly man with faintly reddish eyebrows and beard, giving him a rather fearsome appearance.
Even more terrifying was his blood-red hair, neatly cascading down his back, which made Dugu Feng glance at him twice.
Behind him stood a man in his thirties, bearing some resemblance to the elder—likely his son.
Dugu Shuo nodded slightly and said, "Old Jiu, your skills are needed this time!"
Dugu Feng guessed that since his Martial Soul was the Nine Heavens Centipede, he was called Old Jiu?
The elder referred to as Old Jiu stiffened, his face twisting in fury. "Clan Leader, last time when the Clear Sky Sect went into seclusion and the world fell into chaos, we weren't even called upon. Now, who—who dares provoke our family?!"
The man behind him also looked shocked.
Their involvement meant the family was facing a life-or-death crisis.
"There's a poison expert in Heaven Dou City. Their methods resemble those of the Destruction Clan—likely either Yang Wudi or Yang Wushuang, one of those brothers.
They've emboldened some faction to defy us!"
Dugu Shuo smirked coldly.
Old Snake had once said that the Dugu family's greatest reliance was this: unless every last member of the family was wiped out in one go, the survivors would unleash endless poison attacks—something no faction wanted to face, as poison was truly difficult to counter.
But if the other side had a poison master stronger than the Dugu family—
One who could both poison and detoxify better—
Then naturally, they wouldn't fear the Dugu family.
Clearly, this was now the case.
"The Destruction Clan has always remained aloof in the Star Luo Empire, and Yang Wushuang disappeared when the Clear Sky Sect went into seclusion.
Could they have pledged allegiance to some faction? Clan Leader, I will find this person—no one is allowed to use poison in our territory in Heaven Dou City!"
Old Jiu declared fiercely.
Dugu Feng suppressed a laugh at Old Jiu's bold words.
"Father, if the Spirit Hall is making a move, it must be connected to the upcoming resolution of the six great clans. During the resolution, they might rely on allies like the Sacred Dragon Sect or the Elephant Armor Sect!"
Dugu Feng cautioned.
Old Jiu and the man behind him both turned to look at Dugu Feng—this was their first time seeing him.
Dugu Shuo clasped his hands behind his back, pondering for a moment before saying, "Feng'er, your reasoning is sound. Old Jiu, this time, follow us from the shadows and investigate. Find this poison expert."
Old Jiu was startled—it seemed the Clan Leader valued the Young Master's words highly!
He knew the Clan Leader had always made decisions alone, yet this time, he had listened to the Young Master.
"As you command, Clan Leader!" Old Jiu acknowledged.
"In the future, if I am absent, you, Little Jiu, and all those with the Nine Heavens Centipede Martial Soul will follow Feng'er's orders!" Dugu Shuo added.
This was precisely why he had brought Dugu Feng along.
The family was on the brink of a storm, and he had to prepare for the worst.
Old Jiu and the man beside him, Little Jiu, wore grave expressions as they replied, "Understood!"
Dugu Feng's heart stirred. Xue Ye the Great's poisoning had made his father acutely aware of the looming crisis.
But what intrigued him more was how his father planned to counter it.
The next day, the delegation for the Six Families' resolution was set to depart.
The location of the meeting, however, was something Dugu Feng had never anticipated—a name all too familiar: Suotuo City.
Was it a coincidence? Or was there something special about Suotuo City?
Suotuo City was the second most important city in the Balak Kingdom after Balak City itself.
And the Balak Kingdom directly bordered the Star Luo Empire.
Suotuo City was the first major city one would encounter upon entering the Heaven Dou Empire from Star Luo territory.
Moreover, situated at the heart of the fertile Liman Plains, Suotuo City was the granary of Balak, naturally making it a logistical stronghold.
At the same time, if the border were breached, Suotuo City would be the first major city capable of mounting a defense.
Shrek Academy had been established here, and Dai Mubai and Zhu Zhuqing would eventually appear in this city. It couldn't be a mere coincidence, Dugu Feng mused.
The other two families controlling the Great Soul Arena—the Zhu Family and the White Tiger Sect's Dai Family—were both from the Star Luo Empire.
This location seemed to have been chosen with their convenience in mind.
Outside Heaven Dou City.
Dugu Shuo, Dugu Feng, Little Snake, Old Snake, Old Scorpion, and five other Soul Masters from the Dugu Family stood before an extravagant, massive carriage, ready to depart.
The carriage was pulled by eight warhorses infused with Spirit Beast bloodlines. It was three meters wide, spacious enough to accommodate over ten people, serving as their mode of transport for the journey.
Earlier, Old Snake had briefed him on the five Soul Masters. Their Martial Souls were all poison-based: two Ice Toads, one Serpentine Scorpion, and one Cave Centipede.
The last one had a rather peculiar Martial Soul—a Flower Spider, a strikingly colorful and naturally venomous arachnid.
All family members, truly a gathering of the five poisons.
Ahead of them stood another carriage belonging to the Ge Family. Ge Ying was waiting there, and inside the carriage was likely his father, Ge Long, a formidable Soul Douluo.
Both groups had been waiting for a while, and impatience was beginning to set in when another carriage approached from a distance.
This carriage was half again as tall as a normal one.
As soon as it halted, a massive mountain of flesh leaped down from it. The man stood at least two and a half meters tall, with dark skin and eyes as large as bronze bells.
The ground trembled the moment he landed.
His hair and beard were snow-white, suggesting he was at least sixty years old.
Thud! Thud! Thud!
The earth shook several more times.
Over a dozen figures, each standing over two meters tall, jumped down from both sides of the carriage. Dugu Feng counted thirteen, making fourteen in total with the first man.
It was a wonder how the warhorses had managed to pull such a load.
The fourteen men formed ranks, moving forward slowly like a solid wall of flesh.
Such a lineup could only belong to the Elephant Armor Sect.
Dugu Feng and Old Snake exchanged a glance, both flashing a hint of ruthlessness.
The Elephant Armor Sect had brought an unusually large contingent, confirming their suspicions—these people were up to no good.
"Apologies for our tardiness, everyone. Unlike you, we weren't already in Heaven Dou City. Please forgive the delay."
"This meeting will be attended by us and representatives from Thunder Academy on behalf of the Five Element Alliance. They'll arrive shortly!"
Huyan Zhen laughed heartily, his booming voice ringing out as he repeatedly cupped his fists in greeting to those around him.
Dugu Shuo gave a silent glance but said nothing more.
"So this must be Feng'er? If the families decide to hold a Soul Duel this time, Feng'er will surely shine brilliantly.
Excellent, truly excellent! I've heard that even two disciples from the Wind Sword Sect combined couldn't defeat him alone at the Heaven Dou Royal Junior Academy.
The Dugu family has produced yet another genius!"
Huyan Zhen seemed completely oblivious to Dugu Shuo's cold demeanor.
Instead, he moved closer to the Dugu family's carriage, praising Dugu Feng enthusiastically.
Dugu Feng's gaze turned icy. Whether it was preconceived bias or not, he sensed a hint of regret in Huyan Zhen's tone—as if lamenting that such a promising genius would soon meet his end.
We'll see who dies first, Dugu Feng thought coldly.
(End of Chapter)