The carriage closest to the Dugu Family was the Ge Family's.
Ge Long, the empire's marshal, was also stunned at this moment.
As someone who had previously collaborated with the Dugu Family, he was all too familiar with Dugu Shuo's Poison Art. His family had long listed the Dugu Family as the most untouchable faction.
Yet even so, he was shocked this time.
The poison affecting Ge Ying might not have been Dugu Shuo's doing, but the poison targeting the Elephant Armor Sect was undoubtedly his handiwork.
What in the world was happening?
He could only feel his own ignorance.
The Elephant Armor Sect, the Sacred Dragon Sect, and the Dugu Family seemed to be locked in a covert struggle—yet he had known nothing about it.
Ge Long could only force a bitter smile.
"Father, the Sacred Dragon Sect also had screams earlier—someone was poisoned. Since everyone from the Elephant Armor Sect is already dead, let's save the Sacred Dragon Sect's people first!"
A soft voice broke the silence.
It was Dugu Feng speaking.
"Alright, let's save the poisoned Soul Masters from the Sacred Dragon Sect first!"
Dugu Shuo turned his head and looked toward the Sacred Dragon Sect's carriage ahead.
Standing beside the carriage was Tuoba Xi, clad in gleaming silver leather armor with a large golden dragon embroidered on his chest.
Tuoba Xi was also shaken by what had just transpired—he knew even more than Huyan Zhen.
He was well aware that the one secretly poisoning was Yang Wushuang, younger brother of the Destruction Clan's leader, Yang Wudi. After the Clear Sky Sect's retreat, Yang Wushuang had been captured by the Spirit Hall and defected to them.
It was precisely because of Yang Wushuang, a master of poison, that he had no fear of the Dugu Family.
Thus, he knew even more clearly that the Elephant Armor Sect's gruesome fate was not the work of some hidden poisoner—the hidden poisoner was Yang Wushuang himself. Why would he poison Huyan Zhen?
That meant the poisoner could only be the Dugu Family.
Moreover, the Antidote Pills Yang Wushuang had provided were completely ineffective.
He still had two of those Antidote Pills in his mouth, both already crushed between his teeth.
Yet he felt no sense of safety. Behind him, the ten Soul Masters were all pale with terror.
Poison—it was too terrifying. Some of the Soul Masters were even trembling, their hands shaking uncontrollably.
"Elder, elder! The Dugu Family must have sensed our plans—they struck first and poisoned Huyan Zhen to death. This poison... I can't detect it, I can't resist it—"
Tuoba Xi transmitted his voice through compressed sound, calling for backup.
Had he spoken aloud, his voice would have been trembling.
Dugu Shuo's footsteps were light, yet in the dead of night, they were unmistakable.
Step by step, he approached the Sacred Dragon Sect's carriage.
At the front of the carriage lay a Soul Master named Tuo Ba Yan—the very one who had pretended to be poisoned and let out those agonized screams.
His face was contorted with bulging veins, his eyes bloodshot, his skin tinged blue-black.
He, too, sensed Dugu Shuo's approach.
His heart was gripped by sheer terror.
Huyan Hong, the Huyan Family member who had faked poisoning, had undoubtedly died first.
The Dugu Family's ruthlessness knew no bounds.
Poisoning in secret, then pinning the blame on others.
Too cruel.
No—I can't die.
Tuo Ba Yan's eyes suddenly flickered with cunning. Gritting his teeth, he swallowed the antidote.
"Ahhh—the poison is killing me! It hurts, it hurts!"
Tuo Ba Yan roared as seven Spirit Rings surged around him. A white dragon erupted from the ground and vanished in the blink of an eye—its speed rivaling flight.
He was, after all, a Soul Saint—yet he fled.
Tuo Ba Yan was somewhat clever—as he escaped, he attributed his actions to the poison. The pain had been too unbearable; he couldn't endure it.
The other Soul Masters behind Tuoba Xi were instantly dumbfounded.
You're poisoned—how can you run?
You...
You're inhuman! Should we run too? If we flee, wouldn't that confirm we have ulterior motives? But if we don't run, we'll die.
They all knew very well that Huyan Zhen had definitely been poisoned by Dugu Shuo.
Trash, Tuoba Xi cursed inwardly.
I haven't even run yet, what are you afraid of?
I have backing—I refuse to believe Dugu Shuo would dare poison me.
A cold glint flashed in Tuoba Xi's eyes as he fixed his gaze on Dugu Shuo.
The other party must have known about his collusion with the Elephant Armor Sect to kill them.
That's why he poisoned the Elephant Armor Sect's people without hesitation.
But our Sacred Dragon Sect is different—we answer directly to the Spirit Hall.
I refuse to believe you'd dare—
Dugu Shuo's expression remained indifferent. Though Tuo Ba Yan had escaped, he was still near the Sacred Dragon Sect's carriage.
Thud, thud, thud. Dugu Shuo's footsteps sounded like a death knell.
Tuoba Xi could even hear the frantic heartbeats of the Soul Masters behind him.
They felt as if death by poison could come at any moment.
Their minds teetered on the brink of collapse.
With every step Dugu Shuo took, their terror only grew.
Tuoba Xi swallowed hard and took a half-step back.
Senior, if you don't come soon, I'm going to run.
It'd be humiliating, but survival mattered more.
Tuoba Xi secretly gathered his Soul Power, preparing to flee like Tuo Ba Yan.
"Trash!" A voice scolded in his mind.
Though it was berating him, Tuoba Xi wasn't the least bit angry—instead, he was overjoyed.
"There's no need to trouble Clan Leader Dugu with the antidote! A senior from the Spirit Hall has arrived—they'll surely help us detoxify!"
Tuoba Xi's eyes brightened as he exhaled in relief.
The next moment, a figure appeared atop the carriage.
This figure was entirely shrouded in black cloth, blending into the dark night sky. Only the gleam of his eyes revealed his presence.
No one knew how he had appeared.
Nor could anyone make out his features.
With a mere wave of his hands, a barrier seemed to form around them, shielding the Sacred Dragon Sect's members.
Tuoba Xi unconsciously wiped his forehead—he had nearly fled just now.
Senior, you've finally come.
"No need for an antidote now. What a shame, what a shame!" Dugu Shuo halted his steps.
He hadn't noticed the figure's arrival at first—only after Tuoba Xi spoke did he sense someone standing atop the carriage.
This was undoubtedly a Titled Douluo from the Spirit Hall.
And a Spirit Hall Titled Douluo was not someone he could afford to provoke.
"Greetings, Elder Gui Mei!" Tuoba Xi narrowed his eyes and bowed.
This appearance could only belong to that elder of the Spirit Hall, the one often seen as a shadowy figure.
According to Spirit City's intelligence, this elder was highly favored by the new Pope and frequently acted as her representative in handling affairs.
"Clan Leader Dugu, your methods are truly ruthless!"
Gui Mei's voice was ethereal, his tone icy yet oddly praising.
"Elder Gui Mei, what do you mean by that? Do you also believe I was the one who poisoned them?"
"My Dugu Family may specialize in poison, but we don't use it indiscriminately."
"I already know who the real culprit is—it must be the Destruction Clan."
"When the Destruction Clan was under the Clear Sky Sect's command, they were notorious for their poison, carrying out countless underhanded deeds for them."
"Rumors say the Destruction Clan has infiltrated the Star Luo Empire—they must have been recruited by the Dai Family."
"With the Clear Sky Sect's retreat, a share of benefits has been left unclaimed. I suspect the Zhu and Dai Families seek to monopolize them."
"That's why they had someone poison us along the way—to weaken our strength."
What a pity for the Elephant Armor Sect. I didn't even have time to save them before they were poisoned.
"Elder Gui Mei, you must uphold justice in the Suotuo City resolution!"
Dugu Shuo spoke with some anger, knowing the Spirit Hall wasn't to be trifled with yet—they couldn't afford to break relations
completely.
"Hmph, you claim it's the Destruction Clan, so it must be them? Do they truly possess such capability? To silently poison Huyan Zhen without a trace?"
Gui Mei's figure remained motionless, but a phantom-like shadow separated from his body and pressed down upon Dugu Shuo.