"Old Nine, have you found Yang Wushuang?" Dugu Feng suddenly asked.
Old Nine was slightly surprised and answered without hesitation, "After returning from Suotuo City, we conducted a thorough search throughout Heaven Dou City. We've confirmed that the owner of a pharmacy on Tianhuang Street is Yang Wushuang. However, due to concerns about Spirit Hall backing him, the clan leader didn't allow us to take action."
Dugu Feng nodded. Finding him was enough. He had some plans regarding the Destruction Clan. Now it was time for action.
When it came to poison-wielding families, only the Dugu Family could dominate. The Destruction Clan must either submit or be destroyed. Dugu Feng thought coldly.
Sunset Forest wasn't far from Heaven Dou City. Soon, Dugu Feng and Old Nine's father and son arrived at the spacious cave where they had met last time. Surprisingly, Dugu Shuo was already waiting there.
It seemed Old Nine and his father had means of communication. Dugu Feng guessed the crawling centipedes in the cave played a role.
Dugu Shuo had completely lost his usual composure and calmness, his face filled with excitement. Even with his level of self-restraint, seeing his son return safely after three years was hard to contain.
"Feng'er, you actually made it out of Slaughter City!" Dugu Shuo felt the family's fortune was about to rise.
Dugu Feng didn't speak. He directly activated his Martial Soul Avatar, and surging white light enveloped the entire cave. Intense Killing Intent, carrying coldness, bloodlust, evil, and slaughter, covered Dugu Shuo, Old Nine, and Xiao Jiu.
Though all three had higher cultivation than Dugu Feng, they were suddenly overwhelmed by visions of mountains of corpses and seas of blood. It was as if Dugu Feng before them was a God of Slaughter, one who treated human lives as worthless grass.
"Father, I've worried you. Slaughter City is a domain left by the Asura God. He set trials there, and passing them grants his inheritance. This inheritance is the Slaughter God Domain, which can enhance oneself while restricting opponents! This is what I gained in Slaughter City," Dugu Feng explained to the three.
A Deity? A domain? Dugu Shuo, Old Nine, and Xiao Jiu felt as if they were dreaming. Legendary things had actually descended upon the Dugu Family.
"Feng'er, if you could conquer such a dangerous place as Slaughter City, what difficulty could possibly stop you now? Tell me about your experiences these past three years," Dugu Shuo eagerly wanted to know how his son had lived all these years.
No matter how he imagined it, he never expected his son's gains to be so great. But greater gains surely meant greater risks and hardships endured.
"Father, Old Scorpion and I first went to the northern grasslands, where I practiced Blue Phosphorous Twelve Fingers with the Snake King Vulture. Then we went to a snowy mountain in the far north... After that, we reached Slaughter City... After obtaining the Slaughter Domain, I met with the King of Slaughter once before returning to Heaven Dou City!" Dugu Feng detailed the situation with the Ice Jade Emperor Scorpion and Slaughter City to the group.
He particularly emphasized the other two Gods of Slaughter—Tang Hao and Bibi Dong—and the agreement he reached with the King of Slaughter. As for how he knew Tang Hao and Bibi Dong had obtained the God of Slaughter positions, he naturally attributed it all to the deceased Tang Cheng.
"Sixty consecutive victories, then besieging Tang Cheng, coercing and tempting the King of Slaughter—young master, you are truly astonishing.
I believe you will surely lead the Dugu Family to become the most powerful clan!"
Old Nine, with his blood-red hair, trembled with excitement, his crimson beard quivering as if boiling with fervor.
These were feats even he could not accomplish if he were there.
"No wonder so many major factions sent talented Soul Masters to Slaughter City in search of opportunities, yet none returned.
Turns out Soul Skills couldn't even be used there, not to mention that terrifying mental poison..."
Beside him, Xiao Jiu shuddered, feeling only that Slaughter City was far too sinister.
Dugu Shuo was silent for a moment before speaking. "Tang Hao and Bibi Dong both obtained the God of Slaughter's divine seat—just how strong must they be now?
However, the Clear Sky Sect operates in the open, while we remain in the shadows. There's no need to worry.
The only concern is the news you obtained from that Xiahou Family member—Tang Bo isn't dead. After hiding in the shadows for so many years, he must be plotting something. The family must act cautiously from now on.
Old Nine, focus your investigations around Heaven Dou City. This concerns the family's safety!"
Both Old Nine and Xiao Jiu nodded solemnly. The revelations today were too shocking.
All of them involved the continent's top powers.
Compared to them, the Dugu Family was still far too weak.
"Father, let me use my External Soul Bone to detoxify our clansmen. Its devouring power can precisely extract a portion of the stubborn toxins from their bodies!"
Dugu Feng finally spoke.
Dugu Shuo nodded. "Start with the Nine Heavens Centipede Soul Masters. Feng'er, don't push yourself.
Once the detoxification is done, return to the academy.
You've just emerged from Slaughter City and need time to consolidate your gains.
Also, Yang Wushuang and the Destruction Clan will be left to you. The Nine Heavens Centipede Soul Masters are at your disposal!"
Dugu Feng was speechless. Though he had always intended to contribute to the family, Dugu Shuo's attitude of "I trust you completely" felt oddly unsettling.
Thinking back to how Dugu Shuo had raised him since childhood—the relentless pressure, the "succeed or perish" mentality—it was nothing short of extreme.
Had he known that when Old Scorpion informed Dugu Shuo of his journey to Slaughter City, Dugu Shuo's reaction was simply, "My son is tough. My son won't die."
It had to be said—once a madman like Dugu Shuo fixated on something, his conviction ran bone-deep.
In his heart, Dugu Feng had been unbreakable from birth, through his poisoning, up until now.
Dugu Feng had emerged as the family's savior during its darkest hour.
Dugu Shuo firmly believed this was the result of generations of effort, that Dugu Feng was a deity's gift to the Dugu Family. What was there to worry about?
With that, Dugu Shuo departed.
Old Nine and Xiao Jiu both looked at Dugu Feng with anticipation.
Without hesitation, Dugu Feng summoned the pincer-like appendages from his arms, combining them with his Core Pearl to perform the first round of healing on the two.
This not only alleviated their toxins but also provided his Core Pearl with high-quality poison—truly killing two birds with one stone.
Aside from Old Nine and Xiao Jiu, there were seven other Nine Heavens Centipede Soul Masters in the family: one Soul King, three Soul Ancestors, one Soul Expert, and two Great Soul Masters.
In other words, the Dugu Family had nine hidden Soul Masters in total.
Dugu Feng detoxified two each day, completing the process over five days.
He then proceeded to treat Soul Masters from other branches in the family ancestral hall, solidifying his standing within the Dugu Family.
What could help them survive made this young master truly worthy of respect.
In the end, Dugu Feng performed a healing session for his father, Dugu Shuo.
He finally learned his father's cultivation level had actually reached seventy-eight.
Moreover, Dugu Feng discovered his father was quite daring—he had forced a significant portion of the stubborn toxins in his body into the Soul Bone in his head, showing little fear of death.
(End of Chapter)