Heaven Dou Empire – Dugu Manor
Dugu Bo paced back and forth across the main hall with a gloomy expression.
Standing beside him was a middle-aged man whose complexion was noticeably pale.
"Father, please don't worry. I'm fine. You don't have to—"
"What do you mean you're fine?" Dugu Bo interrupted sharply. "You fainted, and you're still telling me everything is okay?"
His stern voice echoed through the hall.
"Xin'er, tell me the truth. How serious have your symptoms become? Don't hide anything from me."
"Just because your father can endure the poison doesn't mean you can."
Dugu Bo looked at his son, Dugu Xin, with eyes filled with worry.
There was guilt, fear, and even a trace of relief in his gaze.
He blamed himself for failing to notice his son's deteriorating condition sooner, and he feared how close he had come to losing his only son.
"I... I only started losing control of my toxins a few months ago," Dugu Xin admitted quietly.
"A few months?!" Dugu Bo's eyes widened in disbelief.
"You foolish boy! How could you keep something like this from me for months?"
Dugu Xin lowered his head under his father's furious glare.
Although he was already an adult, he still felt like a child whenever he stood before Dugu Bo.
Deep down, he knew his father had every right to be angry.
Long ago, Dugu Bo had warned him about the inherited Jade Phosphor Serpent Martial Soul.
Its poison was terrifying enough to dominate an entire region once fully developed.
However, its greatest strength was also its greatest curse.
Before it harmed others, it slowly poisoned its own master.
Day after day.
Year after year.
The toxin never stopped accumulating.
Sometimes Dugu Xin wondered whether the Dugu family had offended the heavens in the distant past.
Why did other poison-type Spirit Masters not suffer from such a cruel drawback, while every generation of the Dugu family was forced to bear this curse?
---
Black World – Sunset Forest
"Xin'er..."
As Dugu Bo watched his son's image appear on the Heavenly Curtain, tears silently streamed down his face.
He had already lost his son once.
Never in his wildest dreams had he imagined he would be able to see him alive again, even if it was only through this miraculous projection.
---
Heaven Dou City
"Is... is that my father?"
Dugu Yan stared blankly at the figure on the Heavenly Curtain.
Her father had passed away before she was old enough to remember him.
Everything she knew about him had come from the stories told by her grandfather.
Now, for the first time in her life, she was finally able to see his face.
---
The Heavenly Curtain continued...
Dugu Bo looked at his son with growing concern.
The poison had erupted much earlier than he had ever expected.
Over the years, Dugu Bo had discovered one way to suppress the hereditary poison.
A Spirit Master's cultivation had to grow faster than the poison accumulated.
As long as one's spirit power remained stronger than the toxin, it could be suppressed.
That method had worked for Dugu Bo because of his exceptional talent.
His cultivation speed was fast enough to temporarily keep the poison under control.
Unfortunately, Dugu Xin was different.
His talent was inferior to his father's.
Now that the poison had awakened years earlier than expected, the situation had become even more desperate.
Dugu Bo suddenly felt powerless.
If his son wanted to suppress the poison completely, he needed to cultivate as quickly as possible.
Yet the faster he cultivated, the faster the poison would accumulate inside his body.
With Dugu Xin's talent, the poison would inevitably grow faster than his cultivation.
In other words...
The harder he cultivated, the closer he moved toward death.
But refusing to cultivate wasn't a solution either.
Even ordinary breathing, eating, and drinking naturally absorbed spirit power from the world.
Those tiny amounts accumulated over time.
Whether he cultivated or not, the poison would continue to grow.
Cultivating meant death.
Not cultivating also meant death.
For the first time in many years, Dugu Bo truly didn't know what advice he could give his own son.
Seeing his father's helpless expression, Dugu Xin forced a smile and deliberately changed the subject.
"Let's stop talking about such depressing things."
"I haven't even congratulated you yet, Father."
"You've finally reached Rank 80. Once you obtain your eighth spirit ring, you'll officially become a Spirit Douluo."
His words successfully eased the atmosphere.
Dugu Bo's expression softened.
Only two days earlier, he had broken through Rank 79 and officially advanced to Rank 80.
Now he needed only one suitable spirit ring before stepping into the realm of Spirit Douluo.
He had already dispatched people to gather information throughout the continent.
For his eighth spirit ring, he intended to find nothing less than an exceptionally powerful Spirit Beast.
"I didn't expect to break through so soon," Dugu Bo admitted with a faint smile.
"I originally thought it would take another few years."
Then his smile gradually faded.
"But reaching Spirit Douluo is one thing."
"Advancing beyond Spirit Douluo..."
"...that's another matter entirely."
"I'm afraid this may be the limit of my potential."
A trace of unwillingness flashed across his eyes.
Reaching the Spirit Douluo realm had already exhausted nearly all of his natural talent.
Only one final step separated him from becoming a Titled Douluo—the lifelong dream of countless Spirit Masters.
Yet that final step was often the hardest.
Without an extraordinary opportunity, breaking through was almost impossible.
"Father, don't be so pessimistic."
Dugu Xin smiled encouragingly.
"Everything depends on your eighth spirit ring."
"If one Spirit Beast isn't good enough, then we'll keep searching."
"No matter how long it takes, we'll find one with extraordinary potential."
A Spirit Master's upper limit depended on three major factors.
First, spirit rings.
Second, Spirit Bones.
Third, rare opportunities blessed by fate.
Spirit Bones were nearly impossible to obtain.
Unless one was incredibly fortunate, the only option was purchasing them at auctions.
Unfortunately, auction houses were filled with wealthy giants such as the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, Spirit Hall, and the two great empires.
The Dugu family simply couldn't compete with their financial resources.
As for miraculous opportunities...
Those were even rarer than Spirit Bones.
That left only spirit rings.
"I know."
Dugu Bo stroked his beard thoughtfully.
"I've already spent a fortune preparing for this hunt."
"Even if I have to wait another two years, it'll be worth it."
"This is likely the last spirit ring I'll ever absorb."
"I refuse to settle for anything less than the best."
Just as the father and son continued discussing potential Spirit Beasts, a servant hurried into the hall.
"Family Head!"
"The Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Sect has sent a messenger."
"He carries a handwritten letter from Sect Master Yu Yuanzhen."
The servant respectfully presented the sealed letter.
Dugu Xin looked at it curiously.
"A letter from His Excellency Thunder?"
"What could he possibly want?"
Dugu Bo let out a cold snort.
"What else?"
"Recruitment."
"A request for detoxification."
"Or perhaps another political scheme."
"It's always one of those."
He casually accepted the letter and broke the seal.
However, after reading only a few lines, his expression changed dramatically.
In the next instant, Dugu Bo shot to his feet, no longer able to remain seated.
Advance Chapters avilable on patreon (Obito_uchiha)