Dugu Feng focused his mind on the Core Pearl. This miraculous treasure must have its uses.
Suddenly, a surge of warmth flowed out, dispersing throughout his body.
The needle-like pain wracking his entire body actually lessened slightly.
Dugu Feng was overjoyed.
As expected of the Core Pearl—a treasure only formed when the Jade Phosphorous Serpent evolved into the Jade Phosphorous Serpent Emperor.
The Core Pearl condensed by Dugu Bo contained half of his strength, including toxins, Soul Power, and physical energy.
His own Core Pearl already had its form, but what it lacked were toxins, Soul Power, and physical energy.
The poison flare-up had provided toxins for the Core Pearl, along with the energy from his recent full meal.
This meant resisting future poison flare-ups would be slightly easier.
Dugu Feng's resolve grew even firmer.
Half an hour later, the pain gradually subsided.
Dugu Feng picked up the short knife beside him and extracted the Snake Gallbladder from the Bamboo Leaf Green Snake.
He swallowed it in one gulp—it didn't taste as pungent as it had during the day.
Then came the snake meat, and even the snake blood—he didn't waste a drop.
The process of resisting the poison flare-up had taken less than an hour, but Dugu Feng's energy reserves were completely depleted.
He urgently needed replenishment.
Under Old Snake's stunned gaze, an entire snake was quickly devoured.
Dugu Feng patted his stomach and let out a satisfied burp.
"Old Snake, why don't you suffer from poison flare-ups?"
"How does the Young Master know I don't suffer from them? I simply have a bit more endurance than you."
Old Snake's tone was indifferent as he turned to leave, as if the deadly poison meant nothing to him.
"Your beddings are in the left room. Rest."
Tch. You really had to show off, didn't you? I shouldn't have asked.
Just what level was Old Snake? Dugu Feng was deeply curious. To face poison flare-ups so calmly, he had to be at least a Soul King, right?
Setting aside his thoughts, Dugu Feng entered the left room where his clothes and bedding were stored.
It seemed this would be his cultivation grounds from now on.
The Path of the Poison King would begin here!
Time flowed like water, and half a year passed in the blink of an eye.
Every day, Dugu Feng was bitten by snakes, then ate Snake Gallbladders, snake meat, and drank snake blood.
A poison flare-up struck daily—it was practically a chronicle of suffering.
Even with the aid of the Core Pearl, Dugu Feng had moments of despair. The pain was unbearable, and experiencing it every single day was torture.
Twice, during overcast and rainy days, the area around his ribs itched as if swarmed by thousands of ants, making him wish for death.
No wonder the Dugu family had so few descendants—who could endure such torment?
Dying before even awakening his Martial Soul after coming to the Douluo Continent would be too tragic.
Dugu Feng stubbornly persevered, determined to hold out until his Martial Soul awakening.
Since his poison flare-ups had started so early, just how high would his Innate Soul Power be?
He was looking forward to it.
Meanwhile, the green hue within the Core Pearl in his body had now occupied one-fifth of its space.
Originally jade-white, the bottom fifth of the Core Pearl had turned a vivid green.
This was Dugu Feng's greatest joy during his cultivation.
Watching the green energy continuously gather inside the Core Pearl gave him a profound sense of fulfillment.
It was proof that he was growing stronger every day.
He had a vague premonition—once the Core Pearl was completely filled with green energy, something would change.
At dawn, just as the sun rose, Dugu Feng finished his three-hour meditation session.
Without even meditating, yet required to sit in stillness—Old Snake called it training the ability to remain calm. Three hours of complete immobility to strengthen the Jade Phosphorous Serpent's Martial Soul power.
It probably meant being as still as a maiden in peace, yet swift as thunder in action. In any case, Old Snake truly resembled a serpent, sitting motionless from dawn till dusk. If not for his daily conversations, Dugu Feng would have thought him dead.
Dugu Feng stood at the doorway of his room, the rising sun casting its light upon him.
Anticipation gleamed in his eyes.
After a long while, a short figure appeared. The small figure moved lightly, unhurried despite Dugu Feng's eagerness, his eyes warily scanning the surroundings.
"Little Snake, you're finally here!"
"Young Master, here's your meal for today."
The one Dugu Feng called Little Snake was practically a smaller version of Dugu She—Old Snake's son.
He had also been Dugu Feng's training companion for the past six months.
Little Snake had inherited Old Snake's genes perfectly. At ten years old, he stood just a meter tall, even shorter than four-year-old Dugu Feng. Dugu Feng suspected he might grow up even shorter than Old Snake.
Taking the food box from Little Snake's hands, the two of them returned inside.
The box had three layers, and Dugu Feng swiftly arranged the plates and bowls on the table.
Four dishes, two soups, and four white steamed buns.
"Young Master, everything was bought exactly as you requested!" Little Snake swallowed hard, speaking with forced composure.
Not just him—even Dugu Feng nearly drooled at the rich aroma filling the room once the food was laid out.
Eating snake meat every day had nearly made him sick.
Today was the first day in a long time that he could freely decide his own activities.
First and foremost, he had to satisfy his cravings—though, in Dugu Feng's calm analysis, it was also to relieve the tension from training and balance his nutritional intake.
Surprisingly, Old Snake had agreed, leading to this moment.
"Braised pork, spicy chicken, carp, roast duck, mixed grain soup, and black chicken soup..."
Now this was living. Dugu Feng picked up his chopsticks and took a piece of braised pork. The glossy, translucent meat seemed to melt the moment it touched his tongue, sliding effortlessly down his throat.
He exhaled slowly, steadying himself, then remembered Little Snake. "Sit down quickly! You should eat more, or you'll end up as short as Old Snake!"
Little Snake, who had been suppressing his hunger, retorted, "I won't eat. Being small makes it easier to hide when killing."
Dugu Feng, mid-bite into a chicken leg, froze. Little Snake always had a way of ruining the mood. Frowning, he scolded, "Who talks about killing during a meal? Eat!"
"Yes, Young Master!"
Little Snake obediently sat down and picked up a steamed bun to gnaw on.
Dugu Feng sighed inwardly. Old Snake had raised quite the unusual son.
He said no more, eating slowly but steadily.
Though his pace seemed unhurried, the food disappeared quickly once it entered his mouth.
Dugu Feng felt his teeth were particularly suited for meat—he had noticed this before when eating snake.
They were sharp.
Even connected pieces of duck meat only needed a few chews before he could swallow them.
So while he appeared to be eating gracefully, the duck was soon gone, followed by the chicken, the fish, and the braised pork—long since vanished.
Finally, he ate three plain steamed buns, while Little Snake had one bun, a chicken leg, and a duck leg.
"Little Snake, what's your dream?" Dugu Feng wiped his mouth and asked.
"Surpass Old Snake and poison a Titled Douluo!" Little Snake answered without hesitation.
"Oh? Has Old Snake poisoned a Soul Douluo before?" Dugu Feng keenly noticed the implication in Little Snake's words.
Little Snake's expression turned reverent.
"He has. It's Old Snake's proudest achievement. He reminds me every few days to learn from him."
"Years ago, when the Pope of the Martial Soul Hall died, conflict broke out between the Martial Soul Hall and the world's top sect, the Clear Sky Sect. The spirit master world fell into chaos. Old Snake hid for half a month before poisoning a major enemy of our family—that opponent was a Soul Douluo!"
Little Snake spoke with great authority.