Dugu Feng was astonished. Soul Bones could resolve their toxin issues—a matter of life and death for the Dugu family.
He recalled that during the Soul Master Competition, Huyan Zhen's grandson Huyan Li possessed a Soul Bone.
Could this be when he obtained it?
After a moment, Dugu Shuo calmly said, "Old Snake, you go. Retrieve the Soul Bone and take Feng'er with you. While you're at it, hunt for his first Spirit Ring."
"Yes, Clan Leader!" Old Snake replied impassively, as though it were a trivial matter.
"Yes, Father!" Dugu Feng suppressed his excitement, maintaining a composed expression. Finally, he would hunt for his Spirit Ring.
At that moment, Old Scorpion suddenly stood and approached Dugu Feng. "This Storage Soul Tool is suitable for the young master. It has thirty-six cubic meters of space. Consider it my first gift to you."
Old Scorpion presented a green belt adorned with a shimmering snake pattern.
Dugu Feng immediately glanced at Dugu Shuo. A storage space—essential for travel and combat—was something he had long desired. Thirty-six cubic meters would be more than enough.
Dugu Shuo took the belt and stepped forward, fastening it around Dugu Feng himself. "This is your first time leaving home. Listen to Old Snake in all matters."
Dugu Feng was flustered by the unexpected care. Even in his childhood memories, this might have been the first time Dugu Shuo had shown him concern.
"Yes, Father. I'll be careful."
Dugu Shuo nodded.
Old Snake bowed to Dugu Shuo before leading Dugu Feng out.
Though their mission was to seize a Soul Bone, Old Snake seemed unhurried. After waiting briefly at the estate gates, a carriage arrived, and the two boarded it, heading out of the city.
The carriage moved steadily. Through the window, Dugu Feng observed the bustling crowds, feeling as though he had stepped into another world. Life within the family had always been cold and solitary—the serpent's bloodline seemed to have influenced him, making him accustomed to loneliness.
But now, witnessing the vibrant Heaven Dou City, Dugu Feng truly sensed the reality of the Douluo World.
Today marked the first step toward becoming the Poison King.
He would rise as the strongest of his era—revered and feared. His legend would spread to every corner of the Douluo Continent, ensuring his transmigration was not in vain.
Dugu Feng lost himself in grand visions.
Soon, the carriage left the city, traveling along a broad road.
Old Snake remained meditative, as composed as he had been in the estate. Dugu Feng couldn't help but admire his calm.
For a while, Dugu Feng experimented with channeling Soul Power into the Storage Soul Tool before playing with the two Nine-Section Jadeites coiled around his wrist.
Adult Nine-Section Jadeites measured only five inches—just enough to wrap twice around his wrist like bracelets, their emerald glow shimmering faintly.
Guiding wisps of warmth from his Core Pearl, he enveloped the two little snakes.
Their crimson eyes flickered with excitement. Life with Dugu Feng was pure luxury.
Even in their infancy, they were receiving treatment befitting a Titled Douluo—nurtured by a Core Pearl.
Dugu Feng intended to raise these Nine-Section Jadeites into formidable Spirit Beasts. They would become his hidden trump cards.
Silence gradually settled over the carriage as half a day slipped by unnoticed.
The towering Sunset Forest came into view.
The dense, towering trees blocked out the sunlight completely.
As soon as Dugu Feng stepped into the forest, he felt the surroundings grow much darker.
For some reason, the natural energy here gave him an inexplicably comfortable feeling.
Dugu Feng narrowed his eyes—could it be the influence of the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well at the forest's center?
Sunset Forest was notorious for its abundance of highly venomous Spirit Beasts—Human-Faced Demon Orbs, Cave Demon Spiders, Earth Kings, and more—making it a veritable paradise for poisonous creatures.
Most of his first few Spirit Rings would likely come from this very forest.
"Keep up!"
Old Snake seemed like a different person now, his figure concealed within the shadows of the trees as he darted from one trunk to another with lightning speed.
Dugu Feng marveled at Old Snake's swift, thunder-like movements—wasn't this the footwork of the Serpent's Belly Sword?
He attempted to follow.
The two of them moved faster and faster, as if they had a clear destination in mind.
Then, at some point, the terrain became less even.
Small rocky hills even appeared.
Dugu Feng's eyes lit up—he could already sense the serpent-type Spirit Beasts hidden within.
Rustle, rustle...
The faint sounds reached his ears, and the air carried a faint, musky scent.
"A Spirit Beast is approaching!" Dugu Feng tensed.
"Good, very alert. But it's just a hundred-year-old Mandala Snake—no need to worry. Its senses will only perceive us as fellow serpents!" Old Snake had already detected it.
This was a famous Serpent Den within Sunset Forest.
For dozens of kilometers around, it was a dense gathering place for serpent-type Spirit Beasts.
The two continued forward, searching for a Jade Phosphorous Serpent of suitable age.
Soon, another hissing sound echoed.
A massive serpent, its body emerald green but with black-green scales around its neck, appeared.
"Found it!
To determine a Jade Phosphorous Serpent's age, look at the number of black-green scales on its neck. Each additional year of cultivation adds one more scale—this is a sign of increasing toxicity after maturity.
This Jade Phosphorous Serpent, at a glance, has nearly six hundred black-green scales, meaning its age is close to six hundred years. Young Master—dare you try?"
Dugu Feng's physical constitution was even stronger than Little Snake's, who was already a Great Soul Master.
And Old Snake, responsible for his training, had long assessed the approximate limits of what Dugu Feng's body could endure.
Finding this nearly six-hundred-year-old serpent was no accident.
As Old Snake spoke, his figure blurred forward—his movements too fast to follow.
In an instant, the massive serpent collapsed unconscious.
Dugu Feng immediately understood—Old Snake's toxin manipulation had long reached the third stage, where every part of his body could freely emit poisonous mist.
Even the fact that they hadn't encountered a single Spirit Beast along the way made Dugu Feng suspect that Old Snake had used his poison mist to create something akin to a domain.
A protective barrier.
Poison-type Martial Souls were indeed suited for killing—if they decreed your death at midnight, you wouldn't live to see dawn.
"Old Snake, since you have such faith in me, I'll give it my all!"
Dugu Feng had equal confidence in his own physique. Steadying his mind, he drew his dagger.
With a single slash, he struck the Jade Phosphorous Serpent's vital point, severing it cleanly in two.
Then, with practiced ease, he sliced the serpent open from top to bottom—his movements as smooth as a master butcher's.
One might even mistake him for a professional meat seller.
During the two years of cultivation, he consumed 180 snakes in the first half year, and two snakes daily in the following year and a half, totaling 1,080 snakes.
Altogether, he ate 1,160 snakes.
Dismembering a snake had become so effortless for him that he could do it with his eyes closed.
Pieces of snake meat were neatly arranged—these would serve as his future cultivation provisions.
Only then did he turn his gaze to the yellow Spirit Ring that had appeared.