A flash of light filled the valley as jade knives, gold spatulas, and jade boxes appeared in front of the two.
Dugu Feng's scorpion pincers were the perfect tools for collecting herbs.
In moments, half the surrounding medicinal plants like Snow Silkworms, Cinnabar Lotus, Dragon Ganoderma, Dragon Ginseng, and countless others were carefully harvested.
Once refined into elixirs, these would be enough to raise the soul power of every clan soul master by one or two levels!
After clearing the useful tonics, Dugu Shuo's attention was drawn to a large pale-pink flower nearby.
It had no leaves, only a massive bloom. The petals shimmered like crystal, translucent and pure, releasing a faint fragrance that filled the air.
"Beautiful Silk Tulip," Dugu Shuo murmured, his voice trembling slightly. "The bane of all poisons, able to neutralize any toxin in the world.Within its faint pink halo, all poisons lose their power. I once thought this was a legend... but it truly exists!"
He sighed deeply.
"Feng'er, take it. With this herb, even if your second uncle tries to poison you, he won't succeed."
"Yes, Father!"
Dugu Feng's eyes shone with delight as he carefully stored the immortal herb.
The two continued harvesting, gathering a small portion of every useful poisonous plant.
Naturally, they didn't overlook the true immortal herbs either.
When they had finished collecting, Dugu Shuo turned to his son.
"Feng'er, you choose first. Take whichever you'll use for cultivation."
Dugu Feng didn't hesitate. His gaze locked on a small, ordinary-looking plant at the base of a rock.
"Father, I'll take the Full Moon Wearing Autumn Dew!"
"Oh?"
"For my fourth spirit ring, I intend to absorb a ten-thousand-year soul beast. My body can handle it. My domain and external soul bones give me the strength I need.
But my spiritual power is lacking. This herb will fill that gap perfectly."
Dugu Shuo nodded, eyes full of approval.
"Excellent choice. Full Moon Wearing Autumn Dew is gentle in nature and easily absorbed. It will greatly enhance your mind.
After breaking through to Soul Douluo, I've realized how vital spiritual power truly is...the stronger your spirit, the faster your cultivation.
Go on. I'll protect you."
Dugu Feng took a deep breath and held up the herb.
At first glance, it was unimpressive. It was emerald green, with three pure white leaves. In the center of each leaf rested five crystal-clear drops of dew, fifteen in total, glimmering like morning light.
Supported by his Eight Spider Lances, Dugu Feng assumed a relaxed posture. He shook the stem lightly and fifteen drops of dew fell into his mouth one by one.
As soon as they left the plant, the Full Moon Wearing Autumn Dew withered into dust, dissolving into the air.
The dew was its essence, its entire life condensed.
The moment it entered his body, a refreshing coolness surged through him.
It spread upward, calming and soothing and then shot straight toward his brow and eyes.
The eyes are the windows of the soul. The brow is the Sea of Spirit.
Though Dugu Feng had never truly sensed his own spiritual sea, he could now feel his soul power converging toward that point, swirling, surging—as if to break something open!
Suddenly, a violent tremor ran through him.
From his scorpion pincers burst a freezing aura, piercing straight into his forehead.
"This is... the Killing God Domain?"
The killing intent that dwelled within his external bone was joining the process of opening that spiritual sea!
Domain is the materialization of will and spirit, a thought echoed in his mind.
Then—
BOOM!
An explosion of golden light burst from his brow!
Under the fusion of all these forces, a new acupoint was torn open. It was his Upper Dantian, the cradle of consciousness and spiritual power.
He had opened it at the Soul Elder stage.
Dugu Shuo watched closely.
At first, his son's aura was calm but suddenly, it flared, killing intent sweeping across the valley like a storm.
Even he was startled.
"To think a gentle herb could cause such a reaction…"
Old Snake, sensing the surge, stopped cultivating and hurried over.
The two looked on in shock. Dugu Feng's brow glowed like a star, his eyes blazing gold.
Thin threads of golden light streamed from his head, illuminating the mist around him.
The phenomenon lasted several hours.
Finally, the light faded, sinking back into his brow. His breathing steadied.
When he opened his eyes again, Dugu Feng felt as though he had lived through an eternity.
His mind was calm, clear as still water.
He could see within himself. Every meridian, every flow of soul power, every strand of muscle and bone, even the subtle pulses of his external soul bones.
His spiritual power could now perceive his entire body.
As his eyes opened, golden radiance flashed once more, scattering the surrounding fog and lighting up the whole valley—before fading again.
"Feng'er, how do you feel?" Dugu Shuo asked quickly.
Even in their ancestral records, Full Moon Wearing Autumn Dew was only said to enhance spiritual power, it mentioned nothing about such a terrifying spectacle.
"Father," Dugu Feng said slowly, his voice steady, "when I absorbed it, my Killing God Domain also joined in, amplifying my spirit. It helped me open my spiritual sea—now I can feel everything within me clearly. My domain has grown stronger as well."
Dugu Shuo and Old Snake were both speechless.
Ordinary soul masters only awakened their spiritual sea at the Soul Emperor stage and sometimes not even then.
Yet this boy had done it as a Soul Elder.
"Most Soul Kings risk their lives absorbing ten-thousand-year rings," Dugu Shuo muttered. "The spiritual shock alone kills many. But you, Feng'er! you've already surpassed that barrier. With this, the spirit of a ten-thousand-year beast can't harm you."
Pride shone in his eyes.
His son—taking a ten-thousand-year spirit ring as his fourth—would be the first in history!
Taking a deep breath, Dugu Shuo turned his gaze to the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well.
"Feng'er, look there. Two more immortal herbs remain. They are Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass and Infernal Delicate Apricot.
These are the fiercest of all, pure embodiments of ice and flame. Even soul tools can't contain them.
The Ice grass freezes the very heart and meridians. Of you stand within ten meters of it the chill will pierce your bones. Stay too long, and you die without remedy.
The Infernal Apricot is the exact opposite. It burns, sears, consumes everything it touches."
His tone carried a trace of awe.
Dugu Feng's gaze followed his father's.
The two herbs pulsed with power. One like a star of frozen light, the other a living flame.
Old Snake stared wide-eyed.
Even without knowing their names, he could tell that they were beyond priceless.
The Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass bloomed in eight sharp white petals, each tipped with a crystalline shimmer.
Beside it, the Infernal Delicate Apricot flared like a crimson flame in the shape of a cabbage, its leaves curling with molten heat.