This time, neither Yu Yuanzhen nor Yu Luomian had appeared, and Dugu Shuo could only guess something had changed.
If one of the Upper Three Sects shifted its stance, it could easily shake the balance of the entire continent.
Dugu Shuo had to return to Heaven Dou to coordinate with various powers and handle the matter himself.
Thus, at the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, only Dugu Feng remained. He was still refining the energy of the Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum and the Full Moon Wearing Autumn Dew he had consumed.
The medicinal essence of the two immortal herbs had already merged into his body, though some of that energy remained dormant, settling within his spiritual sea and meridians, waiting to be fully digested.
Once that was complete, his strength would rise yet another level!
At the same time, he began to test his father's theory: to approach and refine the Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass.
His father had said, "All herbs that possess spirit are immortal herbs."
And the immortal herbs growing from the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, were they not spiritual in nature?
Perhaps, through refining its cold poison, he could gain the plant's recognition!
Dugu Feng approached the Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass.
It grew right at the heart of the cold spring, exactly where yin energy gathered in its purest form.
The moment he came within ten meters, a wave of bone-piercing cold surged toward him.
He halted right at the edge of that ten-meter boundary.
Instead of stepping forward himself, he extended his external spirit bone, the gleaming, silver Scorpion Claws.
The instant they entered the frost domain, a thin layer of mist formed upon the claws' surface.
At the tip of the Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass, the crystalline pollen shimmered brighter, as if responding to his intrusion.
Dugu Feng focused his spirit power and spiritual sense...And immediately felt a sharp stab of pain in his consciousness.
Not the chill he'd anticipated. It was something deeper, sharper. He instantly understood that the Eight-Petal Ice Crystal Grass was not merely cold but it was a fusion of cold and poison.
It was Cold poison!
Not simply ice. Not simply poison.
"So, let's see how strong your cold poison really is!"
Dugu Feng's eyes flashed coldly. He withdrew the Scorpion Claws a few meters, then channeled his spirit power into them.
His soul force surged like a tide, flooding into the claws—meeting the invading cold poison head-on.
The silver claws trembled faintly, shining with an icy luster as they began to refine the frigid toxin, forcing the venom's essence to merge into the crystalline bone.
Moments passed.
Dugu Feng finally exhaled deeply, his eyes gleaming.
The thin layer of frost covering the Scorpion Claws had consumed half his soul power before it was fully refined.
Even Dugu Bo could not endure this level of cold poison.
But with the poison sealed into his external bone, Dugu Feng could circulate soul power through it thus allowing his body to gradually adapt to the venom's presence.
By exhausting most of his soul power, he'd subdued the poison and fused it into his bone. It was his first step in mastering it.
Yet he knew this was only the beginning.
To truly guide the cold poison into his meridians and use it as part of his own strength, he would need to advance another realm or two at least.
He looked down at his claws. They were gleaming faintly like carved ice.
"Ugly," he muttered with a faint smile, "but powerful."
As for the Infernal Delicate Apricot, he hadn't attempted to touch it yet.
The Eight Spider Lances of the Human-Faced Demon Spider were not inherently fire-attributed; it was only because the scorpion claws within its body were ice-attributed that the two treasures were at odds. The two opposites restrained each other—just like the twin wells below him.
If he wished to master fire poison as well, he'd need more time.
Greed led only to ruin; he wasn't in a rush.
So each day, he refined cold poison in the morning, practiced his soul skills in the afternoon, meditated at night—cycling soul and spirit power, digesting the immortal herbs' energies.
He was fully immersed in cultivation.
One day, Dugu Bo returned.
The old poison master landed on the cliff edge, his sharp gaze falling upon Dugu Feng, who sat cross-legged amid the frost and steam.
"Boy, you've got guts," Dugu Bo sneered. "Daring to stay here this long...are you not afraid of dying?"
His eyes were icy, carrying a mocking edge.
With Dugu Shuo and Old Snake gone, only Dugu Feng remained.
Even with a domain, what use was it here—where frost and flame intertwined, where toxins clung to every breath?
Even he, Dugu Bo, didn't dare linger long in the valley.
And this brat...was he courting death?
"Second Grandfather—"
"Who's your Second Grandfather? Call me Lord Jade Phosphor!" Dugu Bo snapped.
Dugu Feng only smiled faintly. So his father's poisoning of Dugu Bo still left the old man simmering.
"Lord Jade Phosphor," Dugu Feng said calmly, "I'm from the poison branch of the Dugu Clan. We thrive on challenge. The cold and fire here? They're both poisons. If I can absorb them, won't my venom become even stronger?"
Dugu Bo's face twisted. "Hah! You'll poison yourself to death sooner or later, you madman!"
But his scorn had dulled.
Once, he'd looked down on the poison branch.
Now, Dugu Shuo's strength and his poison, both had forced him to take notice.
He could only grumble bitterly.
Mostly, he was frustrated—Dugu Shuo's poison arts had surpassed even his own.
It wounded his pride.
With a snort, Dugu Bo turned away, ignoring Dugu Feng.
His gaze swept across the valley and his expression changed.
"Hmm? A few of these herbs… even ones I couldn't identify—they're gone!"
Shock flashed in his eyes.
"Boy, did your father take the herbs from here?"
Dugu Feng stood, bowing slightly. "Indeed, Lord Jade Phosphor. Those herbs were useful for our clan's cultivation. My father took only a few. Since you've agreed to share this sacred ground with our family, surely the herbs are part of that agreement?"
In truth, the father and son hadn't taken much, only the most precious immortals, and even then, just partial harvests.
They'd left plenty behind to regrow.
Unlike Tang San's plundering, theirs was careful and measured.
Dugu Bo fell silent, exasperated.
"Leave. Yan Yan's obtained her spirit bone. She's waiting halfway up the hill in my cave and I'll be refining medicine for her."
He couldn't stand the sight of the boy.
Now it was Dugu Feng's turn to feel speechless.
Afraid I'll steal your alchemy secrets, are you?
Please. If your skill was truly that high, you wouldn't have taken my father's formula in the first place.
With a shrug, he summoned his Emerald Dragon Serpent.
The serpent coiled beneath him, and with a flick of its wings, lifted him elegantly into the sky.
"Heaven is unfair!"
Watching the boy soar off, Dugu Bo roared bitterly, slapping his storage device. Alchemy furnaces and tools clattered onto the ground.
He got to work, muttering curses as he prepared medicine for his granddaughter.
Meanwhile, Dugu Feng, riding atop his dragon-serpent, circled around to the opposite side of the mountain—where a cave opened midway up the slope.
It was clearly one Dugu Bo had built.
And inside was Dugu Yan.
Dugu Feng's eyes brightened.
He'd long thought that if he could win over Dugu Yan, he could control Dugu Bo.
Wasn't this the perfect opportunity?
He extended his left hand.
The other Emerald Dragon Serpent unfurled and used its Void Soul Skill, slipping into the cave unnoticed all the while concealed by the energy of the Pearl.
It was a ten-thousand-year beast and Dugu Yan couldn't possibly detect its tiny figure.