Chapter 24: Not Bad, Quite Persistent! Keep Cultivating!
The meridians in human hands are inherently delicate and fragile, unable to withstand the high-speed projection of toxins and Soul Power. They require continuous reinforcement through Soul Power to become resilient.
Only then can one achieve effects like the Six Meridian Divine Sword.
Having realized this, Dugu Feng grew even more confident.
After all, he had cheats—a powerful treasure like the Core Pearl. By channeling its thermal energy daily to nourish the meridians in his hands, his progress would skyrocket.
Dugu Feng threw himself into cultivation, alternating between practicing the Biphosphorus Purple Poison Soul Skill and strengthening his hands.
When his Soul Power was depleted, he would recover it.
He never stopped.
Not far away, in a forested area, two figures repeatedly leaped up and down from tree canopies several meters high, accompanied by the occasional "splat" of faces hitting the ground.
"You two are so clumsy! Is Sword Flight really that hard?" Ning Rongrong scoffed disdainfully.
"Boss, you can't rush this! We only got our First Soul Rings less than half a month ago. According to the sect's experience, it takes at least six months to master flight and attack enemies midair!" Feng Ling wiped the dirt off his face, exasperated.
Beside him, Feng Li nodded in agreement.
Their boss seemed provoked by Dugu Feng, eager to reclaim her pride—leaving the two brothers miserable.
Had Dugu Feng been present, he would have sighed and remarked, "Such is the price of being a simp."
Ning Rongrong flashed a radiant smile. "With my enhancements, your cultivation speed is at least twice as fast. Three months—no more. In three months, we'll challenge Dugu Feng."
The rainbow glow of her Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda made her look like a celestial maiden.
But to the Feng brothers, she was a demon—more relentless than their parents or teachers, whipping them into cultivation.
The brothers exchanged glances, steeling themselves. "Three months! Mission accomplished—we'll challenge Dugu Feng!"
Only then did Ning Rongrong smile in satisfaction.
She turned her gaze to the purple mist hovering in the sky.
"What a cultivation maniac! That purple mist hasn't stopped since he started—rising and falling, clearly practicing Soul Skills! But I won't admit defeat. You dared to mess with me? This isn't over!" she thought.
As the sun dipped westward, most students, exhausted from the afternoon's training, had long abandoned cultivation for play.
Only the Feng brothers and Dugu Feng persisted, drawing admiration from their peers.
Especially Dugu Feng—he hadn't paused all afternoon.
At first, some had stubbornly tried to keep up, but as time passed, neither their willpower nor their bodies could endure.
Only the Feng brothers, under Ning Rongrong's enhancements and threats, continued training.
Dugu Feng stood up, stretching.
Passing by Ning Rongrong and the others, he saw Feng Ling and Feng Ling still leaping between the canopies and praised, "Not bad, quite persistent! Keep cultivating!"
With a wave at the trio, he left the Simulated Training Field.
Ning Rongrong, Feng Ling, and Feng Ling were stunned.
"What are you staring at? Keep practicing!Ning Rongrong snapped, showering the brothers in colorful light. Exchanging resigned looks, they resumed their miserable training.
Back in the dormitory...
Dugu Feng emerged from the kitchen, holding a golden crystal the size of a fingernail, enveloped in Soul Power as it rapidly melted.
A peculiar fragrance wafted through the air—rich and concentrated, lingering near his palm without dispersing.
After a short while, the crystal transformed into a soft, keratinous substance.
This was none other than Whale Oil.
Specifically, the three-thousand-year Whale Oil he had discovered last time in Tuoba Lan's Storage Soul Tool.
However, this piece had been cut down to the size of a fingernail.
He was still young and couldn't withstand the full potency of consuming it all at once.
Thus, Dugu Feng only ingested a small piece, planning to take it gradually over time to enhance his physical constitution.
Staring at the Whale Oil in his hand, he popped it directly into his mouth.
An intense fishy stench, almost like potent poison, forced him to swallow quickly.
Once the Whale Oil entered his stomach, it dissolved into a stream of warmth.
He sat down and, with a beckoning motion, swallowed two streaks of green light as well.
At this critical moment, he intended to make use of the Core Pearl's abilities.
The moment the Core Pearl settled into his dantian,
his entire body grew feverish.
This heat wasn't just a physical sensation—it also affected his Soul Power.
His Soul Power churned as if boiling,
violently surging through his meridians.
Was this the power of Whale Oil?
Thankfully, he had only consumed this small piece—otherwise, he might have exploded on the spot.
Suddenly, the two Core Pearls also emitted waves of heat, merging into his meridians.
Dugu Feng was stunned.
This was not the time to add fuel to the fire!
The energy of the Whale Oil and the Core Pearls fused instantly, but to Dugu Feng's surprise, the combined energy became much gentler.
It dispersed silently throughout his body like a fine rain.
Dugu Feng felt an indescribable comfort.
It seemed the Core Pearl's energy was stronger after all, effortlessly subduing the Whale Oil's power.
His hands began to glow faintly.
He was deliberately guiding the energy to strengthen the meridians in his hands—preparing to wield his Dugu family's Six Meridian Divine Sword.
His hands became the focal point of absorption,
toughening and expanding.
Excellent. A few more sessions like this, and he'd be able to unleash the Azure Phosphorus Violet Venom through his hands.
Just as he was feeling pleased with himself, the window creaked open, and a figure slipped inside.
The intruder moved as if entering his own home.
Clad in gray robes, with gray hair and a slightly hunched back, the man had long legs that bent unnaturally, allowing him to move without a sound.
Like a slithering scorpion.
"Old Scorpion, what are you doing here?" Dugu Feng was surprised. It was only his first day away from home—what could Old Scorpion possibly want?
"Young Master, what are you up to? Your face is flushed, you're sweating all over—hah, you're taking Whale Oil!"
The newcomer was none other than Old Scorpion, who had been severely injured by Tuoba Lan last time. Sniffing the air like a dog, his expression turned shocked.
Old Scorpion's face twisted into a strange look—clearly jumping to the wrong conclusion.
"Young Master, you're still so young. How could you…" Old Scorpion said gravely.
"Enough, enough! Get to the point!" Dugu Feng couldn't be bothered to explain. Just like Old Snake, this guy's mind was always in the gutter.
The Young Master's flustered reaction only confirmed Old Scorpion's suspicions.
Ah, he had come at a bad time—interrupting the Young Master's private moment.
Careless, careless. The Young Master was no longer a child. From now on, he'd have to knock before entering.
Ahem. "Young Master, the thing is… Huyan Zhen, the leader of the Elephant Armor Sect, has arrived in Heaven Dou City today."
The disappearance of Huyan Lie was reported to the major factions, and cooperation was requested from all sides to investigate the matter and identify potential culprits.
"The clan leader sent me to remind the young master to be cautious!" Old Scorpion quickly got to the main point.
"What about the Sacred Dragon Sect? Any news from them?"
The Sacred Dragon Sect lost one Soul Saint and two Soul Emperors. It's been nearly three months, yet there hasn't been the slightest reaction.
Highly unusual.
(End of Chapter)