Poison Testing

According to the later plot developments.

Xue Ye was indeed poisoned.

The poison was a mixed poison that even Dugu Bo could not detect.

He only noticed it after exchanging knowledge about mixed poisons with Tang San, but could merely use poison to attack poison and could not cure it completely.

In the end, it was Yang Wudi who cured him.

Of course, Yang Wudi was able to cure him because the poison had been administered by the traitor of the Breaking Clan, Yang Wushuang.

When the Clear Sky Sect withdrew from the world, the Four Single Attribute Sects under its command were besieged by various factions.

Yang Wudi's younger brother, Yang Wushuang, was captured by the Spirit Hall and defected to it. He was also the one who assisted Qian Renxue in poisoning the two princes to death.

He should be plotting to poison Xue Ye to death now.

Who knew whether he had administered the poison yet?

While Dugu Feng was pondering this, the carriage smoothly entered the Imperial Palace.

It only stopped in front of Xue Ye's bedchamber.

The Royal Guards had already announced their arrival inside the bedchamber.

Under the guards' guidance, Dugu Feng and Dugu Shuo walked in directly.

The palace was enormous. Eight round golden pillars supported its massive dome. It looked spacious and empty, giving off a magnificent and imposing feeling.

A person sat upright on the Dragon Throne in the center of the palace. He wore a golden-red robe and a Golden Diamond Sky Crown. His dignified face and composed posture made it seem as though everything was within his grasp.

Dugu Feng did not need to guess. He knew this was Xue Ye.

Below Xue Ye, several figures stood with their heads bowed.

Dugu Feng recognized one of them. It was Prince Xue Beng, who stood there scratching his ears and cheeks as if he could not stand still for even a moment and was eager to leave.

Xue Beng was also a student of Heaven Dou Royal Junior Academy, but he was three years older than Dugu Feng and was simply in a different grade.

During his time at the academy, Dugu Feng had seen Xue Beng several times. They merely knew each other and exchanged polite nods when they met.

Xue Beng acted like a Profligate Son in the academy, but only toward those from small families or with low status.

Toward Ning Rongrong, Feng Ling, Feng Li, and Dugu Feng himself, he could not be called respectful, but he treated them as equals.

When Xue Beng saw Dugu Feng looking over, he grinned. He showed no restraint or fear at all just because Xue Ye was beside him.

It had to be said that Xue Beng had concealed himself very well and acted very well too.

"Greetings, Your Majesty!"

The father and son walked before the Dragon Throne and saluted Xue Ye.

Xue Ye looked spirited, his complexion ruddy. He smiled and said, "Dugu Clan Leader, there is no need to be so polite. Have a seat!"

Dugu Shuo nodded and sat in a chair nearby.

Dugu Feng naturally stood behind his father. When he raised his head, he happened to see several people opposite him.

Aside from Xue Beng, there was also an old man, a young man, and a young woman.

"My thanks for troubling you, Dugu Clan Leader!" the old man suddenly said.

"Prince Xue Xing, you are too kind!"

The old man's voice was loud and full of vigor. He wore a large yellow robe embroidered with a Flying Dragon. He was none other than Prince Xue Xing.

Prince Xue Xing walked to the seat below Dugu Shuo and sat down, extending his left hand for Dugu Shuo to examine.

Dugu Feng looked over. Clear Green Rhombus Scales appeared on his father's forehead, and a multicolored radiance flashed out, enveloping Prince Xue Xing.

The moment the multicolored radiance appeared, Dugu Feng felt a wave of oppression.

After examining it closely, he discerned that the radiance contained purple, gray, gold, and black—four different colors.

It seemed to possess incredible power.

Under the radiance, Prince Xue Xing appeared completely normal.

Soon, Dugu Shuo withdrew the radiance, and Prince Xue Xing stood up.

The young man beside him walked over next.

"Thank you for your hard work, Dugu Clan Leader!" The young man first nodded to Dugu Shuo, then smiled at Dugu Feng as well.

His smile was sincere and made people feel comfortable.

This had to be Qian Renxue—the Qian Renxue who was impersonating Xue Qinghe.

This was the culprit. Presumably, Prince Xue Xing and Xue Beng already seriously suspected her!

Dugu Feng wondered, What would happen if I exposed Qian Renxue right now?

Two Titled Douluo would definitely descend from the sky and rescue Qian Renxue. Before leaving, however, they might directly kill him and Dugu Shuo.

Just imagining that scene was thrilling.

With that thought, Dugu Feng suddenly became nervous. What if Xue Ye had already been poisoned?

And Dugu Shuo discovered it during his examination.

Wouldn't Qian Renxue hate the Dugu Family to the death?

The Dugu Family would definitely face the Spirit Hall's hostility afterward.

No—even now, Qian Renxue and Bibi Dong might already be plotting to eliminate the Dugu Family.

After all, in the Heaven Dou Empire, the only ones capable of detoxifying the imperial family were the Dugu Family and Dugu Bo.

With that in mind, Dugu Bo's repeated battles with Chrysanthemum Pass should not have been a coincidence.

The Spirit Hall truly wanted to eliminate Dugu Bo.

The later plot contained no mention of Dugu Shuo's branch. Yet from the way Xue Ye treated Dugu Shuo, he clearly placed great importance on him.

Could they have been exterminated sometime between now and the Soul Master Competition?

Then, thinking of the possible betrayal by the Elephant Armor Sect at any moment—

Damn, I feel like I'm about to figure out the truth.

Qian Renxue wore a sincere smile, but in her heart, she probably wished Dugu Shuo dead.

Dugu Feng kept his expression calm and revealed none of his thoughts.

"The Crown Prince need not be so polite!" Dugu Shuo nodded.

The same multicolored radiance examined him, but naturally found nothing.

Next was Xue Beng.

After that came the young woman beside Xue Beng: his younger sister, Xue Ke.

The examination found nothing from any of them.

This was merely the appetizer. The main event was still to come—Xue Ye.

This time, Dugu Shuo approached Xue Ye.

Dugu Feng followed without hesitation.

The multicolored radiance enveloped them.

There was nothing unusual in the palace, but Dugu Feng felt that the atmosphere had grown somewhat tense.

"Haha, you don't need to worry. With the Dugu Clan Leader here, who could poison me?" Xue Ye laughed twice.

"Your Majesty bears the hopes of all the people. Naturally, nothing will happen to you!" Prince Xue Xing echoed.

Yet he continued staring intently at Xue Ye within the radiance without blinking.

He already suspected Xue Qinghe.

Among the princes, there was no longer any threat to Xue Qinghe. Thus, the final obstacle to Xue Qinghe ascending the throne was Xue Ye.

Therefore, he became extremely tense every time they investigated whether Xue Ye had been poisoned.

Xue Beng beside him still wore an indifferent expression, as if he was not worried in the slightest.

Xue Ke was about the same age as Dugu Feng. She was still a little girl, and she tried her best to maintain a graceful bearing.

She should have been the person in the palace with the fewest ulterior thoughts.

Qian Renxue still looked gentle, forcing Dugu Feng to admire the strength of her mentality.

Suddenly, Dugu Feng felt the Pill Bead inside him spinning faster.

His Soul Power circulated rapidly through his Meridians.

He was startled and hurriedly suppressed his emotions, restraining the Pill Bead's agitation.

At the same time, he sensed that the source of the Pill Bead's agitation was Xue Ye.

Xue Ye was definitely poisoned.

Moreover, the poison was of extremely high quality. That was why it had caused the Pill Bead to react.

Dugu Feng felt as if Storm was Coming.

If he made even one careless mistake, the Spirit Hall would definitely target and exterminate his clan.

This involved Bibi Dong's ambitions and Qian Renxue's Great Cause of Usurping the Throne.