A Gentleman Should Possess the Dragon-Serpent Transformation! Secret Chamber Liu Erlong, Dragon-Serpent Resonance?

As Dugu Bo's voice faded, the group stood atop True Dragon Mountain, where the surrounding poisonous mist had yet to dissipate, and the occasional sound of crumbling ruins echoed through the mountainside.

Golden Crocodile Douluo stood with his hands behind his back, gazing toward the foot of the mountain, and said indifferently:

"There is no rush for the formation.

Ce'er, how much longer can the snake venom in your body hold out?"

Dugu Ce raised his hand to look at the faint, emerald-green poison spots on his fingertips:

"Three months at most.

If the Dragon Snake Harmony does not succeed, no one can save me."

"Then do not delay."

Dugu Xuan said in a deep voice.

"We shall perform the secret technique tonight in the secret chamber of the Dragon Lair.

Liu Erlong, do you have any objections?"

Liu Erlong remained expressionless, sweeping a glance toward the spot where Yu Luomian had met his end.

Liu Erlong sneered:

"He is dead, and I feel nothing but relief.

Dugu Ce, you have fulfilled what you promised me, so I will naturally cooperate fully.

But there is one condition:

After this is done, I want Blue Tyrant Academy to be completely independent, free from the constraints of any faction."

"Agreed."

Dugu Ce nodded.

"Not only that, I will have Martial Soul Hall allocate a sum of resources to you as compensation."

Liu Erlong turned her face away:

"There is no need for such hypocrisy.

I only wish to live in peace and quiet from now on."

Dugu Bo chuckled:

"Then it is settled.

Yanyan, take Dean Liu to the secret chamber to prepare.

I will patrol the mountain myself to see if any fish have slipped through the net."

Dugu Yan acknowledged the order and led Liu Erlong toward the Dragon Lair.

After walking a few steps, she looked back at Dugu Ce:

"Xiao Ce, Yu Tianheng is still unconscious; how should we deal with him?"

Dugu Ce pondered for a moment:

"Keep him for now.

Once the secret technique is complete, I will interrogate him myself.

Although the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Sect has been destroyed, the collateral branches of the Yu family are scattered everywhere.

Keeping a hostage will make it easier to consolidate the remaining forces."

"Ce'er is thoughtful."

Golden Crocodile Douluo nodded slightly, then changed the subject.

"However, you mentioned 'establishing a sect' earlier; have you decided on a name?"

Dugu Ce looked toward the poisonous mist and lingering lightning flashes winding through the mountains, and said slowly:

"The Jade Phosphorous Serpent Emperor and the Radiant Sacred Dragon—one snake, one dragon, coexisting as twins.

The name of the sect shall be the 'Dragon-Serpent Sect'."

As the saying goes, a gentleman should have the adaptability of a dragon and a snake.

A gentleman should have the adaptability of a dragon and a snake, able to bend and stretch, advancing and retreating with measure.

When successful, one is like a dragon, riding the wind to soar and realizing grand ambitions.

When frustrated, one is like a snake, lying dormant to accumulate strength while waiting for the right moment.

This name suited Dugu Ce perfectly.

It was not that Dugu Ce had not considered the name 'Sacred Dragon Sect'.

But that name had already been taken by the Tuoba family, who possessed the White Armored Earth Dragon martial soul.

Dugu Ce could not be bothered to fight over it.

If nothing unexpected happened.

In the future, the inherited martial soul of the Dragon-Serpent Sect will be the same as Dugu Ce's martial soul.

It is the Jade Phosphorous Serpent Emperor (True Dragon bloodline) and the Radiant Sacred Dragon.

Even if Dugu Ce's Jade Phosphorous Serpent Emperor martial soul successfully evolves after the Dragon-Serpent Resonance with Liu Erlong.

His descendants might still regress into a Jade Phosphorous Serpent Emperor possessing a True Dragon bloodline.

This point can be seen in the second era of Douluo.

Ma Xiaotao of the second era is a descendant of Ma Hongjun.

Yet before Ma Hongjun ascended to the God Realm, his martial soul had already evolved from the Evil Fire Phoenix to the Fire Phoenix, and finally the Ten-Headed Fire Phoenix.

It is not uncommon for the martial soul bloodline of descendants to regress.

"Dragon-Serpent Sect..."

Dugu Xuan chewed on the name twice, a flash of brilliance in his eyes.

"A snake can swallow a dragon; it is quite fitting for the scene today. Good!"

Golden Crocodile Douluo, however, frowned:

"The name lacks dominance. But since you have already decided, this old man will not deny you face. However, the position of the Upper Three Sects requires the joint recognition of the Tiandou Empire and Martial Soul Hall. I will have Bibi Dong issue a decree later to grant you that vacant position directly."

The reason Golden Crocodile Douluo achieved the rank of Limit Douluo and made his breakthrough was due to an immortal herb provided by Dugu Ce.

Once Golden Crocodile Douluo returned to the Worship Hall and explained the sequence of events.

There was absolutely no reason for the various elders of the Worship Hall to disagree.

"Many thanks, Teacher."

Dugu Ce bowed in salute.

"Additionally."

Golden Crocodile Douluo lowered his voice, his gaze glancing toward the distance.

"Regarding the existence behind that Tang San, when do you intend to retrieve the Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud?"

Dugu Ce's eyes sharpened:

"Once the Dragon-Serpent Harmony concludes, I will go to Tiandou City to meet Qian Renxue. Qian Renxue is undercover in Tiandou with no small ambition. But with my identity, it will not be difficult to obtain the token through her hands."

The Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud in Tiandou is called a national treasure, but in reality, it is merely a mascot whose purpose no one has been able to decipher.

As long as one finds a pretext to make Xue Ye agree.

The Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud will be easily obtained!

"Qian Renxue?"

Dugu Xuan was stunned.

"The Crown Prince of Tiandou is an imposter from Martial Soul Hall?"

Golden Crocodile Douluo snorted coldly:

"This is the highest secret of Martial Soul Hall. Brother Xuan, since you know now, be sure never to spread it."

Dugu Xuan nodded hurriedly:

"This old man understands."

Dugu Ce waved his hand:

"The hour is late; I will go to the secret chamber to regulate my breathing first. Grand-uncle, please stand guard after you patrol the mountain to prevent any interference."

"Rest assured."

Dugu Bo flicked his sleeves, his emerald figure soaring into the air, sweeping past the ruined walls of True Dragon Mountain.

Inside the secret chamber of the Dragon Lair, Liu Erlong sat cross-legged on one side of the stone platform, her eyes slightly closed.

Dugu Yan retreated to the entrance to stand guard.

Dugu Ce stepped into the secret chamber and closed the stone door behind him.

"Let us begin."

Liu Erlong opened her eyes, her tone as calm as water.

"The secret technique requires our soul power to merge, using my fire-attribute origin as a guide to circulate through the ice and fire poison within your meridians for thirty-six cycles."

"The process will be agonizing. Can you endure it?"

"Of course!"

"Endurance means letting go of the mind and holding firm in the body!"

Dugu Ce unfastened his outer robe, revealing a lean, muscular torso where emerald poison spots spread across his chest like a spiderweb.

"What about you? After depleting your origin, your soul power will drop by a full rank. Do you have no regrets?"

Liu Erlong scoffed:

"What does dropping a few ranks matter?

There is nothing left in this world worth me risking my life to fight for anyway.

Do it."

Dugu Ce said no more, sitting cross-legged opposite Liu Erlong and extending his hands.

Liu Erlong raised her palms as well, pressing them against his.

"Close your eyes and look inward at your meridians. Follow the flow of my soul power."

Liu Erlong let out a low shout, and crimson flames suddenly erupted around her body, the phantom of a Fire Dragon flickering briefly behind her.

Dugu Ce took a deep breath, his Jade Phosphorous Serpent Emperor martial soul trembling in unison as his bloodline surged.

A beam of emerald light and a streak of golden radiance poured from their bodies, intertwining with the crimson flames.

Outside the secret chamber, Dugu Xuan stood with his hands behind his back, his brows tightly locked as he listened to the faint, muffled roars echoing from within.

Golden Crocodile Douluo appeared at his side, his expression indifferent:

"Worried about your grandson?"

"It would be a lie to say I am not."

Dugu Xuan gave a bitter smile.

"But this is the path he chose himself; this old man can only trust him."

"Trusting him is enough."

Golden Crocodile Douluo looked up at the sky.

"I have lived for over two hundred years and seen countless geniuses.

Yet, those who make it to the end are not the ones with the highest talent, but the most ruthless:

Ruthless to their enemies, and even more ruthless to themselves.

Ce'er has that potential."

As his voice faded, a stifled, agonizing groan erupted from within the secret chamber.