Dragon-Serpent Sect Established, Recruiting Disciples? Blue Lightning's Branch, a Soul Douluo Arrives?

"Hehe, this old man has been waiting for you to say that."

Dugu Bo rubbed his hands together.

"Do you want me to go and poison them first, just to keep them well-behaved for a few days?"

"No need."

Dugu Ce waved his hand.

"Let them wander around outside. True Dragon Mountain is our Dugu family's territory now; if they dare to step one foot inside, it won't be too late to act then."

As the two were speaking, Dugu Yan walked up from the back mountain.

"Ce'er, Mother has been settled in."

Dugu Yan walked up close and glanced at Dugu Bo.

"Grand-uncle, is there any news from Grandfather?"

"Not yet."

Dugu Bo shook his head.

"Yan'er, you stay with Ce'er; this old man is going to set up the formation. See you in three days."

With that, Dugu Bo leaped into the air, transforming into a streak of emerald light as he swept toward the mountainside.

Dugu Yan watched Dugu Bo's receding figure, then turned to look at Dugu Ce.

"Ce'er, what did Yu Tianheng come to find you for?"

"To lodge a complaint."

Dugu Ce did not hide anything.

"He said that Yu Chengsi harmed Father back in the day."

Dugu Yan's expression changed.

"Then why haven't you killed him yet?"

"What's the rush?"

Dugu Ce stood with his hands behind his back.

"Yu Chengsi has brought over a dozen branch disciples to defect to us. If I take them in one moment and kill them the next, who would dare to come here in the future? The Dragon-Serpent Sect needs the hearts of the people, not a moment of gratification."

Dugu Yan bit her lip.

"But Father's vengeance..."

"I haven't forgotten."

Dugu Ce interrupted Dugu Yan and said.

"But revenge doesn't need to happen in this split second. Once the sect is stabilized, every debt that needs to be settled will be collected in full."

Dugu Yan was silent for a moment, then whispered:

"You have more composure than I do."

"It's not about composure."

Dugu Ce turned to look at the scattered figures at the foot of the mountain.

"It's about learning from past mistakes. Why was the Dugu family bullied by the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Sect back then? Because we were weak. Now that we are strong, we must not lose our footing."

Dugu Yan nodded.

"I understand. So, what do we do now?"

"Go to the back mountain to see Mother."

Dugu Ce stepped forward and walked toward the back mountain.

"And while we're at it, ask her exactly what kind of person this Yu Chengsi is."

In a stone chamber at the back mountain, Yu Yin was sitting by the bed, tidying up her clothes.

Seeing Dugu Ce and Dugu Yan enter, she put down her work and smiled.

"Ce'er, although this stone chamber is simple, it is much better than that wooden hut at the foot of the mountain. Mother is quite used to it."

"Please bear with this for now, Mother."

Dugu Ce sat down across from Yu Yin.

"Once the Dragon-Serpent Sect is established, I will build you a proper courtyard."

"There is no rush."

Yu Yin shook her head.

"You focus on your grand affairs; I have grown accustomed to the quiet on my own. By the way, Ce'er, that batch of branch disciples you accepted earlier... there is one among them named Yu Chengsi, do you remember him?"

Dugu Ce's eyes flickered.

"You know him, Mother?"

The smile on Yu Yin's face faded slightly, and after a moment of silence, she said:

"When your father first went to True Dragon Mountain, it was Yu Chengsi who led the way. When your father was being humiliated, he was the one who laughed the loudest."

Dugu Yan stood up abruptly.

"What?! Mother, why didn't you tell me sooner!"

"Sit down."

Dugu Ce tugged on Dugu Yan's sleeve and turned to look at Yu Yin.

"Mother, since you knew, why didn't you stop me from accepting him earlier?"

Yu Yin sighed.

"It is not that I did not want to stop you, but that I could not. Ce'er, I understand that you accepted him because the Dragon-Serpent Sect needs manpower. But you must remember, this man cannot be kept alive."

"I know."

Dugu Ce nodded.

"Rest assured, Mother, I will not let him live for long."

Yu Yin stared into Dugu Ce's eyes for a long time before speaking softly:

"Ce'er, you have changed. You were clever before, but you were never this... cold."

"People have to grow up eventually."

Dugu Ce stood up.

"Mother, please rest. I am going to make some arrangements; True Dragon Mountain will not be peaceful these next few days."

Yu Yin nodded, saying nothing more.

Dugu Ce led Dugu Yan out of the stone chamber and closed the door.

"Little Ce, when do you plan to make your move?"

Dugu Yan lowered her voice.

"No rush."

Dugu Ce walked forward.

"Let Yu Chengsi live for a few more days. Once Great-Uncle's Myriad Poison Array is set, someone will naturally deal with him."

"Then what are we doing now?"

"Going to the mountain gate."

Dugu Ce strode down the mountain.

"Since people have come to seek refuge, I must see them personally to see if there are any other 'Yu Chengsi's' among them."

The two walked down the mountain path, and along the way, they could already see groups of soul masters gathered on both sides of the road.

Most of these people were branch disciples of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Sect, their clothes tattered and their expressions fearful.

Dugu Ce walked to the mountain gate, scanned the crowd, and said indifferently:

"Those here to join the Dragon-Serpent Sect, stand on the left. Those just passing through, stand on the right. Those here to gawk, get off the mountain."

A commotion rippled through the crowd, which quickly split into two factions.

On the left stood forty or fifty people, while only a handful remained on the right; seeing the situation turn against them, those few turned and fled.

Dugu Ce looked at the forty or fifty people on the left, his expression unreadable:

"If you wish to stay, you must abide by my rules.

First, obey all orders; insubordination will not be tolerated.

Second, private duels are forbidden; violators will have their martial souls crippled.

Third, leaking sect secrets is forbidden; violators will be executed without mercy.

Those who can comply, stay.

Those who cannot, leave now."

The crowd was deathly silent; no one moved to leave.

Dugu Ce nodded:

"Very well.

From today on, you are disciples of the Dragon-Serpent Sect.

You will be well-treated; merit will be rewarded, and faults will be punished.

Now, find a place to set up camp; you will be assigned your duties in three days."

The crowd responded in unison before dispersing.

Dugu Yan watched them, asking in a low voice:

"Little Ce, do you really trust them?"

"I don't."

Dugu Ce turned and began to walk back.

"But for the Dragon-Serpent Sect to grow, we cannot rely on just a few of us.

We will use them for now and filter them out slowly.

The loyal will stay, and those with ulterior motives... Grand-uncle's poison formation happens to be lacking fertilizer."

Dugu Yan gave a bitter smile:

"Your methods are even more ruthless than Grandfather's."

"Without ruthlessness, how can one gain a foothold in this world?"

Dugu Ce looked up toward the horizon.

"Sister, wouldn't you agree?"

In the distance, several figures appeared on the horizon, speeding toward True Dragon Mountain.

Dugu Ce narrowed his eyes, dark gold flames flickering in the palm of his right hand:

"More people.

True Dragon Mountain is truly lively today."

As the figures in the distance drew closer, Dugu Yan noticed them as well, frowning:

"More people coming to join? I fear over a hundred have arrived today."

"More than that."

Dugu Ce stared at the figures, his pupils contracting slightly.

"The aura of the one leading them... is not from a branch family."

No sooner had he spoken than the five figures landed before the mountain gate.

The leader was a man in his forties with a resolute face.

The four behind him all possessed auras at the level of a Spirit King or higher.

The man saw Dugu Ce and cupped his hands:

"Are you Young Master Dugu Ce?"

"I am. And you are?"

"This Humble One is Yu Chengzhi, an elder of a branch family of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Sect, a level 82 Spirit Douluo."