The Dragon-Serpent Sect Is Founded-Recruiting Disciples? A Blue Lightning Offshoot, and a Soul Douluo Has Arrived?

"Heh heh, I've been waiting for you to say that."

Dugu Bo rubbed his hands together.

"Want me to go poison them first, make them behave 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 take one step inside, we can deal with them then."

As the two were talking, Dugu Yan came up from the back of the mountain.

"Ce'er, Mother is settled in."

Dugu Yan walked over and glanced at Dugu Bo.

"Granduncle, have there been any news from Grandpa?"

"Not yet."

Dugu Bo shook his head.

"Yan Yan, stay with Ce'er. I'll go set up the array. See you in three days."

With that, Dugu Bo leaped into the air and streaked toward the mountainside as a flash of green light.

Dugu Yan watched Dugu Bo disappear into the distance, then turned to Dugu Ce.

"Ce'er, what did Yu Tianheng come to see you about?"

"Making a complaint."

Dugu Ce didn't hide it.

"He said Yu Chengsi harmed Father back then."

Dugu Yan's expression changed.

"Then why didn't you kill him?"

"Why the rush?"

Dugu Ce stood with his hands behind his back.

"Yu Chengsi has brought more than a dozen offshoot disciples here to seek refuge. If I take them in one moment and kill him the next, who would dare come here after word gets out?

The Dragon-Serpent Sect needs people's hearts, not a moment's satisfaction."

Dugu Yan bit her lip.

"But Father's revenge..."

"I haven't forgotten."

Dugu Ce cut Dugu Yan off.

"But there's no need to take revenge this very moment.

Once the sect is stable, every debt that needs settling will be paid in full."

Dugu Yan fell silent for a moment, then said quietly,

"You're more patient than I am."

"It's not about patience."

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

"It's about learning from experience.

Why was the Dugu Family bullied by the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Sect back then?

Because we were weak.

Now that we're strong, we can't afford to lose our footing ourselves."

Dugu Yan nodded.

"I understand.

So what do we do now?"

"Go see Mother in the back mountain."

Dugu Ce started toward the back mountain.

"And ask her what sort of person Yu Chengsi really is."

Inside a stone chamber in the back mountain, Yu Yin sat on the edge of the bed, folding clothes.

When Dugu Ce and Dugu Yan came in, she set aside what she was doing and smiled.

"Ce'er, this stone chamber may be simple, but it's much better than that wooden hut at the foot of the mountain.

I'm quite comfortable here."

"Sorry for the inconvenience, Mother."

Dugu Ce sat down opposite Yu Yin.

"Once the Dragon-Serpent Sect is built, I'll build you a courtyard."

"There's no hurry."

Yu Yin shook her head.

"You take care of your important affairs. I'm used to the peace and quiet on my own.

By the way, Ce'er, those offshoot disciples you just took in...

There was one called Yu Chengsi among them. You remember him, don't you?"

Dugu Ce's eyes shifted.

"You know him, Mother?"

The smile faded from Yu Yin's face. She was silent for a moment before speaking.

"When your father went up True Dragon Mountain back then, Yu Chengsi was the one who led the way.

When your father was humiliated, he was the one who laughed the loudest."

Dugu Yan shot to her feet.

"What?!

Mother, why didn't you tell us sooner?"

"Sit down."

Dugu Ce tugged at Dugu Yan's sleeve, then turned to Yu Yin.

"Mother, since you knew, why didn't you stop me from taking him in?"

Yu Yin sighed.

"It wasn't that I didn't want to stop you. I couldn't.

Ce'er, I understand that you took him in because the Dragon-Serpent Sect needs manpower.

But you must remember: he cannot be allowed to live."

"I know."

Dugu Ce nodded.

"Don't worry, Mother. I won't let him live much longer."

Yu Yin stared into Dugu Ce's eyes. After a long moment, she said softly,

"Ce'er, you've changed.

You were clever before, but you weren't this... composed."

"Everyone has to grow up."

Dugu Ce stood.

"Mother, get some rest. I'll go make arrangements. True Dragon Mountain won't be peaceful these next few days."

Yu Yin nodded and said no more.

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

"Ce'er, when are you planning to make your move?"

Dugu Yan lowered her voice.

"No rush."

Dugu Ce walked on.

"Let Yu Chengsi live a few more days first.

Once Granduncle finishes setting up the Myriad Poison Array, someone will take care of him."

"Then what do we do now?"

"Go to the sect gate."

Dugu Ce headed down the mountain.

"Since people are coming here to seek refuge, I should meet them in person and see if there's another 'Yu Chengsi' among them."

The two walked down the mountain path. Along the way, they could already see Soul Masters gathered in small groups beside the trail.

Most of them were offshoot disciples of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Sect. Their clothes were worn, and their faces were full of fear.

Dugu Ce reached the sect gate, swept his gaze over the crowd, and said flatly,

"Those here to seek refuge with the Dragon-Serpent Sect, stand on the left.

Those just passing through, stand on the right.

Those here to gawk, get off the mountain."

The crowd stirred, then quickly split into two groups.

Forty or fifty people stood on the left, while only a handful stood on the right. Seeing the situation, those few turned and ran.

Dugu Ce looked at the forty or fifty people on the left, his expression impassive.

"If you're willing to stay, you'll have to follow my rules.

First, obey orders and never defy them.

Second, no fighting among yourselves. Anyone who does will have their Trash Martial Soul crippled.

Third, do not reveal the sect's secrets. Anyone who does will be killed without mercy.

Those who can do that, stay.

Those who can't, leave now."

The crowd fell utterly silent. No one left.

Dugu Ce nodded.

"Very good.

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

You'll receive generous treatment. Those who earn merit will be rewarded; those who break the rules will be punished.

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

The crowd answered in unison and dispersed.

Dugu Yan watched them and asked quietly,

"Ce'er, you trust them just like that?"

"No."

Dugu Ce turned and started back.

"But the Dragon-Serpent Sect can't grow with just a few of us.

We'll use them for now and sort them out gradually.

The loyal can stay. Those with ulterior motives... Granduncle's poison array could use some fertilizer."

Dugu Yan gave a bitter laugh.

"You're even harsher than Grandpa."

"If you're not ruthless, how can you survive in this world?"

Dugu Ce looked up at the sky.

"Right, Sis?"

In the distance, a few more figures appeared on the horizon, rushing toward True Dragon Mountain.

Dugu Ce narrowed his eyes, a dark golden flame flickering faintly in his right palm.

"More people.

True Dragon Mountain sure is lively today."

The figures on the horizon drew closer. Dugu Yan noticed them too and frowned.

"More people coming to seek refuge? There must be over a hundred of them today."

"More than that."

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

"The leader's aura... He isn't an offshoot disciple."

As soon as he finished speaking, five figures landed in front of the sect gate.

The man at the front was in his forties, with a resolute face.

The four behind him all had auras above Soul King level.

The middle-aged man saw Dugu Ce and cupped his hands.

"Young Master Dugu Ce, I presume?"

"That's me. And you are?"

"I am Yu Chengzhi, an elder of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Sect's offshoot branch, and an eighty-second-level Soul Douluo."