Gift of the Earth Dragon Golden Melon, Dugu Xuan's Jade Phosphorous Serpent Emperor Evolves into Jade Scale Dragon Emperor!

Golden Crocodile Douluo waved his hand, leaped into the air, and vanished into the horizon as a streak of golden light.

Dugu Yan listened from the side, her heart pounding with trepidation:

"Ce'er, you want to challenge the Golden Generation of Martial Soul Hall?

Those are Hu Liena, Xie Yue, Yan...

Every one of them is a genius among geniuses."

"A genius?"

Dugu Ce chuckled.

"Sister, between them and me, who do you think is the greater genius?"

Dugu Yan was stunned, then gave a wry smile:

"You are level forty-five at twelve years old, possess Twin Martial Souls, and have a mutated, evolved Calamity Sacred Dragon...

What do they have to compare with you?"

"Then that settles it."

Dugu Ce stood with his hands behind his back, gazing toward the direction of Martial Soul City.

"In half a month, I will make the entire Martial Soul Hall know.

The Sect Master of the Dragon-Serpent Sect is not someone they can manipulate at will."

Dugu Yan watched the golden light of Golden Crocodile Douluo disappear into the sky, then turned to look at Dugu Ce, hesitating to speak.

"Sister, just say what is on your mind."

Dugu Yan bit her lip:

"Ce'er, you just said... you still have immortal herbs?"

Dugu Ce took a medicinal herb from his Wishful Treasure Pouch and handed it to Dugu Yan.

"This is a Ten Thousand Year Ginseng King. I should have given it to you back at the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well.

But you weren't there at the time, so I kept it."

Dugu Yan was dumbfounded:

"For... for me?"

"You are my sister; if I don't give it to you, who would I give it to?"

Dugu Ce shoved the herb into her hands.

"Grand-uncle refined one just like it and jumped from level ninety-one to ninety-three.

Your foundation is cleaner than his, without the erosion of toxins; after refining this, you should be able to rise at least three levels."

Dugu Yan cradled the icy-cold herb, her fingers trembling slightly:

"Ce'er, this thing is too precious..."

"Precious, my foot."

Dugu Ce interrupted Dugu Yan.

"If the Deputy Sect Master of the Dragon-Serpent Sect is too weak, it will be a laughingstock if word gets out.

Go back and refine it, don't delay."

There was no other way.

The Dugu family was too small.

Even counting Dugu Ce's mother, Yu Yin, there were only five people in total.

Dugu Bo and Dugu Xuan were both Titled Douluo now.

They were the Supreme Elders of the Dragon-Serpent Sect.

Although Dugu Ce and Dugu Yan were only in their teens or early twenties, they had no choice but to shoulder the responsibilities of the Sect Master.

Dugu Yan took a deep breath, carefully tucked away the Ten Thousand Year Ginseng King, and whispered:

"Alright. I won't stand on ceremony with you."

"That's more like it."

Dugu Ce turned and walked up the mountain.

"Let's go, let's find Grandfather. His immortal herb should be used as well."

Dugu Xuan was meditating halfway up the mountain; he opened his eyes upon hearing their footsteps.

"Ce'er?

Yan'er?

Is something the matter?"

Dugu Ce sat cross-legged opposite his grandfather:

"Grandfather, back at the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well, your body was too depleted, so I only gave you the Ninth-Rank Purple Ganoderma to help you break through to the Title Douluo realm. But the immortal herb I prepared for you has yet to be used."

Dugu Xuan was stunned for a moment, then waved his hand:

"This old man is already at level ninety-two; I am content. Keep that immortal herb for your own use."

"I have my own."

Dugu Ce stood up.

"Grandfather, pack your things. We are returning to the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well."

Dugu Xuan looked at his grandson's uncompromising gaze, remained silent for a moment, then stood up and brushed the dust off his robes:

"Fine, I will listen to you."

Dugu Yan stepped forward:

"Am I going too?"

"You stay behind."

Dugu Ce looked at Dugu Yan.

"Yu Chengzhi's group has just arrived on the mountain, and Mother needs someone to look after her. Sister, keep a close watch, especially on Yu Chengsi."

Dugu Yan nodded:

"Understood. Return quickly."

The grandfather and grandson left True Dragon Mountain, heading west, and swept into the depths of the Sunset Forest.

Passing through the poison array laid by Dugu Bo, the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well appeared before them.

The hot spring was still churning, half scorching and half freezing; the two currents converged at the spring eye, rising in a thick, swirling mist.

Dugu Ce walked to the edge of the spring, took an Earth Dragon Golden Melon from his Wishful Treasure Pouch, and handed it to Dugu Xuan.

Dugu Xuan's Jade Phosphorous Serpent Emperor possessed the bloodline of a flood dragon. Although the Jade Phosphorous Serpent Emperor lacked an earth attribute, consuming the Earth Dragon Golden Melon could still enhance his dragon bloodline.

"Grandfather, this is the Earth Dragon Golden Melon."

Dugu Xuan took the golden, melon-shaped immortal herb. It felt heavy in his hand, and a warm, earthy scent mixed with ambergris wafted toward him.

"Earth Dragon Golden Melon? This old man has never heard of this name."

"It is an immortal herb specifically for enhancing dragon bloodlines."

Dugu Ce sat down by the spring.

"Grandfather, your Jade Phosphorous Serpent Emperor fused with the bloodline of the Nine Nether Poison Flood Dragon, but a flood dragon is not a true dragon after all. By refining this immortal herb, your martial soul will be able to evolve at least once more."

Dugu Xuan looked down at the golden melon in his hand, silent for a long time.

"Ce'er, is it not a waste to give this to me?"

"What waste?"

Dugu Ce looked up.

"You are my own grandfather; if I don't give it to you, who should I give it to?"

Dugu Xuan opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but ultimately remained silent.

Dugu Ce took another spirit mushroom from his Wishful Treasure Pouch, one that was entirely crimson and shaped like a cockscomb, radiating a scorching heat.

"This is the Infernal Delicate Apricot. When refined in conjunction with the Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass, it can forge the Ice and Fire Golden Body."

Dugu Xuan looked at the golden melon in his hand and sighed.

"Ce'er, you have distributed immortal herbs to me, your grand-uncle, the Golden Crocodile Elder, Liu Erlong, and Yan'er. How many do you have left for yourself?"

"Enough is enough."

"How much is enough?"

Dugu Ce was silent for a moment, not answering the question.

"Grandfather, refine this first. I will be by the spring on the other side; call me if you need anything."

With that, Dugu Ce walked to the other side of the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well and sat cross-legged on a bluestone emitting a biting chill.

Dugu Xuan watched his grandson's retreating back, shook his head, and cradled the Earth Dragon Golden Melon in his palm.

"This little brat, still holding out on this old man."

He brought the Golden Melon to his lips and took a bite.

A dense, earthy-yellow energy instantly surged into his throat, rushing through his meridians toward his limbs and bones.

Dugu Xuan let out a muffled groan, hurriedly closing his eyes to focus and guide the violent medicinal power circulating within his body.

At the same time, Dugu Ce placed the Infernal Delicate Apricot in his palm, its crimson medicinal power seeping into his skin like molten lava.

Ice and fire rose simultaneously on both sides of the spring.

Time ticked away, second by second.

It was unclear how much time had passed when a suppressed low roar echoed from across the spring.

Dugu Ce opened his eyes to see Dugu Xuan shrouded in earthy-yellow light, the phantom of the Jade Phosphorous Serpent Emperor emerging behind him.

The originally emerald-green snake body was now plated with a layer of dark-gold patterns, and the single horn on its forehead had grown thicker, showing faint signs of branching.

"Did it succeed?"

Dugu Ce stood up and walked over.

Dugu Xuan opened his eyes, a flash of dark-gold light flickering within his pupils.

"The Martial Soul Evolution is complete."

He raised his right hand, and the phantom of the Jade Phosphorous Serpent Emperor appeared once more.

This time, the snake's body was no longer purely emerald-green; it was covered in a layer of dark-gold scales.

The single horn on its forehead had split into three prongs, bearing a faint resemblance to a dragon.

"What is this called?" Dugu Ce asked.

"Jade Phosphorous Serpent Emperor... no, it can no longer be called a Serpent Emperor."

Dugu Xuan clenched his fist.

"Jade Phosphorous Dragon Emperor.

This old man's Martial Soul has evolved into the Jade Phosphorous Dragon Emperor."

Although calling it the Jade Scale Dragon Emperor might be a bit of an exaggeration, as for the name, as long as it sounds good, that's all that matters!

After all, there were people in later generations who even called themselves the Dragon God Douluo!