Ice and Fire Golden Body, Level 50! Golden Crocodile: The 58,000-Year-Old Lava Poison Earth Dragon!

On the fourth day, crimson and ice blue began to intertwine.

On the fifth day, a layer of dark golden sheen appeared on Dugu Ce's skin, as though he had been coated in a thin film of gold.

The sixth day, the seventh day, the eighth day...

Dugu Xuan stayed by the spring without leaving for a moment. When he was hungry, he ate a few wild fruits from the shore; when he was tired, he leaned against a blue stone and dozed.

On the ninth day, the light in the spring began to fade.

At dawn on the tenth day, Dugu Ce abruptly opened his eyes.

His left eye was as crimson as fire, while his right was as icy blue as frost.

A moment later, the strange light in both eyes faded, and they returned to their original jade-green and gold colors.

Dugu Ce let out a long breath and rose from the spring.

His skin glimmered with a faint dark golden sheen, and his muscles were sleek and full of power.

The water from the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well slid off his body without leaving a single drop behind.

"Ce'er!"

Dugu Xuan rushed to the spring in three quick strides and examined his grandson from head to toe.

"Did it work?"

"It did."

Dugu Ce leaped out of the spring and landed firmly on the bank.

Dugu Ce raised his right hand, and the phantom of the Calamity Sacred Dragon appeared behind him.

The sacred dragon, dark gold from head to tail and wreathed in poisonous flames, looked several times more solid than it had ten days earlier.

Dugu Ce closed his eyes and sensed the Soul Power within him. The corners of his mouth lifted slightly.

"Level fifty.

My Soul Power jumped straight from level forty-five to level fifty."

"F-fifty?!"

Dugu Xuan's eyes widened, and his voice cracked.

"You were only level forty-five ten days ago. You gained five levels in ten days?

You little brat, do you know how long it took me to go from level forty-five to level fifty?"

"How long?"

"Two years!"

Dugu Xuan held up three fingers, looking deeply aggrieved.

"And you, you soaked in a bath for ten days and caught up with me.

Have I wasted all these decades of my life?"

Dugu Ce smiled but didn't reply.

He raised both hands. The Calamity Sacred Dragon and the Radiant Sacred Dragon appeared together, one on either side, their dark gold and brilliant gold lights shining in harmony.

The two dragons' auras collided above the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well, sending ripples across the spring.

"Grandpa, I can absorb my fifth Soul Ring whenever I want now."

Dugu Ce withdrew his Martial Souls and put on his robe.

"Teacher should have found a suitable Soul Beast by now.

Let's go back to True Dragon Mountain and get ready to head to Spirit Hall."

Dugu Xuan nodded, then glanced again at the dark golden dragon pattern on his grandson's chest and muttered, "The Ice and Fire Golden Body... I've lived most of my life, and this is the first time I've seen anyone cultivate like this."

"You'll see it more often from now on. It won't seem so strange."

Dugu Ce tied the Wishful Treasure Pouch back around his waist and took one last look at the spring of the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well.

The Immortal Herbs had all been harvested. Only the pool, its waters alternating between hot and cold, and a few ordinary medicinal plants scattered along the bank remained.

"Let's go, Grandpa.

There are people at Spirit Hall waiting to laugh at our Dragon-Serpent Sect."

Dugu Xuan threw back his head and laughed, leaping into the air.

"Let them wait!

I'd like to see which family's twelve-year-old, level-fifty Soul King doesn't deserve a place among the Upper Three Sects!"

The grandfather and grandson became two streaks of light, sweeping out of Sunset Forest and heading straight for True Dragon Mountain.

True Dragon Mountain, summit.

Two streaks of light descended from the sky and landed steadily on the stone terrace in front of the Dragon Lair.

Dugu Bo was crouched on the steps, fiddling with a poisonous herb. At the sound, he looked up, his eyes lighting up.

"You're back?"

Dugu Bo rose to his feet and looked Dugu Xuan up and down.

"Big brother, your aura feels different... you broke through again?"

"Level ninety-four."

Dugu Xuan stood with his hands behind his back, his tone casual, though he couldn't hide his pride.

"My Martial Soul evolved, too. The Jade Phosphorous Serpent Emperor became the Jade Phosphorous Dragon Emperor."

Dugu Bo froze for a moment, then leaned closer to take a good look. Suddenly, he smacked Dugu Xuan on the shoulder.

"You old rascal!

I was stuck at level ninety-one for years before finally making it to level ninety-three.

And you go out once and surpass me!"

"Ce'er gave me an Immortal Herb, the Earth Dragon Golden Melon.

And the method for condensing a Soul Core."

Dugu Xuan chuckled.

"If you want one, I'll tell you how to do it right now."

Dugu Bo was curious. What was a Soul Core?

Dugu Xuan eagerly repeated the explanation he had previously given him.

Dugu Bo was overjoyed.

He immediately set off to seclude himself and attempt to condense a Soul Core.

Dugu Ce asked, "Great-uncle, how have things been on the mountain these past couple of days?"

Dugu Bo answered gravely, "Yu Chengzhi's people have settled in. They're staying on West Peak and have been behaving themselves.

Yu Chengsi's people are staying on East Peak. These past few days, they've had no shortage of run-ins with Yu Chengzhi's clan."

"What kind of run-ins?"

"Fighting over water."

Dugu Bo sneered.

"True Dragon Mountain only has two springs, one on West Peak and one on East Peak.

Yu Chengsi has more people, and they think there isn't enough water, so they want to take the spring on West Peak.

Yu Chengzhi refused, and the two sides nearly came to blows."

Dugu Yan's voice came from the mountain path.

"Ce'er!"

She hurried up to the summit, with Yu Yin following behind her.

"Mother."

Dugu Ce stepped forward and supported Yu Yin by the arm.

"You've worked hard these past few days."

"It was no trouble. It's quiet up here, much better than at the foot of the mountain."

Yu Yin took Dugu Ce's hand and looked him up and down.

"You've lost weight.

You've lost weight again in the ten days we've been apart."

"I haven't lost weight. I'm stronger."

Dugu Ce smiled, released his mother's hand, and looked at Dugu Yan.

"Big sister, apart from fighting over water, has Yu Chengsi made any other moves?"

Dugu Yan shook her head.

"Not so far. But I think he's waiting for something."

"Waiting for what?"

"An opportunity."

Dugu Yan lowered her voice.

"These past few days, he's often sent people to wander along the mountain paths, as if they're scouting the terrain.

Ce'er, we can't let this man stay."

Dugu Ce pondered for a moment, then looked at Dugu Bo.

"Great-uncle, how is the Myriad Poison Array coming along?"

"The core area was finished ten days ago."

Dugu Bo pointed toward the mountainside.

"East Peak lies right on the edge of the core area.

Once I activate the array, not one of Yu Chengsi's people will escape."

"Wait two more days."

Dugu Ce looked toward East Peak, his gaze icy.

"I'll get my fifth Soul Ring first. When I'm back, we'll deal with him."

"Your fifth Soul Ring?"

Dugu Yan stared at him in surprise.

"Ce'er, did you break through to level fifty?"

"I just broke through."

Dugu Ce raised his right hand. The dark golden flames of the Calamity Sacred Dragon danced in his palm.

"Teacher said he'd find a suitable Soul Beast for me. There should be news by now."

As soon as he finished speaking, a streak of golden light shot across the sky.

Golden Crocodile Douluo landed on the summit, swept his gaze over everyone, then stopped on Dugu Ce. A flash of admiration passed through his eyes.

"Level fifty?

You've broken through again in the ten days since I last saw you?"

"I refined two Immortal Herbs at the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well. I was just lucky."

Dugu Ce stepped forward and bowed.

"Teacher, have you found a suitable Soul Beast?"

"I have."

Golden Crocodile Douluo took a hide map from his robes and spread it across the stone table.

"Deep in Sunset Forest, there's a volcano. A 58,000-year-old Lava Poison Earth Dragon lives inside.

It's an ancient dragon species with both fire and poison attributes, and it carries a trace of True Dragon blood.

Its Soul Ring will suit your Calamity Sacred Dragon."