Dugu Yan nodded.
"Understood."
Dugu Ce looked at Yu Yin one last time.
"Mother, don't worry. After tonight, the mountain will be clean."
Yu Yin fell silent for a moment, then said softly,
"Be careful. Don't hurt our own people."
"Don't worry."
Night fell deep.
At the camp of Yu Chengsi and the others on East Peak, True Dragon Mountain.
Golden Crocodile Douluo descended from the sky and landed in the middle of the camp.
The pressure of a Level 99 Limit Douluo bore down like Mount Tai, enveloping the entire camp. Everyone was crushed beneath it, barely able to breathe.
"The Second Worship of Spirit Hall is inspecting True Dragon Mountain. Everyone will remain in camp and is forbidden to leave.
"Anyone who disobeys will be killed."
Golden Crocodile Douluo tossed out the words coldly, then leapt into the air and disappeared into the night.
The camp erupted in an uproar.
Yu Chengsi emerged from his tent. Watching in the direction Golden Crocodile Douluo had vanished, he furrowed his brow.
"Big Brother, what's going on?"
Yu Cheng'en came over, lowering his voice.
"Why have people from Spirit Hall come at a time like this?"
"I don't know."
Yu Chengsi shook his head, a vague unease stirring in his heart.
"Tell the brothers to stay put and not go outside."
As soon as the words left his mouth, a wave of emerald-green mist rose from halfway up the mountain and drifted slowly toward East Peak on the night breeze.
Half an incense stick later.
The first scream rang out from the camp.
Yu Chengsi burst from his tent and saw several disciples lying at the edge of the camp, their bodies rotting as their screams grew weaker.
"Poison mist?!"
Yu Chengsi's face changed dramatically. He turned and ran for the edge of the camp.
But emerald-green poison mist was already surging in from every direction, surrounding the entire camp.
"Dugu Ce! You're ruthless!"
Yu Chengsi roared at the sky. His Martial Soul, the Thunder Python, possessed his body as he tried to force his way through the poison mist.
An emerald-green figure descended from above and blocked his path.
Dugu Bo stood with his hands behind his back, a sinister smile on his face.
"Yu Chengsi, when you urged Yu Yuanzhen to have my nephew killed, did you ever imagine this day would come?"
"Dugu Bo!
"You... You can't kill me!
"I came to join you!"
Yu Chengsi's face was deathly pale as he stumbled backward.
"Join us?"
Dugu Xuan emerged from the poison mist, the phantom of the Jade Phosphorous Dragon Emperor appearing behind him.
"You have my son's blood on your hands. You think you have the right to say the word 'join'?"
Yu Chengsi's legs gave way. He fell to his knees and kowtowed desperately.
"Lord Nine Nether, spare me!
"Yu Yuanzhen gave the order back then. I only... I only said a few things..."
"A few things?"
Dugu Xuan kicked him in the chest, sending him sprawling.
"A few words cost my son his life.
"Yu Chengsi, today, I'll take your life with a few words of my own."
Yu Chengsi coughed up a mouthful of blood and tried to beg for mercy again, but the poison mist was already pouring into his mouth and nose.
He struggled frantically. The Thunder Python flickered across his body a few times before the poison mist corroded it to pieces.
In less than ten breaths, Yu Chengsi had dissolved into a puddle of thick liquid, not even a bone left behind.
The screams from the East Peak camp continued for a full incense stick.
An incense stick later, all was silent.
The emerald-green poison mist slowly dispersed. The East Peak camp was left with nothing but empty tents and scattered clothes—not a single survivor.
Dugu Bo stood in the middle of the camp, surveying the surroundings. He nodded in satisfaction.
"The Myriad Poison Array really is useful."
Dugu Xuan emerged from the poison mist, his expression complicated. He fell silent for a moment, then said quietly,
"Let's go. Ce'er is waiting."
The two leapt into the air and swept back to the mountaintop.
On the stone platform at the summit, Dugu Ce stood with his hands behind his back, watching the poison mist gradually dissipate in the direction of East Peak, his face expressionless.
Golden Crocodile Douluo stood beside him and said mildly,
"It's done."
"Mm."
Dugu Ce nodded.
"The Dragon-Serpent Sect has its first batch of fertilizer."
Dugu Yan hurried back from West Peak. Seeing that the area around East Peak had returned to calm, she asked softly,
"Yu Chengsi... is dead?"
"He's dead."
Dugu Ce turned to look at Dugu Yan.
"Sis, tomorrow, tell Yu Chengzhi the land on East Peak is free. Ask if he wants to expand his territory."
Dugu Yan froze, then gave a wry smile.
"You're going to make Yu Chengsi's death sound like they wandered into a forbidden zone on their own?"
"It was a forbidden zone."
Dugu Ce replied coolly.
"Granduncle's Myriad Poison Array has been in place for ten days. Anyone who enters the core area of True Dragon Mountain dies.
"Yu Chengsi ignored the warning and led his people into the array in the middle of the night. He brought it on himself. What does that have to do with the Dragon-Serpent Sect?"
Dugu Bo burst out laughing.
"Brilliant! Brilliant!
"Ce'er, your tongue is even more useful than my poison."
Golden Crocodile Douluo laughed too.
"All right, the business is taken care of.
"Ce'er, get ready. In three days, you'll return to Spirit Hall with me."
"Three days?"
Dugu Ce raised an eyebrow.
"Didn't you say half a month?"
"The half-month deadline was for you to refine the Immortal Herb. You've finished early, so there's no need to wait."
Golden Crocodile Douluo stood with his hands behind his back, gazing at the sky.
"Besides, I've already sent word.
"The Golden Generation at Spirit Hall is itching for a fight with you.
"If you arrive late, they'll think you're afraid."
Dugu Ce smiled.
"Afraid? I'm afraid they won't be enough of a challenge."
Dugu Xuan stepped forward and patted his grandson on the shoulder.
"Ce'er, when you get to Spirit Hall, don't bring shame on the Dugu Family."
"Don't worry, Grandfather."
Dugu Ce looked toward Spirit City, a cold glint flashing in his eyes.
"Not only will I bring no shame, I'll make everyone understand:
"The Dragon-Serpent Sect's sect master is someone they can only aspire to."
Golden Crocodile Douluo leapt into the air and vanished into the distance in a flash of golden light.
Dugu Bo stretched lazily too.
"I'm going into seclusion.
"I'll try the Soul Core method Xuan mentioned tonight.
"Ce'er, by the time you return from Spirit Hall, I'll be at least level 94."
"I wish you success, Granduncle."
Dugu Ce cupped his hands.
Dugu Bo waved him off and streaked toward the back mountain in a flash of green light.
Only Dugu Ce, Dugu Xuan, and Dugu Yan remained on the summit.
The night wind swept past, carrying a faint smell of blood from East Peak.
Dugu Yan fell silent for a while, then asked softly,
"Ce, are you tired?"
"Tired?"
Dugu Ce froze.
"Since destroying the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Sect, you haven't rested for even a day.
"You refined an Immortal Herb, fought an Earth Dragon, and now you've dealt with Yu Chengsi tonight."
Dugu Yan watched her younger brother's profile.
"Don't you want to rest for a while?"
Dugu Ce fell silent for a moment, then shook his head.
"There's no time to rest. Sis, too many people in this world want to see me fall.
"If I rest for one more day, they'll have one more day to find their chance."
Dugu Xuan sighed.
"Yan Yan, don't try to talk him out of it.
"This kid has the same temper as his father. Once he sets his mind on something, nine oxen couldn't drag him back."
Dugu Ce smiled and turned toward the stone chamber.
"Grandfather, Sis, get some rest. We have a journey to make in three days."
Dugu Yan watched her brother's back and said quietly to Dugu Xuan,
"Grandfather, do you think Ce can really beat the Golden Generation at Spirit Hall?"
Dugu Xuan stood with his hands behind his back, his tone sure.
"A level 51 Twin Martial Soul user, with the Ice and Fire Golden Body and an evolved Calamity Sacred Dragon.
"Forget the Golden Generation. Even among the old hands at Spirit Hall, there aren't many who could match Ce at his age."
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