Ning Fengzhi chatted briefly, then left with the Sword and Bone Douluo after expressing the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's goodwill.
Not long after they left, Yu Yuanzhen, the sect master of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Sect, also arrived with his people to offer congratulations.
"Brother Dugu, your two sons truly stole the show today. Their futures are boundless!"
Yu Yuanzhen clasped his hands and said to Dugu Bo with a hearty smile.
"You flatter them, Sect Master Yu. The Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Sect is brimming with talent. For at least the next century, you will stand unrivaled. This little bit of glory of mine is still far beneath yours!"
Dugu Bo laughed loudly. Though there was a faint pride on his face, he remained composed.
Yu Yuanzhen nodded slightly without commenting.
He knew his own situation best. Though the younger generation included two immensely promising juniors, Yu Tianheng and Yu Tianxin—
there were far too few among the young generation capable of carrying the banner.
As he thought this, his gaze involuntarily shifted toward Dugu Chen.
A glint flashed in his eyes as he smiled and said,
"Nephew, if I am not mistaken, what you used earlier was not the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Sect's Dragon Transformation Secret Art, was it?"
Dugu Chen clasped his hands in salute and replied,
"Senior Yu, to be precise, it truly should not be considered the Dragon Transformation Secret Art."
"I improved upon the Dragon Transformation Secret Art and replaced it with a circulation method better suited to the characteristics of my own martial soul."
"Although it shares certain similarities with the Dragon Transformation Secret Art, it should generally be regarded as another cultivation art. I have named it the Dragon Transformation Art!"
Yu Yuanzhen's eyes lit up. He murmured softly, his gaze growing brighter and brighter. "Dragon Transformation Art? Dragon Transformation Art... Dragon Transformation Art!"
He clapped his hands together. The excitement on his face was unmistakable as he looked at Dugu Chen.
"Excellent! What an excellent Dragon Transformation Art. Our Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Sect transforms into dragons, while you transform into a dragon. The order has merely been reversed, yet the meaning is completely different."
The disciples of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Sect behind him also wore thoughtful expressions.
Only after hearing Yu Yuanzhen's explanation did they understand why their opponent's strength had been so terrifying.
Dragon transformation and transforming into a dragon differed by only one word, but their meanings were worlds apart.
Dragon transformation was imitation, while transforming into a dragon meant turning one's physical body into a divine dragon. The difference between the two was like that between a firefly and the moon.
"Nephew, I have an improper request. I wonder... could you agree to it?"
Yu Yuanzhen took a deep breath and looked at Dugu Chen with a hint of longing in his eyes.
Dugu Chen saw through the excitement and eagerness in his gaze and immediately smiled faintly.
"Senior Yu... could it be that you wish to borrow my Dragon Transformation Art for a look?"
Seeing that Dugu Chen had guessed his intentions, Yu Yuanzhen did not put on airs. He said frankly,
"Nephew, you truly are exceptionally perceptive. Would you be willing to part with it?"
"Do not worry. The Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Sect is not the sort to take something for nothing. I can exchange a treasure for it!"
Yu Yuanzhen truly coveted the Dragon Transformation Art in Dugu Chen's possession.
Judging from its outward display of power, once Dugu Chen used the Dragon Transformation Art, his combat strength reached an utterly inconceivable level.
He understood the strength of the Haotian Twin Stars very well. They were absolutely among the finest of the younger generation.
Yet in their battle against Dugu Chen, they had still been easily defeated. He had even retained enough strength afterward to defeat more than ten Soul Kings and Soul Emperors.
With the combat strength he had displayed today, even against a Douluo, he would absolutely not be at a disadvantage.
The Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Sect's Dragon Transformation Secret Art could indeed allow one to challenge opponents above one's rank.
However, against opponents of the same level, it was difficult to crush them as effortlessly as Dugu Chen had.
Dugu Chen smiled and said,
"Sect Master Yu, forgive my bluntness, but the cultivation requirements for the Dragon Transformation Art are a hundred times harsher than those of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Sect's Dragon Transformation Secret Art."
"Moreover, this is a method I designed for myself. It is not very suitable for others to cultivate. Even if you obtained it, if you could not cultivate it successfully, it would be nothing more than waste paper."
At Dugu Chen's words, the excitement in Yu Yuanzhen's eyes froze, and his gaze gradually dimmed.
Still unwilling to give up, Yu Yuanzhen asked,
"Nephew, would it be convenient for you to tell me what restrictions there are on cultivating this art?"
"The physical body must be sufficiently strong. That should be the most basic requirement for cultivating the Dragon Transformation Art."
"Without a powerful body, one would certainly burst apart during the process of transforming into a dragon. Sect Master Yu, everything has its price. The strongest is not necessarily the best; only what suits you is correct!"
Dugu Chen spoke calmly and slowly.
Yu Yuanzhen sighed softly, then quickly put away the disappointment on his face.
"You are right. Since that is the case, we shall take our leave for now. We will meet again another day!"
After saying that, Yu Yuanzhen turned and left with the others.
With both the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect and the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Sect having come, only the Haotian Sect, leader of the Upper Three Sects, had yet to appear.
Dugu Bo did not care. After all, the people of the Haotian Sect had spoken arrogantly earlier and injured his son.
Fortunately, Dugu Chen had done him proud in the end, ruthlessly crushing the Haotian Sect's arrogance. He had even whipped Tang Hao around like a spinning top. It had been immensely satisfying!
It was just as well that they had not come, lest the meeting become awkward.
Afterward, the three left the VIP seats, found an empty corner, and opened the brocade box containing the Soul Bone.
The instant the brocade box opened, an incomparably dense wave of soul power surged from within.
Floating inside the box was a strange bluish-gray bone. Green currents of air spiraled off the Soul Bone, radiating powerful soul power fluctuations.
"This is..."
Dugu Chen could not help drawing in a sharp breath. This Soul Bone was actually at the ten-thousand-year level. No wonder Qian Xunji had been so confident earlier.
Soul Bones also varied in quality. Generally speaking, among Soul Bones from the same body part, the more complete it was and the stronger its energy fluctuations, the better its quality and the higher the rank of the soul beast it came from.
And this Soul Bone before them was exceptionally complete.
If he were a member of Spirit Hall, he would certainly curse Qian Xunji for being so wasteful. But he was not, so all he could say was... it was truly a fine prize!
"Father, do you recognize this Soul Bone?" Dugu Xin asked Dugu Bo, a trace of excitement in his eyes.
Dugu Bo stroked his beard, a thoughtful look appearing in his eyes. Only after a long while did he slowly say,
"If I am not mistaken, this should be a ten-thousand-year Gale Demon Wolf Right Leg Bone."
Afterward, Dugu Bo explained the Gale Demon Wolf soul beast to the two of them.
Gale Demon Wolves were lustful by nature and were an extremely evil kind of soul beast.
Wolf Raiders came into existence because Gale Demon Wolves violated respectable human women. They could be said to be hated by everyone.
Spirit Hall had clearly obtained this right leg bone by killing a ten-thousand-year Gale Demon Wolf. It could be said that they had eliminated a menace for the people!
"So that is how it is. Little brother, since you won this Soul Bone, it is most fitting for you to absorb it!"
After hearing Dugu Bo's explanation, Dugu Xin came to a realization. He turned his head and smiled at Dugu Chen.
However, Dugu Chen looked at the Soul Bone with disdain and curled his lip.
"This Soul Bone is far too trashy, and neither of my martial souls matches its attributes. Absorbing it would be completely meaningless to me."
"Your Jade-Scale Serpent Emperor happens to have no attribute restrictions, Big Brother, and you also lack means for direct combat. You should absorb it!"
Dugu Xin froze and hurriedly said,
"How can that be? You won this Soul Bone. What would it mean for me to absorb it?"
"We are family. Why draw such clear lines between us?"
Dugu Chen rubbed his nose as he spoke, then directly stuffed the Soul Bone into Dugu Xin's arms.
"This..."
Dugu Xin was somewhat stunned and did not know what to do for a moment.
"Enough. Since Chen does not want it, accept it."
"You lack a decisive means of frontal attack. This Gale Demon Wolf Right Leg Bone can make up for that weakness."
Dugu Bo made the final decision, settling the matter of the Soul Bone directly.