Yu Wuchen quickly examined the bodies, but these black-clad men had come to ambush and kill them, and none carried anything that identified them.
"I've seen this man before. He was an enforcer from Spirit Hall!"
Suddenly, someone pointed at the face of one of the black-clad Soul Emperors' corpses and spoke.
"Spirit Hall...!"
Yu Wuchen's expression darkened.
Yu Tianming's gaze turned utterly cold. "Well played, Spirit Hall..."
Although he had already suspected it.
A force capable of sending Soul Douluo-level assassins was anything but ordinary. There were only a handful of possibilities, and Spirit Hall was the most likely among them.
But after confirming the identities of these black-clad men, he still found it hard to suppress his fury.
"This score is far from settled!"
Yu Tianming was not one to swallow a loss in silence. If someone wanted to kill him, he would make them pay.
Even if he could do nothing to the instigator for now, he would make them understand that the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan was not theirs to butcher at will!
Just then, Dugu Yan and Ye Lingling stepped down from the carriage.
Yu Tianheng, Shi Mo, and the others also got out of their carriage and came to his side together.
"Tianming, are you all right?" Dugu Yan asked with concern.
Yu Tianming smiled. "Don't worry. They were just a bunch of small fry."
Yu Tianheng first nodded to Yu Wuchen and the other two Soul Saints, then said, "We should get moving as soon as possible, in case there's another ambush."
Yu Tianming nodded. "All right, let's go."
The group boarded the carriages again and continued toward the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan.
Northwest Province · Nine Dragons Mountain Range
Two carriages slowly entered an open valley. In the distance, a winding river lay coiled like a great dragon, while nine towering mountain ranges surrounded a vast complex of buildings.
Viewed from high above, one would discover
that the contours of these nine mountain ranges vaguely formed the shape of a giant dragon!
The Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan's sect grounds stood at the "dragon's head," its buildings packed in orderly rows, resplendent in gold and jade.
"We're here."
Yu Tianming lifted the carriage curtain and looked into the distance with a smile.
Dugu Yan and Ye Lingling leaned over as well, a flicker of awe passing through both their eyes.
"This is... the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan?" Dugu Yan blinked. "It's even more extravagant than I imagined."
Ye Lingling nodded slightly. "Indeed. It's even grander than Heaven Dou Royal Academy."
Yu Tianming smiled. "Our Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan is one of the Upper Three Sects. Naturally, Heaven Dou Royal Academy alone can't compare."
Inside the second carriage, Shi Mo, Yu Feng, and the others began discussing it excitedly as well.
True Dragon Mountain
The two carriages had only just approached when several sect disciples in fitted martial attire came forward to greet them.
"Welcome back to the sect, young sect master, eldest young master!"
They all bowed in unison, their voices ringing out, their presence surging like a rainbow.
Yu Tianming gave a slight nod and stepped out of the carriage with Dugu Yan and Ye Lingling.
Yu Tianheng, Shi Mo, and the others followed close behind.
Yu Tianheng was Sect Master Yu Yuanzhen's eldest grandson, so naturally, he was the eldest young master. Although his standing was below that of the young sect master, it was still very high.
"Come on, I'll take you inside," Yu Tianming said.
As they entered the sect grounds,
everyone marveled even more.
Tall dragon-shaped stone sculptures stood on either side of the broad bluestone avenue, each so lifelike that it seemed ready to soar into the sky at any moment.
In the distance, magnificent halls stood in a harmonious arrangement, their glazed roof tiles glittering in the sunlight.
"How is this a sect? It's practically an imperial palace!" Yu Feng could not help clicking his tongue.
Yu Tianheng smiled. "Our Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan may be hidden deep in the mountains, but our foundations run deep. We've never lacked money."
Osler clicked his tongue in wonder. "Worthy of the Upper Three Sects. The sheer size of these sect grounds alone must be enough to intimidate petty villains."
The group continued onward, finally arriving at the sect master's main hall.
Several elders with powerful presences had already been waiting before the hall for some time.
"Tianming, Tian Heng, you're back?" A white-haired elder stroked his beard and smiled.
Yu Tianming and Yu Tianheng bowed slightly. "Third Elder."
The Third Elder was even older than Yu Yuanzhen, and his standing was second only to the sect master and the second-in-command, Yu Luomian. There was nothing wrong with showing him some respect.
The Third Elder nodded, his gaze sweeping over Dugu Yan and Ye Lingling as a hint of a smile crossed his eyes. "These two must be Poison Douluo's granddaughter and the inheritor of Nine Heart Begonia?"
Dugu Yan copied Yu Tianming's bow. "Greetings, Third Elder."
Ye Lingling inclined her body slightly, her bearing dignified.
The Third Elder nodded in satisfaction, smiling so broadly that he could not close his mouth. "Good, good."
Soon, Yu Yuanzhen also emerged from the hall, smiling.
"Grandfather."
Yu Tianming and Yu Tianheng spoke in unison.
Yu Yuanzhen's gaze was like lightning. He first swept his eyes over everyone, then settled them on Yu Tianming and asked gravely, "You were attacked on the way?"
Yu Tianming nodded in reply. "Yes. People from Spirit Hall."
"Hmph, Spirit Hall!"
A cold glint flashed through Yu Yuanzhen's eyes. He snorted, and a terrifying pressure instantly spread outward, making even the elders around him involuntarily hold their breath.
But Yu Yuanzhen soon reined in his presence.
He looked at Dugu Yan and Ye Lingling, a rare trace of a smile appearing on his face.
"Yanyan, Lingling, welcome to the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan."
Dugu Yan blinked and said with a cheerful grin, "Hello, Grandpa Yu!"
Ye Lingling's beautiful eyes curved as she smiled faintly. "Grandpa Yu."
"Good, good!"
Yu Yuanzhen laughed twice, then said to Yu Tianming, "Take your friends to rest first. Come to my study later."
Yu Tianming agreed. "All right."
Yu Feng, Shi Mo, and the others also bowed stiffly before following him out of the hall.
The group was settled into the most luxurious guest courtyard in the sect.
Dugu Yan stood by the window, gazing at the distant mountains, and sighed in wonder. "Your Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan really is... extravagant."
Although Dugu Bo was also a Titled Douluo, their Dugu Family consisted of only two people. They had several residences, but even all of them combined came nowhere close to the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan.
Yu Tianming smiled. "You'll get used to it."
"Hmph!"
At those words, Dugu Yan gave a soft snort, the tips of her ears turning an almost imperceptible red.
You'll get used to it.
Didn't that imply this would be her home in the future?
Ye Lingling, however, thought further. Having witnessed the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan's strength and grandeur, she could not help having a thought-
Was she truly worthy of Yu Tianming?
The Nine Heart Begonia Clan was quite famous too, possessing the continent's greatest healing-type Martial Soul.
But compared with the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, one was simply in the heavens and the other on the earth!
At this thought,
Ye Lingling's eyes dimmed.
Yu Tianming keenly noticed the look in her eyes. Looking thoughtful, he then reached out and clasped Ye Lingling's slender, delicate hand.
Ye Lingling turned her head, and Yu Tianming's gentle, sincere smile met her eyes.
Her hand trembled slightly, but she did not pull it away.
The warmth of Yu Tianming's palm warmed her heart a little, and some of her earlier worries dissipated.
"What are you thinking about?"
Yu Tianming asked softly.
Ye Lingling pressed her lips together and said quietly, "I just feel... compared with the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, the Nine Heart Begonia Family..."
"Lingling."
Yu Tianming interrupted her, his gaze firm. "I've never cared about status or family background, and neither would my grandfather or my parents."
"Besides, Grandfather even gave you thunder spirit jade. He's very fond of you!"
At his words,
Ye Lingling met Yu Tianming's gaze, the gloom in her eyes replaced by tenderness.
She understood Yu Tianming's feelings...
"Ahem!"
Dugu Yan suddenly cleared her throat heavily twice, her emerald eyes narrowing dangerously. "Have you two forgotten there's someone else here?"