Chapter 33: The Appearance of the Holy Dragon Sect
"Sect Master Hu Yan flatters us," Dugu Shuo replied calmly.
"Haha! You're still the same as ever—so dull!" Hu Yanzhen laughed loudly twice before turning away from the Dugu Clan's carriage to greet the Ge Clan's group ahead.
A short while later, another carriage rolled out from Heaven Dou City—a blue one. The representatives of Thunder Academy had finally arrived.
However, they were reserved, sending only a Soul King as their emissary. After exchanging polite greetings, the convoy set off for Suoto City.
Four massive carriages in total began their grand journey.
Thunder Academy was backed by the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan.
Dugu Feng already knew that the Five Elements Alliance was essentially under the Tyrant Dragon Clan's patronage.
The five academies—Thunder, Godwind, Tianshui, Elephant Armored, and Blazing Fire—shared profits from the Grand Battle Arena and followed the leadership of the Blue Lightning Clan's patriarch.
The Blue Lightning Clan, however, remained independent—neither aligning with Heaven Dou's royal family nor Star Luo's.
Around them gathered several allies who shared their neutral stance.
Still, among the Five Elements Alliance, all except Thunder Academy—Godwind, Tianshui, Elephant Armored, and Blazing Fire—had clearly been courted by Spirit Hall.
Did the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan even know this?
If not, then their eventual destruction was truly deserved.
Dugu Feng shook his head, clearing his thoughts, and quietly continued cultivating inside the carriage.
The journey passed uneventfully. Half a month later…
Dugu Feng exhaled, his eyes shining with excitement.
Two emerald serpents coiled around his wrists—the Nine-Segment Emerald Snakes. Their tongues flicked out, brushing against his skin.
Just moments ago, both had advanced past a thousand years in cultivation age.
It was astonishingly fast, yet true.
The inner energy bead's influence on them was immense. Since joining its circulation, their strength had been increasing by over a hundred years' worth every month—and that pace was still accelerating.
A thousand-year soul beast's power approximately matched a Soul Grandmaster or Soul Elder. Evolving to this level within a single year from hatching was nothing short of a miracle.
At this rate, their cultivation would soon surpass his own. They were destined to become his greatest assets.
The bead's energy had also risen another point—to fifty-five.
It was a perfect positive cycle: the stronger he and the snakes became, the faster the bead condensed energy, which in turn further strengthened them.
He smiled proudly. Merging the snakes into the energy system had doubled his growth speed.
Dugu Feng's mood was excellent.
They were now less than a hundred kilometers from Suoto City.
He had stayed vigilant all along, but after so many quiet days, he began to wonder if perhaps the Elephant Armored Sect and Spirit Hall had no plans to attack after all.
Just then, Old Scorpion slipped into the carriage.
Dugu Feng hadn't even noticed him leave earlier.
"Clan Chief," Old Scorpion said grimly, "ten miles ahead, the Holy Dragon Sect's carriages appear to be waiting for us."
"Holy Dragon Sect? That's no coincidence," Dugu Feng replied.
"They're about to make their move," Dugu Shuo said coldly.
Beside them, Old Snake looked ashamed. "Old Scorpion and I have taken turns scouting the road, but we found no trace of poison-type soul masters."
Old Scorpion nodded silently. Finding the Holy Dragon Sect but not their hidden advantage meant they were at risk.
"No need to panic," Dugu Shuo said calmly.
Unbeknownst to them, Old Nine was also secretly investigating—but none of them had uncovered anything unusual.
Dugu Shuo already had his suspicions but saw no reason to voice them yet.
His composed demeanor quickly steadied everyone else.
The convoy continued onward.
Soon, the Ge Clan's carriage in front also spotted the Holy Dragon Sect's group.
Old Snake, Hu Yanzhen, and Ge Long moved forward to greet them. Dugu Shuo, cold and indifferent, didn't even bother stepping out, while Thunder Academy's carriage also remained still.
"I guessed you'd be arriving soon," said the man leading the Holy Dragon Sect group. "I waited here to travel together to Suoto City—how about it?"
He wore a silver leather robe, two dragon-like horns protruding from his shoulders, and a golden dragon head emblem embroidered across his chest. His domineering aura radiated authority—it was none other than Tuoba Xi, Sect Master of the Holy Dragon Sect.
Judging by his strength, he was still a Contra at this time—not yet a Titled Douluo.
Behind him stood over ten Holy Dragon soul masters, their presence making an impressive display.
"Haha! Why not? We're all acquaintances, after all. We'll be meeting in Suoto anyway," Hu Yanzhen said with booming laughter, though a fiery glint flickered deep in his eyes.
"Then I'll ride ahead and lead the way," Tuoba Xi answered Ge Long calmly when the Ge Clan patriarch said courteously, "Sect Master Tuoba, please take the lead."
Tuoba Xi returned to his carriage, and the convoy resumed its journey—though the air felt heavier now.
Among the Heaven Dou forces—the Ge Clan, the Five Elements Alliance, and the Dugu Clan—relations were cordial. There was no hostility between them.
But the Holy Dragon Sect was another matter entirely. They belonged to a different camp.
As dusk settled and the last sunlight faded from the horizon, the travelers prepared to rest for the night. The day had seemed peaceful—until a sudden scream split the air.
It echoed through the entire convoy.
Dugu Feng jolted upright. The voice sounded so familiar.
"Teacher Ge—it's his voice! What happened?"
Without hesitation, Dugu Shuo, Old Snake, and Old Scorpion rushed from the carriage.
Dugu Feng, Little Snake, and the other five clan soul masters followed closely behind.
The Ge Clan's carriage was just ahead of theirs.
"Step aside! Let Clan Chief Dugu examine him!" someone barked.
Ge Clan soul masters quickly disembarked, clearing the way.
Approaching, Dugu Feng instantly sensed their wariness—and realized it was directed at his group. A sense of foreboding rose in his chest.
Dugu Shuo and Dugu Feng entered the carriage together.
What they saw inside froze them.
Ge Ying's skin had turned a ghastly blue-black, veins bulging like writhing earthworms.
Golden and black energies flickered across his body, his soul power clashing against a surging, unknown force within.
"A moment ago, Ying'er suddenly began gasping for breath—and then became like this! He must have been poisoned!"
The middle-aged man beside him wore a thin silver cuirass. His face was pained, though his voice remained level.
It was Ge Long himself, patriarch of the Ge Clan.
Ge Ying was his son—the clan's most talented soul master, nearing the Soul Emperor level at just over thirty.
He taught at Heaven Dou's Imperial Junior Academy, mingling with the nobility. Ge Long had long groomed him as his successor.
Now, seeing him struck down by poisoning, his composure barely held as he turned a desperate gaze toward Dugu Shuo.
Without wasting a breath, Dugu Shuo summoned his Martial Soul. A green, diamond-shaped scale pattern appeared on his forehead.
The familiar four-colored light—emerald, violet, gold, and black—flared into existence once again, enveloping Ge Ying.
(END CHAPTER)
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