Chapter 38: The Unscrupulous Yu Yuanzhen
Dugu Shuo's expression changed drastically. In an instant, he transformed into his Martial Soul's true form—a massive jade-green serpent.
Its dark scales shimmered with a dangerous black light as it clashed against the shadow bearing down on him.
"Gui Mei, bullying the weak again?" Dugu Shuo's voice boomed through the air. "The one casting poison is still nearby. With your power, you could easily find them—unless you'd rather I help you do it?"
A powerful voice echoed across the night as a streak of green-blue lightning descended from the clouds, intercepting the shadowy wave.
Everyone felt as though thunder roared within their skulls.
Someone had dared call Gui Mei by name. Who could it be?
"Big brother—you came!" Yu Luomian exclaimed in joy from midair.
The only person that the deputy master of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan would call brother… was the clan patriarch himself, Yu Yuanzhen.
Dugu Feng looked skyward.
An enormous mass of lightning tore through the night, brighter and sharper than the moon.
Within the radiance, nine thunder dragons coiled around Yu Yuanzhen's body—their horns, claws, scales, and forms etched vividly against the sky, ready to swoop down at any instant.
Dugu Feng was awed. The power radiating from Yu Yuanzhen was staggering—his presence alone dazzling enough to steal one's breath.
When I reach the Titled Douluo rank, he thought, my aura must be even stronger than his.
So this was the backing his father had hinted at? Had he convinced Yu Yuanzhen to intervene personally?
On the Holy Dragon Sect's carriage, Gui Mei's hidden face darkened.
He had sensed a powerful cultivator nearby and intended only to test the waters—he hadn't expected that testing Dugu Shuo would draw out the old Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon himself.
If Yu Yuanzhen truly searched, he might uncover Yang Wushuang's presence. And Yang Wushuang was integral to Spirit Hall's plans—he could not, and must not, be exposed.
"Since the Elephant Armored Sect has long been attached to your Blue Lightning Clan, whether to avenge them is your own family's matter," Gui Mei said coolly. "With Clan Master Yu here, I'll take my leave. Farewell."
With that, he dissolved back into the darkness, vanishing completely.
Behind Tuoba Xi, the Holy Dragon Sect soul masters wasted no time darting back into their carriage—as if the wooden boards could somehow shield them.
Tuoba Xi's face burned in shame. Cowards, all of them.
"Everyone, we will meet again in Suoto City," he said stiffly. "Your Excellency Thunder, we'll take our leave first!"
He bowed respectfully to Yu Yuanzhen and quickly boarded his carriage.
Seeing the Holy Dragon Sect retreat in disgrace, Dugu Feng couldn't help but smirk. Tuoba Xi was truly scared out of his wits.
"Greetings, Lord Thunder!"
"Greetings, Lord Thunder!"
Both Dugu Shuo and Ge Long stepped forward to salute. The title Thunder was Yu Yuanzhen's Titled Douluo name—befitting his overwhelming might.
Every soul master in the convoy bowed in respect.
A Titled Douluo stood before them—the legendary Blue Lightning patriarch himself.
Dugu Feng was quietly amused. He had just met the so-called "least imposing" of the great Titled Douluo—Yu Yuanzhen, who later generations remembered only for leading his clan to sudden extinction.
Yet looking at him now, standing tall, confronting Gui Mei without hesitation, Dugu Feng could tell the Blue Lightning Clan's power was anything but ordinary.
"Clan Chief Dugu," Yu Yuanzhen said, his deep voice rumbling like thunder, "you have my gratitude. The Elephant Armored Sect truly betrayed the Five Element Alliance. Hu Yanzhen's death is no loss. From now on, the alliance is down to four elements."
He cast an appraising gaze at Dugu Shuo and the soul masters behind him. His respect was clear—he had underestimated the Dugu Clan before.
He had once thought only Dugu Bo was worth keeping an eye on, especially since his grandson was pursuing Dugu Yan. But seeing Dugu Shuo's ability tonight, he realized the entire clan was extraordinary.
After Godwind, Blazing Fire, and Tianshui Academies fell under Spirit Hall's sway, they had secretly passed the news along to him.
Only the Elephant Armored Sect remained silent—that silence itself confirming their betrayal.
Yu Yuanzhen hadn't cared at first. The Blue Lightning Clan prided itself on neutrality, seldom entangling with other factions.
But Dugu Shuo had warned him—the Elephant Armored Sect planned to defect openly, offering Spirit Hall their betrayal as a gift of loyalty.
At the Six-Clan Council, they would strike suddenly, ensuring Spirit Hall reaped the rewards of the Grand Battle Arena.
That alone had enraged Yu Yuanzhen.
The partnership between the Tyrant Dragon Clan and the Five Element Alliance was one of cooperation, not servitude.
The Elephant Armored Sect could leave if it chose—but betraying their comrades to gain Spirit Hall's favor? That, Yu Yuanzhen would not abide.
And so he agreed to aid Dugu Shuo.
Their deal was simple: if a Titled Douluo from Spirit Hall appeared, Yu Yuanzhen would handle them.
In exchange, Dugu Shuo would eliminate the Elephant Armored Sect.
And thus came the dramatic confrontation they had all just witnessed.
Dugu Feng blinked, his suspicions confirmed—his father truly had forged an alliance with Yu Yuanzhen.
But then he frowned inwardly. Yu Yuanzhen's public gratitude to his father had also effectively exposed them—confirming in front of everyone that the Dugu Clan had been responsible for killing the Elephant Armored Sect.
It tied his father directly to the Thunder Clan's cause, removing any possibility of plausible deniability.
The Holy Dragon Sect and Gui Mei already suspected them, of course. But Dugu Shuo had just successfully deflected blame onto the Breaking Clan—and Yang Wushuang really was hiding nearby.
Yet now, Yu Yuanzhen had spoken carelessly, pulling the Dugu Clan's name straight into the open.
Was the old dragon aligning them deliberately with the Blue Lightning Clan's fate—or laying a trap of his own?
This dragon's not playing fair, Dugu Feng thought unhappily. He's up to something.
Yu Yuanzhen and Yu Luomian descended slowly from the sky.
"Clan Chief Dugu, General Ge," Yu Yuanzhen said gravely, "Spirit Hall sent even Elder Gui Mei this time. Clearly, they intend to seize control of the council's proceedings.
But with the Elephant Armored Sect's plot crushed, we cannot afford to yield even an inch."
If Spirit Hall had forced his hand to act, then the Blue Lightning Clan could not show weakness now.
Dugu Shuo and Ge Long both nodded firmly. With Yu Yuanzhen taking the lead, there was no reason to fear.
Besides, even Spirit Hall would find opposition from the Zhu and Dai families—the Star Luo Empire would not sit idle either.
After brief discussion, each faction returned to their carriages. The man from Thunder Academy whom Old Scorpion had detoxified earlier was recovering well.
No one intended to travel further tonight.
After such chaos, rest was necessary.
Dugu Feng stood outside the carriage, his expression contemplative.
Then, following an impulse, he walked over to where Hu Yanzhen and the Elephant Armored sect members had fallen.
In his hands, the twin Nine-Segment Emerald Serpents shimmered and flashed away into the darkness.
Now fully fledged thousand-year soul beasts, their flight was swift and natural, their bodies gliding mere inches above the ground.
They circled the area like emerald shadows.
"What a vicious poison," Dugu Feng murmured. "In just this short time, those mountain-sized men of the Elephant Armored Sect have rotted down to bone. Soon they'll melt to black water and sink beneath the earth.
Father must have slowed the rate of decay—otherwise, it would've turned them to sludge instantly."
His eyes gleamed as he watched the twin serpents dance in the dark.
He was planning something.
(END CHAPTER)
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