Yu Luomian was unyielding: "Since the battle between the Clear Sky Douluo and the Spirit Hall Pope six years ago, the Clear Sky Clan announced its retirement. The situation on the continent seems calm, but undercurrents are surging."
"After the previous Spirit Hall Pope, Qian Xunji, died from severe injuries, the newly appointed Bibi Dong is scheming something in her heart. I always feel she is intentionally or unintentionally targeting our Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan."
"The Clear Sky Clan is hiding in some corner of the world, so our best option now is to unite with the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan to jointly resist the pressure from the Spirit Hall. However, Ning Fengzhi, the current head of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan, is not a simple character either; his thoughts are deep, and forming an alliance is not easy."
Yu Luomian looked directly at his elder brother, Yu Yuanzhen, and said solemnly, "Ultimately, to forge iron, one must be strong. That is why we six Elders gave up our shares of the Dragon Origin Fruit and gave all of it to you, hoping you could take one more step and break through to Level 97. Only then will our Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan have the confidence to face all difficulties."
At this point, Yu Luomian gave a self-deprecating smile: "If we Elders had consumed our own Dragon Origin Fruits, we might have all broken through our current ranks, and I even had a slim chance of breaking through to the Titled Douluo realm. Yet, we chose to give up and hand all the Dragon Origin Fruits to you, and now you are thinking of giving one to Tianlin."
Yu Yuanzhen had been listening quietly to his brother's explanation. Now that Yu Luomian mentioned Yu Tianlin, Yu Yuanzhen finally spoke: "Luomian, Tianlin is an Innate Full Soul Power genius who appears only once every hundred years in our Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan. His talent is unparalleled; reaching Level 95 is not a problem. Now, his Soul Ring has encountered a minor issue. If we don't remedy it, his talent will be wasted!"
Yu Luomian retorted: "Big Brother! There are priorities! Even calculating based on the age of the youngest Titled Douluo, Tang Hao, it would still take Tianlin forty years to break through to the Titled Douluo realm. Forty years from now, who knows what the continental situation will be like? The most pressing matter is still to enhance your strength, Big Brother!"
Yu Yuanzhen was silent for a moment, then said without backing down: "I am the Patriarch of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, and what I say goes! The Dragon Origin Fruit must be given!"
"Big Brother, are you truly insisting on this?" Yu Luomian was furious, realizing that everything he had said was useless; Yu Yuanzhen hadn't listened to a single word. "Fine, since you insist, let's establish some rules."
"Last night, I awakened Tianqing's spirit. As expected, his Martial Soul is the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon, and his innate Soul Power is Level 8.5," Yu Luomian said. "In four months, Tianqing's Soul Power will surely break through Level 10. I will naturally take him to find a suitable Soul Ring then. After he reaches Level 11, let Tianqing and Tianlin have a match. If Tianlin wins, he can have the Dragon Origin Fruit. If Tianlin loses, then this matter should not be brought up again!"
Yu Luomian sneered: "How about that? Is this fair? In four months, Tianlin will surely have reached level 12, or even close to level 13, giving him a slight advantage in Soul Power. Even if his Soul Ring is slightly inferior to Tianqing's, the overall strength of the two should be similar after offsetting the differences."
Hearing Yu Luomian's words, Yu Yuanzhen roared: "Luomian, you awakened Tianqing's spirit last night? He hasn't reached six years old yet? How could you do such a thing? What if there's a problem!"
"He is my grandson. I know what I'm doing. Tianqing is less than a month short of six years old; the impact is minimal," Yu Luomian said. "On the other hand, Big Brother, dare you accept this challenge?"
Yu Yuanzhen did not hesitate and immediately agreed: "Fine, a fight it is! Can my grandson lose to yours?"
"Then it's settled. I will now go back and inform the other Elders. I believe they will have no other objections." Having received a definite answer, Yu Luomian turned to leave. As he reached the entrance of the great hall, he suddenly turned back to Yu Yuanzhen and said, "Big Brother, before the two children duel, you must not give the Dragon Origin Fruit to Tianlin beforehand."
Yu Yuanzhen impatiently said: "I know! I wouldn't go back on my word!"
Yu Luomian said no more and strode away. However, he had only walked a few steps when he saw Yu Tianlin running toward the great hall.
What is that boy Tianlin running to the great hall for again? Is he going to ask for the Dragon Origin Fruit?
Although he was puzzled, Yu Luomian paid it no mind. He understood his Big Brother; once Yu Yuanzhen agreed to something, he would never go back on it. The boy Tianlin was destined for a wasted trip.
Thinking this, Yu Luomian shook his head, ignored it, and left.
Yu Tianlin's Soul Ring had changed, and he was now filled with both surprise and joy. He vaguely guessed the reason but wasn't certain, so he rushed to the great hall, wanting his grandfather to examine it and provide an analysis.
This time, Yu Tianlin didn't wait for the guards to announce him and ran straight into the hall.
"Tianlin, why are you back again?" Seeing that Yu Tianlin had only been gone for a short while and was back already, Yu Yuanzhen understood, assuming Yu Tianlin had come to ask for the Dragon Origin Fruit. He began, "I just agreed with your second uncle..."
However, Yu Tianlin directly interrupted Yu Yuanzhen's words and said excitedly: "Grandpa, look!"
With that, Yu Tianlin immediately activated his Spirit Power. As the lightning flashed across his body and the lightning-shaped pattern appeared on his brow, a faint yellow halo slowly rose.
Yu Tianlin's eyes shone with excitement: "Grandpa, I don't know why, but my Soul Ring has turned yellow! Unlike the White tinged with yellow from before, this is now purely yellow!"
Yu Yuanzhen was still thinking about the Dragon Origin Fruit when he suddenly saw the pale yellow Soul Ring on Yu Tianlin. He instinctively rose from his seat.
Yu Tianlin only saw a blur before his eyes, and his grandfather had appeared beside him, observing the Soul Ring on his body.
"It really is a yellow Soul Ring!" Yu Yuanzhen was astonished. "Although the color is faint, it has definitely reached the 100 year level!"
Yu Yuanzhen couldn't figure it out immediately: "That's not right. If a Soul Ring mutates, it should only happen during the absorption process. Yet, when I looked at your Soul Ring just now, it was still white tinged with yellow. How did it suddenly change now?"
Yu Tianlin had a slight guess and said impatiently: "My Soul Ring was still Yellowish-white just now, but it suddenly turned yellow. Therefore, this change undoubtedly happened in the short time that just passed."
Saying this, Yu Tianlin and Yu Yuanzhen exchanged a look and said in unison: "The lightning strike!"
Yu Tianlin said, "That's right, it was the lightning strike. It must be that after I activated that strand of hair just now, I was struck by lightning, and the Soul Ring's age was enhanced, breaking through the 100 year limit."
Yu Yuanzhen nodded in realization: "Think about it, the Thunder Hell Prison Vine relies on lightning strikes to raise its own cultivation. Every hundred strikes equals one year of cultivation. This External Soul Bone of yours comes from the Thunder Hell Prison Vine, so it stands to reason that its ability is to raise the Soul Ring's age through lightning strikes."
"I thought the ability of this strand of your hair was extremely awkward just now, but now it seems it's probably not just strong! I just don't know what the upper limit for raising the Soul Ring's age through this method is. Ten thousand years? Or perhaps a hundred thousand years..."
"Also, I wonder if this ability will have the same enhancing effect on your subsequent Soul Rings..."
As Yu Yuanzhen pondered, Yu Tianlin couldn't help but ask, "Grandpa, now that I have this ability, the age of my first Soul Ring can be quickly increased, so my first problem is solved. As for the missing Dragon Power, what do you think..."
Hearing Yu Tianlin's words, Yu Yuanzhen couldn't help but smile.
Yu Yuanzhen knew that the reason his younger brother and the remaining Elders disagreed with giving Yu Tianlin a Dragon Origin Fruit was primarily two-fold.
One reason was that they wanted to use all the resources to supply him, hoping he could break through level 97 and lead the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan to the next level.
The second point was that they felt Yu Tianlin's talent was already wasted. Even if he was given a Dragon Origin Fruit to supplement the Dragon Power, so what? A Soul Master can have a maximum of nine Soul Rings in their lifetime, yet one of Yu Tianlin's rings was already crippled. Even if his level increased later, he would always be slightly inferior when fighting against powerful figures of the same level.
However, now Yu Tianlin could actually increase the age of his first Soul Ring through a special method. This meant that his first Soul Ring would not become a weakness; instead, it might become his trump card, allowing him to be far stronger than Soul Masters of the same realm in the later stages.
Yu Yuanzhen believed that once the Elders learned about this ability of Yu Tianlin's, they would definitely agree to give him a mere Dragon Origin Fruit. However, Yu Yuanzhen had no intention of telling them about this matter.
The reality was that Yu Tianlin's ability was too powerful and should not be disclosed. Yu Yuanzhen didn't distrust the Elders, but when it came to such matters, the fewer people who knew, the better!
Thinking this, Yu Yuanzhen warned: "Tianlin, you must not mention the matter of this External Soul Bone to anyone else, not even Mingfeng and Xiaorou. As long as you don't say anything, no one will suspect that this strand of your hair is an External Soul Bone."
Yu Tianlin nodded, indicating his understanding. He naturally knew the importance of secrecy and wouldn't blab about it.
Yu Yuanzhen continued: "As for the Dragon Origin Fruit, I cannot give it to you directly. Your second uncle came here just now to discuss this matter with me. In the end, we decided to let you fight Tianqing in four months. If you win, you will be given one Dragon Origin Fruit."
Yu Tianlin asked, confused: "Fight Tianqing? Has his Martial Soul awakened already? What is his Innate Soul Power Level?"
Yu Yuanzhen smiled and said directly: "Level 8.5."
"Level 8.5... in four months? Fine!"
Yu Tianlin agreed readily.
If he only possessed a 10 year white Soul Ring, he would have to hesitate and not agree immediately. Because there is a qualitative gap between a 10 year Soul Ring and a 100 year Soul Ring, a Soul Master with a 10 year Soul Ring can only possibly defeat an ordinary 100 year Soul Ring Master if they have an absolute advantage in level. Moreover, Yu Tianqing's first Soul Ring would certainly not be an ordinary 100 year level, estimated to be around 400 years.
However, Yu Tianlin was fearless now. Four months was enough time for him to raise his Soul Power by more than one level and increase the age of his first Soul Ring to over 200 years.
Yu Tianlin could already imagine the scene.
It would be him (Level12.5 + 200+ year Soul Ring) VS Yu Tianqing (Level 11 + nearly 400 year Soul Ring).
Although the Soul Ring age was still nearly 200 years apart, both were 100 year level rings. While there was a gap, the gap was not significant.
All in all, Yu Tianlin would have the advantage in Soul Power, and Yu Tianqing would have the advantage in Soul Ring age. After offsetting each other, their overall strength would be roughly the same.
Given this, Yu Tianlin certainly wasn't afraid. He had the soul of an adult, and fighting a six-year-old child—even if their strength was the same—gave him a significant advantage. He shouldn't lose.
Seeing Yu Tianlin agree immediately, Yu Yuanzhen couldn't help but show a satisfied smile. He patted Yu Tianlin's shoulder and praised him: "Very good! An offense-type Soul Master must not be timid! Our Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan Soul Masters must have a relentless momentum!"
Yu Tianlin shook his head and said, "Grandpa, although I can use the External Soul Bone to attract lightning strikes to increase the age of my first Soul Ring, the commotion caused by doing so is too great. If I do it at home, I will be quickly surrounded by onlookers, and the matter of the External Soul Bone could easily be leaked."
Yu Yuanzhen laughed: "I thought of that long ago. After I finish dealing with the sect's affairs today, I will personally take you to my exclusive seclusion location."
"Starting tomorrow, you won't need to attend classes at the Clan Academy temporarily. I will specially arrange someone to train you. Hmm, let's use Yu Jian again."
"I will have Yu Jian prepare a complete training plan. For the next four months, you will complete the assigned exercises under his supervision every morning to improve your physical fitness. In the afternoon, you will conduct combat training with him to enhance your combat ability. In the evening, you will attract lightning and cultivate your Soul Power at my exclusive seclusion location."
Although Yu Yuanzhen's arrangement was rough, it addressed physical fitness, combat experience, and Soul Power cultivation simultaneously, making it quite reasonable. In Yu Tianlin's view, following this plan would definitely lead to a huge increase in his strength in four months.
"Alright, Grandpa, I'll head back now."
With no further questions, Yu Tianlin bid farewell to Yu Yuanzhen and turned to leave.
Yu Yuanzhen did not continue to handle the Clan's affairs. Instead, he watched Yu Tianlin's departing back, contemplating Yu Tianlin's future development.
If Yu Tianlin can raise his first Soul Ring to the 1000 year level before reaching level 20, doesn't that mean his second Soul Ring could also be attached at the 1,000 year level?
Similarly, when Yu Tianlin reaches level 30, if he raises his first Soul Ring's age to around 3,000 years, couldn't his third Soul Ring reach the 5,000 year level?
Then, by the time Yu Tianlin reaches level 40, he would be able to absorb a 10,000 year Soul Ring...
"Hahaha! Hahaha!"
The more Yu Yuanzhen thought about it, the more excited he became, finally breaking out into loud laughter.
It seems our Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan is truly about to rise this time!
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