Is Effort Useful?

The middle-aged woman swept her gaze over the situation outside and said softly, "Lingling, let's go out and watch the excitement too. This trip to the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan seems to have brought an unexpected surprise."

"Okay, Mom!" the girl replied in a clear, crisp voice, following the middle-aged woman out of the hall.

Outside the hall, Yu Yuanzhen swept his gaze around. After confirming that no one was injured, he cast a grateful look at the woman who had emerged behind them, then turned his attention to Bi Zihan.

"Little fellow, which sect or clan do you belong to? Who helped you hunt the soul beasts for your Ten-thousand-year Soul Rings?" Yu Yuanzhen looked at Bi Zihan with intense interest in his eyes.

"I'm not a disciple of any sect or clan. Naturally, my mother helped me obtain my soul rings. Besides, it seems I won the match just now. If there's nothing else, we'll be heading home for dinner first." A harmless smile appeared on Bi Zihan's face, his eyes exceptionally clear, making him seem like an innocent child.

Hearing his words and looking at his harmless appearance, Yu Yuanzhen quickly considered what he had said.

Not a disciple of a sect or clan meant that he was an unaffiliated soul master. As for his two Ten-thousand-year Soul Rings and the luxurious clothes he wore, those proved nothing at all.

After all, soul masters were the noblest profession on the continent. Those capable of becoming soul masters generally did not lack money, and soul masters capable of hunting Ten-thousand-year soul beasts belonged to the higher ranks even on the continent. Dressing their children a little more extravagantly was perfectly normal.

Besides, he was only a six-year-old child. What ill intentions could he possibly have? The eyes were the windows to the soul, and from Bi Zihan's clear gaze, Yu Yuanzhen could tell that everything he said was true.

"Little fellow, since you haven't joined any sect or clan, why not join our Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan? I'm willing to take you as my disciple, and I can even bring you to hunt stronger Ten-thousand-year soul beasts. What do you think?" Yu Yuanzhen smiled, while the nine soul rings around him began flashing continuously, as though displaying his strength.

"I don't think much of that. I don't want to join the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, and I don't need you to take me as a disciple." Bi Zihan refused decisively, without the slightest hesitation.

Yu Yuanzhen's expression stiffened somewhat. He had not expected Bi Zihan to refuse so bluntly, but he merely shook his head and did not continue speaking of taking him as a disciple.

On the continent, taking a disciple required mutual consent. It could not be forced. Otherwise, if word got out, the entire soul master world would ridicule him.

So what he needed to consider now was the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan's reputation. Judging from that attack just now, the ten people selected by the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan had already lost.

Naturally, the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan had disciples stronger than Soul Grandmasters. But if the age gap was too great, Yu Yuanzhen could not afford to lose that face. Against a six-year-old child who had only just awakened his martial soul, sending out disciples of fifteen or sixteen to fight him would mean nothing even if they won.

After all, he had only awakened his martial soul not long ago, yet they would be using someone who had cultivated for nearly ten years to fight him. Even if they won, would that not mean that the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan had no worthy successors?

Just then, Yu Xiaogang also walked out of the hall and came directly to Yu Yuanzhen's side. "Father, according to the rules of the Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Elite Tournament, anyone under twenty-five belongs to the younger generation. So as long as we send out a disciple under twenty-five, we won't be breaking the rules."

"He has only just awakened his martial soul, and you want me to send out a disciple under twenty-five to compete against him? Never mind the outcome—if word of this gets out, what will the people of the soul master world think of our Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan?" Yu Yuanzhen glanced at Yu Xiaogang, with no intention of agreeing.

Sending out disciples under twelve could still be excused, since they were all of the age to attend junior Soul Master Academy. But sending out a twenty-five-year-old disciple would be rather shameless.

After a while, Yu Yuanzhen withdrew his soul rings and said, "Fine. We'll count this match as your victory. But that doesn't mean there is no one in the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan. You're simply too young, and we don't want to bully the weak with the strong. The two of you may leave now. No one from the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan will stop you."

"Tianheng, Tianxin, matters concerning the younger generation must still be resolved by yourselves. Losing this time is nothing. Our Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan is not incapable of accepting defeat."

"As long as the two of you win it back in the future and prove that the younger generation of our Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan is not inferior to him, that will be enough."

Yu Yuanzhen waved his hand lightly, his voice carrying a faint indifference. The outcome of a single match could not determine success or failure. As long as they could win it back in the future, that would be enough.

Moreover, this incident might even motivate Yu Tianheng and Yu Tianxin to cultivate more diligently.

"Bi Zihan, I'll remember that name!" Yu Tianheng stared at Bi Zihan, extending a finger to point at him. His voice was filled with determination.

"Suit yourself. You can't beat me now, and you probably won't have much hope in the future either. If the gap between us could be made up with hard work, then what would this world need geniuses for?" Bi Zihan smiled, paying little attention to Yu Tianheng's words.

Yu Tianheng felt endless fury blazing within his chest. You're a genius—am I, Yu Tianheng, not a genius too? As one of the outstanding members of the younger generation in the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, when had he ever been looked down upon like this? Especially when it came to cultivation talent.

"Clan Head Yu, since the match is over, we won't impose any longer. We'll be leaving now." With that, Bi Zihan turned around, took Hu Liena's hand, and prepared to leave.

Yu Yuanzhen merely nodded lightly, with no intention of stopping them.

"Father, since Tianheng and the others' match is over, it is time for me to leave the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan as well." Yu Xiaogang watched the direction in which Bi Zihan was leaving, a sharp gleam appearing in his eyes.