Too Weak

Madara devoted himself entirely to absorbing the soul ring. It was still that familiar sensation. Perhaps because it was a spiritual-type soul ring this time, he felt that its resistance seemed rather strong.

But no matter how strong it was, could it surpass Uchiha Madara, who had dominated the Shinobi World?

Madara's method of absorbing soul rings was as violent as ever. He forcibly suppressed the soul ring's resistance, directly absorbed it into his body, then slowly tamed and digested it.

It was worlds apart from the way others absorbed them bit by bit.

As Madara sat cross-legged there, absorbing the soul ring, Dragon Duke and Snake Grandma also emerged from the forest.

Meng Yiran leaped down from the large rock she had been sitting on and cried happily, "Grandpa, Grandma! You're finally here!"

Yet she was thinking, Madara really was right. He was incredible!

Dragon Duke and Snake Grandma naturally had no idea what Meng Yiran was thinking. They nodded at her kindly, then looked toward Madara and asked, "That boy wasn't hurt, was he?"

Meng Yiran hurriedly shook her head and replied in a coquettish tone, "Your granddaughter was protecting him!"

Dragon Duke stroked his beard and burst into laughter. "That's right, that's right! It was all thanks to my granddaughter!"

Snake Grandma looked at Meng Yiran with affection as well and praised, "That's right, my precious granddaughter." Neither of them exposed the truth.

Before long, Madara had tamed the soul ring once again. He opened his eyes, and two tomoe flashed before vanishing.

Sure enough, it really was a genjutsu!

Madara's lips curved upward slightly, and his mood brightened.

All the effort had been worth it!

"Hey! You're awake!" Meng Yiran had been kicking pebbles at her feet out of boredom, but seeing Madara awaken, she eagerly ran over to him.

"Boy! What soul skill did you obtain? Could you show this old man?" Seeing that Madara had awakened, Dragon Duke slowly strolled over.

"Then watch closely!" A bloody glow flared in Madara's eyes, and the tomoe even began spinning rapidly.

As Dragon Duke looked into Madara's eyes, he suddenly felt as though shackles had tightly bound his body.

No, this should be a genjutsu!

Having lived for so many years, Dragon Duke was shrewd and experienced. He quickly recognized the essence of Madara's soul skill.

Dragon Duke controlled the Soul Power in his body and gave it a slight tremor, firmly guarding his mind. The sensation of being bound in shackles soon vanished without a trace.

Seeing that Dragon Duke had broken free from his genjutsu in mere moments, Madara was neither discouraged nor surprised.

After all, the other party was a Soul Douluo. No matter how great the Sharingan's potential was, it could not completely trap him.

Dragon Duke's gaze toward Madara grew increasingly satisfied. He suddenly felt that his old wife's suggestion was not bad at all. Nodding, he praised, "A very impressive soul skill!"

"Boy! What do you think of my granddaughter?" Snake Grandma seemed unable to hold herself back any longer. She tapped her cane, drawing everyone's attention.

Madara neither nodded nor shook his head. He wanted to see what this old woman was really after.

"My granddaughter should be a perfect match for you!" Snake Grandma grabbed Meng Yiran's arm with one hand and smiled, revealing the few teeth she had left.

Meng Yiran understood what was happening now. She felt somewhat bewildered, but even more embarrassed.

Meng Yiran's cheeks grew hot and her face flushed red. She lowered her head, not daring to look at Madara, and said somewhat indignantly, "Grandma, what are you talking about?"

"Girl, your grandfather and I both agree! Don't interfere for now!" Snake Grandma clearly did not want to let such a desirable grandson-in-law slip away.

In just the short time since yesterday, Dragon Duke and Snake Grandma had investigated Madara's movements from then until now.

Dragon Duke was, after all, a Soul Douluo and still had some influence under his command. Though it was nothing particularly useful, it was enough for gathering information.

In the end, the couple's assessment of Madara was: outstanding—a true genius!

With such exceptional talent, and apparently all alone in the world, how could such conditions not move the two elders?

As for their granddaughter, she was also considered a favored daughter of heaven. With the couple backing her, they could be said to be well matched in status.

Thus, Snake Grandma Chao Tianxiang made the decision to bring Madara into their family as a live-in son-in-law, and Dragon Duke readily agreed.

Madara was somewhat disdainful and said openly, "I don't think so."

"Oh? Why?" A sharp gleam flashed through Dragon Duke's eyes as he spoke, half testing and half threatening.

"She is simply too weak!" Madara was equally unafraid of Dragon Duke, a Soul Douluo, and spoke without mercy.

Meng Yiran stood frozen where she was, as though struck by lightning. Madara's words exploded beside her ears like thunder.

Too weak!

"Boy! Don't refuse a toast only to be forced to drink a forfeit! We were the ones who blocked those little bugs behind you!" Snake Grandma's tone also turned unpleasant as she said coldly.

"A mere group of little bugs—do you really think they could stop Uchiha Madara?" Madara's proud nature had not changed in the slightest as he declared arrogantly.

A single grain of sand was still sand, and a pile of sand was still sand!

"So you think my husband and I meddled in your affairs? Then you'll have to pay a price!" Snake Grandma's face turned livid, making her look like an old witch.

"There. I think this should be enough!" Madara kicked the Crimson Serpent at his feet, indicating it.

"I think you're courting death!" Dragon Duke could no longer hold back.

"Senior, with talent as exceptional as mine, do you really think I'm all alone?" Madara's expression remained unchanged, the implication in his words obvious.

Madara was not lying. He truly had someone backing him—and it was the renowned Titled Douluo, Tang Hao.

"You!" Dragon Duke, enraged beyond measure, summoned his martial soul, the Dragon Staff, and pointed it at Madara.

"Grandpa!" Meng Yiran raised her head, her face full of stubbornness as she concealed her grievance. Refusing to yield, she said, "Let him go!"

Tears blurred Meng Yiran's vision, yet she stubbornly refused to let them fall. Her nails dug deeply into her flesh, drawing blood.

The pain in Meng Yiran's palm was nowhere near the pain of having her proud dignity trampled by Madara. She roared at him, "Your name is Uchiha Madara, isn't it?! Remember what you said today! One day, I'll come back for revenge!"

Madara finally regarded her a little more highly. Her will was fairly strong; at least she had not been utterly crushed by the blow.

Madara did not linger after the matter was settled. He turned and left, waving at the three of them with his back to them. His drawn-out voice drifted from afar: "Meng Yiran! You're not quite so hopeless after all! Farewell, seniors!"

"Uchiha Madara? Just you wait!" Gritting her teeth, Meng Yiran suddenly picked up her blade and hacked madly at the Crimson Serpent's head.

"Let her vent," Snake Grandma explained softly when she tried to approach, only for Dragon Duke to stop her with an outstretched hand.

The Crimson Serpent suffered inhuman abuse in someone else's stead and honorably went to heaven.

Looking at the soul ring that had just emerged, Meng Yiran did not hesitate. Ignoring the blood on her hands, she directly sat cross-legged and began absorbing it.

Even though this soul ring had already far exceeded the limit Meng Yiran could absorb.

Uchiha Madara! If you can do it, so can I!