Erlong Is Such a Genius; Following Yu Xiaoheng Is a Waste

Whispers rose from the stands.

"Liu Erlong? That wild girl who always followed Yu Xiaoheng around?"

"She spends all day trailing that good-for-nothing Yu Xiaoheng, messing with business and physical training. What future could she possibly have?"

"I'd say she'd be lucky to have Soul Power at Level Three or Four."

Countless gazes converged on the slender figure stepping forward.

Liu Erlong had delicate features, but her expression was exceptionally resolute.

Ignoring the surrounding discussions, she walked to the Dragon Pattern Stele, took a deep breath, and steadily pressed her fair little hand against it.

Buzz—!

A sight unlike anything seen before appeared.

What shot skyward was no longer blue lightning.

Instead, it was a blazing crimson radiance!

The phantom of a colossal dragon, similar in shape to the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon yet wreathed entirely in raging flames, roared as it spiraled into the sky!

Scorching waves of air swept through the entire Martial Arts Arena!

The Elder Steward's voice became shrill and distorted from excessive shock.

"Martial Soul, a Mutated Spirit... Fire Dragon!"

"Innate Soul Power... Level Eight!!!"

Level Eight!

Those two words exploded beside everyone's ears like thunder.

The entire Martial Arts Arena fell deathly silent.

Every expression froze in place.

Then, the air erupted with earth-shaking cries and cheers!

"Level Eight! It's Level Eight Soul Power!"

"Heavens! How many years has it been since our Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan produced a Level Eight genius from within the clan itself?"

"This mutation... is a beneficial mutation!"

At the highest seat in the stands, Clan Leader Yu Yuanzhen abruptly rose to his feet, his eyes flashing brightly.

Even the elders who had been resting with their eyes closed suddenly opened them, staring fixedly at the girl in the arena.

The clan disciples who had just been pointing at Liu Erlong with scornful faces now wore nothing but wild delight and fawning smiles.

They swarmed toward her.

"Junior Sister Erlong! Congratulations! Congratulations!"

"I knew Junior Sister Erlong was extraordinarily gifted!"

"Junior Sister Erlong, please take care of us in the future!"

The girl who had once been looked down upon was now surrounded by the clan's hopes for the future, the center of everyone's attention.

Liu Erlong was somewhat at a loss, instinctively searching through the crowd.

Her gaze swept across the bustling sea of people, passing face after face—some excited, some ingratiating, some reverent—but she could not find that familiar, steady figure.

Surrounded at the center of the crowd, the nervous excitement Liu Erlong had felt from being the focus of all attention quietly cooled.

A trace of melancholy crept onto her delicate face.

She knew that without Brother Xiaoheng, there would never have been the person she was today.

It was Brother Xiaoheng who had brought her back to the clan from the mud.

It was Brother Xiaoheng who had taught her those strange yet effective methods of physical training.

At least half of this glory belonged to him.

But where was he?

In the shadows behind the stands, Yu Xiaoheng smiled.

It was not his usual calm smile. He covered his mouth as his whole body shook with laughter!

It worked.

I did it!

Simple physical training, combined with stimulation from specific herbs, can truly maximize the potential unleashed during Spirit Awakening!

In the Original Work, Liu Erlong's Innate Soul Power was never clearly mentioned, but it was probably Level Seven.

Now, it was Level Eight!

The difference was only one level, yet it was the difference between heaven and earth!

Beside him, Bibi Dong watched the smile on his face, and her violet eyes curved into crescents as well.

She did not understand those complicated Martial Soul theories, nor did she understand what the commotion below truly meant.

She only knew that Brother Xiaoheng was smiling, so she should be happy too.

There was a trace of cautious eagerness to please in her smile, along with a kind of humility.

That look made Yu Xiaoheng's heart stir, leaving him somewhat helpless.

He had just been about to tell Bibi Dong that she did not need to be like this...

But the warmth brought by his successful experiment was swiftly replaced by the calm rationality of someone who had lived two lives.

Wait a minute.

Bibi Dong...

In the Original Work, why had she been so devoted to that Theoretical Master Yu Xiaogang? Even after Qian Xunji had harmed her so horribly, why had he remained the only thing on her mind?

Lack of love.

An extreme lack of love had left her personality incomplete.

Whoever gave her even a glimmer of light during her loneliest and most helpless moments, she would cling to them like a drowning person clutching a lifeline, never letting go.

What am I doing now?

Comforting her? Teaching her self-respect and self-love?

Wouldn't that be personally raising the difficulty of winning her over in the future to hell mode?

Do I pity her? Twin Martial Souls? Innate Full Soul Power?

Then who was going to pity me, the unlucky bastard who transmigrated into Yu Xiaogang's older brother and was about to awaken Luo San Pao?

Yu Xiaoheng's thoughts raced, but in the end, he said nothing.

He merely turned toward Bibi Dong and offered her another gentle smile.

That smile contained no words, yet it carried recognition and affirmation.

Bibi Dong's heart was instantly enveloped by a warm current.

She nodded hard, her little face full of joy.

Brother Xiaoheng is so nice!

At the highest point of the Martial Arts Arena.

Clan Leader Yu Yuanzhen gazed at the slender figure in the arena, surrounded as though by stars around the moon, and his expression changed.

A mutated Fire Dragon Martial Soul, Level Eight Innate Soul Power.

Such a genius, assigned to be Yu Xiaoheng's guard?

What a waste!

Yu Yuanzhen felt that since the clan could already protect Yu Xiaoheng, Erlong did not necessarily have to follow his eldest son.

His gaze slowly shifted and settled on Yu Xiaogang beside him.

"Xiaogang."

Yu Yuanzhen's voice was deep and powerful.

"Father."

Yu Xiaogang answered respectfully.

"Liu Erlong possesses outstanding talent," Yu Yuanzhen said slowly. "Following Xiaoheng is a waste."

Yu Xiaogang's heart leaped violently. Joy erupted through his entire body like a volcano!

Yet he revealed just the right hint of difficulty on his face.

"Father, Erlong... has always had a good relationship with Elder Brother."

"That was before," Yu Yuanzhen said indifferently. "Times have changed. You are the future heir of the clan. With talent like hers, only by following you can she bring out her greatest value."

Yu Xiaogang was already jubilant inside, but he still put on a show of reluctance.

"But Elder Brother..."

"I will speak with him."

Yu Yuanzhen made the final decision.

"Your son... obeys."

Yu Xiaogang lowered his head deeply, concealing the smile at the corner of his lips.

It worked!

I did it too!

Hmm...

Why did I say "too"?

He laughed madly in his heart.

Yu Xiaoheng, my dear brother, do you see it now?

In this world, talent is king in the end!

You like dabbling in that lowly business nonsense and wasting your efforts on physical training. What use is any of it?

In the end, even Liu Erlong, the person closest to you, will follow me!

At that moment, every trace of dissatisfaction Yu Xiaogang had held toward Yu Xiaoheng vanished into thin air.

Because Yu Xiaoheng no longer posed any threat to him.

Don't worry, Elder Brother.

Yu Xiaogang secretly swore.

I've taken your woman. For the rest of my life, I'll protect you well.