Useless? Genius! Innate Soul Power Level Nine?

"HAHAHAHAHA!!"

Yu Xiaogang roared until the veins stood out on his neck, his ecstatic expression twisting into vicious delight.

"No, you must be even worse than me!!"

"Your Soul Power can only be lower!!"

His voice echoed in the ears of every Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan member like the tolling of a funeral bell.

In an instant, the last traces of color drained completely from the faces of every Blue Lightning clansman present.

It was over.

This time, it was truly over!

Countless gazes converged on Yu Xiaoheng. There was no longer any expectation in their eyes, only overwhelming hatred.

The clan's reputation had been utterly ruined.

This Yu Xiaoheng had insisted on coming out to humiliate himself at a time like this. He had even shamelessly gotten involved with Spirit Hall's Holy Maiden, making the matter known throughout the land!

And now, he had awakened a useless Martial Soul just like Luo San Pao's!

"Pfft—"

Beside the VIP Seats, several Sect Elders who had already been barely holding on could endure no longer. Overcome by fury, their bodies suddenly tilted as they toppled stiffly toward the ground!

Several Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon disciples had just moved to support them when they cried out again the next second, "Clan Leader!"

Sweetness rose in Yu Yuanzhen's throat, and a mouthful of blood burst forth uncontrollably, staining the front of his robes red.

The Soul Power within him instantly fell into chaos, and his vision darkened in waves.

Countless chaotic thoughts exploded through his mind.

What would become of the clan? After today, would the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, foremost of the Upper Three Sects, not become the laughingstock of the world and never recover?

And how could he ever face their ancestors?

And Xiao Heng... he had made such a huge mess, only to awaken this kind of Martial Soul. How could he possibly gain a foothold in the clan in the future?

Perhaps...

He should find an opportunity to secretly send him away, to some place where no one knew him, and have him live under a different name?

Yu Yuanzhen's thoughts were a tangled mess. Enduring the agony wracking his body, he tried to rise and say something to Qian Xunji and the leaders of the other two Upper Three Sects, hoping to salvage a shred of dignity.

But the moment he exerted strength in his legs, they went limp.

He collapsed heavily back into his chair, his face ashen.

On the Martial Arts Arena, the deathly silence continued to spread.

Yet amid that silence, there was now a strange, awkward tension.

In the VIP Seats, the leaders of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect and the Clear Sky Sect remained silent, their expressions complicated.

Sympathy. Regret.

This generation of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan was finished.

Spirit Hall's Pope, Qian Xunji, remained expressionless, yet he sighed softly inwardly.

But a nearly inaudible murmur by his ear made him frown slightly.

"Brother Xiaoheng must have Innate Full Soul Power... he must..."

"He must..."

It was Bibi Dong.

Her hands clenched tightly around the hem of her clothes, her knuckles white. Her large eyes were fixed on the figure on the platform as she repeated those words over and over.

A trace of displeasure rose in Qian Xunji's heart, and he was about to rebuke this disappointing disciple.

But just then, waves of uncontrollable cries suddenly erupted from below!

"What level of Soul Power is that?!"

"The light... why is the light still rising?!"

"What level is it exactly?!"

Qian Xunji froze, then looked toward the source of the commotion.

At the center of the Martial Arts Arena, behind Yu Xiaoheng, an exceedingly strange sight had appeared.

The beast Martial Soul that closely resembled Luo San Pao was now wrapped in a dense mass of golden light. Its form shifted constantly within the radiance, wildly unstable.

But that was definitely not a pig!

For an instant, the light faded slightly, allowing everyone to see clearly.

The Martial Soul was round and chubby, indeed carrying a somewhat foolish and adorable appearance, yet fine Golden Radiance flowed over its entire body.

Above its head stood two pairs of imposing Dragon Horns!

Pure Gold Patterns covered its body!

Behind it swayed a long, powerful dragon tail!

A faintly sharp aura of claws and fangs emanated from its body!

Only its two foreclaws still retained a trace of pig hoofs, but even those outlines flickered rapidly, transforming completely into ferocious dragon claws from time to time!

Its appearance was strange beyond compare!

As the Martial Soul trembled slightly, the golden light would sometimes flare brightly, making its dragon form ever clearer. At other times, its foreclaws stubbornly reverted to pig hoofs, changing back and forth without end.

On the other side of the Martial Arts Platform.

Compared to the ever-changing Martial Soul behind him, Yu Xiaoheng's hand pressed against the Crystal Ball appeared remarkably steady.

Yet the scene within the Crystal Ball was completely unlike the instantaneous outburst everyone had expected.

Perhaps because of the Martial Soul's instability.

Pale white light rose from the bottom of the sphere, climbing upward bit by bit at an incredibly slow pace. This was nothing like a normal awakening.

Its progress was sluggish as though trapped in a swamp, as if it were engaged in a grueling struggle against some invisible force.

The elder overseeing the awakening ceremony had already been utterly despondent, but now he involuntarily leaned closer, nearly pressing his entire face against the Crystal Ball.

His eyes widened further and further, and his lips trembled slightly.

"This... this intensity of light..."

"It's above level five! Absolutely above level five!"

He abruptly raised his head and shouted hoarsely.

"No! It's still rising! It's still rising! Level six!"

Each cry was louder than the last.

The sudden shouts were like a boulder crashing into stagnant water.

The Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan members who had been whispering furiously moments ago froze at once.

The curses they had not yet spoken lodged firmly in their throats, unable to rise or fall.

In the VIP Seats, the sympathy and regret in the eyes of the leaders of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect and Clear Sky Sect were swiftly replaced by astonishment.

"Level seven!"

"Heavens, it's still rising! It's already reached level eight!"

The elder's voice had begun to tremble. He stared fixedly at the light creeping upward inch by inch.

"Level eight and a half! It's level eight and a half!"

"Is it going to... is it going to reach level nine?!"

"Can it really reach level nine?!"

His final words were almost a pleading dreamlike murmur.

"Bang!"

Yu Yuanzhen shot to his feet, and the stone chair beneath him shattered in response!

Color had returned to his face, previously pale from vomiting blood. His dragon-like eyes were wide open, and the Soul Power throughout his body surged uncontrollably.

At this moment, countless Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan members held their breath.

The entire Martial Arts Arena was so silent that a needle dropping could be heard.

"Level nine?"

Even Qian Xunji's eternally unchanging face finally showed a hint of emotion.

"That is not low at all."

His thoughts raced.

When Tang Xiao of the Clear Sky Sect awakened his Martial Soul years ago, he had only reached level nine. Across the entire continent, among the younger generation, aside from Dong'er, only Tang Hao had reached level ten.

Moreover, this child's Martial Soul... was completely unlike that of his twin younger brother. This was a wholly positive mutation—an evolution!

This child's future was boundless!

However, just as everyone's hearts rose into their throats, just as the light was about to touch the level nine mark—