Rare Medicinal Herbs Arrive! Hope for a Surge in Innate Soul Power

Days passed one by one.

Whenever Yu Xiaoheng finished his training, Liu Erlong would run over like a little tail, stand on tiptoe, and clumsily wipe the sweat from his brow with a handkerchief that still carried the scent of milk.

"Brother Xiaoheng, your hands are getting stronger and stronger."

"Yours will be soon too."

Yu Xiaoheng would take her small hand and patiently guide her into the basic stance of the Sect Fist Technique.

He taught her how to read, using those Trade Ledgers that others scorned as his teaching materials.

He also taught her to identify medicinal herbs, carefully explaining the traits and value of every plant in the sect's Medicine Garden.

This was not merely instruction, but an investment—a form of taming.

He intended to bind this girl firmly to his chariot, making her the sharpest and most reliable weapon in his future plans.

Martial Soul Fusion Skill.

Luo San Pao.

Golden Holy Dragon.

Without a cheat, he could only take the most dependable path. Through daily companionship, he would cultivate flawless understanding between them, laying the foundation for countless future Martial Soul Fusions. Through something akin to "muscle memory," he would forcibly push that Mutated Spirit toward its ultimate form—the Holy Light Dragon it was meant to become.

Liu Erlong was the cornerstone.

More than once, Yu Xiaogang saw this scene from afar.

Liu Erlong's smile, which blossomed only for Yu Xiaoheng, pierced his heart like sharp thorns.

Why?

I'm the real genius. Why can't she see me?

The thought grew wildly like poisonous weeds.

One afternoon, Yu Xiaoheng was checking the accounts for the final batch of Perfume shipments when a trusted steward hurried in.

"Young Master!"

The steward lowered his voice, unable to conceal his excitement.

"We found them! A merchant caravan traveling to and from the Great Desert has sent word."

The pen in Yu Xiaoheng's hand stopped over the paper.

He looked up.

"Xi Guang Grass and Dragon Pattern Grass?"

"They have both!"

"Buy them all."

"But their asking price..." The steward looked troubled.

"I'll say it again," Yu Xiaoheng said. "No matter the cost, buy them all."

The steward's heart tightened, and he immediately bowed.

"Yes, Young Master!"

After the steward withdrew, Yu Xiaoheng slowly exhaled. At last, a genuine smile curled at the corner of his lips.

Everything was ready.

All that remained was to wait.

A few more days passed.

Inside the Sect Hall, the lighting was bright and the atmosphere solemn.

Several dozen direct descendants around the same age as Yu Xiaoheng and Yu Xiaogang were already standing in formation.

The Spirit Awakening ceremony was imminent. This was the final Sect Assessment.

Yu Xiaogang stood at the very front of the line, his posture straight and his chin slightly raised, like a sharp sword about to leave its sheath.

The clan members gathered to watch murmured among themselves.

"Just look at Young Master Xiaogang's bearing. He truly is the sect's finest talent."

"I heard that with physical strength alone, he can already break wooden stakes as thick as a bowl's mouth!"

"He will definitely be the future Sect Master!"

At that moment, Yu Xiaoheng entered at an unhurried pace, holding Liu Erlong's hand.

In an instant, the tone of the discussion changed.

"Hmph, that eldest young master has his mind entirely on those stinking businesses. He doesn't have the slightest resemblance to a Soul Master."

"And that wild girl beside him—an outsider of unknown origins—how can she possibly stand here?"

"Associating with people like that all day long has utterly disgraced our main branch."

The noisy remarks reached his ears, but Yu Xiaoheng seemed not to hear them. He walked straight to the end of the line and stood there, his gaze level as he looked toward the Sect Elders on the raised platform ahead.

A figure appeared soundlessly atop the high platform.

It was the Sect Master, Yu Yuanzhen.

He merely stood there without releasing the slightest trace of Soul Power, yet the clamor throughout the hall instantly subsided until a pin drop could be heard.

Yu Yuanzhen's gaze slowly swept across the youthful faces below, his voice steady and resonant as a great bell.

"In five days, it will be the day of your Spirit Awakening."

"After awakening, you will embark upon the path of Soul Masters. Remember, your surname is Yu, and your Martial Souls are inherited from the continent's strongest Beast Spirit—the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon!"

"The sect's glory is your glory. The majesty of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon shall not be sullied by anyone!"

Though he spoke only a few words, every young person present was fired up, straightening their backs with pride.

Then Yu Yuanzhen shifted his gaze, letting it fall upon Yu Xiaogang at the head of the line.

"Bloodline alone is not enough. One who learns nothing is still worthless. Today, I will test your knowledge of Martial Souls."

He said, "Xiaogang, tell me about the basic classifications and traits of Martial Souls."

Yu Xiaogang stepped forward and answered in a clear voice, "In response to Father: though Martial Souls are myriad, they ultimately fall into two broad categories: Tool Spirits and Beast Spirits. Tool Spirits take many forms and may focus on offense, defense, control, or support, each with its own strengths. The Beast Spirit inherited by our sect is renowned throughout the world for its powerful offensive capabilities and physical enhancement. The Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon is the pinnacle among them, the apex of Assault Type Beast Spirits!"

His words were crisp and well-organized.

The elders on the platform, as well as the clan members watching from around them, all smiled approvingly and nodded again and again.

As expected of the genius in whom the sect had placed such high hopes.

Yu Yuanzhen's expression did not change, but his gaze passed over the crowd and settled on the figure at the very end of the line, holding a little girl's hand.

"Yu Xiaoheng."

At that call, everyone's eyes turned toward him.

The contemptuous, amused gazes were utterly undisguised.

What could a "young master" obsessed with commerce possibly know about Martial Souls? He probably could not even list the classifications properly.

Yu Xiaoheng remained calm. Releasing Liu Erlong's hand, he stepped forward two paces.

Yu Yuanzhen spoke again, his tone carrying the intent of examination.

"You will explain in detail the traits of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Martial Soul, as well as the basic circulation of Soul Power in our clan's cultivation method."

This question was far more in-depth—and far more difficult—than the one he had asked Yu Xiaogang.

Yet Yu Xiaoheng began to speak. His voice was not loud, but it carried clearly to every ear in the hall.

"The Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon is an ultimate lightning-attribute Beast Spirit. It has three traits. First, dominance: the lightning power carried by its Soul Power possesses extremely destructive force. Second, dragonification: after Martial Soul Possession, the body's strength, speed, and power are enhanced in every aspect. The higher the rank, the deeper the dragonification. Third, pressure: it possesses an innate bloodline suppression over draconic subtypes and snake-type Martial Souls."

He paused, then continued, "As for Soul Power circulation, our sect's Jing Long Jue focuses the mind in cultivation and guides Soul Power out from the dantian, condensing it throughout the limbs and bones before finally erupting with the force of Thunder. Its core lies in 'storing' and 'bursting.' In an instant, its explosive power far surpasses that of Soul Masters at the same level."

When his words fell—

The entire hall went deathly silent.

The expressions of those clan members who had been waiting to laugh at him froze.

What Yu Xiaoheng had said was not merely completely correct—it was even more concise and insightful than the records in many of the clan's ancient texts.