First Glimpse of Brilliance, Concealing Sharpness Through Skill

After emerging from seclusion, Yu Yuanchen did not immediately make a high-profile move. He understood the principle that a tree standing tall in the forest would be destroyed by the wind, especially during this sensitive period when the family faced external pressure and might also harbor differing internal voices. He restrained the imposing aura naturally emitted by the initial purification of his bloodline and stabilized his Soul Power Fluctuation at the level of a level forty-three Soul Ancestor. He looked little different from before his seclusion, except that his gaze had become increasingly deep and tranquil.

Under his grandfather Yu Boxuan's arrangements, he began participating in Family Affairs to a limited extent, mainly taking charge of patrol and guard duties for several businesses within and around Dragon City. This was both a tempering of his abilities and a relatively safe way to accumulate prestige.

Dragon City, the main stronghold of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, had been entrenched for many years and possessed deep foundations. The city's major businesses, such as Soul Tool shops, herb stores, forging workshops, and even certain entertainment venues, all bore the family's shadow to varying degrees. In the past, though disputes occasionally arose in these places, most remained peaceful out of fear of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan's reputation. Yet over the past few months, as relations with the Black Flame Demon Flood Dragon Family continued to deteriorate, all kinds of "accidents" and provocations had begun to increase.

That day, Yu Yuanchen led a team of family guards on a routine inspection of several important businesses in the western district. He wore a simple blue training outfit without any marks displaying his status, looking like an ordinary family descendant. The guard captain was a Soul King in his fifties named Yu Kun, who was quite respectful toward this young yet composed direct descendant.

"Young Master Yuanchen, up ahead is Thunder Sound Pavilion, a large Soul Tool shop run by the family. Over the past half month, it has suffered three successive 'accidental' thefts. The losses were not great, but they have been rather troublesome," Yu Kun reported in a low voice, his brow slightly furrowed.

Yu Yuanchen swept his gaze over the imposing five-story pavilion ahead, its entrance bustling with visitors, and nodded. "Let's go in and take a look."

The moment they stepped through the doors of Thunder Sound Pavilion, a lively atmosphere mixed with the scents of various metals and energy crystals rushed over them. There were many customers inside, while the attendants bustled back and forth. The shopkeeper recognized Yu Kun and, seeing him accompanying an extraordinary-looking youth, immediately realized that an important figure had arrived and hurried forward to greet them.

However, at the very instant the shopkeeper bowed in salute, an unexpected change occurred!

Boom!

A thunderous crash came from the second floor, accompanied by violent Soul Power Fluctuations and the startled cries of customers! Immediately afterward, a dark figure smashed through the second-floor railing and plummeted toward the crowd in the hall like a meteor! The figure radiated a vicious aura. He was clearly a Soul King! His Martial Soul was a frenzied Bloodthirsty Giant Bear, his eyes crimson, and he was obviously in some kind of uncontrolled or berserk state.

"Watch out!"

"Get out of the way!"

The hall instantly descended into chaos, filled with cries and screams. The falling Bloodthirsty Giant Bear Soul King was headed straight for several women and children frozen in terror!

At that critical moment, a blue figure moved.

Fast! Fast beyond belief!

Everyone merely saw a blur, as though a faint current of electricity had flashed past their eyes. Yu Yuanchen had already moved after the fact yet arrived first, appearing before the women and children. Facing the Bloodthirsty Giant Bear crashing down with overwhelming force, his expression remained calm. Rather than retreating, he advanced. His dragonized right arm was instantly covered in deep blue scales, his five fingers curling into a claw. Without using any Soul Skill, he simply thrust his arm upward!

Boom!!

Another dull, thunderous collision rang out!

A Blast Wave erupted outward from the two of them, making the surrounding counters creak and shake. The anticipated scene of shattered bones and spraying blood did not appear. The enormous Bloodthirsty Giant Bear Soul King, whose strength was terrifyingly violent, had his downward momentum forcibly stopped! He was held aloft in midair by Yu Yuanchen's single arm, as though he had slammed into an ancient thunder mountain that would never move!

The Green Stone slabs beneath Yu Yuanchen's feet cracked inch by inch, but his body remained as steady as a rock. Even his arm did not bend in the slightest!

"What?!" The crimson in the Bloodthirsty Giant Bear Soul King's eyes faded somewhat, replaced by incredulous horror. He was a Power Attack System Soul King who excelled in strength. How terrifying had the force of that fall been in his berserk state? Yet a seemingly young Soul Ancestor had caught it so effortlessly with one arm?

It was not only him. The entire hall fell into dead silence in an instant. Everyone who witnessed the scene, whether customers, attendants, or guards such as Yu Kun, stood dumbfounded as though they had seen something unbelievable.

Catching the full-force strike of a berserk Power Attack System Soul King barehanded? Was that really something a Soul Ancestor could accomplish?

Yu Yuanchen's eyes were indifferent as his arm gave a slight tremor. An incomparably condensed hidden force traveled through his Dragon Claw.

"Puh!" The Bloodthirsty Giant Bear Soul King seemed to have been struck by lightning. He spat out a mouthful of blood, and his massive body was instantly flung away like a torn sack. His Martial Soul Possession dissipated as he slammed heavily into a distant wall and fainted.

From the moment the disturbance began to Yu Yuanchen subduing his opponent, only two or three breaths had passed. Fast, precise, and ruthless! What he displayed was an exact grasp of timing, along with terrifying Physical Strength and control far beyond his apparent Soul Power Level.

"A... a Soul Ancestor fought a Soul King head-on? And won?"

"That was... the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Martial Soul! He's the family's Genius!"

"What terrifying strength! What incredible speed!"

After the brief silence, waves of startled exclamations and discussion erupted throughout the hall. The gazes directed at Yu Yuanchen were filled with awe and curiosity.

Only then did Yu Kun and the others come to their senses. They hurried forward to restrain the unconscious Soul King and comfort the frightened customers. The shopkeeper wiped away cold sweat and thanked them repeatedly.

Yu Yuanchen, however, frowned slightly and looked toward the second floor. That Soul King's fall had definitely not been an accident. Within his Electric Field Perception, several concealed Soul Power Fluctuations carrying malicious intent remained on the second floor.

"Captain Yu Kun, take men and seal off the second floor. Don't let a single one escape," Yu Yuanchen said calmly, though his tone carried an unquestionable command.

"Yes!" Yu Kun was now completely convinced by this young master and immediately led men upstairs.

Before long, sounds of fighting and angry shouts came from the second floor. Clearly, the accomplices who had caused the chaos were attempting to resist or flee.

Yu Yuanchen did not go up personally. He merely stood quietly in the middle of the hall, while his Spiritual Power silently enveloped the entire Thunder Sound Pavilion like an invisible spiderweb. The movements of the several Soul Ancestors upstairs and their use of Soul Skills were reflected clearly in his mind.

A moment later, the sounds of battle ceased. Yu Kun came down with the guards, escorting three subdued Soul Ancestors. One of them was pale-faced, his arm twisted at an unnatural angle.

"Young Master, we caught them! They are all unfamiliar faces, and their mouths are tight, but they bear marks belonging to the outer forces of the Black Flame Demon Flood Dragon Family," Yu Kun reported. Then, somewhat ashamed, he added, "This subordinate was incompetent and allowed them to destroy some evidence."

"It doesn't matter." Yu Yuanchen walked over to the three Soul Ancestors and calmly swept his gaze across them. That gaze was not sharp, yet it carried a force that seemed able to see through their hearts. The three Soul Ancestors involuntarily lowered their heads, not daring to meet his eyes.

"Does the Long Family only know how to use such cheap little tricks now?" Yu Yuanchen said blandly. "Go back and tell your master that if he wants to play, I'll keep him company. But next time, he'd better send someone more worthy."

He waved a hand. "Destroy their Cultivation Levels and throw them out of Dragon City."

Decisive and clean, without the slightest hesitation. He had displayed thunderous methods and established his authority, yet he had not exposed too much of his strength—catching a Soul King barehanded was shocking, but it remained within the realm of what a Genius could be expected to achieve. It was still far from his true Trump Card, the power to fight and kill a Soul Emperor.

"Yes!" The guards obeyed solemnly and dragged away the three ashen-faced Soul Ancestors.

After this incident, Yu Yuanchen's image among the family's lower-ranking members and certain forces in Dragon City instantly became lofty and mysterious. News of him easily subduing a berserk Soul King quickly spread within certain circles of Dragon City. Everyone learned that the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan's direct grandson was not only exceptionally gifted, but his strength was also unfathomable, far beyond that of an ordinary Soul Ancestor.

Over the next few days, Yu Yuanchen dealt with several more similar "accidents" and provocations. Each time, he performed with perfect restraint, displaying strength enough to easily defeat ordinary Soul Kings and inspire fear, while always keeping his power within the "reasonable" range of a Soul Ancestor. At most, his Soul Power seemed especially abundant, his body exceptionally strong, and his control over Soul Skills particularly exquisite.

He deliberately created the image of a "Genius Soul Ancestor." It could deter petty villains and stabilize people's hearts without prematurely attracting targeted assassinations from Soul Sages or even higher-level opponents.

During a small operation to wipe out a Long Family outpost near Dragon City, he even faced two Soul Kings with excellent coordination by himself. During the battle, he appeared to be "in constant danger." In the end, he only "barely" managed to kill the two Soul Kings through his extraordinary combat instincts, strange combinations of Soul Skills, and a trace of "luck." The entire process seemed intense, but in truth, everything remained under his control. Even his injuries were limited to superficial wounds that did not hinder his movements, though they made him look rather battered.

His "performance" was flawless. Even the accompanying family guards had sweated for him, and afterward, they all praised his extraordinary courage, intelligence, and bravery.

Only Yu Boxuan, who had been secretly watching him all along, revealed a knowing and gratified smile after hearing the report. His grandson possessed not only astonishing talent and strength, but also rare wisdom in concealing his abilities and a steady temperament.

Chen'er probably already had the strength to contend with ordinary Soul Emperors, perhaps even defeat them, Yu Boxuan thought. Excellent. A blade that reveals its edge too soon is easily broken. Only by concealing its sharpness within its sheath can it deliver a fatal strike to the enemy.

Yu Yuanchen's initial appearance successfully established his prestige both inside and outside the family, while also curbing the Long Family's increasingly rampant provocations to some extent. He was like a piece of fine jade that had undergone initial polishing: warm and lustrous, with its brilliance held inward. Only those who drew close could sense the coldness and hardness hidden within.

He knew this was only the beginning. The Long Family would never stop over such a minor setback. A greater storm still lay ahead. Before it arrived, he needed to accumulate more strength and sharpen the edge hidden deep within him even further.

The waters of Dragon City seemed somewhat calmer on the surface because of his appearance, but the undercurrents lurking beneath had only grown more turbulent.