Three days later.
At dawn, thick mist drifted across the lake, hiding Yu Xiaolin from view.
But the people on the shore kept their eyes fixed on the center of the lake. Flashes of lightning flickered there, and muffled dragon roars echoed from within the mist, as if something were struggling to break free of its restraints.
Suddenly, a piercing dragon roar rang out. This time, it no longer sounded like a struggle. Instead, it brimmed with the joy of release.
The mist over the lake was swept aside, and a powerful pressure surged in every direction. Those it passed over felt as though an invisible eye had fixed on them, but the sensation vanished an instant later.
"Spirit Power projection. Big Brother succeeded."
At Yu Xiaogang's words, everyone turned toward the lake.
The sun had just risen, and golden light spilled over the lake's center, draping Yu Xiaolin in a cloak of gold.
Yu Xiaolin slowly rose from the surface of the lake. With a light leap, he darted through the air like a swimming dragon and landed silently before the people on the shore.
"Thank you all for guarding me. After nearly fifty years of arduous cultivation, I've finally seen the true face of heaven and earth."
Yu Xiaolin then turned to Dai Mubai and smiled. "Your Soul Power has reached level forty, young man. You're just in time to absorb your Fourth Soul Ring. I just swept my Spirit Power across the surrounding area and happened to find a Chaos Demon Ape with about four thousand years of cultivation. I wonder if it's suitable."
"A four-thousand-year-old Chaos Demon Ape?" Dai Mubai exclaimed in surprise, then turned to look at the three teachers.
The three exchanged glances, smiles appearing on their faces. They'd tried to make flowers bloom, but nothing came of it; now, a willow branch had sprouted where they'd least expected.
Yu Xiaogang explained the circumstances to his two brothers, briefly recounting how their group had pursued the Chaos Demon Ape.
"The Soul Power inside that Chaos Demon Ape really was depleted. So it must be the one you were chasing."
Yu Xiaolin led everyone to the place where the Golden Iron Triangle had performed their Martial Soul Fusion Skill. The Thunder Abyss Python had already gouged a ravine through the ground there.
They entered the ravine. Yu Xiaolin conjured a Dragon Claw and lightly dug into the side wall. A large amount of earth came away, leaving an opening two meters high.
Inside the opening lay an enormous ape's head, its eyes closed. Everyone looked closer. It was indeed a Chaos Demon Ape.
"That claw mark on the left side of its face was made by my eagle claw. There's no doubt about it," Flender said.
"This Chaos Demon Ape must have known the Thunder Abyss Python was hiding in this lake. It wanted to use the python's strength against us, but it underestimated us and overestimated itself."
Yu Xiaogang shook his head, then turned to Dai Mubai. "Go ahead, Mubai. Your Fourth Soul Ring."
Dai Mubai nodded and walked up to the Chaos Demon Ape's head. He activated Martial Soul Possession with his right hand and added White Tiger Vajra Transformation. A gleaming tiger claw took shape.
He drove his hand forward, plunging the tiger claw through the ape's eye socket and into its skull. A purple Soul Ring appeared.
Dai Mubai backed away a few steps and sat cross-legged inside the ravine, drawing the Soul Ring toward himself.
Seeing this, the others quietly moved some distance away. As they watched Dai Mubai absorb the Soul Ring, Yu Xiaogang smiled and nodded. "This trip has been a complete success."
Then his expression grew serious. He turned to Yu Xiaolin and asked, "Big Brother, has anyone in the clan advanced to the Titled Douluo realm in recent years?"
"No." Yu Xiaolin sighed. "Father is the only Titled Douluo in the clan. Second Brother, was what you said about Spirit Hall true?"
The others also turned to look. Yu Xiaogang nodded gravely. "It's true. Spirit Hall's ambitions are enormous. They want to unify the entire continent, and plan to clear away a few obstacles first. The Blue Electric Tyrant Dragon Clan and the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect are among them."
Everyone was shocked. After all, the Blue Electric Tyrant Dragon Clan and the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect were both among the Upper Three Sects. Their names resounded across the continent, and they stood at the pinnacle of the Soul Master World. It was hard to believe.
But when they considered Spirit Hall's current strength, they were at a loss for words. Yu Xiaolin sighed. "We should have realized it back when Spirit Hall forced the Clear Sky Sect into seclusion. But the trouble wasn't at our doorstep then, so no one spoke up."
Everyone sighed. Who could have known Spirit Hall's ambitions were so vast? More than a decade had passed, and now no faction could stand against its power.
"That's why we have to unite the Upper Three Sects," Yu Xiaogang said.
"Have you already come up with a plan, Second Brother?"
"Yes. One of my students is the daughter of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's Sect Master, and my direct disciple is a descendant of the Clear Sky Sect's main line. Through them, we might unite the Upper Three Sects and stand a chance against Spirit Hall."
"Excellent. If the Upper Three Sects join forces, then no matter how powerful Spirit Hall becomes, it won't dare make a move." Yu Xiaolin's expression eased considerably.
"But we'll have to wait until the Advanced Soul Master Academy Competition ends in six months. By then, my students will have graduated, and I'll be able to return to the clan and explain the situation to Father," Yu Xiaogang continued.
Yu Xiaolin and Yu Xiaofeng both looked delighted.
Yu Xiaolin gritted his teeth. "That works. I've reached the Soul Douluo realm and now qualify to become an Elder. Since you're willing to return to the clan, Second Brother, Father and I will take on those old guys in the clan."
Yu Xiaogang felt a warmth in his heart. Liu Erlong smiled from beside him. "There's no need, Brother Xiaolin. Xiao Gang has already awakened the Blue Electric Tyrant Dragon Martial Soul. Those old guys no longer have any excuse."
Yu Xiaolin and Yu Xiaofeng wondered if they'd misheard. Under their gaze, Yu Xiaogang held out his left hand and released the Blue Electric Tyrant Dragon Martial Soul.
As they watched the blue Dragon Soul fly from Yu Xiaogang's palm, shock filled Yu Xiaolin and Yu Xiaofeng's faces.
"Second Brother, was this a Martial Soul Mutation, or..." Yu Xiaofeng asked, unable to hold back.
"It was a Martial Soul Mutation, and also a second awakening. I have two Martial Souls now."
With that, Yu Xiaogang released Luo Sanpao as well.
Looking at the round-bodied Luo Sanpao on the ground, Yu Xiaolin and Yu Xiaofeng were thoroughly impressed. Twin Martial Souls were said to appear only once in a century on the Douluo Continent, and today they'd actually met someone who possessed them— their own flesh and blood brother.
"Excellent, excellent, Second Brother. Once I return to the clan, I'll tell Father about this. When you come back, there'll be nothing to stand in your way." Yu Xiaolin patted Yu Xiaogang on the shoulder.
"Big Brother, don't spread the word after you tell Father, in case anything unexpected happens. Also, make sure he keeps an eye on Spirit Hall. We mustn't take this lightly."
"Understood."
Perhaps the Chaos Demon Ape had died unwillingly. During the absorption process, Dai Mubai suffered a rather intense Spirit Shock.
But Dai Mubai had trained extremely hard every day, so his willpower was strong. He held firmly to his sense of self throughout.
It wasn't until late at night that Dai Mubai finally finished absorbing the Fourth Soul Ring. His Fourth Soul Skill was White Tiger Meteor Shower.
Yu Xiaogang had expected this and was quite pleased.
After resting for the night, everyone quickly left Sunset Forest early the next morning.
The Shrek Group returned to Heaven Dou City, while Yu Xiaolin and Yu Xiaofeng headed toward Thunder Mountain Range, west of Sunset Forest. It was the home of the Blue Electric Tyrant Dragon Clan.
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