The Elders' Shock

News of the Advanced Soul Master Academy Competition spread rapidly across the continent, as if it had grown wings.

The Blue Electric Tyrant Dragon Clan, the force behind this year's Thunder Academy team, naturally received the news as well.

Thunder Mountain Range, Dragon Head Mountain.

In the council hall, Yu Yuanzhen sat at the head of the table in the Clan Leader's seat, listening to the elders report on various matters.

Just then, a middle-aged man suddenly rushed in. It was Yu Xiaofeng, who was in charge of Thunder Academy's affairs.

Yu Xiaofeng came to the center of the hall, bowed slightly toward the seat of honor, then said, "Reporting to the Clan Leader, news of the Advanced Soul Master Academy Competition has arrived."

"Quick, tell me. Let's see what talented young people the next generation has produced."

After Yu Yuanzhen finished speaking, he looked at Yu Xiaofeng with a hint of anticipation in his eyes.

Yu Yuanzhen had already learned from Yu Xiaofeng that Yu Xiaogang was leading Shrek Academy in this year's Advanced Soul Master Academy Competition.

If Shrek Academy could achieve a good result in the competition, it would undoubtedly be a significant help to Yu Xiaogang's return to the clan.

"The winning team in this year's Advanced Soul Master Academy Competition is..."

Yu Xiaofeng paused, then glanced toward Yu Yuanzhen, a hint of delight hidden in his eyes.

That made Yu Yuanzhen grow somewhat impatient. His tiger-like eyes widened, and he snapped at Yu Xiaofeng, "Get on with it! Stop dragging it out."

"Oh." Yu Xiaofeng immediately bent forward again and said, "It was Shrek Academy."

"Shrek Academy?"

"Which faction sponsored that academy? How come we've never heard of it before?"

"The Heaven Dou Imperial Family, the Star Luo Imperial Family, or perhaps the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect. It was probably one of those factions secretly cultivating them. Otherwise, how could they have defeated Spirit Hall's Golden Generation team?"

"Even so, it's still hard to believe!"

The elders on both sides of the hall began discussing the matter among themselves. Yu Yuanzhen's feelings surged like a raging river. He quietly suppressed his joy, cleared his throat, and addressed everyone in the hall. "Please quiet down, Elders. Let Xiaofeng continue."

The elders fell silent, and Yu Xiaofeng continued, "There was also a clash during the competition. A young man named Tang San was found to possess the legendary talent of Twin Martial Souls. One of his Martial Souls was the Clear Sky Hammer."

"The Clear Sky Hammer! Is the Clear Sky Sect planning to emerge from seclusion?"

The Great Elder, seated at the front of the left-hand side, immediately furrowed his white brows. He leaned forward and asked urgently, "Have you investigated the identity of that young man named Tang San?"

"Reporting to the Great Elder, his identity was revealed during the competition. The young man named Tang San is the son of the long-missing Clear Sky Douluo, Tang Hao. Spirit Hall tried to capture Tang San on the spot, but Tang Hao also appeared at the competition venue. After briefly clashing with Spirit Hall's people, he rescued Tang San." Yu Xiaofeng replied.

The Great Elder's expression grew solemn. "Tang Hao actually showed himself! He's been at odds with Spirit Hall for a long time. He disappeared for years, and now he's appeared with a son who possesses Twin Martial Souls. I'm afraid he's declaring war on Spirit Hall."

"Declaring war on Spirit Hall? I doubt Tang Hao has what it takes. So what if his son has Twin Martial Souls? The boy is young and still has a long way to go. Whether he can successfully cultivate both Martial Souls is still unknown."

"Even if he does succeed, Pope Bibi Dong of Spirit Hall also has Twin Martial Souls and will surely have a way to deal with him. In my opinion, Tang Hao and his son won't cause much trouble."

The Second Elder, seated at the front of the right-hand side, spoke up. He was somewhat plump, and his body jiggled as he talked.

"That's not entirely true. Back then, Tang Hao had only just reached the Titled Douluo realm, yet he was already able to kill the Previous Pope. His strength shouldn't be underestimated. And although the Clear Sky Sect expelled him, he's now appeared before the world with a son who has Twin Martial Souls. It's entirely possible that this was the Clear Sky Sect's idea."

As he spoke, the Great Elder narrowed his eyes slightly. "After all, the boy has the makings of someone with Twin Martial Souls. For Tang San's sake alone, I think the Clear Sky Sect would let Tang Hao return to the family. He has a son with Twin Martial Souls, after all."

The Great Elder sighed when he finished speaking. His wrinkled eyes were filled with envy.

After listening to the two elders, Yu Yuanzhen kept his expression calm, giving no indication of his feelings. Yet there seemed to be a hint of meaning in his eyes. He turned to Yu Xiaofeng again and asked, "Is there anything else?"

"There is." Yu Xiaofeng nodded and continued, "A Seven-in-One Fusion Skill also appeared in this competition. Soul Masters with different Martial Souls worked together to perform it, gathering their Soul Power within one person. The Tang San I just mentioned used the Seven-in-One Fusion Skill to unleash the Clear Sky Hammer's Weapon Spirit True Body at the Four-Ring Soul Ancestor level."

A Seven-in-One Soul Power Fusion performed with different Martial Souls. A Four-Ring Soul Ancestor capable of unleashing a Weapon Spirit True Body.

These two pieces of news stirred the elders in the hall once again. Then they all turned to Yu Xiaofeng, eager to hear what he would say next.

Yu Xiaofeng continued, "As it happens, this Seven-in-One Fusion Skill confirms the theory of Martial Soul Heterogeneous Fusion from the Ten Core Competencies of Martial Soul, which caused a sensation in the Soul Master World more than twenty years ago. Now that the news has spread, the 'Grandmaster' who proposed the theory back then has become famous throughout the Soul Master World."

"Grandmaster? Who is that?"

"I seem to remember something like that happening back then, but no one paid it much attention."

Listening to the elders' discussion, a smile appeared on Yu Yuanzhen's face. He glanced at Yu Xiaofeng to signal him.

Yu Xiaofeng understood. He cleared his throat and said in a loud voice, "Elders, the Grandmaster who proposed the Ten Core Competencies of Martial Soul is none other than Yu Xiaogang of our Blue Electric Tyrant Dragon Clan."

"It was him!"

The elders immediately erupted in discussion. After hearing all the news, the Great Elder seemed to realize something. He looked at Yu Xiaofeng and asked, "You mean Yu Xiaogang and Tang San are both..."

Yu Xiaofeng nodded. "The Great Elder guessed correctly. Tang San is a student at Shrek Academy. This time, Shrek Academy relied on him as its core to defeat Spirit Hall's Golden Generation in the end."

"And Yu Xiaogang was Shrek Academy's team leader. Shrek Academy was founded by the Golden Iron Triangle—Yu Xiaogang, Flender, and Liu Erlong. It's an academy for ordinary people, and no major faction stands behind it to provide support."

At those words, all the elders present were so stunned that they could only stare at one another in disbelief.

Yu Yuanzhen, however, was in an exceptionally good mood. Smiling broadly, he surveyed the elders below, then let his gaze settle on the second seat to his right. He asked, "Second Brother, what do you think of this?"