I Am Not Convinced

"Oh?" Yue Guan's slender eyebrows rose slightly, a playful glint deepening in his eyes. He leaped lightly, as if weightless, from a seven or eight-meter-high branch, his red robes fluttering. He landed silently, standing several meters in front of Chen Li.

"Someone from the Dust Family of the Star Luo Empire... you recognize me?"

As the distance between them closed, Chen Li could feel the unique aura emanating from the other person, a scent that was both faint and potent, like a blend of a hundred floral fragrances and exotic medicinal herbs. Even with the deliberate restraint, an invisible pressure, like a deep, still lake or a towering mountain, emanated from him.

He steadied his mind and replied calmly, "Your Excellency Chrysanthemum Douluo Yue Guan, Enshrined in the Hall of Elders of the Martial Soul Hall. Even though I'm from the Star Luo Empire, I've heard of your deeds. It's not that strange, is it?"

Chen Li deliberately highlighted Yue Guan's position as an Enshrined Elder and his widespread fame. This not only showed he knew Yue Guan's true high standing within the Martial Soul Hall but also contained a hint of respectful flattery, ensuring there was nothing to fault in his attitude.

"Heh, you do know how to talk," Yue Guan chuckled, his voice carrying a hint of magnetism. "However, kid, this isn't a prosperous and peaceful city in the Star Luo Empire. This is the Horag Mountain Range, on the border between the two countries, filled with Soul Beasts and fraught with danger.

Your Dust Family is a prominent clan in Star Luo, so how could they let a newly awakened child like you come to a place like this alone? Where are your guards?"

His gaze swept over Chen Li's slightly thin luggage and his person, confirming no signs of hidden protection. This was highly uncharacteristic of families of that stature.

Chen Li was silent for a moment, then a faint, almost self-mocking smile tugged at the corner of his lips. He said frankly, "Because... I've been abandoned, Your Excellency.

As you just saw, although I caused quite a stir when I awakened my Martial Soul, and my Innate Soul Power is level ten, I simply cannot absorb any Soul Rings.

You saw the result with that Thunder Saber-toothed Tiger's Soul Ring just now. A genius who will forever be stuck at the level ten Soul Master realm is nothing more than a joke to his family, a waste.

When the three-month deadline passed, I left on my own." His tone was flat, as if recounting something unrelated to him, but deep within his dark eyes, a fleeting sharpness flashed, hinting at unwillingness and resolve.

"Unable to absorb Soul Rings... tsk tsk tsk," Yue Guan slowly circled Chen Li with great interest, his gaze like that of someone examining a peculiar plant. "Innate Full Soul Power, yet stuck at the hurdle of Soul Rings. I've lived for so many years, seen all sorts of strange Martial Souls and physiques, but a situation like yours is truly the first I've heard of."

He stopped, facing Chen Li, and gently raised his right hand. Instantly, a peculiar fragrance spread through the air. Behind him, light and shadow shifted, and the phantom image of an incredibly magnificent and unique plant quietly bloomed.

Its purple petals were dense like silk, odorless yet inherently noble. The golden stamen in the center stood tall, over half a foot high, its light flowing. It was his Martial Soul, a celestial-grade plant, the Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum!

Yellow, yellow, purple, purple, black, black, black, black, black.

Nine optimally matched Soul Rings appeared in sequence, slowly pulsing around the wondrous chrysanthemum. Though only a sliver of the Titled Douluo's immense aura was leaked, it was enough to make the surrounding air feel viscous, and the insects in the forest instantly fell silent.

Yue Guan did not release his pressure. He simply placed his jade-like hand gently on Chen Li's head. "Let me see what's going on with you, little fellow."

A gentle yet vast Soul Power, like the finest spring water, flowed into Chen Li's body from the Baihui acupoint on his crown.

The attribute of this Soul Power seemed neutral and peaceful, yet it carried the unique clarity and probing characteristics of the Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum. It quickly circulated through Chen Li's limbs, meridians, and acupoints, meticulously examining every aspect of his condition, especially the crucial nodes connected to the origin of his Martial Soul.

Chen Li relaxed his body as instructed, allowing the Soul Power to roam. He could feel that Yue Guan's examination was extremely thorough, not a crude intrusion, but more like a masterful diagnosis.

Soon, the Soul Power had completed nearly one full cycle. Yue Guan's brow furrowed slightly. His previous examination had indeed confirmed Chen Li's words: his physical foundation was solid, his meridians were clear, the origin of his Martial Soul was active and powerful, and its connection to his body was without any obstruction. From any conventional perspective, he was fully capable of absorbing Soul Rings.

However, just as his Soul Power was about to complete its investigation and prepare to make deeper contact with the scorching, violent lightning origin deep within Chen Li's dantian and sea of qi...

Sizzle! Crackle!

An unexpected change occurred!

The lightning origin seemed to have been offended or provoked. It suddenly contracted and then erupted with strong resistance!

A pure, domineering, and repulsive force of lightning erupted from within Chen Li. It wasn't an attack, but more like an arrogant expulsion!

The strand of probing Soul Power that Yue Guan had input was forcefully shaken out of Chen Li's meridians by this sudden surge of lightning power!

"Hmm?!" Yue Guan's palm trembled slightly as he withdrew his hand. Astonishing brilliance erupted in his eyes, a fervent interest akin to discovering a rare treasure! "Interesting! Truly interesting!"

Far from being angered by the obstruction of his Soul Power, he clapped his hands and chuckled, his gaze towards Chen Li filled with fascination. "Kid, there are indeed no problems with your body or the origin of your Martial Soul. In fact... they're surprisingly good!

That lightning power is pure and domineering. It's not weak or incomplete; quite the opposite, it's so powerful that... it disdains external Soul Power from probing its core too deeply, and it looks down on the energy of those mixed Soul Beast Soul Rings!

This is by no means a spiritual quality that ordinary top-tier Martial Souls can possess! Lad, your Martial Soul is likely even more extraordinary than we imagined!"

Chen Li's Blood Essence churned slightly within him due to the recent impact. He took a deep breath to calm himself. Hearing Yue Guan's judgment, he inwardly thought, As expected.

He gave a wry smile. "Your Excellency has keen eyes. But no matter how extraordinary it is, if I can't absorb Soul Rings and can't advance, it's all just Kyōka Suigetsu, utterly useless." He spread his hands, his expression carrying a hint of youthful frustration and helplessness.

Yue Guan, however, did not seem to think so. He gave Chen Li a meaningful look and changed the subject, "Pass through this mountain range, and you'll reach the Heaven Dou Empire.

You, a mere child, traveling a thousand miles to Heaven Dou, what are you planning to do? Visit relatives? Or is there another opportunity?" His questions seemed casual, but he was actually further assessing Chen Li's character and his potential value.

Chen Li raised his head, his gaze passing through the layers of treetops, as if looking towards the distant Heaven Dou, or perhaps just staring into the void.

He was silent for a moment, and when he spoke again, though his voice was soft, it carried an unyielding stubbornness and the unique sharpness of youth:

"I am not resigned."

These simple three words caused Yue Guan's eyebrows to twitch