Seventh Birthday

Yu Luomian had long found Yu Xiaogang, that good-for-nothing, an eyesore. Never mind his poor talent—he refused to accept his fate and made Yu Yuanzhen waste a massive amount of family resources on him. If those resources had been spent on other women, they could probably have cultivated two or three Soul Saints.

If Yu Xiaogang had not been his elder brother's son, and if his elder brother had not valued Yu Xiaogang so highly, he would have killed Yu Xiaogang long ago.

Now that he finally had a chance to kick this good-for-nothing out of the family, how could Yu Luomian possibly let it slip away?

After hearing Yu Luomian's words, Yu Yuanzhen let out a long sigh. "Sigh, fine, fine! We'll do as you say. Expel Xiaogang from the family for now. For the family's reputation, he can only suffer this grievance."

Before long, news that the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan had expelled Yu Xiaogang spread across the continent. Upon learning of the family's decision, Yu Xiaogang's face turned ashen, and he collapsed onto the ground like a puddle of mud.

Had Tang San not happened to come by to ask Yu Xiaogang about soul beasts, Yu Xiaogang might have remained sprawled on the floor for the entire day.

At the sight of Tang San, Yu Xiaogang seemed to find something to lean on. He grabbed Tang San's hand and said in a choked voice, "Xiao San, you're all I have left by my side!"

"Teacher, is Spirit Hall slandering you again?" Tang San asked indignantly.

Tang San naturally knew what was happening outside, but he scoffed at it and did not believe a word. In his eyes, Yu Xiaogang was profoundly learned and immensely knowledgeable. Without Yu Xiaogang, where would he have obtained such a powerful First Soul Skill?

Therefore, when Tang San heard that the Ten Core Competencies of Martial Soul had been plagiarized, he chose to believe Yu Xiaogang without a second thought. As for Spirit Hall's announcement, it was merely a deliberate attempt to smear his teacher!

For humiliating his teacher like this, Spirit Hall had already earned itself a death sentence.

Tang San secretly resolved that once he became powerful, he would march upon Spirit Hall and seek justice for his teacher.

Meanwhile, in Suotuo City, "Qin Heng," who had been buried in the library all this time, finally learned that Yu Xiaogang had been exposed by Spirit Hall and struck off the rolls of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan.

"Qin Heng" was rather surprised. He truly had not expected that Qian Daoliu would either refrain from acting entirely or strike with thunderous force.

This move had directly caused Yu Xiaogang's social death.

"Qin Heng" gave Qian Daoliu a thumbs-up, then continued immersing himself in study.

Before he knew it, half a year had passed.

One day, while reading, "Qin Heng" suddenly sensed a mental fluctuation from the main body. Then, the connection between the main body and the clone became completely linked.

There was no doubt that Qin Heng's Heart Separation Control had reached mastery. From then on, no matter what the main body or clone did, both sides would immediately know.

Over the next few days, Qin Heng's main body absorbed the martial soul knowledge his clone had studied for more than half a year.

His Soul Power Level had now reached the peak of level 37, only a step away from breaking through. If he had not devoted most of his energy during this period to cultivating Heart Separation Control, Qin Heng's Soul Power Level would most likely have already surged to level 39.

A god-grade martial soul, combined with the Infernal Delicate Apricot and Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass, was simply that overbearing.

Now that Heart Separation Control had reached mastery, Qin Heng's main body could devote all his energy to cultivating his Soul Power Level. In a few more months, his Soul Power Level would reach level 40, and it would be time to put the choice of his fourth Soul Ring on the agenda.

Qin Heng had chosen enhancement-type soul skills for his first three Soul Rings. Asura Armor itself possessed extremely strong defense, so there was no need to choose any defensive soul skill. Likewise, Asura Armor did not lack means of close-range attack.

Taking all this into account, Qin Heng felt that his fourth soul skill should be a long-range offensive soul skill, preferably one capable of wide-area attacks.

Thus, Qin Heng began having his clone consciously search for soul beasts that possessed both attack forms.

Soon, another month or so passed. Today was Qin Heng's seventh birthday, and his Soul Power Level had also reached the peak of level 38.

Qin Heng had no plans to celebrate his birthday. To him, a birthday was no different from any ordinary day.

Yet what Qin Heng had not expected was that at noon on his birthday, Qian Daoliu personally came to their residence, accompanied by Qian Renxue.

"Grandpa Qian, Xue'er? Why are you here?" Qin Heng asked in surprise.

"Xiao Heng, today is your birthday. Naturally, Xue'er and I came to celebrate it with you," Qian Daoliu said with a smile.

Hearing this, Qin Heng turned to Qian Renxue and asked tentatively, "Xue'er, don't tell me you specifically returned from the Heaven Dou Empire just to celebrate my birthday?"

"As if! I came because I had business with Grandpa. Besides, you never told me when your birthday was. How would I have known?"

Qian Renxue answered without the slightest hesitation, but her expression gave her away. Qin Heng did not expose her. He thanked Qian Daoliu and Qian Renxue, then went with them to a famous restaurant in Spirit City.

Qian Daoliu had booked the meal long ago. The three chatted and laughed, and the meal was thoroughly enjoyable.

After they finished eating, Qian Daoliu took out a lead box and handed it to Qin Heng. "Xiao Heng, inside is a head Soul Bone called the Wisdom Skull of Mental Condensation. It is over sixty thousand years old and comes with a Soul Bone skill called Purple God Light. This soul skill is a single-target mental piercing attack. It condenses power into one point, making it extraordinarily destructive while consuming very little Soul Power. Its might is directly proportional only to the amount of mental power expended.

This skull is also a rare top-grade head Soul Bone within Spirit Hall. You consumed the Full Moon Wearing Autumn Dew and gained the mental-type External Soul Bone, Illusion Pupil, so your mental power has already reached the level of a Soul Douluo. If you fuse with this Soul Bone as well, your mental power will surge again and should become comparable to that of a Titled Douluo."

Qin Heng's eyes lit up at those words. If it had been any other Soul Bone below the hundred-thousand-year level, Qin Heng would never have absorbed it, but this Soul Bone was different.

In the original story, this Soul Bone had been a reward for the Soul Master Tournament and ultimately ended up in Tang San's hands. After Tang San fused with it, his mental power increased a hundredfold, and his Purple Demon Eye evolved to the Vast Realm.

Qin Heng was certain that if he fused with this Soul Bone, his mental power would likewise experience a tremendous surge. Perhaps he really could gain mental power comparable to a Titled Douluo.

Thinking of this, Qin Heng no longer hesitated. He immediately accepted the Soul Bone and thanked Qian Daoliu.

Qian Daoliu nodded in satisfaction, then looked at his granddaughter.

With a flip of her right hand, an exquisite wooden box appeared in Qian Renxue's palm. She pushed the box toward Qin Heng.

Qin Heng did not stand on ceremony and directly opened the wooden box. Inside was a large chunk of Whale Rubber.

"This is Whale Rubber from a fifty-thousand-year Evil Spirit Orca that I obtained from Xue Ye. After consuming it, it should greatly increase your physical strength and allow you to absorb a higher-year fourth Soul Ring."