"So that's why I said Yu Hong's Martial Soul is no ordinary thing." Dugu Bo's expression turned serious. "If I'm not mistaken, his Martial Soul should be the egg of some ancient dragon."
"An ancient dragon?" Dugu Xin's eyes widened.
"Exactly." Dugu Bo nodded. "And it's likely a very powerful ancient dragon. Once his Martial Soul hatches, he'll truly leap over the dragon gate."
Dugu Xin fell silent.
He recalled their sparring match just moments ago.
Yu Hong was only at level eleven, yet he had completely suppressed Dugu Xin, a level twenty-two Soul Master, in close combat.
If Yu Hong's Martial Soul really hatched, just how powerful would he become?
"So, Father, you gave him the Golden Vein Ginseng to invest in him early?" Dugu Xin asked.
"You could put it that way." Dugu Bo smiled. "Yu Hong is a young man with enormous potential. Becoming friends with him now can only benefit the Dugu Family in the future."
He patted Dugu Xin on the shoulder and said earnestly, "Xin'er, remember this: when making friends, don't just look at what's in front of you. Some people may seem insignificant now, but they could become powerful figures in the future. Befriending such people early is an investment—and a sign of good judgment."
Dugu Xin nodded thoughtfully.
"I understand, Father."
"Good." Dugu Bo smiled with satisfaction. "Come on, let's go home."
After parting ways with Dugu Bo and his son, Yu Hong didn't return to the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan right away.
He decided to continue training on the outskirts of Greenwood Forest for a while.
He had gained a great deal from this trip.
Not only had he met Dugu Bo and his son, he had also obtained a precious Golden Vein Ginseng.
More importantly, his sparring match with Dugu Xin had allowed him to test the results of his training over the past four years.
His physical abilities had far surpassed those of his peers, and even exceeded those of a Soul Master eleven levels above him.
This filled him with confidence in the future.
Over the next half month, Yu Hong continued to train on the outskirts of Greenwood Forest.
By day, he hunted Soul Beasts and honed his combat skills; at night, he cultivated Soul Power and consolidated his level.
He ran into plenty of danger along the way, but his formidable physique and quick reflexes helped him escape each time.
Once, he came across a three-hundred-year-old Wind Blade Wolf.
The Wind Blade Wolf was incredibly fast and could shoot razor-sharp blades of wind. It was an extremely troublesome Soul Beast.
An ordinary level-eleven Soul Master would probably have no choice but to run if they encountered one.
But Yu Hong was different.
Relying on his extraordinary physique, he took the Wind Blade Wolf's attacks head-on, then seized an opening and punched it in the head.
The blow left the Wind Blade Wolf reeling.
Then Yu Hong unleashed a flurry of punches and kicks, leaving it unable to fight back.
Finally, he used his dagger to slit the Wind Blade Wolf's throat, ending the battle.
"Phew..." Yu Hong exhaled, looking at the Wind Blade Wolf's corpse on the ground with a faint smile.
A three-hundred-year-old Soul Beast was no longer a threat to him.
He stowed away the Wind Blade Wolf's body, planning to take it back for food.
Soul Beast meat was good stuff. It shouldn't go to waste.
Half a month of training had greatly increased Yu Hong's combat experience.
He was no longer the boy who only knew how to bury himself in cultivation. He had become a true warrior who had weathered life-and-death trials.
That kind of transformation was something he could never have achieved within the clan, no matter what.
"That should do it. Time to head back."
Yu Hong stood at the edge of Greenwood Forest and glanced back at the woods behind him. Then he turned and headed toward the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan.
Three days later, Yu Hong returned to the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan.
As soon as he entered the clan gates, someone came to tell him that Vice Clan Leader Yu Luomian wanted to see him.
Yu Hong didn't delay and went straight to Yu Luomian's courtyard.
"Vice Clan Leader, you wanted to see me?"
Yu Luomian was sitting in the courtyard drinking tea. When he saw Yu Hong enter, a smile appeared on his face.
"You're back? How did your training trip go?"
"I gained a lot." Yu Hong nodded. "I got plenty of combat experience, and I also made some friends."
"Oh? What friends?" Yu Luomian asked with interest.
Yu Hong briefly told him about meeting Dugu Bo and his son. Of course, he left out some details, such as Dugu Bo giving him the Golden Vein Ginseng.
"Dugu Bo?" Yu Luomian raised an eyebrow. "They say he's the most likely person to become a Titled Douluo. You managed to befriend them? Not bad."
"It was just a chance encounter," Yu Hong said modestly.
"Even chance encounters are a matter of fate." Yu Luomian smiled. "Making more friends will help you in the future."
Yu Luomian looked at Yu Hong, anticipation flickering in his eyes.
"Yu Hong, do you have confidence in the tournament ten months from now?"
Yu Hong raised his head, his gaze resolute.
"I do."
"Good!" Yu Luomian slapped the table and burst into laughter. "I knew you wouldn't let me down!"
He stood and walked over to Yu Hong, patting him on the shoulder.
"Prepare well. When the time comes, let the whole clan see who the real good-for-nothing is!"
"Yes, Vice Clan Leader."
After leaving Yu Luomian's courtyard, Yu Hong returned to his room.
He sat on the bed, closed his eyes, and began reviewing what he had gained from the trip.
Combat experience, the Golden Vein Ginseng, and his friendship with Dugu Bo and the others...
They were all precious assets.
But most important of all was his understanding of his own strength.
His physical abilities had already far surpassed those of his peers.
Even without using his Martial Soul or Soul Skills, he could suppress a Soul Master ten levels above him in close combat.
That was his greatest trump card.
"The tournament ten months from now..." Yu Hong murmured. "Yu Xiaogang, you're no match for me."
He opened his eyes, a sharp glint flashing in them.
From now on, he would keep training hard and try to evolve his Martial Soul into the Blue-Eyes White Dragon before the tournament.
When that time came, he would show everyone what a true genius looked like!
In the days that followed, Yu Hong returned to his old routine.
He trained his body during the day and cultivated Soul Power at night.
Every day, he ate Soul Beast meat and took Whale Rubber.
He also took the Golden Vein Ginseng Dugu Bo had given him, and its effects were remarkable.
His meridians grew more resilient, and his Soul Power cultivation speed increased considerably.
Yu Hong thought about how Dugu Xin would die in the future, and silently resolved to help Dugu Xin and the others solve their Martial Soul problems.
To put it plainly, Dugu Xin and the others' problem was a lack of spiritual power.
Before transmigrating, he'd seen plenty of people say that forming a Poison Core could solve Dugu Bo's physical problems.
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