In the blink of an eye, four years passed.
For the past four years, Yu Hong had eaten Soul Beast meat and taken Whale Rubber every day. He trained nonstop during the day and worked hard at cultivation at night.
"Whew, I've finally reached Level 10."
Sitting on his bed, Yu Hong opened his eyes and muttered to himself.
He couldn't help thinking that gaining even half a level was no easy feat. Without a wealth of resources, he could never have reached Level 10 so quickly.
Now that he had reached Level 10, he could obtain his first Soul Ring.
Yu Hong estimated that he could absorb at least a six-hundred-year Soul Ring. As for a Thousand-Year Soul Ring, that was hard to say.
Even if he really could absorb a Thousand-Year Soul Ring, he wouldn't do it.
Why?
If he absorbed a Thousand-Year Soul Ring, he would definitely attract the attention of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan's higher-ups.
If they investigated carefully, they would discover something was wrong.
If they figured out the effects of Whale Rubber, he'd be done for. They would surely silence him.
The reason nobody had discovered Whale Rubber's effects was that it had to be taken over a long period of time.
How could anyone discover its effects after eating it for just a day or two?
Who had nothing better to do than take aphrodisiacs every day?
"Knock, knock, knock—"
Just then, someone knocked at the courtyard gate.
Yu Hong got out of bed, left his room, and went to open the gate.
Yu Luomian stood outside.
"Vice Clan Leader, please come in."
Yu Luomian stepped into the courtyard and sat down beside the stone table.
Four years had passed, and Yu Hong had changed a great deal.
The six-year-old child from back then had grown into a ten-year-old boy.
He stood tall and straight, his gaze steady, and carried a capable air rarely seen in boys his age.
"Yu Hong, how has your cultivation been going lately?" Yu Luomian asked with a smile.
Yu Hong poured Yu Luomian a cup of tea and said calmly, "To answer the Vice Clan Leader, I've broken through to Level 10."
Yu Luomian's hand paused as he picked up the tea. A flash of delight crossed his eyes.
"Level 10? Are you sure?"
"I'm sure." Yu Hong nodded.
Yu Luomian put down his teacup and burst into laughter.
"Good! Excellent!" Yu Luomian slapped his thigh, unable to hide his smile. "You've gone from Level 0.5 to Level 10 in four years. Not bad, kid!"
Yu Hong remained expressionless. "It's all thanks to the clan's support."
"Don't be modest." Yu Luomian waved a hand. "Yu Xiaogang hasn't had any shortage of resources either, but he's only Level 9 now, a full level behind you."
Yu Hong understood.
Yu Xiaogang was only Level 9? It seemed the resources Yu Yuanzhen had secretly provided still hadn't helped his son surpass Yu Hong.
"Still, now that you're Level 10, you can obtain your first Soul Ring." Yu Luomian grew serious. "We can't put this off. I'll arrange for someone to take you Soul Beast hunting tomorrow."
Yu Hong nodded. "Thank you, Vice Clan Leader."
"Have you decided what kind of Soul Beast you want?" Yu Luomian asked.
Yu Hong thought for a moment. "I want a dragon-type Soul Beast."
Yu Luomian raised an eyebrow. "A dragon-type Soul Beast? Can your Martial Soul absorb a dragon-type Soul Ring?"
As far as he was concerned, Yu Hong ought to absorb a Soul Ring from a Soul Beast associated with the earth element.
"I think so," Yu Hong said. "My Martial Soul may look like an egg, but I have a feeling it's connected to dragons."
Yu Luomian considered this, then nodded. "All right. Tomorrow, I'll have someone take you to the clan's Soul Hunting Forest. There are a few lesser dragon Soul Beasts there. You can choose one that suits you."
"Thank you, Vice Clan Leader."
Yu Luomian stood and patted Yu Hong on the shoulder. "Get a good night's rest. Tomorrow is important. And don't let Yu Xiaogang catch up to you, understand?"
Yu Hong nodded. "I understand."
Yu Luomian smiled with satisfaction and turned toward the gate.
When he reached it, he glanced back and said, "The martial contest is in two years. You'll need to work harder."
"Don't worry, Vice Clan Leader."
After Yu Luomian left, Yu Hong stood alone in the courtyard, watching the sky grow dim.
Tomorrow, he would obtain his first Soul Ring.
He lowered his gaze to his palm. His Martial Soul, White Stone of the Ancients, appeared, glowing faintly in the dusk.
In four years, the egg hadn't changed at all. It still looked exactly the same.
But Yu Hong knew that if he gave it enough nourishment, it would hatch sooner or later.
"Blue-Eyes White Dragon..." Yu Hong murmured. "I hope tomorrow's Soul Ring gets a reaction out of you."
With that, Yu Hong left the courtyard, intending to stroll around the clan grounds.
He'd been cooped up at home too long and wanted some fresh air, as well as a chance to ask around about Yu Xiaogang.
Mostly, he was curious about when Yu Xiaogang had started feeding carrots to Luo Sanpao.
Yu Hong walked slowly along the clan's flagstone path. The evening breeze brushed past, carrying a hint of chill.
In four years, he had hardly ever wandered around the clan grounds. Every day, he either trained or cultivated. Life was dull, but fulfilling.
After a while, a commotion reached him from up ahead.
Yu Hong looked up. A group of boys had gathered in an open space not far away, watching something.
Curious, he walked over and peered through a gap in the crowd.
Then Yu Hong saw a scene that left him somewhat speechless.
Yu Xiaogang was squatting on the ground with a carrot in his hand, stuffing it into Luo Sanpao's mouth.
Luo Sanpao was happily munching on the carrot, crunching away.
"Xiaogang, why are you feeding your Martial Soul carrots?" one of the boys asked curiously.
Yu Xiaogang grinned smugly. "You don't get it. After Luo Sanpao eats carrots, his farts will stink even worse! Then, during the martial contest, I'll knock my opponent out with a single fart!"
The boys around him froze for a moment, then gave him a chorus of thumbs-up.
"Xiaogang, you're a genius!"
"That's brilliant! Who could stand against that?"
"You'll definitely win the martial contest in two years, Xiaogang!"
"What does Yu Hong amount to? How could he possibly be a match for Xiaogang?"
As Yu Xiaogang listened to the flattery, his smile grew broader and broader. His chin nearly tipped up to the sky.
"Of course!" Yu Xiaogang stood up and brushed the dirt from his hands. "Yu Hong's worth nothing! In two years, I'll pin him to the ground with one hand!"
Standing outside the crowd, Yu Hong's mouth twitched.
That guy's mind really worked in mysterious ways.
Feeding Luo Sanpao carrots to make his farts stink worse?
What kind of ridiculous cultivation method was that?
If Yu Hong were Yu Xiaogang, he'd feed Luo Sanpao lesser dragon meat every day, now that he knew Luo Sanpao could eat.
Luo Sanpao had mutated from the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon. Given what had happened when his Martial Soul awakened, they should have fed Luo Sanpao more lesser dragon meat.
Yu Hong didn't know that, back when Yu Xiaogang's Martial Soul had awakened, Yu Yuanzhen had fed him Soul Beast meat every day. As for feeding the Martial Soul, Yu Yuanzhen had thought it was pointless.
Yu Hong was just about to slip away quietly when Yu Xiaogang spotted him.
"Well, if it isn't Yu Hong?" Yu Xiaogang called out sarcastically. "What, come to watch this young master cultivate?"
The boys around him all turned to look at Yu Hong, their eyes full of disdain.
Yu Hong stopped and glanced calmly at Yu Xiaogang. "I was just passing by."
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