"Hey, there's no need to be so formal." Yu Yuanzhen cut him off, his tone carrying an unmistakable firmness.
"You're a member of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan. As the clan head, taking you to hunt for a Soul Ring is only my duty. How could I trouble outsiders with everything?"
He paused, then added, "Besides, Xiao Gang just broke through level ten and needs to hunt for his First Soul Ring. I'll take you brothers together, and we can get both of you sorted out at once."
At that, Yu Tianlong couldn't help taking another look at Yu Xiaogang.
Half a point of Innate Soul Power, and he'd reached level ten in two years?
For someone with half a point of Innate Soul Power, that pace was almost unbelievably fast.
It seemed Yu Yuanzhen had been giving Yu Xiaogang plenty of private tutoring. He had probably invested almost as many resources in him as he had in Yu Tianlong.
Yu Xiaogang felt Yu Tianlong's gaze. His body stiffened slightly, then he looked up and forced a smile. "Cousin, it's been a long time."
"It has." Yu Tianlong nodded. He had the feeling Yu Xiaogang seemed rather unnatural today, but he couldn't say exactly what was wrong.
"All right, no time to waste. Let's get going." Yu Yuanzhen clapped his hands, motioning for them to follow. "I've already prepared a carriage and guards. We'll head straight to Star Dou Forest."
Yu Tianlong opened his mouth. He wanted to say Dugu Bo was still waiting for him, but the words reached his lips and then he swallowed them.
Never mind. The Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well isn't going anywhere. A few days' delay won't matter. Since the clan head himself has asked, I can't refuse him.
"Yes, Clan Head." He glanced back at the two Luo Sanpao waiting eagerly in the courtyard and silently said, Wait a few more days, Little Silver. I'll definitely take you to that place.
Little Silver seemed to sense his thoughts and gave a soft "luo," no longer urging him.
The three left the courtyard and boarded the luxurious carriage the clan had prepared. Surrounded by dozens of elite guards, they set off toward Star Dou Forest.
Yu Yuanzhen sat in the main seat of the carriage, resting with his eyes closed. Yu Tianlong and Yu Xiaogang sat on either side. For a time, the only sound in the carriage was the steady rumble of wheels over the road.
Yu Xiaogang kept his head lowered, his hands resting on his knees, his fingers slightly curled as if he were lost in thought. Every so often, he stole a glance at Yu Tianlong, then quickly looked away, as though he were peeking at something he shouldn't.
Noticing his odd behavior, Yu Tianlong asked, "Xiao Gang, how has your cultivation been lately? How far have you developed Luo Sanpao's devouring ability?"
Yu Xiaogang's body trembled slightly, as if jolted from a daze. He hurriedly answered:
"P-pretty well. Following the method you taught me, I've made much faster progress than before. I can devour the flesh of Hundred-Year Soul Beasts now, and Luo Sanpao has grown quite a bit stronger."
"That's good." Yu Tianlong nodded. "Take your time. There's no need to rush. Luo Sanpao has great potential. If you find the right way, he may yet become a top-tier Martial Soul."
"Mm... Thank you, Cousin." Yu Xiaogang replied quietly, his voice somewhat muffled.
Yu Yuanzhen still had his eyes closed, seemingly deaf to the brothers' conversation.
But if anyone had watched closely, they would have noticed that when Yu Xiaogang said "Thank you, Cousin," the corner of Yu Yuanzhen's mouth lifted in a faint, almost imperceptible smile.
The carriage continued on, heading toward the vast, boundless Star Dou Forest.
Outside the windows, the sky darkened. Clouds began gathering on the horizon, as if foreshadowing an approaching storm.
The air at the outskirts of Star Dou Forest was damp and fresh, carrying the scent of soil and vegetation.
Sunlight filtered through layer upon layer of treetops, scattering dappled shadows across the forest.
Occasional low roars echoed from afar, lending the vast forest a touch of wild vitality.
Yu Tianlong stood beneath an ancient tree so broad it would take three people to encircle it. He watched Yu Xiaogang hunt a Soul Beast not far away, his brow creasing slightly.
The Soul Beast Yu Xiaogang had chosen was a Wind-Patterned Deer that had only just reached a hundred years old.
These Soul Beasts were known for their speed and mild temperament. Their fighting ability was almost the worst among Soul Beasts of the same rank; their sole advantage was that they were relatively easy to hunt.
Luo Sanpao had struggled for quite some time before, with Yu Yuanzhen's covert assistance, he forced the Wind-Patterned Deer into a desperate corner. Then he struck it with a paralyzing "fart" and knocked it down.
The whole process had nothing worth mentioning.
That's it? Yu Tianlong thought. The First Soul Ring determines the foundation of a Soul Master's future. He struggled so hard just to reach level ten, and now he's settling for something so ordinary?
He looked at Yu Yuanzhen. He had thought the clan head would offer his son some guidance about choosing his First Soul Ring. After all, Yu Xiaogang's talent was already poor. If he chose an ordinary Soul Ring on top of that, the road ahead would only be harder.
But Yu Yuanzhen merely stood to the side with his hands behind his back, his expression blank, as if Yu Xiaogang were hunting something utterly unimportant.
He didn't even spare Yu Xiaogang a glance. His gaze kept drifting toward Yu Tianlong instead.
Yu Xiaogang absorbed the Soul Ring, and his Soul Power barely broke through to level eleven. He got to his feet, lowered his head, and silently went to stand behind Yu Yuanzhen without saying a word.
"All right, Xiao Gang's Soul Ring is taken care of." Only then did Yu Yuanzhen speak, his tone even. He turned to Yu Tianlong, and a warm smile immediately appeared on his face. "Now it's your turn, Tianlong."
He patted Yu Tianlong on the shoulder with just the right amount of force, the gesture full of an elder's affection.
"You're a level-thirty Soul Elder, and your Third Soul Ring is crucial. Given your talent and Luo Sanpao's unique nature, an ordinary Thousand-Year Soul Ring is no longer good enough for you. In my opinion, you need at least a Ten Thousand Year Soul Ring to match your potential."
Yu Tianlong's heart tightened.
A Ten Thousand Year Soul Ring? For the Third Soul Ring, he wants me to absorb one that's ten thousand years old? That's an enormous leap. I can absorb Soul Rings above my level, but going straight to ten thousand years for my Third Soul Ring is still risky.
"Clan Head, wouldn't a Ten Thousand Year Soul Ring be too dangerous?" Yu Tianlong ventured. "I could absorb a suitable Thousand-Year Soul Ring first and take things one step at a time..."
"Hey, don't sell yourself short." Yu Yuanzhen waved a hand, his tone leaving no room for argument.
"Your Luo Sanpao can devour and evolve. Absorbing a Soul Ring above your level is no problem for you. Don't worry. I'll personally hunt the most suitable Ten-Thousand-Year Soul Beast for you. All you need to do is absorb its Soul Ring in peace."
He sounded completely sincere, his eyes full of "care" and "expectation." If his instincts hadn't been ringing alarm bells, Yu Tianlong might almost have been moved by this "deep affection."
But that "care" was far too intense—so intense that Yu Yuanzhen seemed able to ignore his own son completely. That only set off even louder alarms in Yu Tianlong's mind.
Was it reasonable for a clan head to be indifferent to his own son, yet so attentive to a collateral relative?
Scenes from the past two years flashed through Yu Tianlong's mind: resources lavished on him without regard for cost, personal guidance every few days, and now personally leading the hunt for his Soul Ring. Yu Yuanzhen had even brushed aside his own son's Soul Ring, yet was determined to save the best for "him"...
This was no longer just "taking an interest" in him. It was as if Yu Yuanzhen had staked everything on him.
But Yu Tianlong was, when all was said and done, merely a collateral relative whose parents had both died. No matter how talented he was, there was no reason for a clan head to go this far.
Unless... he had some other motive.
Yu Tianlong's heart sank.
He thought of Yu Xiaogang's strangely "humble" requests for guidance over the past two years, and the greed he could never quite hide whenever he looked at Yu Tianlong's Luo Sanpao.
He thought of the warm smile behind Yu Yuanzhen's every show of "care," and the way his gaze seemed to size him up like some precious object...
A chilling suspicion slowly took shape in his mind.
"Clan Head," Yu Tianlong took half a step back and forced a smile, "how about we call it a day? I'm not feeling well. We can deal with my Third Soul Ring another time."