Fortune So Good Even Soul Douluo Envied It, Truly Blessed by Heaven!

"Naturally!"

Tai Tan slapped his palm against his chest, producing a loud bang.

"Jian'er understands reason!"

As he spoke, he shot Yang Wudi a sidelong glance, not forgetting to take a jab at him.

"Old Goat, you can't even compare to a twelve-year-old junior like Jian'er."

Yang Wudi ignored Tai Tan's jab and looked at Yang Jian instead.

Meeting his grandson's candid gaze, the last trace of hesitation in his heart dispersed.

So be it. Since he had already brought it up, continuing to hesitate would only make him seem petty. It would be better to speak openly. With this friendship in place, should other forces covet Xiaotian in the future, the Four Single-Attribute Clans could stand united against a common enemy and make them think twice.

"Then I'll keep it brief."

Yang Wudi took a sip of tea and cleared his throat.

"I believe you all know about Jian'er's Soul Ring configuration."

"His first Soul Ring was already ten thousand years old. How could we not know about such a configuration?"

Bai He was the first to respond. Clearly, Yang Jian having a Ten-Thousand-Year Soul Ring as his first ring had long ceased to be a secret among the clan chiefs.

"Come to think of it, Old Goat, you really knew how to keep things hidden. You waited until after Jian'er absorbed a Ten-Thousand-Year Soul Ring before revealing that Whale Rubber could strengthen a Soul Master's physique and increase the age limit of Soul Rings they could absorb."

What surprised the clan chiefs was that Yang Wudi gently shook his head after hearing Bai He's words.

"Whale Rubber can indeed help Soul Masters increase the age limit of the Soul Rings they can absorb, but it only helped Jian'er with his latter two Soul Rings."

He paused, his gaze sweeping across the other three men present.

"Jian'er's first Soul Ring was not absorbed with the help of Whale Rubber."

As soon as those words fell, the hall suddenly went silent.

Tai Tan's eyes widened, while Bai He's teacup slammed onto the table with a bang.

Even Niu Gao, who was usually steady and composed, involuntarily trembled as he held his cup of tea. He was clearly stunned by Yang Wudi's words.

"Not absorbed with Whale Rubber? Then how did Jian'er absorb his first Soul Ring?"

Bai He's graying brows had drawn tightly together, a huge question rising in his mind.

It was no secret that Yang Jian possessed Innate Full Soul Power. In other words, when he awakened his Martial Soul at the age of six, he had already been able to absorb his first Soul Ring.

A Ten-Thousand-Year Soul Ring—let alone a six-year-old child whose body had yet to fully develop, even a fully grown adult could not guarantee with absolute certainty that he could successfully absorb one upon breaking through to Soul King. So how had Yang Jian managed it?

Unless...

Tai Tan's gaze shifted repeatedly between Yang Jian and Xiaotian. Meticulous by nature, he did not believe Yang Jian had absorbed a Ten-Thousand-Year Soul Ring through mere luck. Then, a flash of inspiration struck his mind, and he suddenly grasped the answer.

"Sacrifice!"

The word blurted from Tai Tan's mouth, and the hall fell silent once more.

"Sacrifice?"

Bai He's eyes widened.

"You really are something, Old Ape."

Yang Wudi looked at Tai Tan and nodded.

"That's right. A Sacrifice."

He drew a deep breath, his voice lowering.

"Jian'er's first Soul Ring came from the Sacrifice of a Ten-Thousand-Year Golden-Haired Lion Mastiff, and that Golden-Haired Lion Mastiff..."

As he spoke, he looked toward Xiaotian, who was lying on the floor.

"...was Xiaotian's mother."

The hall was so quiet that even breathing could be heard clearly.

The clan chiefs' gazes all fell upon Yang Jian at the same time.

Yang Wudi continued.

"Six years ago, I took Jian'er to the Star Dou Great Forest to obtain his first Soul Ring. What happened was..."

He recounted in detail how they had encountered the Golden-Haired Lion Mastiff six years ago.

Naturally, he concealed the matter of the Three-Pointed Double-Edged Spear shattering the Soul Ring.

He only said that, while searching for a Soul Ring, they had happened upon the battle between the Golden-Haired Lion Mastiff and Luo Feng.

"...That Golden-Haired Lion Mastiff risked its life to protect Xiaotian. Before dying, it entrusted Xiaotian to Jian'er and then became Jian'er's first Soul Ring through Sacrifice."

After Yang Wudi finished, he raised his teacup and took a sip.

"To draw the Sacrifice of a Ten-Thousand-Year Soul Beast, and even gain a young Golden-Haired Lion Mastiff..."

The hall remained silent for a long time before Bai He murmured. The way he looked at Yang Jian had completely changed.

His eyes held unconcealed envy.

"Jian'er's fortune truly is blessed by heaven."

Niu Gao slowly nodded, his tone carrying a measure of admiration.

Tai Tan said nothing, but the emotion in his eyes was exactly the same as Bai He's.

Three Soul Douluo, second only to Title Douluo, actually envied a twelve-year-old boy.

If outsiders learned of this, their jaws would surely drop.

Yet that was indeed the truth. Not only had he caused a Ten-Thousand-Year Golden-Haired Lion Mastiff to willingly offer a Sacrifice, but he had also gained the wholehearted loyalty of a Beast King's cub. Such fortune was enough to make Tai Tan and the other two feel envious.

Unlike the three Soul Douluo, Bai Chenxiang's attention was not on his heaven-blessed fortune.

As she looked at Yang Jian, her eyes carried a hint of eagerness that she herself had not noticed.

What drew her in was not what Yang Jian had gained, but the choice he had made in the face of it all.

Knowing full well that the Golden-Haired Lion Mastiff was certain to die, he had still been willing to use his Soul Power to prolong its life, simply so that mother and son could properly say goodbye.

That willingness to give of himself for others was what moved Bai Chenxiang the most.

Just then, a figure entered from outside the hall.

It was Tailong, now dressed in a clean set of clothes. There was no trace left of the embarrassment from when Xiaotian had sent him flying.

But the moment Tailong entered, he noticed that the clan chiefs were all looking at him.

Tailong instinctively looked toward his grandfather and happened to meet Tai Tan's eyes. How should he put it? That look was somewhat strange.

Almost instinctively, Tailong assumed Yang Jian had told the clan chiefs about the humiliating incident of Xiaotian sending him flying.

After shooting Yang Jian an angry glare, Tailong said nothing and quickly walked over to stand behind Tai Tan.

But he secretly made up his mind that he would definitely make Yang Jian pay on the arena later!

Just then, a member of the Breaking Clan entered the hall.

He bowed and spoke respectfully.

"Clan chiefs, the banquet is ready. You may take your seats at any time."

Hearing this, Yang Wudi rose to his feet and smiled as he addressed everyone.

"Since that's the case, let's begin the banquet. Afterward, as usual, let the juniors spar a little and let us old fellows see how much the younger generation of each family has improved over the past few years."

Upon hearing this, Bai Chenxiang instinctively looked at Yang Jian.

She suddenly looked forward to seeing what he would be like on the arena later.

Everyone rose to their feet.

Yang Wudi walked at the front, side by side with Bai He and Niu Gao, chatting as they walked.

Bai Chenxiang lingered behind, her gaze constantly following the figure in the cloud-colored robe.

Tailong deliberately hung back until everyone had gone farther away before moving closer to Tai Tan.

"Grandfather."

He lowered his voice, his tone solemn.

"Don't worry. I only lost to that dog earlier because I underestimated it. On the arena later, I'll definitely go all out to defeat Yang Jian and keep the champion's title in our Strength Clan!"