Breaking the Shackles of the Past, Ziyao Advances to Soul Ancestor! Lan Tianhua Enters the Rankings!

Sky Screen energy continuously surged into his body,

but Ziyao felt as though he had been thrown into an icy abyss, his blood nearly freezing throughout his body.

That chill was not coldness of the flesh, but a freezing cold that reached deep into his soul.

Then,

those memories buried deep within Ziyao's heart flashed before his eyes once more.

On the training grounds of the Imperial Sand Star Gate,

a boy half a head taller than him held a wooden sword and practiced a most basic sword technique, move by move.

"Ziyao, watch carefully! This is how you exert force with this move!"

The boy turned around. Sunlight fell across his sharply defined profile, and his eyes and brows were filled with a warm smile.

"Big Brother is amazing!"

The young Ziyao clapped his little hands, his eyes full of admiration.

Zi Yu walked over, bent down to ruffle his hair, and said with a smile, "When you grow up, you'll definitely be even stronger than Big Brother."

"Really?"

"Of course. Our Ziyao will become the most outstanding disciple of the Imperial Sand Star Gate!"

At the clan's Martial Soul Awakening Ceremony,

Elder Kong Sha, along with every clan disciple, looked at him with excitement and surprise.

"Ziyao actually has Twin Martial Souls! The Earth Dragon King and the Earth Dragon King Blade!"

"From this day onward, Ziyao shall be the second young master of our Imperial Sand Star Gate!"

"Our Imperial Sand Star Gate is about to prosper!"

His brother stood nearby with a thumbs-up. "Don't worry, Ziyao. Big Brother will protect you from now on."

Beast Summoning Mountain, the seventh day of the Wild Release Trial.

The two brothers fought side by side against the Explosive Rock Dragon King, a Soul Beast with eight thousand years of cultivation.

With his elder brother beside him, Ziyao did not retreat.

The brothers joined forces and forcibly suppressed the Explosive Rock Dragon King, which was comparable to a ten-thousand-year Soul Beast.

The next moment,

"Ziyao, dodge!"

"Big Brother—!!!"

Ziyao suddenly shut his eyes, unable to keep watching.

He curled up in the darkness as tears silently slid down his cheeks.

"If it weren't for me, Big Brother wouldn't have fallen."

"It was me... I took away the life that should have belonged to Big Brother..."

"I'm the one who should have died..."

His voice grew quieter and quieter, as if he were about to melt completely into the darkness.

Just then,

a faint light suddenly appeared before him.

The light was weak, yet incomparably warm.

"Ziyao."

Feeling that familiar voice by his ear,

Ziyao slowly opened his eyes,

and saw the face he knew and missed more than any other.

It was Zi Yu, his brother!

Zi Yu crouched before him, a warm smile on his lips, just as it had been back then.

"Big Brother..."

Ziyao opened his mouth. His throat bobbed, but no sound came out.

Zi Yu reached out and gently ruffled Ziyao's hair. The gesture was tender and practiced as he said softly,

"Our Ziyao has grown up. You can't keep crying anymore."

"You have to set an example for the disciples of the Imperial Sand Star Gate. You can't let the disciples of the other five gates look down on you."

Two clear tears streamed down Ziyao's cheeks as he desperately shook his head.

"But... but if it weren't for me, Big Brother wouldn't have..."

Before he could finish,

Zi Yu had already pulled Ziyao into his embrace, his voice calm as he said,

"Ziyao, do you remember the wish we made together when we were children?"

Ziyao froze slightly, then nodded.

"I remember. We said we would become the strongest disciples of the Imperial Sand Star Gate together and protect the Dragon Martial Clan."

Zi Yu released Ziyao, cupped his face in both hands, and looked at him seriously.

"So, Ziyao, you have to fulfill that wish for Big Brother."

"For both of us."

As he spoke,

Zi Yu stood and extended his fist toward Ziyao, his eyes filled with expectation and pride.

"Tell Big Brother that you can do it, all right, Ziyao?"

Ziyao nodded forcefully.

"I can do it!"

"Big Brother, I'll definitely become the strongest disciple of the Imperial Sand Star Gate!"

"I'll make everyone remember the name Ziyao!"

He clenched his fist and bumped it against Zi Yu's.

At that moment,

it was as though some invisible shackles within him shattered with a thunderous crash.

Zi Yu smiled.

There was far greater relief in that smile than ever before.

"That's my little brother."

"The Imperial Sand Star Gate will be proud of you!"

With that,

Zi Yu's figure turned into specks of starlight, completely illuminating the darkness around them.

The fireflies filling the sky transformed into Soul Power energy and merged into his body before erupting with a bang!

"Big Brother, thank you."

"Roar—!!!"

Under the gazes of countless living beings,

a resounding dragon roar burst from Ziyao's body. His Soul Power rapidly rose—level 35... level 38... level 40!!

In but an instant,

his Soul Power had risen by a full nine levels. With only one Soul Ring left, he could advance to the Soul Ancestor realm!!

[Ziyao underwent a trial of the heart and severed the shackles of his past! Today, the Sky Screen granted him rebirth, raising his Soul Power by 9 levels!]

Star Dragon Sanctuary, Dragon Martial Clan Plaza.

Ziyao slowly opened his eyes.

He looked at his palm, then clenched it tightly.

Those bright eyes no longer held their former confusion and gloom.

In their place was an unprecedented determination and confidence.

"Ziyao, you really broke through to Soul Ancestor?!"

Kaifeng was slightly stunned, and a few traces of surprise appeared in his gaze as he looked at Ziyao.

"Yes."

Ziyao naturally understood what he meant. He nodded slightly and replied with certainty,

"Brother Kaifeng, Brother Xiaoyi, I did it!"

"I can finally... keep moving forward!"

At his words,

a trace of shock appeared in everyone's eyes.

Luo Xiaoyi walked over with a smile, reached out to ruffle Ziyao's hair, and wore a relieved smile.

"Ziyao, congratulations. From now on, we can fight side by side again."

Lan Tianhua bent down slightly.

She lowered her voice and said with a beaming smile,

"That's more like it. Ask them more about cultivation from now on. Big Sis will take you treasure hunting and make sure you earn a fortune!"

Bainuo did not speak.

Yet a rare hint of gentleness surfaced in those cool violet eyes of hers.

Dongfang Mo looked Ziyao up and down a few times before speaking flatly.

"Not bad."

"But with just this much strength, you're still at the bottom."

"Cultivate hard. Don't hold us back."

After saying that,

the corner of his mouth lifted slightly. He turned and left, leaving everyone with a proud, aloof back.

Ziyao watched Dongfang Mo leave, clenched his fists, and filled his eyes with determination.

"Dongfang Mo, don't look down on people!"

"I won't always be at the bottom. One day, I'll surpass you!"

Kaifeng helplessly shook his head and stepped forward to smooth things over. "Ignore him. That guy's just stubborn."

Discussion erupted one after another, and All Living Beings were utterly shocked.

"A ten-year-old Soul Ancestor?! Ziyao's talent is way too terrifying, isn't it?!"

"Compared to him, the monsters raised by Shrek Academy aren't even worthy of carrying his shoes!"

"The eighth-ranked person on the Heavenly Pride Ranking is already this powerful. How terrifying must those above him be?"

"Limit Douluo! This kid will definitely surpass a Limit Douluo in the future!"

"..."

Just then,

the image on the golden scroll changed once again, revealing a figure.

[Ding!]

[Heavenly Pride Ranking, seventh place, Star Dragon Sanctuary—Lan Tianhua!]