Listening to Yu Xiaogang drone on and on, Yu Tianjue dispelled his Martial Soul and couldn't help taking a deep breath.
Just as he was about to interrupt Yu Xiaogang, he met the other man's scorching gaze. "Tian Jue! Now that your Martial Soul has evolved, you have even more reason to come with me. This sudden Second Awakening of your Martial Soul is extremely valuable for research. If I can uncover the reason behind it..."
Yu Xiaogang paused, swallowing the words that had nearly slipped out, then continued, "This will undoubtedly be a great piece of research that benefits the entire Soul Master World!"
Benefits the entire Soul Master World... Are you sure it wouldn't just benefit you?
Yu Tianjue curled his lip and grumbled inwardly.
"Second Uncle, I'll say it again: I don't want to leave the clan. I'm not interested in those studies you mentioned, either. So please don't bring this up again."
"It's late, too. You should go back and get some rest, Second Uncle."
Yu Tianjue couldn't bear to suffer through any more of Yu Xiaogang's torment, so he directly ordered him to leave. But Yu Xiaogang acted as if he hadn't heard. His eyes remained fixed on Yu Tianjue, and there was even a hint of disappointment in his gaze.
"Tian Jue, how can you be so selfish? Do you have any idea how much it would help the clan if we could uncover the secret of the Martial Soul Second Awakening? Our future clan members wouldn't awaken with mutated Trash Martial Souls anymore, which would greatly strengthen the clan!"
"Besides, if we mastered this secret, my Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan could use this method to rise to the top of the Upper Three Sects!"
Yu Xiaogang's face was alight with fervor. He reached out, grabbed Yu Tianjue's hand, and lowered his voice. "Do it for your second uncle, for the clan. Come with me!"
M-me, selfish?
Selfish my ass!
Yu Tianjue struggled with all his might and finally managed to wrench himself free. He took a couple of steps back.
When his gaze swept toward the doorway, his expression shifted. He immediately lowered his head and respectfully called out, "Grandfather."
"Tian Jue, Grandfather and I came to see you! Huh? Second Uncle's here too?"
Two figures, one tall and one short, stood in the doorway. The taller one was none other than Yu Yuanzhen, Sect Master of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan and Yu Tianjue's grandfather. The other, of course, was Yu Tianheng.
Yu Tianheng squeezed past Yu Yuanzhen and stepped into the room, looking curiously at Yu Xiaogang.
"Second Uncle, what are you doing here with Cousin Jue so late at night?"
Yu Yuanzhen was also somewhat surprised. But when he recalled the luggage already packed in Yu Xiaogang's room, he had an inkling of what was going on, and couldn't help sighing inwardly.
The clan elders had been applying pressure lately. Even if Xiaogang didn't leave the clan of his own accord, those elders would likely join forces to force him out before long.
With Xiaogang's stubborn temper, he would probably sever ties with the clan outright. He might even provoke the elders and end up being expelled...
It was better for him to leave the clan early.
"Father."
Yu Xiaogang turned around and gave Yu Yuanzhen a complicated look, but still bowed properly.
Yu Yuanzhen nodded slightly, then shifted his gaze to Yu Tianjue.
"Tian Jue, the clan's cultivation resources are only prioritized for members with Innate Soul Power of level four or higher. That's the clan's rule. Even as clan head, I can't easily make an exception."
"If you still want to cultivate and need resources, use the Gold Soul Coins in this card to buy what you need. If you feel you aren't cut out to be a Soul Master, then start getting involved in the clan's affairs early. Familiarize yourself with its businesses so you'll be ready to take charge of them later."
Yu Yuanzhen hesitated over his final words. He glanced at Yu Xiaogang, but in the end, said nothing more.
Tian Jue's situation was almost identical to Xiaogang's: both had mutated Trash Martial Souls, and both had meager Innate Soul Power. Xiaogang had worked hard at cultivation back then, trying to change his fate, but no matter how hard he tried, his Soul Power never improved at all.
Yu Yuanzhen had wanted him to get involved in clan affairs early, which would have been better than letting him become an idle member of the clan. But Yu Xiaogang had taken the setback hard. Before Yu Yuanzhen could make arrangements, he had run off, claiming he wanted to study Martial Soul theory, and wasted many years.
"Father."
The fervor gradually faded from Yu Xiaogang's face, but his voice turned hoarse. "Tian Jue's situation is different from mine. He..."
Yu Xiaogang turned to look at Yu Tianjue and unconsciously clenched his fists. "His Martial Soul suddenly underwent a Second Mutation. It's no longer a mutated Trash Martial Soul like it was when it first awakened."
Yu Yuanzhen's eyes narrowed abruptly.
A second mutation... Such a thing was possible?
"Tian Jue, release your Martial Soul and let me see."
Yu Yuanzhen's expression was stern, but the joy deep in his eyes was impossible to hide.
Yu Tianjue had nothing to conceal, so he released Xiao Hei at once.
From the very beginning, he hadn't planned on hiding the changes to his Martial Soul. Besides, it would have been hard to keep secret. Unless he truly intended to play the fool and spend every day listening to the other clan members call him useless.
He wasn't the sort to enjoy that kind of strange hobby.
Xiao Hei appeared before Yu Yuanzhen in an instant, valiant and imposing, already bearing the budding form of a dragon-type Martial Soul. The chill emanating from its body was enough to surprise even Yu Yuanzhen.
An ice-type dragon Soul Beast... And its ice attribute was absolutely formidable!
Moreover, Tian Jue's Martial Soul seemed capable of evolving even further!
As a sect master and a Titled Douluo nearing the rank of Super Douluo, Yu Yuanzhen was no stranger to such things. At a glance, he could tell that Yu Tianjue's Martial Soul did not seem to be in its complete form. It still had room to grow.
Yet even now, before it had fully taken shape, its chilling aura was enough to command his attention...
Yu Yuanzhen furrowed his brows without a word, but his hand had already reached out and pressed against Yu Tianjue.
A moment later, Yu Yuanzhen withdrew his hand and turned to Yu Tianheng, who was still staring in bewilderment, unsure what had happened. "Tian Heng, go fetch the crystal ball from your room. Let Tian Jue test his current Soul Power Level."
The brief contact had given Yu Yuanzhen a preliminary understanding.
Yu Tianjue's Soul Power Level couldn't possibly still be just level one, as it had been when his Martial Soul first awakened!
The fluctuations in his Soul Power were at least level eight. As for the exact level, they would know once they tested him with the crystal ball.
After Yu Tianheng left the room, Yu Yuanzhen's gaze moved between Yu Tianjue and Xiao Hei, and he marveled inwardly.
Disembodied Beast Martial Souls were rare to begin with. In all these years, Xiaogang and Tian Jue were the only two examples. And Tian Jue's Martial Soul had undergone a second evolution and mutation while remaining disembodied... It was practically unheard of!
But... why had Tian Jue been able to undergo a Second Awakening of his Martial Soul?