Cutting In? (Two Chapters in One)

"Come on, Xiao Yan. Let's continue testing your Innate Soul Power."

Xu Zonghan stepped forward and lightly tapped the side of the Awakening Stone with his palm. The runes on its surface began to flow, and the icy blue light gradually faded, replaced by a transparent film of light. This was the state used to test Innate Soul Power.

"Xiao Yan, try again. Pour your Soul Power into the Awakening Stone," Xu Zonghan said gently.

Xu Xiaoyan nodded, placed both hands on the stone again, closed her eyes, and guided the Soul Power within her body outward.

The warm current inside her surged once more, flowing along her meridians and gathering in her palms before pouring into the Awakening Stone.

Buzz...

The Awakening Stone trembled, and the transparent film began to glow.

White, yellow, orange, red, green, cyan, blue, purple, silver...

The light climbed higher and higher, smashing through each color barrier like a bamboo shoot breaking through the ground. At last, it paused ever so slightly at the peak of silver, then—

Gold!

Brilliant golden light poured from the Awakening Stone, illuminating the entire ancestral hall until it was as bright as day!

Innate Full Soul Power, level ten!

The ancestral hall fell into complete silence.

The three clan elders sprang to their feet, staring at the golden light in disbelief.

"This... this..." One elder's voice trembled.

"Hahaha! I never thought our Xu Clan would produce another genius with Innate Full Soul Power!"

Xu Zonghan finally came to his senses. His hearty laughter shattered the silence in the ancestral hall, brimming with unconcealed joy and pride.

The Grand Elder, Xu Yuanchang, stroked his long beard and rose with a smile. He walked over to Xu Zonghan, his gaze settling on the golden glow that had yet to fade completely. "Zonghan, your children really are blessings to our Xu Clan."

At this, Xu Zonghan stood up, grinning from ear to ear as he repeatedly clasped his hands in salute. "You flatter me, Elder. Our Xu Clan has been blessed with two children possessing Innate Full Soul Power thanks entirely to the protection of our ancestors and the bloodline they passed down."

Xu Xiaoyu stood at the back of the crowd with his arms folded over his chest. The corners of his mouth lifted slightly, his eyes full of pride in his little sister.

He had Innate Full Soul Power, and so did his sister. With two geniuses born with level-ten Innate Soul Power in this generation, the Xu Clan's good fortune was rare even across Eastsea City, let alone the eastern part of the Sun Moon Federation.

Xu Xiaoyan was still standing before the Awakening Stone, looking down at her hands as if she were still trying to process the feeling of Soul Power surging through her.

A moment later, she lifted her head. Her little face was earnest and expectant as she asked in a clear, sweet voice, "Daddy, I'm level ten now too. That means I can go to the Spirit Pagoda and absorb a Soul Ring like Brother Yan, right?"

Xu Zonghan chuckled at his daughter's sudden question and ruffled her hair. "Why the hurry? Focus on building a solid foundation first. There's no rush about the Soul Ring. Once your body and Soul Power have stabilized, Daddy will take you there himself."

"Oh..." Xu Xiaoyan drew out the word, her little mouth pursed. But soon, her gaze shifted to Chu Yan, and she winked at him as if to say, See? I'm level ten too.

Standing at the edge of the crowd, Chu Yan couldn't help smiling at her smug expression.

The little girl had kept her composure from her Martial Soul awakening all the way through the Innate Soul Power test. It was only that last smug look that gave away the fact that she was still a child.

Then Xu Zonghan turned to face everyone in the ancestral hall, smiling broadly as he announced, "Today, our Xu Clan has double cause for celebration! First, my daughter awakened the Ice Staff Martial Soul. Second, our clan has gained another genius with Innate Full Soul Power! Clan elders, family and friends, today's joy calls for a cup of wine in everyone's hand!"

The Xu Clan was swept up in the joy of its double celebration. Xu Zonghan immediately ordered the steward to prepare a banquet and invited the clan's relatives to join in the festivities.

More than a dozen tables were set up in the main hall for the family banquet. The atmosphere was lively and cheerful. The clan elders took turns praising Xu Xiaoyan until her cheeks were rosy, but she never strayed far from Chu Yan.

The banquet lasted until the afternoon.

After it ended, Xu Xiaoyan pulled Chu Yan around the back garden for the whole afternoon. They looked at the newly sprouted Ice Crystal Orchids, then went over to the fish pond to feed the fish for a while.

It was only when the sun began to set that Chu Yan finally took his leave.

By the time he walked out of the Xu Mansion, darkness had already fallen.

Standing on the steps outside the Xu Mansion, Chu Yan glanced at the last rays of sunlight over the distant sea, then climbed into the family car that had been waiting for him.

As the car drove along the road, Chu Yan's thoughts drifted to something else.

In the original story, not long after Tang Wulin awakened his Martial Soul at six, he would meet the girl who changed his childhood in Aolai City. Her name was Na'er.

The silver-haired, violet-eyed little girl seemed to be an ordinary human orphan, but in reality, she was an alternate personality born when Silver Dragon King Gu Yuena sealed away her power and memories—the embodiment of the human side of the Silver Dragon King.

The source elemental power of the Silver Dragon King lay dormant within her, though she herself remembered nothing. She wandered through Aolai City as an orphan until Tang Wulin brought her home. She became one of the people closest to him during his childhood.

Then, when Tang Wulin was preparing to graduate from primary school, Na'er would leave, laying the groundwork for the central events of Legend of the Dragon King.

Chu Yan tapped his fingers lightly against his knee, his gaze growing intent.

If he went to Aolai City and found Na'er before Tang Wulin did, then took her away from the city, he could sever the important bond between Tang Wulin and Na'er in the original story.

Without Na'er at his side, Tang Wulin's childhood temperament, his path of growth, and even his later opportunities would all shift to some extent.

More importantly, if Na'er stayed with him, then Silver Dragon King Gu Yuena's human incarnation would become entangled with him in the future, and even Gu Yue might later come into contact with him.

Gu Yuena.

Her name carried tremendous weight in Chu Yan's heart.

The Silver Dragon King, the ruler of Soul Beasts, the leader who had led the Soul Beasts in a desperate war against humanity in the original story—yet in the end, she had still lost to love. It was honestly a little ridiculous.

But if he could bring her over to his side, he would gain another top-tier, god-level fighter in the future.

Besides, Gu Yuena was tied to too many key turning points. If he could influence her position through Na'er, the impact on the entire continent's balance of power would be earth-shattering.

It would even have a tremendous impact on his own plans for the future.

But the problem was...

All of this depended on him being able to find Na'er.

Chu Yan furrowed his brow as he sorted through what he knew.

In the original story, the time and place of Na'er's appearance were both rather vague. It only said that she showed up after Tang Wulin awakened his Martial Soul, during the days after he entered Red Mountain Primary Academy. It never specified which day or what time.

Aolai City wasn't very large, but it wasn't small either. Searching aimlessly for a six-year-old girl wandering the streets would be like looking for a needle in the sea.

If he sent people out to search, he might attract the attention of certain individuals.

And there was another question troubling him.

Why had Na'er appeared in Aolai City?

In the original story, had Silver Dragon King Gu Yuena chosen to split off her human incarnation and be born in Aolai City as "Na'er" by pure coincidence?

Or had she sensed something?

For example, the source of the Golden Dragon King within Tang Wulin?

Chu Yan's gaze grew more intense.

The Golden Dragon King and the Silver Dragon King were two divine beings split from the Dragon God. The two had a fated entanglement.

Which raised the question:

Was Tang Hao involved in all of this?

As Tang San's father, Haotian Douluo Tang Hao had laid many hidden pieces across the Douluo Continent. Had he already noticed the Silver Dragon King's movements? Was he secretly guiding Tang Wulin's fate?

If Chu Yan barged in recklessly, would he draw the attention of that god-level being hidden in the shadows?

And had Tang Hao already become the Plane Master?

If Chu Yan did this, he would surely be overturning the plans of some God King, wouldn't he?

Chu Yan let out a quiet breath, leaned back against the cushion, and closed his eyes.

The trip to Aolai City was a gamble from the start.

He was betting that he could find Na'er, that he could get to her before Tang Wulin, and that he could convince the six-year-old girl to leave with him. After all, he had no special connection with her.

But it was only a possibility. The odds might be low, but it was still worth a try.

He didn't want to wait until everything was settled to regret it.

This was a precious window of opportunity to get Gu Yuena, his trump card. Once he missed it, it would be gone for good.

As for how he would explain it to Xiao Yan if he really found Na'er and brought her back, he would figure that out later.

"I'll go, then." Chu Yan made up his mind. He opened his eyes and murmured, "If I find her, I'll have gained something. If I don't, I won't have lost much."

He shifted in his seat and began working out a concrete plan.

First, he needed a plausible reason to leave Eastsea City.

The Soul Guidance Train to Aolai City took a little over an hour. It wasn't far, but it would be difficult to explain to his father why a six-year-old child was traveling alone. He needed an excuse that would put his parents at ease.

Next, where should he look once he arrived in Aolai City?

In the original story, Na'er first appeared when Tang Wulin encountered her on his way home from school. Three thugs were bullying her, and he stepped in to save her.

But that was the timeline from Tang Wulin's point of view. The exact date was still unclear.

He couldn't very well stake out the entrance to Red Mountain Primary Academy. That would draw far too much attention.

He rubbed his temples, pondering how to deal with these problems. By then, the Soul Guidance car had already driven through the gates of the Chu Clan's estate.

"Young Master, we've arrived at the estate," the steward said from the driver's seat.

Chu Yan nodded and got out of the car.

By the time he returned to his courtyard, it was nearly dark.

He switched on the warm yellow Soul Guidance Lamp. Several books on Soul Beast compendiums and basic Soul Guidance theory lay spread across his desk. He had been reading them in his spare time.

He sat down at the desk and took a palm-sized Soul Guidance Communicator from his drawer.

It was the basic model the Chu Clan had provided him. It didn't have many features, but it was more than enough to look up information on the Federation's public network. It was like a stripped-down version of the phones from his previous life.

Chu Yan deftly opened the connection interface and entered several keywords into the search bar: "Aolai City," "Red Mountain Academy," and "enrollment notice."

The page loaded, and the official announcement from Red Mountain Primary Academy quickly appeared.

He read it word by word, his gaze finally stopping on one line.

"The new students of this academy are to enroll on September 1 of the Federation's year 10... The new student registration and class assignment ceremony will be held at eight o'clock that morning."

Today was August 24.

There was exactly one week left before school started.

Chu Yan set down the communicator and leaned back in his chair, tapping his fingers lightly on the desk a few times.

A week wasn't a particularly long time, but it wasn't short either.

If he went to Aolai City blindly and hoped to get lucky, a week probably wouldn't be enough. But if he could figure out when Na'er was likely to appear, that would change things.

In the original story, Na'er appeared only after Tang Wulin entered Red Mountain Primary Academy.

The original story didn't specify exactly which day, but judging by the timeline, it was probably within the first few days after school started, when Tang Wulin ran into her on his way home.

Still, there was no need to fixate on it. He could go and take a look once. If he didn't find her, then it wasn't meant to be.

Chu Yan put away the communicator and rose to his feet. He walked over to the window and gazed out at Eastsea City in the night.

Just then, measured footsteps sounded outside the door, followed by a knock.

"Yan'er, are you asleep?"

It was Chu Yuntian.

"Father, come in," Chu Yan replied, turning around.

The door opened, and Chu Yuntian strode inside.

He had changed into a dark robe for home, and his hair was still a little damp, as if he had just bathed. He walked over to the desk and sat down, motioning for Chu Yan to do the same.

"How did Xiao Yan's awakening go at the Xu Clan today?" Chu Yuntian asked casually. He had already heard some of the details, but a father needed some way to start a conversation with his son.

"She awakened the Ice Staff, and her Innate Soul Power is level ten," Chu Yan replied.

"Level ten?" Chu Yuntian raised his brows, then laughed. "That fellow Xu Zonghan probably won't sleep a wink tonight. Two children with Innate Full Soul Power in one family—his luck's better than mine was back then."

Then he changed the subject, looking at Chu Yan with a serious expression. "I came to talk to you about primary school."

"You awakened your Martial Soul at six, so according to the rules of the continent, you can enter a primary academy now."

"The best primary academy in Eastsea City is Tianheng Primary Academy. Its teachers and educational resources are second to none in the city. Your mother has asked around too. The academy's entrance requirements aren't low, but with your qualifications, you'll have no trouble getting in."

"I've already spoken with Tianheng Academy. When school starts in mid-September, you can go straight there to register."

Chu Yan nodded.

He had heard of Tianheng Primary Academy.

It was one of the best primary academies in Eastsea City. Several of its teachers were Spirit Kings, and its teaching facilities and cultivation resources were among the best of any comparable academy. Many teachers at intermediate academies said that graduates of Tianheng Primary Academy tended to have solid foundations.

More importantly, the academy had partnerships with several intermediate academies in Eastsea City, making the path to further education straightforward.

"By the way," Chu Yuntian added with a teasing smile, "I've spoken with the Xu Clan as well. Xiao Yan turned six this year too, so it's time for her to start primary school. Xu Zonghan has agreed to let her attend Tianheng with you."

"In other words, we'll let the two of you grow up together and develop your feelings for each other." Chu Yuntian paused, then added, "Our two families agreed on this a long time ago."

Chu Yan showed little reaction.

He and Xu Xiaoyan had grown up together and had long been used to having each other around.

It was only natural for them to start school together.

Chu Yuntian chatted with his son for a while longer, reminded him not to slack off in his cultivation, then got up and left the room.

His footsteps gradually faded, and the door closed behind him.

Chu Yan returned to his desk. His gaze settled on the night outside the window as he tapped his knuckles lightly against the tabletop a few times.

He still hadn't told his father about Aolai City.

But Chu Yan already had a rough plan in mind.

The morning after tomorrow, he would say he was going to visit Xiao Yan at the Xu Clan, then head straight to the Soul Guidance Train station in Eastsea City and buy a ticket to Aolai City.

He could go and return the same day, spending no more than half a day.

As long as he got home on time, his father wouldn't suspect anything.

As for whether he would run into Na'er...

Chu Yan let out a quiet breath and put the Soul Guidance Communicator in the drawer.

Do what you can, then leave the rest to fate.

If he found her, it would be fate reaching out to him.

If he didn't, then all it meant was that fate wasn't on his side...