"Brother Yan!"
Xu Xiaoyan ran out from behind a cluster of flowers and trees, her pale blue twin tails flying behind her. Her big eyes sparkled, and her little face was flushed with joy.
Today, she wore a pink dress, with that ice-blue pendant hanging around her neck. She looked like a flower bud about to bloom, delicate and adorable.
"Slow down, or you'll fall." Chu Yan smiled and went to meet her.
Xu Xiaoyan ran up to Chu Yan and wrapped both arms around his, completely unreserved. She tilted up her little face and grinned. "Brother Yan, you really came! I thought you weren't coming today!"
"I said I'd come, so of course I would." Chu Yan reached out and pinched her little nose, his voice full of affection.
Xu Xiaoyan wrinkled her nose and clung to Chu Yan's arm, looking pleased with herself. "I knew Brother Yan was the best!"
"Xiaoyan, stop fooling around."
A gentle voice came from behind them.
Chu Yan looked up and saw a boy of twelve or thirteen walking over from nearby.
The boy was tall and slender, with handsome features and neatly combed, pale blue hair. He wore a white brocade robe and a silver belt around his waist.
He was Xu Xiaoyan's older brother, Xu Xiaoyu.
He was six or seven years older than Chu Yan and was twelve this year.
Xu Xiaoyu's Martial Soul was the Xu Clan's hereditary Ice Staff. He had Innate Full Soul Power and was the most outstanding genius the Xu Clan had produced in recent years.
He had already broken through to the Soul Grandmaster realm two years ago.
"Brother Xiaoyu." Chu Yan nodded to Xu Xiaoyu with a smile.
The two had grown up together and were very close.
Although Xu Xiaoyu was the eldest young master of the Xu Clan and seemed cold and distant, that was only how he treated outsiders. He wasn't cold toward people he trusted.
He was especially considerate toward Chu Yan, his future brother-in-law.
"Brother Yan, what brings you here today?" Xu Xiaoyu walked up and looked Chu Yan over. Suddenly, his brows lifted in surprise. "You... awakened?"
As a Two-Ring Soul Grandmaster, Xu Xiaoyu was fairly sensitive to fluctuations in Soul Power.
He could vaguely sense an intermittent trace of Soul Power radiating from Chu Yan. That was a sign that he had awakened his Martial Soul.
Xu Xiaoyu really hadn't known Chu Yan had awakened his Martial Soul. He'd been out yesterday, and neither his father nor his little sister had told him. Good grief.
"Yeah, I awakened last night." Chu Yan nodded.
"That's great!" A sincere smile appeared on Xu Xiaoyu's face. He patted Chu Yan on the shoulder and said, "I knew you'd be fine! By the way, what's your Martial Soul? What level is your Soul Power?"
Chu Yan thought it over. His father had told him to hold back when he was out in public, but Xu Xiaoyu wasn't an outsider, so he could let a little slip.
"My Martial Soul is called the Yan Divine Weapon. My level is... eleven." He chose his words carefully.
"Eleven? You've got your First Soul Ring already?" Xu Xiaoyu was slightly startled.
It wasn't unusual to break through to level eleven after absorbing a First Soul Ring. What was unusual was how quickly Chu Yan had obtained one.
He'd only awakened last night.
"Yeah, I went to the Spirit Pagoda and absorbed it last night." Chu Yan gave the answer he'd prepared in advance.
"Impressive!" Xu Xiaoyu gave him a thumbs-up, his praise heartfelt.
He had also awakened with Innate Full Soul Power, but he'd still waited another three days to consolidate his cultivation and get himself ready before going to the Spirit Pagoda with the family elders to obtain his First Soul Ring and break through to level eleven.
Chu Yan had gone to the Spirit Pagoda the very night he awakened. That was incredibly efficient. And with that kind of efficiency, he must have gotten a Soul Spirit that suited him quite well.
But Xu Xiaoyu didn't think too much of it. After all, Chu Yan's family background spoke for itself. Since the Chu Clan was the Spirit Pagoda's partner in Eastsea City, arranging for him to obtain a Soul Spirit would be as simple as making a call.
"By the way, is your Martial Soul some kind of staff? Want to spar?" Xu Xiaoyu suddenly grew eager, a flash of fighting spirit in his eyes.
He was six or seven years older than Chu Yan and a Two-Ring Soul Grandmaster. By rights, sparring would be bullying him. But Xu Xiaoyu knew that Chu Yan had been precocious from a young age and was far stronger than other children his age. He'd long wanted to test his future brother-in-law's abilities.
"Brother!" Xu Xiaoyan protested, pouting. "Brother Yan just awakened. Don't bully him!"
"When did I bully him?" Xu Xiaoyu laughed helplessly. "I'm just talking about a friendly spar. We'll stop before anyone gets hurt."
"Still, no!" Xu Xiaoyan hugged Chu Yan's arm even tighter, as if protecting a precious treasure. "Brother Yan came to play with me today, not to fight you!"
Chu Yan couldn't help laughing at Xu Xiaoyan's protective little pose.
He reached out and ruffled her hair. "It's fine. Since Brother Xiaoyu wants to spar, let's do it. I want to test my strength, too."
"Really?" Xu Xiaoyu's eyes lit up.
"Brother Yan!" Xu Xiaoyan grew anxious and stamped her foot. "You can't beat my brother. He's a Soul Grandmaster!"
"Even if I can't beat him, I should still give it a try."
Chu Yan smiled and continued, "Besides, there's no shame in losing to Brother Xiaoyu."
Xu Xiaoyan looked from her brother to Chu Yan. In the end, she let go, pouting. "Then be gentle with each other. No getting hurt!"
"Don't worry. I know what I'm doing." Xu Xiaoyu smiled in reassurance.
The three of them went to the Xu Clan's Martial Arts Arena.
It was a little smaller than the Chu Clan's, but just as well equipped.
Xu Xiaoyu walked to the center of the arena, turned around, and looked at Chu Yan.
"Brother Yan, are you ready?"
Chu Yan walked to the other side, took a deep breath, and nodded.
"Let's begin, then."
As soon as Xu Xiaoyu finished speaking, he released his Martial Soul.
A crystalline white staff appeared in his hand. It was about a meter long, with a fist-sized blue gem set at the top, and it radiated a biting chill.
At the same time, two Soul Rings rose from beneath his feet.
Both yellow!
They were the standard Hundred-Year Soul Ring configuration for the First and Second Soul Rings, but their color was deeper than that of ordinary Soul Rings, clearly indicating that they were quite old.
As a clan with a ten-thousand-year heritage of the Ice Staff, the Xu Clan had unique resources and connections for obtaining Soul Spirits. It was no surprise that Xu Xiaoyu, the eldest son of the clan, had two high-quality Hundred-Year Soul Rings.
"Brother Yan, come on." Xu Xiaoyu held the Ice Staff, his stance relaxed.
Although he was six years older than Chu Yan and a Two-Ring Soul Grandmaster, he didn't underestimate the future brother-in-law who had shown astonishing precocity since childhood.
Chu Yan took a deep breath and stepped into the Martial Arts Arena.
He didn't rush to release his Martial Soul. Instead, he first rolled his wrists and ankles to get his body ready.
He'd trained all morning at the Chu Clan's grounds. Although he'd rested for a while at noon, his body hadn't fully recovered from the fatigue.
But that was just as well. He wanted to see what he could do when he wasn't in perfect condition.
"Brother Yan, you can do it!" Xu Xiaoyan stood at the edge of the arena, cupping her hands around her mouth like a megaphone. Her little face was flushed with excitement.
Chu Yan smiled at her, then turned and fixed his gaze on Xu Xiaoyu.
"Brother Xiaoyu, here I come."
As his words fell, he released his Martial Soul.
Buzz—
The dark golden Yan Divine Weapon appeared in his hand. Ancient, mysterious patterns flowed across its two-meter-long shaft, and an aura both archaic and domineering swept through the arena.
Right after, a deep yellow Soul Ring rose from beneath his feet, hovering around him as it slowly revolved.
Xu Xiaoyu's pupils contracted sharply.
Deep yellow?!
His First Soul Ring was five hundred years old. He hadn't gone to the Spirit Ascension Platform yet, so its age hadn't increased.
But Chu Yan's First Soul Ring was deep yellow. It had to be at least seven hundred years old!
That was almost higher than the age of his Second Soul Ring!
Seven hundred years...
A six-year-old child with a seven-hundred-year First Soul Ring?
How was that possible?
Before you continue