Domain · Thousand Winds, Myriad Clouds

Unable to refuse Xiao Chenyu, Xiao Yuanshan took the two of them to the training ground.

Since family scandals should not be aired in public, the training ground had been cleared out, leaving no spectators.

"Qianqian, how about we forget this?" Xiao Yuanshan looked at Xu Qianqian.

Innate Rank Four soul power only made one a Soul Scholar. Without a first soul ring, there was still a relatively obvious difference between those who had awakened a martial soul with soul power and those without. It mainly showed in the enhancement of one's physique by soul power, effectively raising all attributes.

"Foster Father, don't worry. I'm confident." Xu Qianqian brushed aside her silver-white bangs. "A Soul Scholar isn't a Soul Master. Besides, Xiao Chenyu is my younger brother. It wouldn't be good for the family to be at odds."

"You... who's your younger brother?!" Xiao Chenyu gritted his teeth. "I'll show you the difference between a great Soul Scholar like me and an ordinary person like you."

"Huh?" Xu Qianqian blinked. "Awakening a martial soul makes you a Soul Scholar. You just have a few more ranks of soul power. Don't tell me you really think you're a Soul Master?"

"It's not good to aim too high, Young Master Xiao."

"Hmph, I'll definitely become a Soul Master in the future, while you're just trash who can never become one." Xiao Chenyu looked utterly proud. "Soul Masters are a noble profession. I, Xiao Chenyu, will claim that status with ease."

"I see." Xu Qianqian neither agreed nor disagreed.

Indeed, on the Douluo Continent, Soul Masters and ordinary people basically belonged to two different classes. If a Soul Master accidentally killed an ordinary person, they generally bore no real responsibility—at most, they would apologize afterward and pay some compensation.

Even Spirit Hall could not demand a Soul Master's life simply because they had accidentally killed an ordinary person. Of course, evil Soul Masters who slaughtered large numbers of ordinary people were not permitted, and Spirit Hall had a special division to deal with such matters.

All in all, on the Douluo Continent, powerful Soul Masters were the true nobility.

Still, that was perfectly normal in a supernatural world. A Soul Master could casually toss out a few gold soul coins, an amount an ordinary person might have to struggle for a year—or even several years—to earn.

On the Douluo Continent, the Soul Master profession was merely one corner of this world's heavenly palace.

Even the lowest-ranked Soul Masters were naturally of a different class from ordinary people.

"Are you ready?" Xiao Chenyu's voice pulled Xu Qianqian from her thoughts. She sized up the youth across from her and smiled softly. "We can begin. If you lose, don't cry. I never learned how to comfort people."

"Tch, that's what I should be saying." Xiao Chenyu let out a roar.

"Martial Soul Possession."

A wolf's howl rang out.

Even without soul rings, beast Soul Scholars could enhance all aspects of their attributes while in Martial Soul Possession.

"Take this!"

Xiao Chenyu assumed the posture of a hungry wolf pouncing on prey, extending his claws as he viciously swiped at Xu Qianqian.

In the distance, three soul rings—white, yellow, yellow—rose around Xiao Yuanshan as he prepared to rescue someone at any moment.

"Hm?"

His martial soul was also a wolf, so Xiao Yuanshan's beastly senses were fairly sharp.

Before Xiao Yuanshan could think any further—

"Domain · Thousand Winds, Myriad Clouds."

Xu Qianqian spoke in a faint voice.

"My... my body is so heavy!" Xiao Chenyu maintained his pouncing posture, but his whole body seemed to have sunk into a mire. It was as though invisible things had wrapped around him, making his movements incredibly slow.

"You... what did you do?"

Xiao Chenyu stared at the book in Xu Qianqian's hand in disbelief.

"Thousand winds are formless; clouds grant them shape."

"It's over, Xiao Chenyu."

As Xu Qianqian's soft, gentle voice slowly fell, Xiao Chenyu's expression abruptly changed. His pupils dilated as though he had seen something utterly terrifying.

"No, don't!"

His Martial Soul Possession immediately faded. Xiao Chenyu fell to his knees, bracing himself against the ground with both hands as he gasped for breath. Cold sweat slid down his cheeks, gathered at his chin, then fell to the ground with a drip, drip.

"According to our agreement, I hope you won't come looking for trouble with me again."

Passing Xiao Chenyu, Xu Qianqian came to Xiao Yuanshan's side and looked at his dazed expression. "Foster Father, I'm still not very familiar with my domain, so I was a little heavy-handed. Little Brother may need a few days to fully recover."

Xiao Yuanshan was stunned at first, then shook his head and laughed heartily.

"It's fine. That brat deserved a harsh lesson."

Knowing that his foster daughter had exercised restraint, Xiao Yuanshan no longer worried further.

"Qianqian, what are your plans for the future?"

"I want to go to Notting Academy. I wonder if Foster Father..."

"If you want to go, then go. You don't need to worry about the expenses." Xiao Yuanshan patted his chest.

"Thank you, Foster Father. Then I'll head back first." Xu Qianqian nodded and turned to leave. Watching her retreating figure, Xiao Yuanshan hesitated over the words that had reached his lips.

As for the instructions Xu Qianqian's father had left before his death, he would wait a little longer. Now was not the time to tell her.

Xiao Yuanshan walked over to his son and patted him on the shoulder.

"Kid, did that shake you up?"

"Is she really an ordinary person without soul power?" Xiao Chenyu's voice trembled. "Even if I become a Soul Master, I'm afraid I still won't be her match."

"Eh?" Xiao Yuanshan asked in surprise. "What scared you this badly?"

"A wolf. I saw an unbelievably terrifying Wolf King. I thought I was going to die." Xiao Chenyu trembled, his pupils dilated. Recalling that instant of terrifying pressure, even his martial soul had been frightened back inside him.

"A Wolf King?" Xiao Yuanshan was taken aback. "Tell me exactly what happened."

Suppressing his fear, Xiao Chenyu told his father about the phantom image of the vicious wolf he had seen.

"This..." Xiao Yuanshan fell silent.

Based on his son's description, although the Wolf King's outline and coloring had changed somewhat, it was very likely the Gale Wolf King's appearance. He recalled what Xu Qianqian had said at the time: "I learned the truth about Father's death."

Could a martial soul see the past?

Or was it related to the domain she had awakened?

"Father, Xu Qianqian clearly has no soul power. Why did she seem even more terrifying than a Grand Soul Master?" Xiao Chenyu could not make sense of it. "And what exactly is this domain she mentioned?"

Xiao Yuanshan's mouth twitched as he studied Xiao Chenyu for a long while.

How could she not be terrifying?

That was the pressure of a ten-thousand-year soul beast. Let alone a Grand Soul Master, even a Soul Ancestor could not compare.

Xiao Yuanshan sighed softly. "Maintaining a good relationship with your sister will benefit you in the future. As for domains, they are something only a small number of exceptionally gifted people can master."

"Don't overthink it. These things are far too distant from you."

Xiao Chenyu still wanted to ask about domains, but he saw his father shake his head. "I don't know much about domains either. Rest for a few days, then go report to Notting Academy with your sister."

"Your third uncle is the dean of Notting Academy. With him looking after you two, I'll be more at ease." As he spoke, Xiao Yuanshan seemed to remember something. "Come to think of it, not long ago, he took in a theoretical master who had been expelled from Spirit Hall."

"Although his soul power is only level 29, if your third uncle thought highly enough of him, he must have some ability."

"If you get the chance, have your sister get closer to him as well. Perhaps he may be able to help with martial soul cultivation."