The Overbearing Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan

Yu Luomian's expression darkened as well. He snorted coldly. "Your Highness the Crown Prince is mistaken. Martial soul mutations have existed since ancient times, and they are especially common in our Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan. Surely Your Highness has heard that someone in our clan even mutated into a pig."

He paused, his tone turning even more sarcastic. "Besides, this is a matter of the soul master world. Your Highness would do better to concern yourself with state affairs. Whether this child belongs to the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan is for our clan to decide. Your Highness is overstepping your bounds."

"You!!!"

Xue Qinghe was beside herself with rage, her fists clenched tight.

"Qinghe, calm down."

Xue Qinghe was about to speak when Xue Ye the Great raised a hand to stop her.

Xue Qinghe took a deep breath and forcibly suppressed her anger, glaring fixedly at Yu Luomian.

Prince Xue Xing's eyes shifted. Seeing the stalemate, he hurriedly stepped in to smooth things over. "This... this matter does require careful consideration. Deputy Clan Master Yu has come from afar. Why not move to the side hall and rest for a while, while the imperial family discusses it?"

Yu Luomian snorted and flicked his sleeve. The pressure of a Soul Douluo spread inadvertently through the air. "Fine. I will delay my departure a little longer. I ask Xue Ye the Great to consider the Heaven Dou Imperial Family carefully. Do not harm the harmony between our two sides over one child."

With that, he strode out of the main hall.

The blatant threat left Xue Ye the Great looking extremely grim.

Xue Qinghe gritted her teeth. "Father, the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan truly has no regard for our imperial family. We absolutely cannot agree to their demands! Xiao Fei is one of mine. No one will take him away!"

Ever since Zhang Fei had brutally beaten Xue Beng last time, Prince Xue Xing had held a grudge. Seeing an opportunity now, he immediately said, "Brother, I think... he is only a child. If one person can be exchanged for goodwill with the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan and stabilize the empire's situation, why not? No matter how talented that child is, he is still an outsider."

"Uncle, that is hardly appropriate!" Xue Qinghe abruptly turned, her gaze icy as it fell on Prince Xue Xing. "Has our Heaven Dou Imperial Family fallen so low that we must sell children in exchange for support? Today they want to take Zhang Fei. Tomorrow, will they seize Heaven Dou's cities and the dignity of our imperial family as well?!"

Prince Xue Xing's face turned green from her retort. Just as he was about to argue, Xue Ye the Great slammed his hand against the armrest. "Enough!"

The hall instantly fell silent.

Xue Ye the Great rubbed his brow and said in a deep voice, "Tell me, do any of you have an idea that can protect Zhang Fei without offending the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan?"

Prince Xue Xing's eyes shifted, and he immediately said, "Since they all claim Zhang Fei is talented, why not make a wager with them? Have the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan send a disciple at the same Grand Soul Master rank as Zhang Fei for an open spirit battle. If Zhang Fei loses, they may deal with him as they please. If he wins, they must let the matter go and stop pursuing it."

He sneered inwardly. As one of the Upper Three Clans, the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan had abundant resources and deep foundations. Their disciples received the harshest training from childhood. Could they possibly lose to a mere child under nine at the same rank?

Xue Ye the Great pondered for a moment before looking at Xue Qinghe. "Qinghe, what do you think?"

Xue Qinghe had not wanted to agree. She could not bear to let Zhang Fei take even the slightest risk, even if it was merely a wagered battle.

But on second thought, she knew Zhang Fei's strength better than anyone. Let alone the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, even if they searched all of Spirit Hall, they would not find anyone at his rank with greater talent or more formidable strength.

This wagered battle might not be absolutely foolproof, but victory was all but certain.

Moreover, if he could defeat a Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan genius before everyone's eyes, not only would it completely crush their hopes, it would also ruthlessly curb their arrogant airs and vent the anger in my heart and Xiao Fei's.

Xue Qinghe's eyes flickered as she slowly spoke, her voice cool and sharp. "Since they have humiliated our imperial family so thoroughly, merely making them stop bothering us would be letting them off too easily."

She looked at Xue Ye the Great and added, "If they lose, aside from never troubling Zhang Fei again, they must also hand over the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan's Dragon Transformation Secret Technique as an apology."

"What?!" Prince Xue Xing cried out in shock. "The Dragon Transformation Secret Technique? That is the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan's secret art, never passed down to outsiders!"

Xue Qinghe sneered. "What, isn't the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan always so proud? If they believe they are certain to win, why should they fear such high stakes?"

Prince Xue Xing's expression changed several times before he finally gritted his teeth. "Fine! I will go negotiate with Deputy Clan Master Yu!"

Seeing this, Xue Ye the Great could only nod. "Very well. Then go ask him, Brother."

Prince Xue Xing quickly left the main hall.

"What?! The Dragon Transformation Secret Technique!"

An angry roar rang out from the side hall.

Yu Luomian's pupils contracted sharply, and a trace of shock flashed through his eyes.

It was the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan's core secret art. It allowed soul masters possessing the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon martial soul to transform parts of their bodies into dragons, greatly enhancing their attack power, defense, and speed. It was the foundation of the clan and would never be passed to outsiders!

"The Crown Prince certainly has quite an appetite." Yu Luomian's voice turned cold.

"Why should Deputy Clan Master Yu worry? Zhang Fei is merely a low-rank Grand Soul Master of nine years old," Prince Xue Xing said with an awkward smile. "Your Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan has a long heritage and deep foundations. Surely you are not afraid of some unaffiliated Grand Soul Master?"

Yu Yuanzhen fell into thought. This concerned the clan's secret art, so he had no choice but to be cautious.

He thought of the clan's twin stars, Yu Tianheng and Yu Tianxin. One was the clan master's grandson, while the other was his own grandson.

The two were exceptionally talented. Both were now high-rank, Level 29 Grand Soul Masters and were known as the Blue Lightning Twin Stars.

Furthermore, they were competing for the position of chief disciple of the third generation—the future heir to the clan master's position.

Naturally, Yu Luomian hoped that his own grandson, Yu Tianxin, would prevail. Thus, he made up his mind to have Yu Tianheng fight.

If Yu Tianheng won, it would be to his own credit. If he lost, it would undermine Yu Tianheng's momentum and win prestige for Yu Tianxin.

With that in mind, Yu Luomian finally nodded and agreed to Prince Xue Xing's proposal.

The two continued discussing something in secret.

A short while later, Prince Xue Xing returned to the main hall with a smile.

There was no need to say it aloud; he had clearly persuaded Yu Luomian. As for how exactly he had done so, Xue Ye the Great and Xue Qinghe had no way of knowing.

Prince Xue Xing said, "Reporting to Your Majesty, Deputy Clan Master Yu has agreed. It will take place three days from now on the main spirit-fighting platform of the Heaven Dou Great Spirit Arena. Clan Master Yu Yuanzhen will personally attend to watch."

He paused and looked at Xue Qinghe meaningfully. "And to prevent either side from going back on their word, the stakes will be made public and witnessed by the entire arena."

Xue Qinghe sneered inwardly.

Were there really people who offered up their faces to be slapped in public?

I really did not know whether they were foolish or simply too confident.

"Then it is settled," Xue Qinghe said calmly. "Three days from now, we shall see."

Xue Ye the Great's brows relaxed as well. "In that case, we will know the outcome in three days. You may all withdraw."

"Yes, Father. Your child takes her leave." Xue Qinghe bowed, then turned and left the main hall.

Watching Xue Qinghe's retreating figure, Prince Xue Xing sneered inwardly before giving a slight bow and taking his leave.