An Early Marriage Alliance

They pushed open the heavy carved wooden door and entered the VIP suite.

The suite was spacious and lavishly furnished. Warm Moonlight Stones set into the walls cast a soft silver glow. Floor-to-ceiling windows faced the school plaza below, offering an unobstructed view of everything happening there.

Soft velvet sofas filled the room. Fragrant tea and fresh fruit had already been laid out on the table. In one corner stood a new television set, a device rarely seen on the continent—the very kind of receiver that had appeared on the Heavenly Screen.

Li Xun stepped forward and pressed the power switch. The screen lit up at once.

The image changed, and the camera settled on the Spirit Awakening plaza at the center of the school. A crisp live broadcast appeared before them.

More than a hundred awakening platforms stood in neat rows across the vast plaza, a spectacular sight. Each was built from Bluestone and engraved with an ancient, intricate Spirit Awakening Magic Array. Faint golden lines glimmered across their surfaces.

A Soul Master stood before each platform to preside over the ceremony. Every one of them was at least a Soul Ancestor, with Soul Kings and even Soul Emperors among them. Spirit Hall had clearly spared no effort for this mass awakening.

Long lines had already formed before the platforms. Countless children of about six or seven waited with their parents, chattering excitedly. Even through the screen, their voices almost seemed audible.

At the center of the plaza stood the largest and grandest awakening platform of all.

Several times wider than the others, it was carved from a single massive piece of White Jade. Its Magic Array was more intricate and ornate, its golden lines gleaming brightly. This platform was reserved for children of distinguished status.

Li Qingyang and Tang Wutong stood atop it.

One was the son of Spirit Hall Pope Qian Renxue; the other was Sea God Tang San's daughter. With identities like theirs, it was only natural for them to stand at the center of everyone's attention.

The children lining up around the White Jade platform also came from prominent families. They were the sons and daughters of Spirit Hall's great worshippers, bishops, and senior officials. Dressed with care, each carried the bearing of a privileged heir despite their young age, in sharp contrast to the ordinary families' children farther out.

As the camera focused on him, Li Qingyang stood waiting, calm and composed.

Beside him, Tang Wutong's blue hair fell over her shoulders. She looked around curiously, but still obeyed the rules and did not wander off.

A Soul Master in a scarlet bishop's robe walked slowly onto the White Jade platform.

He was the host of today's main-platform awakening, a Soul Douluo. Having him personally oversee its Magic Array showed how seriously Spirit Hall regarded these children of its upper ranks.

He swept his gaze across the plaza. His deep voice spread with the aid of Soul Power, ringing throughout the grounds and coming through the television broadcast at the same time.

"Today, Spirit Hall Elementary School's Spirit Awakening Ceremony officially begins!"

The plaza fell silent.

The bishop in red scanned the children in line and announced, "First, Yu Tianlong!"

A straight-backed boy stepped out. He was Yu Tianheng's son, Yu Tianlong.

As he passed Li Qingyang, he turned his head. With the earnestness of a boy his age, he lowered his voice just enough for Li Qingyang to hear. "Li Qingyang, don't forget our wager."

With that, Yu Tianlong strode onto the smooth White Jade platform without another word.

He took his place at the center of the Magic Array. Golden runes slowly rose from the floor, wrapping him in a gentle glow.

Roar!

A deafening dragon's cry erupted from the boy.

Brilliant Blue-Purple Lightning burst outward. Scales and claws appeared, and the imposing phantom of a Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon coiled behind Yu Tianlong. Thunder crackled as a fierce draconic pressure swept across the plaza.

"It's the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon! The inherited martial soul of Heavenly Dragon Gate!" Low cries of surprise rose around the plaza.

Approval flashed in the bishop's eyes. He promptly took out a Soul Power Crystal and handed it over.

Yu Tianlong pressed his palm against the crystal. It lit up rapidly, the glow climbing until it stopped firmly at the ninth mark.

The bishop announced the result in a voice that carried across the plaza:

"Yu Tianlong. Martial soul: Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon. Innate Soul Power: rank nine!"

Inside the VIP suite, everyone saw it clearly on the live broadcast.

Xiao Wu said softly, "As expected of a descendant of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan. Rank-nine innate Soul Power is an impressive gift."

Tang San nodded slightly. Given the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon's place as the inherited martial soul of one of the Upper Three Sects, the result was no surprise.

Li Xun looked at the proud expression on Yu Tianlong's face and smiled faintly. "Looks like that boy hasn't forgotten his wager with Qingyang."

Qian Renxue's expression remained calm. "His talent is respectable, but he's still a long way from surpassing Qingyang."

Within the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan's ancestral hall, the elders had gathered.

Every gaze was fixed on the Heavenly Screen high above.

When Yu Yuanzhen saw Yu Tianheng's son awaken a pure Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon martial soul and reveal top-tier rank-nine innate Soul Power, he threw back his head and laughed. Seated in the place of honor, he could not hide his delight.

"Good! Tianheng has a fine son!"

"A Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon martial soul and rank-nine innate Soul Power! With talent like that, he's bound to become a Titled Douluo. A Kirin Son has appeared—the Yu family's future is secure!"

At the side of the hall, Second Elder Yu Luomian stepped forward, calculation in his eyes. "Clan head, if I recall correctly, the Heavenly Screen revealed that Tianheng's future partner is Meng Yiran, the granddaughter of Dragon Duke and Snake Granny."

"Since we already know what the future holds, there's no need to wait for events to unfold on their own. We should visit them soon, settle the marriage agreement, and bind our families together."

The other elders nodded in agreement.

"The Second Elder is right!"

"If Meng Yiran can bear a descendant as gifted as Yu Tianlong, her bloodline must be exceptional. An early marriage alliance can only benefit us!"

"Securing this bond now would greatly benefit the Blue Lightning Family's future!"

Voices of agreement filled the hall.

Yu Yuanzhen tapped a finger against his armrest. Closing his eyes, he considered the advantages and risks.

He knew this was not merely a way to pave the path for Yu Tianlong, their future Kirin Son. It was also an excellent chance to win powerful allies.

Dragon Duke and Snake Granny's Martial Soul Fusion Skill was strong enough to confront a Titled Douluo head-on. Allies of their caliber were rare on the continent.

If a marriage could firmly bind the two families, the clan would have another formidable source of support when turmoil came to the sects and chaos swept the continent.

The choice was clear.

Yu Yuanzhen opened his eyes, his gaze resolute. "Very well."

"Prepare generous gifts. I'll visit Dragon Duke and Snake Granny myself to settle Tianheng and Meng Yiran's marriage agreement and strengthen the alliance between our families."

With that decision, the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan's plans for the future quietly changed.