"Creak-"
The wooden door swung open, and the two walked into the little courtyard one after the other. Yu Chen turned back to close the courtyard gate.
"Uncle Dashan, what I'm about to tell you might really shock you. You'd better brace yourself."
Yu Chen spoke with a smile he couldn't hide.
Seeing that Yu Chen was unharmed, Ming Dashan had already calmed down.
"Go on, then. What did you pick up?"
He pulled over a chair, sat down, leaned against its back, and picked up the teacup on the table.
"I'm a Soul Ancestor, and I've been a principal for so many years. What storms haven't I weathered? Nothing could shock me."
"I picked up a Soul Bone."
Yu Chen said it outright.
Ming Dashan was one of the people closest to him in this world, someone he could trust completely.
Besides, his soul power level would soar after he absorbed his second soul ring. He wouldn't be able to hide it then anyway, so he might as well lay his cards on the table now.
"Pfft-"
Ming Dashan had just taken a sip from his teacup when Yu Chen's words made him spray the tea straight out.
"What?!"
He sprang out of his chair, his eyes round as saucers and his face flushing scarlet in an instant.
"A Soul..."
Ming Dashan instinctively clapped a hand over his mouth, then quickly swept his gaze over the doors and windows. Only after confirming that no one was outside the courtyard did he let out a long breath.
"Yu Chen, you're not lying to me, are you? You really picked up a Soul Bone?"
Ming Dashan's voice trembled as he stared straight into Yu Chen's eyes.
He knew all too well what a Soul Bone meant.
Across the Douluo Continent, Soul Bones had another name-the Blood River Treasure.
A Hundred-Year Soul Bone could make countless Soul Masters fight until their heads split and blood flowed.
A Thousand-Year Soul Bone was enough to spark a war between two small nations!
As for a Ten Thousand Year Soul Bone...
Ming Dashan had only ever read about them in books.
The chance of a Ten Thousand Year Soul Bone appearing was absurdly low-not even one in ten thousand.
In short, whenever a Soul Bone appeared, a bloody storm followed! Every year, people were murdered and robbed for Soul Bones all across the continent.
"It's true."
Yu Chen nodded slightly, his gaze unwavering.
Ming Dashan stared at Yu Chen for another long moment, making sure he wasn't joking.
"Hahaha..."
At last, Ming Dashan could no longer hold back and burst out laughing.
Only after quite some time passed.
Did he sit back down, though the excitement on his face had yet to fade completely.
"Whew-"
"Whew-"
He took two deep breaths and wiped a hand over his face to steady himself.
An ordinary Soul Master could spend a lifetime hunting Soul Beasts without ever coming across a Soul Bone. Yet Yu Chen had gone out for a stroll and brought one home?
That luck simply defied description!
"Yu Chen, what attribute does that Soul Bone have? How old is it? Have you absorbed it?"
Ming Dashan collected himself and spoke seriously.
"Xiaogang once told me that although Soul Bones are precious, they aren't much use if their attributes don't match yours. You'd be better off exchanging one for other cultivation resources."
Yu Chen nodded. Yu Xiaogang was right about that.
If a Soul Master with a water-type martial soul absorbed a fire-type Soul Bone, it would offer no benefit beyond strengthening their physique.
The power of its Soul Bone Skill would also be nothing special.
"I've already absorbed it. My body and soul power both feel considerably stronger, and I gained a healing soul skill."
Yu Chen spoke unhurriedly.
"Healing-that's a good skill."
Ming Dashan smiled and nodded. Healing soul skills were useful to any Soul Master.
"As for the Soul Bone's age... I can't tell, but it should be at least a thousand years old."
Yu Chen said this without batting an eye.
He knew perfectly well that mentioning a Hundred Thousand Year Soul Bone could cost him his life, while even a Ten Thousand Year Soul Bone would be frightening enough.
A Thousand-Year Soul Bone was at least within an acceptable range.
"Mm."
Ming Dashan asked again, "Where did you find it?"
"In a cave on the Back Mountain of Holy Soul Village."
Yu Chen picked up the water jug on the table, poured himself a cup, and took a sip.
"Uncle Dashan, do you remember the legend about Holy Soul Village? A Soul Saint once came from their village. I suspect that senior left this Soul Bone behind."
"A Soul Saint..."
Ming Dashan frowned in thought.
Holy Soul Village did indeed have a legend about a Soul Saint. He had heard it before.
After a Soul Saint's death, a bone had been left in a cave, and Yu Chen had stumbled upon it by chance.
The story was strange, yet it had truly happened right before his eyes.
"Good, good, good!"
Ming Dashan finally broke into a broad grin and gave Yu Chen two heavy pats on the shoulder.
"Whatever the case, this is your good fortune."
"A dragon-type martial soul, innate full soul power, and now a Soul Bone too! Our Zonghun Village might have to change its name to 'Titled Village' someday!"
Yu Chen smiled along with him.
He had rehearsed this explanation several times in his mind. No one would be able to find a flaw in it.
After a while, Ming Dashan's expression settled.
He pulled his chair forward, leaned closer to Yu Chen, and lowered his voice. "Yu Chen, there are a few things you must remember."
"First, unless your life is on the line, you must never reveal your Soul Bone!"
Soul Bones were simply too precious.
Ninety-nine percent of the Soul Masters on the continent would never even see what a Soul Bone looked like in their entire lives.
Never mind a thousand-year one-even a Ten-Year Soul Bone was enough to make someone risk everything.
Killing someone to take their Soul Bone was hardly uncommon in the soul master world.
"Understood. I won't tell anyone."
Yu Chen nodded as he spoke.
"Second, from today onward, you're no longer nine years old. You're twelve."
Ming Dashan tapped his fingers on the tabletop.
"I'll visit the City Lord's residence and Spirit Hall to change your birth records and martial soul certificate."
"Change my records?"
Yu Chen froze for a moment. That had never occurred to him.
"Your soul power is a little too conspicuous right now."
Seeing Yu Chen's confusion, Ming Dashan explained patiently.
"Once you absorb your second soul ring after absorbing this Soul Bone, your soul power level is bound to make a huge leap."
"We don't have any powerful backing. We can only keep a low profile."
"You already have plenty of eyes on you because of your innate full soul power. If your soul power advances by leaps and bounds as well, you'll inevitably provoke jealousy and invite unnecessary trouble."
Yu Chen nodded firmly. Uncle Dashan's words made perfect sense.
Besides, after absorbing his second soul ring, his soul power would probably shoot straight up to level thirty.
A nine-year-old Soul Elder would draw far too much attention anywhere.
With this move, Ming Dashan had downgraded him directly from a "monster" to a "genius." A twelve-year-old Soul Elder was at least something people could accept.
However, another question arose in Yu Chen's mind.
"Uncle Dashan, you have that kind of authority? Changing my certificate won't cause you any trouble, will it?"
Yu Chen asked curiously.
"Heh-"
Ming Dashan smiled confidently.
"I'm a viscount of the Empire, and I'm on very good terms with City Lord Xiao. Changing your records will only take a word from me. When Xiao Chenyu and the others joined the special training class, he even came to visit me personally."
"What about Spirit Hall?" Yu Chen pressed.
"Haven't relations between the Empire and Spirit Hall always been pretty tense? Would Master Ma Xiunuo be willing to help?"
"Hahaha."
Ming Dashan leaned back in his chair, his tone carrying the worldly understanding of an experienced man.
"Yu Chen, that's what you don't understand."
"The important people have their schemes, and the little people have their own ways of getting by."
"No matter how fiercely the Empire and Spirit Hall clash in Heaven Dou City, Nuoding City is only a palm-sized place. Everyone runs into everyone else, and much of the time, we band together to get through life."
"As for our relationship, Master Ma Xiunuo is actually my martial uncle. The principal of my junior academy was his older brother."
"In fact, I've already helped keep your and Tang San's martial soul certificates under wraps. Master Ma Xiunuo never reported them to the Fasno Spirit Hall Main Hall."
"Otherwise, do you really think Spirit Hall wouldn't do everything it could to recruit two geniuses with innate full soul power?"
"So that's how it is!" A glimmer of understanding flashed in Yu Chen's eyes.
No matter the world, however fiercely those at the top fought, the people below still went on living their own lives.
In the original story, the Spirit Hall Empire and the two great empires fought until rivers of blood flowed, yet Nuoding City remained quiet and peaceful, like a secluded paradise beyond the world.
Tang San had awakened innate full soul power, yet Spirit Hall hadn't tried to recruit him. Yu Xiaogang had probably asked the principal to help cover it up.
"All right, then."
Ming Dashan stood up.
"Rest well at home. We'll leave in a couple of days. First, we'll go to the Border Forest to find your second soul ring, then head straight to Heaven Dou City."
"Okay!"
Yu Chen stood and saw Ming Dashan to the courtyard gate.
Before you continue