Only when Yang Wushuang's hearty laughter burst through the courtyard did everyone recover from their shock. The astonishment on their faces turned to wild delight, and they crowded around him to offer congratulations, unable to hide the excitement in their voices.
Every member of the Yang Family positively glowed. For the family as it stood now, producing a genius with innate rank-nine soul power was undoubtedly a tremendous blessing.
Niu Yue could no longer contain his excitement. He strode forward, threw an arm around Yang Wushuang's neck, and slapped his back with his broad palm, shouting at the top of his lungs:
"Wonderful, wonderful! Wushuang, well done! Our Four Single-Attribute Clans are finally going to produce another top-tier figure!"
The Four Single-Attribute Clans had once been branches of the same tree, their centuries of friendship carved into their very bones. There had never been any empty pleasantries or deception between their members. They were brothers who could entrust their backs to one another in matters of life and death, as well as families whose friendship spanned generations.
Moreover, in the bloody battle five years earlier, the Yang and Niu families had fought shoulder to shoulder, forging a bond tempered by life and death.
In that battle, the Defense Clan had held off several fierce assaults from Spirit Hall for the Breaking Clan. The bond between the two families had long since fused into their blood. To the Niu family, Yang Chang'an awakening innate rank-nine soul power was no different from one of their own children awakening such talent.
The festive mood instantly swept through the entire Yang estate, plunging it into a sea of joy. Cheerful scenes filled every corner, and at that moment, much of the gloom that had weighed on everyone's hearts for years seemed to lift.
Yang Chang'an stood in the middle of the crowd. Listening to the laughter around him and feeling his clansmen's expectant gazes, he broke into a bright smile and murmured to himself:
"Innate rank nine. Looks like I do have a little of a protagonist's luck after all."
He knew perfectly well what innate rank-nine soul power meant. Among the younger generation of the entire Douluo Continent, such talent was as rare as phoenix feathers and qilin horns. Among his peers across the continent, he would certainly rank in the top ten, no less gifted than Spirit Hall's Golden Generation, on whom such high hopes had been placed.
Niu Wenchuan squeezed through the crowd and strode up to Yang Chang'an. He gave his shoulder a heavy pat and said with a hearty laugh:
"Now that's the Chang'an I know! Innate rank nine! We really are brothers who grew up together-we're equally amazing!"
Yang Chang'an looked up at Niu Wenchuan, the amusement in his eyes deepening.
"Of course! Just look at who I am! One day, I'll wield the spear, and you'll wield the shield. With us brothers standing shoulder to shoulder, which hero under heaven could possibly match us?"
As Niu Wenchuan listened, a scene involuntarily rose in his mind: the young man stood spear in hand, sweeping aside foes in every direction, while he himself stood like a mountain, indestructible. Together, they were unstoppable.
His eyes filled with longing, and a smile unconsciously spread across his lips. Then he put away his smile and looked at Yang Chang'an with utmost solemnity.
"Chang'an, don't worry. As long as I, Niu Wenchuan, am here, no one will hurt so much as a hair on your head!"
Seeing the resolve in Niu Wenchuan's eyes, Yang Chang'an smiled even more brightly. He nodded firmly and declared each word with emphasis:
"When brothers stand united, their edge can sever gold!"
Those words rang through the courtyard, stirring the blood of everyone from both families who heard them.
The festive air drifted beyond the walls of the Yang estate and into the distance.
Little did they know that on a mountain not far from the estate, two figures stood quietly, their gazes piercing the layers of trees to settle on the cheerful estate below, taking in everything in the courtyard.
One of them was as handsome as a youth, his skin as fair as jade, yet his features held a depth at odds with his apparent age. He toyed with a pitch-black Rubik's Cube between his fingertips, spinning and turning it without the slightest hitch. It was Fifth Uncle.
Watching Yang Chang'an surrounded by the crowd below, a flicker of interest crossed his eyes. He raised an eyebrow slightly, his voice carrying a hint of amusement.
"Innate rank-nine soul power. This little fellow has some talent."
Beside him stood a burly man, with a tiger's back and a bear's waist, exuding a fierce, chilling presence. He toyed with a Metal Short Rod that gleamed coldly, its surface engraved with fine patterns around which faint fluctuations of soul power lingered.
At Fifth Uncle's words, the Burly Man fixed his gaze on Yang Chang'an and nodded slowly.
"You're right. His talent really is impressive. He's no less gifted than that woman's new student, and he even surpasses her in vitality and spirit."
When he mentioned "that woman," there was actually a trace of disdain in the Burly Man's voice.
Fifth Uncle turned toward the Burly Man beside him, a meaningful smile curling his lips as he drawled:
"In that case, how about taking him as your disciple?"
The Metal Short Rod spinning in the Burly Man's hand abruptly stopped, suspended in midair. He whipped his head toward Fifth Uncle, his brows drawing tightly together as he said gravely:
"Fifth Brother, have you forgotten? This boy belongs to the Breaking Clan. At his roots, he's still one of the Clear Sky Sect's people!"
The Breaking Clan had once been subordinate to the Clear Sky Sect. Even though the sect had now sealed its gates and the four clans had declared their departure, outsiders still considered the ties between the Breaking Clan and the Clear Sky Sect unbroken.
And Spirit Hall and the Clear Sky Sect were mortal enemies who would never rest until the other was destroyed. The implications of taking a Breaking Clan genius as a disciple spoke for themselves.
Fifth Uncle merely waved a hand dismissively and gave a derisive chuckle, his eyes full of contempt.
"One of the Clear Sky Sect's people? Do you think the Four Single-Attribute Clans still acknowledge that name now? They don't. In fact, they'd love nothing more than to swallow those turtles with their heads tucked away alive and strip off their skins. Why would they acknowledge the Clear Sky Sect again?"
Fifth Uncle paused and looked down at the Yang estate. His gaze suddenly deepened, a flash of defiance passing through his eyes.
"As for the Breaking Clan?"
"Who are we? We're Spirit Hall! Even if he's lucky enough to become a Peak Douluo one day, how great a storm could he stir up? How could his puny Soul Breaking Spear possibly shake Spirit Hall's foundations?"
As he spoke, Fifth Uncle turned toward the Burly Man, his gaze suddenly becoming indifferent, carrying an arrogance that looked down upon the world.
"Don't forget, among Spirit Hall's current elders, there are several descendants of clans whose ancestors were wiped out by Spirit Hall. Yet now, aren't they still perfectly willing to serve as Spirit Hall's dogs?"
His voice was quiet, yet it carried an invisible force, with an air of "All the heroes under heaven are nothing but clay chickens and pottery dogs in my eyes."
Before Spirit Hall's absolute strength, so-called clan grudges and blood ties were merely dust that could be crushed with ease.
The Burly Man fell silent, lowering his head in thought. His fingertips rubbed the patterns on the Metal Short Rod, his brows still tightly furrowed.
Yang Chang'an's background was far too sensitive. The Breaking Clan and the Clear Sky Sect-those two labels alone were enough to make many people shrink back. Even with his position in Spirit Hall, he could not help finding the matter troublesome. One misstep would invite unnecessary trouble.
Yet Yang Chang'an's talent truly tempted him. Although his family currently stood at the height of its power and prestige, supported by him and his younger brother, its younger generation offered no one to carry on their legacy. Most possessed mediocre talent and would struggle to bear the clan's banner.
If he could take Yang Chang'an as his disciple, the boy's talent would surely make him a powerful figure in the future. With his support, the family's future would not look quite so bleak.
Seeing his hesitation, Fifth Uncle spoke calmly, breaking the silence on the mountaintop. "I already discussed this matter with Eldest Brother."
The Burly Man abruptly raised his head and stared intently at Fifth Uncle. Even the fierce aura around him subsided somewhat. Eldest Brother's attitude was the most crucial part of this matter. If he gave his approval, there would be no problem.
Seeing his reaction, Fifth Uncle curled his lips into a cold smile.
"It's only a Soul Breaking Spear, nothing more than a declining tool martial soul. Do you think Eldest Brother would spare it a glance?"
Eldest Brother was one of the continent's peerless powerhouses, Spirit Hall's true master. His horizons stretched far beyond those of ordinary people. A mere inheritor of the Soul Breaking Spear, however talented, was not worthy of his attention.
At those words, the light in the Burly Man's eyes flickered. If Eldest Brother did not care, that meant there was room to maneuver.
The Metal Short Rod spinning in his hand slowly came to a stop, its coldly gleaming surface taking on a dark luster in the sunlight. He looked down at Yang Chang'an, a flicker of resolve crossing his eyes.