The main hall of True Dragon Mountain.
Morning sunlight spilled over the magnificent hall. The clan elders and core disciples had gathered here, while more than a dozen small figures were already waiting in the center of the hall.
Today was the day the children of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan would awaken their Martial Souls!
Soon, as Yu Minghe entered the hall with his two sons, everyone's gaze turned toward them in unison.
Nine-year-old Yu Tianheng held his younger brother's hand, anticipation impossible to hide on his face.
"Grandpa!" Yu Tianming let go of his brother's hand and hurried to the center of the hall, respectfully bowing to Yu Yuanzhen, who sat in the seat of honor.
"Good boy." A trace of a smile appeared on Yu Yuanzhen's imposing face. He reached out and stroked his grandson's head. "After today, you'll know what your Martial Soul is."
Yu Tianming nodded, then turned toward Yu Luomian, who stood to one side, and offered a perfunctory greeting:
"Second Grandpa."
Yu Luomian's face was wreathed in smiles, but a shadow flashed through his eyes. "Tianming, your second grandpa is looking forward to your performance."
Just then, Yu Minghe came over with Yu Tianheng.
"Father, Second Uncle."
Yu Minghe greeted the two elders first, then turned toward a middle-aged man standing behind Yu Yuanzhen. "Xiaogang, you're back."
Only then did Yu Tianming notice this legendary "Grandmaster."
Yu Xiaogang was thin and wore a gloomy expression, a far cry from the spirited master of theory his father had described.
He did, however, fit very well with the useless Soul Master, Yu Xiaogang the "Great Damp," whom Yu Tianming had imagined.
"Tianming, this is your second uncle," Yu Minghe introduced him.
Yu Tianming's eyes shifted, and he stepped forward. "Hello, Second Uncle."
Yu Xiaogang forced a smile and reached out to pat his nephew's head, only to withdraw his hand halfway. "I hear you're exceptionally gifted. I hope... I hope you awaken a good Martial Soul."
He spoke those words with great difficulty, evidently reminded of his own mutated Luo Sanpao.
"Thank you, Second Uncle."
Yu Tianming keenly noticed the desolation in the other man's eyes.
This "master of theory's" tragedy had largely stemmed from his Martial Soul's detrimental mutation.
No, that wasn't right either. Yu Xiaogang's Martial Soul had originally undergone a beneficial mutation into the Golden Sacred Dragon, which was far more powerful than the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon.
But Yu Xiaogang hadn't been up to it. The mutation had stopped midway, resulting in Luo Sanpao, which was why it was considered a trash Martial Soul.
"All right, everyone is here." Yu Yuanzhen's resonant voice rang through the hall. "Begin preparations for the awakening ceremony."
The attendants quickly arranged the awakening formation in the center of the hall, placing six black stones in specific positions.
The elder presiding over the ceremony stood beside the formation with a crystal ball in hand, awaiting instructions.
"As usual, the collateral-line children will awaken first."
Yu Yuanzhen's voice was calm and brooked no argument.
Everyone knew that the first person to awaken had to bear the greatest psychological pressure.
As for whether the main-line children or the collateral-line children would bear that greatest psychological pressure, that went without saying...
Although this was unfair,
that was precisely how reality worked.
It wasn't just the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan that did this; the other factions all did the same.
The awakening ceremony officially began.
"Yu Tianlei, Martial Soul: Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon. Innate Soul Power: rank five!"
"Yu Tianyan, Martial Soul: Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon. Innate Soul Power: rank six!"
"Yu Yuqiu, Martial Soul: Ice Blue Crocodile Dragon. Innate Soul Power: rank four!"
"..."
The six-year-old children entered the formation one after another. Some awakened the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Martial Soul, while others were left utterly distraught by detrimental mutations in their Martial Souls.
So far, however, all their awakened Innate Soul Power had ranged from rank four to rank six.
There were none whose Innate Soul Power was too low, nor any particularly outstanding geniuses.
Yu Tianheng and Yu Tianxin, with rank-nine Innate Soul Power, and Yu Xiaogang, with half a rank of Innate Soul Power, were all very rare exceptions.
One had to understand that Innate Soul Power resulted from the combined effects of one's Martial Soul, bloodline, and early development.
Having a top-tier Martial Soul did not necessarily mean one's Innate Soul Power would be very high.
Of the nearly two thousand Soul Masters in the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, only a dozen or so were Soul Douluos.
There were fewer than a hundred Soul Saints.
Most Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Soul Masters had only average Innate Soul Power.
The Martial Soul Awakening continued, and finally, it was Yu Tianzhi's turn.
The little fatty was so nervous that his forehead was covered in sweat, and he nearly tripped as he entered the formation.
"Relax, it'll be fine!"
Seeing this, Yu Tianming reached out and patted his shoulder encouragingly.
"Relax," the presiding elder also reassured him. "Feel the power within your body."
"Okay!"
Yu Tianzhi nodded to Yu Tianming and the presiding elder, then stepped into the formation.
The formation lit up. A flash of blue-violet lightning streaked past, and a lifelike phantom of a Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon appeared behind Yu Tianzhi.
"Not bad!"
The elder's eyes lit up as he announced loudly.
"Yu Tianzhi, Martial Soul: Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon. Innate Soul Power: rank seven!"
"Yes!"
Yu Tianzhi jumped with excitement and grabbed Yu Tianming's shoulders. "Brother Tianming, I have rank-seven Innate Soul Power! This is great!"
"Congratulations."
Yu Tianming smiled sincerely.
Seeing his companion awaken the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon normally, with sufficiently high Innate Soul Power as well, made him happy from the bottom of his heart.
Rank-seven Innate Soul Power was already very high.
With normal cultivation, he would very likely become a Soul Douluo, or a Soul Saint at the very least.
If he encountered further opportunities, even becoming a Titled Douluo was not beyond hope!
After all, Zhu Zhuqing of the Shrek Seven Devils had only rank-seven Innate Soul Power.
Afterward, Yu Tianzhi ran toward his father, and Yu Mingyuan patted his son's shoulder with gratification.
Finally, Yu Tianming was the only person in the hall who had yet to awaken.
Everyone's eyes focused on this genius who had been named young clan master at just three years old.
An unfathomable light flickered in the eyes of those from Yu Luomian's branch.
"Young Clan Master, please."
The presiding elder spoke with a broad smile.
Calm and composed, Yu Tianming stepped into the center of the formation.
He could feel his grandfather's expectant gaze, his father's tightly clenched fists, and the covertly malicious stares of those from Yu Luomian's branch.
"Let's begin."
Yu Tianming spoke calmly.
The formation suddenly blazed with dazzling light, and nine black stones trembled simultaneously.
Everyone held their breath, waiting for the final result to be revealed.
"The Martial Soul is..."
The presiding elder's voice suddenly caught, his eyes widening into circles.
Behind Yu Tianming, a silver phantom slowly took shape.
It was a slender, dragon-shaped creature.
Its entire body was covered in silvery-white armor, and six blade-like wing limbs extended from its back in a very peculiar shape. Its tail was as sharp as a spear.
Most shocking of all was the crimson core embedded in its chest, which was giving off an eerie glow.
"Wh-what Martial Soul is this?" an elder cried out involuntarily.
Yu Xiaogang abruptly stepped forward, his eyes fixed on the phantom. "No... this isn't an ordinary dragon-type Martial Soul... this form..."
Yu Yuanzhen's pupils abruptly contracted.
Even with the knowledge of a rank-ninety-five Titled Douluo, he could not identify this Martial Soul's origins.
"Valstrax..."
Yu Tianming softly uttered the name, red light swirling in his eyes. "My Martial Soul is... Valstrax from Monster Hunter, one of the coolest Elder Dragons.
"The Silver-Winged Comet-Valstrax!"