"How could I not be able to win?"
There was some puzzlement in the old clan leader's eyes.
Logically speaking, once Yu Xiaochuan advanced another level, reached level ten, and added a Soul Ring, wouldn't his chances of winning be even greater?
Why was Yu Xiaochuan now saying that he would never be able to win again?
"My Soul Power Level can't increase anymore."
Yu Xiaochuan sighed again. "Caterpie ate a four-hundred-year-old ginseng root, but its level didn't increase. That might seem normal to you, but for my Caterpie, it isn't normal."
Of course, Yu Xiaochuan knew that he could evolve Caterpie into Metapod to break through the shackles between levels nine and ten.
But if he encountered a barrier at level nine, would he encounter another at level nineteen, and another at level twenty-nine?
Then, if he evolved Caterpie into Metapod at level nine and into Butterfree at level nineteen...
It would only be natural for him to end up trapped at level twenty-nine, just like Yu Xiaogang.
That was very possible.
Yu Xiaochuan didn't want his Caterpie to become nothing more than Butterfree, nor did he want to be trapped at level twenty-nine like Yu Xiaogang.
So Caterpie could be a baby Rayquaza, and it had to be a baby Rayquaza!
He was a member of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan. Caterpie had a dragon's bloodline. It could become Rayquaza!
"If you don't believe me, Clan Leader, you can give me a few more four-hundred-year-old ginseng roots, and I'll feed them to Caterpie to see."
"Would thousand-year-old ginseng do?"
The old clan leader spoke generously. For Soul Masters, thousand-year-old ginseng wasn't actually all that potent. It could only be considered a medicinal herb that nourished the body.
With Caterpie, however, its medicinal potency could be converted into strength.
"I'd like that too, but unfortunately, my Caterpie is too weak. It already struggles to eat four-hundred-year-old ginseng. It wouldn't be able to withstand the potency of thousand-year-old ginseng."
Hearing that the old clan leader was willing to give him thousand-year-old ginseng, Yu Xiaochuan was a little tempted, but he didn't accept.
Four-hundred-year-old ginseng was enough. Anything older would feed Caterpie to death.
Sure enough, after several four-hundred-year-old ginseng roots, Caterpie's level showed no change.
But the medicinal potency left Caterpie feeling terribly uncomfortable.
After recalling Caterpie, Yu Xiaochuan's face immediately flushed red. The medicinal potency was simply too fierce, and he hurriedly sat cross-legged to cultivate.
Even the medicinal potency of several four-hundred-year-old ginseng roots failed to help Yu Xiaochuan break through the shackles of level nine.
The old clan leader sensed the fluctuations of Soul Power around Yu Xiaochuan.
They settled from disorder into calm, but there was no sign of a breakthrough. He knew then that Yu Xiaochuan was effectively a cripple.
Although the Caterpie Martial Soul's Soul Power Level rose incredibly quickly early on, its ceiling was also very low-even lower than his son Yu Xiaogang's Luo Sanpao.
That made sense. After all, how could a bug compare to a dog?
Though a bug grew a little faster, it was still weak.
The old clan leader lost interest. Several of his four-hundred-year-old ginseng roots had gone to waste.
"Clan Leader, I didn't break through."
Yu Xiaochuan opened his eyes, feeling somewhat dejected. He hadn't expected even several four-hundred-year-old ginseng roots to fail to raise his level.
Though he had a fallback, he was still a little dispirited.
Still, this was just as well. He could ask to leave and study.
If he stayed in the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan's territory all the time, how could he go out and find opportunities?
"It's all right. Go back and get some proper rest!"
The old clan leader waved a hand. Those few four-hundred-year-old ginseng roots naturally meant little to him. They were merely medicinal herbs he used to brew tea.
It was just a pity. He had thought Yu Xiaochuan wouldn't serve as a whetstone for very long, never expecting him to get stuck at level nine.
"Clan Leader, please allow me to leave and study. I know Grandmaster Xiaogang is staying at Nuoding Academy. I'd like to enroll there."
Yu Xiaochuan didn't leave immediately, instead asking permission to leave the clan's territory.
Although he said he wanted to enroll at Nuoding Academy, enrolling there was merely an excuse to leave the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan's territory.
After all, he was still only six years old.
If he wanted to go out on his own to gain experience, his parents would certainly refuse. If he secretly ran away alone, he might get caught and brought back before he had gone very far.
But going to study at Nuoding Academy was different. He would have more freedom.
Moreover, Yu Xiaochuan suspected that the waterfall concealing the Blue Silver Emperor and the Blue Silver Emperor's Soul Bone ought to be fairly close to Holy Soul Village, and fairly close to Nuoding Academy as well.
Otherwise, why would Tang Hao live in seclusion in Holy Soul Village?
"I'll agree to that. You needn't worry about the enrollment procedures or fees. The clan will handle everything for you."
The old clan leader agreed immediately upon hearing this. He had wanted to have Yu Xiaochuan adopted by his son Yu Xiaogang in the first place.
Now that Yu Xiaochuan was a cripple, once he enrolled at Nuoding Academy and developed some affection for Yu Xiaogang through spending every day with him, perhaps the matter would become easier.
As for the possibility that Yu Xiaochuan might remain at level nine his entire life, the old clan leader saw no problem with that.
He was merely an adopted son who would care for his younger son in old age and see him to his grave. It was best if his Soul Power Level couldn't increase. In the future, he could contentedly accept Yu Xiaogang's instruction and research Martial Soul Theory.
Inheriting the title of Grandmaster was a fine choice too!
"Then thank you very much, Clan Leader."
Seeing the old clan leader agree, Yu Xiaochuan breathed a sigh of relief.
Delight appeared on his face once more.
Hehe, Blue Silver Emperor, and that hundred-thousand-year-old Blue Silver Emperor Right Leg Bone-here I come, Yu Xiaochuan!
The old clan leader watched Yu Xiaochuan leave. Recalling the smile on his face, a hint of a smile appeared on his own.
What a good child!
At least he was optimistic enough. He hadn't become despondent despite being trapped at level nine. Having him as a grandson would be nice too.
Just a few days later, the old clan leader sent people to escort Yu Xiaochuan away.
The old clan leader had already discussed Yu Xiaochuan's enrollment at Nuoding Academy with his parents, and neither had any objections.
Well, although they couldn't bear to have their younger son leave them at such a young age, under the old clan leader's reprimands, Yu Xiaochuan's parents ultimately realized that keeping their younger son tethered to their side wasn't a good thing.
"Xiaochuan, we have to fight again someday!"
Yu Tianheng was very reluctant to part with Yu Xiaochuan.
He only knew that Yu Xiaochuan was leaving to study, not that he was leaving because there was no hope of increasing his Soul Power Level.
He thought Yu Xiaochuan would definitely become even stronger in the future.
Of course, Yu Tianheng didn't think he would lose to Yu Xiaochuan.
Yu Xiaochuan had only won by a narrow margin this time, and the Caterpie Martial Soul's weaknesses had been laid bare.
He felt that if he cultivated diligently from now on, he would definitely be able to defeat Yu Xiaochuan.
After all, his Martial Soul was the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon, while Yu Xiaochuan's was merely Caterpie.
"Then let's talk about it when we meet again!"
Yu Xiaochuan smiled, looking at Yu Tianheng, his parents, and the old clan leader.
Who knew whether we would meet again?
I hope that by the time we meet again, I'll have achieved my wish.
Only then can I return home in glory, clad in brocade.
"Hahaha, life is a journey against the current, and I too am a traveler."
The carriage moved forward, and Yu Xiaochuan's words scattered on the wind, leaving Yu Tianheng stunned.
The old clan leader watched the carriage carrying Yu Xiaochuan recede into the distance, pondering the words he had left behind upon his departure.
The more he savored them, the more endlessly resonant they became.
As of that moment...
Yu Xiaochuan's record against Yu Tianheng stood at-an unbroken string of victories!