After the children's Martial Soul Awakening ceremony ended, the old clan leader pulled his youngest son, Yu Xiaogang, aside for a talk.
Yu Xiaogang was not the only one involved in the discussion. The old clan leader had also summoned Yu Xiaochuan's parents.
"You know about Xiaochuan's situation. I watched that child grow up. He's been clever and sensible since he was little."
The old clan leader sighed. He had thought Yu Xiaochuan's Innate Soul Power would be quite good.
Compared with his own ordinary-looking son, Yu Xiaochuan was very handsome.
Although he was still young, it was already clear that he would grow into a handsome young man.
Generally speaking, appearance was linked to Martial Soul quality and Innate Soul Power.
That child, Yu Xiaochuan, had even proposed a Martial Soul Theory that the higher the quality of a Martial Soul, the more attractive its owner would be.
However, while that generally held true in one direction, the reverse was not necessarily true.
Being handsome did not necessarily mean having a high-quality Martial Soul.
Yu Xiaochuan was undoubtedly such a case.
"Clan leader, please think of something for Xiaochuan. Half a rank of Innate Soul Power... isn't that too cruel?"
Yu Xiaochuan's parents wore deeply troubled expressions over this.
Although they had an eldest son who had awakened the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Martial Soul and had good talent,
they doted more on their youngest son.
Even now that their youngest son had only half a rank of Innate Soul Power and a Trash Martial Soul, their affection remained unchanged.
"Don't worry. Aren't I trying to think of a solution?"
The old clan leader turned his gaze to Yu Xiaogang. "This will have to fall to Xiaogang. Xiaochuan's experiences are simply too similar to his."
"If we leave Xiaochuan's education to Xiaogang, then if nothing else, reaching rank twenty-nine should be no problem. Perhaps we could even produce a second grandmaster of theory."
"Xiaogang has no children. Why not have him adopt Xiaochuan?"
"Well..."
Yu Xiaogang's face stiffened. He had not expected this to be what the old man wanted to discuss.
"What do you think, Xiaogang? What happened back then..."
"Ah, that's all in the past... I agree, but we still need to ask Xiaochuan. That child has a mind of his own."
Hearing his father's words, Yu Xiaogang fell into a daze.
Ah, Erlong...
After what had happened, and with his advancing age, he no longer had much desire for romance, nor was he willing to find some woman at random. He would probably grow old and die alone.
If he could adopt Yu Xiaochuan, a child so similar to him and with whom he shared a connection, he would at least have a descendant, someone to care for him in old age and see him off when he died.
Under the old clan leader's persuasion, Yu Xiaochuan's parents eventually agreed.
"Eat up, eat up. Eat more and grow up quickly."
Yu Xiaochuan enthusiastically fed Caterpie a handful of Blue Silver Grass several decades old.
Watching it gradually finish the Blue Silver Grass was quite relaxing.
Caterpie ate plenty of leaves to grow faster, and Blue Silver Grass several decades old was certainly more nutritious than leaves.
Speaking of which, the Blue Silver Emperor was far more nutritious than Blue Silver Grass.
Yu Xiaochuan already had his eye on the Blue Silver Emperor.
Heavenly treasures belonged to the virtuous. The Immortal Herbs at the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well were hard to get, but surely the Blue Silver Emperor in that cave would be easy enough?
Caterpie would definitely like it.
Not to mention the Hundred-Thousand-Year Blue Silver Emperor's Soul Bone. Refining it would cleanse his meridians and marrow-a genuine buy-one-get-one-free deal.
Opportunities like that did not come along often.
When he saw the old clan leader arrive with Yu Xiaogang and his parents, Yu Xiaochuan was somewhat puzzled.
"No, how could I possibly agree to that!"
After learning why they had come, Yu Xiaochuan immediately refused, though he phrased his refusal very tactfully.
"Grandmaster, you're my idol. I'm willing to care for you in your old age and see you off when you pass, but there's no need for adoption. By seniority, I already count as your nephew."
Of course, his actual thoughts were another matter entirely.
Yu Xiaochuan grumbled inwardly that he could accept gaining another pair of parents in this life, since they had given him another life, after all.
He did not want an extra bargain-bin dad for no reason.
Besides, Yu Xiaogang had little to teach him. Learning his knowledge would only make him a second Yu Xiaogang, reaching rank twenty-nine at most. To defy heaven and change his fate, he would still need heavenly treasures.
Hadn't Yu Xiaogang only managed to evolve his Martial Soul after eating Nine-Grade Purple Ganoderma?
Rather than taking Yu Xiaogang as his father, he would be better off becoming brothers with Tang San. Though Tang San had been something of a beast in the later installments, his character in the first had been beyond reproach. Every one of the Shrek Seven Devils had become a god.
With Yu Xiaochuan insisting, the adoption ultimately came to nothing.
However, although Yu Xiaochuan was not adopted by Yu Xiaogang, he still received the Soul Power circulation route the latter had compiled.
Yu Xiaochuan's attitude toward free benefits was that he might as well take them.
At worst, he would care for Yu Xiaogang in his old age and see him off when he died.
After all, Yu Xiaogang could not become a god.
There would always come a time when Yu Xiaochuan could repay this favor.
After just a few days of cultivation, Yu Xiaochuan rose from his innate half-rank to rank one.
It was not because Yu Xiaogang's Soul Power circulation route was especially good. The main credit went to Caterpie's constant eating, which allowed it to accumulate Soul Power quickly.
In any case, Yu Xiaochuan was very pleased with Caterpie.
While its rank was still low, he would feed it some aged Blue Silver Grass.
Once its rank was higher, he would feed it more potent stuff, such as ten-thousand-year ginseng and Ten-Thousand-Year Whale Glue.
He would have to get it a few Immortal Herbs, too, no matter what.
"I'm leaving, Tian Heng. Make sure you cultivate diligently."
"Xiaochuan, when choosing your Soul Rings, you can select some Poison-type plant Soul Beasts. That way, your Caterpie will have at least some offensive power."
"Your Martial Soul, Caterpie, is a Trash Martial Soul and very fragile, so choosing plant Soul Rings would be safer. According to my conjecture, Beast Martial Souls can have plant Soul Rings added to them, and those are easier to refine than beast Soul Rings."
Yu Xiaogang said goodbye to the two little fellows.
Had he not come to accompany his nephew Yu Tianheng for his Martial Soul Awakening, he would not have returned this time.
He rarely returned to the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, especially after that incident, which had made his visits even less frequent.
Looking at Yu Xiaochuan, Yu Xiaogang felt somewhat reluctant to leave. He truly wanted Yu Xiaochuan to become his stepson.
This child was simply too much like him.
Whether it was his intelligence, his External Beast Martial Soul, or his talent of half a rank of Innate Soul Power, all of it was simply too similar.
However, compared with him, Yu Xiaochuan had a better mindset. In his eyes, the child was a little too carefree.
"Bye, Grandmaster. Have a safe trip. But compared with Poison-type plant Soul Beasts, I still prefer nonpoisonous ones."
"I'm planning to use a Blue Silver Grass Soul Ring as my First Soul Ring. I'll help verify your Martial Soul Mimicry Theory while I'm at it."
Yu Xiaochuan waved goodbye with a grin.
Forget adding a Poison-type plant Soul Ring. He was afraid it would poison Caterpie to death.
A plant Soul Ring was fine, though. He really did intend to use a Blue Silver Grass Soul Ring as his First Soul Ring.
Only it would not be ordinary Blue Silver Grass, but the sovereign of Blue Silver Grass, the Blue Silver Emperor.
After Caterpie ate the Blue Silver Emperor, he should not waste the Soul Ring it dropped either. He would absorb it himself!
Even if it was only a Ten-Year Soul Ring, he would accept it.
There were benefits to having a Soul Ring and Soul Bone from the same Soul Beast.
As for adding dragon Soul Rings to his Martial Soul, he would leave that aside for now!
He could not reach for the clouds while ignoring the ground beneath his feet.
Setting aside its potential and looking only at the present, Caterpie was undoubtedly a Trash Martial Soul. It might not be able to withstand absorbing a dragon Soul Ring.
He would add a Blue Silver Emperor Soul Ring and obtain a healing Soul Skill first.
That would be convenient for both body tempering and support. After that, he could consider whether to add dragon Soul Rings.
There was little hope in expecting his Martial Soul to evolve just by adding dragon Soul Rings.
One look at Yu Xiaogang was enough to tell. After all, the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan's tradition was to add subdragon Soul Rings to their Martial Souls.
He would be better off setting his sights on Nine-Grade Purple Ganoderma.
In any case, Yu Xiaochuan firmly believed that his Caterpie was a baby Rayquaza. All in all, the future looked promising!