No one paid much attention to Yu Xiaogang's bloodshot eyes.
Yu Xiaogang had looked the same when he was pretending to faint just now, so everyone assumed he was playing the same old trick.
This time, however, they had really misjudged him.
Yu Xiaogang was truly furious to the extreme, so angry he was on the verge of fainting.
As he saw it, Yu Yuanzhen had not said a single word in response to those accusations.
Wasn't that a tacit admission of guilt?
With rage, grief, and indignation churning inside him,
he spat out a mouthful of blood.
At the sight, Yu Yuanzhen froze.
The elders carrying Yu Xiaogang couldn't help quickening their pace, afraid he might say something else outrageous and defiant.
At that moment, Lin Chuan casually sent his first Soul Skill, Light-Weaving Healing, his way.
This time, Lin Chuan genuinely wanted to heal Yu Xiaogang.
After all, for the sake of that Ten Thousand Year Soul Bone of his choice, he didn't mind doing a favor that cost him nothing.
Seeing this, the guests throughout the hall couldn't help exclaiming:
"As expected of the Pope's disciple. He's truly broad-minded. How admirable."
"Yu Xiaogang just said Lin Chuan wanted to kill him, but Lin Chuan was magnanimous enough to heal him."
"Comparisons really do make you want to die."
"It's one thing to fall short in talent, but even as a child, he's so much less broad-minded."
"Looks like the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon's current generation is in for a rough time."
The many comments trickled into Yu Xiaogang's ears.
He had already been angered into spitting blood, and his face was rigid.
Being healed by Lin Chuan only made him feel worse.
When he recalled his experience at this awakening ceremony, he felt as though a beautiful dream had shattered.
He had originally thought
he would awaken the Golden Sacred Dragon, only to awaken a pig instead, with an innate Soul Power of half a level.
He would also lead the clan to a revival, with all his clansmen united around him and looking up to him.
And his opponent, Spirit Hall, would be astonished by the speed of his rise, especially Lin Chuan.
Finally, the Soul Bone Spirit Hall and the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon had wagered would fall into his hands.
Before everyone's eyes, he would soar into the sky, surpass his father Yu Yuanzhen one day, and become a legend of Douluo Continent!
But now it was all gone.
The Golden Sacred Dragon was gone.
His Martial Soul talent was gone.
His clansmen and elders even looked down on him.
Even his father had slapped him in public.
And the clan's Soul Bone would end up in Spirit Hall's hands too.
The plunge from heaven to hell shattered Yu Xiaogang's final defense. His eyes rolled back, and this time he completely lost consciousness.
At that sight, Yu Yuanzhen finally couldn't help breathing a sigh of relief.
He looked at Lin Chuan, patted him on the shoulder, and spoke with a complicated expression.
"Worthy nephew Lin Chuan, thank goodness you were here. Otherwise, I would have been fooled by that unfilial son today."
"Please return to your seat and rest, worthy nephew Lin Chuan."
Lin Chuan nodded. He knew when to quit while he was ahead, and promptly walked back to his seat.
As he did, everyone's eyes followed him.
The Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon clansmen and elders were seething!
They hated Lin Chuan for stealing the show, hated that he wasn't a genius of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, and hated that good-for-nothing Yu Xiaogang.
Only Liu Erlong looked at Lin Chuan with admiration.
At the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's seats,
Ning Fengzhi smiled and nodded to Lin Chuan, who nodded back.
Ning Fengzhi couldn't help reflecting that this boy was no creature meant to remain in a pond.
In his view, when it came to intellect, methods, and talent, the disciples of this generation in the Upper Three Sects were undoubtedly far behind Lin Chuan.
He could only hope that someone among the rising generation might be able to contend with him.
At the Clear Sky Sect's seats,
Tang Wei looked at Lin Chuan with growing wariness.
He knew very well that after this Martial Soul Awakening ceremony, Lin Chuan's reputation in the Soul Master World would come close to rivaling Tang Hao's and Tang Xiao's among the younger generation.
After all, even Bibi Dong was merely exceptionally talented. Unlike Lin Chuan, she wasn't as cunning as an old ghost, without a single flaw to exploit!
That was the kind of genius that was most frightening.
Naturally, Lin Chuan had no idea Tang Wei thought of him this way.
Even if he had known, he wouldn't have cared.
He returned to Bibi Dong and Qian Xunji and said with a smile:
"Teacher, fortunately, I didn't fail you."
A smile appeared on Qian Xunji's face, and she gently poked Lin Chuan's cheek.
"I didn't expect Chuan'er to have this side to him, but you did well."
Lin Chuan blinked and smiled obediently.
"Teacher, now that you know I'm like this, will you dislike me?"
Qian Xunji put away her smile and said seriously, "As long as Chuan'er doesn't betray Spirit Hall, how could I ever dislike you?"
Lin Chuan nodded, his heart warmed.
Sure enough, Spirit Hall was different in this world.
It was as warm as home!
There were no sinister secret chambers here, nor any deranged Pope!
How could such a kind teacher possibly be as much of a beast as Qian Xunji!
Meanwhile, on the other side,
Bibi Dong watched the warm exchange between Lin Chuan and Qian Xunji.
She couldn't help pouting as she said:
"Bad junior brother, I knew you were full of nasty tricks. You must have been holding something back and planning no good!"
"You gave me a fright when you pulled out that big steel needle."
Hearing Bibi Dong say this, Lin Chuan said with a perfectly serious expression:
"As the saying goes, a gentleman is judged by his deeds, not his heart. Just tell me, did I cure him or not?"
Bibi Dong curled her lip. "No, you didn't. He wasn't sick in the first place."
Lin Chuan spread his hands. "At least he woke up."
Bibi Dong said speechlessly, "He didn't want to wake up in the first place!"
Lin Chuan: "..."
Come to think of it, that's true. Nothing wrong with that.
Could I really be a bad boy?
Still, he had drawn plenty of attention with that performance.
And he believed the many factions present probably saw him as a kind, healing big boy.
After Yu Xiaogang's farce came to a hasty end and the atmosphere in the hall had settled, the awakening ceremony was finally drawing to a close.
At the end of the ceremony, representatives of the major factions who had come to observe would present gifts to the most outstanding disciple as a blessing!
And this time, the lucky recipient was Liu Erlong.
That was also why Lin Chuan had thought Liu Erlong had come out ahead this time.
Yu Yuanzhen sighed inwardly.
Yesterday's banquet had originally been meant to pave the way for this moment, but now all those gifts would fall into Erlong's hands.
Even thinking with his toes, Yu Yuanzhen knew that, given how petty his second brother was, not the slightest bit of those gifts would ever make its way back to the clan.
They would probably have another major quarrel over it.
With everyone watching, Liu Erlong confidently stepped onto the raised platform in the center of the training ground, ready to give a speech.
Meanwhile, Yu Luomian, standing at the edge of the training ground, excitedly sent a voice transmission to Liu Erlong.
"Erlong! My good daughter! When you give your speech, remember to say plenty of good things about your father, and plenty of bad things about the clan leader, Yu Yuanzhen."
"For example, how hard your father has worked to raise and teach you!"
"And how the clan leader has neglected his duties."
"..."
Liu Erlong found it irritating just to listen. His words went in one ear and out the other; she didn't take in a single one.
With a father whose eyes were full of schemes and a cold, indifferent clan, when had she ever felt she belonged here?
Instead, she looked up at the stands, at the most handsome and refined youth in the crowd, and said:
"The person I'm most grateful to at this awakening ceremony is Brother Lin Chuan."