"Thank you, Brother Lin Chuan..."
Hearing Liu Erlong's words, everyone present was stunned.
They all wondered if they had misheard:
"Did I hear that right? The most talented disciple of this generation of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan actually thanked someone from Spirit Hall?"
"Hey, I heard Lin Chuan stepped in and saved Liu Erlong yesterday."
"Liu Erlong is actually an illegitimate daughter. She isn't welcome in the clan, and she was even bullied yesterday!"
"No wonder! He saved Liu Erlong and Yu Xiaogang too. As the Pope's disciple, Lin Chuan really has a broad mind."
"Compared to him, the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan doesn't look so good."
"They won't nurture such a fine disciple, but instead they prop up that waste Yu Xiaogang."
"..."
After talking it over, everyone understood what had happened.
They couldn't help looking at Yu Luomian and Yu Yuanzhen like spectators eager for gossip.
Sure enough, both men's expressions were ugly.
Yu Yuanzhen was a little better off. He knew Liu Erlong felt no sense of belonging to the clan.
Yu Luomian, however, was particularly furious.
This unfilial daughter has no regard for me at all!
He had just sent Liu Erlong a voice transmission, hoping to show off in front of the many factions, but his daughter hadn't listened at all. Instead, she had praised Lin Chuan.
The moment he thought of Lin Chuan, Yu Luomian calmed down.
On second thought, this didn't seem so bad.
Wait, with Lin Chuan's talent, he might even become Spirit Hall's second-in-command someday.
If Erlong builds a good relationship with him now, wouldn't that mean I've brought another powerful ally to the clan?
At that thought, his face instantly brightened again.
Meanwhile, in Spirit Hall's seats in the stands.
Hearing Liu Erlong express such admiration for him, even Lin Chuan couldn't help grinning.
Who wouldn't want to show off in front of so many people?
In his previous life, he had once stood onstage and given a speech at a flag-raising ceremony, and it had made him feel incredibly cool.
That was a feeling he could remember for a long time.
Noticing Lin Chuan's expression, Bibi Dong couldn't help getting annoyed.
She extended a finger, intending to give Lin Chuan a sneaky poke.
Smack~
The next moment, Lin Chuan caught her fair, tender finger.
Without turning his head, Lin Chuan chuckled inwardly.
I let you poke me once, but did you think I'd let you do it a second time?
I may not be a Saint, but I won't fall for the same move twice.
With her little hand held in his, Bibi Dong could actually have pulled free.
But for some reason, she no longer wanted to. Instead, she moved closer to Lin Chuan.
Bibi Dong lifted her delicate chin in Liu Erlong's direction, as if to say:
What are you looking at? This is my junior brother. Outsiders, step aside.
Seeing this, Qian Xunji couldn't help feeling helpless.
This disciple of hers!
Liu Erlong simply ignored Bibi Dong's show of defiance.
She wouldn't be foolish enough to compete with Bibi Dong here. After all, Bibi Dong was Brother Lin Chuan's senior sister.
Her gaze remained fixed on Lin Chuan as she thought to herself:
If I hadn't awakened innate level-eight Soul Power and a Fire Dragon Martial Soul, who in the clan would have given me a second glance?
The only one who truly cares about me is Brother Lin Chuan.
If Brother Lin Chuan hadn't stepped in to save me yesterday, with my father's personality, he would never have let me attend the awakening ceremony.
At most, he would have found someone to awaken my Soul Power in private.
The reason I can stand here today and receive everyone's attention, and even gifts from the major factions afterward, all comes down to Brother Lin Chuan stepping in that one time.
Although that was what Liu Erlong thought,
Today was, after all, the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan's awakening ceremony, so she ended with a few harmless words of thanks to the clan.
That eased the expressions of Yu Yuanzhen and the many elders.
After all, no matter what, Liu Erlong was the genius whose talent stood head and shoulders above everyone else in this generation of the sect.
Who else could they nurture but her?
Clap, clap, clap~
After Liu Erlong finished speaking, applause and congratulations rang out across the venue.
But Yu Yuanzhen's heart was full of bitterness.
His son had been crippled, for one thing.
And the clan's only genius was actually closer to an outsider. He truly was an incompetent sect master.
Next came the part where the major factions went onstage to offer gifts and blessings.
An announcement rang out: "The Heaven Dou Empire's representative, Prince Xue Xing, presents one chest of Gold Soul Coins."
Prince Xue Xing took the stage and smiled at Liu Erlong.
"Niece Erlong, come visit our Heaven Dou Imperial Family if you have the chance."
Liu Erlong nodded obediently. "Many thanks, Your Highness."
Next came gifts from some minor factions, neither too generous nor too modest.
After that came the Clear Sky Sect. Tang Wei of the Clear Sky Sect took the stage and presented a short saber made by the sect.
Tang Wei exchanged a few pleasantries before stepping down.
Then came Ning Fengzhi of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.
Everyone knew the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect was the wealthiest faction on the continent.
They were also curious to see what fine gift Ning Fengzhi would produce.
Ning Fengzhi wore a smile, but inwardly he was bitter.
I miscalculated. I thought she would awaken a Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon, so I specifically prepared a top-grade lightning-attribute material.
Who could have expected a mutated fire dragon? Now I have to pick something else.
Fortunately, his sect had deep reserves. With a wave of his hand, a jade box appeared in it.
"Little sister Erlong, the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan will be counting on you from now on."
Liu Erlong nodded obediently again and accepted the jade box. "Thank you, Young Sect Master Ning! I'll do my best!"
An elder from the medicinal hall took one look and exclaimed:
"Is that an Earth Fire Lotus? That's a rare herb that grows inside active volcanoes!"
The knowledgeable people nearby were startled too, and they exclaimed one after another:
"As expected of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect. They certainly give generously."
In their eyes, the Earth Fire Lotus was worth far more than the gifts from the other sects.
Liu Erlong was also very surprised.
No wonder she could feel her Martial Soul stirring inside her. It showed that the Earth Fire Lotus was indeed extremely rare.
Finally, Spirit Hall appeared for the grand finale.
If the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect was the wealthiest faction, then Spirit Hall was a hegemonic power on an even higher level.
When it came to reserves, Spirit Hall's were undoubtedly deeper.
Everyone couldn't help wondering what kind of gift Qian Xunji, as the Pope, would present.
Some people with darker thoughts wondered: Liu Erlong had just thanked Lin Chuan to his face. Perhaps she had deliberately tried to curry favor with Spirit Hall to get a better gift.
At that moment.
Qian Xunji rose gracefully from her seat and walked to the raised platform in the middle of the training ground.
She looked over the young girl, Liu Erlong, before her.
She had fiery red hair and a valiant look on her face.
Even at such a young age, her strong personality was apparent. She was surely no creature destined to remain in a pond.
Qian Xunji couldn't help praising her inwardly:
My Chuan'er really is popular with girls.
But children are only playing house. They may be infatuated now, but they'll probably forget all about it when they grow up.
After all, the two children belong to different factions. It would be difficult for them even to see each other.
As Qian Xunji studied Liu Erlong, Liu Erlong looked up at Qian Xunji too.
"As expected of Brother Lin Chuan's teacher. She's so beautiful."
She had meant to think it, but in her nervousness, she said it aloud.
By the time Liu Erlong realized it, her little face had turned completely red.
She fidgeted with her hands in a slight panic, wanting to explain.
But Qian Xunji gently patted Liu Erlong's little head.
"Don't be nervous. Let's look at the gift first!"
With that,
She took a gift box out of her spatial Storage Soul Tool.
Everyone's eyes immediately focused on it.
Even Lin Chuan couldn't help craning his neck.
"I wonder what nice gift Teacher will give her?"
Bibi Dong pursed her lips enviously.
"Why doesn't Spirit Hall hold an awakening ceremony? Then I could get some gifts too."
For once, Lin Chuan didn't disagree. He wholeheartedly shared Bibi Dong's sentiment.
Exactly. I'm the Pope's esteemed disciple, yet there wasn't even a ceremony when I became her student.
One way or another, I'll have to get Teacher to hold one for me later!
Of course, it's not because I want gifts like Haji Dong...