"Grandpa, someone from the Dugu Family is here!"
Inside the secret chamber, Meng Qianqiu also heard Dugu Bo's voice. The two had grown up together; theirs was simply the bond of childhood friends.
The Dugu Family was also one of Heaven Dou City's reclusive clans.
The Dugu Family's inherited Martial Soul was the Jade Phosphorous Serpent, a high-tier Martial Soul with extremely potent venom and formidable combat strength.
"I know!"
"Once you go outside, try not to say too much."
"Don't tell anyone about your Twin Martial Souls, and don't spread word of your Innate Full Soul Power either. Remember, a layer of skin hides the human heart."
"To outsiders, I'll announce that your Innate Soul Power is rank nine, just like your father's. You'll have to keep a low profile for a while."
As a rank-eighty-eight Soul Douluo, Meng Zhongqi was quite powerful, but he was still no match for a Titled Douluo.
These days, commoner geniuses with rank-eight or even rank-nine Innate Soul Power were exceedingly rare, but they were not entirely unheard of.
But someone with Twin Martial Souls and Innate Full Soul Power had rather monstrous talent, which would draw a great deal of attention.
"Can't I tell anyone about this?"
Meng Qianqiu immediately raised his head and slowly voiced his question.
"Qiu'er, remember this!"
"Heaven knows, earth knows, you know, and I know. As for everyone else, including your grandmother, try not to tell her."
"She's getting old too. Spare her from spending her days worrying and fretting!"
"Although our family and the Dugu Family have been friends for a long time, you must understand that whatever you do, you should always make a habit of keeping something in reserve."
"A layer of skin hides the human heart. We can't afford to let down our guard!"
"Don't use the goodness of human nature to gauge its evil!"
"Our family's inherited Vermilion-Eyed Ice Toad Martial Soul is among the continent's finest Beast Martial Souls. Although its drawbacks are rather severe, making it very difficult to pass down, its foundations are exceptional."
"Over the years, our Meng Family has produced quite a few geniuses with rank-eight or even rank-nine Innate Soul Power!"
"But peerless prodigies with Innate Full Soul Power? Never mind our Meng Family-even Spirit Hall can't gather more than a handful."
Meng Zhongqi understood perfectly well that, given his strength and his family's foundations, having a grandson with rank-nine Innate Soul Power would hardly be surprising.
If it were Innate Full Soul Power, however, matters would be entirely different. Soul Masters with Innate Full Soul Power had terrifying potential for future growth, and were also known as Titled Douluo candidates.
On the Douluo Continent, essentially every Soul Master's future potential was largely determined in advance.
A Soul Master's potential for growth was linked to the level of his Innate Soul Power. The higher his Innate Soul Power, the greater his potential.
The higher a Martial Soul's quality, the higher its Innate Soul Power!
In other words, barring a Martial Soul Mutation, ordinary people had little chance of rising above their station, while the nobility relied on Martial Souls inherited through their bloodlines to ensure their dominance over the commoners.
Spirit Hall's Six-Winged Angel was known as a divine-grade Martial Soul, and the Qian Family was known as a family favored by the gods. The Six-Winged Angel Martial Soul inherited by the Qian Family guaranteed at least rank-ten Innate Soul Power, giving every one of them the makings of a Titled Douluo.
Martial Souls were bestowed by heaven and declared their own names!
After countless millennia of inheritance, Martial Soul quality had been roughly divided into five categories. From lowest to highest, they were low-tier Martial Souls, intermediate-tier Martial Souls, high-tier Martial Souls, top-tier Martial Souls, and super Martial Souls!
Above super Martial Souls were Ultimate Martial Souls and divine-grade Martial Souls, corresponding respectively to the legendary realms of demigods and gods.
The higher a Martial Soul's quality, the greater its future achievements!
As long as a Soul Master with a top-tier Martial Soul had Innate Soul Power above rank eight, following the proper course of cultivation would give him an excellent chance of breaking through rank eighty and becoming a Soul Douluo.
Provided such a genius did not perish along the way, years of cultivation would at least make him a high-ranking Soul Saint!
One must not underestimate a high-ranking Soul Saint. Such a powerhouse could enjoy exceptional treatment simply by joining either of the two great empires, or a clan or sect. Failing that, he could establish his own independent household.
"The Dugu Family passes down the high-tier Jade Phosphorous Serpent Martial Soul. It is very difficult to inherit, and exceptionally prone to mutation."
"Dugu Bo has also been hailed as the son who will restore the Dugu Family's fortunes. When he awakened his Martial Soul two years ago, it underwent a beneficial mutation."
"His Martial Soul mutated from a Jade Phosphorous Serpent into a Jade Phosphorous Serpent King. Its quality was higher, its attacks stronger, and its venom fiercer!"
"And his Innate Soul Power reached rank eight!"
"Of course, that's only the information the Dugu Family released to outsiders. I reckon Dugu Bo's Innate Soul Power can only be higher!"
"Rank eight is merely the minimum. Rank nine is quite possible too."
"As far as I know, the Jade Phosphorous Serpent King is a top-tier Beast Martial Soul. Its inherent Soul Power is already considerable, even without other factors."
"In other words, the information these great clans release mixes truth with falsehood, making it exceedingly difficult to distinguish between them."
"On this point, everyone shares an unspoken understanding."
As Meng Zhongqi spoke, he took Meng Qianqiu by the hand and led him outside. After all, Dugu Xin was still waiting out there!
"Uncle, nephew!"
Seeing Meng Zhongqi emerge with Meng Qianqiu, Dugu Xin immediately offered a bow. The two families were close enough to visit one another's homes freely and ordinarily regarded each other as friends across generations, so naturally there was nothing to fault in his etiquette.
"Uncle!"
"Brother Dugu!"
Meng Qianqiu duly returned the greeting. Such were dealings among nobles: their etiquette was exceedingly elaborate, and they placed enormous importance on face.
"I heard my nephew has turned six, and today happens to be his birthday. The old man asked me to come take a look and pay you a visit while I was here, Uncle."
Dugu Xin explained the reason for his visit. At this point, he could not help looking toward Meng Qianqiu, his eyes filled with curiosity.
"Hmph!"
"That old venomous snake actually sent you to visit me? It seems he's up to no good either. Right, how has your father been lately?"
Meng Zhongqi narrowed his eyes. He and Dugu Xin's father, Dugu Feng, were brothers in misfortune, as well as a pair of bickering friends.
"Father is doing all right, except that his body has been growing weaker and weaker. You know how people like us end up."
Dugu Xin answered at once. Both the Jade Phosphorous Serpent and the Vermilion-Eyed Ice Toad were venomous creatures; their defining trait was harming themselves before harming anyone else.
Once they embarked on cultivation, it meant the Soul Masters would live with poison for the rest of their lives, until it finally flared up and killed them in an untimely death.
"When you get back, remember to tell your father something!"
"Just tell that old venomous snake to stop toughing it out. His old friend has been wanting to attend a funeral feast lately."
Meng Zhongqi and Dugu Feng had grown up together and were a pair of friends who delighted in trading barbs. Now they were competing to see who could outlive whom.
The two had already held on for over a decade, and neither was ever willing to concede. After all, this concerned an old man's dignity.
Dugu Xin: "..."
"Uncle, how am I supposed to explain that when I get back?!"
Dugu Xin pursed his lips. He truly could not understand the friendship between the older generation, but there was nothing he could do about it either.
"Explain? What explanation do you want from me?"
"Don't think I don't know that old venomous snake sent you here to scout out military intelligence. He just wants to beat me at this for once."
"You little brat aren't exactly a good fellow either!"
Meng Zhongqi spoke at once. This old venomous snake's son was a little venomous snake himself, with a thoroughly sinister disposition. He was hardly someone to be trifled with.