"Big brother, why did you come in person? You could have sent someone else to meet me."
After coming ashore, Yu Luomian was flattered and surprised. He felt all the more ashamed because he had gone out to bring back his illegitimate daughter.
"It's fine. I happened to be taking a walk by the river. I didn't expect you to return just then, so I came over to meet you."
Yu Yuanzhen smiled, paying it no mind.
Yu Luomian pursed his lips and gently nudged the little girl behind him forward. "Big brother, this is my illegitimate daughter. Madam Liu named her Liu Erlong."
"Erlong? If I remember correctly, wasn't that your childhood nickname? Madam Liu must have held deep affection for you. It's a pity she was a woman of the pleasure houses..."
Yu Yuanzhen sighed, then raised a hand. "Come. We'll go to my residence to awaken her Martial Soul. The awakening hall isn't convenient."
"All right. Erlong, let's follow your uncle and awaken your Martial Soul." As Yu Yuanzhen spoke, he reached out to pick Liu Erlong up.
But Liu Erlong was somewhat resistant to him. She took two steps back, unwilling to let him hold her.
For a moment, the scene grew awkward.
Yu Yuanzhen smiled and smoothed things over. "Erlong is a lively child. Let her follow us on her own."
"All right." Yu Luomian was a little embarrassed too. He immediately turned to her. "Erlong, come along. We're going to awaken your Martial Soul, not hurt you."
"All right."
Liu Erlong was silent for a moment before she nodded and walked behind Yu Xuan.
Compared with the two adults, she found Yu Xuan more reassuring and easier to get along with.
Yu Luomian raised an eyebrow and asked curiously, "Big brother, did Xiao Xuan come along to watch Erlong awaken her Martial Soul too?"
Yu Yuanzhen said, "Xiao Xuan said he wanted to come and watch, so let him come along. With another child there, your daughter won't be too nervous."
"All right." Yu Luomian said no more, accepting the arrangement.
The clan leader's residence had awakening equipment. Yu Yuanzhen had the servants carry it into a secret chamber, where they would awaken Liu Erlong's Martial Soul.
Yu Luomian set up a simple awakening array and made all the preparations.
Yu Yuanzhen smiled and gestured with a raised hand. "Second brother, come. Awaken your daughter's Martial Soul yourself. Perhaps she'll awaken a dragon."
"Let's hope so." Yu Luomian did not have high expectations, though.
Liu Erlong's mother, Madam Liu, was only a Soul Master in her teens, with meager talent. If Liu Erlong could awaken a passable Martial Soul instead of a pig like Yu Xiaogang, he would already be thanking heaven and earth.
"Erlong, come here and stand on this array." Yu Luomian beckoned to Liu Erlong, who stood beside Yu Xuan.
"Go on. Second uncle is awakening your Martial Soul himself. Even I didn't have that kind of good fortune." Yu Xuan smiled and encouraged her.
Hearing Yu Xuan's words, Liu Erlong nodded and walked straight forward.
After Yu Luomian infused Soul Power into the array, specks of golden light floated out of the black stones on the ground and streamed into Liu Erlong's body.
"Roar!"
A dragon's roar rang out, and a giant dragon with red scales appeared behind her.
"This Martial Soul actually looks a little like Xiao Xuan's Fire Dragon King. It's a Fire Dragon!" Yu Luomian's eyes lit up, and he was overjoyed.
He had never expected much, so even a Fire Dragon was a pleasant surprise.
As for a second Fire Dragon King, he did not dare even dream of one.
Yu Yuanzhen smiled. "I didn't expect her to actually awaken a dragon-type Martial Soul, and for it to mutate into a Fire Dragon. She really does have a connection with Xiao Xuan. Perhaps some of his good luck rubbed off on her."
"Erlong, let's test your Innate Soul Power."
Yu Luomian suppressed his joy and took out a crystal ball, gesturing for her to put her right hand on it.
Liu Erlong stretched out her little hand and pressed it against the crystal ball. Yu Luomian's large hand was opposite hers on the other side, one above and one below, with the crystal ball between them.
Before long, the crystal ball lit up.
"Level eight Innate Soul Power. It's actually level eight Innate Soul Power." Yu Luomian studied the crystal ball's glow, both surprised and delighted.
"Wonderful!" Joy appeared on Yu Yuanzhen's face. He looked at Liu Erlong and asked, "Erlong, are you willing to stay in the clan?"
Seeing how happy both adults were, Liu Erlong knew her talent must be very good. But she did not want to stay in this unfamiliar place. She shook her head. "Mom is still waiting for me at home. I want to go home."
Yu Yuanzhen said, "Then we'll bring your mother back to the clan and let second brother treat her well."
Yu Luomian chimed in. "That's right, Erlong. Before, I was concerned about your mother's status, so I couldn't bring her back to the clan. Now that you've awakened a Fire Dragon Martial Soul, I have a reason to bring her back and give her a proper status."
Liu Erlong lowered her head, and it was unclear what she was thinking. She turned to Yu Xuan, wanting to hear what he thought.
For some reason, after awakening her Fire Dragon Martial Soul, she found the presence around Yu Xuan both awe-inspiring and familiar.
Yu Xuan smiled. "Bring your mother to the clan. It's inconvenient for the two of you to remain outside, after all. Here in the clan, second uncle can look after you too."
"All right, I'm willing to stay here. You have to go get Mom." Liu Erlong looked at Yu Luomian.
Yu Luomian chuckled softly. "No problem. I'll go bring your mom here today."
Yu Yuanzhen smiled. "Erlong, it's good that you're willing to stay in the clan. Xiao Xuan, take Erlong out and show her around the clan. Your second uncle and I have a few words to exchange."
"No problem. Let's go." Yu Xuan looked at Liu Erlong and gestured with his hand.
"You have to hurry and go get Mom," Liu Erlong reminded him earnestly, making the two men exchange a smile.
Yu Luomian said earnestly, "Don't worry. As soon as I leave the secret chamber, I'll go out and bring your mom back."
Only then did Liu Erlong follow Yu Xuan out of the secret chamber.
Yu Xuan took her around and gave her a brief introduction to the places in the clan.
By the time they finished their tour, dusk was drawing near.
Sitting on a stone stool in a pavilion, Liu Erlong said, "The clan is so big. I think I'd get lost here without someone to show me the way."
Yu Xuan smiled. "You'll be fine once you're familiar with it. My name is Yu Xuan. You can call me by my name, or you can call me Brother Xuan."
Liu Erlong pondered for a moment. "I'll call you Brother Xuan. Where should I go when I want to find you?"
Yu Xuan smiled and told her where he lived.
Liu Erlong had just arrived at the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, and he was probably the only person her age she knew. It was no trouble for him to look after her a little.
As long as their friendship didn't turn into something else, all would be well.
Liu Erlong carefully committed the location he gave her to memory.
Seeing that it was getting late, Yu Xuan escorted her back to Yu Luomian's residence.
After returning to his own residence, Yu Xuan sat cross-legged as flames rose around him. He focused his mind and calmed his Qi, beginning his attempt to break through to level thirty.
He could feel that he was not far from level thirty. He should be able to break through within three days.