"S-Successfully absorbed! Young Master Yu Chen has absorbed a ten-thousand-year spirit ring at the tenth rank! Unbelievable!"
"Tenth-rank soul power absorbing a ten-thousand-year spirit ring… such a feat is unheard of across the entire Douluo Continent!"
"He truly is the Chosen of Heaven… the destined future of our Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan!"
…
Inside the ancestral Dragon Soul Palace, the elders and consuls gazed at the inky black spirit ring that circled Yu Chen's body. Their astonishment reached a level that defied words, their expressions frozen in disbelief.
In the Heaven Dou Empire, every person undergoes Martial Soul Awakening. Once their innate soul power reaches the tenth rank, they are eligible to hunt soul beasts and gain soul rings, which bestow them with their first soul skill.
Ordinary civilians typically start with soul beasts of a few decades' age. For most, a hundred-year-old ring is already a rare treasure only afforded by nobles or true prodigies of powerful clans.
But now, Yu Chen's first spirit ring… was a ten-thousand-year soul ring from a true dragon species!
"A monster… he must be a monster, right?!"
"How can someone absorb a ten-thousand-year soul ring with just tenth-rank soul power?!"
"When this old man tried to absorb a mere hundred-year ring at the same level, I nearly died from soul backlash. But he absorbed ten-thousand years like it was mere water—how is that even possible!?"
The Grand Elder, trembling slightly, stared at Yu Chen, stunned beyond belief. His thoughts swirled in chaos—how could someone who had just awakened a Martial Soul survive the pressure of a ring that strong?
Not only had Yu Chen survived… he appeared calm, unfazed even.
The Grand Elder had risked his life for a mere century-old ring. But Yu Chen, still at the initial stages, had accomplished something that shattered logic.
No wonder the younger generations were left dumbfounded.
The girls of the clan now looked at Yu Chen with awe that bordered on worship, eyes glittering with admiration.
The boys, once arrogant and confident, now stared with a mix of respect and reverence. Even the lackeys who once followed Yu Haoyun instinctively lowered their heads.
"The first ring at ten thousand years… this will go down in the history of the entire empire, perhaps even the entire continent!"
Yu Yuan stepped forward, hands behind his back. Though he had always maintained a composed demeanor, the flicker of shock and immense pride in his eyes betrayed his emotions.
"I will arrange for you to be escorted to Notting City's Intermediate Soul Master Academy soon. But before that… may I see the ability granted to you by your spirit ring?"
"Yes, Father."
At Yu Yuan's request, Yu Chen stepped forward. As his foot touched the center of the hall, a black ring surged up from beneath him.
WUUUOOOOHH!!
As the ring activated, his martial soul—the divine variant of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon, now fully merged with the Five-Clawed Golden Dragon—roared, a deep and ancient call that sent waves of dragon might cascading through the palace.
The shockwave spread outward, causing the younger generation present to stagger. Even elite soul masters among them gritted their teeth, wincing in pain.
Under this pressure, they could distinctly feel their body attributes being forcibly suppressed!
"What a powerful aura…"
Yu Yuan's brows furrowed slightly, as though experiencing something familiar. "If I'm not mistaken, your first soul skill is a debuff-type ability—one that weakens enemies, correct?"
Yu Chen nodded calmly. "That's right. This soul skill is called—[Nine Heavens Dragon Roar]."
"It reduces the enemy's full attributes, enhances the attributes of myself and allies, and—if the target or ally possesses a dragon-type martial soul—it doubles in effect."
"Decrease… all of the enemy's attributes?"
"And increase allies' at the same time?!"
"Double effect on dragons?!"
The younger clansmen gasped in unison, some even stumbling backward.
"No wonder I felt like I was sinking into quicksand just now!"
Even Yu Yuan's expression shifted. "I'm a titled Douluo, and even I felt a 10% reduction in my stats. At your level, that's outrageous!"
"This skill… if it scales with your soul power, then when you reach the Soul King realm or higher, this will become a catastrophic battlefield ability!"
Buff and debuff skills were common. But a single ability that did both—while amplifying its effects for dragon martial souls—was an unparalleled anomaly.
For a clan like theirs, rooted in the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon lineage, this was a divine technique.
And Yu Chen… was only at Rank 15 soul power.
If at this level he could suppress a Titled Douluo by ten percent… what about when he became one?
"A monster… a terrifying monster!"
The Grand Elder staggered back again. Knowing the full effect of Yu Chen's soul ability, his legs gave out slightly.
The Five-Clawed Golden Dragon was considered a sacred martial soul, one only slightly inferior to the Dragon God. To have it paired with such a rare soul ring…
He gritted his teeth. If not for his decades of spiritual refinement, he might've vomited blood on the spot.
"Congratulations, Young Master!"
"What terrifying talent… In all the recorded histories of the Douluo Continent, there has never been someone like you, not even in the ancient divine clans!"
"I cannot begin to imagine the heights you'll reach in the future!"
The elders and consuls all crowded around, their words filled with excitement and admiration.
They all understood just how rare and terrifying the skill [Nine Heavens Dragon Roar] truly was.
…
Yu Chen's spirit awakening had already shocked the clan and the entire continent. But now, after absorbing the ten-thousand-year ring, the Dragon Soul Palace gradually returned to its rhythm.
The younger members resumed their own awakening ceremonies.
Meanwhile, Yu Chen prepared to depart for Notting Academy under Yu Yuan's arrangements.
"This is a clan token. Inject soul power into it, and within a thousand miles, it can summon assistance or convey commands."
Yu Yuan handed him a few enchanted self-defense artifacts, a golden soul coin card preloaded with wealth, and a sky-blue crystalline token bearing the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon insignia.
This was the Bluegold Dragon Token—his identity symbol.
"Thank you, Father."
Yu Chen placed the items into his storage pouch respectfully.
Then, with the ceremonial ring of soul power shimmering behind them, Yu Yuan led Yu Chen out of the Dragon Soul Palace—and toward the path of a soul master's legend.