Yu Chen left the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, and the gathered clansmen also dispersed back to their respective territories.
"I didn't expect that brat Yu Chen to be so terrifying…"
"Still, Haoyun's talent is decent too. Who will lead the clan in the future is hard to say!"
"What's the situation with Haoyun's injuries?"
Back in the Elder Hall, the Great Elder's expression was dark as he personally came to examine Yu Haoyun's condition.
At this moment, Yu Haoyun, unaware that his martial soul had been crippled, merely thought he had been injured by the immense pressure of Yu Chen's dragon might.
"Great Elder…"
"Haoyun's martial soul has completely collapsed. It has degenerated into a useless form. I'm afraid he'll never cultivate again in this lifetime…"
The ones caring for Yu Haoyun spoke with trembling voices as the Great Elder approached.
"…"
"What?!"
Hearing this, the Great Elder's face sank further. In a flash, he kicked aside the attendants, surged his soul power, and forcefully examined Yu Haoyun's martial soul.
Yet no matter how many times he probed, the result was the same—just as they'd said. Yu Haoyun's once-proud martial soul had been reduced to a useless, crawling spirit beast—barely more than a worm.
From the prestigious Eighth-Grade Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon, it had degraded to something lower than a civilian martial soul. Completely useless in cultivation.
"Great Elder, this matter…"
The ones who had been sent flying looked up nervously as the elder's expression grew more frightening.
"Yu Chen!! You dared to turn my grandson's martial soul into garbage?! This hatred is irreconcilable!"
"Pfft—!"
The Great Elder's eyes turned bloodshot as his voice rose in madness. His face twisted in rage and despair. In his fury and grief, he coughed up a mouthful of blood!
He had long known that he couldn't match Yu Yuan's strength. His only hope had rested in Yu Haoyun.
Now, Yu Chen not only completely outclassed Yu Haoyun in talent, but even destroyed Haoyun's future in cultivation!
With this, the Great Elder had no cards left to play!
Thinking of this, the elder glanced again at Yu Haoyun's limp, earthworm-like spirit. Another mouthful of blood spurted from his mouth, and he collapsed, unconscious.
…
Meanwhile, under Yu Yuan's escort, Yu Chen had already arrived in Notting City—the city affiliated with Notting Junior Soul Master Academy.
Though remote, with Yu Yuan's strength, the journey was completed in the time it took to burn a stick of incense.
"Your martial soul awakening shook the heavens and stirred massive energy fluctuations. It's possible that forces from across the Three Great Empires have taken notice."
"Remember—should danger arise, activate your soul power through this family token."
Yu Yuan stopped just short of the academy gates. He glanced toward the faculty building, as though wanting to say more—but in the end, remained silent.
After imparting a few final instructions, his figure turned into a streak of blue light and vanished from sight.
Seeing Yu Yuan disappear, Yu Chen took a breath and stepped into the academy.
Despite being a junior-level institution, Notting Academy was quite grand in scale. Four or five large buildings stood proudly in rows, their age and tradition showing in the moss-laced walls.
Finding his clan brother, Yu Xiaogang, would take time—perhaps even a day.
Fortunately, the mention of the title "Master" quickly caught attention. Among the students, the title was deeply respected. Before long, someone guided Yu Chen straight to the Master's office.
Yu Xiaogang was famed across the empire for his deep theoretical knowledge, revered by soul masters across the land.
Though his real name was unknown to most, the honorific "Master" was well established.
Hence, no one in Notting Academy suspected that the youth before them was actually the heir to the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan.
Squeak—
Yu Chen gently pushed open the office door. Inside sat a middle-aged man in plain black robes, stubble on his chin, busily organizing scrolls and texts.
This was Yu Xiaogang.
"Hm?"
"Yu Chen? What are you doing here?"
Yu Xiaogang looked up at the sound, his face quickly breaking into a smile as he walked forward.
"I awakened my martial soul today. I came here to follow you and study."
Yu Chen looked at Yu Xiaogang calmly and replied.
"That makes sense… You're twelve now—right at the age for martial soul awakening."
"But… why did the clan send you to a junior academy like this? Could it be…"
Yu Xiaogang frowned deeply, his tone tinged with concern.
Yu Chen nodded lightly in response.
"…Let me see your martial soul."
"Please be careful, brother."
As Yu Chen finished, a brilliant dragon shadow shimmered in his eyes. In the next instant, a towering Azure Dragon, over a hundred feet tall, emerged from behind him—its divine aura bursting out!
Boom!
Even with Yu Chen suppressing the pressure, the sheer might of the dragon nearly knocked Yu Xiaogang off his feet.
Were it not restrained, the dragon soul's presence alone could have crushed an ordinary spirit master to the floor!
"This…"
"That energy earlier—it was you?!"
"Let me see clearly… This is… the Ninth-Rank Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon?! No… No! This pressure is far greater! This is beyond the Ninth-Rank bloodline!"
Yu Xiaogang's eyes widened as he took in the full presence of the Azure Dragon Martial Soul. Shock and excitement painted his face in equal measure.
He had feared that Yu Chen, like himself, might possess a negatively mutated martial soul. But this—this far surpassed any known variation of the Tyrant Dragon Lineage!
Even the soul-crushing pressure he had once felt during Yu Chen's awakening—this was its source!
"Wait!"
"That black aura… Yu Chen—is that a spirit ring?!"
Yu Xiaogang's eyes dropped to the dark halo at Yu Chen's feet, trembling slightly.
"Dragon-type spirit ring. Aged 23,000 years."
Yu Chen answered casually, allowing the ring to rise gently from beneath his feet.
"…It really is a spirit ring! And it's twenty-three thousand years old?!"
"Inconceivable! Theoretically, a first spirit ring for a human should be around 400 years! Most geniuses can only handle a 100-year spirit ring!"
"But yours is… is…"
Yu Xiaogang stammered, rushing to his bookshelf. He frantically flipped through every known soul beast and martial soul record he could find.
Yet no matter how many scrolls he searched, nothing could explain Yu Chen's Azure Dragon or his Ten-Thousand-Year first ring.
The Azure Dragon Martial Soul… the ancient, divine pressure… and the ring's age—none of it matched anything recorded in the annals of spirit master history.
Yu Xiaogang stood frozen, heart pounding with both joy and bewilderment.
"Yu Chen, since you've already arrived, go get some rest. I'll submit your registration personally."
"The principal here and I go way back. No need to worry about admission."
"Do you want a single dorm, or—"
"Ding! The Divine Selection System has been activated!"
Just as Yu Xiaogang finished speaking, a mechanical prompt echoed in Yu Chen's mind!