Chapter 8: First Coercion, Then Favor – Yu Yuanzhen Played a Clever Tactic!
"Quiet."
Yu Yuanzhen's voice wasn't loud, but it easily suppressed all the noise in the crowd, and the entire square became quiet, with only the slow but crisp sound of Yu Yuanzhen's footsteps remaining.
"Tianchen."
Yu Yuanzhen stopped five steps in front of Ye Tianchen. This distance was precisely measured, giving Ye Tianchen the dignity of a clan leader without making him feel oppressed.
"Come with me."
This is not a question, it is a command.
"Yes."
Ye Tianchen clenched and unclenched his fist, finally responding in a deep voice.
"Everyone else, step back."
After casually dismissing the crowd gathered in the square, Yu Yuanzhen turned to look at Ning Fengzhi once again.
"Brother Fengzhi, I need to take care of some family matters first. We can discuss the alliance between our two sects later."
After saying that, without waiting for Ning Fengzhi's agreement or not, he took Ye Tianchen and left.
Watching Ye Tianchen's departing figure, a trace of worry flashed in Ning Rongrong's eyes.
Yu Yuanzhen suddenly took Ye Tianchen away after Ye Tianchen revealed his soul power, which was certainly not for the sake of a reward.
Ye Tianchen's soul power was increased by her at real money, so she couldn't just stand by and watch him get into trouble. Similarly, she had already tasted the benefits of feeding Ye Tianchen, and she was determined to help him get out of this predicament.
"Yu Yuanzhen is the patriarch of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon clan, a Title Douluo powerhouse with a soul power level of 95. If we want to save Ye Tianchen from him, we must persuade my father and Grandpa Sword."
Ning Rongrong knew where she should be working, but she was unsure whether her father would abandon the alliance with the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon clan for Ye Tianchen's sake, since that represented the interests of the two major sects.
But soon, the worry in her eyes was replaced by determination. No matter how difficult it was, she was determined to persuade her father to save Ye Tianchen, not only for Ye Tianchen but also for her. At worst, she would reveal some information in advance. She refused to believe that she could not win her father's heart.
...
The Thunder Palace stands atop the main peak of the Nine Peaks of True Dragons. It is the tallest building in the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon clan. It is perpetually covered by thunderclouds, making it the place with the most concentrated thunder element in the clan, and also the absolute holy land of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon clan.
The heavy stone door creaked open, and the eerie blue light of the lightning stone stretched the intruder's shadow, casting it onto the wall engraved with dragon patterns.
The moment the palace doors closed, all sounds of wind and thunder from the outside world were cut off, leaving only deathly silence.
"You've increased your soul power by seven levels in just one year, Tianchen. You truly have lived up to your father's name."
Yu Yuanzhen had his back to Ye Tianchen and looked up at the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon statue hovering on the roof of the hall.
"I am still far from being as good as my father."
The father of Ye Tianchen mentioned by Yu Yuanzhen was Yu Zhantian, the most amazing genius of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon family ten years ago.
At such a young age, he was already an 89th-level Soul Douluo, just one step away from becoming a Title Douluo.
However, he tragically perished while traveling to the Star Dou Forest to obtain his ninth spirit ring, leaving no trace of his body. Even the news of his demise was brought back by his good brother Yu Zhanhui, who had traveled with him and was seriously injured.
According to Yu Zhanhui, his father died at the hands of a 100,000-year-old soul beast. If Yu Zhantian hadn't risked his life to stop that 100,000-year-old soul beast, he probably would have been devoured by it as well.
Although they were deeply saddened by the news, the family accepted the fact that Yu Zhantian had fallen. Fortunately, Yu Zhanhui rose from the ashes and, after recovering from his serious injuries, cultivated from Soul Saint to Soul Douluo in just five years, thus making up for the loss of Yu Zhantian.
"No, no, no, you are much stronger than your father. Even your father, the most brilliant genius of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon clan ten years ago, could not improve his soul power by seven levels in a year. Moreover, your martial soul is a useless martial soul like Luo Sanpao."
Yu Yuanzhen turned to look at Ye Tianchen, his face bearing the smile typical of an elder, but his eyes flashed with lightning, as if he wanted to see through all of Ye Tianchen's secrets.
Being stared at like that by a titled Douluo, even though Ye Tianchen had prepared beforehand, his heart still clenched violently uncontrollably.
"It was also a stroke of luck."
With his eyelids lowered, Ye Tianchen tried his best to calm his wildly beating heart, avoiding Yu Yuanzhen's gaze.
"A lucky break? What a lucky break!"
Yu Yuanzhen chuckled and slowly walked towards Ye Tianchen. The pressure from the Title Douluo level was like a tsunami, gradually pressing down on Ye Tianchen's nerves.
"A mere stroke of luck, and you think you can increase your soul power by seven levels in a year with a body devoid of martial soul? Tianchen, do you think I'm easy to fool, or do you think I'm stupid?"
Yu Yuanzhen stopped two steps away. At this distance, he only needed to raise his hand to easily crush Ye Tianchen's throat.
His eyes were sharp and piercing, and his purple-gold robe fluttered without wind, with faint blue electric snakes running across his body.
Even though he was still two steps away from Yu Yuanzhen, Ye Tianchen could feel a tingling, stinging pain on his exposed skin.
"When I went out to buy things before, I was lucky enough to find a medicinal herb. After taking it, my cultivation speed improved, which is why I increased my soul power by seven levels in a year."
Ye Tianchen's mind raced, and the word "herbs" almost slipped out of his mouth.
"Herbal herbs? As far as I know, the family goes out to buy them once a year. You mean you went out to buy them once and just happened to find a herb that can enhance soul power?"
Yu Yuanzhen leaned forward slightly, his eyes, flashing with lightning, locking onto Ye Tianchen's eyes.
"That's why I said it was just luck."
Ye Tianchen met Yu Yuanzhen's eyes, his resolute face full of openness. He knew that the more difficult the situation, the more he could not be guilty. Only by facing Yu Yuanzhen openly could he fight for a glimmer of hope.
"Do you know what that herb is called and what it looks like?"
Although Ye Tianchen showed no sign of guilt for lying, Yu Yuanzhen still couldn't believe that such a coincidence could exist.
"It looks like bone-strengthening herb, but it's more slender. I don't know its name. I thought it was bone-strengthening herb and wanted to buy it to improve my health."
Ye Tianchen's answer was without the slightest hesitation, and it did not seem like a lie made up on the spot.
"You really don't know?"
"Clan leader, you are wise. Tianchen truly did not know."
"All right."
Yu Yuanzhen shook his head, his tone turning regretful.
"Tianchen, you are a smart child. You should know how many resources the family needs to train a disciple. Even after your parents passed away, the family still took good care of you. Do you remember this kindness?"
"Take care of"? Does it mean being treated coldly and living worse than the clan's servants? First coercion, then favors—no wonder he's the clan chief; he's a master of manipulation.
Ye Tianchen sneered inwardly, but maintained a respectful demeanor on the surface.
"Tianchen will always remember the kindness of his family and never forget it."
"Just remember it."
Yu Yuanzhen turned his hands behind his back and looked at the dragon sculpture on the roof of the palace once again.
"As you know, Luo Sanpao's martial soul is not an isolated case. Before you, my son Yu Xiaogang was the first person to possess Luo Sanpao's martial soul."
[end of the chapter]