Since that first meeting in the flower hall, the figure of Ye Zhilan had occasionally appeared in the structured and monotonous training life of Yu Yuanchen. At first, it was merely a ritualistic visit following the wishes of their elders, with low frequency and short duration. But as the number of meetings increased, the initial sense of distance and awkwardness between them was gradually replaced by a peaceful and natural familiarity.
Yu Mingfeng and the parents of the Ye family were naturally pleased to see the two youngsters getting along so well, so they created more opportunities, whether intentionally or not. Sometimes the Ye family would send over rare medicinal herbs, which Ye Zhilan would deliver personally; other times, the Yu family would host small tea parties or flower-viewing gatherings, always inviting the mother and daughter of the Ye family. Yu Mingfeng even used the excuse of "youngsters should exchange cultivation insights" to have Yu Yuanchen take Ye Zhilan to visit the non-core areas of the family Library.
In the process, Yu Yuanchen discovered that Ye Zhilan was not merely as gentle and shy as she had appeared at first. Once familiar, she would occasionally reveal the playfulness and liveliness unique to a young girl. For example, when Yu Yuanchen introduced her to a Soul Beast with peculiar characteristics, she would blink her clear eyes and ask questions that were imaginative yet adorable: "Brother Yuanchen, do you think if the pollen of a Phantom Light Orchid were eaten by a Wind Whisper Bird, would the bird's song also take on seven-colored hues?" Or, when tasting tea and snacks, she would use delicate movements to nudge the flavors she disliked to the edge of the plate, then cast a sly, secret-keeping glance at Yu Yuanchen.
This gradually revealed playfulness was like a stone cast into a calm lake, sending ripples through Yu Yuanchen's undisturbed state of mind. He had spent years accompanied by thunder, slaughter, and cultivation, surrounded mostly by majestic elders or respectful clansmen; how could he have ever encountered such a vivid, lively aura? It made him feel a sense of novelty, and it also allowed his heartstrings, which were always taut from bearing the weight of family destiny and the pursuit of power, to find a moment of relief.
It also seemed that because they got along so well, Ye Zhilan opened up, occasionally confiding in Yu Yuanchen about the troubles in her life.
One day, Ye Zhilan came to visit, but there was a faint trace of melancholy between her brows. The two sat in the garden Pavilion, sipping tea and watching the lotus flowers just beginning to bloom in the pond outside.
"Brother Yuanchen," Ye Zhilan stirred the tea in her cup gently, her voice a bit low, "sometimes, I really envy you Battle Soul Masters."
"Oh? Why the sudden sentiment?" Yu Yuanchen set down his teacup and asked gently.
Ye Zhilan sighed, a look of helplessness appearing on her beautiful face: "A few days ago, I went out with my mother to visit friends. On the way back, we encountered a group of reckless bandits. Although the guards dealt with them quickly, at that moment... I realized that apart from hiding behind them, I could do nothing. Although the Nine Heart Begonia Spirit is hailed as a top-tier healing Martial Soul, it ultimately possesses not a shred of offensive power. If... if the guards had been defeated, I fear I would have only been a burden."
She raised her head, her eyes filled with a trace of unwillingness and fragility: "I know the value of a Support System Soul Master; healing the sick and saving lives is also a virtuous deed. But... but whenever I encounter danger, this feeling of powerlessness is truly hard to bear. I also want to be like you, to possess the power to protect myself, and even protect others, even if it is only a little bit."
This was the first time Ye Zhilan had confided such thoughts to Yu Yuanchen, showing that they had been pent up in her heart for a long time and that she had developed considerable trust in him.
Yu Yuanchen listened quietly; he could understand Ye Zhilan's feelings. In this world where strength is respected, a pure Support System Soul Master, especially a woman of such extraordinary background and appearance as her, often became a target more easily. That sense of powerlessness was indeed agonizing.
He pondered for a moment, the theory of Soul Power Nature Change he had studied at the Five Elements Academy surfacing in his mind, along with his own insights into the Various Changes of Thunder Power. He looked at Ye Zhilan and spoke slowly: "Zhilan, do you know that Soul Power itself is not limited to the way of releasing Soul Skills?"
Ye Zhilan looked at him in confusion: "What does Brother Yuanchen mean?"
"Soul Skills are fixed energy-use patterns bestowed by Soul Rings, powerful and convenient. But Soul Power, as the origin of energy, is inherently malleable." Yu Yuanchen explained patiently, "Just like water, it can turn into sharp ice shards to pierce, or into mist to obscure vision, or into a fine stream to nourish all things. Your Nine Heart Begonia Spirit bestows upon you pure Wood Attribute Soul Power full of Life Force; this Soul Power is uniquely gifted in healing and nourishment, but that does not mean it lacks other possibilities."
"I once studied this topic in detail at the Five Elements and achieved results; I call it—Soul Power Nature Change." He continued to guide her: "Have you ever thought about trying to control your Soul Power more meticulously, not just following the fixed routes of Soul Skills, but feeling its own 'nature'? For example, can Wood Attribute Soul Power, besides being full of vitality, also simulate the 'entanglement' and 'toughness' of vines? Can it condense into a physical form outside the body, even if it is just the simplest thorn or barrier?"
Ye Zhilan's beautiful eyes gradually brightened as she listened; Yu Yuanchen's words opened a door she had never thought of. The education she had received all along was how to better stimulate the healing ability of her Martial Soul and how to cast Soul Skills more efficiently; no one had ever told her that Soul Power itself could be understood and used in this way.
"Can... can I learn it?" she asked, feeling a bit uncertain yet full of anticipation.
"Of course you can." Yu Yuanchen smiled slightly, "This is not something that can be achieved overnight; it requires extremely strong Spiritual Power control and repeated practice. But theoretically, any Soul Master of any attribute, as long as they have a sufficiently profound understanding of the essence of their own Soul Power, can develop ways to use it beyond Soul Skills to a certain extent."
Over the next few months, in addition to his own cultivation, Yu Yuanchen began to guide Ye Zhilan in the most basic Soul Power Control training. He did not teach her any specific offensive techniques, but rather taught her how to condense Soul Power at her Fingertip, how to change its form, and how to imbue it with different "Thoughts"—be it "growth," "binding," or "sharpness."
Ye Zhilan was gifted with Wisdom, and coupled with the Spiritual Power foundation far exceeding her peers bestowed by the Nine Heart Begonia Spirit, her progress was faster than Yu Yuanchen had expected. From the beginning, when she struggled to even stabilize her Soul Power into a shape at her Fingertip, she eventually managed to barely condense a green wooden thorn an inch long that was slightly illusory. Although its power was negligible and it could barely pierce the skin of an ordinary person, this was undoubtedly a huge breakthrough from zero to one!
Every tiny bit of progress made Ye Zhilan overjoyed. The look in her eyes when she gazed at Yu Yuanchen, besides the initial gratitude and friendliness, gradually held a trace of indescribable worship and admiration. This man was not only powerful and knowledgeable, but he could also guide her with such patience, pointing out a path she had never heard of before. He was like a silent and reliable mountain, and like a thunderbolt illuminating the mist, allowing her to see hope in her helplessness.
The heart of the young girl had been quietly knocked open inadvertently. When she was with Yu Yuanchen, her smile became increasingly sweet and natural, and the occasional eye contact would make her cheeks flush and her heart race. She would carefully note the tea and snack flavors Yu Yuanchen liked, and after he finished his cultivation, she would hand him a cup of warm, mind-calming Herbal Tea at just the right moment. This sentiment was like the tender shoots of Early Spring, growing quietly, shy and sincere.
Yu Yuanchen was not a block of wood; he could naturally feel the changes in Ye Zhilan. His own heart was not without ripples. Ye Zhilan's gentleness, playfulness, Wisdom, and that unreserved trust and reliance on him all made him feel a long-lost warmth. However, his mind was Firm; he knew well that the Path of Cultivation was long, the Five Year Agreement was imminent, and a larger Stage and stronger opponents were waiting ahead. He suppressed this quietly budding sentiment for the time being, continuing to interact with Ye Zhilan with a peaceful attitude, focusing on his own cultivation and her guidance.
Time flew, and six months passed in the blink of an eye.
In this half-year, relying on his deep accumulation and his profound understanding of the essence of energy during the transformation of his "Thunder True Essence," Yu Yuanchen's Soul Power naturally rose to level 75. His polishing of his Bone Marrow and Skull was also becoming increasingly perfect, and his aura became more harmonious and restrained. Although the Purple-Gold Thunder True Essence had not been fully transformed, he could already mobilize a portion of it in battle, with astonishing power.
On this day, Yu Yuanchen bid farewell to his Grandfather and father, and also briefly explained to Ye Zhilan that he needed to go out for Training for a period of time. Although Ye Zhilan was reluctant, she knew he had important matters to attend to, so she only carefully urged him to be cautious in everything, the Concern in her eyes overflowing.
Yu Yuanchen nodded without saying much, his figure turning into a streak of purple lightning, disappearing into the Horizon of Dragon City.
His destination was the place he had agreed upon five years ago with Tang Chen and Qian Daoliu—the Savage Beast Hills that had once experienced the tragic battle against the Wolf Bandit and the violent Beast Tide.
Revisiting the old place, the Savage Beast Hills still maintained its primitive and wild nature. The Air was filled with the faint scent of blood and rotting vegetation, and the traces left by the great battle years ago had long been covered by new Vegetation and the activities of Soul Beasts.
Yu Yuanchen released his perception and quickly locked onto two powerful and familiar auras. They did not deliberately hide, like torches in the night, clearly signaling their presence.
With a few flashes of his figure, Yu Yuanchen appeared in a relatively open valley. In the center of the valley, two figures had long been waiting.
One was tall and burly, dressed in simple black tight-fitting clothes, his exposed bronze-colored arms showing knotted muscles, full of explosive power. He sat on the ground casually, the iconic giant Clear Sky Hammer standing beside him. Although he had not activated his Soul Power, a heavy pressure was already rushing outward. It was none other than Tang Chen! His aura had reached the peak of level 79, but there was a faint sense of being rounded and full, with nowhere left to advance; clearly, he had been stuck at this bottleneck for some time and was accumulating power, preparing to break through to the Soul Douluo realm.
The other, with golden hair flying and clothes as white as snow, his face as handsome as a god, with six wings on his back, stood elegantly on a green stone, his whole body exuding a pure and Sacred aura. It was none other than Qian Daoliu! His Soul Power Fluctuation also remained at the peak of level 79, on par with Tang Chen, but his aura was more pure and vast, and his Control over his own power seemed even more effortless.
Feeling Yu Yuanchen's arrival, both of them opened their eyes almost at the same time, their gazes like lightning, instantly focusing on him.
Tang Chen stood up abruptly, a wild smile on his face, his voice like a bell: "Hahaha! Yu Yuanchen! You kid finally arrived! Five years, you kept me waiting! Hmm? This aura of yours... level 75? Tsk tsk, you really are a monster!"
Although he said "monster," what burned in his eyes was pure fighting spirit and excitement, without a hint of jealousy, only the joy of meeting an opponent worth fighting.
Qian Daoliu also drifted slowly to the ground, a trace of surprise flashing in his golden eyes, which then turned into a calm smile as he nodded: "Brother Yuanchen, long time no see. Five years of time, it seems you have gained a lot." His perception was even sharper, and he could faintly sense what kind of deep and terrifying power foundation was hidden beneath Yu Yuanchen's seemingly level 75 Soul Power, especially the faint thunder pressure that made even his Six-winged Angel Martial Soul feel a sense of solemnity and pressure.
Yu Yuanchen looked at his two dear friends and opponents whose demeanor was even better than before, and a sincere smile curled at the Corner of his Mouth as he cupped his hands: "Brother Tang, Brother Qian, sorry to keep you waiting. The Five Year Agreement has finally come to be fulfilled today. Looking at your auras, I presume this level 79 Bottleneck won't hold you for much longer."
Tang Chen grinned and patted the Clear Sky Hammer hard: "That goes without saying! I'm just waiting to finish this fight with you, and then I'm going to hunt for my Eighth Soul Ring and officially promote to Soul Douluo! When that time comes, we'll fight again!"
Qian Daoliu also smiled: "Being able to spar with you two again is also what I, Qian, have wished for. I believe that in these five years, Brother Yuanchen must have mastered some astonishing skills; today is just the right time to learn from them."
The three looked at each other; although they didn't say much, an intense fighting spirit and anticipation had already filled the Air. Five years of accumulation and growth would all be released to the fullest in the coming battle!
The wind in the Savage Beast Hills seemed to feel the passion of these three peerless geniuses about to collide, and it became rapid. A peak battle destined to shake the younger generation was about to unfold on this ancient land!
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Translated by: randomtranslator.com
Proofread by: GodKun-Chan