Chapter Twenty-Nine: Celestial-grade Dragon Soul

“What? An earth-grade Dragon Soul?!”
It had been many years since Tianfeng City last saw the birth of an earth-grade Dragon Soul.

“Yes,” Qin Tiantai replied with a bitter smile and a nod.

At this moment, Qin Tianzheng’s mood was hardly any better than Qin Tiantai’s. Among the more than a hundred branches of the Qin family across various towns, only one had produced a yellow-grade Dragon Soul, while the main family in Tianfeng City had seven yellow-grade Dragon Souls, and now even an earth-grade Dragon Soul had appeared. The disparity was simply too overwhelming.

There had always been gaps over the years, but this time, the difference was truly staggering. The main family was indeed deserving of its reputation.

“I wonder, who awakened the earth-grade Dragon Soul this time?” Qin Tianzheng couldn't suppress his curiosity and asked. After all, the one who awakened an earth-grade Dragon Soul was very likely to become the focus of cultivation and might even be considered a candidate for the next city lord. As for a heaven-grade Dragon Soul, Qin Tianzheng didn’t dare to even dream of it. In the entire Yunqi Kingdom, not a single heaven-grade Dragon Soul had appeared in the past hundred years, and even earth-grade Dragon Souls had only been seen three times in that period.

It was thus evident how exceptional it was for his own son to awaken a profound-grade Dragon Soul.

“Do you see him? The youth standing behind the city lord — he’s also the city lord’s grandson, the young master of the Qin family, Qin Shaohong!” Qin Tiantai pointed toward the temporary viewing platform erected by the blood pool.

Following his gaze, Qin Tianzheng looked over, and Qin Feng beside him also glanced at the platform by the blood pool.

“Huh? It’s him!” Qin Feng was startled. As he had suspected, the three people he saw by Mirrorshade Lake days ago were indeed from the Qin family. And the one Qin Tiantai pointed out now was the handsome youth who had attacked him that day.

“Qin Shaoming!”
A cold gleam flashed in Qin Feng’s eyes, and his right fist clenched tightly.

“Look, another group is coming down!”
“Yes, this batch is from Nanfeng Town. Their results are even more dismal; the highest only awakened a mid-grade Chi Soul. Judging by their dejected expressions, they’re bound to get a scolding when they return.”

“Next group, Qin family from Baijing Town, enter the pool!” a middle-aged steward shouted beside the blood pool.

“It’s your turn, Tiantai!”
“Got it, stop nagging!”
Though Qin Tiantai feigned indifference, the trembling of his hands betrayed his nervousness.

“My dear grandson, it’s all up to you now!”
He turned to the tall, burly youth at his side.

This boy was unusually large and stocky, face round as a cake, body like a black bear. When he walked, he moved like a mountain, the ground thundering beneath him, attracting the attention of many. Qin Feng watched him with interest, especially his tiny, sesame-sized eyes, which made Qin Feng nearly laugh.

But Qin Feng knew well: appearances could be deceiving.

This burly youth had the same cultivation level as Qin Feng — the tenth stage of the Mortal Qi Realm. Such talent was extraordinary. Qin Feng managed to reach the tenth stage only with the aid of many mid-grade profound stones and a fortuitous encounter, just barely in time for Soul Awakening Day. But this youth’s foundation was exceptionally stable, suggesting he had already been at the tenth stage for some time.

He must be the grandson Qin Tiantai was so proud of.

Qin Tianzheng nodded in approval, admitting to himself that Qin Tiantai had indeed raised a fine grandson.

On the viewing platform, the young disciples of the main family watched the burly youth enter the ancestral blood pool with disdain. Their arrogance, coupled with the branches’ poor performance earlier, left them looking down on the branches’ abilities.

“Care to wager? Not a single Dragon Soul will appear from this group,” Qin Shaohong joked to the tall girl beside him.

She ignored him, snorting coldly.

This time, her Dragon Soul’s grade was lower than Qin Shaohong’s, leaving her quite displeased. Qin Shaohong, the foremost among the younger generation, was naturally proud, especially now that the branch family was faring so poorly.

Their moods differed, and so did their expressions.

---

“All right, you may enter now,” said a bald man below the platform, who appeared to be of some standing, guiding the Baijing Town disciples.

Baijing Town entered the fourth blood pool. In truth, the ten ancestral dragon blood pools were connected, so it made no difference which one was entered, but for convenience, each was numbered.

The burly youth led the group and was first to leap into the fourth ancestral blood pool.

“You, keep a close watch here,” the bald man instructed a young steward beside him.

“Yes, Elder,” the steward replied, bowing.

Turning back, the bald elder pointed toward Qin Tianzheng’s group, saying, “Next up, the Qin family from Luoyang Town, prepare yourselves. Once Baijing Town finishes their soul awakening, you’ll enter the pool.”

“Yes, Elder!” Qin Tianzheng hurriedly bowed in gratitude.

Qin Feng watched the burly youth intently, sensing that today, the boy might surprise everyone.

Sure enough, no sooner had the burly youth entered the pool than the fourth ancestral blood pool began to react. This phenomenon immediately drew the attention of the city lord.

This white-haired, weathered-faced elder, who had lived for centuries, was Tianfeng City’s greatest master — a peerless expert in the Celestial Qi Realm: Qin Ding Tian.

Celestial Qi Realm masters were the most formidable in all of Qingxuan.

Usually, this eccentric elder was elusive, rarely seen except on Soul Awakening Day, which showed how much he valued the younger generation.

It made sense: the Qin family’s longevity and glory depended largely on their tireless selection and cultivation of heirs.

Yet, from the moment he arrived, the city lord had reclined in a chair, eyes closed, seemingly asleep.

But now, the elder suddenly opened his eyes, staring into the fourth blood pool, his gaze bright and face filled with delight.

Even when Qin Shaohong awakened an earth-grade Dragon Soul, the city lord hadn’t opened his eyes.

A high, resonant dragon cry echoed from the ancestral blood pool, stunning everyone present. The sound shook their souls, while the pool radiated dazzling blue light and torrents of blue energy surged toward the burly youth.

“Ah!”
The massive influx of energy made the boy cry out in pain, but the city lord, Qin Ding Tian, shouted, “Boy, hold your core, focus your mind, let the Dragon Soul manifest and condense slowly!”

The boy didn’t answer, but the city lord’s words were like a lifeline. His trembling body quickly steadied. Behind him, a shadowy blue dragon began to take shape, growing ever more solid and powerful. As its aura climbed, those nearby were knocked back by invisible waves, and all other Dragon Souls, not yet withdrawn, quivered under its might.

“It’s a Dragon Soul, and such overwhelming power! Could it be... heaven-grade?” murmured another white-haired elder near the city lord.

“Yes, a heaven-grade Dragon Soul! Hahaha, heaven blesses Tianfeng City, heaven blesses the Qin family! Hahaha!” Qin Ding Tian could barely contain his joy. Since its founding, Tianfeng City had seen only one heaven-grade Dragon Soul. Now, after thousands of years, another had appeared, heralding a new era for the Qin family in Yunqi Kingdom and Qingxuan.

“Condense!”
A dragon’s roar shook the sky, and as the phenomenon faded, a massive blue Dragon Soul appeared behind the burly youth, towering three meters high, its domineering aura sweeping the crowd.

The youth, realizing he had awakened an extraordinary Dragon Soul, stood rooted in joy and awe.

His grandfather, Qin Tiantai, blushed so deeply he looked as if blood might drip from his face. A heaven-grade Dragon Soul! To witness one was the privilege of a lifetime — and to have it awakened by his own grandson, in the Baijing Town branch of the Qin family!

“Excellent! Excellent! Excellent!”
Qin Ding Tian flew down from the platform, grasped the boy’s hand, and asked, “Well done, young man. Tell me, what is your name?”

“M-my name is Qin Pang!” the boy replied in a muffled voice.

“Qin... Pang?!”

---

Who gave you that name? Qin Ding Tian paused, his expression odd, almost laughing but managing to hold it in.

“My grandfather named me!” Qin Pang answered proudly, lifting his chin.

Qin Ding Tian turned to look at Qin Tiantai, who stood awkward and red-faced.

Shaking his head, Qin Ding Tian laughed, “Tiantai, is that all the learning you have? Very well, Qin Pang it is. From today, Qin Pang will remain in Tianfeng City. Once Soul Awakening Day ends, I’ll take you to the ancient land of the Azure Dragon clan to meet the grand elder! And the Qin Tiantai branch is permitted to move back to Tianfeng City, rejoining the main family!”

At these words, tens of thousands in the square fell silent.

Envy, jealousy, resentment!

As the saying goes, when one rises, all follow. Because of Qin Pang alone, the Baijing Town Qin family was granted return to the main family, and Qin Pang was singled out for favor — the city lord would even bring him to the ancient clan’s domain to meet the grand elder.

The ancient clan’s domain — what an honor! It was the birthplace of the Azure Dragon clan in the eastern region of Qingxuan, a sacred place in every Qin disciple’s heart.

Qin Tiantai was so excited he could hardly speak. With reminders from those around him, he knelt and bowed in thanks.

Returning to the main family was a dream for every branch leader, but Qin Tiantai had achieved it, all thanks to his grandson awakening a heaven-grade Dragon Soul.

Qin Feng, who had followed the event closely, turned his gaze to his own grandfather. As expected, he saw both pride and melancholy in the old man’s eyes. Though the two elders had competed all their lives, Qin Tianzheng was genuinely happy to see Qin Tiantai return to the main family. But Qin Feng also knew that his own grandfather longed deeply to return — perhaps more than anything in his life.

“Come, little Pang, join me on the platform!”

Having awakened a heaven-grade Dragon Soul, Qin Pang had soared to the heights overnight.

Qin Ding Tian led Qin Pang back to the viewing platform, placing him at his side, showing the city lord’s esteem and affection.

Meanwhile, Qin Shaohong watched, his handsome face seemingly unchanged, but his gaze toward Qin Pang was full of venom and fury.

Jealousy, grinding his teeth!

It was understandable — Qin Shaohong, always surrounded by glory, had made a splash today by awakening an earth-grade Dragon Soul. In Tianfeng City, only three had done so in a hundred years, and even the current city lord, his own grandfather, possessed merely an earth-grade Dragon Soul. This was why Qin Shaohong was so proud, looking down on everyone present.

Yet now, this proud peacock had been eclipsed by a dark horse — the newcomer had snatched every shred of his glory, even his grandfather’s affection.

Everything, like a dream, had shattered!

He was deeply unsettled.

Now, all eyes were on Qin Pang. But the tall girl beside Qin Shaohong glanced at him, a playful smile curling her lips.

With a heaven-grade Dragon Soul awakened, Qin Ding Tian was in high spirits.

He looked over the lively crowd below but, unusually, did not call for silence.

Instead, he signaled the bald elder to proceed with the soul awakening ceremony.

The bald elder nodded, cleared his throat, and announced loudly, “Next, Qin family from Luoyang Town, enter the pool!”

Upon hearing this, Qin Feng’s heart tightened. “At last, it’s our turn,” he thought.

…