>> CHAPTER 02: YU TIANLONG <<
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Six years had passed since the birth of Yu Tianlong, the boy whose arrival shook the heavens and elevated the pillars of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan to a new level.
Despite this surge in strength, the clan chose to maintain absolute silence. Gates were sealed, patrols doubled, and a strict seclusion was enforced— even allied clans were left in the dark about what had truly happened. Rumors spread, but no confirmation ever came. And those who dared to approach too closely or attempt to invade the clan's domains never returned.
A few days after that event, the patriarch and three of the seven elders finally uncovered the truth.
The cause of the celestial phenomenon was directly tied to the youngest son of Yu Zhenhai. The child was not human—he was a dragon. And even more shocking: his mother, a woman who had lived discreetly among them for so long, revealed herself to be an ancestral spirit beast with over three hundred thousand years of cultivation, powerful enough to obliterate the entire clan in the blink of an eye… including the patriarch himself.
The revelation left them in a state of complete shock. The main hall, at that moment, was filled with silence and tension as the truth came to light. But quickly, the shock turned into reverence. They understood they could do nothing against someone so powerful—and more than that, they realized they didn't need to.
Zi Ji, despite her origin and near-divine power, had chosen to live there in silence alongside her husband, protecting her son and respecting the clan's traditions. She demanded nothing in return. On the contrary, she offered her wisdom, sharing with the elders a method to refine the draconic bloodline—a technique capable of purifying and elevating the bloodline potential of the clan's descendants.
Under her guidance, the clan's leaders began implementing these practices, and soon the results emerged: members who previously had common bloodlines with mutations now showed faint signs of awakening a more intense and pure draconic lineage.
With this, the elders not only accepted her—they came to see her as a divine protector. And though it was never said aloud, everyone knew: as long as that three-hundred-thousand-year-old spirit beast remained in the clan, no external threat would dare touch the lands of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan.
Since then, the clan's routine continued as if nothing had changed—but behind the scenes, everything had changed. And on that morning, a new chapter was unfolding for the younger generation.
On that sunny day, the children's training arena buzzed with youthful energy. The space, carefully crafted from petrified blue jade, was a wide circular field with ancient inscriptions carved along its edges, while stone pillars sculpted with dragon figures surrounded the arena like silent sentinels.
Seated in the upper stands, the elders and prominent figures of the clan watched with keen eyes. Yu Yuanzhen, the patriarch, kept his hands clasped as his gaze scanned the young ones. Beside him were the third elder, Yu Longwei, and the pair of brothers, Yu Zhenhai and Yu Leihao.
"Zhenhai, your son seems even stronger than before. His physical growth is… abnormal," commented Longwei, keeping his voice low.
Yu Zhenhai nodded with a restrained smile and said, "Yes… Tianlong trains every day with extreme intensity and brutality. It's because of that that he managed to create those impressive techniques, which even we don't fully understand how they work."
"Speaking of which… It's a shame Xiao Long doesn't want to share those techniques with the clan," said his brother, Yu Leihao, at his side, letting out a resigned sigh.
"Don't pressure him," interrupted the patriarch, shaking his head. "If Xiao Long wants to share, he'll do so when he feels it's right. Forcing it now will only create distance."
Before the silence could linger, a new voice rose.
"It looks like the fight is about to start," said Yu Loumian, the second elder, turning his eyes to the arena.
Below, in the training arena, young disciples lined up in pairs under the watchful gazes of the instructors. Most were around six years old and had not yet awakened their martial souls—but that did not diminish the seriousness in their eyes.
From a young age, they were taught that in the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, prestige was earned through strength and discipline. Basic martial techniques, physical endurance, and mastery of their own movements were rigorously instilled. Even without an awakened spirit, they were already expected to carry themselves as true warriors.
At the center of the field, a voice rang out.
"Next duel: Yu Tianlong versus Yu Tianxin!"
Immediately, a respectful silence spread among the children.
Tianxin, nine years old, had already awakened the clan's iconic martial soul, the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon, and was considered one of the greatest talents of the new generation—disciplined, fast, and strong.
But now he would face the second most unpredictable among them all.
Yu Tianlong.
He was one of the two anomalies within the younger generation. At just six years old, he already possessed such remarkable talent and physical strength that he could face, without disadvantage, cousins three years older—many of whom had already awakened their martial souls and even possessed two soul rings.
Despite the age difference, Tianlong matched his cousin Tianxin in height, but his build was visibly more robust. His well-defined muscles and steady gaze betrayed years of grueling training and an uncommon discipline for someone so young.
"I won't go easy on you, cousin," said Yu Tianxin with a confident smile, bowing respectfully.
Despite those words, in his mind, he replayed the countless times he had faced Yu Tianlong—and lost every single one. Each defeat was etched as a reminder of his inferiority. But now things were different. He had just reached level 21 and obtained his second soul ring. For the first time, he felt that maybe… just maybe, he had a real chance at victory.
"I hope you don't," replied Tianlong calmly. His hair, with its contrasting tones, fluttered in the strong wind, his posture firm and unshakable—as if he already knew the outcome of this battle.
"Attention! Step forward and activate your spirits!" ordered the instructor.
Tianxin raised his arms, activating his martial soul. Blue scales emerged on his skin, and shimmering wings unfurled from his back. Sparks slithered across his body as the spirit of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon roared, materializing in his aura.
Tianlong also advanced toward the center of the arena. His steps were silent but heavy, like hammer strikes on the ground. His arms and hands darkened like living obsidian, covered in a dense, gleaming layer. It was a technique many there had seen—and feared. A self-created body reinforcement method, a symbol of his raw, devastating strength.
A technique he called Armament Haki.
"Get into position! Three… two… one! Begin!"
Tianxin struck first, impetuous. His punch sliced through the air with force, aiming for Tianlong's face.
But Tianlong tilted his body smoothly, dodging with the minimal movement necessary—as if he already knew exactly where the attack would land. With a fluid spin, he grabbed his cousin's arm and threw him to the ground in a clean, efficient move.
The stands erupted in murmurs and gasps.
On the ground, Tianxin reacted quickly and activated his first skill:
"1st Spirit Skill: Blue Lightning Dragon Claws!"
Two massive claws of crackling energy shot swiftly toward Tianlong.
He dodged with agility, as if time had slowed for him, and advanced with such speed that he could barely be followed. In an instant, he was in front of Tianxin, delivering a powerful kick aimed at his legs.
Tianxin narrowly escaped, taking flight with his shimmering wings.
In the air, he smiled.
The sky was his advantage—there, Tianlong couldn't reach him. And it was in that space that his most powerful technique took form.
"Cousin, today I will win!"
"Let's see if you can escape this!"
"2nd Spirit Skill: Fifteen Tons of Thunder!"
The air around him vibrated. Electricity condensed, forming dozens of blue-purple arrows that floated in the sky like the prelude to a devastating storm.
But then, something changed.
Tianlong's eyes shifted, his pupils transforming into dragon slits for a brief moment. His breathing slowed.
The world seemed to stop as he used his second self-created technique.
Every sound, every spark in the air, every beat of Tianxin's heart—everything became clear and crystalline. His perception expanded beyond the present.
He didn't just see what was happening.
He saw what was to come.
And in the blink of an eye, Tianlong used his third self-created technique. In an instant, he vanished.
The ground where he stood a second before was empty, leaving only a faint afterimage. Like an inverted lightning bolt, he appeared above, cutting through the skies in an impossible trajectory.
Among all the possibilities he analyzed, he chose the one that would end the fight quickly without harming his cousin.
Appearing behind Tianxin in an instant—and with a precise, controlled strike to the back of his neck—he ended the fight before the electric storm could be unleashed.
Tianxin lost consciousness without even understanding what had hit him.
Tianlong caught him in the air, descending gently to prevent him from falling.
The instructor raised his hand:
"Victory: Yu Tianlong!"
Applause and murmurs swept through the arena. Everyone there knew this would be the outcome—it wasn't the first time the two had faced each other. Tianxin had never won, and even now, with two soul rings, he still couldn't overcome him.
In the younger generation, Yu Tianlong was simply… invincible.
Or almost.
There was only one person he had never defeated among the younger generation.
His own adoptive sister.
"Second fight: Yu Tianheng vs. Gu Yuena!"
The moment the name was called, the crowd immediately fell silent, and some even covered their faces, as if they didn't want to see what was coming.
To an outsider, this fight would seem completely unfair and unbalanced, because on one side was:
Yu Tianheng.
At eight years old, with spiritual power at level 17 and one soul ring, he was, like his cousin Tianxin, considered one of the rising geniuses of the clan's new generation. Few his age could match him in combat.
But his opponent was no ordinary child. It was:
Gu Yuena.
At just six years old. Small, yes—but not frail. Her presence imposed an involuntary, almost instinctive silence, even among the elders. Her silver hair cascaded in smooth strands down to her waist, reflecting the sun like liquid silver. Her eyes, a deep violet, seemed to gaze at everything with glacial calm, as if the world around her was too predictable to warrant emotion.
She rarely spoke, rarely smiled. Her demeanor was serene but distant—almost cruel in its indifference.
The crowd didn't react with outrage. No one thought it was unfair.
Because everyone knew—and those who didn't had learned the hard way—that Gu Yuena was the number one talent among the clan's youngest.
Her talent was unparalleled.
Like her brother, she had not yet awakened her martial soul, but like him, she was a natural anomaly. In every test of strength, speed, and perception, her results surpassed those of any other genius in her age group—including her own brother, Yu Tianlong.
Some said her physical strength was comparable to that of an average adult. Others, that she was simply unreadable. She showed no openings, no hesitation, no pattern. Her bodily control was absolute.
She was not an ordinary child.
And everyone knew it.
"Begin!"
Tianheng took a deep breath, clenched his fists, and stepped forward. His gaze locked onto the small figure before him. He knew.
He knew he couldn't win this fight.
But even so, with his pride on the line, he wouldn't back down.
"I… won't go down so easily," he muttered to himself. "Even if I lose, I'll hold on as long as I can…"
His eyes gleamed with determination as his body was enveloped in a crackling blue aura. Lightning slithered across his arms and legs, and his hands took on the form of draconic claws. A muffled roar echoed as his soul ring spun.
Martial Soul: Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon!
The electric energy crackled around his body. It was strong and intense.
Gu Yuena, on the other side of the arena, merely watched him.
"Hm… noisy," she said, without emotion.
Her voice was soft but cold as ice. No intent to provoke, just a statement.
Hearing this, Tianheng roared, unleashing his skill.
"1st Spirit Skill: Thunder Dragon Claw!"
A condensed claw of blue-purple energy formed on his arm, distorting the air around it with deafening crackles. In an instant, he shot forward like a bolt of lightning—a streak of electric fury aimed straight at the girl's chest.
But she…
Didn't move.
At the exact moment the attack was about to hit, she vanished.
"What?" Tianheng gasped in shock.
Suddenly, a sharp sound cut through the air.
A silver blur crossed the arena.
Tianheng barely had time to process what happened.
A brutal impact threw him to the ground, and then he felt something cold and heavy pressing against his back. When he realized, Gu Yuena was kneeling over him, one foot on his back and the other on the ground, in a firm and upright stance, with absolute control.
She had overpowered him with pure physical strength and speed.
Tianheng tried to rise, his muscles trembling with effort, but it was futile. Her weight, though slight, felt like an unrelenting burden, as if gravity had increased solely on him.
Gu Yuena said nothing at first. She merely looked at the instructor. Her violet eyes carried neither pride nor disdain, only coldness.
"It's over," she murmured, with indifference.
The instructor hesitated for a second. Then, swallowing hard, he raised his arm, almost stiffly.
"Victory: Gu Yuena!"
Muffled gasps sounded from the crowd.
No one seemed surprised.
It was the expected outcome, after all.
*******
In the upper stands of the blue jade arena, the elders of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan watched the scene below with a mix of fascination and unease.
The silence among them was heavy, broken only by the distant sound of disciples reorganizing in the arena. Their eyes turned to Tianlong, who, with a faint smile, spoke with Gu Yuena, her silver hair gleaming under the sun like a mirror.
Yu Longwei, the third elder, broke the silence, rubbing his chin with a thoughtful sigh. "Tianlong is truly a monster," he murmured, his eyes fixed on the boy with black-and-white hair. "Defeating Tianxin without even breaking a sweat, and without a martial soul… That technique he created is extremely powerful."
At his side was his father, Yu Loumian, the second elder and Tianxin's grandfather, with arms crossed and a furrowed brow, his expression a mix of wounded pride and reluctant admiration.
As a grandfather, he felt the weight of Tianxin's defeat to Tianlong, but also a twinge of relief—after all, even his nephew Tianheng, another rival to his grandson, had succumbed to Gu Yuena's overwhelming strength.
"The little Gu Yuena is truly impressive. She defeated my nephew Tianheng, who's already at level 17 with a soul ring, using only physical strength. Not even the geniuses of our generation achieved something like that."
"But I don't believe it's just physical strength," commented Loumian, narrowing his eyes as if searching for something invisible. "Her body doesn't seem as robust as other children's, like her brother Tianlong's, for example. I think she must be using some disguised spiritual technique to amplify her strength."
Yu Zhenhai, who had been watching silently until then, lifted his gaze from the arena, where his children rested side by side. His voice was firm but carried a touch of paternal concern.
"Whatever it is, they are the future of the clan. But this talent they have… It will surely attract a lot of attention. That's why we need to prepare them as quickly as possible, before the outside world comes after them."
The patriarch, Yu Yuanzhen, seated in the center, nodded slowly, his eyes gleaming with fierce determination. He tapped his fingers on the armrest, his mind still echoing with memories of the celestial phenomenon from six years ago.
Yu Yuanzhen, the patriarch, nodded slowly, his eyes shining with intensity as he said:
"I agree, Zhenhai. But before we protect them, I want to see the true extent of these two's power." He paused, his gaze fixed on Tianlong and Gu Yuena, whose figures in the arena seemed to carry the weight of an impending storm.
"Today, after the final fights, they will face each other. I feel that Tianlong still hasn't shown us his true power, just as Yuena hasn't. I hope today in the arena, both can reveal all their strength and surprise us," the patriarch concluded with a smile on his face.
The elders exchanged silent glances, as if a storm were about to descend upon them.
"Tianlong has never managed to defeat her," said Yu Longwei, leaning forward with a curious glint in his eyes. "Will he finally succeed today? Or will she remain that invincible wall of ice?"
Yu Leihao, at his side, let out a low chuckle, trying to ease the tension. He glanced at his son, Tianheng, who, still downcast, wiped the sweat from his face in the arena.
"It's been a month since they last fought each other. It's going to be a spectacle. Maybe Tianheng and the others will learn something from it." He smiled, but there was a trace of wounded pride in his voice—his son, after all, hadn't lasted even a minute against Yuena.
And so, the atmosphere in the stands grew thick with anticipation, as if the very sky held its breath to witness the approaching clash.
*******
The following hours passed in a blur of battles. Young disciples took to the arena, showcasing their martial techniques and physical skills. There was effort, sweat, some surprises… but no duel came close to the intensity of the first two. With each new fight, the anticipation for the final confrontation grew. The disciples whispered among themselves, the instructors exchanged attentive glances, and even the elders seemed more focused.
Tianlong rested silently in a corner of the arena, his eyes half-closed, arms crossed behind his head. Beside him, sitting cross-legged, was Gu Yuena. Her silver hair danced gently in the breeze, reflecting the sunlight like a layer of shimmering snow. Motionless, serene, her posture was impeccable—and her gaze, as always, icy.
He knew her well.
Since the day his mother brought that mysterious girl with violet eyes into their home, everything had changed. Gu Yuena had become his adoptive sister… and also his greatest rival. Every defeat to her left scars on his pride but also carved lessons into his soul. No matter how much he trained, no matter how hard he tried, there was still something about her he couldn't reach.
"Ready to lose today, sister?" asked Tianlong, standing and stretching his arms. His tone was casual, but there was a faint challenge behind the smile.
Gu Yuena turned her face slowly, her eyes meeting his with lethal calm.
"You talk too much, Xiao Long," she said, her voice as soft as the wind… and as sharp as ice. "Save your energy for the arena."
Tianlong chuckled softly, but inside, his thoughts were as sharp as a blade.
Today, he wouldn't play around.
Today, he would give everything.
Maybe even reveal that new technique he'd been developing in secret.
Because in that battlefield…
He wanted more than just to fight.
He wanted to defeat that dragon that was more than 1 million years old.
.
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