Seeing this situation, Ye Wen gave an almost imperceptible shake of his head.
He didn't know what to say to his mother-in-law. Her father was in the critical moment of breaking through, and yet she seemed so indifferent.
Or perhaps her understanding of her martial soul's life force was too shallow? Did she think that an overwhelming surge of vitality might harm him instead? Was it really necessary for him, the expert, to direct her?
Ye Wen was truly at a loss for words.
As long as vitality didn't reach the level of something like the Life Gold, which could siphon away a person's life force, then vitality was essentially a divine blessing for most living beings—completely free of side effects.
The more potent the vitality, the higher the activity of Chen Gang's physical body, and the younger his overall blood and qi would become, better supporting his breakthrough.
However, Ye Wen quickly stopped his internal complaints. After all, they were all family now. He could teach them properly later.
As Ye Xixi's True Form of her martial soul took effect, Ye Wen had originally estimated that Chen Gang's condition would improve to resemble that of a 60-year-old. Surprisingly, his blood and qi became even more vigorous, now comparable to that of a Soul Douluo in their 50s.
As time passed, the intense heat emanating from Chen Gang grew increasingly noticeable.
Similarly, Ye Xixi began to look pale, her breathing becoming labored, as if she was on the verge of collapse.
Ye Wen's heart skipped a beat! It was clear that Chen Gang was about to break through soon. 'My dear mother-in-law, don't hold him back!'
But Ye Wen wouldn't offer verbal encouragement—he was a staunch materialist and didn't believe in things like bursts of willpower or sudden inspiration.
Instead, he quickly retrieved a vial of potion from his storage soul tool and handed it to Ye Xixi without explanation, simply saying:
"Mother-in-law, drink this quickly! Your soul skill must not stop!"
Ye Xixi's expression turned bitter. Although her martial soul had kept her mostly free from illness since childhood, she had still taken medicine before.
That stuff was unbearably bitter, and she really didn't want to drink it. But after glancing at her father, she reluctantly accepted the jade vial and downed its contents in one gulp.
To her surprise, the expected bitterness didn't come. Instead, she felt a cool, soothing sensation on her tongue. The potion carried a pleasant fragrance, making her feel refreshed and invigorated.
But these were merely the added benefits of Ye Wen's potion. What truly astonished Ye Xixi was that her nearly depleted soul power from continuously using her soul skill was visibly beginning to recover!
Though the recovery wasn't massive, it amounted to nearly ten percent—a staggering achievement, considering she wasn't a soul master whose soul power was still in its gaseous stage. She was a Soul Douluo whose soul power had already liquefied!
Although the Ye family didn't engage in commerce, Ye Xixi keenly recognized the value of this potion. Imagine two Soul Douluos of similar strength locked in a deadly battle, their soul power nearly depleted, when suddenly one of them uses such a potion. How sour and despairing would that be for the opponent?
Still, Ye Xixi knew this wasn't the time to dwell on it. She focused more intently on maintaining her Complete Healing soul skill while growing increasingly satisfied with Ye Wen as her future son-in-law.
Meanwhile, during this "refill," Chen Gang finally completed his ascension.
An even fiercer aura radiated outward. If Dugu Bo hadn't been shielding Ye Wen and the others, they likely would have been gravely injured by the sheer pressure of Chen Gang's soul power alone.
But it didn't end there. Perhaps fueled by years of pent-up frustration, at the final moment of his breakthrough, a majestic golden lion figure emerged behind Chen Gang once more. The martial soul's shadow let out a skyward roar, as if declaring its arrival to the world!
While Chen Gang basked in the euphoria, Ye Wen's expression darkened as he muttered inwardly, 'This is bad! I wanted to stay low-key and develop quietly, but this display practically screams to everyone that there's a new Title Douluo here! How are we supposed to stay hidden now?'
But with the situation as it was, Ye Wen had no choice but to accept reality. It seemed that the original plan would need to be revised.
At this moment, throughout Tian Dou Imperial City, both strong and weak individuals alike heard the chilling roar that sent shivers down their spines. Many turned pale, and some weaker souls were even frightened to death on the spot.
Emperor Xue Ye slowly stepped out of his palace, gazing toward the direction of the sound. He said nothing, but his subordinates had already been dispatched to investigate.
A flicker of confusion appeared in Emperor Xue Ye's eyes. If he remembered correctly, the source of the roar seemed to be near Dugu Bo's residence—but what was with that lion's roar?
Meanwhile, Ning Fengzhi, who had been browsing through items at the Tian Dou Auction House, hoping to acquire something suitable for his harem, also showed a hint of surprise. He promptly instructed Gu Rong to investigate the matter.
Even Yu Yuanzhen, who was farthest away and hadn't heard the roar, sensed something unsettling. His sharp intuition told him that someone was challenging his authority as a top-tier martial soul wielder.
Yu Yuanzhen's expression darkened as he murmured softly:
"This feeling... Is another top-tier martial soul challenging my own?
What a troublesome season. Whether it's Xue Ye, Ning Fengzhi, or Dugu Bo, none of them are staying quiet."
But Yu Yuanzhen knew he was a sensitive figure and wasn't suited to get involved in this commotion. He ordered his subordinates to investigate what had happened in Tian Dou Imperial City.
In addition, figures like Qian Renxue or the high-ranking bishops of the local Spirit Hall also sent people to investigate the direction of Dugu Bo's residence.
It was unavoidable—in an era where Titles rarely emerged, the appearance of a new Title Douluo was enough to disrupt the balance of power. Ambitious schemers couldn't tolerate such a formidable figure existing under their noses without knowing who it was!
By the time Chen Gang came back to his senses from the exhilaration of his breakthrough, he instantly realized the magnitude of his blunder.
Just as Chen Gang awkwardly struggled to find the right words, Ye Wen spoke to Dugu Bo: "Teacher, please set up a toxic barrier around the estate to prevent outsiders from meddling.
Additionally, we'll need to make some changes to our previous plans. As for the news of Grandpa Chen Gang's breakthrough, it can now be shared publicly."
Dugu Bo nodded, but before leaving, he glanced at Chen Gang and remarked, "Old lion, remember—you owe me one."
Chen Gang knew he was in the wrong. Asking Dugu Bo, a reclusive old man, to clean up this mess was indeed somewhat unfair, so he sheepishly nodded.
There was no helping it. Having just broken through, Chen Gang's soul power was surging chaotically. If he didn't stabilize it properly, it could leave hidden injuries.
Things like breaking through mid-battle and then turning the tide against enemies might seem thrilling, but they were actually reckless and irresponsible to one's body.
After all, cultivation was a rigorous process. Even a slight deviation in a single meridian could cause paralysis, let alone attempting to fight and break through simultaneously. Did they think this was a game?
------------------------------------------------------
Support my writing journey: patreon.com/EphemeralShadow
40+ Chapters Ahead Guaranteed.