**CHAPTER 09: CONVERSATION AND BANDITS**
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Two days had passed since the departure from the territory of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan.
It was night, and the darkness outside was broken only by the pale glow of the moon filtering through the treetops. Inside a reinforced carriage, cushioned with dark fabrics and bearing no visible clan symbols, Tianlong traveled alongside Patriarch Yu Yuanzhen and his uncle, Yu Leihao. The latter had joined the entourage with a single purpose: to oversee the safety of the clan's young genius during this journey.
The atmosphere inside the carriage was calm. Despite the imperfections of the road, the vehicle was sturdy enough to allow for pleasant conversation during the journey, accompanied by the rhythmic sound of the wheels and the occasional chirping of nocturnal insects.
"It still seems unbelievable..." murmured Leihao, crossing his arms. "Does Whale Rubber really have such an incredible effect?"
Tianlong gave a slight smile, relaxed.
"Yes. If you have doubts, ask Grandpa. He tested it himself and confirmed the effects."
Yuanzhen let out a low chuckle, glancing through the small opening in the side window.
"It's true. Whale Rubber can indeed increase the user's physical strength. Unfortunately, since we came here in a hurry, I didn't have time to test its second effect... the one that theoretically increases the spirit ring absorption limit by five hundred years."
As he spoke, the patriarch subtly flexed his arms, almost as if savoring the boost to his own strength.
"If that increase is indeed real..." he continued in a more serious tone, "then I fear the world of spirit masters is about to change drastically."
"Yes..." agreed Leihao, leaning back. "According to currently accepted theories, the limit for a child's first spirit ring is around 430 years. And the second, about 760. If Whale Rubber really extends that limit by 500 years... then any talented child could, in theory, withstand a second purple ring."
"That theory sounds great... but it's already been broken by our Xiao Long here," said the patriarch with a proud smile, casting an affectionate glance at his grandson.
"Hehe," Tianlong laughed quietly.
"Hah... It's a shame we only discovered this now," sighed Leihao, a hint of frustration in his voice. "If it had been earlier, maybe Tianheng, Tianxin, and other promising youths in the clan could have received a second purple ring. That would have significantly boosted the potential of our new generation."
He fell silent for a moment, lost in thought. The image of his own son, Yu Tianheng, immediately came to mind. If he had a second purple ring, his future potential could, at the very least, come a bit closer to Tianlong's talent.
Thoughts like these had been piling up frequently in recent days. The mere possibility of providing a stronger foundation for the clan's youths rekindled long-dormant hopes in the hearts of the elders. After all, Tianlong had already shattered all expectations by possessing not just one, but two purple rings—something previously considered utterly impossible. So it was only natural that some elders, even if silently, envied that talent.
And even more natural was the desire to see their own children with enough strength to at least narrow the gap separating them from someone as extraordinary as Tianlong and Gu Yuena.
"But, Uncle..." said Tianlong, turning to him. "Even with the increase in physical strength, it would still require a solid mental fortitude and an iron will to withstand the pressure of a second purple ring."
"Yes, yes... I know that," replied Leihao, nodding. "But at least we'd open a door for some of our most promising youths to approach your level."
"Changing the subject, Leihao... How long should we stockpile this material? And at what price should we sell it?" asked Yuanzhen, eager to hear Leihao's ideas.
After all, as the elder in charge of the clan's finances, Leihao was the most experienced in handling commercial strategies and market evaluations. His opinion at that moment was crucial.
"That will depend on the amount of Whale Rubber we can acquire safely," replied Leihao after a moment of thought. "At first, we'll have to buy in small batches to avoid drawing attention from other powers. Until we establish a secure transport route to the clan."
He continued, adjusting the cloak over his shoulders.
"After that... I think the ideal would be to stockpile for at least five years before revealing its effectiveness to the public. As for the price... it can't be less than five thousand gold coins per unit. Anything less would be undervaluing the product."
"Hm... five years is enough time to build a solid supply network and secure most of the suppliers," said Yuanzhen thoughtfully. "If we do this right, we could completely dominate this market."
"Grandpa..." said Tianlong, raising his hand like a student about to offer an opinion.
"Of course. Speak," replied Yuanzhen with a slight smile.
"When we go to sell it, I think we should make it clear in the announcement that it doesn't guarantee a second purple ring. We should only guarantee to everyone that this material will increase the user's physical strength."
He paused briefly before continuing:
"I fear that if we're too vague, some people might die trying to force higher-level rings... and then their families might come accusing us of deceiving them. That would cause a lot of trouble for us."
Tianlong was almost certain that no one would actually manage to obtain a second purple ring. The only person who might possibly achieve it was Tang San, but the clan would only start selling Whale Rubber five years from now, and by that time, Tang San would already have his second yellow ring.
"A good point," said Yuanzhen, nodding. "And also... an important reminder for us."
"That's why..." continued Tianlong, "I ask that, even within our own clan, you don't encourage any child to try for a second purple ring unless you're absolutely certain they have the mental and spiritual strength to handle it."
"Don't worry about that," replied Yuanzhen. "I wouldn't do something so reckless. It would be irresponsible."
"Making that clear at the time of sale might slightly reduce the market value," added Leihao. "But in return, it will avoid confusion, suspicion... and most importantly, refund requests."
"Great. Actually, I'd like to ask something else of you, Grandpa. It's unrelated to the Whale Rubber," said Tianlong, with a slightly mysterious tone.
"Hm? Alright, just tell me what it is, Xiao Long," replied the patriarch, turning his attentive gaze to him.
"I'd like to know if there's a way to reserve a room or empty space for me."
"That's not a problem," said Yuanzhen, nodding easily. "The clan has several unused rooms and spaces."
"Yeah, but what do you need something like that for, you little brat?" asked Leihao, furrowing his brow as he tried to guess what was going through the boy's mind.
"It's better to show than to explain," replied Tianlong with a slight smile.
Without saying another word, Tianlong closed his eyes. A faint spiritual light emerged from his forehead and descended to his lap, materializing in a few seconds.
In that instant, a small white creature appeared, vaguely resembling an octopus—but with more spiritual and subtle features.
As soon as the creature appeared, Yuanzhen and Leihao's eyes widened instantly. Both recognized, without a shadow of a doubt, the aura emanating from that small being.
"A hundred-thousand-year spirit beast?!" they exclaimed in unison, shocked.
"Yes... this is Kongkong. A spirit beast with a hundred thousand years of cultivation," replied Tianlong calmly, stroking the strange head of his companion.
"Hm... hello," said Kongkong, with a slow, sleepy voice, as if it had just woken from a long nap.
"Alright, you come too," said Tianlong.
A second light emerged from his forehead, and in moments, a new creature appeared beside him, sitting calmly.
This time, it was a fox with shiny fur, sporting two small dragon horns on its forehead—a look that was both adorable and imposing.
"Another... hundred-thousand-year spirit beast?!" the two adults repeated in unison, incredulous.
"This one here is Xiao Bao. He's also a hundred-thousand-year spirit beast," said Tianlong, smiling as he observed the stunned looks of the two in front of him.
"I wonder what their reaction would be if they knew that, in truth, these two were once beasts with over a million years of cultivation... who lost part of their cultivation over time, dropping to their current level," thought Tianlong, maintaining a teasing smile on his face.
"Brat! How long have these two been with you? And why are you only mentioning this now?!" roared the patriarch, pointing at him with an indignant expression.
Beside him, Leihao merely sighed and ran a hand over his face, visibly shaken.
"Since when did 100,000-year-old spirit beasts become commonplace…?" he muttered, feeling a mixture of exhaustion and disbelief. With Kongkong and Xiao Bao, the clan now had five of these extremely rare existences.
Something that, for any other power on the continent, would be utterly unacceptable. And if this information leaked, there was no doubt in his mind: the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan would become an immediate target. No matter their prestige or strength—they would be hunted to the last member if they dared to protect these beasts.
"In fact, they were with Gu Yuena until recently," explained Tianlong. "Now they're with me because my spiritual aura is beneficial to them."
"And your parents know about this?" asked Leihao, still trying to process everything.
"Yes. My father and mother are already aware," confirmed Tianlong.
"That insolent little girl...!" growled the patriarch. "She hid this the whole time... When we get back, I'm having a serious talk with her."
Tianlong looked at him with a mix of admiration and caution. Even his mother, Zi Ji, who always maintained a dominant demeanor, didn't dare address Gu Yuena that way.
But the patriarch, of course, had no idea who—or what—Gu Yuena truly was.
"Oh, right... I should also mention that with Xiao Bao here, I no longer have to worry about anyone noticing I'm a spirit beast," added Tianlong. "And I don't have to worry about the color of my rings either."
"He has that kind of power?" asked Yuanzhen, curious.
"Yes. Xiao Bao has illusory abilities. He can completely hide my spirit beast aura and even camouflage the color of my rings. Even a Title Douluo could be fooled by him."
"So that's why I haven't sensed any spirit beast aura from you lately..." murmured Yuanzhen. "Not even I, at rank 97, could detect it."
"Yeah," replied Tianlong. "And with Kongkong here, who has the spatial element, I can quickly escape any situation where I'm at a disadvantage."
"So that's why you want an empty room?" asked the patriarch, connecting the dots.
"Exactly. Kongkong has a special ability: he can consume the mineral known as magic silver. After feeding, he produces a rare material called spatial source crystal."
"Spatial source crystal, huh..." said Yuanzhen, crossing his arms. "That's the same material used in the crafting of the storage device I gave you."
"That crystal is valuable. Depending on its size and purity, it can be worth over five thousand gold coins per unit," commented Leihao, his eyes already gleaming as he looked at Kongkong like a walking gold mine.
"One of my reasons for wanting to come to Vast Seal City was exactly this," said Tianlong. "Besides the Whale Rubber, I want to find shops that sell magic silver."
"Hah! I knew you had another plan behind this," said the patriarch, laughing.
"This means our clan could start producing and even selling spatial source crystal..." said Leihao. "But Xiao Long, I think it'll be hard to find much magic silver here in Vast Seal City. The city's trade revolves more around the sea."
"I know..." replied Tianlong, about to continue. "But it's still worth looking. You never know—"
Before he could finish his sentence, a shout pierced the air, coming from outside the carriage.
"Bandits!"
Immediately afterward, the driver's voice rang out in a panicked tone:
"Sirs! The road is blocked! There are bandits ahead—and they're all spirit masters!"
Yuanzhen quickly opened the side curtain and peeked through a crack. His eyes narrowed as he saw a group of about twenty men, all wearing black robes and masks covering their faces, with their martial souls activated, ready to fight. All of them possessed two rings, meaning they were all above level 20 in soul power.
One of them, the burliest, with four rings spinning beneath his feet, stood out as the likely leader.
"Quick! Get out of the carriage and hand over all your belongings, or you'll all die today!" shouted the bandit leader in front of the carriage, his voice aggressive.
Leihao snorted, standing up. "Tch... Leave it to me. I'll handle this quickly."
"Wait," interrupted Yuanzhen, his voice calm but firm. He analyzed the group, a slight smile forming on his lips.
"They're just low-level bandits with pathetic ring configurations. Look at their leader—one white ring and four yellow ones. Even though he's a Soul Ancestor, his strength is definitely far below that of a normal level 40.
"Then... let's let our Xiao Long here handle this little problem," said the Patriarch.
"What? Patriarch, even though Tianlong is a monstrous genius, that group has about twenty spirit masters, most of them with two rings, and their leader is a Soul Ancestor... Are you sure Tianlong can handle them?" asked Leihao, doubtful, as he still wasn't entirely sure how strong Tianlong truly was.
Yuanzhen raised a hand, silencing him. "Xiao Long, can you do it?"
Tianlong crossed his arms, a confident smile on his lips. "Yes. easily." he replied, his voice steady.
The Patriarch nodded, his expression serious and grim. "Good. Go... and kill them."
Tianlong blinked, surprised by the direct order, but nodded. "Hmm... Alright, I'm going." He glanced at Xiao Bao and Tang Kongkong, who were floating by his side, and with a thought, the parasitic beasts merged into his spiritual sea, ready to amplify his abilities.
The carriage door opened, and Tianlong leaped to the ground, his white hair with black tips fluttering in the breeze. He straightened his blue tunic, facing the bandits with an unsettling calmness.
The men, upon seeing a child, hesitated but quickly assumed combat stances, their common martial souls—wolves, snakes, hammers, sickles—glowing with energy.
"What the hell? They really sent a kid to fight?" said one of the bandits, observing Tianlong's stance as he prepared for combat.
Tianlong crossed his arms, his golden eyes assessing the group. "I'll give you one chance," he said, his voice calm but cutting. "Run now, or you'll all die miserably here today."
The bandits burst into laughter. "A kid threatening us?" mocked another, pointing a dagger at him. "You're crazy, kid!"
The leader, with his black bear martial soul activated, stepped forward, his four rings pulsing. He narrowed his eyes, noting Tianlong's appearance—white hair, golden eyes, an entirely unusual look.
"Hmm... A few days ago, we caught a girl your age... She was just as arrogant as you," he said with a cruel smile. "We sold her to someone at the auction house for a good price. I'm sure you'll fetch just as much."
Tianlong tilted his head, his smile vanishing. "Last chance," he said, his voice icy.
The leader laughed cruelly, pointing at him. "Grab this kid, boys!"
The bandits charged, but without invoking their spiritual skills. To them, Tianlong was just a child—perhaps a spoiled young master from some rich family, no real threat.
Three men rushed straight at him, while ten others formed a circle, blocking any chance of escape.
Two of the attackers wielded chains, ready to bind Tianlong. The third held a club, his eyes gleaming with the intent to knock him out.
"You're done, kid!" shouted one of the bandits, swinging a chain above his head.
Tianlong remained still, his golden eyes tracking every movement. The two bandits threw their chains, the iron links flying to wrap around his arms. He grabbed the chains with his hands, the metal creaking under his fingers.
The third bandit, seeing Tianlong's arms occupied, charged with a sadistic grin. He raised the club, aiming for the boy's stomach.
The blow landed with a dull thud.
"Knocked out in one hit!" laughed the bandit, convinced of his victory.
But to his shock, Tianlong raised his face with a mocking smile. "Is that all?"
The bandit's eyes widened, panic setting in. Before he could react, Tianlong activated Armament Haki. A black armor enveloped his fists, gleaming like steel under the faint moonlight.
In a swift motion, he delivered a brutal kick between the man's legs. The bandit fell to his knees with a high-pitched scream, writhing in pain on the ground.
The two other bandits, holding the restraining chains, pulled with force, trying to immobilize him. Tianlong let out a low chuckle. Still with Haki active, he clenched his fists and yanked the chains back with such strength that the men were hurled toward him like ragdolls.
"Two rank 20 masters trying to match strength with me? Keep dreaming..." he murmured.
Spinning his body with precision, his fists struck both their throats simultaneously. The impact was lethal. They fell with glassy eyes, dead before even hitting the ground.
The first bandit, still kneeling and groaning, tried to crawl away. Tianlong didn't even bother looking at him. A swift strike to the throat silenced him forever.
The remaining bandits forming the circle around him froze at the scene. The fight had lasted mere seconds.
"What the hell is this?!" shouted one, his voice trembling with terror. "Those three were Great Soul Masters!"
The leader, a few meters away, gritted his teeth and yelled:
"He... He killed them! This kid is a spirit master too! Don't hold back! Use your martial souls now!"
The atmosphere shifted instantly. The ten remaining bandits activated their martial souls—yellow and white rings glowed beneath their feet. A spirit wolf snarled, its claws sparking. A shadow snake hissed, venom dripping from its fangs. Two wielded spirit hammers, their auras vibrating with power.
"Finish him!" shouted another, trying to mask his fear with rage.
A storm of spiritual attacks closed in: the wolf leaped, the snake shot a jet of venom, the hammers summoned the Heavy Impact Skill—shockwaves cracked the ground—and a spear glowed with concentrated energy, poised to pierce.
Tianlong closed his eyes for a moment. Then, he activated Observation Haki.
For two seconds, he saw the future.
He saw the exact path through the attacks. And acted.
Manipulating the light element, he conjured a glowing sphere in his hand. The orb exploded in a blinding flash, dazzling the ten bandits at the exact moment they advanced.
Cries of confusion echoed across the road. Even the six positioned outside the circle—along with the leader—stumbled, covering their eyes.
Tianlong didn't waste time. Using Shunpo, he appeared behind the central group of enemies. In seconds, the cries turned into abrupt silences, one after another.
When the flash dissipated, the leader opened his eyes. And froze.
His ten men lay on the ground, necks twisted, blood scattered among the road's stones.
"Impossible..." he murmured, gripped by dread. His eyes turned to Tianlong, who was calmly brushing dust off his clothes, his golden eyes staring at him coldly.
"Forget the kidnapping!" roared the leader, pointing at the six remaining bandits. "Full force! Kill this bastard now!"
The six, all Soul Ancestors above rank 30, activated their third skills. One, with a spirit tiger, roared—a sonic wave shattered nearby rocks. Another, with an eagle, launched Sky Claws—blades of wind slicing everything ahead. A third, with a turtle, summoned Stone Shield. The others unleashed bursts of fire, ice, and lightning, forming a converging storm of power.
Tianlong clenched his fists.
And then summoned his martial soul.
Two purple rings glowed beneath his feet, and the Divine Dragon of Creation appeared, its white scales gleaming like celestial jade. He activated his 2nd skill:
CELESTIAL WING SHIELD.
A spiritual projection of the dragon appeared behind him, extending a radiant wing in front. The spiritual barrier shimmered like a divine mirror. The attacks collided with the wing and were absorbed, then reflected back with five times the force.
The roar obliterated the tiger man. The blades sliced the eagle man in half. The elemental spells consumed their casters. Only the turtle man survived, protected by his shield, but coughing blood, gravely injured.
Tianlong advanced, activating his 1st skill:
CELESTIAL IMPULSE.
White scales covered his body, and his aura exploded. His strength and speed doubled. In an instant, he appeared before the turtle man. A single punch, reinforced with Armament Haki, pierced through the shield and killed him instantly.
The last two tried to crawl away. Tianlong spun his body with precision and delivered two swift kicks. The sound of breaking necks echoed through the silent field.
The final bandit, now alone, trembled from head to toe.
His eyes fixed on Tianlong, but his mind refused to accept what he saw.
"Two purple rings... on the first and second rings. This... this is impossible..." he murmured, his voice faltering with fear.
He stepped back instinctively, his eyes scanning the shattered bodies of his comrades around... Everything had been swept away by this kid. A monster.
"He can only be from one of the Three Great Sects... or..." His voice choked. "Or from the Spirit Hall itself..."
His eyes turned, desperate, to the carriage parked a few meters behind Tianlong.
"No great power would let a genius like this travel alone, unguarded... So inside that carriage..."
His face paled. Without saying another word, he spun on his heels and bolted in the opposite direction, trying to flee. His black bear spirit roared beneath his feet, and his spirit rings glowed as he activated his 2nd skill—Black Bear Claw—in a final effort to clear a path.
But behind him, Tianlong only let out a low chuckle.
"Bad choice."
Without wasting time, Tianlong opened the third of the Eight Inner Gates. A green aura erupted around his body like a living storm. Then, he burned part of his Dragon's Blood Essence. The green turned crimson, rippling with fierce, menacing energy.
The ground trembled beneath his feet.
In an instant, he used Shunpo.
He vanished.
And reappeared directly in front of the enemy, blocking his escape like a ghost risen from hell.
The leader's eyes widened in pure terror.
"H-How?!"
But there was no answer.
Tianlong combined everything—Armament Haki, Eight Gates, Dragon's Blood Essence, Celestial Impulse... and the final blow: Rokugan.
His fist, enveloped in black energy, collided with the enemy's stomach.
A dull, dry sound filled the air.
The force tore through flesh, bone, and spirit. The impact was so brutal it left a smoking hole in the center of the man's chest, and his martial soul dissipated before he even hit the ground, dead.
The ground shook. Dust rose like a wave.
Tianlong stood still for a few seconds, panting slightly. He looked at his fists—stained with blood—and felt something different. Lighter. Sharper. Stronger.
"Since the fight with my father..." he murmured. "...I've become more efficient. I used half the energy as before... with the same result."
The carriage door creaked.
Yu Yuanzhen stepped out with firm strides, his arms crossed behind his back. Yu Leihao followed shortly after but stopped abruptly upon seeing the scene.
The field was littered with bodies. High-level spirit masters lay scattered, their faces frozen in expressions of pain and surprise. The ground had been torn up, trees snapped in half, and the air was thick with the metallic smell of blood.
Yuanzhen looked in silence for a few seconds, then nodded with faint pride.
"Good work, Xiao Long," he said, his voice calm. Then he frowned. "But you're filthy." He pointed to a small lake ahead, where the water reflected the starlight. "Go wash up. We're leaving soon."
Tianlong scratched the back of his neck, chuckling softly. "I'm going." And he walked off calmly, his white hair with black tips swaying in the night breeze.
Leihao remained frozen, stunned, taking in the scene around him.
"Twenty spirit masters..." he murmured. "Some above rank thirty... killed by a six-year-old child."
He swallowed hard. A shiver ran down his spine.
Yuanzhen gave him a sidelong glance, raising an eyebrow. "Scared, Leihao?"
Leihao shook his head slowly. His eyes were still fixed on Tianlong, now crouching by the lake's edge.
"It's not fear..." he replied in a low voice. "It's respect. This kid... he's not normal. He's a monster. A true dragon."
Yuanzhen let out a muffled laugh. His eyes gleamed with pride.
"He's from our clan. What did you expect?"
Leihao sighed, crossing his arms.
"Hah... if everyone in the clan were like that, it'd be perfect."
Yuanzhen shot him a sideways look. "What did you say?"
Leihao raised his hands, feigning innocence. "Nothing, nothing!"
A few minutes later, Tianlong returned, now clean, his face calm as if nothing had happened.
The carriage resumed its journey, continuing along the quiet road. The sound of hooves echoed through the silent night, while in the distance, the lights of Vast Seal City finally appeared on the horizon—a sea of golden lanterns floating in the darkness.
...