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Chapter 44 - Chapter 44: Wings Growing Strong

The Great Elder, a Soul Douluo-level powerhouse, had been defeated in just a few moves by Wang Yan. Such strength already placed Wang Yan among the very peak of Soul Douluos.

But after thinking it over, Wang Chen realized it wasn't strange at all. Otherwise, how could Wang Yan have dared attempt to assassinate Xu Tiannan?

Xu Tiannan, as the Crown Prince's personal guard, was no weakling. His own strength was extraordinary, possessing the top-tier martial soul Purple Sovereign Annihilation Dragon, and his cultivation was conservatively estimated to be above level seventy.

His combat power was absolutely not inferior to a Soul Douluo. On top of that, being at the Crown Prince's side, he was surely equipped with all sorts of life-saving soul tools. To attempt an assassination against him without terrifying strength? Impossible.

So after hearing of Wang Yan's true strength, Wang Chen was a bit shocked, but not shaken.

Three years of growth, coupled with his experiences in the Ordinary Alliance, had forged confidence within him.

He believed he could one day seize the Patriarch's position from Wang Yan's hands, win the loyalty of hundreds of Wang clan members, and earn their allegiance.

The Wang Clan had more than 300 members in total. Aside from the children, most had at least Soul Elder-level cultivation.

Especially the direct-line descendants—most were born with innate soul power above level five. If they cultivated steadily, by the age of forty, they would typically reach Soul King or Soul Emperor, though Soul Saints were far fewer.

To become Patriarch of the Wang Clan meant commanding the loyalty of such a high-quality group of soul masters.

Wang Chen was certain that this would trigger the third function of the Black Book.

Without the identity of the Patriarch, it would be nearly impossible to gather the allegiance of hundreds of strong soul masters.

Building such a force from scratch? Almost unthinkable.

After all, most soul masters and soul engineers already had backgrounds. Even if you hired them with money and resources, loyalty could never be guaranteed. At the first sign of danger, they could very well abandon you. How could that compare with clan members bound by blood ties?

Not to mention, the Wang Clan's assets were considerable. Once Patriarch, Wang Chen could use them to cover daily needs and avoid exhausting himself over trivial matters.

As for when to seize the Patriarch's seat from Wang Yan? Wang Chen decided to wait until after the current family crisis was resolved. For now, stability was best.

While Wang Chen was deep in thought, Elder Wang Yuan studied him.

The youth now stood tall at over 1.8 meters, his once-immature features sharpened into the bearing of a young man.

Time flew—three years had passed in a blink. The boy had truly grown up. But what level had his cultivation reached now?

Curious, Wang Yuan probed him with his spiritual sense… only to find himself baffled.

He couldn't see through Wang Chen at all. The boy was like a shrouded mist—unfathomable and untouchable.

The discovery left Wang Yuan startled.

He was a Soul Saint! For even him to be unable to gauge the youth's strength… what level had Wang Chen reached?

Or perhaps he was wearing some sort of concealment-type soul tool?

Between the two explanations, Wang Yuan leaned toward the latter. Otherwise, it was simply too unbelievable.

But his curiosity only deepened.

Two years ago, Wang Chen had immersed himself in cultivation day and night, seldom revealing his abilities in the clan.

This past year, he had been away from home even more, busy with unknown matters.

Thus, Wang Yuan truly had no clear sense of the youth's current power.

Yet Wang Chen's mental strength, already comparable to a Soul Douluo, was sharp beyond compare. He immediately sensed Wang Yuan's probing.

As for concealing his strength? Even a Soul Douluo couldn't see through him, let alone a Soul Saint.

Finishing his thoughts, Wang Chen smiled calmly at Elder Wang Yuan. Deep down, he mused:

So Elder Wang Yuan harbors some dissatisfaction toward the Patriarch… Otherwise, he wouldn't have revealed details of last night's clan meeting. Looks like Wang Yan's prestige really plummeted after Xu Tiannan became Crown Prince…

"Chen'er," Wang Yuan asked curiously, "are you wearing a concealment soul tool?"

Wang Yuan had always been fond of Wang Chen, believing him to be the clan's future leader. Whenever he obtained something good, he thought of Wang Chen first.

Their relationship was close—so close that Wang Yuan disliked being called "Elder," finding it too distant. This was why Wang Chen always made sure to visit him first upon returning.

The corners of Wang Chen's lips curled slightly.

By now, his wings were fully grown, his combat power astonishing. With the secret techniques of Ring Tempering and Ring Detonation, even a Soul Douluo would have to kneel and roll away.

No longer was he the insignificant Great Soul Master of three years ago, trembling and cautious before every danger.

With his current strength, though he couldn't yet defeat a Titled Douluo, escaping alive from one was well within his grasp.

Ten thousand years ago, Tang San had relied on Ring Detonation to escape even from Qian Renxue, who stood on the brink of godhood.

True, Wang Chen's soul rings were not as high in age, so the explosive power was weaker. But today's Titled Douluos were also far inferior to Qian Renxue.

In the Sun Moon Empire, unless he provoked one of the very few monster-level powerhouses, Wang Chen was already untouchable.

And if things ever became truly dire, he could always turn to Jing Hongchen, his would-be grandfather-in-law. Surely the man wouldn't sit idle while his "beloved grandson-in-law" was bullied.

Jing Hongchen: (;_;) In all my years, I've never seen someone so shameless! If not for my precious granddaughter, I'd have smacked you to death long ago!

It could be said that Wang Chen was no longer merely a "genius."

He had already converted part of his potential into real, tangible strength. He could now rightfully be called a powerhouse.

And the day he became Patriarch of the Wang Clan was not far off.

Sooner or later, the clan's upper echelon would learn his true strength. So Wang Chen didn't mind revealing a bit early—at least to give Elder Wang Yuan some warning.

Better that than shocking the old man so badly later that he dropped dead from fright.

With a smile, Wang Chen said:

"Grandpa Yuan, I'm not wearing any concealment soul tool."

Wang Yuan abruptly leapt up from his seat, staring at him in disbelief.

"Chen'er… your cultivation… don't tell me you've already reached the Soul King realm!?"

Yes, hiding from a Soul Saint as a Soul King was difficult—but not impossible, provided one had perfect control over their soul power and kept it tightly suppressed.

As for anything beyond that? Wang Yuan didn't even dare to guess. After all, Wang Chen was not yet fifteen years old. A Soul King at his age was already earth-shattering enough.

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