234: Chapter 234 The Luo Family's Waters Run Deep

The entire internet was filled with an optimistic mood, possessing an almost blind confidence in Chen Yi's strength.

They seemed to have completely forgotten that the geniuses of other countries were also top-tier powerhouses!

This heated discussion among Dragon Country netizens inevitably spread abroad.

It caught the attention of other geniuses who were about to participate in the exploration of the Antarctica Mystic Realm.

Eagle Country's strongest genius—David Smith—posted a fitness photo on his personal social media with the caption: "Power comes from self-discipline, not boasting. Let's see the truth in the Antarctica Mystic Realm!"

Wa Country's strongest genius, known as the Ghost Sword, Miyamoto Genzo, merely gave a cold smile when asked by a reporter about Dragon Country's Chen Yi: "A frog in a well—how can it know the vastness of the heavenly river? My blade will tell him what true strength is!"

Su Country's strongest genius—Ivan Petrovich—took a large gulp of vodka in a video and mocked the camera: "Only children make noise on the internet. Real men speak with their fists. I hope that guy named Chen Yi can take three of my punches!"

The Surrendered Country's strongest genius, Midland, who excelled with flying-type spirit beasts, elegantly swirled a glass of red wine and chuckled: "Dragon Country people always like to exaggerate. History has long proven that true victory belongs to steady gentlemen."

"---"

Britain's strongest genius Henry, Oil Country's strongest genius Faisal, India's strongest genius Lalande, and others... also expressed their views on Dragon Country's public opinion through their words or gestures to varying degrees.

In particular, they expressed doubt and ridicule toward Chen Yi.

Clearly, in the eyes of the outside world, Chen Yi's reputation was more of a 'big fish in a small pond' situation, just an ignorant person seeking attention!

Once they reached the Antarctica Mystic Realm, he would learn what a true genius was!

An invisible smoke of war had already begun to spread before the Mystic Realm even opened.

According to the arrangements, the departure for the Antarctica Mystic Realm was tentatively scheduled for January 1st, one week later!

And Dragon Country's exploration team didn't just consist of the top three from the Beast Taming Contest.

To ensure the success rate of this exploration, the officials had assembled a luxury lineup that could be called a 'Galactic Warship'!

Besides Chen Yi, Leng Wuhen, and Gao Wenyu, there was another person who drew much attention—the SSS-Rank Beast Tamer, Gu Fan!

This was the genius who had previously tried to compete with Chen Yi for the contract rights to Black Rose.

The reason he had been stuck at Rank 6, Level 10 despite being nearly thirty-five years old was because of his extremely special SSS-Rank Talent—Heart Soul Contract!

In addition to significantly strengthening the combat abilities of his Contracted Spirit Beasts, this talent had an additional effect that could be called a bug: it could establish a special Heart Soul Contract with uncontracted spirit beasts!

This contract was different from a normal soul contract; it was more like a shared contract based on an equal exchange.

Entities that established a Heart Soul Contract with Gu Fan could not cultivate affinity to learn new skills like formal Contracted Spirit Beasts, but all other functions were almost identical; they could also enjoy the comprehensive strengthening effects brought by Gu Fan's SSS-Rank Talent!

Furthermore, Gu Fan could directly use the power of these Contracted Spirit Beasts through the Heart Soul Contract, gaining direct mastery over the skills they had learned!

Of course, he could only call upon the power of one spirit beast at a time, and maintaining these Heart Soul Contracts as well as calling upon their power drained a large amount of the spiritual energy Gu Fan needed to level up.

Reportedly, in addition to his six normally Contracted Spirit Beast Girls, Gu Fan had established Heart Soul Contracts with over twenty Spirit Beast Girls whose bloodline ranks were S-rank or higher!

Supporting him alone was equivalent to supporting more than twenty extra people!

It would be strange if his leveling speed could be fast.

The reason he was so obsessed with Black Rose before was because Dragon-type spirit beasts have the Dragon attribute, and the attributes gained during level-ups are extremely high.

Uncontracted Dragon-attribute spirit beasts were almost extinct within Dragon Country; the Rose Flower Dragon bloodline awakened by Black Rose was an incomparable temptation for him.

Besides Gu Fan, there were three Rank 6 high-stage Beast Tamers with SS-Rank Talents in the team—Wu Yuyang at Rank 6, Level 8; Zhao Xin at Rank 6, Level 9; and Li Tianhe at Rank 6, Level 4.

Composed of these seven Beast Tamers and their Contracted Spirit Beasts, the Dragon Country exploration team was unprecedentedly powerful!

It could be said that this time, Dragon Country was determined to obtain the secrets of the Demonic Beasts' descent!

---"

On the very night the officials announced the Antarctica Mystic Realm journey.

Inside the luxury suite, Luo Yuqing found Luo Shiyin.

"Sister..."

Luo Yuqing said with some guilt, "Could we talk for a bit?"

Luo Shiyin nodded and said in a flat tone, "Is something the matter?"

Luo Yuqing took a deep breath: "I'm here to... apologize to you! At the same time, I want to explain some things!"

"When I fought for the position of Family Head back then, it wasn't entirely my own intention. It was more the result of some clan elders pushing from behind the scenes!"

"Specifically... Grandpa Luo's younger brother, our grand-uncle, Luo Yuchen! He seems to be the spokesperson for those people!"

Hearing this, Luo Shiyin's brows furrowed instantly.

"Grand-uncle Luo Yuchen? You're not fooling me, are you?"

She had always thought Luo Yuqing was the biggest mastermind behind the scenes.

To think there was actually someone else?

"Yes!"

Luo Yuqing nodded and said, "The reason he pushed so hard for me to take the position was that I came from a branch family, and there was a high probability I would spend most of my time in the Leng family in the future rather than ruling the Luo family long-term! When the time was right, I would inevitably have to give up the position. At that time, his son—Luo Fengxiao—as the first in line of succession, would naturally and logically ascend to the position of Family Head!"

Upon hearing these words, Luo Shiyin also fell into a brief contemplation.

Thinking carefully, this explanation seemed more reasonable?

Luo Yuqing was from a branch family, and her parents didn't have much say in the Luo family.

While she herself was, after all, the only child of the main line; even if her bloodline talent had been deemed inferior, she shouldn't have been replaced so easily.

"So the reason Grandpa's attitude was ambiguous back then, wishing for me to return after becoming stronger, was because he had long seen through this layer of relationships. He knew that even if I had taken the position of Family Head back then, I wouldn't have been able to hold it without enough strength..."

"As expected... the waters here are very deep!"

Luo Shiyin murmured.

"Yes! I didn't dare to say it before, not until the day you saved me..."

"Alright, let's not mention that anymore! Come and tell me, what exactly is the current situation of the Luo family?"

"Okay!"

---"

The past misunderstandings gradually dissolved during their communication.

Luo Yuqing expressed her helplessness and regret, and Luo Shiyin also understood her younger sister's situation.

Finally, Luo Shiyin took her sister's hand and said softly, "Let the past be the past. Yuqing, you will always be my sister."

Luo Yuqing's eyes reddened, and she nodded heavily: "Mm! Thank you, sister!"

Luo Shiyin took a deep breath and said in a solemn tone, "Since this is the situation, then I will wait until I return from this Antarctica Mystic Realm trip to thoroughly resolve the Luo family's issues! Luo Fengxiao is a Rank 7, Level 7 Beast Tamer with decent strength. Once I return from the Mystic Realm and my strength breaks through to Rank 8, I'd like to see what Grand-uncle Luo Yuchen and those old fogies around him will have to say!"

"Mm, sister, I support you!"