Xiao Gang's Younger Brother

Xiao Gang's Younger Brother

While Yu Xiaogang was still in the womb, he recklessly plundered his mother's vital essence. As he grew larger, Wang Bilian's health worsened. Why was that?

Powerful soul masters inherited top-tier Spirits. Within the womb, both the fetus's development and the formation of its Spirit consumed an enormous amount of vital essence. Where did that essence come from? From the mother. Thus, the more outstanding the child, the more of the mother's vital essence it consumed. The importance of the mother went without saying.

It would not have been difficult for Wang Bilian's body to nurture a soul master with a Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Spirit, but the child in her womb was Yu Xiaogang.

Though Yu Xiaogang was useless in the original story, that was only because he himself had failed to awaken. If his Spirit, Three-Eyed Blazing Demon, had evolved successfully, it would have become the Golden Sacred Dragon, a super Spirit that, in Douluo Continent's First Era, could be considered second only to the Six-winged Angel. This was why history recorded that Yu Xiaogang's mother had died when he was still very young.

It could be understood this way: in order to give birth to Yu Xiaogang, his mother had expended the life essence required for an SSR-class Spirit, only for Yu Xiaogang to awaken an N-class Spirit after turning six.

When Wang Bilian was six months pregnant, Yun Niang came to Yu Yuanzhen with a visibly swollen belly.

Unlike the feudal society from Huo Yuhao's past life, powerful individuals in Douluo Continent's sects found it difficult to bear children. Therefore, every child was greatly valued by the sects and clans. A mother's status rose with her child. No matter how poor Yun Niang's talent was, the child in her belly carried Yu Yuanzhen's bloodline. Once it awakened its Spirit, it would certainly possess a Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon. Another sect descendant was about to be born, and the entire Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan was delighted. Yu Yuanzhen even took Yun Niang as a concubine. Only one person wore an incomparably ugly expression: Wang Bilian.

On the night Yu Yuanzhen took a concubine, Wang Bilian viciously tore at a handkerchief and said venomously, "Damn slut. I had only just gotten pregnant, and you were already scrambling into his bed. Just you wait. When that child is born, I'll torment you to death."

One year in Douluo Continent equaled one day in the Divine Realm. Under Huo Yuhao's watchful gaze, the day Xiao Gang and his younger brother would be born soon arrived.

Yu Xiaogang was born first. That day, dark clouds filled the sky and thunder rumbled like divine punishment descending upon the world, as though another calamity had arrived. A locust plague struck southern Heaven Dou Empire, a once-in-a-century flood ravaged northern Star Luo Empire, and famine spread through the Balak Kingdom...

With a cry, Yu Xiaogang came into the world. Yu Yuanzhen joyfully picked him up and said excitedly, "This is my son! I have a son!"

"His father, what should we name our son?" Wang Bilian asked happily despite the weakness on her face.

"Yu Xiaogang. I hope that when he grows up, he will become a strong, resolute, and steadfast man, with unyielding perseverance; that he will face hardship and challenges bravely and fearlessly, and become a true man who stands tall between heaven and earth."

Wang Bilian nodded, reaching out to stroke Yu Xiaogang's wrinkled little face. "Our child is destined to become famous throughout the world."

She knew full well that giving birth to this child had consumed far too much of her life essence. She did not have long to live, but that only proved all the more that Xiao Gang was extraordinary.

Then Wang Bilian thought of that woman, and a chill flashed through her eyes. Better a mother wielding a stick than a father in office. My body won't last for more than a few years. After I die, what if that mother and son torment my child? No. Even if I die, I'll drag that slut down to hell with me. She made up her mind.

One month after Xiao Gang was born, Yu Yuanzhen's second son also came into the world. Holding the frail child, Yu Yuanzhen did not pay him much mind. After all, his own talent was formidable, but Yun Niang, who had given birth to this child, was not even a soul master. Even if the child's awakened Spirit turned out to be the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon, his Innate Soul Power would not be very high. He merely said perfunctorily, "Call him Yu Xiaomen. Raise him for now and see. Once he turns six, we'll see what his talent is like."

In the Divine Realm, Huo Yuhao watched the newborn child. Though he had not yet reached the age of six, when he could awaken his Spirit, Huo Yuhao had already used the Power of Destiny to deduce his future Spirit and Innate Soul Power—Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Spirit, Innate Soul Power at rank five. Neither high nor low. Though Huo Yuhao's Innate Soul Power had been only rank one due to acquired circumstances, even if he had grown normally, his Spirit Eyes Spirit's Innate Soul Power would not have exceeded rank six. After all, the mother's influence on a child's talent was crucial.

Rank-five Soul Power was decent, but it could not create an interesting contrast. Moreover, Innate Soul Power was unimportant to Huo Yuhao, who had long since Become a God. All he needed was for Yu Xiaogang to have a younger brother; talent did not matter. With a flick of his finger, he sent forth a blessing. The blessing descended from the Divine Realm upon the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan and landed on Yu Xiaomen. It would continuously improve the child's Meridians and raise his Innate Soul Power.

After Yu Xiaogang and Yu Xiaomen were born, Yu Xiaogang, as a direct descendant of the clan, received immense attention. His father, mother, and the clan elders all watched him closely. Yu Xiaomen, meanwhile, was like an invisible person. Few cared much about him. Even Yu Yuanzhen showed Yu Xiaomen only ordinary concern.

Yun Niang's circumstances were even more miserable. After giving birth, Wang Bilian immediately arranged for her to do heavy household chores. In secret, Wang Bilian also continuously ordered the servants to bully Yun Niang and her son and cut back their food. So that her child could grow up healthy, Yun Niang often saved her own portion of food for Yu Xiaomen, going hungry herself while still shouldering exhausting housework.

His father, Yu Yuanzhen, saw it all but did not take it to heart. The only one among Yun Niang and Yu Xiaomen whom Yu Yuanzhen cared about at all was Yu Xiaomen. After all, he was his bloodline. As for Yun Niang, she was merely a tool. Once she had given birth, she had lost her purpose. It did not matter how Wang Bilian tormented her.

As Yu Xiaogang grew up, he too was influenced by his mother. He hated Yun Niang and her son and took pleasure in bullying Yu Xiaomen. Thus, Yu Xiaomen grew up in a cold and indifferent environment. From childhood, he became accustomed to his father's disregard, the main wife's hostility, and his elder brother's targeting. He watched his mother shield him from one instance of bullying after another.

Finally, in the year Xiao Gang and Xiao Men turned five, Yun Niang collapsed from overwork and illness. Seeing Yun Niang finally "breathe her last," Yu Xiaogang and Wang Bilian were both very happy. However, disaster followed joy. As Wang Bilian laughed, she suddenly "passed away" as well.

His mother's death caused Yu Xiaogang's hatred for Yu Xiaomen to grow even deeper. He blamed his mother's death entirely on Yu Xiaomen and his mother, as though they were the culprits behind this tragedy. Thus, Yu Xiaogang's bullying of Yu Xiaomen became even more unrestrained, and he tormented his young brother with ever-increasing cruelty.

Having suffered bullying from childhood, Yu Xiaomen gradually became taciturn. He buried his anger and resentment deep in his heart, concealing his violent temper behind calm eyes. Before his elder brother Yu Xiaogang, he always remained extraordinarily obedient, like a tamed lamb, not daring to resist in the slightest.