Yu Xiaogang's True Face; Yu Xiaoheng: Why Had My Brother Become Like This?

Yu Xiaoheng's voice was calm.

"Father, I want to temper my body."

The moment his words fell, Yu Yuanzhen's pupils abruptly contracted.

"No!"

He refused without hesitation.

"The Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan's body-tempering secret art can only be cultivated after one reaches twelve, when the bones have fully set! You are only six. If you forcibly temper your body, you will only explode and die!"

Yu Xiaoheng turned around.

"Twelve is too late."

He analyzed the situation inwardly.

The future Tang San possessed Innate Full Soul Power. At twelve, his Soul Power would only be in the twenties, and the limit for his Second Spirit Ring would be just over six hundred years.

With his constitution, he should be able to absorb a six- or seven-hundred-year spirit ring with ease.

In other words, his physique had already completely surpassed that of an ordinary Blue Lightning clansman at twelve.

So what was wrong with tempering his body early?

If his body was strong enough, there would be no need to seek out another spirit beast.

He could directly refine that One Thousand Four Hundred Year Xi Guang Linju.

Yu Xiaoheng paused and looked toward Erlong's frail figure inside the cultivation room.

"Besides, I can't just watch Erlong's foundation be ruined like this."

Inside the cultivation room, Liu Erlong heard those words. A trace of excited color returned to her pale little face.

She gazed at Yu Xiaoheng's back.

"Brother Xiaoheng... I believe in you."

Yu Xiaoheng's heart tightened, and a trace of guilt arose within him.

Doing it for Erlong was true.

But putting himself first was also true.

What if, even after tempering my body, I still have no confidence...?

He cast aside that thought.

He would do it first and talk later.

Thunder Pool.

The forbidden ground of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, and also the place for body tempering.

On the mountain path leading to the Thunder Pool, a disheveled figure blocked the way.

It was Yu Xiaogang.

His hair was unkempt, and his clothes still bore messy footprints.

Watching the young master's body tempering

was Blue Lightning's grand event of the day.

Even if he was trash, he was still the sect master's son.

He should have come.

Yu Xiaogang looked at him, the corners of his mouth twisting into a distorted smile.

"You won't succeed."

"Tempering your body before twelve will definitely kill you!"

"And your Martial Soul! Spirit beasts with Light and Dragon Dual Attributes are incredibly rare! You won't be able to find one at all!"

His voice grew sharper and sharper.

"In the end, the clan will definitely give up! They'll make Erlong keep using the Martial Soul Fusion Skill for you until you drag her down to her death!!"

The smile on Yu Xiaoheng's face faded bit by bit.

He did not care about the first half.

But the latter half pierced his heart like a needle.

Yu Xiaogang was right.

That was indeed the most likely outcome.

Looking at this brother before him, whose appearance had changed beyond recognition, Yu Xiaoheng suddenly found him unfamiliar.

The shadow of the stubborn and pitiful "Grandmaster" from the novels of his previous life unexpectedly overlapped with him.

But my brother...

He was clearly just a little prideful. He wasn't a bad person...

His thoughts suddenly returned to his sixth birthday not long ago.

That day, his father Yu Yuanzhen had unusually cast aside all sect affairs.

Outside the sect, pleasure boats drifted along the river beneath a sky full of fireworks.

Yu Yuanzhen had said with a chuckle, "You two brothers, make a birthday wish."

Facing the dazzling sky, he had made his wish.

Human strength might have limits, but perhaps fate could be changed.

He did not ask to soar to the heavens in a single step. He only wished for a sliver of hope—for the ability to cultivate normally.

But Yu Xiaogang beside him had raised his fist high and shouted with all his strength.

"I want to protect the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan! Protect my brother!"

"In the future, no one in the entire sect will dare say another bad word about Xiaoheng!"

His voice then had carried a child's innocence and pride.

"Good! Good!"

Yu Yuanzhen stroked his beard with a smile.

Yu Xiaoheng gently tugged on Yu Xiaogang's sleeve. The two brothers squeezed together and sat watching the fireworks fill the sky.

But today...

Was the person before him still Xiaogang?

A country might change, but one's nature was hard to alter.

Those words abruptly surfaced in Yu Xiaoheng's mind.

The image of the Grandmaster from the novels he had read in his previous life became clearer and clearer.

Seeing his sorrowful expression, Yu Xiaogang unexpectedly burst into arrogant laughter.

"HAHAHA!"

The laughter was piercing.

He turned and staggered away, filled with unprecedented exhilaration.

My previous efforts weren't wasted! Even if my Martial Soul is no good!

My theoretical knowledge can still leave him speechless!

That's right! I can't give up! Martial Soul theory is vast and profound—I can continue researching it!

I still have a chance! Maybe... maybe I can still be saved!!

Yu Xiaoheng, I will definitely crush you beneath my feet again and take back everything that belongs to me!!

Yu Xiaoheng turned around, no longer sparing Yu Xiaogang a single glance, and stepped onto the stone stairs leading to the Thunder Pool.

Thunder Pool.

The sect's forbidden ground.

Arcs of electricity leaped between the mountain rocks, crackling sharply.

He felt somewhat uneasy.

Body tempering was not that efficient.

Would there really... be enough time to save Erlong?

If there isn't... what should I do?

Perhaps Yu Xiaogang's words had taken effect, because waves of gloom rose in Yu Xiaoheng's heart.

But when he arrived before the Thunder Pool, he froze.

The edge of the Thunder Pool was packed with people.

Every elder of the sect was present.

A burly man with an overbearing aura stood at the forefront.

Tang Wei!

Behind him stood the heads of the Four Great Clans affiliated with the Clear Sky Sect!

What...

was going on?

Hadn't Tang Wei left?

When had the Four Great Clans arrived??

Before Yu Xiaoheng could react, he heard his father Yu Yuanzhen's steady, powerful voice resound across the Thunder Pool.

"To help Xiaoheng complete his body tempering, our Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan is willing to pay the agreed price!"

Yu Xiaoheng's heart shook.

A price?

What price?

Before he could think further, his father Yu Yuanzhen's voice rang out again.

"The three Thousand-Year Thunder Radishes and two Purple Lightning Ginsengs in the sect's secret treasury will all be gifted to the Four Great Clans."

"In addition, within the next ten years, our Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan will act three times for the Clear Sky Sect and its affiliated clans."

After a brief pause, Yu Yuanzhen turned his gaze to the other side.

"For the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, we will act twice."

No one on the continent dared to disregard a promise from the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan!

Behind Tang Wei, the heads of the Strength, Agility, Break, and Defense Clans exchanged glances, then bowed together.

"We shall obey Sect Master Yu's command!"

Before their words had faded, the four had already moved.

The Soul Tools on their wrists flashed repeatedly, and rare medicinal herbs and pill-refining equipment appeared out of thin air, piling up beside the Thunder Pool.

A completely crimson pill, overflowing with medicinal fragrance, was tossed into a huge wooden barrel beside them.

"Heart-Protecting Pill!"

A young Blue Lightning disciple cried out in shock.

That was a treasure capable of stabilizing the heart meridians and Consolidating Foundation and Cultivating Origin. A single pill was worth a fortune!

Immediately afterward, another pill radiating majestic energy was thrown in.

"Body Tempering Pill!"

A supreme treasure that accelerated Soul Power absorption and tempered the flesh!

These pills, which would have been enough to make soul masters envious anywhere outside, were now tossed into the barrel without the slightest hesitation.

The four clan heads extended their palms at once. Driven by their powerful Soul Power, all the medicinal ingredients in the barrel rapidly dissolved.

Soon, a pool of thick medicinal liquid shimmering with a pale golden glow appeared before everyone, its fragrance soaring into the sky.