(Liu Erlong fan art)
Yu Xiaogang pinched his nose and hesitated before tentatively replying in his mind.
"...Yes?"
The instant he spoke, the simulated events surged through his mind like a tide—
[Simulation begins—]
[Age 0: You were born into the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, one of the Upper Three Sects. Your father was Yu Yuanzhen, a direct descendant of the clan.]
[As Yu Yuanzhen's eldest son, you were placed under great expectations from the moment you were born. The entire clan waited for the day you would awaken your Martial Soul—the glory of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon would be carried on by you.]
Yu Xiaogang's hand trembled slightly.
How long ago had that been?
So long that he'd almost forgotten he had once been the one everyone pinned their hopes on.
[Age 6: You awakened your Martial Soul under the gaze of the entire clan.]
[The clan elders gathered, and everyone held their breath in anticipation.]
[However—]
[Your Martial Soul underwent a negative mutation. Instead of awakening the clan's inherited Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon, you awakened a mutated External Beast Martial Soul with only half a rank of Innate Soul Power and no offensive ability.]
[In front of the entire clan, you were branded a "good-for-nothing."]
[From then on, cold stares, ridicule, and contempt followed you throughout your childhood.]
Yu Xiaogang slowly clenched his fist until his knuckles turned white.
"This so-called Simulator..." he gritted out, his voice trembling. "Is it just here to humiliate me?"
[Your Soul Power grew slowly, and your standing in this strength-is-everything clan sank ever lower.]
[You stopped arguing with people and devoted all your energy to researching Martial Soul Theory, determined to prove yourself through knowledge.]
[Age 16: While traveling, you met Bibi Dong, a gifted young woman from Spirit Hall.]
[She was breathtakingly talented, Spirit Hall's brightest rising star. Yet she showed great interest in your theories, which everyone else had dismissed with scorn.]
[Bibi Dong became the first person to recognize your talent and provided practical support for your Martial Soul Theory.]
[Age 17: Your relationship was obstructed by Spirit Hall's Pope, Qian Xunji. Bibi Dong was forced to break things off with you.]
[Your first love ended without ever coming to fruition, becoming a pain you could never let go of.]
Yu Xiaogang closed his eyes and took a deep breath.
Those scenes were so vivid.
As if they'd happened just yesterday.
[Yet the theoretical knowledge you gained at Spirit Hall that year also gave you the foundation to become a master of theory!]
Yu Xiaogang's eyes snapped open. He slammed his palm down on the table!
"So it's saying—that all my theories were stolen from Spirit Hall?!"
His face turned ashen, his chest heaving.
The teacup on the table jumped from the impact, rolled to the floor, and shattered.
[Age 20: While traveling, you met Flender. Later, you rescued Liu Erlong in a Soul Beast forest.]
[The three of you hit it off and formed the "Golden Iron Triangle." With the Trinity Martial Soul Fusion Skill "Golden Sacred Dragon," you made a name for yourselves in the Soul Master World, and your outstanding intelligence earned you the title "Horn of Wisdom."]
Yu Xiaogang's expression softened a little.
Those were among the few happy times in his life.
[Age 25: You and Liu Erlong fell in love over time and decided to marry, with Flender's blessing.]
[On your wedding night, Liu Erlong's biological father, Yu Luomian, revealed the truth—Liu Erlong was your own cousin!]
[Unable to bear the pressure of worldly morals, you cowardly chose to flee alone. The Golden Iron Triangle fell apart as a result.]
Yu Xiaogang froze.
The candlelight reflected two flickering points in his eyes, which slowly blurred.
He lowered his head. A tear struck the back of his hand.
"That's right..."
His voice was so hoarse it barely sounded like his own.
"I'm exactly that kind of cowardly wretch... a complete failure..."
[Age 26: With your heart in ashes, you went into seclusion in Notting City and took a position at Notting Academy.]
[Your weak strength earned you widespread disdain. You poured all your heart into Martial Soul Theory and published the Ten Core Competencies of Martial Soul.]
[But the world only saw you as a laughingstock who could talk theory but couldn't put it into practice.]
Yu Xiaogang gave a bitter laugh and wiped the corner of his eye.
"I can only fool a sheltered child like Xiao San..."
[Age 30: In Notting City, you met Tang San, who had come to study. Based solely on the contradiction between his Innate Full Soul Power and Blue Silver Grass, you deduced that he possessed Twin Martial Souls.]
[Tang San immediately took you as his master. You taught him everything you knew, devised a training plan tailored to him, and guided him in absorbing a Ten-Year Solitary Bamboo Soul Ring—]
[You laid a solid foundation for his future ascension to godhood.]
Yu Xiaogang jerked his head up, his eyes bright.
"Xiao San... can you really become a god?"
He murmured to himself, his voice trembling slightly.
"Then... your master will rise to glory too..."
[Age 36: You guided Tang San to Shrek Academy. You also prepared to set out for Shrek Academy and continue teaching him.]
[On the way—]
[You received a god's blessing!]
[The Simulator!]
[It will help you foresee the future, avoid every danger, and forge an unprecedented path to godhood!]
Yu Xiaogang's pupils suddenly widened!
"!!!"
He sprang to his feet, knocking his chair over again, but he didn't even notice.
"A god's blessing...!"
His hands trembled, his lips quivered, and his expression shifted from shock to elation, then from elation to reverence.
"Could this Simulator... be the opportunity meant for me, Yu Xiaogang?!"
He tipped his head back toward the ceiling and spread his arms wide.
"Thank you, gods—!!"
A furious shout came from downstairs. "What are you yelling about in the middle of the night? Are you going to let anyone sleep?!"
Yu Xiaogang didn't hear a thing.
He stood by the window as the night breeze stirred his robe and the candle flame flickered behind him.
His usually stern face was now filled with boundless confidence.
"I, Yu Xiaogang..."
He clenched his fist, his gaze blazing.
"Have finally waited for this day!"
[Later, you joined Shrek Academy and became the mentor of the Shrek Seven Devils.]
[Under your careful guidance, the Shrek Seven Devils shone at the Soul Master Tournament and became famous throughout the world.]
[Under your tutelage, Tang San continued to grow, his strength advancing by leaps and bounds.]
[Age 44: Under your guidance, Tang San went to Sea God Island to train and received the Sea God Inheritance!]
Yu Xiaogang leapt up from his chair, his eyes wide as bells.
"The Sea God—!"
His voice trembled, and his shaking finger pointed at the ceiling.
"Xiao San can become the Sea God!"
He paced back and forth across the room, his steps hurried, his face crinkling with laughter.
"The Sea God! That's the Sea God! My disciple, Yu Xiaogang, is the Sea God's heir!"
The more he spoke, the more excited he became. He clenched both fists, as if he could already see the day he stood at the gates of the Divine Realm, revered by countless people.
[Age 49: The great battle began.]
[Bibi Dong, who had become the Rakshasa God, died at the hands of Tang San, the Pure Bamboo God!]
Yu Xiaogang paused, then scratched his head.
"Wasn't he the Sea God? How did he become the Pure Bamboo God?"
He frowned and thought it over, then waved a hand, utterly unconcerned.
"Who cares! He became a god either way! I, Yu Xiaogang, taught a god!"
He planted his hands on his hips and threw back his head with laughter, laughing so hard his eyes nearly watered.
[Gods could bring their families with them when they ascended to the Divine Realm.]
[Tang San had already helped his parents become gods, so you hoped he would take you with him when he ascended.]
Yu Xiaogang's eyes lit up. Rubbing his hands together, he happily sat back down in his chair.
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