He Really Is My Own Father

"What? You've recovered!"

Half a month later, in the patriarch's courtyard of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, Yu Yuanzhen's eyes widened. He still clutched several white whiskers he had accidentally yanked out, staring in disbelief as he asked.

"See for yourself, Old Man!"

At that, Yu Tianjiao smiled and took out a crystal ball for testing Soul Power. He placed his palm on it.

The light on the crystal ball flickered faintly, but Yu Yuanzhen could clearly see that its brightness was the unmistakable sign of Soul Power reaching level four!

He immediately grabbed Yu Tianjiao by the wrist and carefully sensed his Soul Power with his own.

Before long, he confirmed he hadn't been mistaken. Yu Tianjiao's Soul Power had indeed reached level four!

"Hahaha! Good, good! When I named you Tianjiao, I hoped you'd live up to it. You didn't let me down, and though you went through a few setbacks, at long last, you've come through the hard times!"

Yu Yuanzhen was wild with joy. His laughter shook the heavens as he slapped Yu Tianjiao hard on the shoulder.

The old man might have been getting on in years, but he hadn't lost any strength in his hands.

Yu Tianjiao grimaced and rolled his eyes as the blows landed.

He might once have had the glorious achievement of cracking the skull of Yu Yuanzhen, a Titled Douluo, but his beginner's protection had ended long ago.

Even with the physique of a Soul Ancestor now, he still couldn't withstand the heavy blows of an emotionally charged Titled Douluo.

"Keep hitting me like that, Old Man, and you'll be burying your son before his father."

Yu Tianjiao couldn't help complaining.

"Bah, what kind of nonsense is that? You nearly knocked me unconscious when you were born. You've got a body tougher than most. You're not going to break that easily!"

Though Yu Yuanzhen still gave him no quarter with his words, he stopped slapping him and instead gently smoothed the wrinkles on Yu Tianjiao's shoulders. His joy was written all over his face.

"Why do I get the feeling you're pretty proud of that dark history?"

Yu Tianjiao asked helplessly.

"You were on top of your old man's head the day you were born. You're bound to achieve at least as much as I did. That's a good thing!"

Yu Yuanzhen said with complete conviction.

Yu Tianjiao didn't know what to say. The old man always had a way of saying things that sounded rough around the edges yet touched the heart. He wondered how his useless second older brother, Yu Xiaogang, had ever managed to run away from home. Did he have no idea what filial piety meant?

Well, come to think of it, that guy had once been involved with his cousin. He'd have to find a way to make him give up on her for good.

After all, Yu Tianjiao had already seen Liu Erlong in all her glory. He wouldn't allow anyone else the chance.

As a younger brother with no blood ties to Liu Erlong, he could probably expect his uncle Yu Luomian to burst out laughing at the idea of him getting together with her.

His daughter could officially return to the clan in the open, and Yu Tianjiao, his talented nephew, would be tied firmly to the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan through a blood bond. It was a win-win.

"Tianjiao, what are you thinking about now? Why are you smiling like that?"

Seeing the corners of Yu Tianjiao's mouth curl into an inscrutable smile, Yu Yuanzhen couldn't help asking.

"Oh, nothing. I was just thinking about what Rongrong will look like when I've cultivated back to level forty."

Yu Tianjiao waved a hand casually and made something up.

"Tsk. I knew you were the vindictive sort. But with your Soul Power Level now, catching up to that girl won't be easy. It'll take some time."

Yu Yuanzhen shook his head. As his father, he naturally knew what kind of person his son was.

Back when Yu Tianjiao had gone out to hunt a Soul Beast and obtain his Second Soul Ring, one had ambushed him. He'd chased it for five whole miles and beaten it to death with his own hands.

That was when he met Ning Rongrong.

A normal young girl would have been frightened into tears by such a violent, bloody scene.

But that Demon Pill thought the handsome boy in a white robe, spattered with flecks of blood, was practically the other half made just for her.

Even when she broke off the engagement half a month ago, she still hadn't completely let go of Yu Tianjiao. Instead, she'd come out with that outrageous remark about finding a guardian tortoise for herself and Yu Tianjiao.

Honestly... it was too much to bear...

"It's fine. Now that my talent is back, all I need is a little time."

Yu Tianjiao was brimming with confidence.

"Hahaha, that's my boy! As it happens, you can have all of these!"

Yu Yuanzhen smiled, pleased, then took some flowers and plants from a wrist-worn Soul Tool shaped like a bracer and set them on the table.

"What are these?"

Yu Tianjiao looked at the fragrant flowers and plants, his throat bobbing involuntarily.

"They're rare Immortal Herbs I've spent the last three years collecting for you. They're said to help with Soul Power cultivation. With these, you should be able to return to your peak even faster."

Yu Yuanzhen spoke as casually as he could.

At that, Yu Tianjiao felt a sting in his nose.

He knew about the system, so the three-year gap in his cultivation hadn't made him anxious. But Yu Yuanzhen didn't know that.

Though Yu Tianjiao often tried to reassure his father with playful lines about the Dragon King's return and the like, they clearly hadn't helped. If anything, his father had only tried harder to help him escape his predicament.

They weren't even related by blood, yet Yu Yuanzhen had done all this for him...

"Dad, you really are my own father!" Yu Tianjiao stopped looking at the precious Immortal Herbs and rushed over to give Yu Yuanzhen a bear hug, mumbling, "Once I've made something of myself, I'll take you to the Divine Realm to become a god. Then I'll have the God King serve you tea himself!"

Caught off guard by Yu Tianjiao's embrace and such a direct show of gratitude, Yu Yuanzhen was at a loss for what to do, despite his age.

Once his two biological sons had grown up a little, they'd hardly ever hugged him, let alone said a few affectionate words.

But this adopted son never kept anything to himself. He said what he wanted and did what he wanted, with a truly sincere heart.

"Damn, you want the God King to serve tea? You've got quite the nerve, you little brat!"

After holding it in for a while, all he could manage was a laughing scold. He raised his head, forcing back the tears that had nearly spilled out.

"Haha, a Soul Master who doesn't want to become a god isn't a good Soul Master!"

Yu Tianjiao let go of the old man and said with a laugh.

"Good! That's the spirit!" Yu Yuanzhen praised him, then gave Yu Tianjiao a hearty slap on the shoulder and said with a laugh, "If you can bring home the championship at the Soul Master Tournament two years from now, the Soul Bone inherited by our Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan will be yours. How about it?"

Yu Tianjiao picked up the rare Immortal Herbs beside him, nodded firmly, and gave his answer in a voice that rang like a bell:

"Deal!"