Five hours later.
The scattered Soul Power gradually gathered back together, and Yu Mingxiao slowly opened his eyes. A smile appeared on his face.
"How is it? Did anything change?" Yu Yuanzhen's gaze swept over him repeatedly. Seeing a layer of black grime seeping from his body, he slightly furrowed his brows.
Yu Mingxiao smiled. "Father, this Immortal Herb purified my bloodline. And I've broken through to Level 20."
"You broke through to Level 20? How did it happen so quickly?" Yu Yuanzhen's eyes widened, his face filled with disbelief. "You only broke through to Level 13 some time ago!"
Yang Dingtian thought for a moment before saying, "Some Immortal Herbs contain enormous medicinal power. If that power can be fully absorbed, it can cause Soul Power to surge."
"Is that so?" Yu Yuanzhen's expression relaxed slightly, but he continued asking, "Will this sudden increase in Soul Power leave it unstable? Will it affect his foundation?"
Yang Dingtian said, "It's said that the Bright Dragon Ganoderma has the effect of strengthening the foundation and nourishing the essence. Not only will it not leave the Young Sect Master's Soul Power unstable, it will instead make his foundation even firmer."
"I'll check." Yu Yuanzhen's expression turned solemn as he reached out, grasped Yu Mingxiao's wrist, and gave it a squeeze.
He had reservations about using external objects to increase one's cultivation. Yu Mingxiao was the future of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, and there absolutely could not be the slightest mishap.
"Phew~" After a moment, Yu Yuanzhen repeatedly confirmed that Yu Mingxiao's foundation was stable and that his Soul Power had not become unstable. Only then did he let out a heavy sigh of relief.
Knowing full well yet pretending not to, Yu Mingxiao asked, "Father, there weren't any adverse effects on my body, were there?"
"No. Everything is fine, and your physical constitution has grown considerably stronger." A smile returned to Yu Yuanzhen's face.
"Then we'll have to make another trip out," Yu Mingxiao said with a faint smile.
Yu Yuanzhen shook his head and laughed. "Mingxiao, since you've already broken through to Level 20, we'll go to the Star Dou Great Forest again three days from now. For the time being, get used to your greatly increased Soul Power."
"Sure, no problem," Yu Mingxiao replied.
Yu Yuanzhen said, "You stink terribly. Go back and take a bath first. I still have some matters to deal with."
Yu Mingxiao bade his father farewell and returned to the courtyard.
As he passed Yu Xiaogang's room, he saw that the door was open. At a glance, he spotted Yu Xiaogang sitting cross-legged in meditation. His Soul Power was so weak that it was almost impossible to sense, barely any different from when his Martial Soul Awakening had taken place.
Indeed, there were no useless Martial Souls, only useless people. The Martial Soul Awakening from some time ago had given that saying the fullest possible explanation.
If only you had been willing to work hard before the age of six and fight for a little pride, how could you have dragged your Martial Soul down and caused its mutation to fail?
How could you have ended up in your current state?
Yu Mingxiao shook his head and no longer paid attention to this future Grand Master who had great ambitions but little ability. He quickly returned to his own room.
That said, although Yu Xiaogang often read books these days, he did not seem to have embarked on that crooked path yet. He had not developed the idea of becoming a theoretical Grand Master.
Perhaps that path had never been viable in the first place.
He had lived on the Douluo Continent for six years, yet he had never heard of a single theoretical grandmaster who was famous throughout the world.
The various factions understood all kinds of miscellaneous theoretical knowledge perfectly well. They simply kept it to themselves and never spread it beyond their circles.
As for true powerhouses, they devoted themselves wholeheartedly to cultivation and increasing their strength. They would never waste their time researching those theories.
On this continent, only strength was respected. Theory was not valued.
Perhaps it was because of this environment that Yu Xiaogang's path forward had been cut off. He had then tried to prove his worth and wash away his humiliation through that route.
Unfortunately, when that path—one that no one cared about—fell into Yu Xiaogang's hands, it instead became a crooked path.
The next day.
Yu Mingxiao rose early in the morning and, as usual, jogged around the clan.
After running for a while, he returned to the courtyard and enjoyed the breakfast prepared by the chef.
Yu Yuanzhen walked in from outside, carrying two bundles of medicinal herbs, one large and one small.
He placed the heavier bundle on the table.
"Mingxiao, you exercise frequently. Use these herbs for now to take medicinal baths. When you run out, have someone notify me, and I'll send more over."
"Okay." Yu Mingxiao was somewhat surprised that his father had personally delivered the herbs, but he did not think much of it. He asked, "Father, are there any vacant courtyards in the clan? I want to live by myself."
"Live by yourself?" Yu Yuanzhen froze, and his expression darkened slightly. Angrily, he asked, "Did Xiaogang say something foolish to mislead you again?"
Yu Mingxiao shook his head. "He didn't say anything. It just feels freer to live alone, and I'll have more private space, which will make it easier to cultivate in peace."
"Is that so?" Yu Yuanzhen suddenly understood, and his expression relaxed slightly. "I suppose I failed to consider that."
"Since you want to live alone, I'll arrange a courtyard for you tomorrow."
"I'll be going now. I might as well check on Xiaogang while I'm at it. That good-for-nothing is definitely slacking off again."
Yu Yuanzhen turned and walked out, heading straight for the room where Yu Xiaogang lived on the other side. Without knocking, he kicked the door open and strode inside.
"Bang—"
Yu Xiaogang was instantly startled awake. He opened his eyes and cursed, "Who is it? How dare you kick down my door just to enter my room? Are you looking to die?!"
But as his mind gradually cleared and he saw that imposing figure, his entire body trembled, and he jolted fully awake.
"F-Father..."
Yu Xiaogang's voice grew quieter and quieter. His eyes darted around before he slowly lowered his head.
"Xiaogang, didn't I tell you before to temper your body properly and cultivate your Soul Power? It's already this late, so why are you still lying in bed!?" Yu Yuanzhen strode forward, grabbed him by the ear, and berated him angrily.
"Ah, it hurts! F-Father, I..." Yu Xiaogang tried to argue, but when the words reached his lips, he could not utter a single one.
Yu Yuanzhen slowly released his fingers and sighed. "Xiaogang, when will you finally grow up? Could awakening a Trash Martial Soul have made you useless as a person too?"
"Your Innate Soul Power really is only Level 0.5. I don't expect you to become an unparalleled powerhouse, but you can't be this dispirited at the very least!"
"It seems I've been too lenient in pushing you. From today onward, I'll have someone stand guard outside your door and watch you twenty-four hours a day, forcing you to cultivate properly!"
The moment Yu Yuanzhen said this, Yu Xiaogang's mind shook violently. He felt as though the sky had collapsed.
What kind of supervision was this? This wasn't discipline at all. It was clearly imprisoning him like a criminal!
From now on, his every action would be constrained, and he would have no freedom whatsoever!
"What about Big Brother? Did you send someone to supervise him too?" Yu Xiaogang gathered his courage, raised his head, and demanded.
"You still have the nerve to mention your big brother?" Yu Yuanzhen roared. "If you had even half his ambition, I wouldn't have to worry so much!"
"Your big brother has already broken through to Level 20. In a few days, I'll take him to the Star Dou Great Forest again."
"You stay home and behave yourself. Cultivate properly!"
"What? T-Twenty?!" Yu Xiaogang's face was full of disbelief. He blurted out, "Father, if you're trying to provoke me by using Big Brother, at least say something believable!"
"He only obtained his First Soul Ring not long ago. How could he possibly break through to Level 20 so quickly!"
Before you continue