Making Things Up

Seeing Yu Xiaogang in such a pathetic state, Yu Yuanzhen's expression turned even colder. He sighed heavily. "As my bloodline, you're this useless? I only said a few words to you, and you vomited blood and collapsed. You've utterly disgraced the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan!"

Yu Xiaogang lay on the ground, twitching. Seeing that Yu Yuanzhen not only had no intention of helping him up but was instead still berating him, his heart turned to ashes, and he began to cry.

"Waaah... Father, even you look down on me. What's the point of living? You might as well let me die. In your heart, there's only my elder brother. There was never any Yu Xiaogang!"

Hearing Yu Xiaogang's self-destructive words, a trace of softness rose in Yu Yuanzhen's heart. Though he was deeply disappointed in Yu Xiaogang, he was still his son.

"Enough. You're still young. Get up first. A level sixty-two healing-type Soul Emperor has recently joined the sect. I'll have her treat your injuries."

After a moment of silence, Yu Yuanzhen ultimately chose to soothe Yu Xiaogang first, lest he lose his head and truly take his own life.

If word got out, not only would Yu Yuanzhen's reputation suffer, but the sect would be implicated as well. If even his own son could be driven to death, what outside Soul Master would dare join the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan?

Sigh... Yu Xiaogang was just too disappointing. He was nothing but a troublemaking piece of shit!

Being useless would have been one thing. They could have simply treated him like a freeloading parasite. The sect had a vast foundation and could afford to feed him; at most, they would waste some resources.

But he just had to be stubborn and jealous of his elder brother. If no one kept an eye on him, he would start jumping around and causing trouble, never staying put.

Hearing this, Yu Xiaogang felt an inexplicable surge of satisfaction. Thinking he had his father wrapped around his finger, he hurriedly shouted, "That's more like it! Father, hurry and bring that healing Soul Emperor over!"

Yu Yuanzhen's face darkened. He picked him up, walked outside, found the idle Bi Ji, and said softly, "Miss Bi Ji, this is my second son, Yu Xiaogang. He has suffered some internal injuries. Please treat him."

Bi Ji was slightly startled. She remembered that the child had been perfectly fine when he entered earlier. How had he been injured in the blink of an eye? Could there have been some family conflict?

Quickly suppressing her thoughts, she smiled lightly. "Rest assured, Sect Master. Leave him to me."

"Good." Yu Yuanzhen placed Yu Xiaogang on the ground and sighed with an expression of disappointment. "The reason you can receive treatment so quickly this time is all thanks to your elder brother."

"This young lady was personally recruited into the sect by your elder brother. She now works under him. You really are completely useless!"

"What? She's one of my elder brother's people?!"

Yu Xiaogang's eyes suddenly widened. Clutching his aching abdomen, he spat out another mouthful of bloody mist.

"Sigh, sorry to trouble you, Miss Bi Ji." Yu Yuanzhen shook his head with a sigh, said nothing more, and turned to leave.

Bi Ji blinked lightly and looked at Yu Xiaogang lying on the ground. From their conversation, she vaguely guessed that this boy did not get along with Yu Mingxiao. She immediately decided to put on a show without putting in any real effort.

Yu Yuanzhen returned to the hall and sighed softly. "Your younger brother is truly too immature. Don't lower yourself to his level."

"Father, I understand," Yu Mingxiao replied quietly.

Ever since awakening the Radiant Sacred Dragon, he had barely paid Yu Xiaogang any attention. This kid had no real ability, yet always thought highly of himself. Talking to him was simply a waste of time.

Yu Yuanzhen nodded slightly, his face full of curiosity. "Mingxiao, how exactly did you obtain this Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Ring? A Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Ring isn't some common vegetable. It's a legendary treasure, and very few people in the outside world have ever even seen one."

"It's a long story..."

After pondering for a moment, Yu Mingxiao said, "When Dugu Bo and I went to the Star Dou Great Forest to hunt for Soul Rings, we were suddenly captured by a Black Dragon."

"That Black Dragon took us to a lake overflowing with life energy. Based on my guess, it was likely the most central region of the Star Dou Great Forest."

"Then, he took Na'er beneath the lake and ignored me. I secretly ran away."

"On the way, however, a Hundred-Thousand-Year Radiant Flying Dragon King suddenly blocked my path. It said it wanted to Sacrifice itself to me, asking only that after I became a god, I revive it so we could live forever together."

"I didn't believe it at all then, but I also knew I was no match for a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast. So, half-believing and half-doubting, I accepted its Sacrifice."

"I never expected that Radiant Flying Dragon King to truly Sacrifice itself to me, and I obtained a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Ring as a result."

"And Bi Ji happened to witness the moment its Sacrifice was completed."

"After talking with her, I learned that her other two companions had both died at the jaws of Soul Beasts. So I asked whether she was willing to join the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, and she agreed at once."

"So, the one that Sacrificed itself to you was a Radiant Flying Dragon King? It willingly made the Sacrifice because it believed you could become a god in the future?"

Yu Yuanzhen looked astonished, his fingers unconsciously tapping the table. He always felt that something was off.

"That's right." Yu Mingxiao nodded faintly.

"Are there really gods in this world?" Yu Yuanzhen's gaze narrowed slightly, as if he were asking Yu Mingxiao, yet also asking himself.

"Of course there are," Yu Mingxiao said. "I've heard that Spirit Hall enshrines the Angel God."

"The Angel God is too distant from us. Besides, in thousands of years, no one has ever been said to have truly become a god." Yu Yuanzhen shook his head.

Before Yu Mingxiao could speak, he suddenly seemed to think of something and muttered, "That Radiant Flying Dragon King willingly Sacrificed itself to you merely for illusory immortality. This is far too strange. There must be another reason!"

After a brief pause, Yu Yuanzhen's eyes lit up as realization dawned on him. "Perhaps that Soul Beast had already been seriously injured before its Sacrifice. It knew it could not survive the Heavenly Tribulation, while taking human form was too risky, so it chose you because of your exceptional talent!"

I didn't expect Father to be this good at making things up... Yu Mingxiao silently mocked, but smiled and said, "Perhaps that was it."

"Mingxiao, your fortune truly reaches the heavens." Yu Yuanzhen sighed emotionally, then warned, "But remember not to draw too much attention to yourself. Unless necessary, try not to use your fifth soul skill."

"Though our Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan is one of the Upper Three Sects, there is no guarantee that other factions will not see you as a grave threat and secretly send people after you."

Spirit Hall should be fine. They styled themselves as the holy land of Soul Masters, and Qian Daoliu had always held himself in high regard, so he would likely disdain sending someone to eliminate a potential threat. The Clear Sky Sect was the same. The one they truly needed to guard against was the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.

Yu Yuanzhen did not voice his thoughts. One could never be too cautious; guarding against everyone was the safest approach.

"Father, I understand what you mean. Since I possess a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Ring, I can easily arouse others' jealousy. But what if I can disguise the color of my Soul Ring?"

Yu Mingxiao smiled faintly as five Soul Rings slowly rose beneath his feet.

One yellow, two purple, and two black Soul Rings emerged. The Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Ring that had previously been blood-red turned into a black Soul Ring, appearing no different from the fourth Soul Ring.

"Hm? Why has your fifth Soul Ring turned black?" Yu Yuanzhen asked, completely puzzled.

Yu Mingxiao explained, "I adjusted the wavelength of the light emitted by the Soul Ring until it became invisible to the naked eye. Then I used spiritual power to enclose the small area containing the Soul Ring and absorbed all the light within it. Without any light in that spot, what others see is a pitch-black ring."

Yu Yuanzhen was utterly confused. He gently shook his head. "I don't understand how you did it, but the fact that you can change the color of a Soul Ring truly surprises me."

"Still, if someone examines it carefully, they can detect traces of spiritual power, and the aura of a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Ring is fundamentally different from that of a Ten-Thousand-Year Soul Ring. If you can master this technique, I will be much less worried when you travel outside."

Yu Mingxiao nodded, deciding to find time to practice this technique later. That way, he could both train his control over spiritual power and practice the subtle restraint and release of his aura.