Yu Luomian's Investment

Furthermore, Yu Hong had just beaten up Yu Xiaogang; if they only cultivated Yu Xiaogang and not Yu Hong, it would sound even worse if word got out.

"The Second Master speaks sense!" The Third Elder, Yu Qingming, nodded in agreement. "Treating them equally is the only way to show the magnanimity of our Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon family."

"That's right, cultivate them fairly; who becomes a talent depends on their own fortune," another elder chimed in.

"I agree as well."

"Seconded."

For a moment, a chorus of agreement rang out through the hall.

Yu Yuanzhen looked at these elders, who were usually so submissive to him, now all standing on their high horses to support "fair cultivation," and felt incredibly stifled.

He knew exactly what these people were plotting.

It was nothing more than seeing his son was a waste and wanting to take the opportunity to weaken his influence.

But things had reached this point; if he were to forcibly object, he would only give them ammunition and make himself, the patriarch, look petty.

"Fine." Yu Yuanzhen took a deep breath and spat out the word with difficulty. "We shall do as you all say. Yu Xiaogang and Yu Hong will be cultivated together."

The corners of Yu Luomian's mouth curled up slightly before returning to normal. He cupped his hands and said, "Big brother is wise!"

Yu Yuanzhen glanced at him without a word.

Wise my ass. Do you think I don't know I've been played by you?

But for the sake of his son getting resources, he had to hold his nose and accept it.

Yu Luomian continued, "Big brother, I have a proposal. I wonder if you would agree?"

Yu Yuanzhen looked at Yu Luomian and asked, "What proposal?"

Yu Luomian said with a chuckle, "I don't think the family should provide resources to them indefinitely. After all, resources don't just fall from the sky."

Yu Yuanzhen raised an eyebrow. "Brother, what are your thoughts?"

Yu Luomian replied, "My idea is to only provide them with six years of resources. After they turn twelve, let them have a match. Whoever wins gets to enjoy the next six years of resources, and after eighteen, no more resources will be provided."

Yu Yuanzhen's eyes lit up upon hearing Yu Luomian's words. He thought to himself that his good brother was indeed looking out for him.

He had actually misjudged his own brother.

How could a common clansman like Yu Hong compare to Yu Xiaogang?

With both enjoying the same resources, he could secretly provide some extra to Xiaogang, and after six years, Yu Xiaogang would surely crush Yu Hong.

If Yu Xiaogang hadn't achieved anything by the age of eighteen, then he would have no choice but to give up on him.

The other elders heard Yu Luomian's words and felt it was feasible, nodding in agreement one after another.

Yu Yuanzhen coughed and said, "Fine, we shall do as Luomian says."

After the discussion concluded, everyone dispersed.

On the other side, at Yu Hong's home.

Yu Hong held a ten-year Whale Rubber, pondering how to make the White Stone of the Ancients evolve into the Blue-Eyes White Dragon.

He felt there was only one reason why his martial soul was the White Stone of the Ancients.

The reason was that his soul power was insufficient; it required a massive amount of soul power to evolve.

Yu Hong felt he needed to consume a large number of soul beasts and various resources, while simultaneously improving his physique.

The Blue-Eyes White Dragon martial soul was undoubtedly a top-tier martial soul, and Yu Hong believed that to withstand such a martial soul, one needed a strong body.

How does one obtain a strong body?

By consuming Whale Rubber and engaging in training.

Yu Hong sometimes felt that some protagonists in Douluo fanfiction were absurd, starting their training at two or three years old.

Buddy, you're only two or three; can your body even handle that?

Although he hadn't started training, he had used his connections with his late parents to collect a large amount of Whale Rubber to improve his physique.

Currently, the price of Whale Rubber wasn't high, and no one had discovered that this stuff could improve one's physique.

Most people primarily used Whale Rubber as an aphrodisiac or as a medicinal ingredient.

Just as he was thinking, a knock came from the courtyard gate.

"Is Yu Hong in?"

Yu Hong put away his martial soul and stood up to open the door.

The person standing outside made him pause for a moment.

"Vice Patriarch?"

Yu Luomian stood at the door with a smile, holding a bracelet-style storage Soul Tool in his hand.

"What, no welcome for the Vice Patriarch dropping by?" Yu Luomian laughed.

Yu Hong stepped aside. "Please come in, Vice Patriarch."

Yu Luomian stepped into the courtyard, casting a glance around.

The courtyard was not large; it was kept reasonably tidy, though it appeared somewhat crude.

"It hasn't been easy for you, living here all by yourself," Yu Luomian remarked with a sigh. "Your parents passed away early; these years have been hard on you."

Yu Hong's expression remained calm: "I'm used to it."

Yu Luomian sat on a stone stool, placed the bracelet-style Soul Tool he was holding onto the table, and pushed it toward Yu Hong.

"Here, this is something the Vice Clan Leader brought for you. Some medicinal herbs to nourish your body, along with some money. Take it."

Yu Hong glanced at the bracelet-style Soul Tool but did not reach out to take it: "Vice Clan Leader, please just say what you have to say."

Yu Luomian was taken aback for a moment, then burst into laughter.

"Good lad, direct enough!" He wiped away his smile and said sternly, "Fine, then the Vice Clan Leader won't beat around the bush. You probably don't know about what happened in the Council Hall today, do you?"

Yu Hong shook his head.

Yu Luomian then recounted everything that had happened in the Council Hall to Yu Hong, point by point.

From Yu Yuanzhen wanting to cultivate Yu Xiaogang, to his own proposal for fair cultivation, and finally, the six-year agreement that had been set.

"In other words, starting today, the clan will provide you and Yu Xiaogang with equal cultivation resources," Yu Luomian said. "Six years from now, the two of you will have a match. Whoever wins will continue to enjoy the resources for the following six years."

After listening, Yu Hong was silent for a moment before asking: "Why is the Vice Clan Leader helping me?"

Yu Luomian smiled: "The Vice Clan Leader just can't stand people using their status to bully others. That beating you gave Yu Xiaogang today was well-deserved! That brat is usually arrogant and domineering; someone should have taught him a lesson long ago."

Yu Hong looked at Yu Luomian without saying a word.

He certainly did not believe this rhetoric.

Yu Luomian was helping him for no other reason than to use him to spite Yu Yuanzhen.

But that didn't matter.

As long as he could obtain the resources, who cared about the motive?

"The Vice Clan Leader will have supplies sent to you every month." Yu Luomian stood up and patted Yu Hong on the shoulder. "Cultivate well. Six years from now, don't let the Vice Clan Leader down."

Having said that, he gave Yu Hong a meaningful look.

"That brat Yu Xiaogang has been pampered since he was a child and can't endure hardship. As long as you are willing to put in the effort, you might not lack a chance of winning in six years."

Yu Hong nodded: "I understand."

Yu Luomian smiled with satisfaction and turned to walk toward the door.

When he reached the entrance, Yu Luomian stopped and looked back: "Oh, right. The Clan Leader will surely give Yu Xiaogang special treatment in secret. Keep that in mind; don't be so naive as to think this is a truly fair competition."

"Many thanks for the reminder, Vice Clan Leader."

Yu Luomian waved his hand and strode away.

Yu Hong stood in the courtyard, watching Yu Luomian's departing back, the corners of his mouth curling up slightly.

This man, Yu Luomian, was quite interesting.

He clearly wanted to use him as a pawn, yet he insisted on putting on the facade of a concerned elder.

But it didn't matter.

Six years was enough time for him to do many things.