The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's convoy slowly climbed the winding mountain road, passed through checkpoint after checkpoint, and finally entered the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan's main residence.
Through the carriage window, Yu Tianlong watched the familiar yet strange buildings outside, a complicated jumble of emotions rising in his heart.
He was back.
Five years ago, he had fled this place in a panic, like a stray dog. Five years later, he sat openly in a carriage belonging to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, returning to this land as an honored guest.
The streets, houses, trees—everything was much as he remembered it. But his state of mind had changed completely.
"Brother Tianlong, what are you thinking about?" Ning Fengzhi asked curiously when he saw him gazing out the window.
"Nothing. It's just my first time visiting the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Sect, and I think the buildings here are quite impressive." Yu Tianlong withdrew his gaze and casually brushed him off.
"Indeed!" Ning Fengzhi perked up. "The Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Sect is, after all, one of the Upper Three Sects, with a deep foundation. This residence has been under construction for hundreds of years, so it's certainly magnificent. But compared with our Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, it still falls a little short."
He finished with a hint of pride unique to his own sect.
Yu Tianlong smiled but said nothing. The carriage stopped in front of the Guest Reception Courtyard reserved for the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect. Sect Master Ning Yuan brought Ning Fengzhi and several core elders out of the carriage, while the elders responsible for receiving guests from the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Sect had already been waiting there.
After exchanging the usual polite greetings, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's party was shown to the VIP courtyard on the west side.
As Ning Fengzhi's "lifesaver," Yu Tianlong was naturally assigned to the same courtyard, where he had a private room of his own.
"Brother Tianlong, get some rest first. The competition starts tomorrow. I'll go sort out your entry!"
Ning Fengzhi patted his shoulder, then excitedly ran off to find his father. Yu Tianlong watched him leave before turning and entering his room.
Once the door was shut, the smile on his face slowly faded, replaced by a cold, hard expression.
He walked to the window and pushed it open, gazing at the magnificent main hall in the distance. That was the heart of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan. Yu Yuanzhen and Yu Xiaogang should be there right now.
Five years had passed. You probably never dreamed I'd come back. Tomorrow, I'll give you a surprise.
At the same time, the main hall of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan was brightly lit and abuzz with voices.
The clan's core members had gathered to make their final preparations for the Three Sects Grand Competition the next day. Yu Yuanzhen, the clan head, sat at the main seat in the center of the hall.
Five years had passed, and he looked a little older. A few strands of white had appeared at his temples, but he was still vigorous, his eyes glittering with ambition and anticipation.
A boy sat beside him.
He looked about thirteen or fourteen, dressed in a magnificent golden brocade robe. His features were delicate, but there was a gloom and viciousness in his expression far beyond his years.
Most striking were his eyes. An unnatural trace of red glimmered in them, and his pupils were slightly slit, like the eyes of some beast. Just looking at them sent a chill down one's spine.
It was Yu Xiaogang.
Five years had passed. He had grown from a frail child into a boy who looked almost like an adult.
He was much taller and sturdier than others his age, and a faint, ferocious aura clung to him—the baleful energy accumulated from years of devouring Soul Beasts and absorbing their blood essence.
"With the young lord leading us this time, victory is assured!" one elder said with a flattering grin.
"A thirteen-year-old Spirit King is unparalleled in the history of the entire continent! The Clear Sky Twin Stars, Ning Fengzhi—compared with the young lord, they're nothing but clay chickens and pottery dogs!"
"Exactly! The young lord is a heaven-sent genius. The champion of this competition can only be his!"
"Clan Head, you've raised your son well. The Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Sect's revival is within reach!"
The elders and core disciples chimed in one after another, their fawning praise flowing without end.
Yu Yuanzhen listened to their flattery with a restrained smile and waved his hand.
"You're all too kind. Xiao Gang has some talent, but he still needs to work hard. He mustn't grow arrogant." Though his words were modest, he couldn't conceal the pride in his eyes.
Yu Xiaogang sat to one side, listening to the praise, the corner of his mouth curling into a faint sneer.
He loved this feeling—being surrounded by everyone, being the center of attention.
Five years had passed. He had gone from a good-for-nothing everyone mocked to a genius everyone feared. No one knew how hard he had worked or how much pain he had endured.
He lowered his head and looked at his hands. Over the past five years, these hands had been stained with the blood of countless Soul Beasts.
Every day, he devoured—Soul Beast flesh and blood, their Soul Rings, every scrap of power he could consume.
Under his frenzied cultivation, Luo Sanpao had evolved into a Golden Dragon more than eight meters long, with astonishing combat strength.
But the price had been enormous. His temper had grown increasingly volatile and bloodthirsty. Sometimes, he even felt an irresistible urge to devour human Soul Masters.
During a Soul Hunting Operation, he had nearly attacked an injured clan guard. He had caught the scent of Soul Power in the man's blood, and the temptation had almost robbed him of reason.
He didn't know what he would become if he carried on like this, and he didn't care. He only knew that he had to grow stronger, make everyone look up to him, and prove he wasn't a good-for-nothing.
"Yu Tianlong..." he murmured, a complicated glint passing through his eyes. "It's been five years. The grass on your grave must be pretty tall by now."
He raised his wine cup and toasted the empty air, a mocking smile curling his lips.
"Cousin, I drink to you. Without you, I wouldn't be where I am today. Tomorrow, I'll win the championship and show everyone that I, Yu Xiaogang, am the true True Dragon of the Yu Family. When the time comes, I'll burn a little paper money for you."
He drained the cup, then slammed it down on the table. A flash of blood-red light glimmered in his eyes.
The next morning, sunlight bathed the entire Nine Dragon Mountain Range. A magnificent arena had already been built on the vast Martial Arts Arena at the center of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan's residence.
Tier upon tier of spectator stands surrounded the arena, with room for more than ten thousand people. The Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan had spared no expense for this competition, making the venue a truly grand spectacle.
As soon as the hour of the Dragon arrived, the spectator stands were already packed. Soul Masters, nobles, merchants, and ordinary people from all over the Heaven Dou Empire had gathered. The place was buzzing with voices and excitement.