"Teacher, Xiao Gang is different. I believe he will one day become renowned across the continent."
"Enough." Qian Xunji rebuked her sternly. "Do you think spouting a few lofty ideals will free him from being trash?"
"Remember this: dreams are all beyond reach. They are merely tools used to deceive people."
"Trash like him can only fool little girls like you."
"I understand men better than you do, especially incapable men like him. They are nothing but empty talk."
Bai Fan was deeply conflicted. Reason told him not to interfere in Bibi Dong's affairs, yet somewhere deep inside, he felt reluctant to let go.
When Bai Fan had read the original novel, he had thought Bibi Dong and Qian Xunji were quite well-suited. If Yu Xiaogang had not interfered, perhaps the two of them could have lived happily together.
Qian Xunji glared at Bai Fan, Angel Sacred Sword in hand and pointed at him.
"You worthless thing from the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, get lost. I have tolerated you until now only for Dong'er's sake. If you dare spread more nonsense, I will kill you immediately."
Qian Xunji had assumed Bai Fan would flee in panic, but Bai Fan lifted his head and met his gaze directly, speaking neither arrogantly nor humbly.
"I am not trash. One day, I will surpass you, crush you beneath my feet, and look down on you from above."
Bai Fan had endured too many cold looks and insults in his previous life. Now that he was simulating a new life, he did not want to continue living so miserably, even if this life ended in haste.
"Hahaha." Qian Xunji laughed loudly as though he had heard some absurd joke. "Trash like you wants to surpass me? Try again in your next life."
Bai Fan said nothing more and turned to leave.
However, Qian Xunji would not let him go so easily. Under Qian Xunji's interference, Bai Fan stumbled and fell to the ground, after which Qian Xunji pinned his head beneath his foot.
"Remember this: stray dogs pay a price for barking wildly. Today, I will be merciful and take only one of your arms and one of your legs."
"Of course, if you kneel before me and beg humbly, I might spare you this once."
Bai Fan struggled desperately, his face full of defiance.
"Teacher, I'll return to Spirit Hall right now. Please let Xiao Gang go!" Bibi Dong pleaded through tears.
Qian Xunji did not lift his foot from Bai Fan. "Since Dong'er has spoken, I will spare you this time. If you dare bark again, I will kill you."
Bai Fan struggled with all his strength, roaring inwardly, Why? Why does it always take a woman begging for mercy? Is Yu Xiaogang destined to live such a lowly life?
No. I, Bai Fan, will never accept my fate.
Qian Xunji lifted his foot and released Bai Fan, then prepared to leave with Bibi Dong. Bai Fan knelt weakly on the ground.
Bibi Dong turned back to look at Bai Fan and shouted, "Xiao Gang, I love you! I'll wait for you to come find me!"
Qian Xunji showed no expression beside her. In his eyes, trash could not stir up any trouble.
Bai Fan lay on the ground, staring up at the sky. "You should not have fallen for me. Fate has destined us to be nothing more than ordinary friends. I will not let tragedy befall you again."
Outside the Heavenly Screen.
Bang. A violent blow exploded through the main hall of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan. "Damn Qian Xunji! How dare he humiliate my son like this!"
"Clan Chief, please calm down. It is only the Heavenly Screen. Xiao Gang was not humiliated by Qian Xunji."
It had been meant as consolation, but after Yu Yuanzhen heard it, his mind automatically compared Yu Xiaogang with Bai Fan from the Heavenly Screen.
Yu Yuanzhen smashed the tea set brutally. "Get out! All of you, get out!"
"Why did I, Yu Yuanzhen, give birth to such a pathetic son? Why is Heaven punishing me like this?!"
Inside Spirit Hall.
Bibi Dong stared blankly at the Heavenly Screen. "Why did you not choose me? Why did you restrain your feelings?"
At that moment, Bibi Dong had already immersed herself in the scene and developed a different kind of affection for Yu Xiaogang within the Heavenly Screen.
Within the Heavenly Screen, Bai Fan began cultivating like mad.
On a silent night, Bai Fan sat alone beside a campfire with a skewer of grilled fish in his hand. He subconsciously asked, "Sister Dong, do you want some?"
Once he came to his senses, an emptiness filled his heart, and he casually tossed the grilled fish onto the ground.
Firelight shone across Bai Fan's face, revealing the melancholy on it.
Little Golden Dragon, curled up nearby, seemed to sense Bai Fan's mood. He moved closer and burrowed about in Bai Fan's arms.
"Stop fooling around, Little Golden Dragon. I'm fine."
The lonely night soon passed, but the feelings buried deep in Bai Fan's heart had never faded. They only continued accumulating with time, and one day, they would erupt completely.
"No, I cannot keep wasting away. Although my Martial Soul possesses the Golden Holy Dragon bloodline, my talent is ultimately still too poor. The original Yu Xiaogang already proved that."
"Even though Little Golden Dragon and Luo Sanpao are now vastly different, their strength has merely improved. Their talent ceiling has never changed."
"It seems it is time to seek out Dugu Bo and obtain a cheat."
Once Bai Fan had an idea, he immediately set it into motion. He first returned to the clan and summoned Yu Yuanzhen.
Led by Yu Yuanzhen, the two arrived at Sunset Forest and found the barrier Dugu Bo had set up.
"Father, can you pass through this layer of poisonous mist?"
Yu Yuanzhen gave Bai Fan's head a hard pat. "You dare question your old man? I'll get through it in no time."
Yu Yuanzhen activated Martial Soul Possession with his Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Martial Soul, transforming his entire body into a dragon before charging into the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well with Bai Fan.
Dugu Bo happened to be cultivating there.
The moment he saw them, Dugu Bo became alert.
"Yu Yuanzhen, how did you find this place?"
"Old Poison, I have brought you good news. We can help resolve the toxins in your body."
While they had been on the road, Bai Fan had already explained the details to Yu Yuanzhen.
When Dugu Bo heard Yu Yuanzhen expose his condition in a single sentence, his expression grew even more grave.
"What exactly do you want?"
Bai Fan took over the conversation between Yu Yuanzhen and Dugu Bo.
"Greetings, Senior Poison. I am Yu Xiaogang, and that man is my father."
"We bear no ill intent on this trip. We simply wish to make a deal with you."
Bai Fan's composed manner caught Dugu Bo's attention. "Tell me, what kind of deal is worth the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan Chief personally coming here?"
"I can help free you from the torment of those toxins. In exchange, you will hand your herb garden over to me to manage."
"Are you certain you can remove the toxins from my body?"
"I am certain. I can wager my life on it."
Seeing Bai Fan's resolute expression, Dugu Bo wavered slightly. "Tell me your treatment plan."
Bai Fan explained the treatment plan from the original novel to Dugu Bo. Dugu Bo's eyes lit up, and he instantly believed more than half of it.
Outside the Heavenly Screen.
Tang San had begun swallowing hard the moment Bai Fan entered the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well.
"There is actually such a treasure land here. I must obtain all these Immortal Herbs."
"I hope the Heavenly Screen does not reveal these Immortal Herbs. They must be mine."
Before you continue