The next day.
Yu Xuan, his strength greatly increased, had just arrived at the training grounds, intending to spar with his fellow disciples.
But the direct-line disciples of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan all crowded around him, making his eyelid twitch as he instinctively took a step back.
"Young master, the clan master said you received a god's inheritance. That's incredible!"
"Young master, I admire you more and more! You really are the greatest genius of our Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan. You've left Gangzi who knows how many streets behind!"
"Young master, the sword mark on your forehead looks so cool!"
The disciples of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan gazed at him fervently, their faces full of longing for the strong.
Yu Xuan couldn't help wiping the nonexistent cold sweat from his forehead as he grumbled inwardly, Father, what on earth have you been telling everyone in the clan since I came back?
Fortunately, something like a Godhood Inheritance was hard to verify. Even if word got out, most people would only regard it as a rumor. He probably wouldn't run into trouble the moment he stepped outside...
Unlike Yu Xuan, who was surrounded like the moon among stars, Yu Xiaogang hid in a dark corner where no one paid him any attention, his teeth clenched and his face full of resentment.
Damn it, big brother even received some god's inheritance!
Weren't gods supposed to be legendary beings?
What kind of dogshit luck did big brother have?
Why hadn't he, Yu Xiaogang, received a god's favor?!
However, no matter how much he complained, nobody came to comfort him. Instead, two burly men came looking for him.
"Young Master Xiaogang, you only had a ten-minute break, and you ran off to the training grounds. Are you planning to spar with someone here?" The scar-faced man's expression darkened.
"No, I never take part in sparring matches with my fellow disciples." Yu Xiaogang hurriedly waved his hands in protest.
"Then what are you standing around here for? Hurry up and come with us!" the burly man with a face full of coarse flesh barked.
"I... all right, I'll go back with you. Please don't hit my bottom."
And so, Yu Xiaogang was dragged away by the two men.
But nobody paid any attention to whether he came or went.
Time flew.
Two years later, at the clan master's residence.
Yu Yuanzhen held a letter in his hand and looked at Yu Luomian, who sat across from him. "Second brother, what do you think of Qian Daoliu's invitation?"
Yu Luomian said, "Big brother, Spirit Hall Academy has deep foundations and a strong cultivation atmosphere. It's a gathering place for geniuses, and one can also build a large network of connections there."
"Since they've extended an invitation, we might as well send Xiao Xuan there to enroll a year from now."
"But I'm afraid Xiao Xuan will shine too brightly and make others wary of him." Worry showed on Yu Yuanzhen's face.
About a day ago, Qian Daoliu, the Pope of Spirit Hall, had sent someone with a letter inviting Yu Yuanzhen to send Yu Xuan to study at Spirit Hall Academy.
At this time, Spirit Hall was not yet as aggressive or ambitious as it would be in later generations. It was considered a faction with a decent reputation on the continent and was quite willing to befriend the various powers across it.
Yu Yuanzhen wasn't actually afraid that Spirit Hall would make a move against Yu Xuan. If he sent Yu Xuan to the academy, Spirit Hall should, by rights, ensure his safety.
What he feared were the other factions. On this continent, hearts were unfathomable, and dangerous people were everywhere.
Yu Luomian sighed softly and said earnestly, "Big brother, you don't see this matter as clearly as I do."
"Xiao Xuan is already eleven. He can't stay in the clan forever. You can protect him for a while, but can you protect him for his whole life? It's time to let him go out and gain some experience."
Seeing Yu Yuanzhen's tightly knitted brows, Yu Luomian continued, "How about this? Call Xiao Xuan over and see whether he wants to go to Spirit Hall Academy himself."
In fact, if they wanted to send Yu Xuan to an academy, their clan had Thunder Academy. It was just that he wouldn't be able to build many connections there, nor would it serve to give him experience.
He had proposed sending Yu Xuan to Spirit Hall Academy because he wanted to use the opportunity to let Yu Xuan befriend more geniuses from various factions, which would benefit the clan's future development.
"All right. We should hear what the boy himself thinks." Yu Yuanzhen nodded, agreeing with his suggestion.
He raised a hand and summoned a menial disciple of the clan, telling him to notify Yu Xuan to come discuss the matter.
Just as the menial disciple ran out of the clan master's residence, over at Yu Xiaogang's residence, pigs were flying and dogs were jumping.
"Hahaha, the four-year wait is over! I, Yu Xiaogang, have finally broken through to level ten!"
Eleven-year-old Yu Xiaogang leaped to his feet, his face full of excitement and smugness. With both hands held behind him, he shot out the door in a flash.
The faces of the two burly men guarding the entrance darkened, and they corrected him in unison, "It's five years!"
Yu Xiaogang's face immediately fell. "How could I not remember? I was just testing you!"
"Hmph, I'm going to find Dad and have him help me hunt for a Soul Ring. Both of you, get out of my way!"
With that, he didn't even glance at the two burly men behind him. He turned and went in search of his beloved dad.
"Hmph, what's he so smug about? I haven't cultivated much these past few years, and I still rose ten levels. I'm almost ready to break through to Soul Ancestor! If I had his resources, I could even make a bid for Soul King!"
After watching him walk away, Scarface spoke with disdain.
Yu Xiaogang ran all the way to the clan master's residence. Bent at the waist and gasping for breath, he looked happier than he would have been at New Year.
Level ten!
He had finally broken through to level ten!
Once he had his first Soul Ring, he could set himself apart from ordinary people!
After receiving the guards' report, Yu Yuanzhen personally came out to see Yu Xiaogang.
"What is it?" Yu Yuanzhen asked with a frown.
"Dad, I... I've broken through to level ten," Yu Xiaogang said, his face flushed and his voice excited.
"Uh..." Something stirred in Yu Yuanzhen's mind. He recalled that when they had gone to obtain a Soul Ring two years ago, Zhu Xun had asked about Yu Xiaogang. His face immediately darkened. "I can't get away right now. Find someone else to take you."
"Father, but I don't know who to ask! You had time when big brother needed to get a Soul Ring!"
Tears filled Yu Xiaogang's eyes. He bit his lip, his face full of grievance.
If I take you to get a Soul Ring, do you want people to laugh at me?
You need me to accompany you on a trip just to get your First Soul Ring, wasting my time. Do I look that idle?
Yu Yuanzhen glared fiercely at him and said in a low voice, "If you don't know who to ask, then go find the two overseers I assigned to you."
Yu Xiaogang stepped forward and hugged his arm, pouting. "No, Dad, I want you to take me to the Star Dou Great Forest to get a Soul Ring. I want to absorb a Thousand-Year Soul Ring too, just like big brother!"
"You..." Yu Yuanzhen nearly spat out a mouthful of blood. He abruptly shook off Gangzi's hand, turned his face toward him and forced him to meet his eyes. "What kind of constitution do you have, and what kind does your big brother have?"
"Don't fool around! You even want to absorb a Thousand-Year Soul Ring? If you explode, wouldn't all the years I've spent raising you have been for nothing?"
"Then take me to the Star Dou Great Forest to get a Soul Ring, and I won't absorb a Thousand-Year Soul Ring." Yu Xiaogang's face was full of stubborn defiance.
He refused to accept it. Why did big brother get all kinds of preferential treatment while nobody cared about him? Even when someone occasionally struck up a conversation with him, it was only to mock him!