But that was how things stood.
Fortunately, thanks to the Golden Iron Triangle, Yu Xiaogang and Liu Erlong quickly accepted that they were cousins.
After all, the two had not known each other for very long, only a few months. During that time, the three of them had remained mostly friends, even addressing one another as siblings. The two had not become lovers; at most, they had developed some affection for each other.
Now that Yu Tianheng had unwittingly brought the truth to light, those feelings that should never have existed came to an abrupt halt.
Presumably, things would not turn into the melodramatic tale of lovers becoming brother and sister.
Flender came up behind them and placed a hand on each of their shoulders. "I was wondering why fate brought us so close," he teased. "Turns out it was because you two are cousins."
"Honestly, though, how did neither of you recognize the other?"
Liu Erlong smiled helplessly. "How was I supposed to know? Xiaogang's Martial Soul isn't the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Martial Soul, and he never told us exactly where he came from. It's understandable that I couldn't figure out who he was."
Yu Xiaogang gave an awkward smile. "I'm ashamed to say I did suspect that Erlong was my second uncle's daughter. But because of her Martial Soul, and because I thought there couldn't possibly be such a coincidence in the world, I didn't pursue the thought. I never expected it to actually be true."
"Alas, fate makes fools of us!"
"Oh well, it doesn't matter." Flender smiled and patted them on the shoulders. "No matter what, the three of us are the best of friends."
At those words, all three nodded together.
Yu Tianheng smiled with satisfaction at the sight.
At the same time, a system notification sounded. "Congratulations, host, on completing the mission: expose the truth, spare Yu Xiaogang and Liu Erlong the painful experiences that awaited them, and change their fates. Reward: 500 Heavenly Mandate Points."
Excellent, I've finally completed the mission. All the effort I put into arranging this wasn't wasted.
Five hundred Heavenly Mandate Points were no small sum to Yu Tianheng at present. Although they were still not enough to exchange for an earth-grade or heaven-grade cultivation technique in the system shop, they were enough to raise the black-grade Innate Skill to perfection.
With the Innate Skill at perfection, his cultivation speed would increase sixfold. Even though he had to cultivate both the Martial Dao and his Martial Soul, ordinary people would still be no match for him.
After listening to their conversation for a while, Yu Tianheng stood up. "Uncle, Aunt Liu Erlong, and Uncle Flender, I came out this time to look for my Second Soul Ring. Meeting you was a coincidence, and I never expected any of this to happen. I can only say it was a fortuitous encounter. It's getting late, so I should be heading back to the clan."
The three knew that Yu Tianheng was a cultivation genius rarely seen in the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan. At just eight years old, his Soul Power Level had already reached level twenty. If he continued at this pace, he would very likely become the youngest Titled Douluo on the continent. His cultivation time was therefore exceedingly precious, and not a moment could be wasted.
So the three made no further attempt to keep him.
Yu Xiaogang stood up. "In that case, let me see you off."
"There's no hurry. Before I leave, I have something to discuss with you, Uncle. But it concerns a clan secret, so could we speak in private?"
Yu Xiaogang was puzzled, but he did not refuse. "Then let's go upstairs to talk."
Yu Tianheng nodded. Uncle and nephew went to a room on the second floor of the hotel, and as soon as they entered, they locked the door to prevent anyone from eavesdropping.
"Tian Heng, what exactly do you have to tell me that's so mysterious?"
Yu Tianheng took a deep breath. "Uncle, I came across an incredible opportunity! One day, I was cultivating on a deserted mountain behind the clan grounds when I suddenly encountered a strange celestial phenomenon. A ray of light shot straight into my sea of consciousness. When I came to my senses, I discovered that I had received an inheritance left behind by an ancient Martial God!" As he spoke, he solemnly mimed the ray of light shooting into his head.
Yu Xiaogang's eyes widened. "Is what you're saying true?" he asked in disbelief. "You actually had such an extraordinary encounter!"
Even the knowledgeable Yu Xiaogang had never heard of a being such as an "ancient Martial God."
Yu Tianheng nodded vigorously and continued, "Absolutely! Uncle, from the inheritance, I learned that besides cultivating Martial Souls, there's also the Martial Dao. The path of the Martial Dao is very different from our way of cultivating, which relies entirely on Martial Souls. It draws out the power hidden within the human body itself, allowing one to grow stronger without relying on a Martial Soul. And when cultivating it, there's no need to hunt Soul Beasts and obtain Soul Rings before breaking through to the next realm. It's truly amazing."
Yu Tianheng then told Yu Xiaogang the basics of the Martial Dao, such as the divisions between its cultivation realms.
"Because of my own strength, I can't unlock the entire inheritance. I can only receive a small part of it."
"Even so, I've benefited tremendously. Uncle, do you know why my Soul Power Level has risen so quickly these past few years? It's because I've been cultivating a technique from the Martial Dao inheritance called the Innate Skill."
"This technique can unlock the human body's unknown potential, refine the body, strengthen one's physique, and increase cultivation speed."
Yu Tianheng looked earnest. "Uncle, I know you've always been held back by your Martial Soul Mutation, unable to break your Soul Power through to level thirty. Now that there's the Innate Skill, perhaps you can find another path and make some progress. At worst, you can try taking a different road, and perhaps your future will be bright. I've committed the technique to memory and can teach it to you now. Would you like to try it?"
For a moment, Yu Xiaogang was filled with complicated feelings, but in the end he nodded. "All right, I'll give it a try. I'm already like this anyway, practically a cripple. I don't have anything to lose."
"If the path of the Martial Dao you speak of is so miraculous, what harm is there in trying?"
Yu Tianheng then told Yu Xiaogang the whole of the Innate Skill and explained its cultivation method in detail, including the secrets of breathing and the route for circulating it through the body. Yu Xiaogang listened intently.
He was an expert in the study of Martial Soul Theory and was exceptionally intelligent himself; otherwise, he could never have become Grandmaster in the future.
Thus, Yu Tianheng only had to explain it once for him to remember everything.
After listening, Yu Xiaogang was deeply shaken. "I've never heard of anything like it, never! If word of our conversation today got out, I'm afraid the entire continent would be shaken."
He looked at Yu Tianheng. "Tian Heng, you trust me so much that you've even revealed such an earth-shattering secret. I'm deeply moved. Rest assured, I absolutely won't tell anyone about this."
Yu Tianheng was just about to say something when a system notification sounded. "The host has taught Yu Xiaogang the Innate Skill and changed his fate. Reward: 10 Heavenly Mandate Points."