Chapter 365: A Gust Named Gangzi Starts Swirling Again
While Bibi Dong once again faced the Rakshasa Eighth Trial, striving to obtain the Heart of Rakshasa, Yu Xiaogang was feeling restless.
After the Soul Master Tournament, he returned to his clan alongside his Titled Douluo father. However, within days, he received news of the massacre of the Clear Sky Clan. Terrified, he didn't dare leave his room, afraid that his former connection to Tang San would somehow implicate him.
Even after news of Tang Yuehua's death reached him, and no one came looking for him, he finally breathed a sigh of relief.
As for Tang Hao's death, he could only say, "Good riddance." Deep in his heart, he blamed Tang Hao for the way his life had turned out.
As for Tang San, though he felt a bit of regret, he quickly put it behind him.
The dead were dead there was no point dwelling on it.
So called mentor student bonds, father son affection all debts died with the deceased. The past was too painful to revisit.
Rather than being trapped by old memories, it was better to focus on the future.
But life in the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan was far from pleasant.
He had once been publicly expelled from the clan. His plan had been to use the Marrow Replacement Secret Technique and his father's influence to make a glorious return.
But after what happened to the Clear Sky Clan, how could he still dare to bring it up? In fact, he even felt lucky that Tang Hao and Tang San had taken all the blame for that technique and never mentioned his involvement allowing him to escape unscathed.
Han Li's Heavenly Profound Art, which had been spreading across the continent, had indeed benefited him but there was one major problem.
He didn't dare to keep cultivating it.
Dai Mubai's brutal death had scared him senseless.
Others might not understand, but he did.
After all, he had also undergone marrow replacement not just one limb, but all four.
Who knew when he might start showing traces of a spirit beast's aura?
This tormented him.
Before, he had been shackled by his poor talent, unable to advance no matter how hard he tried.
Now, he finally had a way to cultivate but he didn't dare to use it.
Soul Elder was just within reach, yet he couldn't move forward. This frustration was driving him mad.
And in the clan, he felt like nothing more than an outsider.
Aside from his father, no one acknowledged him.
Every time he stepped out of his room, he could feel the stares, as if everyone was mocking him behind his back.
He wanted to leave again.
Staying in the clan any longer would drive him insane.
With the continent's situation relatively stable, perhaps he could start over elsewhere.
From everything that had happened, he had come to one undeniable conclusion
The Spirit Hall was truly the strongest force on the continent.
Not just strong overwhelmingly strong.
So, he decided to walk his old path once more to join the Spirit Hall.
But this time, he wouldn't go empty handed.
He was well aware of what everyone in the world was most focused on right now
Han Li's Heavenly Profound Art.
And as it so happened, he had "researched" it extensively.
Yes, he had studied it seriously.
During his time cooped up in the clan, he had compared it with his old meridian diagrams, cross referenced it with his own cultivation experiences, and he had found something.
He believed he had discovered a minor flaw.
A small, yet significant improvement that he could offer.
Of course, he had not dared to test it on himself.
But he was certain.
He had memorized everything, then burned the meridian diagrams to keep the secret safe.
This would be his bargaining chip for negotiations with the Spirit Hall.
Unfortunately for Yu Xiaogang, he had no idea
The simplified version of the Heavenly Profound Art had intentionally omitted certain meridian routes.
The path he had identified in Tang San's knowledge from his past life was known as the Ren and Du Meridians.
And what he didn't know was that, in the complete version of the Heavenly Profound Art, those meridians were only meant to be opened after reaching Soul Sage, in the eighth level of the technique.
In the world of soul masters, innate soul power partially represented the width and smoothness of one's meridians.
Without extraordinary opportunities, a soul master could only reach a fully connected meridian system at the Soul Sage level.
And the Ren and Du Meridians?
They weren't something just anyone could open at will.
Having made his decision, Yu Xiaogang approached his father, Yu Yuanzhen, and began actively assisting him in handling clan affairs.
Seeing this change in his son, Yu Yuanzhen was overjoyed.
After fifty some years, his son had finally matured.
Though a little late, for a Super Douluo like him, it wasn't too late at all.
For half a month, Yu Yuanzhen wore a smile on his face every day.
And then, one day
He saw Yu Xiaogang kneel before him.
"…Xiaogang, get up! What are you doing?"
Yu Yuanzhen hurriedly stepped forward to help him up, only to see his son's determined expression, which made him pause.
"…Father, I'm sorry. I've been a disappointment for so many years and caused you so much worry."
With that, he kowtowed three times, heavily.
Yu Yuanzhen felt a mix of heartbreak and relief
His son had truly grown up.
"No need… no need! It's not too late."
After all, this was his son.
Afraid he might keep bowing, Yu Yuanzhen forcibly pulled him up and seated him on a chair.
"You've always been stubborn since childhood. But now that you've come to understand things, that's all that matters."
"From now on, stay by my side. Help me with clan affairs. You can continue your cultivation you can definitely reach Soul Elder."
"In a while, I'll even arrange a marriage for you. With me here, you don't have to worry no one will dare to say anything."
Yu Yuanzhen spoke with absolute confidence and he meant it.
If Yu Xiaogang hadn't been so prideful, eccentric, and self destructive in the past, rejecting his father's kindness outright, no one would have dared to say anything about him being Yu Yuanzhen's son.
Just look at Tang Yuehua did anyone from the Clear Sky Clan dare to gossip about her?
Listening to his father's words, Yu Xiaogang felt a surge of emotion. For a moment, he was even tempted to stay and follow his father's wishes.
But then, his gaze fell on the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan emblem on his father's robe.
In that instant, the mocking and disdainful looks from the clan members stabbed at his already sensitive heart once again.
Yu Yuanzhen noticed the shift in his emotions. He opened his mouth, about to say something, but before he could, Yu Xiaogang spoke first.
"Thank you, Father. I truly appreciate your kindness… but I don't want to bring you any more ridicule because of me."
At that moment, Yu Xiaogang raised his head, his expression serious and sincere.
He understood his father's feelings and never once blamed him.
From childhood to now, Yu Yuanzhen had always cared for him far more than his other siblings, even furiously defending him and warning the clan against speaking ill of him.
But human nature is not something that can be changed through mere strength.
Yu Yuanzhen had never wronged him not even once.
Even when he was expelled from the clan, his father had no choice but to comply with the elders. Afterward, he even sought him out and tried to compensate him.
And now, choosing not to stay in the clan was just his way of avoiding his father's care.
"Xiaogang, you actually…"
Yu Yuanzhen looked at his infamously weak son, his emotions complicated.
"No, Father… Let me be selfish one last time."
"After all… my reputation can't get any worse than it already is."
Yu Xiaogang cut him off, afraid that if he listened any longer, he might actually be convinced to stay.
Yu Yuanzhen stared at him for a long time before finally closing his eyes.
After what felt like forever, he exhaled deeply and opened them again.
"Alright… speak. Tell me what you want to do."
"But I make no promises. If I don't find your plan acceptable, then you will do as I say and live out your life in peace. Agreed?"
His tone was firm.
On the surface, the continent seemed calm, but beneath it, dark currents were surging.
He wanted to be a good father, but he was also a clan leader.
"Agreed."
Yu Xiaogang nodded decisively.
He needed his father's financial support that was why he had spent the last half month carefully laying the groundwork for this moment.
"Father, I plan to return to Spirit City."
Summoning all his courage, he finally spoke his plan aloud.
"Spirit City?"
Yu Yuanzhen's brows furrowed.
He didn't understand why go back there?
Yu Xiaogang's downfall truly began when he first went to Spirit City years ago.
"What do you intend to do there?"
"I'm going to see Bibi Dong… and try to establish friendly relations with Spirit Hall."
Seeing his father's face darken, Yu Xiaogang quickly continued before he could be interrupted.
"Father, please don't refuse me yet. I've thought this through carefully."
"The destruction of the Clear Sky Clan already proves Spirit Hall's overwhelming strength. And despite that, they have even strengthened their ties with the Heaven Dou Empire."
"Father, our Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan is weaker than the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan. We should start planning for the future."
At this, he paused, then let out a self deprecating laugh.
"Father, you know this already… I once had a past with Bibi Dong."
"Actually… before the Soul Master Tournament, I even met with her once."
"You met with her?"
Yu Yuanzhen took a deep breath, resisting the urge to slap him.
Even to this day, he couldn't comprehend how Bibi Dong had ever fallen for his son in the first place.
"Yes… she wasn't exactly friendly, but she wasn't completely indifferent either."
Yu Xiaogang didn't mention that his last meeting with Bibi Dong had been to beg her for a twin martial soul cultivation method for Tang San.
That was a dangerous topic best left untouched.
Back then, before he had mentioned Tang San, Bibi Dong's attitude towards him had actually been decent.
He had sworn never to see her again, but circumstances had changed.
He had no choice but to take a gamble.
He couldn't let this opportunity to rise again slip through his fingers.
"So, what exactly do you want to do?"
Yu Yuanzhen stared at him deeply.
"I want to act as a bridge between Spirit Hall and our clan."
"This is not like before. Now, Bibi Dong is the true leader of Spirit Hall."
"You don't need to worry I have no delusions of recreating the past. I simply hope she might still hold onto some sentiment for me."
"If I can use this chance to slightly ease tensions between our clan and Spirit Hall, it could be a great benefit in the future."
"I will present myself as a scholar."
"And right now, the entire continent is obsessed with Han Li's Heavenly Profound Art. That will be my excuse."
"If I succeed, great. And if I fail, things won't be any worse than they already are, right?"
"As for humiliation I'm used to it."
"Father, if it goes badly, you can even publicly disown me again. It's already a known fact that I have no connection to the clan."
"It won't affect anyone."
"In the past… I was reckless. But now, I just want to do something for you and for the clan."
"Please… grant me this chance."
Yu Xiaogang buried his true motives within a flood of reasoning, then took two steps back, bent his upper body to a full 90 degrees, and bowed deeply.
He wanted this desperately.
He had been stagnant for far too long.
He needed to move forward.
(End of Chapter)
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