Douluo Dalu: Lucky Star

When Bibi Dong faced the Eighth Trial of the Rakshasa God again, attempting to obtain the Rakshasa Heart, Yu Xiaogang found himself troubled. After the Soul Master Tournament ended, he returned to the sect with his Titled Douluo father. However, not long after, he received the shocking news of the Clear Sky Sect's annihilation. This frightened him so much that he didn't dare step outside his room, fearing that his previous mentor-student relationship with Tang San might implicate him. It wasn't until news of Tang Yuehua's death also came, and no one sought him out, that he felt somewhat relieved. As for Tang Hao's death, he could only think, "Serves him right." Deep down, Yu Xiaogang blamed Tang Hao for his current state. Regarding Tang San, though he felt some regret, he soon cast it aside. The dead are gone.

What's the point in dwelling on it?

As for notions of master-disciple bonds or familial love, they were meaningless to him now. The dead erase their debts, and the past is best left unremembered. Rather than live in the past, it's better to look toward the future.

Life in the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan was far from pleasant for him. After all, he had been publicly expelled from the sect. Initially, he had planned to use the Bone-Replacement Secret Technique, along with his father's support, to make a glorious return.

But with the Clear Sky Sect incident as a precedent, how could he dare bring it up again?

He even felt a bit lucky that Tang Hao and his son took full responsibility for the secret technique and never implicated him, sparing him from disaster.

He had also practiced the Mysterious Heaven Technique that Han Li had spread. It was useful to him, but there was one major problem: he didn't dare continue cultivating it. The incident where Dai Mubai was struck down on the spot left a profound impression on him. Unlike others, he understood the risks involved. He had also undergone bone replacement, with all four of his limbs altered. He couldn't be certain that if he continued cultivating, his body wouldn't start emanating soul beast energy like others at some point. This left him deeply frustrated. In the past, his innate talent had limited him, no matter how hard he tried. Now, he could cultivate and was even close to breaking through to the Soul Ancestor rank, yet he didn't dare take the next step. The bitterness of this predicament was driving him mad

.In the sect, he felt like a mere guest. Aside from his father, no one paid him any attention. Every time he left his room, he felt the weight of mocking gazes on him, as though everyone was laughing at him behind his back. He wanted to leave again. Staying in the family home any longer would drive him to insanity. The current peaceful situation on the continent gave him hope that he could start anew elsewhere. Reflecting on past events, he concluded one thing: the Spirit Hall was truly powerful, dominating the continent with unparalleled strength. He decided to follow his old path and seek to join the Spirit Hall.

Of course, he wasn't without preparation. He understood well what the entire continent was most focused on now: the Mysterious Heaven Technique made public by Han Li, the Spirit Hall's Holy Son. Conveniently, he had done a bit of research on this technique himself. Yes, he had studied it seriously. During his time in the sect, when he refused to go out, he hadn't been idle. Comparing it with the meridian diagrams he had previously compiled and experimenting with the technique's circulation, he believed he could offer some small, preliminary suggestions for improvement. However, for personal reasons, he hadn't dared to test these adjustments on himself. He was confident in his conclusions, so he burned the annotated meridian diagrams and buried the insights deep in his mind. This would be his bargaining chip for future negotiations.

What Yu Xiaogang didn't know was that the simplified version of the Mysterious Heaven Technique deliberately omitted the meridian diagrams. The areas he marked corresponded to what Tang San had referred to as the Ren and Du meridians in his mind. Furthermore, in the full version of the Mysterious Heaven Technique submitted to the Spirit Hall, the Ren and Du meridians only became relevant at the eighth layer of the internal cultivation method, accessible after breaking through the Soul Sage rank. For soul masters in the Douluo Continent, innate soul power somewhat correlated with the breadth and flow of their meridians. Without fortuitous encounters, only those who reached the Soul Sage level could achieve fully unobstructed meridians. The Ren and Du meridians were never easily overcome.

Having made his decision, Yu Xiaogang sought out his clan leader father and began assisting him, even offering help with mundane family matters. Yu Yuan Zhen was pleased with his son's change, believing that Yu Xiaogang had finally matured in his fifties. Though a bit late, for a Soul Master like him, it wasn't too late at all.

For half a month, a smile rarely left Yu Yuan Zhen's face. Then, he saw Yu Xiaogang kneel before him.

"Xiaogang, get up! What are you doing?"

Yu Yuan Zhen scolded his son and tried to help him up, but he stopped when he saw Yu Xiaogang's serious expression.

"Father, I'm sorry. I've been wrong these past decades and have caused you much worry."

After speaking, Yu Xiaogang heavily kowtowed three times. Yu Yuan Zhen felt a mix of heartache and relief as he watched. His son had truly grown up.

"It's all right, it's all right. It's not too late."

After all, he was his son. Fearing he might hurt himself further, Yu Yuan Zhen forcibly pulled him up and sat him on a nearby chair. "You've been stubborn since you were a child. It's good that you've finally come around. From now on, stay by my side and help me with family matters. You can continue cultivating now and breaking through to Soul Ancestor won't be a problem."

"In time, I'll find a good match for you. With me here, you don't need to worry. No one will dare say anything."

Yu Yuan Zhen spoke with a commanding tone, and indeed, he could back it up. If not for Yu Xiaogang's overly strong sense of pride, eccentric personality, and self-destructive tendencies in the past—completely unwilling to accept his father's goodwill—no one would dare openly criticize him as the son of Yu Yuan Zhen.

Look at Tang Yuehua; even in the face of the Clear Sky Sect, who dares to gossip?

Hearing his father's words, Yu Xiaogang felt a surge of emotion and even a hint of temptation. For a moment, he considered staying as his father suggested. But when his eyes fell on the insignia of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan emblazoned on his father's chest, memories of the ridicule and disdain he had suffered from clan members stabbed his sensitive heart once more. Yu Yuan Zhen naturally noticed the change in his son's demeanor. He opened his mouth to say something, but before he could speak, Yu Xiaogang's voice rang out.

"Thank you, Father. I truly appreciate your kindness, but I don't want to bring more criticism upon you because of me."

At that moment, Yu Xiaogang lifted his head, his expression serious and sincere. He could sense his father's concern and had never held any resentment toward him. From childhood, Yu Yuan Zhen's care for him far exceeded that for his siblings. His father had even lashed out at the clan and issued warnings on his behalf. But human nature isn't something strength alone can change. Yu Yuan Zhen had never wronged him in any way. Even when Yu Xiaogang was expelled from the clan, it was out of necessity, and his father sought him out afterward to offer compensation. Yet, Yu Xiaogang's unwillingness to remain in the clan was also his way of avoiding his father's love—a burden he could not bear.

"Xiaogang, you actually—"

Yu Yuan Zhen looked at his son, who was infamous across the continent, with a complex expression. After all, he was still his son.

"No, Father. Let me act willfully just one more time. My reputation can't get any worse."

Yu Xiaogang interrupted his father firmly, not daring to let him continue. If Yu Yuan Zhen spoke further, he feared he might truly agree to stay.

Yu Yuan Zhen stared at him in silence for a long while, then closed his eyes. When he opened them again, his gaze was resolute.

"Fine, speak. But I can't promise to agree. If your idea is unsuitable, you'll follow my instructions and live out your days peacefully. Understood?"

Yu Yuan Zhen's tone was serious. Though he wished to be a good father, he was also the leader of a powerful clan in a turbulent world.

"Agreed."

Yu Xiaogang nodded. He needed his father's financial support for his plans, a decision he had been preparing for over half a month.

"Father, I plan to return to Wuhun City."

Gathering his courage, he revealed his intentions.

"What are you going to Wuhun City for?"

Yu Yuan Zhen frowned, puzzled. Yu Xiaogang's infamy across the continent had begun in Wuhun City.

"I intend to seek Bibi Dong and try to forge a friendship with Spirit Hall."

Noticing his father's face darkening, Yu Xiaogang quickly added, "Please, hear me out first, Father. I've thought this through carefully."

"The Clear Sky Sect's downfall proves Spirit Hall's strength. After their annihilation, Spirit Hall even established closer ties with the Heaven Dou Empire."

"Father, our Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan isn't as powerful as the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect. It's better to plan early."

He paused, giving a self-deprecating chuckle.

"Father, you know that I once had a history with Bibi Dong... To be honest, I met her again before the last Spirit Master Tournament."

"You saw her again?"

Yu Yuan Zhen's face darkened further. He was tempted to strike his son. Truthfully, he had never understood what Bibi Dong saw in Yu Xiaogang, a man considered a failure by many.

"Yes, she wasn't particularly warm toward me, but neither was she hostile."

Yu Xiaogang didn't mention that the last time he sought out Bibi Dong was to ask for advice on cultivating a twin martial soul for Tang San. He couldn't touch on that topic now. During their meeting, as long as Tang San wasn't mentioned, Bibi Dong's attitude toward him had been surprisingly decent. Though he had sworn never to seek her out again, circumstances had changed. He knew this was a gamble, but he couldn't just watch another opportunity slip away.

"So, what exactly do you intend to do?"

Yu Yuan Zhen asked sharply.

"I want to act as a bridge between Spirit Hall and the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan. The situation is different now. Bibi Dong is Spirit Hall's leader."

"Don't worry. I have no illusions about reviving past relationships. I only hope she might remember old times and use that as a basis for softening tensions between our two factions. That could greatly benefit the clan in the future."

"I'll present myself as a scholar. The widespread discussions about the Mysterious Heaven Technique will be my cover. If I succeed, it's a gain. If I fail, things can't get worse than they already are, right?"

"As for failure, I'm not afraid of ridicule. I've grown used to it over the years. If things go wrong, you can publicly declare that I'm no longer connected to the clan—it's already an acknowledged fact. No harm will come to anyone."

"Father, I was immature before. Now, I just want to do something for you and the clan. Please grant me this opportunity."

Yu Xiaogang hid his true intentions amid his explanations, then stepped back two paces and bowed deeply, forming a 90-degree angle with the ground. He desperately wanted to improve.