Chapter 6:Late-Night Talk, The Brothers' Resolve.
The night was deep, a gentle breeze blew, and most of the people in the Blue Lightning Tyrant Sect, except for the guard disciples, were already asleep.
But Yu Xiaogang lay awake, his mind a jumbled mess, utterly unable to sleep.
Since he could remember, today was the longest day of his life.
The scenes from the day still lingered in his mind.
The word "useless" was etched into his heart.
He imagined his younger brother, also called "useless," was probably also unable to sleep.
"Hoo hoo hoo—"
His brother's soft snoring rang out at that moment, instantly shattering Yu Xiaogang's worries, leaving him both amused and exasperated.
Despite the scorn he received, Xiao Lie didn't seem to mind eating or sleeping.
He didn't know whether to call him magnanimous or naive. Just as he was lost in thought, the bedroom door suddenly opened, and a figure slowly walked in.
It was his father, Yu Yuanzhen.
Yu Xiaogang, who hadn't fallen asleep, hurriedly got up and nudged his sleeping younger brother.
"Xiaogang, Xiaolie, your father wants to have a serious talk with you two tonight." This was the first time their father had ever spoken to them so earnestly.
Yu Xiaogang quickly sat up straight, trying to concentrate as if he were in class.
Yu Xiaolie, on the other hand, sat up, but his eyes weren't fully open, looking like he hadn't woken up properly.
"You both understand the results of your awakening. Based on these results, I want to ask you both a question."
Yu Yuanzhen paused, then added,
"Before I ask the question, I want you to understand that even if you can't become Soul Masters, you are still my children, not the 'good-for-nothings' people talk about!" Why did he have to go through so much buildup before asking a question? Yu Xiaolie already guessed what he was going to ask.
"I want to ask, now that things have come to this, do you still consider becoming Soul Masters your life goal?"
"You must understand that with mutated martial souls and soul power at the very bottom among Soul Masters, continuing your cultivation will inevitably lead to countless difficulties."
"It's not too late to give up now. With the sect's strength and status, you can live a life of comfort and security."
After asking the question, Yu Yuanzhen stared intently at his two sons, as if trying to find even the slightest hesitation on their faces.
Yu Xiaolie couldn't help but mutter to himself, "Is there even a choice? Any hesitation is disrespectful to a perfect start."
As the older brother, Yu Xiaogang was the first to speak:
"Father, whether in the past, present, or future, my goal has never changed. Even if I am the least talented Soul Master, it doesn't matter."
Yu Yuanzhen was surprised that his son, not even ten years old, could make such a firm decision.
After hearing Yu Xiaogang's answer, he turned his gaze to Yu Xiaolie.
"Me too."
Yu Xiaolie yawned, as if answering a less important question.
"Alright, you two rest first. Starting tomorrow, I will personally supervise your cultivation."
Father personally instructing us? Has he relinquished his responsibilities within the sect?
Only the direct descendants of the sect know what Father has truly lost by doing this.
After all, sect resources are obtained through contributions, which means Father has not only given up the power everyone desires, but has also temporarily slowed down his cultivation.
Father's enormous sacrifice moved Yu Xiaogang deeply, and he glanced at his younger brother.
Xiao Lie burrowed into the covers in a second, and the next second, his snoring resumed.
Yu Xiaogang:
"..."
From that night on, Yu Yuanzhen truly resigned from his sect position and devoted himself entirely to guiding the two brothers' cultivation.
Every morning, Father taught theory and guided meditation to improve soul power; every afternoon, without fail, the Second Master led the two brothers in physical training and martial arts practice.
Regarding martial arts, Yu Xiaogang changed his initial views and gradually understood the value of the martial arts skills he had previously looked down upon in combat.
What surprised him even more was that in just a few years, his younger brother's fighting skills had far surpassed those of his peers.
Without using soul power, he could even fight his second master for thirty rounds without being at a disadvantage!
He had underestimated his brother before.
Since they lacked natural talent, the most urgent task now was to strengthen their soul power.
Thus, the two brothers significantly reduced their daily theoretical lessons, replacing them with extensive basic practice.
After dinner and before bedtime, they would meditate in the woods behind the mountain to accumulate soul power.
Although few people came to the back mountain, it wasn't considered a forbidden area of the sect; occasionally, sect disciples would come to gather herbs and hunt.
In the past, when these disciples saw Yu Xiaolie and his brother, they were always respectful, after all, their status as future sect heirs was undeniable.
However, since their embarrassment at the awakening ceremony, people's gazes towards them seemed to have changed rapidly.
Even if they remained respectful on the surface, behind their backs, many pointed and whispered among themselves.
Some of the bolder, more powerful individuals not only refused to give way to them but also arrogantly walked straight past.
Yu Xiaolie wasn't surprised by the way others looked at him.
After all, having lived for so long in his previous life, he was already used to people's habitual tendency to look down on the weak and fawn over the strong.
Besides, he'd never been considered a good child since childhood, so what did others think?
However, Yu Xiaogang clearly felt uncomfortable. Every time he was criticized behind his back or offended, he felt humiliated.
Several times, his fists were so clenched that his nails pierced his palms, but he didn't even feel the pain.
Seeing his brother suppressing himself like this, Yu Xiaolie ignored him.
After all, he knew that the words "useless martial soul" were like a mountain weighing on Yu Xiaogang's heart; he didn't have the leisure to travel here to care for and encourage him.
One day, the two were cultivating in the back mountain when a burst of laughter and chatter drifted from afar.
Judging from the sound, it must be a group of outer disciples who had come to the back mountain to complete a sect mission.
"Have you heard? Senior Brother Li from the outer sect has broken through to level 19!"
"Really? He's not even twenty years old, and he's already almost at the threshold of becoming a Great Soul Master! Senior Brother Li is truly gifted."
"That's nothing. If it weren't for the lack of cultivation resources, Senior Brother Li would probably have already broken through to level 25."
"What can we do? Sigh, who told us we're not from the Yu family's direct line? The resources we get each year are just so-so."
"The more you talk, the angrier I get! Why are Yu family members born to eat well, use the best things, and have sect elders guiding their cultivation? Heaven is unfair!"
"The Yu family members are just naturally gifted."
"That's not necessarily true. For example, those two good-for-nothings who embarrassed other sects the other day, they hogging resources, it's a complete waste."
This statement was clearly a bit excessive, and for a moment no one dared to respond.
Seeing that no one dared to speak, the man raised his voice:
"What are you afraid of? Didn't you see the Martial Soul Awakening that day? Among those who awakened, the two Yu brothers had the worst talent."
"The two of them combined haven't even reached level one, hahaha, that's hilarious."
These sarcastic words were like steel needles, piercing Yu Xiaogang so much that he couldn't sit still any longer.
He stood up and dashed out of the woods.
Being caught red-handed for talking behind someone's back, the scene was momentarily awkward.
"Who are you calling trash? Say it again if you dare!"
Yu Xiaogang was furious, his soul power faintly fluctuating around him. The pockmarked man with the loudest voice among the disciples was stunned at first, then put on a mocking expression.
"Did I say something wrong? Soul power not even at level one, Martial Soul is a stupid pig, you brothers' talent is even worse than an ordinary outer disciple!"
"If you didn't hear me clearly, I'll say it again, you, both, are, trash! Trash!"
At this point, it was clear that a violent solution was unavoidable.
Several outer disciples channeled their soul power, and the phantom images of several beast souls emerged from behind them.
Apart from the pockmarked-faced leader, who possessed a brown bear soul, the remaining three disciples all had a blue wolf soul.
However, Yu Xiaogang didn't unleash his soul; he was still ashamed to show his "pig" soul.
"With your meager soul power and fighting techniques, you think you can fight the four of us? Young Master Yu, you really underestimate us."
Sure enough, with the enhancement of the beast souls, Yu Xiaogang was completely overwhelmed in both strength and speed.
He couldn't even defeat one "pockmarked-faced" disciple, let alone four.
In less than two rounds, he was knocked to the ground.
The pockmarked man stepped on his chest, lowered his head, and continued to mock,
"I heard Madam Yu is pregnant again. Sure enough, you've been abandoned by the sect, you good-for-nothings!"
He then looked around,
"The sect says good-for-nothings always come in pairs. Where's your even worse brother?"
"Looking for me?"
Yu Xiaolie slowly walked out of the woods, his soul power surging. Beside him was an adorable-looking pig.
(End of Chapter)