Within the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan.
In a quiet, elegant courtyard, Yu Xiaogang slowly rose from a medicinal bath infused with rare and precious herbs. After washing off the herbal residue, he changed into a clean, fresh set of clothes.
"Finally… Rank 19."
He let out a long breath. Now fifteen years old, Yu Xiaogang had achieved what many considered nearly impossible for someone born with only half a rank of innate soul power.
With such a weak foundation, the world had already written his fate in stone—he would never surpass Rank 30.
But he refused to accept that. Backed by the vast resources of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan and the full support of his father, he believed he would be the first person on the continent to break through the shackles of talent and reach beyond his limits.
"There are no useless martial souls—only useless soul masters!"
With youthful passion in his eyes, Yu Xiaogang imagined the day he would reach Rank 30, standing tall as his clan looked on in awe and admiration.
"Oh, right—Uncle Mo, any word on the new disciple the Supreme Pontiff took in?"
News of Qian Xunji taking a second disciple had already spread among the influential circles of the continent, and as the son of the Blue Lightning Clan's patriarch, Yu Xiaogang naturally knew of it too.
What piqued his curiosity was: what kind of person could win the Supreme Pontiff's favor?
After all, his previous disciple had been a peerless talent with innate full soul power. It was no surprise that someone like that would be chosen.
But this new disciple, by all accounts, didn't have high innate soul power. So what exactly did the Supreme Pontiff see in him?
"Well," Uncle Mo replied, "the informants say the Pontiff's second disciple is a bookworm—spends at least an hour every day reading in the library. On holidays, he stays even longer."
Yu Xiaogang nodded slightly… then let out a scoffing laugh and shook his head.
"Really? With such mediocre talent, instead of using your prime years to cultivate, you waste time reading books? That's not diligence—that's delusion. He'll never amount to anything."
He quickly lost interest in Gu Han and shifted his focus.
"By the way, what level has the Holy Maiden reached now?"
He had written off Gu Han as someone destined for mediocrity, but the other disciple—the girl blessed with innate full soul power—had always drawn his attention. In fact, Yu Xiaogang wasn't just keeping tabs on her. He was also watching Tang Hao's progress closely.
As for Tang Xiao? He was fifteen years older than Tang Hao and no longer in their generation.
What Yu Xiaogang truly wanted to know was what real talent looked like.
"She broke through to Rank 30 recently. After obtaining her soul ring, I'd say she's around Rank 32 by now."
Though the Blue Lightning Clan had many informants, details on Bibi Dong remained tightly sealed. For instance, even high-ranking Soul Douluo instructors had no idea she possessed twin martial souls.
"As expected of a prodigy with innate full soul power. She's only nine and already reached the Soul Elder realm."
Yu Xiaogang sighed with mixed feelings. He had burned through an immense amount of his clan's resources just to reach Rank 19 at fifteen.
Meanwhile, Bibi Dong had cultivated for only three years—and at age nine, she already had three soul rings and was a full-fledged Soul Elder.
Comparisons truly were the thief of joy.
"What about Tang Hao?"
Yu Xiaogang quickly changed the subject. Tang Hao was six years older than him and already twenty-one. With innate soul power of Rank 9, Yu Xiaogang suspected that by now, Tang Hao might already be a high-level Soul Ancestor—maybe even a Soul King.
"He's already reached Soul King."
Yu Xiaogang couldn't help but marvel. To be a five-ringed Soul King at barely twenty—such talent meant that ascending to the rank of Titled Douluo one day was practically a certainty.
"Don't be discouraged, Xiaogang. With the clan's backing, you'll break through Rank 30 too."
Uncle Mo tried to encourage him, though even he didn't believe his own words. In truth, Yu Xiaogang had consumed enough resources to nurture a Soul Sage.
If not for the patriarch's influence, the elders would've long since kicked Yu Xiaogang out of the clan.
To them, he was a waste—hoarding a disproportionate amount of the clan's cultivation resources. If those resources had been redirected to young geniuses or bottlenecked Soul Sages and Soul Douluo, the clan wouldn't have fallen behind even the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan, which focused solely on support.
Some elders had even voiced their complaints openly in the council hall. If this imbalance continued, the next generation of their clan would fall even further behind not just the Clear Sky Clan but also other top sects.
But Yu Yuanzhen stood firm. As a Rank 92 Titled Douluo and the clan's only one at that, he crushed all opposition.
One elder was so enraged he coughed up blood and fainted on the spot.
Among the clan's younger generation, Yu Xiaogang had become a symbol of frustration. Not only had he hogged their resources, but even now, he hadn't broken past Rank 20. He was the poster child for wasted potential.
If that massive investment had gone to them instead, many believed they'd be well beyond their current limits—perhaps even standing equal with the talents of other major sects.
Of course, Yu Xiaogang was well aware of all this, but he didn't care. In fact, he found it somewhat amusing.
In his eyes, they were the real failures—people who blamed him for their own mediocrity.
"Rank 30… Just wait. I, Yu Xiaogang, will break through one day. And when I do, all of you who look down on me will be left speechless!"
Ambition surged in his chest. So what if his martial soul was mutated?
So what if his innate soul power was low?
He had a Titled Douluo for a father—and not just any Titled Douluo, but the head of one of the continent's three great sects.
That Rank 30 wall might stop most people, but it wouldn't stop him.
As long as he had enough resources, enough rare herbs—he would smash that wall, ascend in power, and one day stand at the pinnacle of the continent!
Uncle Mo said nothing more. He could only sigh inwardly.
For the sake of the patriarch's pride, the rest of the younger generation would simply have to bear the burden.
After all, Yu Xiaogang was the patriarch's only son.
A tiger gives birth to a dog—what an embarrassment.
Still, if Yu Xiaogang could really defy the continent's "iron law" and reach Soul Elder with only half a rank of innate soul power, then the narrative would change.
He wouldn't be remembered as a failure.
Instead, he'd become an inspirational figure—someone who defied fate through sheer determination.
And the patriarch's pride would be vindicated. No longer would other Titled Douluo scoff at Yu Yuanzhen behind his back.
~~~
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