Chapter 4: A Legendary Life Begins Today
"Yuhao, if I'm not mistaken, Yu Xiaogang doesn't even belong to your era, nor did the two of you have much connection, right? But why does your hatred toward him seem almost as deep as what you feel for Tang San?" asked the Ice Emperor in confusion.
The Ice Emperor's question stirred memories long buried in Huo Yuhao's heart. He answered in a low voice, "Originally, I planned to escape to the Sun Moon Empire, but those two beasts from the Clear Sky Sect pinned me down and forced me into Shrek Academy. The very first moment I stepped into the academy, I saw three towering statues standing on the plaza—Flender, Liu Erlong, and Yu Xiaogang."
"I stood before Yu Xiaogang's statue, watching as countless people of that era praised his so-called brilliance. They celebrated his wisdom, lauded him for training the great Sea God Tang San. Wherever one went, the name Yu Xiaogang was met with reverence—even among our enemies from the Sun Moon Empire."
"So," the Ice Emperor said thoughtfully, "you targeted him because he trained Tang San?"
"No!" Huo Yuhao snapped, shaking his head violently, his voice trembling with suppressed fury. "Tang San is my mortal enemy. The deaths of my teacher Electrolux, the annihilation of Dong'er and Qiu'er's souls, the manipulation of my very fate—every debt will be repaid in blood. Killing him with one stab back then was too merciful. But Yu Xiaogang... he disgusts me. Deeply."
"You might not believe this," he continued coldly, "but in that era, I was likely the only person who saw Yu Xiaogang's true self—an utterly pretentious fraud who sought vain glory. Yet this vile man was revered and celebrated across the continent for tens of thousands of years. He died and was still immortalized as a hero. Even after ten, twenty millennia, the Douluo world continues to sing of his 'accomplishments.'" Huo Yuhao exhaled sharply. "To let such a hypocrite be remembered through history—what greater tragedy could befall our entire plane?"
"In my eyes, worms should remain worms."
His gaze hardened as he stared into the Eternal Eye's divine projection, speaking with measured venom. "As long as I exist, Yu Xiaogang will never be immortalized. He will never overcome his martial soul's defect. He shall remain fixed forever at the shameful twenty-ninth rank—standing tall upon his pillar of disgrace!"
Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Sect, Archive Pavilion.
A boy in a black robe with a cropped head sat absorbed in a book titled The Legendary Stories of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Sect's Past Masters. His eyes gleamed with excitement as the pages turned, as though he were speaking to the legendary figures themselves.
As he read the final passage, he slowly closed the book, a glint of yearning shining in his gaze. His lips parted, voice trembling with both excitement and reverence. "Over a thousand years ago, an ancestor of our sect experienced a mutation in his martial soul, transforming it into something far nobler than the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon—the Golden Holy Dragon. In his era, he elevated our sect to a glory rivaling that of the Clear Sky School during Tang Chen's reign. What glory that must have been."
He paused for a moment, eyes gleaming. "Today is my Martial Soul Awakening Day. I wonder what my innate soul power will be?" His tone brimmed with anticipation.
This boy was Yu Xiaogang, six years old. Six—the most critical age in a person's life, for a martial soul's awakening would determine their entire future. But Yu Xiaogang was not worried. His father, Yu Yuanzhen, was the renowned Thunder Douluo, known throughout the continent. He was confident that he, too, would inherit the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon martial soul and continue his clan's legendary legacy.
His eyes fell again upon the book's cover—an illustration of a majestic golden dragon, the Golden Holy Dragon. "If I could awaken the same martial soul as that ancestor," he thought, "what glory would await me? My legend would begin today! I'd become sect master of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Sect and raise it to unprecedented heights. The entire continent would revere the name of Yu Xiaogang! Hmm… what title should I take when that time comes?"
"Golden Dragon Douluo? No, too plain. Holy Dragon Douluo? Hmm, decent, but not domineering enough. Dragon God Douluo! Yes—when I forge my title, I'll be known as Dragon God Douluo Yu Xiaogang, and my legend will begin!"
"Knock, knock, knock…" The sound of knocking interrupted his fantasy. Displeased, Yu Xiaogang said curtly, "Enter."
The door opened quietly. Another boy of roughly the same age entered. With black hair, a thin frame, and timid posture, he bowed politely and said, "Brother Xiaogang, Father sent me to fetch you. It's time to go to the Awakening Hall."
When Yu Xiaogang recognized him, his eyes flashed with contempt. "Brother Xiaogang? You're not worthy of that," he said coldly. "Within the sect, you will address me as Young Master Xiaogang. Understood?"
Yu Xiaomen lowered his head submissively. "Yes, Young Master Xiaogang."
"Hmph." Yu Xiaogang sneered. As he passed Yu Xiaomen, he abruptly jabbed his elbow into the boy's ribs.
Yu Xiaomen fell to the ground, clutching his side in pain, but made no sound. Struggling to his feet, he meekly followed behind his brother.
Yu Xiaogang walked proudly ahead, hands clasped behind his back, while Yu Xiaomen trailed silently behind him. Along the way, servants bowed one after another, greeting, "Greetings, Young Master Xiaogang."
Reaching the sect's terrace, Yu Xiaogang lifted his head toward the sky. The sunlight was brilliant and the air crisp, as though heralding a glorious future. He stretched out his hand as if to seize the warm rays—and his destiny with them.
Then he turned dramatically to Yu Xiaomen. "In this world, birth determines everything," he said arrogantly. "Though we share a father, your mother was nothing more than a lowly servant. She shamelessly climbed into my father's bed, giving you a half-tainted Blue Lightning bloodline. But filth remains filth. Your mother wasn't even a soul master. Even if you awaken the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon, your innate soul power won't exceed rank five. You'll never even reach the level of a Soul King.
"But I," Yu Xiaogang continued with a proud smile, "carry the finest blood of both father and mother. I was born extraordinary. My innate soul power will be at least rank eight. Becoming a Contra is only my beginning; I will ascend to the Titled Douluo level and lead our sect toward a new era of brilliance."
He paused, looking down at Yu Xiaomen with cold superiority. "Today, our paths diverge. My legend begins here, while you, Yu Xiaomen, will fade into mediocrity. You'll spend your life staring at my back, unable to catch up."
Yu Xiaomen said nothing, his face hidden beneath lowered eyes. His fists clenched tightly, his knuckles pale from the strain.
(END CHAPTER)
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