In the black world of Shrek Academy, the atmosphere grew heavy as the image of Yu Yuanzhen standing alone outside a locked door played across the heavenly curtain. Inside the room, the young Yu Xiaogang continued to scream hysterically, refusing to face his father. Seeing this, the students of the academy—Ning Rongrong, Oscar, and Dai Mubai—all looked at the current Yu Xiaogang with eyes full of disdain.
They understood that having a bad spirit mutation and only half a rank of innate spirit power was a common tragedy on the Douluo Continent. However, they found his behavior toward his father to be unforgivable. Yu Yuanzhen was not just a father; he was the Thunder Douluo, a powerful Titled Douluo who was sacrificing his own cultivation resources to help his son. For anyone else to tell such a powerhouse to "get lost" would usually result in immediate death, yet Yu Xiaogang took his father's kindness and threw it back in his face.
Even Tang San, who usually viewed Yu Xiaogang as a second father, felt a deep sense of discomfort. Tang San's own father, Tang Hao, had spent his life drinking, yet Tang San had always remained a filial and respectful son. Seeing Yu Yuanzhen fight so hard for a son who treated him with such disrespect made Tang San frown deeply.
"Phew... Teacher had just gone through his awakening and was at his most desperate moment," Tang San said, taking a deep breath. He tried his best to find an excuse for Yu Xiaogang's actions, but the words felt hollow even to him.
Nearby, Zhao Wuji and the other teachers were much more vocal about their low opinion of him. "Some people are born lucky but just don't appreciate it," one of them remarked. "A Titled Douluo father supports him, and he tells the man to get lost? I wouldn't even dare say that to a Spirit Douluo".
"Didn't Flender say he's only rank twenty-nine?" another added with a sneer. "That means he eventually used all those resources. If we had those resources, we'd probably be Titled Douluos ourselves by now. What a waste". Flender glared at them, trying to get them to stop, but he knew they were right. He could only hope that the later parts of the video would show Yu Xiaogang in a better light.
Meanwhile, at the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School, the elders were having their own realization. Gu Rong, the Bone Douluo, looked thoughtful. "So this is why Yu Yuanzhen is at the same rank as me, even though his talent was higher when we were younger". Sword Douluo Chen Xin and Ning Fengzhi agreed, lamenting that a top-tier powerhouse had stunted his own growth just to help a son who could never break past rank twenty-nine.
Back on the heavenly curtain, the video showed Yu Yuanzhen's patience. He didn't get angry at the screaming boy. Instead, he stood outside the door and spoke softly. "Xiaogang, don't lose heart. You have me. With my help, you won't lack resources. Your spirit is unique and has great potential because of the commotion it caused during the awakening". He told his son that even if he couldn't become the strongest, he could still live a life of comfort and wealth because of his father's status.
Yu Xiaogang's only response was another roar of "Go away!".
The video skipped forward. For six months, Yu Xiaogang stayed in his room, only coming out to eat when he was starving. During this time, he grew chubbier, and his face took on a stiff, cold expression. Eventually, he decided he wanted to cultivate. He hated the way people looked at him and wanted to prove everyone wrong.
He began a daily routine that relied entirely on his father's power. He used a special cultivation field Yu Yuanzhen built just for him so he wouldn't have to face other people. He took the pills and resources his father provided, even though they were meant for much higher-level Spirit Masters. He also used his father's name to access restricted books in the family library. He took everything his father offered as if it were his birthright.
Finally, by the age of fifteen, the resources pushed him to rank ten—the level of a Spirit Scholar ready for his first spirit ring. Just as the viewers were about to see what kind of ring he would get, the screen went dark.
A message appeared: "The first part has finished. Take a break. The comparison subject, Dragon God Douluo Yu Xiaogang, is about to begin".