"Soul Power, Level 3."
"Level 3? This useless guy took three whole years just to reach Level 3. Pathetic."
"Keep in mind, this 'Level 3' isn't the Level 3 of Soul Lords or Soul Kings, but only Level 3 as a Soul Warrior. Normally, one level per year."
"Ugh, this loser has completely disgraced the family. To think that Yu Yuanzhen, the mighty Thunder Douluo, actually fathered such a worthless offspring."
"It's not that the clan leader is incompetent, it's that this useless brat just can't cut it. Look at the leader's other son—born from a concubine—he's the most talented in our sect and the most likely to break the title seal. In three years, he's already a Level 19 Soul Master. At least he hasn't embarrassed the clan."
"This guy isn't even qualified to be called a Soul Master. What right does he have to claim core disciple resources? And three shares at that! If I had those resources, I'd be a Soul King by now."
"Exactly, but who does he have as a father? The clan leader himself."
"If it weren't for the clan leader being his father, this worthless waste would have been kicked out long ago, left to rot. There'd be no way he'd still be freeloading off the sect's resources."
At the Blue Lightning Tyrannosaurus Sect's Resource Pavilion, a young man with a buzz cut strode in, ignoring the mocking laughter around him.
"Three shares of core disciple resources," Yu Xiaogang said calmly.
The elder was displeased, but when he saw the clan leader's order token in Yu Xiaogang's hand, he had no choice but to hand over the three shares of resources. Without expression, Yu Xiaogang loaded the training resources into his Soul Guidance Device and then turned to leave.
After Yu Xiaogang exited, the elder murmured, "I don't understand what the clan leader sees in him that's worth so much investment. No matter how many resources the Blue Lightning Tyrannosaurus Sect has, it shouldn't be wasted like this."
Outside the pavilion, Yu Xiaogang was met with fresh ridicule.
"Well, if it isn't Young Master Xiaogang's cousin, here for more resources again. Three shares? That's quite a lot. Hey, why don't you share some with us brothers?" Yu Xiaoke approached with a sly grin.
Yu Xiaogang quickly covered his Soul Guidance Device. "No way. These are my training resources. Don't forget what happens to those who steal from me. If you try again, I'll tell my father, and he'll punish you."
Hearing this, a flash of hostility crossed Yu Xiaoke's eyes. Suddenly, he rushed forward and slammed his elbow hard into Yu Xiaogang's chest, knocking him to the ground.
"Ouch—!" Yu Xiaogang cried out in pain.
Yu Xiaomen quickly stepped forward to help Yu Xiaogang up and scolded Yu Xiaoke, "How can you be so careless? Can't you watch where you're going? You bumped into my brother. Apologize at once."
Yu Xiaoke hurriedly said, "Sorry, cousin Xiaogang. I didn't mean to bump into you. Are you alright?"
Yu Xiaogang, eyes red, pushed away the fake concern from Yu Xiaomen, stood up, and pointed angrily at Yu Xiaoke. "Don't lie. You did it on purpose. Everyone saw you elbow me. I swear I'm telling my father to make you pay."
Yu Xiaoke turned to the onlookers. "Did you all see? I accidentally bumped into Yu Xiaogang, honest!"
Yu Xiaozhu egged them on, "Yeah, we all saw. Yu Xiaogang was the one who bumped into your elbow."
Yu Xiaoren added, "Yu Xiaogang wasn't paying attention and ran into your elbow."
"Right, right. After three years of training, he's still so weak that a slight shove knocks him down. What a waste."
Yu Xiaogang's eyes burned red as he clenched his fists tightly and glared at the crowd. "You, you, you—"
Everyone suddenly fell silent. Could it be that Yu Xiaogang was about to fight back? Although anyone present could easily crush him, he was after all the clan leader Yu Yuanzhen's own son. It wouldn't be good if he got hurt. And what if he went running to complain?
At that moment of hesitation, Yu Xiaogang suddenly covered his crying face with both hands, turned, and ran away. Everyone was stunned. Again? He ran away again?
Evening
"Damn it, how hateful." Yu Xiaogang soaked his body in expensive physical training elixir, venting his frustration. Before the age of six, every sect disciple had to respectfully address him as Young Master Xiaogang. Yu Xiaoke, Yu Xiaozhu, Yu Xiaoren—they all bullied Yu Xiaomen just to curry favor with him.
But after the awakening of their martial souls, everything flipped.
To curry favor with that bastard Yu Xiaomen, they now bullied Yu Xiaogang and stole his resources. Is this what talent differences bring? Why? Why did Yu Xiaomen have innate soul power at level 9.5, while I, a Golden Sacred Dragon Soul Master, have regressed into a nobody like Luo Sanpao? Why?!
"Ahhh—" His skin started to sting painfully, and Yu Xiaogang couldn't take it anymore. He climbed out of the bath.
After resting a while, the training elixir in the tub lost potency. Yu Xiaogang immersed himself again. After about three cycles, he poured out the used elixir and refilled with a fresh batch.
Usually, one batch of elixir could last others two or three hours. But Yu Xiaogang's body was fragile. Even a little pain was unbearable, so he only soaked for half an hour each time. Others absorbed over 80% of the elixir's power; he barely managed less than 30%.
His weak physique filled him with despair. It took three months to reach Level 1, a full year to reach Level 2, and one and a half years for Level 3. Progress became slower and slower, like a snail climbing uphill.
And this was only as a Soul Warrior. The higher the level, the slower the advancement. Eventually, Yu Xiaogang wasn't even sure if he could reach Level 10 to become a Soul Master.
Thinking about this bleak future, his heart filled with bitterness. Gritting his teeth, he vowed, "No, I refuse to be ordinary. I will become a Soul Master, a Great Soul Master, a Soul Lord, a Soul King. I will do whatever it takes to increase my strength. If one share of resources isn't enough, then two; if two aren't enough, then three; if three aren't enough, then four or five."
Watching his peers achieve their first soul rings and become Soul Masters while he was branded a useless failure, Yu Xiaogang's heart twisted. He no longer cared about the sect—only about himself and shedding the label of failure.
"I'll talk to my father later. Next month, I'll ask for two more shares of r
esources to speed up my training. Otherwise, my progress is just too slow."
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