Yu Xiaowei returned home feeling dejected.
The fact that his spiritual power hadn't advanced disrupted his plans.
He had initially thought he could ascend to the Soul Sect today, but he was still stuck at level 39.
The main issue was that he didn't recognize the remaining magical herbs, and he didn't dare to consume them recklessly. If he ate something incompatible with his nature, it could cause serious trouble.
"Eight-petaled fairy orchid, longing for autumn dew, phoenix comb sunflower, heart-wrenching red love, jade bone lily, grade nine purple ganoderma."
He murmured as he walked, trying hard to compare these fairy herbs with things he was familiar with.
"Xiao Wei, what are you muttering about?"
Hearing the voice, Yu Xiaowei turned around and saw Yu Xiaomeng waving at him.
"Big sister, what is it?"
"Father wants to talk to you."
Yu Xiaowei was surprised. Yu Yuanzhen was back?
He quickly followed her and asked in shock,
"Did Father advance to Soul Douluo?"
"Yes."
Yu Xiaomeng's face was full of joy. The family had another Soul Douluo—what a great blessing.
When they arrived at the study, Yu Yuanzhen was chatting and laughing with Yu Luomian.
"Uncle, Father."
"Father, Second Uncle."
Yu Xiaowei and Yu Xiaomeng bowed respectfully to them.
Seeing his son enter, Yu Luomian laughed, walked up, and proudly pressed his chest against his.
"Xiao Wei, your father is now level 84. What do you think? Am I strong enough—"
"My God, Father, how many years did it take you to absorb that spirit ring?"
Yu Xiaowei was shocked when he heard this.
A Soul Douluo had absorbed a spirit ring and gained 4 levels. It must have been a very old ring. When had his father worked so hard?
"Ahem."
Yu Yuanzhen cleared his throat and signaled to Yu Luomian with a glance.
"All right, second brother, sit down. We still have something to say to Xiaowei."
"Ah, yes, yes."
Yu Luomian sat back down and looked at Yu Yuanzhen expectantly.
"Xiaowei, your eldest brother told me what you did while your father and I were away."
"You did very well, very well."
"I've been thinking about giving you a reward, but I couldn't think of anything suitable."
"As it happens, your father and I went to hunt for spirit rings and killed an 80,000-year-old Red Fire Turtle King."
"A piece of a spirit bone dropped from it."
Saying that, Yu Yuanzhen touched his ring and brought out a long, narrow box.
Eighty thousand years!
No wonder Yu Luomian's power had increased so much.
Although he knew this spirit bone was meant for him, Yu Xiaowei wasn't overly excited. Instead, he felt complicated.
He recognized the Red Fire Turtle—a dual-element soul beast of fire and earth, extremely explosive but also defensively inclined. At 80,000 years old, even titled Douluos would hesitate to provoke it.
Even with Yu Yuanzhen's level of cultivation, it would've taken great effort to kill such a beast.
And for whom did Yu Luomian risk his life to absorb a ring so close to his limit?
Yu Xiaowei understood everything clearly.
His father had always seemed out of place and didn't take cultivation seriously.
But this time, nearly being kidnapped had touched Yu Luomian's reverse scale.
"Uncle, please give this spirit bone to my father. I don't need something so extravagant."
Hearing that, Yu Luomian immediately became anxious.
"Child, your uncle said it's for you, so it's for you. I'm old and alone, what would I do with something so valuable!"
"If anyone wants it, fine. You can absorb it yourself, but I don't want it!"
Yu Xiaowei knelt down and extended his neck, saying he didn't want the spirit bone.
"You rebellious child!!!"
Yu Luomian jumped up, raised his hand, and was about to swing it down—but he couldn't bring himself to.
From childhood to now, he had never once hit Yu Xiaowei.
Back when Yu Xiaowei's older brother was killed by a beast while hunting for spirit rings, Yu Luomian fell into despair. He hung around red-light districts and even had a daughter, Liu Erlong.
Then, when the second son's family had a grandson, he was overjoyed and regained his spirits.
However, when Yu Xiaowei's second brother died in an accident, he was devastated once again, his hair turning white overnight.
Fifteen years later, he remarried at Yu Yuanzhen's urging. But Yu Xiaowei's mother died of illness shortly after childbirth.
Thus, as if destined to be alone, Yu Luomian held his grandson Yu Tianxin and his youngest son Yu Xiaowei as if they were treasures—afraid they'd fly away or melt.
As for his daughter Liu Erlong, though he disliked her, he still tried to fulfill his role as a father—until they had a falling-out over Yu Xiaogang.
"Xiao Wei, just accept it."
Yu Xiaomeng also tried to persuade him from the side.
But Yu Xiaowei remained unmoved and looked straight into the eyes of the angry Yu Luomian without fear.
Yu Yuanzhen looked seriously at Yu Xiaowei, then suddenly burst into hearty laughter.
"All right, second brother, calm down. Xiaowei is a very filial child."
"This disobedient child is driving me mad!"
Yu Luomian sat down angrily, still fuming.
"All right, Xiaowei, get up. Your uncle will keep the spirit bone for now."
"Brother."
Yu Luomian looked displeased.
"I had originally planned to give this spirit bone to Xiao Wei after he became a Soul Saint. Otherwise, with his current strength, if the bone is exposed, he could be killed and it taken."
Yu Yuanzhen smiled and stopped Yu Luomian from saying more. He continued speaking to Yu Xiaowei.
"My child, you are very filial, and your uncle is very pleased. However, this spirit bone is not suitable for your father. I have other arrangements."
"Stand up, child. Your uncle will hold onto this spirit bone for now. I look forward to your rise as a Soul King."
Yu Xiaowei stood up and respectfully bowed to Yu Yuanzhen.
"Go on, go play."
Yu Xiaowei, as if pardoned, immediately ran off.
To be honest, it would be strange if he didn't covet an 80,000-year-old spirit bone.
But if he absorbed something that Yu Luomian risked his life for so easily, he wouldn't be Yu Xiaowei.
Watching his back, Yu Luomian smiled softly and said quietly:
"This rebellious kid."
Outside, facing the sun, Yu Xiaowei opened his arms and enjoyed basking in the sunlight.
Yu Xiaomeng looked at him, smiled, and walked away.
After standing there for a long time, Yu Xiaowei slowly walked through the clan with a heavy heart.
Starting from Yu Yuanzhen's study, he walked through every corner of the clan—from dawn until dusk.
Along the way, whether from the first wife or the second, hypocritical or sincere—
Everyone greeted him with a smile, and Yu Xiaowei, unlike his usual behavior, returned each greeting with a smile.
In his heart, he kept recalling all the love Yu Luomian had given him since childhood.
And although Yu Yuanzhen appeared stern, he had always silently cared for him.
Liu Erlong, his half-sister, although stern, had always taught him patiently and never looked down on her mischievous younger brother.
Yu Xiaomeng had always quietly protected him.
And even the adorable younger generation who always called him "Uncle" when they saw him.
Suddenly, all the uncomfortable feelings in his heart disappeared completely.
Once, he had wanted to protect the Blue Lightning Tyrannosaurus Rex family because he was a member of it.
Now, he wanted to protect the Blue Lightning Tyrannosaurus Rex family because they were his family.
Yu Xiaowei laughed, clenched his fists, pointed to the sky, and shouted in the common language of the Blue Star.
"I'll kill anyone who dares threaten the Blue Lightning Tyrannosaurus Rex family! Even God couldn't stop me, I said!"