After returning from the soul beast hunt, when Flender and Liu Erlong wanted to cultivate using the Martial Soul Fusion Technique, Yu Xiaogang backed out once again.
This time, it was because Yu Xiaogang had only pursued cultivation through the Fusion Technique to draw in Liu Erlong and complete his revenge against his uncle, Yu Luomian. But after discovering that he was the dominant party in the Fusion Technique, Yu Xiaogang suddenly no longer felt the urgency to train that way.
He understood one key fact: the dominant party in a Martial Soul Fusion Technique holds absolute control—emotionally unaffected by the bond—while the subordinate party becomes entirely devoted due to the technique.
(The Netherworld White Tiger is an example: the first-generation Dai Mubai could abandon Zhu Zhuqing without remorse, yet she still loved him. The second-generation Dai Huabin shifted affections to Wang Qiu'er, but Zhu Lu remained wholeheartedly devoted to him.)
This meant that, in this triangle, Yu Xiaogang held all the power, and Flender and Liu Erlong were his subordinates.
Liu Erlong might like Flender, but she would inevitably fall in love with Yu Xiaogang. Even though Flender also loved Liu Erlong, the nature of the technique meant that, even as a Soul King, he would ultimately support the union of Yu Xiaogang and Liu Erlong—perhaps even becoming part of their special games—and he wouldn't complain.
Though training with Flender and Liu Erlong would indirectly enhance the strength of his own Fusion Technique, watching the two of them constantly break through while he remained stuck at level 29 made Yu Xiaogang feel deeply unbalanced.
Rather than painfully assisting their cultivation and watching the gap between them widen, Yu Xiaogang preferred to let them train on their own. He could then passively enjoy the increasing power of the Golden Holy Dragon Fusion Technique as their strength grew.
Poor Flender had no idea of the Fusion Technique's secrets.
From the moment he sought out Yu Xiaogang, he was doomed to be a hopeless simp.
Yu Xiaogang no longer pursued Liu Erlong romantically, but instead watched with amusement as his friend constantly tried to win her over—while Liu Erlong's heart remained with him.
Watching this unfold, Yu Xiaogang healed his long-bruised ego using Flender's misery. Flender's humiliation gave him a deeply satisfying sense of superiority.
Eventually—
Flender privately called Liu Erlong to meet.
"Boss Flender, what did you want to talk about?"
With tenderness on his face, Flender mustered his courage:
"Erlong, it's been so long… you should know how I feel about you."
"Erlong, I like you. Do I… still have a chance?"
A flicker of hesitation appeared on Liu Erlong's face. She knew Flender had feelings for her, but compared to him, she preferred that erudite, handsome Yu Xiaogang.
Liu Erlong didn't respond to Flender directly. Instead, she arranged a meeting with both Flender and Yu Xiaogang. At that meeting, she looked apologetically at Flender and said:
"Boss Flender, I know you like me. I've always seen you as an older brother. You're a good man, but—"
She reached out and held the upright Yu Xiaogang's hand, resting her head on his shoulder.
"But I love Yu Xiaogang."
Thud, thud, thud—
Her words pierced Flender's heart like arrows. A bitter smile appeared on his face.
Yu Xiaogang spoke with feigned apology:
"Flender, I'm sorry."
"No need to apologize. Love can't be forced. Since I care for Erlong, how could I pressure her?" Flender replied bitterly. "Besides, compared to someone like me, it's natural that she'd fall for someone as wise and refined as you."
Then, forcing a smile, he said:
"Well then, since Erlong loves you, Xiaogang, why not pick an auspicious day and get married?"
Liu Erlong, visibly excited, said:
"Boss Flender, thank you for your blessing."
"No need to thank me. I just want what's best for you." Flender turned away, secretly wiping the tears of a heartbroken bachelor.
Yu Xiaogang's stiff face looked down at Liu Erlong clinging to him, and a faint smirk lifted the corner of his mouth.
Flender, it seemed, would live the rest of his life in Yu Xiaogang's shadow. Even if he became a Titled Douluo, he'd still have to serve under Yu Xiaogang.
However, despite knowing the Fusion Technique gave him full control, Yu Xiaogang wasn't sure how far Flender would go for him and Liu Erlong in reality. So he decided to conduct a loyalty test.
He pulled Liu Erlong's hand and said,
"Erlong, how about we get married on the 15th of next month?"
"Next month? That sounds wonderful!" Liu Erlong replied excitedly.
Flender, even more devastated, turned to leave and give them space, but then Yu Xiaogang's voice called out matter-of-factly from behind:
"Flender, we're short a witness for our wedding. How about you be our officiant?"
Flender's heart sank deeper. He opened his mouth but found himself unable to refuse. He forced a smile:
"Alright. Xiaogang, if you and Erlong are getting married, how could I, your brother, be absent?"
Hearing Flender agree to officiate, Yu Xiaogang was even more pleased. His smirk widened into a checkmark-shaped grin:
"Great. It's settled, then."
In the Divine Realm – The Eternal Divine Palace
Tianmeng, Xiaobai, and the Evil Emperor—three divine beasts—were watching this golden love triangle unfold like a soap opera through their divine vision, captivated.
Suddenly, a pair of hands slammed onto the table in front of them, startling the three. They looked up to see Huo Yuhao.
Tianmeng asked, "Brother Yuhao, is something the matter?"
Yuhao sighed deeply and said,
"I watched Xiaogang grow up. It's only been twenty days, and he's already talking about marriage."
The Evil Emperor grinned slyly and asked,
"Lord, are you planning to ruin his wedding?"
Huo Yuhao shook his head, righteously denying:
"Do I look like that kind of god to you?"
Xiaobai asked, "Then what are you planning...?"
Huo Yuhao picked up a Golden Dragon Essence Fruit, summoned a Cockscomb Phoenix Sunflower from the Divine Garden, and extracted a crystallized Fire Elemental Martial Soul Core.
He said solemnly:
"Since Yu Xiaogang plans to marry on the 15th of next month, and I am the elder who watched him grow, how could I not prepare a little gift? I shall bestow the Golden Iron Triangle a fortuitous opportunity."
Huo Yuhao levitated three treasures in his palm using divine power.
He guided the Golden Dragon Nourishment Fruit toward the three beasts and said:
"This fruit can cause dragon-type martial souls to evolve. It is an opportunity I prepared for Yu Xiaogang."
Then, he retracted the golden fruit and pushed forward the Rooster-Crest Phoenix Sunflower, saying:
"This one is for Liu Erlong. If she consumes this celestial item, her Fire Dragon martial soul's attribute will evolve into Ultimate Fire, granting her limitless potential."
Finally, he brought out the Fire Elemental Source Crystal:
"This is prepared for Flender. It can merge with his martial soul and transform his soul lineage, granting his martial soul the fire attribute."
Then Huo Yuhao asked,
"What do you think of these wedding gifts I've prepared for them? Sincere enough?"
"More than enough... but, are you really giving them away?" Xiaobai whispered skeptically.
"Of course," Huo Yuhao smiled, then added with a shift in tone:
"However, to receive these fated opportunities from me, their love must be proven sincere. Only those who pass the test may be granted my gifts."
At the word test, the three beasts' expressions turned meaningful.
"Who among you will go to the lower realm and prepare this trial?" Huo Yuhao asked.
Tianmeng said, "Brother Hao, leave it to me. I'll get it done perfectly."
Evil Emperor objected, "Back off, Tianmeng. With a name like mine, I'm clearly the best fit for the job."
Xiaobai raised a hand: "Uh... I think I could give it a try too?"
After some quarreling, Evil Emperor emerged victorious and was chosen to carry out the task.
Huo Yuhao tossed the three treasures to him and explained the contents of the trial.
"Jie-jie-jie!" Evil Emperor cackled. "Master, leave it to me. I'll handle this flawlessly."
With that, he descended to the lower world via the dimensional gate.
Meanwhile, Yu Xiaogang and Liu Erlong were preparing for their wedding — a piece of news that soon reached Yu Luomian.
It turned out Yu Luomian had once had a fleeting romance with Liu Erlong's mother, which led to Liu Erlong's birth.
Initially, he didn't care about them. Only after Liu Erlong's martial soul awakened did he begin to value her.
However, six years of complete neglect left Liu Erlong deeply resentful of her father — evidenced by her refusal to carry his surname.
In order to repair this relationship, Yu Luomian provided support from behind the scenes, including when she needed spirit beasts, encountered life difficulties, and later when founding Blue Tyrant Academy.
Though Liu Erlong never accepted the Yu surname again, she did acknowledge him as her father — until Yu Xiaogang came into the picture.
Yu Luomian had long monitored her growth. He didn't oppose her friendship with Flender, especially because they potentially had a martial soul fusion technique.
However, when no fusion technique was shown and Flender and Liu Erlong became increasingly close, Yu Luomian chose not to interfere. Flender's talent was worthy of grooming — an underdog with the potential of a Spirit Douluo. He hoped to marry Liu Erlong back into the family and strengthen the clan.
Later, when Liu Erlong and Flender met Yu Xiaogang, Yu Luomian remained uninvolved. After all, the fusion technique apparently required all three of them.
As for Yu Xiaogang, that so-called "waste" was only good for completing the trio.
Yu Luomian scoffed at the idea that his daughter would actually fall for such a man. After all, women admired strength, and between Flender and Yu Xiaogang, Flender was clearly the better match.
"No way my daughter would be so dumb as to ignore a brilliant Flender and pick a lifelong Rank 29 trash whose soul skill is basically a fart."
Then came that disastrous trip to the Star Dou Great Forest, where Liu Erlong advanced to Spirit King level. Upon return, Flender confessed — but Liu Erlong rejected him and instead pursued Yu Xiaogang.
Yu Luomian was furious when he heard of their wedding set for the 15th of the month.
He smashed a teacup and yelled:
"Yu Xiaogang, you bring misfortune wherever you go. You ruined the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan and now you're ruining my daughter too! Did you not know she was my daughter, or are you pretending not to? How dare you! You, of all people, think you're worthy of my daughter?!"
Yu Luomian calmed himself and asked,
"Did you find out what their fusion technique is?"
A spy replied:
"Yes, it's a host-based martial soul fusion. The three of them together summon a golden dragon. Two Spirit Kings and one Grandmaster together — the power can rival a high-level Spirit Sage."
"A golden dragon…" Yu Luomian suddenly understood. "So the technique uses that trash as the host? No wonder."
Spy:
"Master, it's a three-person fusion. What do we do now?"
Yu Luomian sneered:
"So what? Yu Xiaogang is stuck at Rank 29 forever. He's not worthy of my daughter. Besides, he's my nephew — if he marries my daughter, that makes him my son-in-law. What a joke!"
"I must stop this nonsense before it becomes real."
He departed personally to stop the wedding.
Meanwhile, Flender, Liu Erlong, and Yu Xiaogang chose to hold the wedding in the Soul Village Church.
Flender was handling all the wedding preparations and expenses, while Yu Xiaogang enjoyed everything without lifting a finger.
As the big day approached, the night before the wedding arrived.
Flender lay in bed, unable to sleep — heart aching at the thought that the woman he loved was becoming someone else's wife. But he was willing to let her go, so long as she was happy.
Liu Erlong, on the other hand, was filled with joy and anticipation. She couldn't wait to marry the one she loved most — Yu Xiaogang.
As for Yu Xiaogang, lying in bed, he reflected on his plan.
He didn't even know Liu Erlong's true identity. She tricked him into marriage. Once her identity was revealed — as Yu Luomian's daughter — he could use that as a reason to divorce her. That way, she would hate Yu Luomian, not him.
He would have his revenge.
Yu Xiaogang's eyes glinted with malice in the dark.
Just then, Evil Emperor appeared in the sky above their home.
"With the will of my Master, I bring you a gift for your wedding... Jie-jie-jie."
He unleashed a powerful mental force, pulling the souls of the three into an illusory space crafted from divine energy.
Yu Xiaogang's eyes fluttered open.
He found himself in a foggy white void, disoriented.
"Where is this? Wasn't I just asleep?"
He walked cautiously, pushing aside mist to explore.
Eventually, the mist cleared to reveal a massive platform at the center of the space. Suspended above it was a golden fruit, emanating a draconic shadow.
He instantly recognized it — the Golden Dragon Nourishment Fruit.
This was the same fruit he once lost to Yu Xiaomen, which had haunted him ever since.
Now, seeing it again, he rushed up the stairs to the platform in desperation.
He vowed to eat it immediately this time — no hesitation.
Just as he was about to grasp it, the fruit flew off into the fog.
Chasing it, he was suddenly frozen in place by divine force.
"No! Don't leave me, Golden Dragon Nourishment Fruit!" he cried, pounding against the invisible prison.
Then, the surrounding fog lifted, revealing two other platforms, forming an equilateral triangle.
At the center floated the three treasures — golden fruit, red crystal, and a mysterious red flower.
Yu Xiaogang's eyes were fixed solely on the fruit, oblivious to the two shadowy figures on the other platforms — Flender and Liu Erlong.
Liu Erlong had followed the Phoenix Sunflower to her platform. She quickly surveyed her surroundings and spotted the two others.
Though their faces were blurred and voices muted, she recognized them by their figures and clothing.
She tried to call to Yu Xiaogang, but he was too obsessed with the golden fruit to notice.
Meanwhile, Flender used gestures to try to communicate with both of them.
Looking down, Liu Erlong saw a yin-yang symbol beneath her feet.
"Where is this place?" she wondered.
Then, a transcendent voice echoed in all their ears:
"Welcome to the Eternal Love Abyss."