The next day, at the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Sect's residence in Heaven Dou City, a middle-aged man dressed in bright red robes arrived before Yu Yuanzhen.
"Sect Master. Young Sect Master. Grand Elder."
The man bowed respectfully to everyone present.
As he lowered his head, he secretly felt the overwhelming pressure radiating from Yu Yuanzhen and couldn't help but sigh inwardly.
As expected of a Titled Douluo.
Unaware of his thoughts, Yu Yuanzhen simply nodded.
"Yang Lie, I need your assistance today. My son is going to refine a special medicinal ingredient, and we'll need your fire attribute to help with the process."
Yang Lie, a Fire-attribute Spirit Emperor, instinctively glanced at Yu Xiaogang.
A medicinal ingredient that requires a Fire-attribute Spirit Emperor?
He immediately realized it couldn't be an ordinary treasure.
Recently, the Sect Master had been making frequent trips to Sunset Forest. It seemed he had discovered something extraordinary there.
Yang Lie couldn't help feeling a little envious.
Having a Titled Douluo father really is a blessing. Even if your natural talent isn't perfect, your father can still find ways to change your destiny.
By now, nearly everyone in the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Sect knew about Yu Xiaogang's situation.
Most members viewed him with a mixture of envy and admiration.
They envied the fact that he had a father powerful enough to pave the way for him.
They also envied that the sect had discovered a miraculous treasure capable of increasing the age limit of a spirit ring just when Yu Xiaogang needed it most.
However, their admiration came from Yu Xiaogang himself.
Anyone who paid attention could clearly see the Sect Master's attitude toward his son.
Simply put, if Yu Xiaogang had lacked ambition, he could have lived comfortably under his father's protection for the rest of his life.
Instead...
He had chosen to gamble with his own life.
His First Soul Ring had reached the thousand-year level.
People claimed it was all thanks to whale glue.
But everyone understood that whale glue alone wasn't enough.
The Spirit Master themselves had to possess extraordinary willpower and physical strength.
Before Yu Xiaogang, no one had ever successfully absorbed a thousand-year First Soul Ring.
Even afterward, no one else had managed to repeat the feat.
Was it because others didn't want to?
Of course not.
They simply didn't dare.
It was a gamble with one's life.
Yang Lie asked himself honestly.
If there had been no successful example before him, would he have dared attempt such a thing?
The answer came almost instantly.
No.
He wouldn't have dared.
In fact, he believed very few people on the entire Douluo Continent possessed that kind of courage.
That was why Yu Xiaogang's achievement deserved genuine respect.
Smiling warmly, Yang Lie cupped his fists.
"Sect Master, simply give your orders. It is my honor to assist both you and the Young Sect Master."
Yu Yuanzhen naturally noticed the admiration hidden within Yang Lie's gaze.
He was very satisfied.
He couldn't stop others from envying his son.
Truthfully, if he were in Yang Lie's position, he would probably feel the same way.
Envy was inevitable.
But admiration...
Admiration could be cultivated.
Over time, Yu Yuanzhen had deliberately allowed word of Yu Xiaogang's accomplishments to spread throughout the sect.
It wasn't deception.
It was reputation management.
He refused to let people dismiss his son with comments such as:
"He only succeeded because of his father."
"Without the sect, he'd be nothing."
"If I had the same resources, I could do it too."
A future Sect Master needed prestige.
If Yu Xiaogang's reputation wasn't carefully built now, it would only make things harder when the time came for him to inherit the position.
"Very well."
"Let's go."
Yu Yuanzhen looked toward his son.
Yu Xiaogang stood up and politely nodded to Yang Lie.
"I'll have to trouble you."
Yang Lie laughed heartily.
"Young Sect Master, you're far too polite. Being able to help you is an honor."
Together, the group headed toward a specially prepared secret chamber.
Along the way, Yang Lie enthusiastically struck up one conversation after another with Yu Xiaogang.
His excitement was almost overwhelming.
Several times, Yu Xiaogang wanted to ask him to stop talking.
Yet every time he looked at Yang Lie's face, he saw nothing but pure enthusiasm—the unmistakable expression of someone who genuinely wanted to improve himself and advance within the sect.
Each time, the words died in his throat.
Watching this scene, Yu Yuanzhen secretly chuckled.
Get used to it now, brat.
If you're going to become the next Sect Master, this is only the beginning.
Thinking back to his own experience after suddenly becoming Sect Master without any preparation, Yu Yuanzhen couldn't help shivering.
That period had been one of the most exhausting and painful times of his life.
Naturally, he believed his current arrangement was perfect.
Unfortunately...
He had no idea what his son was actually thinking.
After experiencing only a short walk with Yang Lie, Yu Xiaogang had already made an important decision.
No matter what...
I'm never becoming Sect Master.
If this is how people behave before I even inherit the position... what will it be like afterward?
He silently comforted himself.
Father is doing an excellent job as Sect Master.
The elders would surely prefer someone as experienced and dependable as him over someone young like me.
If the Grand Elder had known what both father and son were thinking at that moment, he probably would have exploded in frustration.
So in your eyes... the position of Sect Master is nothing but unwanted baggage?
If you can avoid it, you'll throw it away. If you can't, you'll find a way to pass it to someone else?
Meanwhile, Yang Lie continued talking nonstop.
Unable to endure any more, Yu Xiaogang unconsciously quickened his pace.
Before long, they finally reached the secret chamber.
"We're here."
"I'll be relying on you from here."
Yu Xiaogang secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
Yang Lie looked at the building with obvious disappointment.
"So we've arrived already..."
"Very well, Young Sect Master. Leave everything to me."
Deep inside, however, he wished he could continue chatting with Yu Xiaogang for another three days and three nights.
If he could earn the Young Sect Master's trust, perhaps he could become one of his closest confidants.
His future promotions within the sect would surely become much smoother.
Without wasting another second, Yu Xiaogang handed him the Crimson Blood Amber and carefully explained the exact method required to heat and refine it.
The moment he finished explaining, Yu Xiaogang hurried into the secret chamber as though someone were chasing him.
Watching him practically flee, Yu Yuanzhen and the Grand Elder exchanged glances before bursting into laughter.
"I never imagined Xiaogang would one day run away in panic."
The Grand Elder smiled helplessly.
"Indeed."
"He always behaves so calmly and maturely that I almost forgot..."
"He's still just a child."
Standing nearby, Yang Lie looked back and forth between the two elders with complete confusion.
Had something happened...
...that he wasn't aware of?
Advance Chapters avilable on patreon (Obito_uchiha)