Douluo: Yu Hao Pan Tang San

Chapter 3. Xiaogang's younger brother

Yu Xiaogang was gestating in the womb, wantonly plundering his mother's essence. As he grew older, Wang Bilian's health deteriorated. Why was this happening?

Powerful spirit masters inherit top-tier martial spirits. The process of nurturing the fetus and developing the spirit consumes a great deal of essence. Where does this essence come from? From the mother. Therefore, the more exceptional the offspring, the more essence is consumed from the mother. The importance of the mother is self-evident.

It was not difficult for Wang Bilian's mother to give birth to a soul master with the Blue Lightning Tyrannosaurus Rex martial soul, but the one she was carrying in her belly was Yu Xiaogang.

Don't underestimate Yu Xiaogang in the original novel; that's simply because he failed to awaken. If his spirit, Luo Sanpao, had evolved successfully, it would have become the Golden Holy Dragon, a super spirit second only to the Seraphim in the First Era of Douluo Continent. This is also the reason why historical records indicate that Yu Xiaogang's mother died when he was very young.

We can understand it this way: in order to give birth to Yu Xiaogang, his mother consumed the life essence required for an SSR-level martial soul, but as a result, Yu Xiaogang awakened an N-level martial soul after he was six years old.

When Wang Bilian was six months pregnant, Yunniang went to see Yu Yuanzhen with her pregnant belly.

Unlike the feudal society of Huo Yuhao's previous life, within the Douluo Continent's sects, even powerful individuals rarely gave birth to offspring, and therefore every offspring was highly valued by the clans. A mother's status was based on her sons. Even if Yunniang's talent wasn't great, the child she carried was Yu Yuanzhen's. Its awakened spirit would undoubtedly be the Blue Lightning Tyrannosaurus Rex. With another disciple about to be born, the entire Blue Lightning Tyrannosaurus Rex clan was delighted, and Yu Yuanzhen even took Yunniang as his concubine. Only one person, Wang Bilian, looked incredibly grim.

On the night Yu Yuanzhen took a concubine, Wang Bilian fiercely tore her handkerchief and said bitterly, "Damn you, you couldn't wait to get into bed with me the moment I got pregnant. Just wait, I'll torture you to death when the baby is born."

One year in Douluo Continent is equal to one day in the God Realm. In Huo Yuhao's vision, Xiaogang and his brother will soon be born.

The first to be born was Yu Xiaogang. That day, dark clouds gathered, thunder rumbled, and it felt like divine retribution, another disaster was coming. A locust plague struck the southern Tiandou Empire, a once-in-a-century flood disaster struck the northern Xingluo Empire, and famine spread across the Barak Kingdom...
With a cry, Yu Xiaogang was born. Yu Yuanzhen happily picked up Yu Xiaogang and said excitedly, "This is my son. I have a son."

"Dad, what do you think our son's name should be?" Wang Bilian said happily, looking weak.

"Let's call him Yu Xiaogang. I hope he grows up to be a strong, resolute, and tough person with unyielding perseverance. He will be brave and fearless in the face of difficulties and challenges, and become a man who stands tall and proud."

Wang Bilian nodded, reached out and stroked Yu Xiaogang's wrinkled face, saying, "Our child is destined to be famous in the world in the future."

She knew full well that bearing this child had consumed too much of her life essence, and she would soon die. But the more this happened, the more destined Xiaogang became to become extraordinary. Then, Wang Bilian thought of that woman, and a chill flashed in her eyes. She'd rather have a mother with a stick than a father in office. Her body wouldn't last many more years. What if that mother and son tortured her child after she died? No, even if I die, I'll drag that bitch down with me to hell. She made a resolution.

A month after Xiaogang's birth, Yu Yuanzhen's second son arrived. Holding the frail child, Yu Yuanzhen didn't take him too seriously. After all, he himself possessed immense talent, but Yunniang, the woman who bore him, wasn't even a Spirit Master. Even if his awakened spirit was the Blue Lightning Tyrannosaurus, its innate Spirit Power wouldn't be very high. He simply said, "Let's just name him Yu Xiaomen. Raise him and see how his talent develops after he turns six."

In the God Realm, Huo Yuhao gazed upon the newborn child. Although he wasn't yet six years old, the age for awakening his martial spirit, Huo Yuhao had already deduced his future martial spirit and innate soul power through the power of destiny. His Blue Lightning Tyrannosaurus martial spirit possessed a level five innate soul power, neither high nor low. Although Huo Yuhao's innate soul power was limited to level one due to acquired factors, even if he grew normally, his Spirit Eye martial spirit's innate soul power wouldn't exceed level six. After all, the mother's influence on a child's talent was crucial.

While level five spirit power was impressive, it didn't offer an interesting comparison. Furthermore, innate spirit power was unimportant to Huo Yuhao, who had already attained godhood. He simply needed Yu Xiaogang to have a younger brother; talent and other matters were irrelevant. He flicked his finger, unleashing a blessing. This blessing descended from the divine realm to the Blue Lightning Tyrannosaurus Rex Clan, resting upon Yu Xiaomen. It would continuously improve the child's meridians and enhance his innate spirit power.

After Yu Xiaogang and Yu Xiaomen were born, as the direct descendant of the sect, Yu Xiaogang received much attention. His father, mother, and the sect elders all cast their gazes upon him. Meanwhile, Yu Xiaomen seemed invisible, with few paying much attention to him. Even Yu Yuanzhen showed only casual concern for Yu Xiaomen's existence.

Yunniang's situation was even more tragic. Immediately after giving birth, Wang Bilian assigned her to heavy household chores. Secretly, Wang Bilian orchestrated servants to bully Yunniang and her child, withholding their food. To ensure the health of her child, Yunniang often left her share of food for Yu Xiaomen, while she herself endured hunger and shouldered the heavy burden of household chores.

Father Yu Yuanzhen saw it all, but didn't take it to heart. Of Yunniang and Yu Xiaomen, the only one Yu Yuanzhen cared about was Yu Xiaomen. After all, she was his bloodline. As for Yunniang, she was just a tool. After giving birth, she lost her meaning. It didn't matter how Wang Bilian tortured her.

Yu Xiaogang, influenced by his mother's behavior, grew up hating both Yunniang and her son, and taking pleasure in bullying Yu Xiaomen. Thus, Yu Xiaomen grew up in an indifferent environment. From a young age, he became accustomed to his father's indifference, his mistress's hatred, and his brother's targeting. He watched his mother fend off bullying time and again for him.

Finally, when Xiaogang and Xiaomen were five years old, Yunniang fell ill from overwork and collapsed. Seeing Yunniang finally "breathed her last," Yu Xiaogang and Wang Bilian were delighted. However, as joy turns to sorrow, Wang Bilian, still smiling, suddenly "passed away."

His mother's death fueled Yu Xiaogang's resentment towards Yu Xiaomen. He blamed Yu Xiaomen and her son for his mother's death, as if they were the culprits of the tragedy. Consequently, Yu Xiaogang's bullying of Yu Xiaomen became even more reckless, intensifying his torment of his younger brother.

Bullied from childhood, Yu Xiaomen gradually became taciturn. He buried his anger and resentment deep within his heart, hiding his violent temper behind a calm gaze. Before his brother, Yu Xiaogang, he remained extremely submissive, like a tamed lamb, not daring to resist even a little.

(End of this chapter)