The gate tower of the Heavenly Dragon Gate mansion exceeded ten meters in height. Two stone carvings stood in front of the gate, and these two stone carvings were strikingly in the shape of domineering and awe-inspiring Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragons.
The two young gate guards standing on either side of the gate tower were both Soul Kings or above. From this alone, one could see the vast difference between a top-tier soul master sect like Heavenly Dragon Gate and an unknown sect like the Iron Blood Sect.
Moreover, these two young gate guards happened to be members of the Heavenly Dragon Gate team. Half a year ago, they had represented Heavenly Dragon Gate in the Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Elite Tournament held in Mingdu. As elites of the younger generation of Heavenly Dragon Gate, the two of them alone probably could massacre the entire Iron Blood Sect.
Seeing Yu Tianhuang approaching with Ning Tian beside him, the two young men instantly underwent a drastic change in expression, their eyes filled with genuine awe and admiration from the heart.
In the Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Elite Tournament half a year ago, they had personally witnessed the terrifying strength Yu Tianhuang displayed. Even though their Young Sect Master Yu Tianlong was a once-in-a-millennium genius of Heavenly Dragon Gate, there was still an insurmountable gap between him and Yu Tianhuang.
And what made them feel honored was that Yu Tianhuang also came from the main lineage of their Heavenly Dragon Gate Sect Master.
Xu Zihuang held Ning Tian's hand, standing calmly in front of the Heavenly Dragon Gate mansion with a composed expression.
The two young men immediately reacted, speaking respectfully: "Please wait a moment, we will go inform the Sect Master and Young Sect Master."
The Sect Master they referred to was not Xu Zihuang's maternal grandfather, Yu Yangyan, but his uncle. About twenty years ago, Yu Yangyan had handed over the position of Heavenly Dragon Gate Sect Master to his eldest son, while he himself retired into seclusion.
Xu Zihuang nodded slightly, then noticed Ning Tian's concerned gaze and gently shook his head.
"Don't worry, I'm fine."
Ning Tian said nothing, only showing a gentle smile. Her left hand, interlocked with Xu Zihuang's ten fingers, unconsciously tightened its grip.
It didn't take long before two figures hurried over from deep within the Heavenly Dragon Gate mansion. One was a young man nearly two meters tall, with steel-needle-like dark blue short hair, his entire body exuding a terrifying and ferocious aura.
Xu Zihuang was quite familiar with this person; it was Yu Tianlong.
The other person beside Yu Tianlong was a middle-aged man with a cold and stern face, bearing six or seven points of resemblance to Yu Tianlong. The middle-aged man wore a black long robe. Although his build was not as robust as Yu Tianlong's, his steady presence gave the feeling of merging perfectly with the surrounding environment.
The moment his eyes met Xu Zihuang's, the middle-aged man's gaze instantly softened considerably.
He was the current Sect Master of Heavenly Dragon Gate, Yu Yeran.
Once spiritual power reached a certain level, one could clearly sense this blood-connected feeling.
"Uncle." Having confirmed Yu Yeran's identity, Xu Zihuang took the initiative to greet him.
Although he had never had contact with Heavenly Dragon Gate during his childhood, the bond of blood was difficult to sever. Moreover, Heavenly Dragon Gate had taken meticulous care of him. No matter what, he had to acknowledge this favor.
Yu Yeran looked emotional and affectionately patted Xu Zihuang's shoulder.
"It's good that you're back."
Then he smiled and nodded toward Ning Tian.
"Tian'er, long time no see. Given your relationship with Tianhuang, it seems your way of addressing me will have to change in the future."
"Uncle Yu," Ning Tian's pretty face flushed slightly as she lowered her head, but her eyes overflowed with happiness.
Being acknowledged by Yu Tianhuang's family naturally filled her with joy.
"Later, please give my regards to your father." Yu Yeran chatted briefly with Ning Tian. As top sects within the Heavenly Soul Empire, and given the deep ties between the Upper Three Sects from ten thousand years ago, the relationship between Heavenly Dragon Gate and the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect had always been very close.
On the other side, Xu Zihuang exchanged a glance with Yu Tianlong beside Yu Yeran.
At that moment, Yu Yeran's expression suddenly turned serious. He spoke to Xu Zihuang with profound meaning: "Tianhuang, your grandfather is waiting for you. Go have a good talk with him."
"Yes." Xu Zihuang responded lightly.
Then, led by Yu Yeran, Xu Zihuang stepped through the main gate of Heavenly Dragon Gate for the first time. He observed every scene and object in the mansion, his gaze somewhat dazed. This was the place where his mother was born and grew up.
Ning Tian had been raised since childhood as the successor to the next Sect Master of the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, so reading people's expressions was one of her basic skills. She knew that Xu Zihuang must have some relatively private matters to discuss with his family, so she took the initiative to ask to stay in the reception hall.
Yu Yeran simply arranged for a few maids to attend to her, then continued leading Xu Zihuang and Yu Tianlong to a quiet courtyard deep within the Heavenly Dragon Gate mansion.
Yu Yeran and Yu Tianlong stopped in front of the courtyard and simultaneously turned to look at Xu Zihuang behind them.
Burying all his emotions deep in his heart, Xu Zihuang understood and slowly walked inside.
The heavy stone door of the courtyard seemed guided by an invisible force. The moment Xu Zihuang's figure stepped in, it suddenly closed with a low, muffled thud.
Unlike the ice and snow outside, this courtyard was brimming with spring vitality. Various exotic blooming flowers were dotted around, clear springs flowed through the waterside pavilions, and a towering ancient tree stood in the very center of the courtyard.
Following the path paved with cobblestones, an energetic old man gradually appeared in Xu Zihuang's line of sight. The old man had his back to him, standing beneath the lush, leafy giant tree, his long, black hair combed meticulously without a single strand out of place.
At the same time, a low voice suddenly rang in Xu Zihuang's ear without warning.
"Do you now consider yourself a person of the Heavenly Soul Empire, or a person of the Sun Moon Empire?"
Xu Zihuang's gaze instantly sharpened, but he remained silent. In this ever-spring-like courtyard, nearly half a quarter of an hour passed with only the rustling sound of leaves rubbing in the wind.
And his silence was, in fact, already his answer.
"Stubborn brat! Fine! You're a stubborn one too!" Yu Yangyan's emotions suddenly flared up, and the terrifying soul power pressure caused the surrounding space to feel as though it was shattering layer by layer.
"Get out!"
Yu Yangyan's soul power cultivation had reached rank 97. Although Xu Zihuang felt immense pressure, his expression never changed. He faced Yu Yangyan's soul power pressure directly, respectfully bowed, then turned to leave.
"Grandfather, please take care of your health."
Hearing these words from Xu Zihuang, Yu Yangyan's body trembled slightly. He raised his head to gaze at the giant tree before him. Vaguely, he recalled the words his most beloved youngest daughter had said twenty years ago before leaving.
"Father, please take care of your health."
Being so close, Yu Yeran and Yu Tianlong outside the courtyard naturally heard Yu Yangyan's angry shout. Father and son couldn't help exchanging glances.
At that moment, Xu Zihuang happened to walk out of the courtyard.
Seeing this situation, Yu Yeran didn't need to think to know that the conversation between Yu Tianhuang and Yu Yangyan had not been harmonious. But he understood his father too well—once a decision was made, no one was allowed to interfere.
Back then, when his little sister left the sect with that man, it had been the same.
Yu Yeran sighed softly and instructed Yu Tianlong beside him: "Go see Tianhuang off."
"Yes, Father."
Xu Zihuang thus bid farewell to Yu Yeran.
Yu Yeran nodded without saying anything, only watching as Xu Zihuang and Yu Tianlong's figures disappeared. Then he took a deep breath, his expression resolute, and walked into the courtyard.
Back then, he had been powerless to change anything, but now his cultivation was approaching the Super Douluo level. For the sake of his little sister's only bloodline, there were some things he had to fight for.
Even if it meant going against his father's decision.
Moments later, the scene changed abruptly.
"Get out!"
Accompanied by a deafening "boom," Yu Yeran's figure was violently blasted out in an extremely sorry state. The surging qi and blood within him made him grimace in pain, completely devoid of the earlier demeanor of a sect master.
However, he revealed a relieved smile. Because he had now completely confirmed his father's true attitude toward Yu Tianhuang.
On the other side, while walking side by side with Yu Tianlong, Xu Zihuang took out two ten-thousand-year Tyrant Dragon arm soul bones obtained during his recent training on the Star Sea Continent from the starlight blue gem storage ring Ning Tian had given him.
This pair of arm soul bones was of the relatively complete, high-quality type, pitch-black and profound throughout, engraved with strange dragon-scale patterns. They contained a violent power texture and emanated bursts of ferocious might that made one's heart tremble.
The Tyrant Dragon was known as the King of Terrestrial Dragons, possessing a trace of the Golden Dragon King's bloodline, renowned for its powerful physical strength. At the same cultivation level, it could even contend with true dragons without falling behind.
Sensing the aura of these two arm soul bones, Yu Tianlong's figure froze in place.
"This is…"
"These are two soul bones I accidentally obtained during this training, taken from the same ten-thousand-year-plus Tyrant Dragon. They are pure power-attribute soul bones and both arm soul bones; they should suit you very well, Cousin." Xu Zihuang said with a smile.
"I can sense that you're just missing two arm soul bones. Take them. With our relationship, there's no need to refuse."
As he spoke, Xu Zihuang used his soul power to push the two soul bones toward Yu Tianlong.
Yu Tianlong instinctively extended his broad right hand, letting the two pitch-black soul bones hover above his palm.
He had been gifted since childhood and was likewise cultivated as the successor to the next Sect Master of Heavenly Dragon Gate. Up to now in his cultivation, he already possessed three high-quality ten-thousand-year soul bones. Two were inherited soul bones of the sect, and the third was obtained when he acquired his sixth soul ring.
But the quality of those three soul bones was far inferior to the two ten-thousand-year Tyrant Dragon arm soul bones before him. The Tyrant Dragon from which these two soul bones came probably had a cultivation of at least thirty thousand years or more in life.
After pondering for a moment, Yu Tianlong stored the two soul bones in his storage soul tool and grinned broadly.
"In that case, I won't refuse."
Then his tone shifted as he spoke seriously.
"Although I don't know how Aunt offended Grandfather back then and was directly expelled from the sect, I can feel that Grandfather cares about you. In his heart, he should acknowledge you."
"I understand all of this." Xu Zihuang replied with an unchanged smile—he was quite open-minded.
Unknowingly, the two had arrived in front of the reception hall.
Xu Zihuang glanced sideways at Yu Tianlong beside him and reminded: "The continent may not be peaceful for some time in the future. During this period, try to raise your strength and make preparations so you can cope with all kinds of sudden situations. Once war truly breaks out, none of us will likely be able to stay out of it. Please convey these words to Grandfather and Uncle as well."
Ning Tian, who saw the two inside the reception hall, stood up in surprise from the purple sandalwood chair engraved with ancient patterns and came to Xu Zihuang's side.
Xu Zihuang took the initiative to hold Ning Tian's hand and continued looking at Yu Tianlong.
"This is far enough."
After saying this, he led Ning Tian out of the main gate tower of the Heavenly Dragon Gate mansion, leaving Yu Tianlong frowning thoughtfully.
It was only after leaving Heavenly Dragon Gate that Ning Tian parted her red lips and asked softly: "Tianhuang, you two…?"
"It's nothing. Let's go back." Xu Zihuang shook his head with a faint smile, then added one more sentence.
"Home."
Hearing this, a breathtaking smile instantly bloomed on Ning Tian's lovely face.
This trip to Dragon City thus came to a perfect end. Not only had Ning Tian obtained an extremely compatible soul ring and soul bone, but Xu Zihuang had also roughly understood his grandfather's thoughts.
Through the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's influence in Dragon City, Xu Zihuang and Ning Tian boarded a carriage and leisurely set off on the journey back to the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.
And even after returning to the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, this leisure continued. Perhaps because his state of mind had achieved unprecedented relaxation and he had his beloved by his side, Xu Zihuang's cultivation progressed by leaps and bounds. With the assistance of the spiritual-attribute soul core in the center of his brow, his soul power cultivation increased by one level in just two months, reaching rank 78.
At this cultivation speed, it would probably take only about half a year for him to touch the rank 80 bottleneck.
But as time passed, Xu Zihuang gradually began to worry about Ye Guyi's situation. Breaking through the rank 80 bottleneck was indeed not easy, and several months of secluded cultivation were normal.
However, Ye Guyi's foundation was much deeper than ordinary soul masters, and with the assistance of the Mixed Origin Immortal Grass, she shouldn't need to spend such a long time.
Just as Xu Zihuang was preparing to return to Shrek Academy to check on Ye Guyi's situation, another change occurred in the meantime.
Early in the morning, Xu Zihuang and Ning Tian, who lived on the top floor of the core castle of the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, got up and washed as usual.
Ning Tian's fair jade arms were exposed as she wrapped herself tightly in the quilt. An indescribable nausea lingered without dispersing, making her delicate brows furrow slightly as she remained motionless for a long time.
Xu Zihuang, already dressed, saw this and stepped forward with concern to ask: "What's wrong?"
"Just feeling a little unwell." Ning Tian, whose discomfort had eased considerably, relaxed her furrowed brows and smiled sweetly.
Xu Zihuang seemed to think of something. He reached his right hand under the silk quilt and placed it on Ning Tian's lower abdomen. In the next instant, he suddenly raised his head to look at Ning Tian.
Only then did Ning Tian react, covering her red lips in disbelief.
"Tianhuang?!"
Moments later, Ning Xingxu and Gu Lao both hurried over, accompanied by a Healing-type Tool Soul Master of Soul Douluo level. Due to the special nature of her martial soul, although this Healing-type soul master was over fifty, she looked like a charming woman in her thirties.
The beautiful woman held a magnificent staff entirely jade-green. The staff was slender at the bottom and thick at the top, engraved with some divine inscriptions. Two yellow, two purple, and four black, eight soul rings pulsed as a rich jade-green halo enveloped Ning Tian's body.
After a careful examination, the beautiful woman smiled fully and said to Ning Xingxu, "Congratulations, Sect Master. The young miss is indeed pregnant."
Not only Ning Xingxu, but the expressions of Xu Zihuang, Gu Lao, and even Ning Tian herself became especially vivid at that moment.
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Here are the chapters for today (づ￣3￣)づ╭～
"Don't forget there are chapters available on Patreon."
"From Douluo to Godhood by Defy 30 Advance chapters."
"Douluo: Far North Invincibledo 30 Advance chapters."
"Douluo Peerless: Living as an Evil Soul Master 40 Advance chapters."
"Douluo Dalu 2:Peerless Tang Sect Dawn of Sun and Moon 40 Advance chapters."
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