All rights reserved to the respective authors.
"Dialogue": Represented in double quotes for conversations between characters.
'Thoughts': Represented in single quotation marks, indicating the characters' internal reflections.
[Diary]: Represented in square brackets, used for messages intended for the heroines or entries written by Tenshin.
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Time flies, and February is fast approaching.
The academy semester had come to a brief end, marking the beginning of the month-long annual leave. Since academy rules prohibited students from returning home during their studies—allowing only visits from relatives—Tenshin had not been back to Holy Spirit Village for several months.
A day in advance, he informed Tie Shan, the blacksmith workshop's boss, of his departure and bought a few things in the city. Early the next morning, he set off for Holy Spirit Village with a parcel in hand. Naturally, since they shared the same route, Tang San and Xiao Wu accompanied him.
Perhaps to avoid revealing the existence of his spirit tool, Tang San never mentioned using it to store items. Tenshin, in turn, remained silent on the matter—after all, they weren't particularly close.
Over the past eleven months, their relationship had remained lukewarm. At first, when they met, Tenshin would offer a friendly smile and greeting, to which Tang San would respond with a calm nod, rarely saying much. Noticing Tang San's distant demeanor, Tenshin's smiles gradually faded until they disappeared altogether.
Tang San treated the other dormitory friends in a similarly neutral manner—neither too warm nor too cold—always maintaining a certain air of detachment. As for Xiao Wu, whether influenced by Tang San or simply by nature, her temper had been growing worse. If Tenshin had to guess, he'd say it was a mix of both.
To put it nicely, she was lively and active; to put it bluntly, she was a chaotic mess. No one knew where she had learned such a colorful vocabulary, but at the slightest provocation, she would unleash a torrent of curse words. No matter how unpleasant her outbursts were, anyone daring to speak up would be met with a duel challenge. Many students at the academy had already suffered defeat at her hands.
However, none of this affected Tenshin. His daily routine left him little time to engage with others. He woke up early for his morning run, attended classes, and spent his afternoons working outside the academy. By the time he returned to the dormitory, he would study for a few hours before diving into cultivation, leaving him with few opportunities to interact with Xiao Wu.
The trio walked along the narrow mountain path—Tang San and Xiao Wu chatting and laughing, their hands free—while Tenshin carried a large parcel, quietly admiring the surrounding scenery.
Months of daily training and blacksmithing had honed his physical strength to a remarkable degree. Carrying several dozen pounds of luggage now felt effortless compared to before.
'In these months, I've evolved a lot… but my body has improved the most,' Tenshin mused with an ironic smile.
Having only recently turned seven, he already stood close to 1.37 meters—exceptional for his age. His rigorous workouts, far beyond what most children could endure, combined with soul power protecting his muscles and bones, allowed him to recover quickly and compress his muscle fibers. This method not only enhanced his strength and explosive power but also preserved his agility and flexibility, allowing his body to grow steadily without hidden injuries.
As they continued walking, patches of cultivated land came into view. In the distance, smoke rose from cooking fires, and the faint outline of a village emerged through the mist.
Then, Tenshin began writing in his diary:
[Tang Hao should already be on his way to meet Yu Xiaogang by now.]
When the heroines saw that the diary had been updated, they immediately began reading their copies.
Tenshin glanced at Xiao Wu, who was not far away, with a fleeting side glance. Then he continued writing:
[Tang Hao must have already visited Nuoding Academy multiple times by now. The first time, he even spent several days observing the academy and had long been aware of Xiao Wu's true identity.]
[The original Tang Hao once mentioned, when he brought Tang San to meet Ah Yin—the Blue Silver Emperor—that after sending Tang San to Nuoding Academy, he secretly observed his growth. But wasn't this also an excuse to keep an eye on Xiao Wu? After all, she was both a potential daughter-in-law and a walking, one-hundred-thousand-year-old spirit ring and spirit bone.]
[Of course, this isn't just my speculation. The key point is that Tang Hao once followed me while I was working at the blacksmith workshop.]
[I'm almost certain he learned about my job from Tang San's conversations with Xiao Wu. He probably suspected I had witnessed the Disorder Splitting Wind Hammer Technique and came to verify it. If I hadn't relied on my sensory skills to detect his presence and adjust my movements accordingly—switching from instinctive hammering to strictly conventional techniques—the slightest trace of the Disorder Splitting Wind Hammer Technique might have sealed my fate.]
The heroines pondered Tang Hao's intentions, realizing that he had likely considered Xiao Wu as a future partner for his son—even though she, like his wife, was a hundred-thousand-year-old soul beast in human form. This thought reminded them of what Tenshin had written about the unsettling nature of Ah Yin's sacrifice for Tang Hao.
When they reached the entry describing Tang Hao's "visit" to the blacksmith workshop, some of the heroines felt a cold chill run down their spines, fear and anxiety gripping them at how close Tenshin had come to death. The more experienced among them, however, understood Tang Hao's reasoning. The Disorder Splitting Wind Hammer Technique was one of the Clear Sky Clan's greatest secrets—he wouldn't allow it to be leaked to outsiders.
Yet, despite their differing reactions, all of them felt a mix of relief and admiration—perhaps even a touch of envy—at Tenshin's keen sensory skills and quick adaptability. The fact that he had managed to sense Tang Hao's presence and seamlessly shift from using the Disorder Splitting Wind Hammer to ordinary hammering techniques was nothing short of remarkable.
After recalling his martial soul, which had been in diary mode, Tenshin cast a casual glance at Tang San before quickening his pace toward the village entrance.
Seeing the familiar village in the distance, Tang San's face visibly lit up with excitement. He grabbed Xiao Wu's hand, pulling her along as they sped up to keep pace.
Upon reaching the village entrance, Tenshin stopped, turned, and gave a small nod to the two, then swiftly headed toward his home.
Once back, he packed all his belongings and cleaned the house. After finishing, he went to Old Jack's house, intending only to greet him and share the good news—but ended up staying for lunch.
Tenshin had already decided to give Old Jack some money to thank him for all his help and care—essentially adopting him. However, he planned to hand over the money only when returning to the academy. If given now, Old Jack would surely refuse.
After lunch, Tenshin walked through the village and eventually made his way to a small hill that offered a beautiful view of the entire settlement. Climbing step by step, each resembling a ladder, he finally reached the top. The surrounding trees were lush, and the scenery was peaceful. He leaned against a tree and stayed there, watching the landscape.
'So peaceful and refreshing. No matter how many times I've seen the landscapes of this world, I still marvel at them each time,' Tenshin thought with a smile. 'They're so different from the ones in my past life.'
The Celestial Book appeared before him, its familiar glow shimmering in the light.
"I want write something... but what?" Tenshin mused, a trace of indecision showing on his face.
After a brief pause, his eyes lit up. "Got it. Since I already mentioned Yu Xiaogang stealing Spirit Hall's theories and data, I might as well write about how he managed to do it."
With that thought, Tenshin began writing:
[I remember an interesting topic from my previous life—Yu Xiaogang, along with Tang San and Tang Hao, is considered one of the three sources of evil in the Douluo world.]
[Anyway, since I have nothing better to do right now, I might as well write about: The History of Yu Xiaogang's Shameless Life.]
[If only Bibi Dong and Liu Erlong could see my diary... Forget it.]
[Those two are completely obsessed with Yu Xiaogang. Even if they knew the whole truth, they'd probably come up with countless excuses to deceive themselves on his behalf.]
Her fingers trembled slightly as she read, a flicker of pain and anger flashing in her golden eyes. 'Obsessed?' The word cut deep, forcing her to confront a truth she had long buried. She wanted to scoff, to deny it—but the bitterness in her heart told her otherwise.
Her grip on the diary tightened, knuckles turning white. 'What the hell does he know?!' The words ignited her fury, yet a nagging unease settled in. She wanted to dismiss it, to rage against it—but why did it sting?
[Let's return to Yu Xiaogang's story.]
[Born into the prestigious Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan as the patriarch's son, Yu Xiaogang lived a life of boundless glory. Almost always the center of attention, he enjoyed the admiration of countless family members and outsiders.]
[However, everything changed on the day of his spirit awakening ceremony. As the son of the patriarch, Yu Xiaogang was expected to inherit the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon spirit—one of the clan's most powerful martial spirits. Yet, what he awakened was neither a pig nor a dog, but an unfamiliar creature that no one could identify. Worse still, his innate soul power was a pitiful half-level—barely registering.]
[From that day on, Yu Xiaogang's status plummeted. He became the target of ridicule among his clan members, falling from grace in the blink of an eye.]
[What the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan Yu Xiaogang never knew was that the so-called "waste spirit" he awakened wasn't some unknown trash martial spirit, but the legendary Light Holy Dragon spirit—its quality far surpassing the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon itself.]
[Unfortunately, Yu Xiaogang's own incompetence doomed him from the start. With only half a level of innate soul power—likely the result of the countless medicinal baths and elixirs he had taken before the awakening—his body couldn't support the full manifestation of the Light Holy Dragon. Malnourished and incomplete, the Light Holy Dragon spirit was forced to appear in its juvenile form.]
[If Yu Xiaogang had diligently cultivated his martial spirit, he might have triggered a second awakening, allowing the Light Holy Dragon to fully mature. But what did he do instead?]
[Rather than studying his spirit or honing his potential, he recklessly attached two inferior soul rings to it—reducing the mighty Light Holy Dragon to the infamous Luo Sanpao, forever sealing away any chance of a second awakening.]
Her breath hitched as she read, a mixture of disbelief and reluctant frustration boiling within her. 'He had a powerful spirit all along?' The realization stung. All those years, all that suffering—was it really just his own failure? Her grip on the diary tightened, her emotions a storm of anger and unwilling acceptance.
She let out a slow breath, pink eyes narrowing. 'How typical.' That blind arrogance, that wasted potential—how could she have ever admired such a man? The revelation should have felt satisfying, yet all she felt was a cold, distant regret.
A wave of incredulity passed through them. This is the man who claimed to be a "Grandmaster"? Some scoffed, others shook their heads in exasperation. Wasting a legendary martial spirit? A few even felt a tinge of secondhand embarrassment.
[Speaking of which, I have a question. Even if Yu Xiaogang is an idiot, he should at least recognize that his spirit—neither pig nor dog—is a mutated version of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon, right?]
[Then why didn't he absorb soul rings from sub-dragons or dragon-type beasts? Why did he insist on attaching random, incompatible soul rings instead? What was he thinking?]
[Is this the so-called "wise man" idolized by Bibi Dong and Liu Erlong? If you ask me, he's just mentally challenged.]
Her expression darkened, lips pressing into a thin line. 'Idolized?' The word left a bitter taste. Was she truly so blind back then? Her fingers clenched the diary slightly—disgust, disappointment, and a cold sense of detachment settling in.
Her jaw tightened as she forced herself to keep reading. 'Why?' The question burned in her mind, frustration simmering beneath the surface. How could he have been so careless, so ignorant? The more she thought about it, the harder it was to defend him.
[Seriously, I'm certain of it. If Yu Xiaogang's first two soul rings had been from the sub-dragon family, he definitely wouldn't have been stuck at level twenty-nine.]
[Now, what should I write next...]
[Well... let's follow the timeline. Let's start with Bibi Dong and Yu Xiaogang.]
[As time passed, Yu Xiaogang's soul power reached level twenty-nine. However, no matter how hard he cultivated, his soul power showed no signs of improving. Frustrated, he temporarily gave up on cultivation and began immersing himself in books, hoping to find a method to break through.]
[Day after day, he read everything the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan's library had to offer. Yet, after nearly exhausting all the resources, he found nothing useful. Coupled with the constant ridicule and whispers behind his back, Yu Xiaogang left the clan in a fit of anger and traveled to Wuhun City.]
[At that time, the Pope of the Spirit Hall was not Bibi Dong, but Qian Xunji. To maintain diplomatic relations with the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, Qian Xunji agreed to let Yu Xiaogang join Spirit Hall.]
[Once in Wuhun City, Yu Xiaogang spent most of his time in the public library. Of course, the information there was limited—general knowledge open to anyone, but not the deeper, confidential records he truly sought.]
[Perhaps it was luck, or perhaps it was something more deliberate.]
[Just as Yu Xiaogang was wondering how to access Spirit Hall's restricted archives, fate—or his own calculated maneuvering—led him to cross paths with Bibi Dong. A little too convenient, don't you think?]
[Bibi Dong, the Holy Maiden of Spirit Hall, had spent her early years under careful guidance, protected even during her external training. The people she encountered had mostly been honorable, the kind who upheld the ideals of Spirit Hall. In other words, her worldview, though not childish, was still lacking in certain harsh realities.]
[So when she saw Yu Xiaogang—a man who seemed wise, who spoke eloquently about martial soul theory, a subject most soul masters had little patience for—she was intrigued. Surrounded by warriors who relied on brute strength, she found his scholarly demeanor refreshing. His words about breaking the monopoly of noble clans, about helping ordinary people rise up, struck a chord with her youthful idealism.]
[But let's be honest.]
[Yu Xiaogang was not particularly strong. He was not particularly handsome. His martial soul was crippled. What did he have, truly, that could enchant the Holy Maiden of Spirit Hall? Knowledge? Hardly. The theories he spoke of weren't his own discoveries—most of them were recorded within Spirit Hall itself. He only turned to theory because he had no other path forward.]
[And yet, Bibi Dong, lacking exposure to true academic discourse, mistook his regurgitated knowledge for wisdom. If she had truly wanted to learn martial soul theory, all she needed to do was ask. As the Holy Maiden, she had far greater access to Spirit Hall's resources than Yu Xiaogang ever would. Her teacher, Qian Xunji, may not have been an academic, but he wielded enough authority to summon the greatest scholars of the institution at a whim. If she had simply requested it, she could have surpassed Yu Xiaogang in knowledge within months.]
[So why did Yu Xiaogang go out of his way to impress her?]
[Think about it.]
[If he had come to Spirit Hall purely for knowledge, he should have focused on gaining access to the archives, finding a way to be taken in as a scholar. Instead, he repeatedly inserted himself into Bibi Dong's path, deliberately displaying his so-called expertise.]
[According to a more cynical perspective—one supported by the patterns of manipulation seen throughout history—Yu Xiaogang didn't just want knowledge. He wanted influence. He wanted a foothold within Spirit Hall, and what better way to secure that than through the heart of its Holy Maiden?]
[After all, Bibi Dong wasn't just talented—she was breathtakingly beautiful, and her mind, while intelligent, was still unguarded. To a man like Yu Xiaogang, she must have seemed like the perfect target.]
[And in the end, she didn't just fall for his theories. She fell for him.]
[If she had the authority, one might even wonder… would she have stolen those forbidden records for him?]
[But, of course, there was one flaw in his plan.]
[Bibi Dong's high status was, in many ways, an illusion. She was a Holy Maiden, yes—but she had no real power. She couldn't access those secret books, no matter how much Yu Xiaogang might have hoped.]
[One has to wonder—did he ever feel a flicker of disappointment when he realized that?]
[And if Bibi Dong had ever discovered that the man she loved had been using her from the very beginning…]
[Well.]
[Yu Xiaogang might have found himself decorating a wall.]
Her hands trembled slightly as she read, yet her expression remained eerily calm. 'Was it truly like that?' The thought gnawed at her, stirring something bitter in her chest. She wanted to deny it, to refute every word—but deep inside, a small, chilling voice whispered that she had been nothing more than a means to an end.