--- Chapter 26 ---
A whole night.
After digging for a whole night, we finally excavated every soul bone in the burial site. Sitting around a campfire, we rested our dirty bodies and sighed because this treasure trove came so randomly.
We have around sixty-nine spirit bones; half are incomplete and below the 10,000-year-old mark. The remaining bones are perfect and possess good attributes from spirit beasts with impressive bloodlines.
Of course, we also discovered some spirit bones older than 10,000 years, such as 35,000-year-old Fear Dragon's head-type spirit bones and 40,000-year-old Mud-skipping Beast's leg-type spirit bones.
The spirit bone from Fear Dragon is compatible with Liu Erlong as she possesses the "Scarlet Dragon" martial soul. It has a spirit skill called "Dragon's Fear" that can weaken a group of enemies with spiritual power.
However, I don't recommend her taking the 35,000-year-old because it will limit her future and break the conditional spiritual mark I left in her mind.
As for the 40,000-year-old Mud-skipping Beast's left bone, I found the spirit skill is called Mud Phasing, a high-speed, teleport-like movement with a range of one hundred meters.
It's a good life-saving spirit skill and can be used repetitively with enough energy.
Liu Erlong didn't voice many thoughts and agreed with my opinion. She doesn't seem excited with these spirit bones.
As our campfire crackles, Han Yue sleeps, leaning on my shoulder.
I gently placed a blanket from the spirit beast's hide over her and whispered, "She must be tired after all that digging."
"You're actually warmer than I thought, Kid." Liu Erlong gave me a weird look.
"And what does that entail exactly?" I returned with a suspicious look.
Liu Erlong shook her head weakly and replied, "I used to have a great relationship with two people."
"One is my sworn brother and the other is my lover."
"We traveled on the Douluo Continent when we were young, enjoying many sceneries and creating names for ourselves. In fact, my title of Slaughtering Corner comes from this journey."
"But then, our travel is over."
"My lover and I decided to marry on an auspicious day, but then my father came and told me the "lover" I have been with for a year is actually my cousin."
Tears slid off Liu Erlong's eyes, recalling that painful day.
"My lover was shocked and couldn't accept this, running away from the wedding and leaving me alone."
"Xiao Yuan, do you think it's wrong for me to love him?"
I gave her a quiet look before answering, "Yes and no."
"Incest is not rare on Douluo Continent. Many noble and ancient clans had such tradition to maintain pure bloodline, including the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan."
"However, your father probably realized it's not a "good" thing for you."
"W-What do you mean?" Liu Erlong's teary eyes focused on me.
I sighed and analyzed, "I guessed your lover must be Yu Xioagang, who self-proclaimed himself as the Grandmaster."
"Right?"
"Mm." Liu Erlong nodded and didn't seem to mind that I called Yu Xiaogang a self-proclaimed grandmaster.
"Then, listen well," I replied calmly. "While incest is a common practice on the Douluo Continent, many have found that children born from such relationships often face health issues. These children are more likely to experience mental problems and may not develop normally, especially when born to close relatives."
"Your father is Yu Luomian, and Yu Xiaogang's father is Yu Yuanzhen, and they are brothers of the same father and mother..."
"If not for the fact their Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon's bloodline is stronger, they might have some complications as well."
"But their children weren't so lucky."
"Yu Xiaogang's martial soul mutated from Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon, degrading into neither pig nor dog."
"Your martial soul similarly mutated from Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon, but in a much better condition because Fire Dragon is still a top-tier martial soul."
"You should thank your mother for it."
"Now, imagine what would happen if you both had a child together..."
"Why!" Liu Erlong cried after I gave her a cold truth. "Why is the world playing with us?"
"I just want to be happy once?"
"Why Heaven? Why!"
"Senior Erlong..." I called her name gently.
She looked up with red eyes and saw a handkerchief in my hand, taking and burying it in tears.
I watched Liu Erlong crying for an hour, enjoying the cold air of Star Dou Forest and the warmth of the campfire.
Then, Liu Erlong stopped crying slightly and whispered, "You said yes and no earlier."
"Why do you mean by no?"
"The reason behind your ironic fate is because you're weak," I replied flatly, ignoring her shocked expression. "If you're a title douluo, your father's opinion doesn't matter, and you can marry whoever you want because you have the strength to back it up."
"I mean, who dares to criticize a title douluo? Unless they want to die, that is..."
"Then, again, having a child is an entirely different matter because Yu Xiaogang can't break through to Spirit Elder because of his poor choices and lack of talents."
"Haha! HAHAHA!" Liu Erlong laughed bitterly, covering her face and crying madly. "Yes, how could I forget? Strength is everything on the Douluo Continent."
"I'm just a mere Spirit Saint."
"With such weak strength, I can't grasp my fate."
"My dream..."
Liu Erlong's memory of childhood suddenly resurfaced due to my spiritual manipulation. She watched herself living with her late mother, enjoying a warm bread on the road stall and watching other commoner kids play in the alley.
Although Liu Erlong's mother was a prostitute, she never left her in hunger or cold. She provided her with enough food, new clothes at a new year, and a decent home in a red-light district.
It was not until she died that Liu Erlong lost her only warmth. She started getting too emotional and mad, attacking anyone who dared meanly comment on her.
Her second warmth is Yu Xiaogang, but that man left her and didn't even stand up as a man.
Liu Erlong's life slowly descends into depression as things go on.
Although Liu Erlong has built the Blue Tyrant Academy for commoners, she actually never really supervises nor leads it properly. All she does is grieve her unfortunate relationship with Yu Xiaogang and water flowers in her garden to relieve her madness.
Liu Erlong's imaginary mother appeared and asked, "Erlong, what do you want to become when you grow up?"
"I want to become a strong Spirit Master! I want to build an academy for children like me! I want commoners to be happy too!" A childish voice of young Liu Erlong echoed.
Liu Erlong's body froze on the spot.
She slowly wiped her tears with my handkerchief and mumbled, "That's right."
"I want to give children on the Douluo Continent a better life..."
"How could I forget?"
"I should put complicated things aside and focus on my dream!"
"Xiao Yuan!" She gave me a renewed, determined look.
"You're right. Even though the Blue Tyrant Academy is my life work, it is not entirely mine because of my father and other reasons."
"But together, we can build an academy for commoners, unaffected by others influence."
"I will prove to the world that my dream is possible!"
"I will make my dream come true!"
Looking at how excited and passionate Liu Erlong is, I couldn't help but sigh in relief because the reinforcement in her conditioned mind is successful.
Of course, it's only possible because she had such desire in her heart, and I amplified it by thousands.
I felt horrible for doing this. I truly am.
However, I'm an Egoist!
I will do everything to get my revenge on Asura and Tang San.
I will do everything to live happily in this world.
No one can stop me!
As for Liu Erlong, I will definitely pay her back in the future. I promise that.