Douluo: Starting with a self-created soul ring

**Chapter 112 - Famous Across the World**

For a moment, the entire Soul Master world was shaken.

Initially, everyone thought that the champion of this Soul Master Competition would be the Haotian Team.

After all, this time, the Haotian Team was led by Tang Hao, one of the twin stars of the Haotian Sect. Everyone in the Tiandou Empire knew their reputation. The team had swept through all competitors during their matches.

Unexpectedly, in the final round, the Haotian Team not only failed to win the championship but even the runner-up position was taken by the Star Luo Empire Team.

"Both of the Martial Soul Hall Pope's disciples actually participated in this competition..."

"The eldest is a 15-year-old Soul King—so terrifying. She is truly the Pope's disciple!"

"Gu Ziyi, at 19 years old, is equally impressive. He even possesses his own Domain. He managed to defeat Tang Hao, a Level 54 Soul Master, while being only Level 40. That's simply astonishing!"

"Yes, the two disciples of the Pope of the Martial Soul Hall are truly the rising stars of the future!"

"In comparison, the Haotian Sect's twin star disciples are nothing!"

"..."

Before the finals began, the Haotian Team was the most talked-about team in the Soul Master Competition.

However, after their embarrassing defeat, both Tang Hao and his younger sister, Tang Yuehua, had their reputations overshadowed by Bibi Dong and Gu Ziyi. The two disciples of the Pope saw their popularity soar.

While they were already quite famous before, it was largely due to their status as the Pope's disciples.

Now, Gu Ziyi and Bibi Dong gained widespread fame through their performance in the Soul Master Competition.

"Father, I deeply regret disappointing you!"

After returning to the sect, Tang Hao apologized to his father, his face full of guilt.

He still found it hard to accept that he failed to win the competition.

What hurt the most was being defeated by Gu Ziyi.

It was precisely because he lost to the boy and suffered severe injuries in their fight that he failed in the match against the Star Luo Empire Team.

In the end, he not only failed to deliver on his bold promises but also suffered such an embarrassing defeat that it was utterly humiliating. His failure brought shame to the sect as well.

Seeing Tang Hao's expression, Tang Wei couldn't bring himself to scold him, even though he initially wanted to reprimand him.

To be honest, he was very disappointed in Tang Hao's performance in the Soul Master Competition.

Especially during the individual battle—Tang Hao actually lost to a Level 40 Soul Ancestor, Gu Ziyi.

The same Gu Ziyi who chose the Martial Soul Hall instead of joining the Haotian Sect.

When Tang Wei first heard the news, he was nearly furious enough to explode.

He never expected Tang Hao to be so incompetent.

"Hao'zi, it's just one failure. You've been successful for so many years; experiencing a setback is good for you!"

"Now that the Soul Master Competition is over, stop dwelling on it."

"After all, it's just a competition."

But now, seeing his son's defeated and self-reproachful look, Tang Wei stepped forward, patted Tang Hao on the shoulder, and comforted him.

He was afraid that if he spoke too harshly, Tang Hao might suffer a severe blow.

He never imagined Tang Hao's psychological resilience would be so poor, that he could falter so easily after this setback.

"Father!"

Tang Hao looked up at his father in disbelief. Unexpectedly, his father didn't blame him for losing but instead consoled him.

"Cheer up. It's just a small competition; there's no need to take it too seriously!"

"If you can't recover from this minor setback, then you're truly a failure!"

Tang Wei placed his hand on Tang Hao's shoulder again, continuing to encourage him.

"Yes, Father!"

"I will never let you down again!"

Reinvigorated by his father's words, Tang Hao immediately perked up as if he had been injected with a surge of energy.

"Alright, get some good rest when we return!"

"After resting, train hard again!"

Tang Wei continued with a smile.

"Yes, Father!"

Tang Hao nodded solemnly.

"That applies to Yue'er as well. Don't take your failure in this competition too seriously. When you return, stay in the sect and focus on rigorous practice!" 

After Tang Wei finished speaking to Tang Hao, he also offered words of comfort to his daughter. 

"Yes, Father!" 

Tang Yuehua obediently nodded. 

Yet, just thinking about returning to the high-intensity training the sect demanded made her sigh inwardly. 

While she appreciated the ability to cultivate, the strict requirements imposed by the sect made it difficult for her to feel motivated. 

Perhaps it was because she had grown accustomed to a freer lifestyle before she could cultivate. 

Now, after being granted the ability to train, Tang Yuehua found the rigorous demands of cultivation increasingly draining. 

She simply longed for the days when she wasn't compelled to cultivate under the strict expectations of the sect. 

"Alright, Hao'er and Yue'er, you should both go back and rest now. I have some matters to discuss privately with your elder brother!" 

Tang Wei nodded approvingly before letting the two leave to rest. 

"Yes, Father!" 

Tang Hao and Tang Yuehua responded in unison. 

"Father, is there something wrong?" 

After his younger siblings left, Tang Xiao immediately took the initiative to ask why his father wished to speak with him privately. 

"Well, it concerns you!" 

Tang Wei replied with a smile. 

Earlier, while contemplating the inheritance of Tang Yuehua's martial soul, he suddenly realized he had neglected his eldest son's personal matters for many years. 

Finding a suitable match for his daughter was not an urgent issue, especially since there weren't any promising candidates at the moment. 

So, Tang Wei decided to address Tang Xiao's situation first. 

"Father, what is it about?" 

Tang Xiao asked quickly. 

"Xiao'er, you are 38 this year. It's time for you to find a wife, settle down, and start a family!" 

Tang Wei spoke directly, wasting no time. 

"Ah..." 

Tang Xiao's face turned red upon hearing his father's words. 

Though he was 38, he was surprisingly inexperienced in matters of love! 

He truly hadn't expected his father to bring up the topic now. 

"Haha, no need to feel embarrassed, my son. It's high time you considered this, especially at your age!" 

Seeing his son's flustered reaction, Tang Wei laughed heartily. 

"Yes, Father, I will listen to your guidance!" 

Tang Xiao quickly composed himself and replied. 

At the moment, he had no romantic interests, so the matter of marriage didn't weigh heavily on him. He trusted his father to choose a suitable match. 

In the original storyline, Tang Xiao never married or had children of his own, only adopting a son. This was perhaps because he harbored feelings for someone else. (N/E: Not entirely certain if this is canon or an embellishment by the author.) 

"Well then, Xiao'er, what do you think of your cousin, Bai Lu?" 

Tang Wei suggested his favorite candidate. (N/E: It's likely she's the only candidate.) 

"My cousin, Bai Lu?" 

Tang Xiao was surprised to hear his father mention her. He hadn't expected his father to propose Bai Lu as a match. 

This left him a bit uneasy. He had always seen Bai Lu as his younger sister—she was considered such before Tang Yuehua was born. 

Moreover, he was significantly older than Bai Lu and had taken care of her when she was a child. 

But upon reflecting on his father's words, Tang Xiao realized that Bai Lu had indeed grown up. 

"Father, I don't have any objections!" 

Tang Xiao quickly agreed without hesitation. 

He didn't mind who he married, as long as his father approved of the woman and she met his standards of beauty. 

If it were his cousin, whom he knew well, it would be even better. 

"But, Father, we should also consider my cousin's feelings. If she's unwilling, then let's drop the matter." 

Tang Xiao thought for a moment and stated his condition. 

He found Bai Lu to be a good candidate, but he had no intention of forcing her into marriage. If Bai Lu didn't agree, he wouldn't press the issue. 

After all, she was his cousin. 

"Haha, no problem. Your uncle has already said he would speak to Lulu about it. All you need to do is wait for the good news!" 

Tang Wei laughed.

As for Bai Lu's reluctance about marriage?

He thought there shouldn't be such a possibility, and even if she truly didn't want it, he believed that Bai He would definitely persuade his daughter to agree to this marriage.

Because this matter is good for both of them.

…

"What? Father, you want me to marry my older cousin?"

"I don't want that!"

After Tang Wei finished talking to Tang Xiao about the matter, Bai He also spoke to his daughter about it.

Bai Lu didn't expect her father to encourage her to marry as soon as she returned from the competition. He wanted her to be engaged to her cousin, Tang Xiao.

Unexpectedly, Bai Lu's first reaction was to resist the idea, so she directly rejected the proposal.

"What did you say? You don't want to?"

Bai He, who originally thought his daughter would be very happy, immediately frowned after hearing her words.

"Yes, father, I don't want to marry my older cousin!"

Once the words were spoken, Bai Lu naturally insisted on her own ideas, and she really didn't want to marry Tang Xiao.

She felt no affection for her cousin!

"But I already promised the sect leader about this!"

Bai He suddenly had a headache upon hearing this.

"Father, how could you do this?"

Bai Lu was immediately dissatisfied when she heard that her father had promised her hand without her consent.

"Your older cousin is a talented person, he is stable and his strength is not weak. He will definitely be able to become a Title Douluo in the future. Lu Lu, what are you dissatisfied with about him?"

Bai He tried to persuade her.

"I..."

Bai Lu was a little speechless after hearing her father. She really had nothing to complain about with this marriage. Tang Xiao was truly very good, but she didn't like him!

"No, I don't want this anyway, I don't have that kind of feeling for my older cousin!"

It's just that Bai Lu had just become a woman and she is still a girl. She has her own expectations regarding love, so she firmly rejected this marriage.

For some reason, the image of Gu Ziyi and that kiss from that day quickly appeared in her mind.

"No, since you're not dissatisfied with Xiao'er, then this matter is settled and I have already agreed to this marriage with the sect leader!"

"Lulu, you cannot be stubborn about this matter!"

When Bai He heard this, he immediately disagreed. If his daughter was dissatisfied with Tang Xiao, or if she already had someone she liked, then he wouldn't force her. But if that wasn't the case, he thought it would be good for his daughter to marry Tang Xiao.

It's a good thing for both Bai Lu and the Min Clan.

Moreover, he had already agreed with Tang Wei, so Bai He, who always loved his daughter, didn't let her temper affect him this time.

"Hmph!"

"I don't want this anyway. If you want someone to marry him, you can marry him yourself, I haven't agreed to this marriage!"

Bai Lu didn't expect her father to be so obstinate about this matter, so she huffed angrily, then turned and walked away.

"Hey~"

Looking at his daughter walking away angrily, Bai He sighed.

Although Bai Lu still disagreed, he believed that his daughter, who had always been sensible, would agree with him once she calmed down.

…

"I'm so angry!"

"How could this happen? You didn't even ask me what I wanted. You just agreed with the sect leader and want me to marry my cousin!"

After she left, she was still upset about the matter all the way. She left her clan's place and came to the mountain at the back of the Haotian Sect.

She originally wanted to ask Tang Yuehua about it, but she didn't understand why Tang Xiao suddenly developed feelings for her.

Is it that bad to reject my cousin?

However, when she thought that Tang Xiao was Tang Yuehua's older biological brother, Bai Lu gave up on seeking her out to vent.

The wind blew for a long time at the back of the mountain, and her face kept changing.

"Ugh!"

In the end, she still didn't know what to do!

In her heart, she definitely didn't want to marry Tang Xiao.

Because she knew that she truly had someone she liked in her heart.

If she didn't have anyone she liked, she would simply marry her cousin. She also knew that it would be good for both families if she married Tang Xiao.

Especially for the Min Clan, it would be even more beneficial if she married.

"Oh, what should I do?"

"I can't tell anyone who I like, or else my father will force me into marriage!"

Bai Lu's long white legs continued to kick the stones on the ground.

In fact, she knew very well that if her father knew she had someone she liked, he wouldn't force her.

But that person cannot be Gu Ziyi!

"Damn it, why did you join the Martial Soul Hall in the first place?"

"And even attracted the attention of the Pope!"

Bai Lu kicked stones and scolded Gu Ziyi for his excellence, but in the end, she couldn't make up her mind.

On her way back, her mood worsened even further after overhearing the conversation of several disciples from the Haotian Sect.

"I heard that the leader of the Min clan, Bai He, had some ideas because of Bai Lu's performance in the Soul Master Competition. He brought it up with the sect leader, but it was rejected…"

"Yeah, I heard that too!"

"But isn't that normal? He really wants the sect leader to assign a Soul Master with a weapon-type Martial Soul to his Min clan disciples. What is he thinking!"

"Not all the disciples, but for a small group. Bai He wants his family to have a relatively strong fighting power!"

"If there are disciples from other affiliated families who are willing, it would really be great!"

"Just look at Bai Lu's performance in the Soul Master Competition. This kind of fighting style still has a lot of potential. It's especially suitable for the Min clan!"

"Haha, who says it's not true, but our Haotian Sect doesn't need this!"

"Haha, that's right. Just leave the battle to us, the Haotian Sect and the other affiliated sects. The Min clan only needs to handle its intelligence work!"

"That's right. The Min clan just needs to obediently serve our sect. No need to think about what's available and what's not!"

"…"

Bai Lu, who overheard this conversation, had an ugly expression on her face.

'We, the Min clan, are supposed to serve your sect, right?'

'We, the Min clan, can't want to progress, right?'

Damn it!

She still hadn't decided whether she should reject Tang Xiao, but now she was determined.

She doesn't want to marry Tang Xiao. Isn't it enough that the entire Min clan serves the Haotian Sect? Now they want her, as the eldest daughter of the Min clan, to marry Tang Xiao so that she can focus on serving him alone?

Not a chance!

And to avoid making things difficult for her father, who had already agreed with the sect leader, Bai Lu decided to secretly leave the Haotian Sect.

Since her cousin dared to run away from home, what was stopping her?

…

(End of chapter)

-x-X-x-

(In a Parallel Universe)

Bai Lu, after secretly fleeing the sect, finds herself lost with no idea where to go.

Images of Gu Ziyi constantly appear in her thoughts during these moments.

In a burst of boldness, she decides to go to Spirit City, convincing herself it's the best place to hide—and not because she wants to see him.

...

Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Sect

A few years have passed since the fateful final of the Soul Master Competition.

Yu Xiaogang, still stuck at Rank 29, finds himself desperate to break through his bottleneck but never succeeds.

He always feels the scornful and disappointed gazes of his family. He wants to prove he's not a failure but has never managed to.

In these moments, the image of his rival, mercilessly crushing his former idol, always comes to mind.

He imagines himself achieving the same feat but is consumed by envy toward Gu Ziyi for being better than him.

Later that day, Yu Xiaogang meets with his father in his office.

He is met with cold indifference.

"Yu Xiaogang, after years of cultivation, you're still stuck at your bottleneck. No matter how many resources you've received, you remain the failure you've always been."

"As the leader of this sect, I am expelling you. You may only return if you achieve some merit for the sect."

Hearing his father's words, Yu Xiaogang feels his heart torn apart by each cold remark.

In the end, he is expelled from his home without ever proving himself to anyone.

...

After wandering the world for months, he encounters his rival walking with the Min Clan girl, Bai Lu.

He feels a surge of intense envy seeing Gu Ziyi enjoy the company of a woman in his arms and bask in the glory of his strength—all because he had a bit of luck finding some Immortal Herbs.

The pent-up emotions drive Yu Xiaogang to resent Gu Ziyi. Desperate to blame someone for his miserable life, he attacks his rival without a plan, driven purely by resentment.

Sensing an intense wave of negative emotions, Gu Ziyi quickly turns, blocks Yu Xiaogang's attack, and disarms him.

Realizing what he had just done in a moment of weakness, Yu Xiaogang's heart sinks with guilt, and he gives up, expecting Gu Ziyi to end his miserable life.

But, contrary to his expectations, Gu Ziyi extends his hand to help him up.

"Yu Xiaogang, I'm not sure what drove you to attack me, but I can see it was a desperate measure to end your life."

"I can imagine what you might have gone through. Years ago, I too lacked qualifications. Looking at you, I want to make you an offer."

"I want you to become my disciple. I will do my best to help you overcome the difficult path you're walking."

Yu Xiaogang is stunned by the offer.

But, seeing the sincerity in Gu Ziyi's eyes, he ultimately accepts.

Years later, he realizes it was the best decision of his life. No matter how excruciating the pain and suffering he endured to break free from his bottleneck,

His master, rival, and friend supported him on his new journey.

From the abolition of his previous cultivation to following the new path Gu Ziyi created, Yu Xiaogang overcame his chains and became a new person.

Many years after that fateful encounter, Yu Xiaogang was finally recognized as a true Theoretical Master in the ways of Martial Souls, Soul Beasts, and Soul Rings, unraveling the intrinsic connection between these three concepts.

He was no longer a clown or a failure. He could now take pride in his achievements and return to the sect that had expelled him years ago to show his father the merits he had earned.

-x-X-x-

N/E: It's a bit late, but I decided to modify this chapter, to be the last one in this volume. I don't think the next chapter would fit in this volume yet.

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