**Chapter 39: Receiving the News**
"What did you say?"
"That boy became a disciple of the Martial Soul Hall's Pope?"
"Why was that kid chosen?"
In the Haotian Sect hall, after hearing the news from Bai He, Tang Wei, the leader of the Haotian Sect, along with Tang Xiao and Tang Hao, were all shocked and visibly stunned by the news. (N/E: I don't know if he has a name, but I don't think he does in the original work. So Tang Wei is probably something invented by the author of this fanfic.)
Tang Hao even shouted in disbelief at the revelation.
He really couldn't understand how that brat Gu Ziyi managed to captivate the Pope of the Martial Soul Hall to the point of being accepted as a disciple.
His little sister was already blinded by her love for him, but for Pope Qian Xunji to be even more blind than her was unimaginable!
Tang Hao originally admired Gu Ziyi because he helped his younger sister Tang Yuehua. After learning about his poor talent, he admired him even more for his perseverance.
Not bad for someone who helped his sister despite having such low talent.
But everything changed when he found out that Gu Ziyi wanted to be his sister's partner. If Tang Xiao hadn't stopped him at the time, he would've gone back to the academy and taught him a lesson.
Now, hearing that Gu Ziyi had become a disciple of Pope Qian Xunji, he couldn't accept it.
Why was someone with such low qualifications accepted as a disciple?
"It's truly surprising, but for that boy to be favored by the Pope, there must be a hidden reason behind it!"
"There must be some secret about him that we don't know for the Pope to take such a liking to him!"
Tang Xiao was also very surprised, but he didn't yell like Tang Hao; instead, he calmly analyzed the situation.
"Humph—!"
At that moment, Tang Wei snorted heavily and said with barely concealed anger, "No matter what secrets he may have, the fact that he has now become a disciple of the Pope means that he chose the Martial Soul Hall over our Haotian Sect!"
Tang Wei didn't care about anything else, but focused solely on that point.
What does that mean?
It means that Gu Ziyi resented Tang Yuehua and them for leaving without saying goodbye!
"Yes, that's right!"
"That boy chose the Martial Soul Hall instead of coming to our Haotian Sect when the time came to make his choice. How dare that brat?"
"Thankfully, we didn't bring him back. He doesn't care at all for my little sister; otherwise, he should have come to our Haotian Sect!" (N/E: And probably gotten beaten up upon arrival.)
After hearing his father's words, Tang Hao immediately reacted, speaking angrily.
Now he was even more displeased with Gu Ziyi.
In his view, since Gu Ziyi liked his little sister, he should have come to the Haotian Sect. If he had some hidden potential, he should have revealed it.
As long as Gu Ziyi truly had potential, he could…
Bah~
Even if he had potential, that person was not worthy of his sister's affection.
As for the issue between Gu Ziyi and Tang Yuehua, they couldn't hide it from their father after returning, so now Tang Hao spoke without any reservations.
Aside from Tang Hao, Tang Xiao and Bai He's expressions also changed slightly.
Tang Wei's words made them realize the situation as well.
Gu Ziyi had abandoned the Haotian Sect and chosen the Martial Soul Hall!
"Hateful, that person is hateful!"
"If I had known back then, I wouldn't have given him the soul bone in the first place!" (N/E: And completely ungrateful for the help he received.)
Tang Xiao couldn't help but clench his fists and snort angrily.
In fact, if he could, he would have wanted to say that they should've gotten rid of Gu Ziyi if they had known earlier.
But he didn't want to break his little sister's heart.
"No matter what, he has still shown kindness to our Haotian Sect!"
"Now that he has chosen the Martial Soul Hall, that choice is his!"
Only Bai He spoke fairly at this moment.
Because no matter what, the Haotian Sect had gained from this situation.
A mere soul bone of around two thousand years of cultivation couldn't compare to the kindness Gu Ziyi showed toward the Haotian Sect.
"Uncle…"
When Tang Hao heard Bai He's words, he was immediately dissatisfied.
However, Bai He's words were true, making it hard for him to argue back.
"All right!"
"Let this matter end here. Whether he truly has potential or not, it no longer concerns us!"
"Don't let Yue'er find out about this matter for now!"
In the end, Tang Wei made the final decision while suppressing his dissatisfaction with the situation.
"Yes, Father!"
"I understand, brother-in-law!"
Tang Xiao, Tang Hao, and Bai He answered in unison.
However, Bai He's expression was slightly awkward. His daughter already knew about this matter, and she had likely already gone to tell Tang Yuehua about Gu Ziyi.
In that case, Tang Wei's request had already failed.
…
"What?"
"Cousin, are you telling the truth?"
"Gu Ziyi became a disciple of the Martial Soul Hall's Pope?"
Sure enough, Bai He's assumption was correct. At this moment, Bai Lu had gone to find Tang Yuehua and informed her of the news.
"Yes, you don't know how shocked I was when I first heard the news!"
"I never expected that boy to be so capable!"
Bai Lu confirmed with surprise.
"Hehe, if it's him, then it's not strange at all!"
"Gu Ziyi was already very powerful before!"
After the initial shock, Tang Yuehua smiled at Bai Lu's words.
She seemed to have unwavering confidence in Gu Ziyi.
That was precisely why she had the courage to try a relationship with him at the time.
It's a shame her older brother had noticed in the end; otherwise, she would still be secretly seeing Gu Ziyi now.
Bai Lu couldn't help but roll her eyes at Tang Yuehua. "If you believe in him so much, why didn't you write to him in the first place?"
"I…"
Tang Yuehua's expression suddenly changed after hearing her cousin's words.
She had wanted to write to Gu Ziyi at first but feared that the matter would be discovered and eventually harm her beloved.
So, in the end, she held back.
Unlike Bai Lu, she had to be much more careful about the situation.
Even if Bai Lu were exposed, the sect would likely turn a blind eye to her behavior, but she couldn't take that risk.
"All right, let's stop talking about this!"
Seeing Tang Yuehua's expression, Bai Lu dropped the subject.
In any case, she felt that regardless of what they discussed, Gu Ziyi had now become a disciple of Pope Qian Xunji, and there would be no future between him and Tang Yuehua.
The Haotian Sect and the Martial Soul Hall were never able to coexist!
Bai Lu quietly looked at her cousin, uncertain whether Tang Yuehua had realized the consequences of this news for her.
She couldn't tell from Tang Yuehua's expression, but she wouldn't be the one to bring it up.
Now that Tang Yuehua's cultivation was rapidly advancing, it was best not to talk about such depressing matters that would seriously affect her mood.
…
Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan!
At this time, a child was also in disbelief upon hearing that Gu Ziyi had been accepted as a disciple by the Pope of the Martial Soul Hall.
"With the same innate soul power of Level 1 as me, why is he so different?"
Yu Xiaogang found it hard to comprehend.
Wasn't innate soul power of Level 1 useless?
Moreover, the other party had reached Level 14 at the age of 13.
He was now 8 years old, and after much effort and the sect's resources, his soul power level was only at Level 4.
Give him another five years, and he'd be lucky to reach Level 10!
…
(End of Chapter)
--
A/N: Yu Xiaogang is one year younger than Bibi Dong. As for Yu Xiaogang's Level 0.5, in my story it was something that Yu Xiaogang himself invented later on. There is no half-level on the Douluo Continent in the original work.
E/N: As you read above, this is the author's setup. There is one thing that I am unsure about. I read in another fic on the site that the author theorized that Tang Hao never loved Ah Lin, he only used her. You can see how he treated his son and in his reaction when he saw Tang San's blue grass, he only recognized him when he showed him his hammer. What do you think of this theory?