Chapter 147: Subtle Changes and Public Discussions

"Oh, have you all noticed that Brother Yu’s bizarre and mystical purple hair is even more dazzling and profound than before? It seems to emit an intangible radiance that is simply impossible to ignore." Meng Youyuan stared straight at Yu Shang's purple hair, speaking in a dazed tone, as if this single glance had robbed her of the ability to ever look away. It felt as though an invisible force was pulling her in, compelling her to keep gazing, making her feel that even a blink would mean missing out on something. In short, the sensation was profoundly peculiar, yet entirely devoid of any discomfort.

"Youyuan, I wouldn't have noticed if you hadn't mentioned it. But once you become aware of it, our souls no longer belong to us—they've already been hooked by Brother Yu's brilliant, eye-catching purple hair, losing their minds in the process. Just a single look at it draws you deeper and deeper into an inescapable abyss," Lan Bingxian said very gently to Yu Shang. His eyes, in particular, reflected only a mystical expanse of purple, leaving no room for anything else. For some reason, Yu Shang's purple hair was exceptionally striking now. In the past, it had merely seemed unusually beautiful, but now, it felt like an aura of supreme dominion, looking down upon all the heroes of the world.

"How wonderful it would be if I could have such a mesmerizing head of purple hair! That is a brilliance no rare treasure in the world could ever buy! I truly envy Brother Yu; no matter what it is, everything about you is unique. There is simply no second you in this entire world," Lan Wu said, looking at Yu Shang with a fascinated and yearning expression. One could tell just how deeply captivated she was by those purple locks. Perhaps it was simply a girl's innate love for beauty, but she just felt that this one-of-a-kind feeling in the world was truly wonderful.

"If we're just talking about this stinky brat's purple hair being unique, I'll grant you that. But if you're saying other aspects of him are extraordinary as well, I certainly don't agree. Don't forget, there is someone we pine for day and night, someone we desperately want to eliminate, who looks exactly like him—like they're cut from the exact same cloth," Xiao Yin interjected nonchalantly from the side, though his heart was far from as calm as still water. Why on earth did that old bastard have to look just like this stinky brat? It left him completely baffled. A mountain-sized doubt pressed heavily upon his mind, making him feel restless and uneasy, as if something ominous was bound to happen.

"We finally have such a hard-earned, pleasant atmosphere, and you little snake just had to bring up that mood-spoiler Fuyou Ming—are you trying to drive me mad? I really want to find a quiet place right now to have a good rest, to temporarily cast aside all my troubles and let my mind and brain have a brief relaxation. I don't want to think about people who annoy me, nor do I want to dwell on matters that weigh on my heart. I would be more than content just to sleep and have a sweet dream," Yin Boxuan said softly, looking into the distance. Perhaps, having been through so much, he was truly exhausted! It was not just physical fatigue, but more importantly, the weariness of the soul, which had drained him completely until not a shred of vitality remained.

"I am merely stating facts, yet you brat insist on making an unreasonable fuss. Is it that you haven't been disciplined by this lord lately and your skin is itching for it? Do you need me to loosen up your bones and regulate your vital energy?" With that, Xiao Yin cracked his wrists, making a motion as if to charge forward to teach Yin Boxuan a lesson for speaking recklessly and daring to be so wildly audacious. At that moment, Xiao Yin acted like a mere child who only knew how to bicker and scrap, while Yin Boxuan behaved just like an overgrown kid playing along with him. Seeing this, the rest of the group could not help but burst into loud laughter, instantly lifting the gloomy mood that had hung over them these past few days.

"Alright, the two of you, quiet down. Just a moment ago you were complaining about being utterly exhausted, and now you're back to fighting with boundless energy? It seems you aren't tired at all. Should I join in so the two of you can truly and thoroughly relax?" Yu Shang intervened with a helpless sigh, pulling the two bickering figures apart, and then spoke to them with a feigned expression of sternness. Despite their combined age being so vast, their personalities remained those of immature children. No matter when or where, they could start arguing without any reason at all. If no one pulled them apart, there was no telling how long the two would keep making a fuss. Still, scenes like this were rather nice—lively and full of joy, enough to make anyone envious.

"Forget it. Your idea of a 'thorough relaxation' simply means knocking the two of us unconscious so the world finally falls quiet. I'd rather swallow my pride and give way to this foul-tempered little snake than drift off into a hazy, unending sleep and become a living corpse," Yin Boxuan retorted, hastily dodging to the side with a thoroughly frightened expression. With so many people around, none of them were a match for this stinky brat—let alone just him and that little snake right now. Besides, there was always the risk that the little snake might turn on him at any moment. Therefore, it was best not to spar with the stinky brat, lest he get himself injured over nothing.

"Consider yourself lucky to have a shred of self-awareness. If Brother Yu were to take action personally, those puny limbs of yours would never function normally again. By the way, Brother Yu, I've always wondered why you have this distinctive purple hair instead of the glossy, brilliant black hair the rest of us have? Could it be that everyone in your family is born with purple hair, passed down from generation to generation until it finally reached you?" Yan Xuexiu asked, looking Yu Shang up and down with a puzzled expression. She had noticed those purple locks from the very first moment she laid eyes on him. Honestly, that one-of-a-kind color was simply impossible to ignore, and even she had felt an urge to step forward and touch it.

That feeling was much like a young girl spotting a gorgeous flower and always unable to resist plucking it to play with in her palms. At that moment, Yu Shang's purple hair was just such a rare and exotic blossom; seeing something so beautiful, a girl had every reason to appreciate it fully and even seek close proximity to it. However, since Yu Shang was a man, she could not well be too intimate with him, and could only gaze at him from afar, never daring to get too close. And so, that purple hair remained like a riddle in Yan Xuexiu's heart—the bittersweet torment of being able to only look from a distance rather than fondle it up close!

"I still faintly remember that my parents' hair color was just like ordinary people's, and when I opened the mysterious gateways within my body without any accidents, mine was identical to yours as well. It was only after that accident that my black hair turned into this purple shade. At first, I was quite troubled by it, not wishing to draw so much attention to myself. But as time went on, I grew unwilling to hide these purple locks under cover anymore, and simply revealed them openly to others. Once people grew accustomed to seeing them, they stopped finding it so strange, and I gradually came to accept it as a symbol of the new lease on life bestowed upon me by the heavens." Saying this, Yu Shang could not help but offer a faint, extraordinarily handsome smile. One had to admit that this charming face paired with that bewitching color made for an unparalleled and breathtaking beauty!

"It seems your purple hair is also the handiwork of those mysterious gateways inside your body. I must say, these gateways are truly bizarre and deeply fascinating. Given the chance, I must properly experience them myself and taste what it feels like to cross swords with such a formidable gateway," Yu Xiaochan said, looking at Yu Shang with profound admiration. It appeared he still harbored lingering obsessions over the mysterious gateways within the stinky brat! Even after suffering a setback once before, he still held expectations for them, refusing to be deterred by Yu Shang's little trap back then. Instead, it had only stimulated his desire to explore the unknown.

"You brat, are you saying your beating last time wasn't severe enough, or are you just far too confident in your own meager skills? Don't forget how the stinky brat used his internal gateways to mess with you last time. If you don't want to repeat the same mistake, quickly put aside this unrealistic notion! The gateways inside his body are far too ferocious—even this lord doesn't dare trifle with them casually, let alone a wet-behind-the-ears kid like you. If you don't want them to destroy your entire cultivation, stop acting on reckless impulses," Xiao Yin said. He didn't mean to mock Yu Xiaochan's cultivation level; rather, he merely wanted to kindly remind him that those gateways were not to be touched lightly. However, since Xiao Yin had never been particularly articulate, the meaning became somewhat distorted the moment it left his mouth. Yet, someone as intelligent as Yu Xiaochan could naturally understand his underlying intent.

"I didn't say I was going to test the power of those internal gateways right now. I meant I'll wait until Brother Yu can fully control them before sparring with him. Brother Yu himself cannot properly control them yet, and I'm not a fool—why would I rashly go throw my life away?" Yu Xiaochan shot Xiao Yin a helpless, sidelong glance, as if mocking him for jumping to conclusions without ever using his brain. Deep down, however, he understood Xiao Yin's kind intentions and was all too aware of the terrifying power of Yu Shang's internal gateways. Having already suffered a loss once, he would certainly never be as reckless as before. Besides, this time it was merely pure curiosity without any competitive spirit; given how close their relationships were now, he certainly had no desire for mutual slaughter!

"Very well, I promise you that in the future, we will indeed have a proper sparring match. But perhaps years from now, all of you will have grown far stronger than I am, and by then, it might be you who have to go easy on me!" Yu Shang said with a smile. This was not mere polite evasion, but the genuine thought in his mind. One had to realize that no one could predict what things would be like years down the line. True, he was currently sailing smoothly, protected by divine artifacts and formidable guardians. But let us not forget that the wheel of fortune turns, and good luck would not surround him forever. Furthermore, everyone had their own destiny and encounters. It was entirely possible that in a few years, everyone else would surpass him in strength.

"Brother Yu must not be so modest. I have great faith in your internal gateways. Once they are completely unlocked, let alone us, even the ancient deities could be matched, or perhaps even completely surpassed!" Leng Huaiyi looked at Yu Shang with immense envy, having always believed that this man carried countless miracles upon him. Having spent so much time in his company, he had grown reluctant to ever part ways, terrified of missing any more unforgettable and miraculous encounters. He suddenly realized that since knowing Yu Shang, he had become far happier, much more mature, and vastly more interesting compared to his past self.

"Ahem!" At that moment, a deliberate cough sounded from the corner, reminding the group that the old dean was also present and had been ignored by them for quite some time. With tacit mutual understanding, they all spun around toward the old dean's direction, looking at him with sheepish, embarrassed smiles, not knowing quite how to handle the situation. Yet, no look of displeasure could be found on the old dean's face; instead, he was gazing at Yu Shang with an inscrutable, profound expression. It was as if he had inadvertently discovered some clue, or rather, as if he had finally found the long-awaited answer to an enigma, leading to a sudden and profound realization.

"Dean, how are you feeling now? A moment ago, we saw you exerting so much painstaking effort casting spells for the senior, only to be inadvertently caught in the backlash of the gateway power within my body and sustain some minor injuries. We didn't dare disturb you too much, hoping to let you take this opportunity to properly regulate your vital energy. Now your complexion seems much warmer, no longer as ghastly pale as before, which finally sets our minds at ease. If you had truly suffered on account of this, this junior would truly never be able to forgive himself!" Seizing the moment, Yu Shang quickly took over the conversation, desperately framing their discourtesy as a display of deep, heartfelt concern, leaving the rest of the group wanting to laugh yet not daring to, almost bursting their internal organs from holding it in.

"You stinky brat, not only is your cultivation realm a cut above the rest, but even the glibness of your tongue surpasses everyone else's. However, this old man is not some unreasonable, petty person. They were merely worried about your injuries, and upon seeing you safe and sound, became momentarily carried away and forgot about everyone else present. I can understand that much and won't hold it against them. You can put away your honeyed words now and set your mind at ease!" Seeing Yu Shang's appearance, the old dean could not help but chuckle. This stinky brat truly always managed to exceed people's expectations!