After Yu Xiaogang finished recounting what he had experienced, Ghost opened his mouth and asked,
"Yu Xiaogang, are you certain it was a female soul master from our Spirit Hall, claiming to be the Hall's Arbiter Elder, who gave you a Golden Dragon-Nurturing Fruit?"
"Yes." Yu Xiaogang nodded.
The high-ranking members of Spirit Hall couldn't help but let out a soft laugh.
"What are you laughing at?" Yu Xiaogang asked in confusion.
"Our Spirit Hall's current Arbiter Elder is one of the Twin Peaks of the soul master world—Angel Douluo Qian Daoliu. How could it possibly be a female soul master?" Ghost explained.
Yu Xiaogang: "…"
"No, no, that can't be right. She was a woman! She called herself the Arbiter Elder—how could she not be?" Yu Xiaogang stammered, lost for words.
Bibi Dong turned to Ning Fengzhi, Yu Xiaomen, and Huo Qiqiang. "The three of you represent powers outside Spirit Hall. With your knowledge of our Spirit Hall, do you know who the current Arbiter Elder is?"
"Lord Angel Douluo Qian Daoliu," said Sect Master Huo with an indifferent air.
"Lord Angel Douluo Qian Daoliu," Yu Xiaomen echoed coldly, glaring viciously at Yu Xiaogang.
Ning Fengzhi's expression stiffened as he replied, "It is Lord Angel Douluo Qian Daoliu." In that moment, he began to regret siding with Yu Xiaogang to fan the flames. The fact that Qian Daoliu was Spirit Hall's Arbiter Elder was no secret among the upper echelons of the soul master world. And you, Yu Xiaogang, with your brain caught in a door, couldn't even come up with a decent lie? You actually claimed Qian Daoliu was a woman?
"Yu Xiaogang, now it's clear. Our Spirit Hall has no female Arbiter Elder who would gift you a Golden Dragon-Nurturing Fruit," Bibi Dong declared.
Yu Xiaogang was dumbstruck. Then… was everything I experienced just an illusion??
"Yu Xiaogang!" At this point, Yu Xiaomen stepped out again to tear him down. Pointing at him, he cursed, "You've been a useless waste all your life—you're even hallucinating now! Why would Spirit Hall ever give a precious Golden Dragon-Nurturing Fruit to you for no reason? I think you're just jealous of young Lin Chen, who possesses the Golden Holy Dragon martial soul that you could never even dream of attaining!"
"I-I'm not jealous!" Yu Xiaogang snapped angrily, stiff-necked. He turned his head toward Lin Chen. At this moment, Lin Chen stood with his arms crossed, saying nothing, but wearing an expression full of smug satisfaction as he looked at Yu Xiaogang.
Yu Xiaogang's eyes instantly turned red. Pointing at Lin Chen, he roared furiously,
"Fine! Then how do you explain Lin Chen's martial soul evolving from the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon into the Golden Holy Dragon? Spark Academy—can you explain that?!"
Snow Epmress simply touched her soul guide ring. A fruit basket appeared in her hands—inside it lay dozens of Golden Dragon-Nurturing Fruits.
Every soul master with a dragon-type martial soul present was immediately captivated, their eyes filled with longing.
Seeing that entire basket of Golden Dragon-Nurturing Fruits, Yu Xiaogang collapsed again.
All my life, I've pursued this fruit. To obtain it, I even sacrificed my honor. And now—you're telling me you have a whole basket of them?!
But what use was it now? Luo Sanpao had already abandoned him. Even if he consumed another, what would it change? Would he evolve into a Golden Big Fat Pig instead?
And besides—you Spark Academy people clearly have so many Golden Dragon-Nurturing Fruits. Why not just give Lin Chen one directly? Why did you have to steal my Golden Holy Dragon?!
Snow Empress said calmly, "Our Spark Academy has plenty of Golden Dragon-Nurturing Fruits. Giving one to our seed player to evolve his martial soul into a Golden Holy Dragon—does that explanation satisfy you?"
Yu Xiaogang opened his mouth, but no words came out.
"In that case, this matter is already clear—"
"Wait—!" Yu Xiaogang shouted. The situation had already turned against him. If things ended here, he would forever lose his beloved Golden Holy Dragon. No! Today, no matter what, he had to force Spirit Hall to pressure Spark Academy so that he could reclaim what was his.
So he pressed on, "Then why does your Spark Academy possess so many rare martial souls? The Seven Treasures Glazed Pagoda and the Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Pagoda have always been passed down through the Ning clan.
The Clear Sky Hammer belongs to the Tang clan. And the Golden Holy Dragon, the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon, have only ever appeared in the Yu family throughout history! Your academy's students don't have such noble bloodlines—yet you have these noble martial souls. How do you explain that? It must be that you used despicable means to steal others' martial souls! It must be!"
By the end, Yu Xiaogang's tone was firm and absolute.
He had voiced the very doubt in the hearts of all the noble-born soul masters—you mud-legged commoners, whose ancestors for eighteen generations never carried noble bloodlines, how could you possibly wield martial souls that belong only to the nobility?
Ning Fengzhi turned to Snow Empress. "This is indeed something I too am curious about. I wonder, Your Majesty the Snow Empress, if you could explain?"
At the side, Yu Xiaomen and Huo Qiqiang also voiced demands for an explanation on behalf of the noble soul masters.
Bibi Dong addressed Snow Empress, "Honored Snow Empress, since you represent this faction, I hope you can provide an explanation to clear this doubt within the soul master world."
Snow Empress nodded and said to Bibi Dong, "Your Holiness, I would like your Spirit Hall to find me a six-year-old child whose martial soul has not yet awakened. Ideally, his lineage should be that of ordinary folk, without any inherited powerful martial souls."
Bibi Dong nodded and signaled to a red-clad cardinal to handle it.
The cardinal left immediately. After a short while, a boy was brought into the Spirit Hall's plaza, placed directly before Yu Xiaogang.
Snow Empress's figure flashed as she descended to the plaza. She turned to Spirit Hall's staff. "Can you awaken his martial soul?"
"Yes, Your Majesty." The Spirit Hall staff immediately prepared the awakening ritual, while the surrounding crowd watched curiously.
Soon, the boy's martial soul was revealed—it was a hoe. His innate soul power was zero. A standard trash martial soul—someone who could never become a soul master in his lifetime.
"Your Majesty the Snow Empress, why would you bother bringing in such a mud-legged child?" Yu Xiaogang asked obsequiously. Yet his words carried a faint sense of superiority over the boy. In Yu Xiaogang's eyes, even though his martial soul was now just a big fat pig, at least he was still part of the soul master class, a level-29 Great Soul Master. Compared to such mud-legged commoners, they were worlds apart.
"You just kneel there and watch quietly." Snow Empress's cold words cut him off. She then turned to the boy.
"With your current martial soul, you are destined never to become a soul master. I'll ask you one question—do you want to become one?"
"Yes, I do." The boy nodded.
" I can help you achieve your wish of becoming a soul master. But there's no such thing as a free lunch. Tell me—are you willing to join the Spark Academy?" Snow Empress asked.
"If it allows me to become a soul master, then I'm willing to join Spark Academy!" the youth said firmly.
From her soul tool, Snow Empress took out a soul-guidance injector. Facing everyone present, she declared:
"This is the miracle that our Spark Academy wishes to let the whole world witness!"
With that, she plunged the injector into the boy's arm, pressing the liquid inside into his body.
"Ahhhhhh!" The boy immediately let out a scream of agony. He collapsed to the ground, writhing as though something inside was tearing him apart.
After a long while, the struggle ceased. His whole body was drenched in cold sweat, but his spirit and vigor seemed completely renewed.
The youth stood up, staring in disbelief at his own hands.
"How do you feel?" Snow Empress asked.
"I feel amazing, Your Grace," the boy answered.
"Good. Let him undergo a martial soul awakening again," Snow Empress instructed the Wuhun Hall awakening attendant nearby.
Though confused, the attendant obeyed. He performed a second awakening ritual on the boy.
At once, a dragon's roar echoed from within the youth's body. A golden light flashed all around him.
The oppressive might of a higher dragon-bloodline spread outward. Not far away, Yu Xiaogang was crushed down once again.
He stared at the boy in disbelief. The sensation was all too familiar—this was the pressure of the Golden Holy Dragon! He had felt it three times before: once when Yu Xiaomen evolved into a Golden Holy Dragon in front of him; once when his own martial soul evolved; and once when Lin Chen seized his Golden Holy Dragon and evolved it further. Now—this boy… was awakening it too!
The thought terrified Yu Xiaogang. He simply could not accept it: a mud-legged peasant awakening the martial soul he yearned for but could never possess. In his heart he kept denying:
Impossible! Absolutely impossible! He's just a lowborn peasant. With such filthy blood, how could he possibly be qualified to wield such a noble martial soul? The Golden Holy Dragon should belong only to me, Yu Xiaogang, whose bloodline is noble enough to deserve it!
But the more he denied, the more reality crushed him.
Behind the boy, the phantom of a golden dragon emerged, gradually solidifying.
The Golden Holy Dragon appeared at his back, releasing its vast dragon might without restraint.
Then, the dragon lowered its massive head, glaring with disdain at Yu Xiaogang, who was crushed to the ground under its pressure, groveling like a dead dog. It roared at him in a display of dominance.
Kneeling on the ground, Yu Xiaogang looked at the snarling dragon. His expression twisted terribly, and his fragile heart shattered completely. If he could, he would've crawled into some hidden corner, scribbled endless circles, and cursed this unfair world:
Why, world?! Why treat me so unfairly?! Why can a worthless peasant possess the Golden Holy Dragon, while I, born noble, am stuck with a trash martial soul, forever unable to surpass the 29th rank?!
Everyone present was dumbstruck. They had seen everything—the boy's martial soul had originally been nothing more than a hoe. Yet, after a single injection with that strange soul tool, he awakened the peerless beast martial soul of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan—the Golden Holy Dragon!
"Golden Holy Dragon… this is my martial soul?" the boy stared at the dragon in shock.
"Test his innate soul power," Snow Empress instructed the stunned Wuhun Hall staffer.
"Y-yes, yes!" The man hurriedly pulled out a crystal ball. The boy placed his hand on it, and dazzling light instantly erupted across the plaza.
Golden Holy Dragon—Innate Full Soul Power.
When the result was revealed, the boy immediately knelt gratefully before Snow Empress:
"Your Grace, I will never forget your boundless kindness! I am willing to join Spark Battle Team, to brave boiling cauldrons and crushing wheels, to sacrifice life and limb without regret!"
Snow Empress nodded. "Since so, return to Spark Academy's ranks."
"Yes, Your Grace." The youth withdrew his martial soul in front of Yu Xiaogang and returned to the crowd.
Only after a long while did everyone come back to their senses. They had just witnessed a miracle! Spark Academy possessed a means to overturn destiny itself. In an instant, hearts wavered in many directions.
From afar, Tang Hao was dumbfounded. He had been gloating over Yu Xiaogang's humiliation, only to be shocked by Spark Academy's revelation.
This… with just a soul-guidance device, anyone could obtain a top martial soul? Wouldn't that mean even mud-legged commoners could wield the Clear Sky Hammer? If every peasant could possess martial souls reserved for noble clans, wouldn't the world fall into chaos? The rites and order would collapse!
"No—this is a cursed technology! It will shatter the world's peace and stability, plunging the continent into endless war. As the lord of this plane, it is my duty to set things right. This technology must only be safeguarded by those of virtue. Preserving it—this is my responsibility!" Tang Hao thought.
He wasn't alone. Many soul masters present shared similar fears. They imagined a world where their family's inherited martial souls lost all advantage, where the old order was overturned. At the same time, ambition sparked—they wished to seize and monopolize the technology, using it to strengthen their own clans.
Clatter. The empty injector in Snow Empress's hand fell to the ground. She crushed it beneath her foot. A chilling cold surged outward from her, making the crowd shiver. Behind her appeared the sovereign of the Extreme North— Snow Empress.
Her aura surged to its utmost. Four black and five red rings coiled around her. A 99th-level Ultimate Douluo's pressure instantly crushed all ambition from the onlookers' hearts.
"Our Spark Academy would not display this miracle if we feared covetous eyes. If you wish to try and take it, by all means, come. Spark Academy will be waiting," Snow Empress said disdainfully.
Then, her figure flashed—appearing high above the Pope's Hall. She called out to Bibi Dong:
"Your Holiness, does the ability we have shown now suffice to answer the world's doubts about our academy?"
"Of course it does," Bibi Dong replied.
"Then—how should this rumor-monger be dealt with?" Snow Empress's gaze fell coldly on Yu Xiaogang, still kneeling in the square before the Pope's Hall.
Yu Xiaogang lifted his head and met Snow Empress's icy gaze. The instant their eyes locked, he felt as if he had plunged into an ice cave. In that moment, his crotch went wet, and a foul stench spread from his trouser legs.
I'm going to die. I just offended her. She wants to kill me. She must want to kill me! No… I can't die, I can't die!
Yu Xiaogang turned his pleading eyes toward Bibi Dong, but her gaze was just as cold, utterly devoid of emotion.
That look pierced Yu Xiaogang's heart, completely shattering all of his previous assumptions.
Bibi Dong said calmly:
"Perfect timing. Not long ago, he also spread rumors damaging the reputation of the Angel Douluo of Spirit Hall. In that case—"
These words left Yu Xiaogang in disbelief.
Bibi Dong, how can you be so heartless? Have you forgotten the memories we shared together in Coconut Grove City? (An illusion—experienced only by Yu Xiaogang.)
How can you treat me like this?!
Just as Bibi Dong was about to declare how Yu Xiaogang would be dealt with, Yu Xiaomen stepped forward.
"Your Holiness, please allow me to say a few words."
Bibi Dong gave a slight nod.
Yu Xiaomen said:
"Xiaogang is my elder brother. Since childhood, due to his mutated martial soul, he suffered a breakdown and afterward became unstable, schizophrenic, plagued by paranoid delusions. On behalf of him and the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Sect, I offer our deepest apologies for his offenses. If possible, I hope Your Holiness will grant me the right to decide his punishment. I promise to give you a satisfactory answer."
Bibi Dong replied: "Very well."
Snow Empress added coldly: "That depends on how you handle it."
At once, Yu Xiaomen released his Golden Holy Dragon Possession, donning dazzling dragon armor radiating supreme might. He soared to Yu Xiaogang, his expression full of disappointment and reproach. Without moving his lips, he transmitted his voice directly to Yu Xiaogang:
"Gangzi, you see it yourself—you've caused a great disaster. If handled poorly, it could bring calamity upon our Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Sect. Though we've never gotten along, we're still brothers. And as brothers, we must stand together against outsiders. As your younger brother, how could I simply watch you be executed? So…"
Yu Xiaogang looked at Yu Xiaomen with complicated eyes. In his heart, 98% was resentment, 2% was gratitude.
Resentment—because he saw the awe-inspiring Golden Holy Dragon power upon Yu Xiaomen. That should have been his! If decades ago he had been the one to consume that treasure, the one basking in glory as a Titled Douluo should be Yu Xiaogang!
Gratitude—because, at this critical moment, Yu Xiaomen was still standing up to speak on his behalf.
(Of course, don't underestimate that meager 2%. For someone as extremely self-centered as Yu Xiaogang, to feel even a tiny shred of gratitude was rare. Naturally, it wouldn't last long!)
Suddenly—SMACK!
Yu Xiaomen slapped Yu Xiaogang across the face. The blow was so forceful that several of Yu Xiaogang's teeth went flying. His body spun through the air, completing a full 365-degree rotation before crashing to the ground.
Clutching his bleeding mouth, the faint gratitude he'd just felt was immediately obliterated by that slap. He glared at Yu Xiaomen with naked hatred.
But Yu Xiaomen's next words were:
"Gangzi, every strike I land on you pains me even more—but as your brother, I have no choice. This is for your own good. Think: you've offended Spirit Hall. Do you think Spark Academy or Spirit Hall would let you off without an explanation? Endure this now."
Yu Xiaogang, clutching his swollen face, glanced up at Bibi Dong and Snow Empress, who were watching coldly from above. At that moment, he understood Yu Xiaomen's intentions, and a sliver—just **1%—**of gratitude rose again in his heart.
Then—SMACK!—he was slapped flying once more.
"Gangzi," Yu Xiaomen scolded, "as the saying goes, 'a light cane saves you from the heavy rod.' I whip you now because I pity you. Otherwise, once the Pope passes judgment, you'd not only lose your life but rot in prison! So I must hit you harder, to give these two mighty seniors an explanation."
The word prison triggered Yu Xiaogang's reflexes. Memories of his humiliating experiences in Spirit Hall's prison surfaced. Even though Brother Jie and the others had been released, who knew if Spirit Hall's cells weren't still crawling with that brother or this brother…
"Mblrrgh blrrgh! Mblrrgh blrrgh!" (Hit me! Hit me harder!) Yu Xiaogang mumbled through broken teeth.
Sensing his brother's intent, Yu Xiaomen began slapping him again and again. By the end, Yu Xiaogang's face was swollen beyond recognition, his teeth all gone.
"Mblrrgh blrrgh! Mblrrgh blrrgh!" (Stop! I can't take it anymore, it hurts too much!)
Grabbing him by the collar like trash, Yu Xiaomen dragged Yu Xiaogang before Lin Chen and shouted:
"Gangzi! Kneel before the young master you slandered—Lin Chen! Offer him a sincere apology. Do you hear me?"
Yu Xiaogang's bruised and battered face turned toward Lin Chen, who stood proudly before him, then toward Yu Xiaomen. His eyes flashed with unwillingness.
Again, Yu Xiaomen transmitted his voice:
"Gangzi, I'm not making things difficult for you. I'm saving you. You slandered him. If Spark Academy presses charges, you'll be put to death."
At that reminder, Yu Xiaogang hastily buried his anger and unwillingness. Humiliated, he knelt before Lin Chen. Even in such indignity, he took advantage of his slurred speech to mutter:
"Mblrrgh blrrgh! Mblrrgh blrrgh!" (Lin Chen, I curse you to drop dead in a circle of doom!)
"What did you say? I didn't quite hear you," Lin Chen asked with feigned puzzlement.
"Mblrrgh blrrgh! Mblrrgh blrrgh!"
"Give him some treatment for his throat," Lin Chen instructed Su Qingqian.
Su Qingqian nodded, releasing a healing wave of light. Immediately, Yu Xiaogang's speech cleared—no more hiding behind slurred words.
"Gangzi, apologize! Quickly! If you delay, even I won't be able to save you," Yu Xiaomen urged, voice sharp with disappointment.
Helpless, Yu Xiaogang finally ground out the words:
"I'm sorry, Lin Chen. I, Yu Xiaogang, slandered you. It was my fault!"
"Now give my young friend Lin Chen three kowtows!" Yu Xiaomen barked, eyes wide. Again, he whispered into Yu Xiaogang's mind:
"Gangzi, remember, 'a light cane saves you from the heavy rod.' This is for your own good!"
Yu Xiaogang, with no other choice, humiliatingly bowed three times to the ground before Lin Chen.
"Lin Chen, my young friend, how does the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Sect's handling of this matter look to you?" Yu Xiaomen asked.
Lin Chen felt as refreshed as if he had downed an ice-cold Sprite on a scorching day.
Your Excellency the Holy Dragon, I'm satisfied—very satisfied. May I have a few words with Yu Xiaogang?