On the streets of Nuoding City, the tense atmosphere among soul masters was suddenly shattered by a voice that cut in. The voice was deliberately calm yet carried a tone of contempt. Hearing this, Chen Yi raised his eyebrows slightly, following the direction of the voice, and a flash of unrestrained disdain crossed his face.
He saw a middle-aged man with a flat-top haircut and an ordinary face striding quickly from the Spirit Hall side. Though his pace seemed steady, his gaze first landed on the flustered Tang San, clearly filled with worry.
Yu Xiaogang hurriedly squatted down beside Tang San, carefully checking the injury to his shoulder blade. Feeling the misalignment and swelling, his face darkened instantly, as if a drop of water had fallen. Lifting his head, he stared coldly at Chen Yi, as if looking at a heinous murderer.
"You've been vicious since you were a child! With such a wicked heart, you're bound to bring disaster!"
Yu Xiaogang's voice trembled with suppressed anger, trying to assert dominance.
"You call me ruthless?"
Chen Yi laughed as if hearing a big joke, too bored to argue further. He casually spread the five fingers of his right hand, producing a metallic clink. Strange, blue-cold, oddly shaped objects slid from his palm and clattered onto the stone pavement, making hearts pound.
These were sleeve arrows and bone-piercing needles—the very hidden weapons Tang San had just used against him.
Yu Xiaogang's pupils shrank. How could he not recognize these weapons? Each one was meticulously crafted by Xiao San, powerful enough to threaten even soul elders and assassins! He'd thought Tang San's defeat was mere carelessness, but seeing Tang San forced to reveal his trump cards—and still lose so miserably—left him shaken. Just how strong was this strange boy?
Yu Xiaogang clasped his hands behind his back, took a deep breath, and addressed Chen Yi:
"My name is Yu Xiaogang, though the world respects me as 'Grandmaster'."
"My disciple is still young and may have been unintentionally rude, but as a soul master, must you be so narrow and ruthless?"
Yu Xiaogang revealed his name for the first time, inwardly guessing that for someone this strong at such a young age, he must come from a powerful sect. The title 'Grandmaster' still carried weight in soul master theory, and sect disciples would show him face.
He puffed out his chest, speaking magnanimously:
"Considering your youth and arduous training, apologize to my disciple now. I'll make the final decision on how to resolve this."
He pointed at Tang San as if bestowing a great favor.
Chen Yi was genuinely surprised, blinking as if he'd misheard. He pointed at himself, looked at the natural-faced Yu Xiaogang, and suddenly felt a ridiculous urge to laugh.
Brother, who do you think you are? Apologize? How old are you?
Chen Yi's expression shifted from surprise to open scorn as he looked Yu Xiaogang up and down like a rare idiot.
"Grandmaster?"
Chen Yi sneered, his voice clear and dripping with sarcasm.
"Never heard of you. What backwater valley have you been self-sealed in? Apologize?"
He paused, his tone suddenly cold, eyes locking on Yu Xiaogang:
"Why don't you go ask Yu Yuanzhen if he dares say such things to me!"
As soon as the words left his mouth, Yu Xiaogang's face turned ashen, body trembling imperceptibly. Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, Yu Yuanzhen... That name was the wound he feared most, the root of his inferiority and pride. Not only did this youth know his origin, he even called his father's name with contempt.
Who was this young man? Was he from the Spirit Hall? Only the Spirit Hall could rear such a young master and disregard even the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan. Thinking of Spirit Hall, a figure flashed through Yu Xiaogang's mind—Bibi Dong.
This must be it! Bibi Dong discovered this genius, sent him to Nuoding City for me to give theoretical guidance...
With this comforting delusion, Yu Xiaogang's confidence surged. He automatically attributed Chen Yi's attitude to 'genius arrogance' and a 'mind needing guidance'.
He nodded inwardly:
"Truly talented, with even greater martial soul and soul power."
"But your heart is lacking, your hostility too strong, far less calm than my disciple."
Feeling as if he'd seen through everything, Yu Xiaogang straightened up, ignored Chen Yi's mocking gaze, and pointed at him, almost commanding:
"I don't care who you are or who's behind you! Right now, apologize to my disciple. Otherwise, you'll regret your rude and vicious actions!"
He paused, giving Chen Yi a look of utter contempt:
"You're just in Nuoding City. At your age, this is only average, not worth boasting about. If you sincerely apologize, I might even give you some pointers in your cultivation for the sake of your future."
Chen Yi had no idea Yu Xiaogang had already imagined an entire drama in his mind about the Pope secretly entrusting a genius.
He was already furious, but listening to such self-satisfied nonsense was an insult to his intelligence. Saying nothing more, Chen Yi quietly gathered soul power in his palm, forming an invisible barrier—he didn't want to dirty his hand on such thick skin.
In the next moment, under Yu Xiaogang's confident and somewhat expectant gaze, and under the horrified stares of Tang San and Xiao Wu, Chen Yi's hand moved.
"Smack—!"
Yu Xiaogang's act of profundity was shattered by a crisp, powerful slap. Overwhelmed by irresistible force, he felt like a kite with its string cut, feet leaving the ground as he flew backward, landing hard on the blue stone pavement several meters away with dust scattering.
"Teacher!"
"Grandmaster!"
Tang San and Xiao Wu rushed forward, helping Yu Xiaogang up. Chen Yi sneered, shaking his wrist as if brushing off filth, staring at the now-swollen, bleeding Yu Xiaogang, whose eyes still showed shock and confusion.
"Regret? You?"
"Fed by countless treasures thanks to your clan and the council, yet you can't even break through rank 30 soul power, and you think you can make me regret anything? Ridiculous!"
Yu Xiaogang trembled with rage but could only stammer incoherently from pain and humiliation.
He dares hit me? Isn't he afraid of Bibi Dong? Doesn't he know who I am?!
"And what are you?"
Chen Yi cut in coldly, his tone as chilling as winter ice.
"Trash should just rot in the corner, but you come out here to make a fool of yourself. Still want to teach others? Heh…"
Chen Yi was speechless at the man's shamelessness and delusional logic. Looking into Yu Xiaogang's resentful eyes, Chen Yi's gaze turned cold. He stamped his right foot lightly.
"Bang!"
A dull sound reverberated like a blow to the heart. In the next instant, an invisible force struck Yu Xiaogang's chest like an underground wave.
"Ugh—!"
Yu Xiaogang convulsed violently, blood spraying uncontrollably from his mouth, his vision darkening, leaving only pain and terror.
…
Read advanced chapters at patreon.com/AbsoluteCode