Chapter 38: Yu Xiaogang Gets Beaten Up
"Xu Yuan," Xu Yuan responded succinctly, his gaze already turning toward the carriage. "This isn't a safe place to linger. Come with us, let's leave here first."
"Alright," Zhu Zhuqing didn't ask further questions and quickly followed.
Given the current situation, if she didn't follow Xu Yuan, she would likely be killed.
Xiao Wu approached and greeted her: "Hello, I'm Xiao Wu, Wu as in dance."
Zhu Zhuqing paused slightly in her steps, looking at Xiao Wu who had bounced over, and said calmly, "Zhu Zhuqing."
Xiao Wu, however, paid no mind to Zhu Zhuqing's aloofness, pulling her by the arm toward the carriage: "Zhuqing, don't be so serious."
The two girls entered the carriage separately. Xu Yuan waited for them to board before following inside.
The Coachman, having just experienced the earlier incident, didn't dare to rest here and hurriedly drove the carriage away.
Meanwhile, on the road to Suotuo City.
Yu Xiaogang was riding in a fairly decent carriage, heading toward Suotuo City.
"Xu Yuan, you're just lucky. After Spirit Masters reach the age of 12, their cultivation speed slows down significantly," Yu Xiaogang said through gritted teeth as he watched the scenery outside.
Over the past six years, every time Xu Yuan defeated Tang San, he would say that what Yu Xiaogang taught was flawed.
This made him extremely dissatisfied, but after being brutally beaten, he began to hate Xu Yuan.
If Xu Yuan had become his disciple, he wouldn't have had Tang San challenge Xu Yuan, he wouldn't have been inexplicably beaten up by others afterward, and he certainly wouldn't have become a eunuch.
The carriage suddenly jolted, causing Yu Xiaogang to bump against the wall, a dull pain spreading across his forehead.
He covered his forehead, his eyes growing increasingly sinister.
Yu Xiaogang knew that his current strength was insufficient to contend with Xu Yuan, so he could only place all his hopes on Tang San.
"Tang San's twin spirits, along with the cultivation plan I tailored for him—as long as he follows it step by step, surpassing Xu Yuan is only a matter of time," Yu Xiaogang took a deep breath, trying to calm his emotions. "When that time comes, I'll make sure everyone knows that my theories are the truth of the Spirit Master's world!"
Outside the window, the sky gradually darkened as the carriage entered a dense forest.
Yu Xiaogang pulled aside the carriage curtain, watching the deepening dusk, and a sense of unease suddenly rose in his heart.
He always felt that Xu Yuan wasn't as simple as he appeared on the surface, especially with his Blue Silver Grass Spirit and those combat techniques, which didn't seem like something an ordinary youth could possess.
"No, impossible," Yu Xiaogang immediately dismissed the thought. "He must have encountered some kind of fortuitous opportunity to progress so rapidly. Such forced growth inevitably leads to an unstable Foundation, and problems will arise sooner or later."
Despite this, Yu Xiaogang's heart felt as if it were weighed down by a stone, heavy and oppressive.
"Whoa—"
The Coachman abruptly pulled on the reins, and the carriage screeched to a sudden halt.
Yu Xiaogang stumbled, nearly falling from his seat, and the anger he had just suppressed instantly flared up: "What's going on?!"
The Coachman tremblingly lifted a corner of the carriage curtain, and the scene outside caused Yu Xiaogang's pupils to contract sharply.
Seven or eight Bandits armed with knives and axes blocked the road, each with a fierce glare. The leader, a burly man with a vicious scar on his face, held a Ghost-head knife that gleamed coldly in the dusk.
"This mountain was opened by me, these trees were planted by me!" The Scarface grinned, revealing yellowed and blackened teeth. "If you wish to pass through here, leave your toll!"
Yu Xiaogang's heart instantly sank.
He had no combat ability whatsoever and was completely incapable of dealing with these people.
However, he could leverage his Spirit Grandmaster strength to bluff his way through.
Yu Xiaogang took a deep breath, forcefully suppressing the panic in his heart, straightened his clothes, and stepped down from the carriage with feigned composure.
He knew this was his only chance.
"How dare you!" Yu Xiaogang growled.
spirit power surged abruptly, and two spirit rings rose from beneath his feet, emitting a faint glow in the dusk.
Although this spirit ring configuration was negligible in the eyes of true powerhouses, it held sufficient intimidation in front of these ordinary Bandits.
Sure enough, the Bandits' expressions changed drastically, their grips on their weapons tightening.
The Scarface's pupils contracted, and he instinctively took half a step back.
A Spirit Master! And a two-ring Spirit Grandmaster at that!
They usually bullied ordinary people—when had they ever seen a Spirit Master in action?
For a moment, they were too frightened to move.
The Coachman watched in stunned silence, never expecting this theoretical master to actually possess some real strength.
Feeling slightly reassured, Yu Xiaogang wore an arrogant expression and slowly strode forward: "Mere Bandits dare to block my path? Do you know who I am?"
Yu Xiaogang deliberately released the oppressive aura of a Spirit Master, his gaze sweeping over the group like lightning: "If you know what's good for you, scram immediately, or don't blame me for being ruthless!"
The Bandits exchanged glances, clearly intimidated.
Seeing this, Yu Xiaogang felt an immense satisfaction—it was the first time he had experienced such a feeling.
A younger Bandit tugged at the Scarface's sleeve and whispered, "Boss, he's a Grandmaster Spirit... Should we retreat?"
The Scarface gritted his teeth, about to nod.
Suddenly, an uncertain voice rang out from the crowd: "Wait... this guy looks familiar..."
It was a One-eyed bandit who spoke. Squinting his remaining eye, he stared intently at Yu Xiaogang's face, then suddenly slapped his thigh: "I remember now! Isn't this that so-called useless theoretical master?"
"Useless theoretical master?" The Scarface was taken aback, his gaze returning to Yu Xiaogang with a scrutinizing look.
Yu Xiaogang's heart skipped a beat, his arrogant expression freezing instantly as he shouted sternly, "Don't talk nonsense! I am Yu Xiaogang, the theoretical master certified by the Spirit Hall! How dare you slander me!"
The One-eyed bandit chuckled darkly, gripping his axe as he charged toward Yu Xiaogang.
The moment the One-eyed bandit's axe came whistling down, Yu Xiaogang was scared Soul Flying Away and Spirit Scattering. He turned to flee but tripped over a stone underfoot, falling hard to the ground.
Before he could get up, the One-eyed bandit had already pounced, grabbing him by the collar and yanking him up like a chick, then punching him hard in the face.
"Still a theoretical master? I'll show you a master!" The dull pain from the punch made Yu Xiaogang see stars.
Seeing Yu Xiaogang so easily defeated, the Scarface's earlier apprehension vanished. He waved his hand: "Brothers, beat him up! This old fool actually tried to bluff us!"
The Bandits swarmed forward, their fists and feet raining down on Yu Xiaogang like a storm.
Yu Xiaogang curled up on the ground, covering his head with his hands, still shouting futilely: "I'm with the Spirit Hall! How dare you hit me?!"
"The Spirit Hall? I'd even dare to curse the emperor!" A Bandit kicked him. "Still a theoretical master? More like a beating master!"
Yu Xiaogang's shouts were soon drowned out by the denser sounds of punches and kicks
He could feel sharp pain coming from his ribs, and the metallic taste in his mouth grew stronger.
"Stop hitting... stop hitting..." Yu Xiaogang's voice gradually weakened.
His consciousness began to blur, leaving only the instinct for survival making him desperately protect his head.
The One-eyed Bandit grabbed his hair and slammed his face hard into the ground: "Still dare to call yourself Grandmaster?"
His forehead hit a rock, and blood instantly flowed down, covering his eyes.
In a blood-red haze, Yu Xiaogang seemed to see Xu Yuan's calm face, Tang San's respectful gaze, and himself speaking eloquently... but these illusions were soon shattered by heavier kicks.
"Boss, that's enough, he'll die if we keep hitting." A bandit noticed Yu Xiaogang was almost gone and spoke up to remind him.
Scarface spat and kicked Yu Xiaogang's limp body: "Useless trash, no point keeping him. Search him, see if there's anything valuable."
The Bandits immediately stepped forward, roughly groping his body.
The gold coins Yu Xiaogang hid in his chest, the old Bracelet on his wrist, even his shoes were taken off and checked, finally only finding a few Silver Coins and a broken Jade Pendant engraved with the character 'Yu'.
"So damn poor." Scarface cursed, casually throwing the Jade Pendant on the ground, "Let's go!"
The Bandits carried away the stolen goods and left, leaving only Yu Xiaogang's heavy panting and the wind's mournful howl through the leaves in the forest.
After who knows how long, Yu Xiaogang finally regained a bit of strength from the intense pain.
He struggled to turn over, looking up at the night sky fragmented by branches, the moon hiding behind clouds, not even willing to give him a sliver of light.
Blood was still flowing from his forehead, and his ribs hurt so much he didn't dare take deep breaths.
Yu Xiaogang touched his face, all sticky with blood and mud, no longer looking anything like the theoretical Grandmaster.
"Xu Yuan..." Yu Xiaogang gritted his teeth, each word pulling at his wounds, "If I don't die... I'll make you... pay in blood..."
At this moment, Yu Xiaogang blamed all his misfortunes on Xu Yuan.
Ever since meeting Xu Yuan, he felt everything went wrong; if not for Xu Yuan, he wouldn't have suffered all this.
Yu Xiaogang struggled to get up but found his right leg couldn't exert any force, probably broken.
The carriage had long been smashed by the Bandits, and the Coachman had fled who knows where.
Unknown Beast howls came from deep in the Dense Forest, making him shiver all over.
Yu Xiaogang curled up on the ground, looking at his blood-stained fingers, and suddenly laughed, the laughter hoarse and shrill, echoing in the silent forest like a wounded Lone Wolf.
His whole life had been spent pursuing truth and seeking others' recognition.
But in the end, he was beaten into a cripple by a few lowly Bandits he looked down on the most, thrown in this Desolate Wilderness, life or death uncertain.
"Perhaps... Xu Yuan was right..." Yu Xiaogang's consciousness grew fuzzier, "My theories... are just wrong..."
This thought had just emerged when he forcefully suppressed it.
No!
He wasn't wrong!
Xu Yuan was wrong!
It was those who didn't appreciate his talent!
...In the blink of an eye, over ten days passed.
Xu Yuan and the other two arrived at Heaven Dou City by carriage and got off at the entrance of Blue Tyrant Academy.
During this time in Heaven Dou City, Xu Yuan's relationship with Zhu Zhuqing grew increasingly better.
Following God King Tang San's indication, he taught Zhu Zhuqing the simplified version of Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track.
This surprised Xu Yuan; he hadn't expected God King Tang San to let him give the simplified version of Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track to someone else.
Given God King Tang San's personality, if you didn't join the Tang Sect, he wouldn't pass it on to you.
Zhu Zhuqing, having received the simplified version of Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track, felt immensely grateful to Xu Yuan, and coupled with Xu Yuan's earlier life-saving grace, developed other feelings for him in her heart.
But she thought of her engagement with Dai Mubai and felt she wasn't worthy of Xu Yuan.
This period was Blue Tyrant Academy's enrollment days, with many people wanting to attend Blue Tyrant Academy.
Although Blue Tyrant Academy wasn't the best school, it was one of the few high-level academies open to commoners.
Blue Tyrant Academy's gate wasn't grand but exuded a steady aura; the Stone Tablet at the entrance was engraved with the characters 'Lanba', the brushstrokes powerful.
At this moment, a long line had formed at the entrance, mostly plainly dressed young boys and girls, their faces filled with anxiety and longing; occasionally a few well-dressed ones just stood quietly in the queue, no one daring to show off now.
"Wow, this is Blue Tyrant Academy?" Xiao Wu stood on tiptoe to look around, her ponytail swaying gently with the movement, "It looks huge! Much more impressive than Nuoding Academy!"
Zhu Zhuqing stood beside Xu Yuan, her black long hair tied up with a simple Wooden Hairpin, revealing her smooth forehead; her cool eyes were much softer than when they first met.
Zhu Zhuqing leaned close to Xu Yuan and whispered: "I heard the practical combat classes here are famous."
Xu Yuan nodded, his gaze falling on the enrollment sign: "Let's go register first."
The three slowly moved forward with the queue; Xiao Wu curiously observed the surrounding examinees, chattering to Xu Yuan.
Zhu Zhuqing stood quietly aside, her eyes vigilantly scanning the crowd, seemingly not completely letting go of the wariness from being chased.
When it was their turn, the teacher in charge of registration looked up at the three and pushed over three Forms: "Name, age, Spirit, spirit power Rank, fill them out."
Xu Yuan picked up the pen and wrote the information; Xiao Wu leaned over, looking at the Spirit column on the form, tilting her head to think.
She wrote Soft Bones Rabbit, then filled in thirty-one in the spirit power Rank column, proudly raising her chin at Xu Yuan after finishing.
Logically, Xiao Wu's Rank should be 29, but knowing Xu Yuan's terrifying Cultivate speed, she Cultivated very diligently at the academy.
Zhu Zhuqing acted quickly, her handwriting on the form neat and elegant; she filled in Hell Civet for Spirit and twenty-seven for spirit power Rank.
After writing, Zhu Zhuqing glanced at Xu Yuan and Xiao Wu's Forms, feeling extremely surprised.
Xiao Wu's Rank was actually thirty-one, and Xu Yuan's Rank was... thirty-eight!
At twelve years old, Rank thirty-eight, it could be said Xu Yuan's talent was the top on the Douluo Continent, bar none.
This made Zhu Zhuqing feel somewhat inferior and under a lot of pressure.
The Registration Teacher picked up the three Forms, his gaze lingering on Xu Yuan's age and spirit power Rank for a full three breaths; his eyes behind the Glasses slightly widened, and his fingers unconsciously tapped the desk.
"Twelve years old... Rank thirty-eight?" The Registration Teacher softly repeated, as if confirming he hadn't misread.
The Registration Teacher then looked up at Xu Yuan, his eyes filled with scrutiny and inquiry, "Little Friend, you can't just write anything on this form."
Seeing this situation, Xu Yuan said: "Teacher, if you don't believe it, we can test it."
The Registration Teacher thought for a moment and said, "Alright, follow me."
He wouldn't test them in public, as that would cause unnecessary trouble.
If it was true, Blue Tyrant Academy would gain a top-tier powerhouse; if it was false, nothing was lost.
The Registration Teacher led the three through the crowd to a quiet testing room, where a half-person-high blue crystal ball was placed.
"Put your hand on it and just inject your spirit power."
Xu Yuan stepped forward first and pressed his palm against the crystal ball.
In an instant, a dazzling golden light erupted from inside the crystal ball, the brightness soaring upward, easily breaking through the level thirty mark and only slowing down as it approached level forty. The entire testing room was illuminated as bright as day.
The Registration Teacher inhaled sharply, the form in his hand nearly falling to the floor. He muttered, "Twelve years old... level thirty-eight... this, this is a Genius encountered only once in a century!"
Xiao Wu ran over excitedly, pressed her palm down, and the crystal ball lit up with a soft pink light, stopping steadily at the level thirty-one position.
When it was Zhu Zhuqing's turn, she took a deep breath and lightly touched the crystal ball with her fingertips.
A faint blue light slowly lit up, stopping at the level twenty-seven mark.
Zhu Zhuqing silently withdrew her hand and lowered her eyes, that bit of inferiority in her heart quietly resurfacing.
"Geniuses! Truly geniuses!" The Registration Teacher was flushed with excitement. He quickly grabbed the forms, his tone incredibly respectful, "The three of you, please follow me to see the Dean."
The Registration Teacher's voice was full of uncontrollable excitement as he led the three through several corridors to a loft covered in green vines.
"Dean, I've recruited three geniuses for you." The Registration Teacher pushed open the door, his tone carrying a hint of seeking credit.
Inside the loft, a woman was watering plants.
The woman appeared to be in her thirties, wearing a simple cyan cloth dress.
On her somewhat pale face, her features were delicate and moving, her eyebrows and eyes like a painting, with a pair of large black eyes.
Beneath that cloth robe was a hot, perfect figure that ordinary young girls could not hope to match.
The woman was Liu Erlong, the Dean of Blue Tyrant Academy.
When God King Tang San saw Liu Erlong, he felt some doubt in his heart as to why Liu Erlong also had his Origin on her.
He could understand Tang San, Tang Hao, Dai Mubai, his Mother, Zhu Zhuqing, and Yu Xiaogang having his Origin, but it was truly unexpected for Liu Erlong to have it.
God King Tang San rubbed his chin; he had an idea of where his remaining Origins were.
Ning Rongrong, Ma Hongjun, and Oscar—those three definitely had them too.
Qian Renxue and Bibi Dong were possible, but the probability was low.
Hearing the sound, Liu Erlong slowly turned around, still holding a watering can. Droplets of water dripped from the spout, blooming into a small wet patch on the bluestone floor.
Her gaze fell upon Xu Yuan and the others, sizing the three of them up.
Liu Erlong noticed the spirit tool at Xu Yuan's waist, and her heart couldn't help but race with excitement.
She recognized at a glance that Xu Yuan's Twenty Four Moonlit Bridges belonged to Yu Xiaogang.
Over the years, her longing and feelings for Yu Xiaogang had faded a lot, but she still wanted to meet him one last time and then sever their relationship.
During these past few years, Liu Erlong had also come to understand why she had liked Yu Xiaogang; it was mainly because she was young and ignorant at the time.
At the same time, she had discovered many of Yu Xiaogang's flaws. Thinking about how he had abandoned her without hesitation back then made her feel like her sincere heart had been fed to the dogs.
"Teacher Lin, who are these three?" Liu Erlong asked the Registration Teacher.
The Registration Teacher quickly handed over the testing forms, his excitement unconcealable: "Dean, these three are all geniuses just tested! Especially this student Xu Yuan, who is level thirty-eight at only twelve years old. Also, student Xiao Wu is level thirty-one, and student Zhu Zhuqing is level twenty-seven. They are all fine prospects!"
Liu Erlong's fingers paused slightly as she took the forms. Her gaze lingered on the name Xu Yuan for a moment before she looked up at him: "Level thirty-eight at twelve years old, indeed rare."
Her gaze swept over the Twenty Four Moonlit Bridges at Xu Yuan's waist, her throat bobbing slightly before she continued, "Although your spirit power is high, Blue Tyrant Academy emphasizes actual combat. Having only spirit power is not enough."
The Registration Teacher chimed in from the side, "The Dean is right. These few are good materials; with a bit of polishing, they will surely become great talents!"
Liu Erlong placed the forms on the table, her gaze circling the three of them before finally settling on the spirit tool at Xu Yuan's waist. Her tone was calm yet carried an unquestionable certainty: "From today on, the three of you will study under me."
The Registration Teacher was stunned for a moment, then beamed with joy, "The Dean is personally teaching them? That is truly their good fortune!"
Xu Yuan was slightly startled. He had thought they would be assigned to ordinary classes; he hadn't expected Liu Erlong to directly take them as disciples.
He looked at Xiao Wu and Zhu Zhuqing. Both were also somewhat surprised, but neither said anything.
"What? Not willing?" Liu Erlong raised an eyebrow, her fingertips lightly tapping the tabletop.
"Willing!" Xiao Wu was the first to respond, her eyes sparkling. "Being able to learn from the Dean is definitely great!"
Zhu Zhuqing also nodded. Although she still didn't say much, her approval was clear in her attitude.
Xu Yuan cupped his hands and said, "Thank you, Dean."
He could feel Liu Erlong's gaze constantly circling the spirit tool. He had a vague guess in his heart but did not point it out.
Liu Erlong immediately said, "I'll take you to the dormitories."
Liu Erlong put down the watering can, casually picked up a straw hat hanging behind the door, put it on, and led the way out: "Follow me."
The three quickly followed. The Registration Teacher tactfully did not go along, only calling out from behind for the Dean to have a safe walk.
Passing through the vine-covered corridor, Liu Erlong's pace was not fast, allowing Xu Yuan and the others to keep up.
"Dormitories at Blue Tyrant Academy are generally four to a room, but there are also single and double rooms," Liu Erlong suddenly spoke. "Xiao Wu and Zhuqing will share a room, and Xu Yuan will have a single room."
Hearing this, Xiao Wu immediately grabbed Zhu Zhuqing's hand and cheered, "Great! Zhuqing, we can live together!"
Zhu Zhuqing stumbled as Xiao Wu pulled her, but a rare, faint smile appeared on her face as she gave a soft 'mm'.
Living with someone as lively as Xiao Wu was quite a nice thing.
Xu Yuan had no objection to this. A single room was convenient for him to Cultivate and would avoid unnecessary disturbances.
Passing through a small courtyard planted with parasol trees, Liu Erlong stopped in front of two adjacent buildings.
The building on the left had a wooden plaque for 'Double Occupancy' hanging on the door, while the one on the right was for'Single Occupancy'.
"These two are the best dormitories in the academy, with private bathrooms," Liu Erlong said to Xiao Wu and the others. "Xiao Wu, Zhu Zhuqing, you live here. Xu Yuan, you live over there."
Liu Erlong pushed open the wooden door of the double room, and a faint scent of locust flowers wafted out.Chapter 41: Women Are Truly Terrifying
The first things that caught his eye were two carved wooden beds by the window, their bed curtains made of pale green gauze.
Opposite the beds were two desks side by side; on the tabletops sat celadon brush washers and neatly stacked Xuan Paper, with a small pot of Asparagus Fern placed at each corner.
Two carved wardrobes stood in the corner of the room, their doors embedded with polished, smooth copper rings.
Next to them against the wall was a low couch covered with soft cushions, topped with several throw pillows embroidered with Orchid patterns.
The small balcony by the window was enclosed by a wooden fence and covered in purple morning glories; in the corner stood a small stone round table with two bamboo chairs facing each other.
On the right wall was an open door, through which the scene inside could be seen.
The floor was paved with blue-grey tiles, and a bathtub that looked like white jade was set into the corner; a soft cotton shower curtain printed with delicate Gardenia patterns hung beside it.
Xu Yuan thought of Shrek Academy ten thousand years later and smiled to himself.
Setting everything else aside, the fact that a whole group of people had to fight over the bathroom and toilet was truly unbearable.
The cafeteria didn't even have tables and chairs; he had truly never seen such a stingy school.
After the three of them put their things away, they followed Liu Erlong for a tour of the school.
The academy wasn't very large, but one had to remember that Blue Tyrant Academy was located right inside Heaven Dou City.
Heaven Dou City was the capital of the Heaven Dou Empire, where land was worth its weight in gold.
Liu Erlong looked at Xu Yuan and said, "Xiao Yuan, come to my office with me."
Xu Yuan nodded in agreement and said to Xiao Wu and Zhu Zhuqing, "You two go back to the dormitory and get settled first; I'll be back soon."
Xiao Wu waved her hand. "Go ahead, go ahead! We'll just figure out what to have for dinner!"
Zhu Zhuqing also nodded slightly. She watched the two of them follow Liu Erlong toward the attic before turning back to their residence with Xiao Wu.
On the way, Liu Erlong walked at a steady pace and suddenly asked, "The spirit tool at your waist—did Yu Xiaogang give it to you?"
Xu Yuan's footsteps paused slightly. He hadn't expected Liu Erlong to be so direct. After a moment's thought, he said, "Yes."
In a certain sense, it could be considered a gift from Yu Xiaogang.
After all, it was Yu Xiaogang who had Tang San challenge him. Since Tang San lost the item to him, it was essentially Yu Xiaogang giving it to him.
Liu Erlong's voice grew deeper. "Where is Yu Xiaogang?"
Xu Yuan said with some difficulty, "He doesn't want others to know his whereabouts, especially..."
He stopped halfway.
This wasn't exactly a lie. Yu Xiaogang truly didn't want others to know his location, especially Liu Erlong.
Back then, Yu Xiaogang hadn't even really wanted to see Liu Erlong.
Liu Erlong's footsteps came to a sudden halt, her profile looking somewhat stiff in the twilight.
She remained silent for a few seconds before slowly turning around, her eyes swirling with emotions like a deep pool disturbed by a stone.
"Especially me, right?" Liu Erlong's voice was very soft.
Xu Yuan said nothing, which served as a silent admission. In some matters, admission is more dignified than an explanation.
Liu Erlong suddenly laughed. Her laughter carried a hint of self-mockery and an indescribable exhaustion. "Figures. That's just how he is."
She sighed in her heart, feeling some regret for falling in love with Yu Xiaogang back then.
Back then, she might as well have chosen Flender; Flender was countless times stronger than Yu Xiaogang.
However, thinking of Flender's conduct, he wasn't exactly a good choice either.
Liu Erlong turned around and continued walking forward, her steps carrying a light sense of relief, as if that moment of stagnation had never happened.
Seeing this, Xu Yuan quietly followed behind Liu Erlong.
Upon arriving at Liu Erlong's office, she told Xu Yuan to sit down and poured him a cup of tea.
Liu Erlong sat down, looked at Xu Yuan, and said, "Xu Yuan, can you tell me about Yu Xiaogang?"
Xu Yuan thought of Yu Xiaogang's arrogant expression and how he had looked as if he wanted to devour him with his gaze; he smiled, not knowing what would be best to say.
Xu Yuan picked up his teacup and pondered for a moment before slowly speaking, "Yu Xiaogang... he always says he is a Master of Theory."
Hearing this, Liu Erlong's hand holding the teacup paused, and a flash of mockery crossed her eyes. "Master of Theory? That's all the ability he has. Back then, he spent all day muttering over a pile of ancient books, saying that a Spirit Master's cultivation must follow a set routine. Yet his own spirit power has been stuck at Rank 20-something for so many years without a Breakthrough."
She had seen through everything now, and at the same time, the rose-tinted filter she had for Yu Xiaogang was gone.
Master of Theory?
How many people would actually believe those wild ideas of his? Back then, she had loved Yu Xiaogang and viewed him through a filter, thinking he was a genius who simply hadn't met his opportunity.
Thinking carefully now, she only felt it was all nonsense. With the knowledge of the Two Great Powers, even a dog could become knowledgeable.
Looking at the resentful Liu Erlong, Xu Yuan couldn't help but swallow hard, feeling that she was somewhat terrifying.
Inside the Sea of Spirit, the God King Tang San also felt that Liu Erlong was inexplicably terrifying.
Now that Liu Erlong's head was clear, was she turning love into deep hatred?
Liu Erlong seemed to realize her emotions were showing. She took a sip of tea, and her tone softened. "Sorry, I tend to lose my composure when he's mentioned."
Xu Yuan shook his head. "It's fine, Teacher."
"Don't take those theories of his seriously." Liu Erlong put down her teacup, her gaze becoming serious. "How can there be fixed rules in Spirit Master cultivation? Spirits are different, Physiques are different, so the path of cultivation is naturally different. He always says spirit ring age limits can't be exceeded, but over the years, I've seen many who have exceeded those limits, and they are all doing just fine now."
Xu Yuan thought of Yu Xiaogang's words to Tang San about how spirit rings must be absorbed according to Rank, and he really wanted to laugh.
He didn't even know about the ten-thousand-year Soul Shock; how much ability could one expect Yu Xiaogang to have?
"It's good that you understand." Liu Erlong nodded with satisfaction. "I see you're a bright child; don't let his crooked logic lead you astray. Your Blue Silver Emperor Spirit is very good—it's fine material. Polish it well, and your future achievements won't be inferior to anyone else's."
Liu Erlong suddenly changed the subject. "Speaking of which, why did he have you bring his spirit tool this time? He's not plotting to have you do something for him again, is he?"
Xu Yuan spoke truthfully. "Previously, Tang San challenged me on his orders. After he lost, this spirit tool became mine. As for anything else, he didn't say."
"Tang San..." Liu Erlong muttered the name, her brow furrowing slightly. "Is he his new disciple?"
"Yes."
"Heh, he's started teaching others again." Liu Erlong sneered. "Unable to Breakthrough himself, yet he loves to point the way for others. I hope that child doesn't get screwed over by him."
Xu Yuan suddenly became curious. Yu Xiaogang had actually taught others before.
However, thinking about it, it was normal.
Yu Xiaogang needed to prove his theories were correct, which meant he needed to find some unlucky souls to test them on.
He probably screwed over many Commoner Spirit Masters before. After all, most Commoner Spirit Masters lacked knowledge and were the best subjects for experimentation.
If no problems occurred, it was his brilliance; if a problem arose, it was surely the other person's faultChapter 42: Tai Long's Challenge
Seeing Xu Yuan's silence, Liu Erlong changed the subject. "Let's not talk about him. Starting tomorrow, I will formulate training plans based on the Spirit characteristics of you three."
Xu Yuan nodded in understanding. Seeing that Liu Erlong had nothing else to say, he stood up to bid her farewell.
After returning to the dormitory, Xu Yuan found his room had been cleaned spotlessly.
Xiao Wu came to Xu Yuan's side and asked proudly, "How is it? Zhuqing and I cleaned your dormitory together. It's spotlessly clean."
Xu Yuan looked at the clean room. The bedding on the bed was folded neatly, and even the dust in the corners had been wiped away.
"It's very clean, thank you both," Xu Yuan thanked Xiao Wu and Zhu Zhuqing.
Xiao Wu puffed out her chest. "Of course! Zhuqing and I divided the work; she wiped the tables and I swept the floor. We finished in no time!"
Zhu Zhuqing stood at the door, still holding a damp cloth. Hearing this, she gave a soft hum, her ears turning slightly red.
She had followed Xiao Wu to help, but hadn't expected Xu Yuan to return so quickly, leaving her feeling a bit flustered for a moment.
Xu Yuan thought for a moment and proposed, "I'll treat you both to dinner. Since it's our first time in Heaven Dou City, we might as well walk around."
"Eating out?" Xiao Wu's eyes instantly lit up like they were studded with two stars. "Great, great! I heard Heaven Dou City has a lot of delicious food."
Zhu Zhuqing also looked up, a hint of anticipation flashing in her eyes, but she still said softly, "Would it be too much trouble? There should still be food in the cafeteria."
She knew that prices in a national capital were quite high. Since Xu Yuan and Xiao Wu came from a remote area, they certainly wouldn't have much money on hand.
"It's no trouble," Xu Yuan smiled. "Just consider it getting familiar with the environment. Besides, Teacher Liu said training starts tomorrow, so we probably won't have much free time later."
Xiao Wu immediately grabbed Zhu Zhuqing's arm. "See, Zhuqing! Brother Xu Yuan said so, let's go eat out!"
Zhu Zhuqing had no choice but to nod as Xiao Wu shook her arm.
After leaving Blue Tyrant Academy, the prosperity of Heaven Dou City rushed toward them.
Lanterns were lit in the shops on both sides of the street. Cries of vendors and laughter rose and fell, and pedestrians in various outfits came and went.
The three of them found a hotel for a simple meal, wandered for a while, and then returned to the school to rest.
Before the sky was fully bright, a thin layer of dew condensed on the bluestone slabs of the Training Ground.
Xiao Wu yawned and rubbed her eyes, complaining, "This is too early. I haven't had enough sleep yet..."
Despite her words, her eyes were bright, and she glanced toward the entrance from time to time, clearly full of anticipation for Liu Erlong's training.
Zhu Zhuqing stood straight, her long black hair tied back with a hairband, revealing her smooth forehead.
She wore a Short jacket, more than usual, clearly prepared for intense exercise.
Xu Yuan was warming up his limbs, his joints making slight popping sounds.
His gaze swept across the Training Ground. Many Wooden stakes and Sandbags for actual combat were piled in the corners, and the ground was covered with footprints of varying depths, clearly marks left by years of practice.
"She's here," Xu Yuan suddenly spoke.
The two followed Xu Yuan's gaze and saw Liu Erlong wearing a Tight-fitting suit, carrying a long whip, walking with large strides.
"Punctual, at least," Liu Erlong walked up to the three, her gaze sweeping over their faces.
Liu Erlong lightly cracked the long whip on the ground. With a crisp'snap', Xiao Wu was startled and instantly became mostly awake.
"Since you are students I am personally leading, you must follow my rules," Liu Erlong's gaze was as sharp as a blade. "For the first lesson, we won't practice Spirit Abilities, but the basics first."
Liu Erlong pointed to the Training Ground. "First, a hundred laps. Start running now!"
Xiao Wu was the first to rush out, looking back while running to make a face at Zhu Zhuqing. "Zhuqing, come and catch me!"
Zhu Zhuqing's eyes narrowed, and her figure streaked out like a flash of pale purple lightning, quickly catching up to Xiao Wu.
She deliberately held back her speed, but was still much steadier than Xiao Wu, her breathing even and her pace perfectly rhythmic.
Xu Yuan trailed at the end, taking steps at a moderate pace... In the blink of an eye, ten days passed.
After Liu Erlong's training, all three of them had improved significantly, especially Zhu Zhuqing.
It couldn't be helped; Zhu Zhuqing was the weakest among the three of them.
"Xu Yuan, I want to challenge you," Tai Long came before Xu Yuan and issued a challenge.
Xu Yuan raised an eyebrow upon hearing this and said, "Are you sure, Tai Long? You're only a Rank 25 Spirit Grandmaster right now."
He wasn't very surprised that Tai Long challenged him.
Because Xiao Wu and Zhu Zhuqing were called the two great goddesses of Blue Tyrant Academy by the students, and many people pursued them.
But Xiao Wu clearly stated she had someone she liked, and with the matter of Zhu Zhuqing having a fiancé, the number of people pursuing them decreased.
Tai Long didn't give up and wanted Xiao Wu to be his girlfriend.
Xu Yuan had told Xiao Wu to let Tai Long come and challenge him.
He didn't expect Tai Long to come so soon.
Tai Long nodded and said, "Naturally, I don't think I will lose."
Although his Rank was lower than Xu Yuan's, he was a Battle Soul Master, while Xu Yuan was only a support system Spirit Master.
It was well known that it was impossible for a support system Spirit Master to defeat a Battle Soul Master.
God King Tang San looked at the challenging Tai Long and couldn't help but sneer in his heart.
If Tai Long weren't his future subordinate, he would have already found a path to his own death.
During these ten or so days, he had been quietly using his Origin to modify Xu Yuan's body so that Xu Yuan could better withstand his Soul in the future.
His Soul was at the Divine Rank, and Xu Yuan's body couldn't withstand it at all. If he forcibly performed Possession on Xu Yuan's body, the body would collapse.
Now, God King Tang San was more and more satisfied with Xu Yuan; he had already surpassed his former self in all aspects.
He was confident that after seizing Xu Yuan's body, he could reach even greater heights.
Speaking of which, after Tai Long was beaten, his grandfather would surely come for revenge. At that time, he could let Xu Yuan display the Clear Sky Hammer and then use his own power to influence the opponent to recruit them for his own use.
This time, he wanted the Tang Sect to be his best tool, propagating his name to collect a large amount of faith.
At the same time, he would make the entire Douluo Continent his backyard once again.
"Since you insist, I'll spar with you," Xu Yuan's tone was flat, but his gaze gradually sharpened.
With his current strength, even another Tai Long wouldn't be able to defeat him.
Many students soon gathered around the Training Ground; after all, both Tai Long and Xu Yuan were famous in Blue Tyrant Academy.
Tai Long's muscles were well-trained, and combined with his stubborn refusal to lose, many people were waiting to see this good show of a support system versus an attack system.
Almost no one thought Xu Yuan could win against Tai Long.
Because support Spirit Masters were recognized as the weakest and most easily challenged by those of lower Ranks.