Then, let's have a public execution

The news that Yu Xiaogang had been angered into vomiting blood and falling unconscious swept through all of Nuoding Academy in less than half a day like a Level 12 hurricane.

And the words, "You want to take me as your disciple? Are you worthy?" became the focus of every student's private discussions.

Arrogant!

Far too arrogant!

Arrogant beyond all bounds!

Some felt that Lin Xi was far too presumptuous, disrespectful toward teachers and tradition, daring to humiliate the renowned Master Yu Xiaogang to his face.

But more people—especially those students who had personally witnessed the miracle of the Hundred Thousand Year Soul Ring—felt faintly that Lin Xi... might truly have the right to be so arrogant.

Could someone who possessed a Hundred Thousand Year Soul Ring at the age of six really be judged by ordinary standards? Could her world and understanding truly be measured by common sense?

For a time, undercurrents stirred throughout the academy, and everyone's curiosity and thirst for knowledge were roused to their peak.

That afternoon, an even more explosive piece of news spread.

Lin Xi, the mysterious and powerful new student, had voluntarily applied to the academy to systematically explain her own "Spirit Theory" during the next day's public lecture. Moreover, she had specifically named the recovered Master Yu Xiaogang as her opponent in a public debate!

The moment this news emerged, all of Nuoding Academy erupted!

A public debate!

She was going to challenge Master's authority head-on!

This was no private quarrel. It was a life-or-death theoretical confrontation before the entire academy's teachers and students!

"Has she gone mad? What could a six-year-old possibly know about Spirit Theory?"

"Exactly! Possessing a Hundred Thousand Year Soul Ring is talent; it doesn't mean she has any learning!"

"But I have a feeling it isn't that simple. Have you forgotten how she instantly defeated Suo Tuo? That calmness and composure were nothing like a child's."

"No matter what, tomorrow's public lecture absolutely cannot be missed! This is a moment that will go down in history!"

Inside the academy's administrative office, in the Dean's office.

The plump Dean was so worried he was nearly losing all his hair.

Looking at the calm-faced Lin Xi before him, then at the pale-faced but unusually bright-eyed Yu Xiaogang beside her, he felt as though his head had grown twice as large.

After waking up and hearing about Lin Xi's proposal for a public debate, Yu Xiaogang had not only failed to get angry, but had immediately agreed. He seemed even more spirited than when he had first arrived.

It was as though he had found an opportunity to prove himself—or rather, an opportunity to completely recognize reality.

"Student Lin Xi, are you sure you want to do this?" the Dean made one final attempt. "This isn't children playing house. Master's theories have undergone countless verifications and are recognized by the entire Soul Master world..."

"Does being universally recognized mean it must be correct?" Lin Xi asked calmly.

With a single sentence, she left the Dean speechless again.

Yu Xiaogang waved a hand, signaling the Dean to say no more. He stared fixedly at Lin Xi and asked hoarsely, "Do you truly have a theory of your own?"

"I do." Lin Xi nodded.

"Good!" An astonishing light burst from Yu Xiaogang's eyes. "I accept! At tomorrow's public lecture! I want to see exactly how you intend to deny everything I have from the very foundation!"

Even if he lost, he wanted to lose with complete clarity!

If Lin Xi could truly present a more advanced and complete theory, then what if he, Yu Xiaogang, were to acknowledge her as his master on the spot?

For a true scholar, truth stood above all else!

"Then it's settled." Lin Xi rose to her feet, seemingly unwilling to say another word. "The location will be the academy's largest tiered lecture hall. I hope every teacher and student in the academy can attend."

What she wanted was the attention of the masses.

What she wanted was for her theory, from the moment of its birth, to have the widest possible audience and witnesses.

With that, she turned and left.

Tang San and Xiao Wu immediately followed.

Only after leaving the office did Xiao Wu finally ask, "Lin Xi, are you really going to debate that Master? What if... what if you can't outargue him?"

In her eyes, Yu Xiaogang had studied spirits his entire life, while Lin Xi was only six.

Tang San also looked at her with concern. Though his intuition told him that Lin Xi was unfathomable, a theoretical debate differed from overwhelming someone with strength. It required rigorous logic and extensive knowledge.

Lin Xi stopped and turned to look at them.

She reached out and ruffled Xiao Wu's head, then shifted her gaze to Tang San. For the first time, a trace of a smile appeared in those cool, clear eyes.

"Don't worry."

She spoke softly.

"In the field I excel at, no one can defeat me."

The incomparable confidence in those words instantly soothed Tang San and Xiao Wu's worries.

Looking at her, Tang San suddenly felt that everything he had learned in the Tang Sect in his previous life, as well as all the common knowledge of this world, might seem so insignificant before Lin Xi.

For the first time, he felt as though he could only look up at someone his own age.

The next day.

Nuoding Academy, Central Lecture Hall.

This hall could accommodate nearly a thousand people and was where the academy held its most important gatherings.

But today, it was packed to the brim. Even the aisles and entrances were crammed with people. From the Dean and teachers down to the work-study students who had just enrolled, almost no one in the entire academy was absent.

Everyone craned their necks, waiting for this unprecedented theoretical showdown.

At the center of the stage stood two chairs. One belonged to Yu Xiaogang, while the other belonged to the six-year-old challenger, Lin Xi.

"They're here! They're here!"

No one knew who shouted, but every gaze immediately turned toward the entrance.

Yu Xiaogang entered the lecture hall first, his face grave, accompanied by the Dean. He walked straight to his seat, sat down, and closed his eyes without saying a word, like a statue awaiting judgment.

Right after that, Lin Xi, Tang San, and Xiao Wu appeared at the entrance as well.

Lin Xi was still dressed in a plain white skirt. Her small face was cool and composed, her expression tranquil. Ignoring the thousands of eyes upon her, she walked with steady steps toward the seat that belonged to her.

Tang San and Xiao Wu were arranged in the seats at the very center of the first row, specially reserved for them by the academy.

Lin Xi sat down opposite Yu Xiaogang.

One large and one small, one old and one young.

One represented the authority of the old era.

The other symbolized the rise of a new era.

As they sat facing each other, invisible sparks collided in the air, and the atmosphere in the entire lecture hall instantly grew heavy to the extreme.

The Dean stepped onto the stage and cleared his throat, serving as the host for this special "public lecture."

"Teachers, students, today, we are honored to have Master Yu Xiaogang and our academy's new student, Lin Xi, discuss the mysteries of martial souls together... Now, I declare the debate open! First, let us invite Master Yu Xiaogang to present his central argument!"

Scattered applause rose from the audience.

Yu Xiaogang slowly opened his eyes. He rose to his feet, his gaze sweeping across the hall before finally settling on Lin Xi's calm, unruffled face.

He took a deep breath and began in his distinctively magnetic, hoarse voice:

"One of my core theories is this: there are no useless martial souls, only useless Soul Masters!"

"The form of a martial soul cannot determine a Soul Master's upper limit! Whether it is the powerful Clear Sky Hammer or the ordinary Blue Silver Grass, with proper Soul Ring combinations, relentless effort after birth, and the right cultivation methods, any of them can become a powerful Soul Master!"

"Talent is certainly important, but acquired effort is the key to determining how far you can ultimately go!"

His voice was firm and resounding, every word forceful and persuasive.

The students below the stage, especially those with ordinary martial souls, all revealed looks of excitement and agreement.

This theory had given them hope. It had given them the motivation to strive!

After Yu Xiaogang finished speaking, he looked at Lin Xi with blazing eyes. His meaning was obvious: My theory has inspired countless commoner Soul Masters. How will you refute it?

The eyes of the entire lecture hall instantly focused on Lin Xi.

She slowly rose to her feet, her clear gaze sweeping over the audience before settling on Yu Xiaogang as well.

Rather than rushing to refute him, she first asked a question.

"Master, may I ask what your own martial soul is?"

The question was abrupt, yet it struck directly at the heart of the matter.

Everyone knew that Master's martial soul, Luo Sanpao, had undergone a malignant mutation, leaving him unable to break through level thirty for the rest of his life.

It was the pain of his entire life.

Yu Xiaogang's expression instantly turned incomparably ugly.