Dai Mubai, Oscar, and the others all chimed in.
Regardless of Yu Xiaogang's personal strength, his theories had indeed been the foundation of everyone's growth.
Receiving his disciples' affirmation was like getting a shot in the arm for Yu Xiaogang. He instantly became fired up.
The jealousy and resentment on his face vanished, replaced by fanatical confidence.
"Yes! My theories are surely exotic treasures!"
he said excitedly.
"It's just that the Golden Ranking hasn't reached my treasure yet!"
His eyes gleamed, and even his breathing grew heavy.
"It has only reached eighth place. Bibi Dong's Rakshasa Demon Scythe is nothing special!"
"My Spirit Master theory embodies a lifetime of painstaking effort. It is the crystallization of wisdom, the key to opening a new era! At the very least, it can enter the top three, or even..."
Yu Xiaogang paused, unprecedented brilliance bursting from his eyes.
"Even first on the continent!"
"First place on the Exotic Treasures Ranking?!"
Flender stared at him in utter astonishment.
"It's very possible!"
Yu Xiaogang nodded heavily, completely immersed in a wonderful fantasy.
He felt that it was only natural for his theories to surpass every Divine Weapon and Immortal Herb on the continent and claim the top rank.
After all, those things were dead objects, while his theories were alive—priceless treasures capable of creating the future!
Just imagining his name and theories hanging at the peak of the Sky Screen, receiving the worship of the entire continent, made Yu Xiaogang tremble all over with excitement.
"I, Yu Xiaogang, will shake the continent once more!"
As Douluo Continent was thrown into upheaval by the Divine Ranking,
the Endless Sea at the distant edge of Sun Moon Continent, which separated the two landmasses, remained steeped in ancient tranquility.
At this time, Sun Moon Continent had yet to connect with Douluo Continent's landmass.
The sea and sky merged as one, boundlessly blue.
"Splash—"
A massive shadow broke through the surface, raising towering waves.
It was a gigantic shark over thirty meters long. Its entire body was a deep bluish-black, and its streamlined form brimmed with explosive power. It was the overlord of the sea, a Demon Soul Great White Shark.
Yet in the next instant, soft blue light lit up around the terrifying beast.
Within that radiance, its enormous body rapidly shrank and transformed. In the end, it became a peerlessly beautiful young woman with a graceful figure, quietly floating in midair.
She had waist-length silver hair that fluttered gently in the sea breeze. Her sapphire-like eyes, pure and crystalline, gazed ahead with reverence and adoration.
She wore a fitted blue dress that vividly outlined her perfectly proportioned, delicate body.
Her skin was whiter than snow, her waist slender, and her legs rounded and long. Her bare jade feet hung in the air, with slender ankles and adorable pearl-like toes.
She was Bai Xiuxiu, princess of the Demon Soul Great White Shark clan, a Soul Beast whom Lu Ming had raised to two hundred thousand years of cultivation.
Before her stood a white-robed figure with his back to her, hands clasped behind him as he stood atop the sea. His robes fluttered in the wind, making him seem like an immortal cast down to the mortal world.
It was Lu Ming.
"Master, where are we going?"
Bai Xiuxiu spoke respectfully, her crisp and pleasant voice like wind chimes.
Lu Ming slowly turned around. His deep gaze looked into the distance, as though it pierced endless space and saw that familiar yet unfamiliar continent.
He raised a hand and gently stroked Bai Xiuxiu's head.
His touch was soft, carrying a trace of warmth.
"Back to Douluo Continent."
His voice was calm, yet it carried an unquestionable resolve.
"Yes, Master."
Bai Xiuxiu nodded obediently without the slightest hesitation.
The next moment, blue light enveloped her again, and she transformed back into the majestic Demon Soul Great White Shark.
Lu Ming moved, landing soundlessly upon Bai Xiuxiu's broad back.
"Let's go."
"Yes!"
Bai Xiuxiu let out an excited cry and violently swept her enormous tail fin.
Boom!
The sea exploded. A streak of white spray shot toward Douluo Continent like an arrow released from a bow.
Across the vast and boundless Endless Sea, that white streak tore through the ancient stillness and sped toward Douluo Continent, vanishing beyond the horizon in an instant.
At that very moment, the golden Divine Ranking above Douluo Continent changed once more.
The eighth-place entry belonging to the Rakshasa Demon Scythe gradually faded away, while new ancient golden characters slowly gathered upon the Sky Screen.
Across the continent, countless people held their breath again and stared fixedly at the sky.
Buzz—
Golden light flared brilliantly. The phantom of an ornate Holy Sword, wreathed entirely in golden flames, appeared upon the Divine Ranking.
Complex and sacred patterns were carved into the Holy Sword. Six wings spread from its guard, radiating a light-filled aura capable of purifying all evil.
Though it was merely a phantom, it bathed the entire continent in warm holy light.
Then, new lines of text appeared.
[Douluo Exotic Treasures Ranking, seventh place: Angel Holy Sword!] [This sword was originally a Divine Weapon casually forged by a supreme existence to seal a source of evil!]
As the words appeared, the scene on the Sky Screen shifted.
It showed the peak of an ancient mountain range. The Holy Sword was embedded in a black altar, its golden flames blazing as it suppressed the surging black mist beneath the altar.
[Twenty thousand years ago, a woman named Qian Yuhan came here. Gifted beyond compare, she sought to gather the faith of mortals, draw this sword, and attain Angel Godhood.]
A peerlessly beautiful woman clad in golden armor appeared in the scene, heroic and valiant.
As she looked at the Angel Holy Sword before her, her golden eyes brimmed with delight and yearning.
The path to godhood lay right before her!
However, just as she reached out to grasp the hilt, a blue figure silently appeared behind her.
It was a stern-faced middle-aged man holding a trident.
Sea God, Poseidon.
[First Generation Sea God Poseidon appeared and stopped Qian Yuhan from becoming a god.] [Poseidon believed that the suffering of the world could not be resolved without divine power, but not everyone needed to become a god. His strength alone was enough to save all living beings.] [Qian Yuhan furiously denounced the Sea God as utterly hypocritical. His words and deeds were merely meant to consolidate his own godhood and cut off the path for those who came after him.]
In the scene, Qian Yuhan and Poseidon argued fiercely. Their clashing beliefs made the atmosphere unbearably tense.
[The Sea God, having his true intentions exposed, flew into a rage. As Qian Yuhan was using all her strength to draw the sword, he actually launched a sneak attack from behind, intending to kill her in a single blow!]
Boom!
Golden divine power and blue divine power collided violently.
At the critical moment of drawing the sword, Qian Yuhan could not spare any attention to defend herself. The trident, containing the boundless power of the ocean, pierced brutally through her back!
"Pfft—"
A mouthful of golden Divine Blood sprayed out, and Qian Yuhan's aura instantly withered to its lowest point.
Before you continue