Master Yu Xiaogang Provokes, Faces Pressure from a Peerless Douluo

The morning sunlight had just crept over the mountains at the core of the Douluo Continent when the "Otherworld Auction House," situated on the central plains, was already packed with Soul Masters gathering information. The news of the "Beginner Soul Power Boosting Pill" released during yesterday's preview for the First Auction had swept through the surrounding hundred miles like a gale. Some small sect masters had brought their treasured collections to exchange for points, while many others lingered on the outskirts of the auction house's safe zone, watching with skepticism.

Among the crowd, two figures stood out conspicuously.

Yu Xiaogang wore a faded blue robe, washed white from use, his back ramrod straight, his face carrying his usual solemn expression as if he saw through everything. The youth following on his left was Tang San, just turned twelve. Beneath his jet-black short hair, his Purple Demon Eyes held a composure beyond his years, though the fingers of his right hand, clutching the Blue Silver Grass Martial Soul, were slightly pale—yesterday at Nuoding Academy, he had broken through to rank thirty-one and wanted to consult Yu Xiaogang on his future cultivation path, but his teacher had urgently dragged him to the auction house with the excuse of "exposing a liar's deception."

"Teacher, is the auction house really exaggerating?" Tang San asked in a low voice, his gaze sweeping over the main building constructed from an unknown black jade, its exterior shrouded in a Pale Gold light screen that even his Purple Demon Eye couldn't penetrate. "I heard that Elder Hu Yan Zhen of the Elephant Armored Sect has already brought a Ten Thousand Year Soul Bone to exchange for points."

Yu Xiaogang snorted coldly, not slowing his pace, his voice full of certainty. "A Soul Master's cultivation follows a gradual progression. Soul power enhancement is closely tied to soul ring age, martial soul quality, and one's own comprehension. How could any pill directly raise a Soul Master below rank thirty by a whole level? This is clearly a scam that defies the foundational theories of Soul Masters!"

He had spent his life studying Soul Master theory. Though his own soul power had stagnated at rank twenty-nine due to a mutated martial soul, he enjoyed prestige in the Soul Master world under the title "Master." When he heard yesterday that the auction house claimed the "Beginner Soul Power Boosting Pill could break cultivation bottlenecks," his first reaction was sheer absurdity—if such a treasure truly existed, the entire Soul Master system of the Douluo Continent would have been overturned long ago, and it wouldn't be left to some suddenly appearing auction house to announce it.

"But they have two guards with unfathomable strength..." Tang San tried to remind him, but Yu Xiaogang raised a hand to cut him off.

"Unfathomable strength? Just some fellows relying on Soul Tools or special secret techniques to put on a show." A flicker of disdain passed through Yu Xiaogang's eyes. "Today, I'll expose them publicly, so no more Soul Masters are deceived and waste precious soul bones and resources."

As he spoke, the two reached the auction house's main entrance. Two guards in Silver Armor stood at the door, their auras steady yet carrying an faint oppressive weight. Seeing Yu Xiaogang and Tang San approach, one of them spoke flatly: "Do you two have Point Vouchers? If not, you'll need to exchange for points before entering."

"Exchange for points?" Yu Xiaogang sneered, stepping forward and raising his voice sharply, drawing the attention of the surrounding Soul Masters. "I think you're afraid to let me in, aren't you? You don't even understand the basic principles of soul power enhancement, yet you dare to fool people with so-called 'pills.' Do you really think all Soul Masters on the Douluo Continent are fools?"

His words rang out with force, and murmurs rippled through the crowd. Many Soul Masters who had harbored doubts now looked at the auction house with increased suspicion.

The Silver Armored Guard frowned slightly but didn't lose his temper, replying calmly: "The authenticity of the auction house's treasures doesn't require proof to you. If you're unwilling to exchange for points, please leave and don't obstruct others."

"I insist on going in to see!" Yu Xiaogang craned his neck, ready to force his way through. "I want to see for myself what kind of junk your so-called 'treasures' really are!"

Just as his hand was about to touch the Golden Light Screen, a window on the second floor of the main building suddenly slid open. A figure in a Black Robe leaned against the sill, his face ordinary but carrying an aura of authority that made it hard to meet his gaze—this was Mo Chen, one of Lin Yue's two Peerless Douluo subordinates.

Mo Chen didn't come downstairs. He merely swept a glance over Yu Xiaogang and said in a flat tone: "If Your Excellency is here to cause trouble, you've picked the wrong place."

"Cause trouble? I'm exposing a fraud!" Yu Xiaogang looked up, glaring at Mo Chen, his tone growing more agitated. "Dare you say your Soul Power Boosting Pill isn't a fake that defies Soul Master theory? Dare you let me see the pill's ingredients?"

A flicker of impatience crossed Mo Chen's eyes. He had followed Lin Yue for years and was accustomed to the strong from countless worlds. This Soul Master before him, with soul power below rank thirty, was no different from an ant in his sight. If not for Lin Yue's instruction to "avoid harming unless necessary," he would have already struck.

"Words are useless." Mo Chen couldn't be bothered to argue further. He slowly released a thread of soul power—just a thread—yet it was like a calm lake suddenly churning into a Tidal Wave.

An invisible pressure instantly enveloped the entire auction house entrance. The smug smile on Yu Xiaogang's face froze solid, as if an unseen hand had gripped his throat, cutting off his breath. The soul power within him seemed to encounter a natural enemy, wildly spiraling out of control, rampaging through his meridians. Pain wracked him, beading cold sweat on his forehead, his face pale as paper.

"Pfft—" Yu Xiaogang could no longer hold on. He spat out a mouthful of blood, staggering back several steps. If Tang San hadn't caught him in time, he would have collapsed to the ground.

Tang San wasn't faring much better. He felt a terrifyingly overwhelming aura bearing down on him. The Blue Silver Grass Martial Soul within him trembled violently, uncontrollably, as if it might shatter at any moment. His Purple Demon Eye activated to its limit, but all he could see was the abyss-like ocean of soul power radiating from Mo Chen, with no end in sight.

"What... what level of strength is this?" Shockwaves crashed through Tang San's mind. He had felt Master's soul power, felt the Nuoding Academy principal's soul power, and even sensed the aura of a Titled Douluo from the Martial Soul Hall from afar, but compared to this mere thread of soul power, they were like a Fire Fly versus the full moon.

"Scram." Mo Chen uttered a single word, and that thread of soul power intensified slightly.

Tang San felt a sweetness rise in his throat, another mouthful of blood surging up, but he forced it back down. Looking at Mo Chen's calm yet absolutely oppressive gaze, he finally realized—he had provoked an existence he absolutely could not afford to provoke. The so-called "disguise" and "scam" were nothing but self-deception.

"I... we're leaving!" Yu Xiaogang struggled to push away Tang San's hand, staggering as he turned, all his earlier arrogance gone, his back a picture of utter defeat.

Tang San supported Yu Xiaogang, glancing back repeatedly as they left. He took one last look at Mo Chen on the auction house's second floor, then at the mysterious Black Jade Main Building. Doubt had vanished from his eyes, replaced only by deep wariness—and a faint, barely perceptible trace of resentment. He could sense that the soul power Mo Chen had released wasn't even aimed at him, yet the mere aftershock had sent his martial soul trembling violently. This gap made him, who had always sailed smoothly, feel powerless for the first time.

"Teacher, that man just now..." Only after they had walked far away did Tang San dare to ask in a low voice, his tone still shaky.

Yu Xiaogang leaned against a large tree, his face still pale. He shook his head, his voice hoarse: "More than that... definitely more than a Titled Douluo... That kind of soul power pressure—even a peak Titled Douluo couldn't be this terrifying..." He had spent his life studying Soul Master theory, but he had never imagined that such a powerhouse existed on the Douluo Continent.

The surrounding Soul Masters were also stunned by what had just happened. Those who had harbored doubts now felt only awe. Mo Chen had released just a thread of soul power and effortlessly crushed "Master" Yu Xiaogang. Such strength was enough to make any force think twice before provoking them.

"It seems this auction house really has the backing..."

"Even Master was beaten like that. Who would dare question them now?"

"Let's hurry back and prepare resources to exchange for points. Don't miss the First Auction!"

Amid the chatter, more and more Soul Masters surged toward the auction house's point exchange counter. Those who had been hesitating now had no more doubts. The impression that the Otherworld Auction House was "not to be provoked" was etched like a brand into everyone's minds.

Meanwhile, on the second floor of the auction house, Mo Chen withdrew his gaze, turned, and walked into the room. Bowing to Lin Yue, who sat in the Main Seat, he reported: "Master, the person has been driven away. No casualties."

Lin Yue was flipping through the point exchange records on the System Panel. Hearing this, he smiled faintly: "Yu Xiaogang... Tang San... interesting." He had long known their identities through the system and had anticipated Yu Xiaogang's provocation. Having Mo Chen act was both to establish authority and to give Tang San a "lesson"—this future "Sea God" was still just a youth who needed to face reality.

"How are the preparations for the First Auction?" Lin Yue asked.

"All is ready. The 'Beginner Soul Power Boosting Pill' is prepared, and the bidders' Point Vouchers have been registered. We await tomorrow's auction," Mo Chen replied respectfully.

Lin Yue nodded, his gaze drifting out the window. "Tomorrow, let the Douluo Continent see what true 'treasures' really are."

And at that moment, Tang San, having helped Yu Xiaogang back to their lodging, sat alone by his bed, his fingers unconsciously tracing the Twenty-Four Moonlit Bridges Night at his waist. He recalled Mo Chen's pressure, the auction house's mystery, and silently made a resolve: one day, he would possess strength surpassing that pressure, uncover the auction house's secrets, and... repay the humiliation he had suffered today tenfold.

This seed was quietly planted in his heart, waiting only for the day it would take root and sprout.