Grandmaster, Spare Us Those Illusory, Self-Deceiving Theories

Zhao Linchuan nodded slightly, his voice carrying the distant air of one recounting the mysteries of heaven and earth. "Yes. The world is vast, and it is full of wonders."

"There are many Immortal Herbs in this world with miraculous effects."

"For instance, I know of a Top-Grade spiritual medicine called the Nine-grade Purple Ganoderma. Though it does not rank among Immortal Herbs, its effects are enough to rival them!"

He deliberately paused, his gaze "casually" sweeping over Yu Xiaogang's face, which had instantly drained of color, as though he were merely recounting an ancient legend.

"One of its most important effects is that it can make up for congenital deficiencies, rebuild the foundation of one's Martial Soul, and guide Martial Souls that have undergone malignant mutations through a final, beneficial transformation and evolution!"

Zhao Linchuan's tone turned regretful once more. Shaking his head, he sighed. "If this Second Young Master Yu had found and taken the Nine-grade Purple Ganoderma in his early years..."

"Then even his so-called Farting Pig Martial Soul could have been completely reborn and welcomed Rebirth."

"What a pity, what a pity. He himself seems to know nothing about herbal medicine. He wasted his years away and missed two chances to defy fate and change his destiny."

The regret in his words was like an icy tide, drowning the tiny spark that had just ignited in Yu Xiaogang's heart, leaving behind only piercing mockery.

Zhao Linchuan looked at Yu Xiaogang's bloodless face and trembling body, and the teasing smile returned to his lips.

"By the way, Grandmaster, I see you've done quite a bit of 'research' into Martial Souls. May I ask your honored name?"

He sounded as though he were sincerely seeking guidance from a highly respected elder, yet his tone was as light as a feather brushing across Yu Xiaogang's nerves.

"If you happen to be lucky enough to meet that Lord Yu Xiaogang someday, you might as well pass this 'good news' on to him."

"Perhaps you could even forge a good connection?" The casually spoken words "good connection" were like the final straw, completely crushing the crumbling dam of Yu Xiaogang's dignity.

Yu Xiaogang's lips trembled violently. Humiliation, the fury of having his secret exposed, and the despair brought by that sliver of hope being ruthlessly snuffed out intertwined within him,

leaving him almost unable to breathe, incapable of uttering a single word.

The most shameful secret of his Martial Soul had been completely laid bare by Zhao Linchuan in such a frivolous and public manner. Zhao Linchuan had even pointed out what seemed to be a viable solution!

That was even more unbearable than simple ridicule.

Yet Zhao Linchuan had no intention of stopping there. The smile on his face abruptly vanished, and his eyes sharpened like blades. "Grandmaster, nothing to say?"

"Very well, then let me ask you another basic, presumably core theoretical, 'little' question."

He deliberately emphasized the word "little," his tone thick with mockery. "The absorption limits for Soul Ring age—surely a theoretical Grandmaster like yourself has studied them thoroughly?"

"For example, what is the theoretical absorption limit for the First Soul Ring?"

"And what is the theoretical absorption limit for the Second Soul Ring?"

This was one of the theoretical foundations of the Ten Core Competencies that Yu Xiaogang had been so proud of in the original story.

But evidently, he had not yet plagiarized that knowledge at this point.

Yu Xiaogang's mind was a complete mess, as though stuffed with paste,

and before he could even catch his breath and consider how to answer such a tricky question, Zhao Linchuan had already raised his hand and naturally, yet unmistakably, pointed to Bibi Dong beside him.

"Oh, a friendly reminder." Zhao Linchuan's voice was not loud, but it clearly reached everyone's ears. "The Miss beside me has a genuine thousand-year Second Soul Ring."

"Presumably, you also 'witnessed' her battle with your own eyes yesterday."

"So when you answer, Grandmaster, you'd better... 'think it through' carefully."

He deliberately paused, allowing the fact of the "thousand-year Soul Ring" and the faint Soul Ring aura emanating from Bibi Dong to sink into everyone's minds. Only then did he slowly add, his tone full of threat and mockery:

"After all, unsupported theories are easily taken for... hm... the ravings of a 'fraud' when faced with facts as solid as iron, aren't they?"

He put particular emphasis on the words "think it through" and "fraud."

Bibi Dong's unique thousand-year Second Soul Ring was like a silent slap across Yu Xiaogang's face.

Zhao Linchuan's gaze, as though it saw through everything, brimming with mockery and threat, completely shattered the last scrap of composure Yu Xiaogang had been forcing himself to maintain.

The foundation of the Martial Soul Theory he had been so proud of, the very thing he relied on to survive, appeared so pale, laughable, and utterly vulnerable before Bibi Dong—the living, irrefutable proof!

Yu Xiaogang opened his mouth. A "huh... huh..." sound, like a broken bellows, came from his throat, yet he could not force out even a complete syllable.

The color drained from his face, turning from ghastly white to ashen gray. Beads of cold sweat streamed down his forehead, instantly soaking his temples.

His body swayed as though every bone had been pulled from it, and he could barely remain standing.

Under the weight of absolute fact and Zhao Linchuan's relentless questioning, he had completely lost even the courage to open his mouth and argue for his so-called "theory."

Seeing Yu Xiaogang so dejected, speechless, and utterly broken, Zhao Linchuan revealed undisguised contempt and profound disappointment.

He slowly shook his head and let out a long sigh filled with sarcasm and pity. "Ah, it seems our 'Martial Soul Theory Grandmaster,' when faced with a real practical problem, simply... shows his true colors."

His gaze casually swept over a clump of utterly ordinary Blue Silver Grass growing stubbornly from a crack between the roadside stones. He bent down and plucked the thinnest, most inconspicuous blade.

Holding that Blue Silver Grass, swaying gently in the wind and representing the lowest-tier trash Martial Soul, he walked over to Yu Xiaogang, who stood rooted to the spot.

"Grandmaster, spare us those illusory, self-deceiving theories." Zhao Linchuan's voice was not loud, yet it rang clearly through the silent entrance of the Spirit Arena. Every word struck Yu Xiaogang and the onlookers' hearts like an Ice Spike. "Show us something practical. Prove the value of a 'Grandmaster' like you."

He gently waved the Blue Silver Grass in his hand and declared the challenge, each word crystal clear.

"If you really are as capable as you boast, a true, omnipotent 'Martial Soul Theory Grandmaster'..."

"Then use that set of your 'Supreme Theory' to train a Soul Master with this most ordinary, lowest-tier, universally recognized trash Martial Soul across the entire continent—Blue Silver Grass!"

"Make him a peerless strong person standing at the very peak of this continent!"

He deliberately paused, savoring the final light called "theory" extinguishing from Yu Xiaogang's eyes, leaving behind nothing but hollow despair. Only then did he deliver the blow that would leave any theory Grandmaster breathless.

"If you can accomplish that... no, forget a peerless strong person. Even if you can train him into a barely passable Soul King or Soul Emperor!"