There was no escaping.
With the other side this powerful, even if he had wings, he still wouldn't be able to fly away.
Yu Xiaogang took a deep breath, forcing down the fear in his heart.
He had to save himself!
If force wouldn't work, then he'd use his authority!
He'd appeal to the greater good!
He, Yu Xiaogang, had made his way through the Soul Master World for so many years by relying on more than just his theories. He also had a silver tongue!
"Stop!"
Yu Xiaogang strode forward and shouted sharply.
His voice still trembled slightly, but he put on a very imposing air.
He clasped his hands behind his back, struggling to straighten up as he struck a righteous pose and fixed Shui Bing'er with a hard stare.
"Shui Bing'er!"
"Do you know what you're doing?"
"You're courting death!"
Shui Bing'er stopped and tilted her head, looking at the middle-aged man before her, who was all bluster and no bite.
There was a hint of amusement in her gaze.
She said nothing, simply waiting for him to continue.
Seeing that she hadn't attacked immediately, Yu Xiaogang felt reassured.
This might work!
She was definitely still wary of his identity!
He cleared his throat, and his voice rose several notches at once:
"Ma Hongjun and Xiao Wu aren't merely my juniors."
"They're also the Sea God's successor's sworn brothers and beloved—the successor being Tang San, the Sect Master of the Tang Sect!"
"Not only is Tang San the greatest of the younger generation on the continent today, he'll also become a god in the future!"
At the mention of Tang San's name, Yu Xiaogang's hunched back straightened a little, and much of the fear left his face.
Tang San was his finest creation.
His greatest pride in life.
And his strongest shield right now.
"If you hurt them today, you'll be making an enemy of Tang San and the entire Tang Sect!"
The more Yu Xiaogang spoke, the more confident he became. Even the finger he pointed at Shui Bing'er grew more forceful.
"Now the Spirit Hall is ambitious and seeks to swallow up the continent."
"Our Heaven Dou Empire and the Star Luo Empire have already formed an alliance to fight the Spirit Hall together."
"This is a great, righteous alliance, formed for the sake of peace for all humanity!"
"And you!"
Yu Xiaogang glared, spittle flying from his mouth:
"Not only do you fail to serve your country, you've chosen this critical moment to attack an important member of the allied forces!"
"You're sabotaging the united front!"
"You're undermining peace across the continent!"
"You're aiding the wicked—you're a sinner against all humanity!"
Yu Xiaogang smoothly piled one damning accusation on top of another.
This was what he was best at.
As long as he claimed the moral high ground, he could never lose.
"I advise you to immediately lift the seal on Xiao Wu and heal Ma Hongjun's injuries."
"Then come with me to Heaven Dou City and plead guilty to His Majesty and Tang San."
"Perhaps, since you were merely confused for a moment, I can still put in a good word for you and spare everyone at Skywater Academy."
"Otherwise..."
Yu Xiaogang gave a cold snort, his eyes sinister.
"When the armies of the two empires and the Tang Sect arrive at your gates, your little Skywater City will be reduced to dust in an instant!"
After delivering this speech, Yu Xiaogang felt thoroughly satisfied.
He thought his words had been absolutely perfect.
He had displayed his power, claimed the moral high ground, and even given her a way out.
He didn't believe a woman from some remote corner of the continent wouldn't be afraid.
However...
The response he got was a soft laugh.
"Heh..."
Shui Bing'er covered her mouth and laughed, her body shaking with mirth.
Her clear laughter echoed through the empty academy entrance. To Yu Xiaogang, it sounded especially grating.
"What are you laughing at?!"
Yu Xiaogang shouted furiously, his embarrassment turning to rage.
"Do you think what I said is funny?"
Shui Bing'er slowly stopped laughing. Her gaze turned indifferent again, with a deep trace of contempt.
"I'm laughing because you're on the brink of death and still putting on such a good show."
"If you're afraid to die, just say so. Why go on about peace across the continent and sinners against humanity?"
"Praising yourself like that—aren't you embarrassed?"
Shui Bing'er stepped forward.
Tap.
The crisp sound of her footfall seemed to land right on Yu Xiaogang's heart.
"And you call yourself a national adviser..."
"I used to think the Heaven Dou Imperial Family was just weak. I didn't realize they'd lost their minds, too."
"They actually made a useless blowhard like you their national adviser."
"No wonder the Spirit Hall infiltrated the Heaven Dou Empire so thoroughly. They nearly replaced the emperor himself."
Her words were vicious in the extreme.
She hadn't just insulted Yu Xiaogang; she'd humiliated the Heaven Dou Imperial Family as well.
The Skywater Academy students watching nearby couldn't help covering their mouths to stifle their laughter.
Their mocking gazes felt like steel needles, pricking Yu Xiaogang all over.
"You... How dare you!"
Yu Xiaogang's face turned red with anger, and his whole body trembled.
Useless.
That word was the greatest taboo of his life!
Ever since he'd taken Tang San as his disciple and published the Ten Core Competitiveness of Martial Souls, everyone had addressed him as "Grandmaster."
Now this junior was pointing at him and calling him useless!
"What do you know?!"
"My Soul Power may be weak, but my wisdom is unmatched!"
"I am the founder of the Ten Core Competitiveness Theories of Martial Souls!"
"My research into Martial Souls is unprecedented and unsurpassed!"
"You little girl, you're a frog in a well. How could you understand the greatness of theory?"
Yu Xiaogang shrieked hysterically, trying to preserve the last shred of his dignity.
At the words "Ten Core Competitiveness Theories."
Shui Bing'er froze for a moment.
Then her expression turned remarkably complicated.
Shock, absurdity, and dawning realization all mingled on her face.
"Um..."
Shui Bing'er pointed at Yu Xiaogang, her tone strange in the extreme.
"That error-ridden, illogical, misleading load of rubbish..."
"You came up with it?"
Boom!
To Yu Xiaogang, those words hurt even more than being killed.
They shattered him more completely than Ma Hongjun's crippling had.
Those theories were the work of his entire life!
The only proof that he wasn't useless!
The very foundation of his livelihood!
And now, she'd dismissed them as worthless.
Trash?
Rubbish?
Misleading?
"Silence! I won't let you insult my theories!"
Yu Xiaogang's eyes turned bloodshot. Like a mad dog whose tail had been stepped on, he roared:
"My theories are perfect!"
"They contain no errors!"
"Tang San is the best proof!"
"He trained according to my theories, became a genius with Twin Martial Souls, and rose to become the strongest of the younger generation!"
"That proves my theories are absolutely correct!"
He panted rapidly, staring fixedly at Shui Bing'er, as if he could cover up his inner panic by shouting louder.
"Take the limit for Soul Masters absorbing Soul Rings, for example!"
"After countless precise calculations and studies, I determined the limit!"
"The maximum age for the First Soul Ring is four hundred and twenty-three years!"
"One year older and the body will collapse. One year younger and the result won't be perfect!"
"That's an ironclad law!"
"That's the truth!"
Before you continue