Douluo Chat Group: They've All Gotten Addicted to Gossiping

[Li Yuan: Why does a purple boar scream in the middle of the night? Why did a beautiful maiden break up with a theoretical youth? Why did a blonde man die suddenly in a secret room late at night? Why was a newborn baby abandoned by its mother? And why are centenarians weeping tears of sorrow?]

[Li Yuan: Behind all of this, is it a distortion of human nature, or a loss of morality?]

[Li Yuan: Next, I invite all group members to tune in tomorrow for the grand, melodramatic family ethics documentary: <A Bloody Case Triggered by an Ungrateful Wretch and a Pretty Boy!> See you there!]

Meanwhile, in the bedchamber of Martial Soul Hall.

Bibi Dong's heart tightened at first, but when she saw the final mention of an "ungrateful wretch and a pretty boy," her taut nerves suddenly relaxed, and she almost laughed out loud.

That's it?

An ungrateful wretch? A pretty boy?

What does this have to do with her, Bibi Dong, even by half a copper soul coin?

It seems this Li Yuan is merely repeating hearsay; he knows only the surface and is here trying to alarm people with sensationalism.

Bibi Dong set her mind at ease, finding it almost comical, and sneered:

"Ridiculous. It seems this group leader, Li Yuan, is not such a formidable figure after all. Once this Pope sends men to capture you, I shall let you experience... what it feels like to be unable to live, yet unable to die, inside a secret room!"

Chapter 11: Yu Xiaogang's Wishful Thinking

[Li Yuan: Group members who want to eat tomorrow's big melon, type 1 to sign up!]

[Ice-Snow Smart: 1.]

[Big Cat in the Night: Curiosity +1.]

[Loves Eating Carrots: Curiosity +2.]

[Viper-Hearted Big Sister: +3! This melon sounds like it's guaranteed to be ripe!]

[Richest Little Heiress of Heaven Dou: +4! Must listen!]

[Single Academy-Running Housewife: +5! I'd like to see just how melodramatic this can get!]

Li Yuan looked at the neat queue of "+1"s filling the screen, his heart blooming with joy.

Found it—the wealth code!

Oh no, the "Chat Fire" ignition code!

If he could maintain such high group activity every day, would the days of the group level skyrocketing and rewards piling up be far off?

Wait, the number of people seems wrong!

He counted them. Excluding himself, and Bibi Dong, Qian Renxue, and Hu Liena—who clearly wouldn't type 1—there were exactly six people who had typed 1.

But there were eleven people in the group total, including him. Where was the last one?

[Li Yuan: @Little One in the Forest, if you want to eat the melon, come out and make a sound.]

Seeing this, the others in the group finally realized it in hindsight.

There was actually someone in their group who hadn't said a single word since joining.

Damn, how can someone hold back so much? A total lurker!

[Little One in the Forest: Awoo—! (Baby dragon roar voice message)]

[Li Yuan: I told you to make a sound, I didn't mean for you to actually roar!]

[Little One in the Forest: Awoo! Awoo! Awoo! (More urgent sounds, as if protesting)]

Li Yuan frowned. Could it be a soul beast that hadn't yet gained intelligence?

That shouldn't be right. Or did the Chat Group malfunction?

Forget it, don't worry about it for now.

[Li Yuan: Fine, fine, never mind then, go play somewhere else.]

[Li Yuan: Everyone, see you tomorrow, good night!]

Meanwhile.

In Star Dou Forest, within a space surrounded by countless fierce beasts.

A little one covered in golden fur, with a third eye on its forehead and resembling a small lion, was facing a glowing "brick" in front of it, baring its not-yet-grown milk teeth and roaring in a cute, fierce manner.

All around, several vast and obscure consciousnesses were quietly communicating.

"Do you know what the auspicious beast is saying?"

"No idea, but it sounds like it's cursing quite viciously."

The little one roared a few more times at the "brick," only to find there was no movement from the other side.

It poked the "brick" with a small paw in boredom, then carefully nudged it next to a pile of sparkling gems, curled up its body, and soon began to emit faint snoring sounds.

Tomorrow... there seems to be a story to hear?

With a hint of innocent curiosity, it drifted off into dreamland.

The next day.

Li Yuan had just finished breakfast when Chen Gang, the dean of Notting Academy, sent someone to summon him to the office.

"Dean, you wanted to see me?"

Li Yuan pushed the door open and entered, but the moment he finished speaking, his brows furrowed almost imperceptibly.

Inside the office, besides the kindly Dean Chen Gang, there was a figure he desperately wished to avoid.

Yu Xiaogang.

Seeing Li Yuan enter, Yu Xiaogang immediately straightened his back and lifted his chin slightly, striving to project an air of reserved arrogance, as if waiting for the other to offer a greeting first.

Li Yuan rolled his eyes at him, refusing to indulge him in the slightest.

Who was he putting on this show for?

He forcefully suppressed the urge to turn around and walk out.

After all, Dean Chen Gang had looked after him well over the past few years, and he still owed him that much respect.

He decided to see what kind of act Yu Xiaogang was trying to pull today.

"Hmph!"

Seeing Li Yuan completely ignore him, Yu Xiaogang let out a heavy snort through his nose, his expression turning ugly.

Chen Gang, standing nearby, assumed he had a throat irritation and glanced at him with concern, not thinking much of it, before turning to greet Li Yuan warmly: "Little Yuan, you're here! Come, sit, sit, don't just stand there."

As he spoke, he poured a cup of hot tea for Li Yuan.

"Little Yuan, I called you here because there's some good news."

Chen Gang said with a chuckle: "You're all graduating soon, and you probably haven't found a new Soul Master Academy yet, right? Don't worry, though; Xiaogang has recommended a very good academy for you."

He patted Yu Xiaogang on the shoulder and continued: "Xiaogang says that Shrek Academy only accepts one or two students each year, has extremely strict requirements, and possesses a very strong faculty."

"I don't know the specifics, but Xiaogang says the dean is a powerhouse at the Soul Saint level! So I thought it must be an excellent Advanced Soul Master Academy."

"Xiaogang went to great lengths, and it was only out of respect for him that the dean made an exception to accept a few more students. So he wants you, Tang San, and Xiao Wu to go together so you can look out for one another."

"That's why I wanted to ask for your opinion."

Li Yuan finally understood.

To summarize: the dean was being used as a pawn by Yu Xiaogang, having not even investigated the basic situation of the academy, and was recommending it to one of the academy's most promising students based solely on his trust in an "old friend."

This move was absolutely absurd.

What did Shrek Academy have?

No money, no facilities, not even the simulated cultivation environments that were standard for Advanced Soul Master Academies!

Sending a student with his talent there wasn't that just pure sabotage of his future?

Of course, Li Yuan knew that Dean Chen Gang definitely had good intentions and was simply being kept in the dark.

He only felt pity for this kind-hearted old man.

After decades of friendship, when Yu Xiaogang was being vilified by the world, it was Chen Gang who took him in and gave him a meal.

The dean probably never dreamed that his "dear friend" would stab him in the back like this before leaving.

Before Li Yuan could state his position, Yu Xiaogang, unable to contain himself, stood up with his arms crossed and spoke in a condescending tone, as if he were bestowing a favor:

"Li Yuan, although you didn't choose to take me as your master, which I find regrettable."

"But as a master of theory, I truly cannot bear to see children with such good talent ruin their bright futures by choosing the wrong academy."

"Therefore, I made an exception and used my personal connections to speak with my friend, which is how I secured this opportunity for you to enter Shrek Academy. You should cherish it well."

Used his connections?

Li Yuan sneered inwardly.

He told that lie without even changing his expression.

How could he not see through Yu Xiaogang's petty schemes? He saw it as clearly as a mirror.

It was nothing more than a need for teammates for Tang San in the future Soul Master Tournament.

And the highly talented Li Yuan and Xiao Wu were simply ready-made "green leaves" that he could control.

Once they entered his "old friend" Flender's academy.

Wouldn't they be at his mercy, under the guise of "team composition," while actually serving as foils for Tang San?

"Heh..."

Li Yuan let out a scoff, a look of undisguised mockery curling his lips: "Master, you certainly have a clever plan!"

Yu Xiaogang didn't catch the sarcasm in his words, assuming instead that Li Yuan was marveling at his connections and foresight, and he became even more smug:

"That goes without saying. Li Yuan, rest assured, although you didn't take me as your master, as long as you enter Shrek, I guarantee the dean will treat you all equally."

"In fact... regarding your future soul ring choices and development direction, I can even provide you with some additional guidance."