Qian Renxue's Origins Were Explosive

Guidance?

Li Yuan nearly laughed in anger.

Listen to his "guidance"?

And then what?

Sacrifice his own potential to absorb some "optimal Soul Ring" chosen to serve the "team," especially to complement Tang San's Blue Silver Grass Martial Soul?

Give up one of his precious Soul Ring slots for some illusory "team glory" and the Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Elite Tournament?

Wasn't that something only a fool would do?

An academy competition was temporary. A Soul Ring stayed with a Soul Master for life.

Could anyone stay at the academy forever?

Once they graduated and went their separate ways, who would care about the team?

Support-type Soul Masters were one thing; they depended on companions anyway. But what about everyone else?

Most Soul Masters only had a handful of Soul Skills in their lifetime. One fewer powerful Soul Skill suited to them meant one less chance of winning a life-or-death duel!

When Li Yuan remained silent, Yu Xiaogang grew impatient. "Li Yuan, opportunities like this are rare. Have you made up your mind? Shrek doesn't accept just anyone."

"Fuck you, Grandmaster! Go ruin someone else's future. I'm not playing along."

Li Yuan spat the words coldly and rose to leave on the spot.

Principal Chen Gang froze, then hurriedly called after him, his face full of confusion. "Xiao Yuan, what are you doing? Why start cursing out of nowhere?"

In his memory, Li Yuan was a student who had grown up alone and poor yet possessed extraordinary talent. He was usually gentle and courteous, and had never lost his composure like this.

Li Yuan turned back, his tone softening. "Principal, he deceived you. I don't blame you."

Then his gaze turned icy. He stared straight at Yu Xiaogang and slammed his palm on the desk, demanding without a trace of mercy:

"But you, Yu Xiaogang!"

"You tried to lure us into some rundown place that doesn't even have a Mimicry Cultivation Environment—the most basic requirement for an Advanced Soul Master Academy. Do you really take us for fools?"

Yu Xiaogang stumbled half a step back under the force of his sudden outburst, his face white as a ghost. "W-what nonsense are you talking about? How could you possibly know Shrek doesn't have a mimicry environment? Where did you hear that rumor?"

Li Yuan scoffed. "If you don't want people to know, don't do it in the first place! Grandmaster Yu, your reputation among the Soul Master World's upper ranks may not be as 'hidden' as you think."

Principal Chen Gang finally understood. He stared in disbelief at the old friend he had known for years.

He had never imagined Yu Xiaogang would be so brazen.

He had even dared to deceive him over something that could so easily ruin a student's future.

They had been close friends for decades!

Heartbroken, he demanded, "Xiao Gang, is this true? Shrek Academy... doesn't even have a mimicry environment? You! You're leading students astray..."

Yu Xiaogang's face shifted between green and white. He lowered his head in shame, but still tried to defend himself. "Shrek's facilities are a little poor, and it's a little remote, but its teachers really are strong. The Soul Saint principal and Soul Emperor teachers I told you about are absolutely real."

"That's still not enough!"

Principal Chen Gang, rarely moved to anger, cut him off. "Strong teachers matter, but a mimicry environment, cultivation resources, and an academy's foundations are what an advanced academy needs to develop. They're the bedrock of its students' future growth.

"Xiao Gang, you call yourself a grandmaster of theory. Don't you understand that?"

Yu Xiaogang was left speechless. After a long while, he muttered, "I... I just thought that with so many powerful teachers leading them, it would be easier for them to obtain the Soul Rings best suited to them..."

Li Yuan sneered inwardly. Easier? Easier for your disciple Tang San, you mean.

As for the rest of them, they would merely be "team accessories" brought along for the ride—and handy proof for his theories.

Seeing Yu Xiaogang at a loss, his face flushed with embarrassment, Chen Gang's heart softened in the end.

Decades of friendship kept him from pressing any harder. He sighed. "Forget it. We'll leave it here. Xiao Gang, you... take care of yourself."

He thought his leniency would prompt his old friend to reflect.

He did not know that what rose in Yu Xiaogang's heart was not guilt, but resentment.

He resented Chen Gang for embarrassing him, Li Yuan for undermining him in public, and everyone for failing to understand his "good intentions."

Li Yuan could not be bothered to say more. He bowed slightly to Principal Chen Gang. "Principal, if there's nothing else, I'll be going."

Even as he turned and left the office, he could not be bothered to spare Yu Xiaogang another glance.

Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.

To catch today's juicy revelation, Ning Rongrong had gotten up especially early. Normally, she slept until noon.

But she held her Brick and waited ages without seeing Li Yuan appear. Frustration soon set in.

Plenty of others felt the same way. Many people were keeping watch in the group chat.

[Richest Little Heiress of Heaven Dou: Does anyone know where the Group Leader went? Didn't he say he'd share a huge scoop today? I've got sunflower seeds, peanuts, juice, and snacks ready! (anxious cat emoji)]

[Viper-Hearted Big Sister: 666, Miss Ning came prepared! Now you've made me hungry too. I'm going to grab some sunflower seeds. But where's the Group Leader? Don't tell me he overslept.]

[Big Cat in the Night: Maybe something came up. Let's wait a little longer.]

[Yandere Mad Beauty of Martial Soul Hall: Hah, what a joke. He was obviously talking out of his ass yesterday. His bluff has been called, and now he's too ashamed to show his face, so he's run off. (mocking middle-finger emoji)]

[Little Fox Who Loves Teacher Most: Teacher's right! He definitely ran off! Bleh, bleh, bleh~ I bet a certain two gossips in this group are hopping mad right now, aren't they? (snide voice message)]

[Loves Eating Carrots: No way! Bibi Dong, you wicked woman, stop talking nonsense! The Group Leader isn't like that. Something must have come up.]

[Single Academy-Running Housewife: Exactly. Bibi Dong, shut your mouth already. No one will think you're mute if you stop talking!]

[Yandere Mad Beauty of Martial Soul Hall: Hehehe, keep telling yourselves that. Once I catch your 'all-powerful' Group Leader, you two won't have long to live. (cold smile emoji)]

Spirit Hall.

Bibi Dong was in an exceptionally good mood today.

As far as she was concerned, there was only one reason Li Yuan had yet to show himself in the group.

He could not back up the shocking claims he had fabricated yesterday. Afraid of being exposed, he had slipped away.

She lounged against a cushioned couch, tapping the Brick with her fingertips. Her violet eyes held the easy amusement of a cat toying with a mouse.

Her good mood did not last long, however.

At that very moment, Li Yuan finally appeared.

[Li Yuan: Sorry, everyone. I had some personal business to take care of this morning, so I'm late. (cupped-fist salute.jpg)]

[Ice-Snow Smart: It's all right, Group Leader Brother. We're just glad you're here. We weren't in a hurry. (gentle smile.jpg)]

Li Yuan's appearance was like a pill that settled the nerves of everyone who had been eagerly awaiting him—apart from a certain mother and daughter.

[Child Without Parents: Can we start?]

[Li Yuan: All right, let's begin. Everyone got your sunflower seeds, peanuts, and little stools ready?]

[Richest Little Heiress of Heaven Dou: Hehe, of course! (proudly posts a photo of a table covered in snacks)]

The photo was immediately followed by a string of "+1" replies and drooling emojis. Clearly, everyone intended to make a proper occasion of watching the drama unfold.

[Li Yuan: First, let's establish something. Do you know how Spirit Hall's current 'Saintess' came to be?]

Li Yuan opened with a bombshell, hooking everyone's curiosity at once. To tell a captivating story, the opening had to be explosive. That was what it meant to "cast the hook."

[Richest Little Heiress of Heaven Dou: Huh? Spirit Hall has a 'Saintess'? (utterly baffled)]

[Loves Eating Carrots: Um... I don't know either, hehe... (scratches head)]

[Big Cat in the Night: I know. Spirit Hall's current Saintess is Hu Liena. But what does that have to do with today's story?]

[Little Fox Who Loves Teacher Most: Huh? Me? You mean me? (panics at suddenly being mentioned)]

[Li Yuan: What if I told you I wasn't talking about Hu Liena, the Saintess everyone knows, but Spirit Hall's true, chosen future successor? The one hidden beneath the shadow of glory and power... its real Saintess.]

[Li Yuan: She is Qian Renxue, the only granddaughter of Qian Daoliu, Spirit Hall's Great Enshrined and one of the three Peerless Douluo alive today!]

At those words, the group fell silent for several seconds.

The revelation was so explosive that they needed time to take it in.

[Viper-Hearted Big Sister: For real? A Peerless Douluo's granddaughter? A hidden Saintess?!]

[Li Yuan: Absolutely. And Qian Renxue's origins are pretty explosive too. Honestly, though, with a mother like hers... she's had a rough time of it.]

[Child Without Parents: ???]

[Child Without Parents: What's so explosive about my origins? My dad gave a little shudder, and then my mom gave birth to me. Isn't that where everyone comes from? (puzzled but utterly convinced)]

Heaven Dou City, Crown Prince's Mansion.

Qian Renxue frowned slightly as she looked at the message she had sent.

What she had said was perfectly reasonable, wasn't it?

Wasn't that how life began?

What was this Group Leader being so mysterious about?

Li Yuan pressed a hand to his forehead. A little shudder, my ass.

He felt his conscience and his urge to laugh locked in fierce combat.

No, no. Hold it in. You can't laugh at an orphan.

Otherwise, there go your good-karma points.

[Child Without Parents: You'd better explain yourself! Otherwise, you're slandering me! I won't let you off! (arms crossed angrily)]