Yu Xiaogang the Theory Master, Tang Yu Crushes!

At this point, Yu Xiaogang's tone took a sudden turn.

He straightened his back with effort, his voice raspy yet imbued with an unusual strength.

"Although I, Xiaogang, lack martial prowess, I have dedicated my entire life to the study of the Ten Core Competencies of Martial Soul."

"Your Highness may use force to conquer the sects of the world, and you may use your authority to make everyone bow before you."

"However, force can only suppress the body; it can never conquer the truth."

Yu Xiaogang stared fixedly at Tang Yu on the high platform.

"The 'Ten Core Competencies of Martial Soul' that I have created throughout my life are the ultimate truths of the spirit master world."

"Since Your Highness has been enfeoffed as Prince Wuyang, governing the Northwest, and prides yourself on being a heaven-sent talent."

"Then, does Your Highness dare to engage in a public debate with me regarding martial soul theory?"

"If Your Highness can refute me on the theory, I am willing to accept death without a single word of complaint!"

"But if Your Highness loses on the theory..."

Yu Xiaogang did not finish the rest of his sentence.

But the implication behind his words could not have been more obvious.

He intended to challenge Tang Yu's authority in the field where he was most proficient.

He wanted to show the world that Tang Yu was nothing more than a brute who only knew how to resort to violence.

In the face of wisdom and truth, this Prince Wuyang was not worth mentioning at all.

Upon hearing these words, the guests below the stage changed their expressions one after another.

"Has this Yu Xiaogang gone mad?"

"He actually wants to debate martial soul theory with Prince Wuyang?"

"His theory is his greatest pride; he's trying to use his own strength to regain some face."

"How truly shameless!"

Many people shook their heads in secret.

In their eyes, Yu Xiaogang's behavior was nothing short of despicable.

Having lost a fight, he now demanded a literary contest instead.

How could such logic exist under heaven?

Xue Qinghe could not help but scoff aloud, her beautiful eyes filled with mockery.

"Yu Xiaogang, you have truly opened my eyes."

"Your so-called theories are nothing more than a pile of trash cobbled together from the libraries of various sects."

"Taking other people's work and using it as your own capital here, and you still want to debate with Prince Wuyang?"

"Have you no shame?"

Facing Xue Qinghe's mockery, Yu Xiaogang remained indifferent.

He simply stared at Tang Yu.

He knew this was his only path to survival today, and his only chance to turn defeat into victory.

If Tang Yu dared not accept, it would prove that Tang Yu was insecure.

By then, even though he had been beaten, he would become a pioneer in reputation who dared to challenge tyranny with wisdom.

If Tang Yu accepted...

Deep in Yu Xiaogang's eyes, a flash of wild joy flickered.

When it came to fighting, he was indeed a waste.

But when it came to the study of martial soul theory, he possessed absolute confidence.

In the entire Douluo Continent, apart from Bibi Dong, he had never submitted to anyone.

At this moment.

Tang Yu, seated on the main throne of the high platform, showed no change in his expression after hearing Yu Xiaogang's challenge.

He continued to rest his chin on his hand, quietly watching Yu Xiaogang, who looked like a clown below.

It was not until Yu Xiaogang finished speaking that Tang Yu slowly stood up.

He did not answer immediately, but walked forward a few steps to the edge of the high platform.

Everyone below held their breath at this moment, waiting for Tang Yu's decision.

In their view, there was a high probability that Tang Yu would refuse, or perhaps even order Yu Xiaogang to be executed on the spot.

After all, a superior did not need to reason with an ant that dared to provoke him.

However.

Tang Yu's next move exceeded everyone's expectations.

"A bit interesting."

Tang Yu's lips curled slightly, revealing a faint smile.

"You wish to debate martial soul theory with This Prince?"

Yu Xiaogang gritted his teeth and nodded. "That is correct! Does the Prince dare?"

"Why would I not dare?"

Tang Yu spat out the four words with indifference.

Whoosh!

The entire plaza erupted into an immediate uproar.

"Good heavens, Prince Wuyang actually agreed?"

"How could he possibly accept such an absurd request?"

"That Yu Xiaogang does indeed have some knack for theory. While Prince Wuyang possesses formidable strength, when it comes to theoretical research, I fear..."

Representatives from several sects began to worry in secret.

After all, how old is Tang Yu right now?

Even if he had started cultivating from his mother's womb, it would be impossible for him to possess such terrifying strength while also mastering those complex and tedious martial soul theories.

Yet Yu Xiaogang had been studying this subject for decades.

If this debate were to truly take place, Tang Yu might very well end up at a disadvantage.

Ning Fengzhi, Sword Douluo, and the others also furrowed their brows.

They, too, were struggling to understand Tang Yu's intentions.

In their view, given Tang Yu's current status and strength, there was no need for him to pay any mind to such a provocation from Yu Xiaogang.

Slapping him to death would be the most efficient method, and it would be the most consistent with his domineering style.

Why on earth would he agree?

On the high platform.

Listening to the clamor below, Tang Yu raised his hand and gave a light wave.

The murmurs vanished into thin air in an instant.

Tang Yu looked down at Yu Xiaogang from his vantage point, the smile in his eyes carrying a hair-raising sense of amusement.

"This Prince accepts your challenge."

"However, since it is a debate, there must be a wager."

"Just flapping our lips would be far too dull."

Yu Xiaogang's heart skipped a beat, but he had no path of retreat now; he could only bite the bullet and ask:

"What wager does the Prince desire?"

Tang Yu clasped his hands behind his back and walked slowly back to the side of the main seat.

His voice was soft, yet to Yu Xiaogang's ears, it sounded like a thunderclap from the nine heavens.

"This Prince's condition is very simple."

"If you lose this debate,"

"You must admit one thing in front of everyone present, and in front of the entire world."

"Admit that your so-called title of 'Grandmaster' is nothing more than a complete and utter fraud."

"Admit that all the theories you have created in your life are nothing but stolen filth, shamelessly plagiarized from the libraries of major sects, including Martial Soul Hall."

"You are nothing more than a despicable thief of theories."

Hearing this, Yu Xiaogang's face turned deathly pale in an instant.

His body began to tremble violently.

Reputation.

This was the thing he valued most in his life.

It was even more important than his own life.

Why else would he be willing to bear the stigma of being a waste while traveling everywhere to propagate his theories?

Was it not to prove that he was not a waste, and to make the world admire and respect him?

If he were to personally admit that he was a liar and a plagiarist, Then all the pride he had built up over his lifetime would crumble into dust in an instant.

He would become the greatest laughingstock on the entire continent, forever nailed to the pillar of shame in history, never to rise again.

But it was not over yet.

Tang Yu's voice continued.

"Besides this, This Seat wants one more thing from you."

Tang Yu stopped in his tracks and looked at Yu Xiaogang coldly.

"If you lose, you must sever your own right arm right here, in front of everyone."

"And you must use your own hands to tear it off, raw."

BOOM!

As Tang Yu's final words fell, the entire plaza erupted into chaos.

This time, even the Super Douluos who had remained silent throughout could not help but reveal expressions of shock.

Severing one's own arm!

On top of that, admitting with one's own mouth to being a plagiarizing fraud!

This was not just about ruining Yu Xiaogang's reputation; it was about destroying the man himself.

A cripple with a severed right arm and a ruined reputation would live a life even more miserable than a beggar on this continent where martial power reigned supreme.

This was ten thousand times more painful than killing him.

"Vicious... too vicious..."

Ning Fengzhi could not help but swallow hard, his awe for Tang Yu deepening.

The ruthlessness with which this young Prince Wuyang struck was simply impossible to guard against.

He either didn't act, but once he did, he would drive his opponent to their death, leaving them not even a sliver of a chance to turn things around.

Yu Xiaogang gritted his teeth.

Due to the excessive force, his lips split open again, and blood dripped down his chin.

His eyes flickered with struggle, fear, and extreme rage.

He looked at Tang Yu, his voice trembling violently.

"Your Highness... isn't this going a bit too far?"

"How so?"

Tang Yu glanced at him indifferently.

"Didn't you just say, over and over, that truth cannot be defeated?"

"Since you have such confidence in your own theories, why fear this wager?"

"Or is it that you know deep down that your so-called theories are nothing more than lies that would shatter at a single touch?"

"Are you... simply too afraid to bet against This Seat?"

Tang Yu's words were like invisible steel needles, stabbing fiercely into Yu Xiaogang's most sensitive pride.

"What do I have to be afraid of!"

Yu Xiaogang suddenly let out a hysterical scream.

His face was extremely twisted, and he looked like a madman.

"Fine!"

"I'll take your bet!"

"If I lose, I will admit on the spot that I am a fraud and sever my right arm!"

"But what if you lose, Your Highness?"

Yu Xiaogang stared at Tang Yu, his chest heaving violently.

Tang Yu picked up the teacup from the table and took a light sip.

"If This Seat loses, not only will I let you leave safely, but from this day forward, wherever you are, This Seat will give you a wide berth."

"Deal!"

Yu Xiaogang agreed instantly.

At this moment, although his body felt like it was falling apart, a near-manic confidence surged from the depths of his heart.

He felt that he absolutely could not lose.

Because.

He held the most perfect trump card in the entire world.

That was his disciple, Tang San.

Yu Xiaogang clenched his fists, his nails digging deep into his flesh.

"Tang Yu... you are too arrogant."

"Do you really think that just because you are powerful, you can do anything you want?"

"My 'Ten Core Competencies of Martial Soul' have already been perfectly researched and verified through Sanwu!"

"He possesses Twin Martial Souls, and under my guidance, he is capable of breaking the limits of soul ring age to absorb rings that transcend the maximum threshold!"

"This is an ironclad fact!"

"As long as Sanwu is here, my theories are the only truth in this world!"

"How could a brute like you, who only knows how to kill with force, possibly understand the mysteries of martial souls?"

"Today, I will use the wisdom of my entire life to trample your lofty dignity underfoot in front of the whole world!"

Yu Xiaogang roared frantically in his heart.

He seemed to see the scene already: he would refute Tang Yu until he was left speechless, leaving Tang Yu to lose all face before the world.

This gamble.

He, Yu Xiaogang, would surely win!

The cold wind on the plaza carried the scent of blood as it drifted quietly into the surroundings.

The powerhouses from various factions present wore different expressions. Some marveled at the ruthlessness of Prince Wuyang, while others watched Yu Xiaogang, who looked like a stray dog below the stage, with cold eyes.

Yu Xiaogang's broken body was still trembling; the previous heavy blows had caused him heart-wrenching pain, making him appear unsteady even while standing.

He stared at Tang Yu on the high platform with his one eye that he could barely keep open.

Now that things had reached this point, he had nowhere left to retreat.

This was not just a gamble; it was his only hope for survival on this continent.

As long as he could defeat Tang Yu in martial soul theory, all the humiliation he suffered today would become a medal for his future ascension to the altar.

"Since the Prince has agreed, then let this debate begin right now."

Taking a deep breath, Yu Xiaogang tried to make his voice sound calm and confident.

"For ten thousand years in the soul master world, martial soul cultivation has been divided into categories like Power Attack, Agility Attack, and Support. However, the world is ignorant, and most people determine a soul master's future based on the inherent status of the martial soul itself."

"I, Yu Xiaogang, though untalented, have spent decades of research to reach a conclusion."

"There are no trash martial souls in this world, only trash soul masters."

Having said this, Yu Xiaogang pointed to himself and then scanned the representatives of the sects around him.

"Take the most common trash martial soul, the Blue Silver Grass, for example."

"In the eyes of the world, the Blue Silver Grass is weak, delicate, and lacks lethality; it is the recognized trash martial soul."

"Yet, I believe that it is precisely because the Blue Silver Grass is weak that it possesses traits that other high-level martial souls lack."

"That is, resilience."

Yu Xiaogang's speaking speed gradually increased, and the fanaticism in his eyes grew more intense.

"The characteristic of the Blue Silver Grass lies in its extreme toughness. When cultivating this martial soul, one must never follow the conventional Power Attack route, but rather push its resilience to the limit."

"If one can choose a beast-type soul beast that is both poisonous and incredibly tough, such as a Datura Snake, when adding a soul ring, one can perfectly transplant the toughness and toxicity of the beast soul ring onto the Blue Silver Grass."

"In this way, the originally useless Blue Silver Grass can transform into vines that can both entangle opponents and paralyze enemies with toxins. A trash martial soul can also evolve into a top-tier Control-type martial soul."

"This is teaching according to one's aptitude, and it is my ultimate summary regarding the Blue Silver Grass martial soul."

Yu Xiaogang's words echoed slowly across the plaza.

The sect masters and elders from the mid-tier sects listened, all slightly stunned, before falling into deep thought.

"Transplanting the attributes of a beast soul ring onto a plant martial soul, using extreme resilience as a means of control..."

"It sounds like there is actually quite a bit of logic to it."

"Indeed, the Blue Silver Grass has no attack power, but if one focuses on entanglement and toughness, paired with toxins, it could truly achieve unexpected control effects on the battlefield."

"No wonder this man is called a master of theory; this approach of turning decay into magic alone shows he has some skill."

Many soul masters attached to major factions began to whisper, their eyes revealing a hint of approval.

Listening to the faint sounds of praise around him, a look of self-satisfaction could not help but appear on Yu Xiaogang's swollen face.

He straightened his back slightly and looked at Tang Yu on the high platform with a hint of provocation.

In his view, Tang Yu was nothing more than a brute who had pushed his way through by relying on peerless talent and overwhelming soul power; how could he possibly understand these subtle and refined principles of martial soul operation?