Continuing to Reveal Himself

"I have known you for more than thirty years. I know better than anyone what kind of person you are."

Bibi Dong looked at Yu Xiaogang, her voice as calm as a pool of deep water. "There are many things you have wanted all your life. You wanted to prove that you were not trash, to make those who mocked you shut up, to have your theories recognized by the world, to leave something behind so future generations would remember the name Yu Xiaogang."

Her tone suddenly turned sharp.

"Now, I will give you all of it. Openly and honorably."

She turned around and looked down at him from above.

"Do you want it?"

The side hall was terrifyingly silent.

Outside the window, the wind passed through the corridor pillars with a low moan. The candle flame danced upon its stand, and the shadow cast on the wall swayed along with it.

Yu Xiaogang stood where he was.

His lips moved, but no sound came out.

They moved again, yet still no sound came out.

Then, slowly, he lowered his head ever so slightly, so subtly that even he did not notice it.

He did not say yes.

But neither did he say no.

He simply stood there in silence, accepting everything Bibi Dong had arranged for him with an almost resigned posture.

As Bibi Dong watched him lower his head, what rose within her was not relief, but something so sharp it nearly hurt.

It was heartache, and disappointment. It was getting what she wanted, and yet feeling strangely empty.

What pained her was that this man had finally let go of the pride he had clung to his entire life.

And that was precisely what disappointed her.

But she did not show any of those emotions on her face.

Bibi Dong merely lifted her chin slightly, returned to the Pope Throne, and resumed the Pope's cold, dignified bearing.

"I have already sent Yue Guan and Gui Mei to invite that Su Mo. Once he arrives in Spirit City, the Creation Institute will coordinate with him technically and organize the specific method for Self-Condensed Soul Rings into a complete theoretical system. When it is announced to the public, the credit will belong to the Creation Institute. It will be said that you led the Creation Institute in developing it."

Her tone was flat and businesslike, as though she were reading out an order.

"Do you have any objections?"

Yu Xiaogang raised his head.

He looked at Bibi Dong. His mouth opened and closed, while exceedingly complicated emotions churned in his eyes—struggle, shame, gratitude, and a heavy sense of relief that even he could not explain.

Eleven years.

He had stayed up through eleven years of nights, written deduction formulas for eleven years, and been awaited by the world for eleven years. Those expectant gazes had turned into silent disappointment. He was too tired. He wanted to win too badly.

"Your subordinate..."

He spoke, his voice hoarse beyond measure.

"Accepts the order."

After saying those two words, he bowed deeply to Bibi Dong, offering a salute more respectful and heavier than any he had given before.

Then he turned and staggered out of the side hall.

The doors of the side hall slowly closed behind him.

Bibi Dong sat alone on the Pope Throne, staring at the tightly shut doors without moving for a long time.

Her fingers unconsciously traced the patterns on her scepter. A faint curve touched her lips, impossible to tell whether it was a smile or a sigh.

She had gotten what she wanted. The credit for the Self-Condensed Soul Rings would go to Yu Xiaogang.

But she had also lost something.

That something was called Yu Xiaogang's final shred of pride.

This man was no longer the man she had once been so obsessed with.

"Someone."

Her voice became cold and imposing once more.

The steward waiting outside the hall answered and entered.

"Pass down the order. Information from Suotuo City is not to be released for now. Silence everyone who knows!"

Time returned to several days earlier.

Suotuo City lay beneath an inky twilight.

After accepting the Suotuo City Bishop's invitation, Su Mo left the Spirit Hall Branch.

Holding Xiao Wu's hand, Su Mo passed through the bustling crowds on the main street and headed straight for the Suotuo Great Soul Arena.

Naturally, he could not reveal the matter of Self-Condensed Soul Rings to Spirit Hall alone.

How obsessed was that woman Bibi Dong with Yu Xiaogang?

Gang Zi had researched it for so many years without success. Su Mo naturally had to take precautions against Bibi Dong stealing his credit and placing it on Yu Xiaogang instead.

Although Bibi Dong had not done so yet, and he would not be afraid even if she did—he could teleport away at any time.

But there was no need for that. He only needed more people to know that he had developed Self-Condensed Soul Rings, then prepare to make it public.

And he intended to begin this publicity campaign at the Soul Fighting Arena.

This was where the most Soul Masters gathered.

When Su Mo brought Xiao Wu to the soul fighting registration counter, the staff member there was dozing over the counter, drool nearly dripping onto his sleeve.

If Soul Masters from other regions did not occasionally come here to register, this position would have been eliminated long ago. No new Soul Masters had been born locally for quite some time.

Su Mo knocked on the counter. The staff member sprang upright, wiped the corner of his mouth, and mumbled, "Tickets are over there..."

"Registration," Su Mo said directly.

The staff member froze for a moment, then looked Su Mo and Xiao Wu up and down.

"Ahem, registration, right?" The staff member came to his senses and began operating a special Soul Tool similar to a computer. "Name, age, Soul Power Level..."

"Su Mo, nineteen years old, seventy-eighth-level Soul Saint..."

Su Mo answered calmly.

Click—

The staff member's hand instantly froze. He looked up at Su Mo with suspicion all over his face. "You said you're a seventy-eighth-level Soul Saint?"

Buzz—

Su Mo did not waste words. He knew that no amount of talking would prove it better than summoning his Soul Rings.

In an instant, seven Soul Rings appeared around Su Mo: one yellow and six black.

"This..."

The staff member, who had merely been doubtful before, instantly shot to his feet in shock, staring at Su Mo's Soul Rings in disbelief.

The commotion here even alarmed the ticket counter over a dozen meters away.

"A Soul Saint!"

"Look at his Soul Rings—there are so many Ten-Thousand-Year Soul Rings..."

"It's true! He only has one yellow Soul Ring, and all the rest are black. How on earth did he do that?"

"Did none of you notice how young that handsome guy is?"

"Yeah, he looks to be only around twenty..."

"Twenty? Soul Beasts have been gone for eleven years. Where did he get those Soul Rings?"

"Right... where did his Soul Rings come from?"

"He must be some old monster who only looks young..."

"..."

Every audience member waiting in line to buy tickets for the Soul Fighting Arena was stunned by Su Mo.

There was another counter nearby for registering for Soul Fighting Arena matches. The Soul Masters there were equally stunned, and some even wanted to rush over and ask where Su Mo had gotten his Soul Rings.

But Su Mo's level was right there. They did not dare.

That was a Soul Saint!

In a place like Suotuo City, there were Soul Saints, but not many.

He was already a powerhouse in his own right!