Over the next few days, tiny Nuoding City remained as it always had, completely unaware that the world had undergone a tremendous change.
Well... not entirely unaware. The Soul Masters here had noticed that the concentration of Soul Power between heaven and earth had surged severalfold, and their cultivation speed had increased by several times.
But they knew nothing about Soul Beast Extinction.
In tiny Nuoding City, it was not as though Soul Masters went out to hunt Soul Beasts every day.
Having even one in a week was considered fairly good.
However, merchants who traveled far and wide still brought back some news.
"Have you heard?"
"That Soul Hunting Forest west of Fasinuo Province? It seems all the Soul Beasts inside have disappeared. You can't see a single one..."
"I heard it too. It seems the one east of the Balak Kingdom is the same..."
"I feel like we've stumbled onto something huge..."
"..."
The news gradually spread as well.
Some Soul Masters went to inspect the nearest Soul Hunting Forest and discovered that all the Soul Beasts inside had indeed vanished.
The news quickly made its way into the academy too.
"Have you heard?"
"The Soul Beasts outside seem to have all disappeared!"
"I heard it too. Someone recently went to confirm it at the nearest Soul Hunting Forest. The Soul Beasts really are all gone!"
"Not just that! I heard that all the Soul Beasts in the entire Fasinuo Province have disappeared!"
"No, no, no... all the Soul Beasts on the entire continent have disappeared..."
"No way, are you saying the Soul Beasts have gone extinct?"
"Impossible. How could Soul Beasts go extinct? If they were all gone, how would we absorb Soul Rings in the future?"
"Exactly. Soul Beasts can't possibly disappear. I don't believe it..."
"It's true..."
"I don't believe it. Forget the entire continent—even if it were just one Soul Beast Forest, I wouldn't believe it."
"..."
After the news reached the academy, some people exaggerated it. Some students believed it, while others did not.
In the end, they started arguing outright.
Those who believed it felt that what they had heard was the truth.
Those who did not believe it thought there was no scientific basis for it. There were so many Soul Beasts that, no matter how they looked at it, such a thing was impossible.
"Isn't that Grandmaster?"
"Let's ask what he thinks."
Someone spotted Yu Xiaogang passing by and immediately made the suggestion.
Although everyone looked down on Yu Xiaogang and dismissed his theories, they still knew that he was quite capable and had a solid foundation in theoretical knowledge.
Even their dean admired him greatly.
"Grandmaster!"
"What do you think about the Soul Beasts disappearing?"
"Yeah, Grandmaster, what do you think?"
Thus, several students approached Yu Xiaogang.
"Soul Beasts disappearing?"
"What's going on?"
Over the past few days, Yu Xiaogang had focused all his attention on training Tang San. He had been thinking about how to formulate cultivation and study plans for Tang San, so he had not yet heard the news about the Soul Beasts disappearing.
Thus, when he first heard it, he was clearly taken aback.
"It's like this..."
Seeing that Yu Xiaogang did not know yet, the students began telling him the news they had heard from outside.
Yu Xiaogang quickly learned the full story from the several students.
"There's no need to pay attention to this matter!"
"It is absolutely impossible for Soul Beasts to disappear."
"Forget all the Soul Beasts on the entire continent—even in a single Soul Beast Forest, such a thing could never happen."
Yu Xiaogang stated his conclusion with absolute certainty, his stern and gloomy face unwavering.
Soul Beast Extinction?
Impossible.
Such a thing would absolutely never happen.
"Teacher, is this really impossible?"
After the students who had asked left, Tang San, who had been following behind Yu Xiaogang, could not help but press the question.
"Impossible!"
Yu Xiaogang said decisively.
"Little San, you've been to Soul Hunting Forest too. Its scale may not be large, but how many Soul Beasts live inside it?"
"Leaving aside those plant-type Soul Beasts, how many animal-type Soul Beasts are there alone? How could they possibly vanish overnight?"
"And what about those plant-type Soul Beasts? Those low-age plant-type Soul Beasts cannot even move. How could they disappear?"
"Therefore, this talk of Soul Beasts disappearing or going extinct is complete nonsense!"
Yu Xiaogang explained to Tang San with a hint of self-display, his tone brimming with confidence.
"But Teacher, didn't one student say that someone had already gone to verify it at Soul Hunting Forest?"
Tang San hesitated for a moment, but still spoke with concern.
He could not help worrying.
If the Soul Beasts had disappeared, how would he add Soul Rings in the future?
"There's no need. You only need to use your brain to know the answer to something like this. There's no need to verify it at all."
"What that student said must be false information!"
"What? Little San, do you not believe your teacher's analysis?"
By the end, a trace of disappointment showed in Yu Xiaogang's eyes.
It was as though Tang San's distrust had deeply hurt him.
"No, Teacher!"
"I believe you, Teacher. I won't listen to that kind of nonsense again!"
Seeing that Yu Xiaogang seemed angry, Tang San hurriedly spoke up.
"That's more like it!"
"Little San, don't listen to baseless rumors like that in the future. You should spend your time studying."
"Your teacher has already drawn up a study plan for your next semester. Let me explain it to you in detail..."
Only then did the anger fade from Yu Xiaogang's face. He took Tang San's hand and began carefully introducing the study plan he had made for him.
As Tang San listened to the study plans Yu Xiaogang had prepared for him, his eyes filled with emotion.
His teacher truly treated him far too well.
It had only been a few days, yet he had already created such a detailed study plan for him.
Moreover, the plan was exceptionally thorough. It included all of his upcoming learning goals, from Soul Beast knowledge and Martial Soul knowledge to sect information, geographical environments... and much more. It was incredibly comprehensive.
I was truly right to take this teacher as my master!
Other students can only learn a few scattered things...
Tang San thought to himself.
Spirit Hall.
Bibi Dong sat upon the Pope Throne.
Below her stood the person in charge of Spirit Hall's intelligence department.
"Reporting to Your Holiness the Pope!"
"After verification from multiple sources, we can now confirm completely that the Soul Beast Clan has gone utterly extinct!"
"All places where Soul Beasts once appeared are now devoid of a single beast!"
"Whether forests, deserts, grasslands, or icy mountains—even the oceans—the results of the investigation are the same. Not a single Soul Beast can be seen anymore."
"And over these past few days, no new Soul Beasts have awakened either."
"In the past, quite a few Soul Beasts would awaken every day. Now, there isn't even one."
The intelligence department head reported to Bibi Dong in a grave tone.
His voice carried a faint tremor as well.
No one could remain calm after confirming such a result.
"I understand. You may leave for now!"
Bibi Dong fell silent for a while, then waved her hand and dismissed him.
After he left, the expression on Bibi Dong's face could no longer be maintained.
Before you continue