Little Tang San saw this and instantly wore an impatient look. But the next moment, as if he had thought of something, he raised an eyebrow and drawled:
"Fatty won't do. Are you three planning to fight him yourselves? I don't believe you'd go all out in a duel with Xiao Yexuan. You'd definitely go easy on him."
"How about this? I'll suppress my Soul Power and won't use any Soul Skills. I'll just fight him hand-to-hand. Surely that'll work?"
The three women all shook their heads like rattles, so vigorously they nearly shook them right off.
Tang San's unpredictable Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track, his ever-changing Mysterious Jade Hand techniques, and his Hidden Weapons that were impossible to guard against all made them uneasy.
What if Little Tang San suddenly tossed a little flying dagger while fighting Xiao Yexuan and injured their young master? What would they do then?
Xiao Wu snorted coldly and stared straight at Little Tang San with a sharp gaze:
"Little San, how dare you say that? What are you really up to? You're obviously planning to sneak-attack our young master with Hidden Weapons!"
"Then what do you want?"
Little Tang San let out a cold laugh, the corner of his mouth curling in mockery. Wearing an ambiguous smile, he fixed his gaze on Xiao Yexuan.
He looked as if he were trying to force Xiao Yexuan to accept the challenge.
"There's no one suitable left here to fight him. Could it be that all those bold words he just spouted were nothing but hot air?"
Ning Rongrong was so flustered by the question that her eyes quickly swept over everyone.
At last, her gaze landed on Grandmaster Yu Xiaogang. Her eyes lit up, and she pointed at him, calling out:
"Him! Out of all these people, Yu Xiaogang looks like the weakest to me. He's the perfect one to challenge our young master!"
Yu Xiaogang felt utterly humiliated when Ning Rongrong pointed at him in front of everyone and called him weak.
His brows knitted into a deep furrow, and he was furious and aggrieved:
Was a person's strength really measured only by Soul Power?
He, Yu Xiaogang, was the greatest Martial Soul research expert in the world. When it came to theoretical knowledge, he could even run circles around a Titled Douluo.
Yet Ning Rongrong had just belittled him so thoroughly, and now he was being asked to fight a Soul Master who had only reached the first ring?
His eyes dimmed at once, and he looked utterly dejected.
Only then did the teachers at Lanba School turn their attention to Yu Xiaogang. One by one, they furrowed their brows, their eyes full of scrutiny.
Earlier, when the people from Shrek Academy had released their Martial Souls and shown off their prowess, Yu Xiaogang had stood off to the side without moving a muscle.
His air of superiority had made them think he was some hidden expert, too proud to display his Martial Soul and strength.
Who would have thought this guy was actually the weakest combat-type Soul Master here?
Judging by his age, he was already over forty. At that age, he had only two rings. There was no way he was here as a student; he must have wanted to land a teaching job and get paid for doing nothing.
The teachers all scoffed inwardly:
What a shameless old coot. With strength that pathetic, he still wanted to scrounge up a teaching job here and collect a salary? What a pipe dream!
When Little Tang San heard Ning Rongrong's words, he exploded. The veins at his temples throbbed. She actually wanted his teacher to duel Xiao Yexuan.
As Yu Xiaogang's disciple, he had always respected his teacher. How could he possibly allow something like this to happen?
He glared at Ning Rongrong, eyes blazing as if they might spit fire, and roared furiously:
"Ning Rongrong, what's that supposed to mean? My teacher is far too distinguished to fight someone like him! If anyone's going to fight, it'll be me. There's no need for my teacher to get involved!"
Ning Rongrong, however, seemed to have suddenly had a clever idea. A sly smile appeared on her face, and a calculating glint flashed in her eyes as she chuckled at Little Tang San:
"Little San, you're so protective of your teacher. Are you admitting that he can't fight? His Soul Power has been stuck at level twenty-nine for so many years without a breakthrough. He really is a good-for-nothing."
"Maybe you're the only person in the world who'd stand up for him."
"Oh, right."
As if she had just thought of something, Ning Rongrong clapped her hands and continued pressing him:
"Little Tang San, since you care so much about your teacher, why don't you teach him your knife-throwing technique and that mysterious footwork that lets you dodge countless attacks? Maybe if he learned them, his Soul Power would break through."
"Our young master said he'd challenge you, and he always keeps his word.
"But you keep saying you care about your teacher and won't let anyone insult him. If you care so much, why not give him all the good things you have?
"Seems you're nothing but a big talker. When it comes to actually helping your teacher, you have nothing to offer!"
Ning Rongrong's words left Little Tang San red-faced and trembling with rage. His fists clenched with a creak as he glared at her as if she were his father's killer.
But Ning Rongrong wasn't the least bit intimidated by his glare. Instead, she lifted her chin and puffed out her chest, looking triumphant.
Ning Rongrong turned to Yu Xiaogang, the corners of her mouth lifting high in challenge:
"Yu Xiaogang, what do you say? Do you accept?"
As soon as she finished speaking, she seemed to think of something. A tempting glint flashed in her eyes as she added:
"Yu Xiaogang, the promise your precious disciple can't make you—I can. If you dare to fight my young master and win, I'll use all the resources and wealth of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect to help you find a way to break through your Soul Power bottleneck."
"You should know there are plenty of ways. For example, I could find you a Soul Bone. The immense Soul Power it brings might help you break through your bottleneck after you absorb it.
"And it's only one Soul Bone. Surely the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect can afford that?"
As she spoke, Ning Rongrong puffed out her little chest, putting on an air of great wealth and confidence.
At first, Yu Xiaogang looked disdainful, his lips pursed. But Ning Rongrong had just reduced him to nothing and driven a wedge between him and Little Tang San. He couldn't help growing doubtful, and his eyes drifted toward Tang San.
He knew that Little Tang San's cultivation methods most likely came from the Clear Sky Sect. The boy had so many good things, yet had never once offered to teach them to him.
Even if the Clear Sky Sect's techniques weren't to be shared with outsiders, Yu Xiaogang was Tang San's teacher, as close to him as a father and son. Even if Tang San didn't teach him, he should at least have shown some intention.
Now Ning Rongrong had offered such a tempting reward: a Soul Bone that might even help him break through his Soul Power bottleneck.
He would no longer be a Soul Grandmaster mocked by the world, forever unable to cross the threshold of a Soul Elder. His breathing grew a little quicker.
Yu Xiaogang gritted his teeth, then looked up at Ning Rongrong, a flicker of struggle in his eyes:
"Ning Rongrong, is what you said true?"
Ning Rongrong glanced at him, her eyes full of disdain, and gave a soft snort:
"When has the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect ever lied? I always keep my promises. You don't need me to explain my status to you. I have every right to make that offer."
"Fine, fine, fine!" Yu Xiaogang said three times, a look of resolve flashing in his eyes as if he had made up his mind.
"Ning Rongrong, I accept. I hope you don't go back on your word!"
Xiao Yexuan's opponent had originally been Dai Mubai, but now it was Yu Xiaogang. He was deeply unhappy, pursing his lips and even taking a step back to show his opposition.
But after Ning Rongrong, Zhu Zhuqing, and Xiao Wu surrounded him and wore him down, Xiao Yexuan finally gave in.
With his head hanging, he agreed to this arrangement for the duel.
After all, fighting Yu Xiaogang, a Soul Master who only knew how to spout nonsense, would leave a bad taste in his mouth even if he won!
Before you continue