Ning Fengzhi nodded slightly as well, offering his praise:
"Indeed. 'Innate Soul Power is directly proportional to the quality of one's Martial Soul' is an unshakable truth in the Soul Master World. If you scrutinize Yu Xiaogang's unconventional theories, they really don't hold up."
Even the Sect Master of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect had spoken. That was essentially a death sentence for Yu Xiaogang's theories.
The spectators around them looked at Yu Xiaogang in an entirely different light.
The awe they'd shown him before had turned to scorn and ridicule.
So he was nothing but a fraud who'd deceived the world and stolen a reputation.
Yu Xiaogang swayed, nearly toppling to the ground.
If Qin Feng's mockery had merely humiliated him, the Crown Prince's and Ning Fengzhi's words had destroyed the very foundation he needed to make a living in the Soul Master World.
"Your Highness, Sect Master Ning..."
Yu Xiaogang still struggled to explain himself.
But Xue Qinghe didn't even acknowledge him. Instead, he walked straight up to Qin Feng and gave a slight bow, his manner humble to the extreme.
"After hearing what Brother Qin Feng had to say, I'm deeply impressed. Yu Xiaogang truly doesn't deserve the title of 'Grandmaster.'"
"In my view, Brother Qin Feng is the one with real knowledge and ability."
As he spoke, a glint flickered in Xue Qinghe's eyes as he extended an olive branch:
"I wonder if Brother Qin Feng would be willing to serve as my theory tutor? I still have many questions about cultivating Martial Souls, and I hope to receive your guidance."
The moment he said this, the entire arena was stunned.
Crown Prince Tutor?
That was a meteoric rise!
Looking at the sincere "Xue Qinghe" before him, Qin Feng could see right through him.
That little minx Qian Renxue was quite the actress.
She wanted him to be her tutor?
Wasn't it just an excuse to get close to him?
Or perhaps she wanted to draw him over to Spirit Hall's side?
Whatever her motive, a powerful ally was knocking at his door. He'd be a fool not to take advantage of it.
The corners of Qin Feng's mouth lifted into a meaningful smile.
"Your Highness is so kind to invite me. If I refused, wouldn't that be turning down a great honor?"
"Excellent!"
Xue Qinghe was overjoyed. He stepped forward and patted Qin Feng's shoulder warmly.
"Then, starting tomorrow, I'll have the palace ready to welcome you."
The two chatted happily, treating Yu Xiaogang beside them as if he were invisible.
Being ignored like that was more painful than being insulted.
"Fine... Fine! Very well!"
Yu Xiaogang pointed a trembling finger at Qin Feng, then at Xue Qinghe, before casting a venomous look at the crowd laughing at him.
"I, Yu Xiaogang, will remember this humiliation!"
"Let's go!"
Knowing that staying would only bring him further shame, he swept his sleeve and turned to leave.
Liu Erlong glared viciously at Qin Feng. Supporting the badly injured Tang San, she led the dejected members of Shrek away from the Great Soul Arena in disgrace.
Behind them came Du Woyan's merciless taunt:
"Don't let the door hit you on the way out, fake Grandmaster!"
Night deepened.
Heaven Dou City blazed with lights, but Blue Tyrant Academy, on the outskirts of the city, lay beneath a crushing gloom.
Yu Xiaogang led everyone back to the academy. The moment they entered, a terrifying, suffocating aura washed over them.
It was a killing intent that seemed to rise from a mountain of corpses and a sea of blood.
In the courtyard, a tall figure stood silently in the darkness, draped in a tattered cloak. His face was impossible to make out.
But the nine Spirit Rings slowly revolving beneath his feet stood out starkly in the night.
Yellow, yellow, purple, purple, black, black, black, black, red!
A Titled Douluo!
A Titled Douluo with a Hundred Thousand Year Spirit Ring!
Flender and Liu Erlong instantly activated Martial Soul Possession, bracing themselves for battle.
"Who are you, sir? Why have you come to Blue Tyrant Academy in the middle of the night?"
The man ignored them. He slowly lifted his head, revealing a weather-beaten face covered in scruffy whiskers.
His gaze passed over everyone and settled on Tang San, covered in blood and supported by Xiao Wu.
In that instant, the terrifying killing intent vanished without a trace, replaced by a profound tenderness and sorrow.
"Xiao San."
Tang San shuddered. He stared at that familiar face, his eyes instantly reddening.
"Dad... Father?!"
Flender, Zhao Wuji, and the others were all dumbfounded.
Tang San's father? That blacksmith?
He was actually a Titled Douluo?!
Tang Hao strode forward. Seeing his son's crushed ribs and wretched state, the rage in his eyes nearly became tangible.
"Who did this?"
His voice was low and hoarse, yet it held the fury to destroy heaven and earth.
"Who beat you like this?!"
Tang San could no longer hold back. Tears spilled from his eyes.
He recounted what had happened that day, embellishing the story as he went.
He told them how arrogant Qin Feng had been, how he'd humiliated them, and how he'd injured Dai Mubai and Ma Hongjun.
At the end, he pulled Xiao Wu beside him and choked out:
"Father, it wasn't just me. He also went after Xiao Wu! She's just a girl, and he threw her off the ring like a piece of trash. She nearly fell to her death!"
Xiao Wu played along, looking pitiful, her eyes brimming with tears.
Tang Hao's aura erupted. The trees around them were instantly blasted into dust.
"How dare he!"
"He's just a boy in his teens, yet he's so cruel! It would be one thing if he'd only bullied me, but he dared lay a hand on my son and daughter-in-law!"
Tang Hao was shocked that someone of Tang San's age could utterly overwhelm him, but his overprotective fury was stronger.
Yu Xiaogang stepped forward just then, his face dark.
"His Excellency Haotian, the reason Qin Feng is so strong isn't that he's especially powerful in his own right."
"It's all because he obtained an External Soul Bone!"
"And... from what I observed, the pressure and energy fluctuations that External Soul Bone displayed were far beyond a ten-thousand-year one. It was quite possibly... a Hundred Thousand Year Soul Bone!"
The moment he said this, the entire courtyard fell silent.
Even Tang Hao, who had been seething with rage, froze.
He whipped around to look at Yu Xiaogang, a frightening gleam bursting from his eyes.
"What did you say? A Hundred Thousand Year External Soul Bone?!"
In this world, Hundred Thousand Year Spirit Rings were already the stuff of legend, while Hundred Thousand Year Soul Bones were legends among legends.
And this was the most precious kind of all—an External Soul Bone that could grow!
It was a supreme treasure capable of tempting even a god!
Yu Xiaogang nodded with certainty.
"I'm absolutely sure. That terrifying force of suppression could easily break Xiao San's Eight Spider Lances. There's no other explanation besides it being a Hundred Thousand Year Soul Bone."
Tang Hao's breathing grew heavy.
Greed flickered briefly in his eyes.
If he could get that Soul Bone and attach it to Xiao San...
Then Xiao San's future would be limitless! He could even surpass Tang Hao and restore the Clear Sky Sect to glory!
"This boy has a wicked heart. Someone possessing such a treasure is a menace to the Soul Master World."
Tang Hao's voice turned icy. He was looking for an excuse to act.
Seeing his father's expression, Tang San immediately understood.
Clutching his chest, he declared righteously:
"Father is right. Qin Feng is cruel and ruthless. If he's allowed to grow stronger, he'll bring devastation to the world."
"That Soul Bone is helping a villain in his wicked deeds. If... if it could be in our hands instead, so we could use it to fight Spirit Hall, that would be the right path."