Yu Xiaogang Gets Beaten Up

"Now, feel that last bit of conscience you have as a human being and tell me."

"Were you planning to trick me into accepting you, then pry the method for absorbing over-limit Soul Rings out of me and put your own name on it before publishing it?"

"Yes or no?"

Yu Xiaogang completely snapped and screamed hoarsely.

"You're talking nonsense! I, Yu Xiaogang, have spent my life researching theory. How dare you slander me?"

"Those people with low talent were failures to begin with. They were just wasting my—"

Before he could finish, the crowd exploded.

A burly, middle-aged man stepped forward. Two yellow and two purple Soul Rings lit up around him.

"You fucking piece of trash! Who are you calling a failure? My Innate Soul Power was only level three, and now I'm a level forty-seven Soul Ancestor. I fought my way here with my life and my fists!"

Another man stepped forward, and three Soul Rings—two yellow and one purple—lit up around him.

"I can't take this anymore! Get him!"

"Yeah! Beat him to death!"

"What kind of bullshit Grandmaster? He's just a fraud."

Soul Rings lit up by the hundreds, and in an instant, the men were surrounded. Most of the crowd had one, two, or three rings.

There were very few with four or five.

But even a fierce tiger couldn't hold off a pack of wolves, and Zhao Wuji and Flender weren't exactly fierce tigers, nor was the crowd really a pack of wolves.

It was also the busiest time of night at the Great Soul Arena. Word spread from one person to ten, then from ten to a hundred. As soon as people heard what had happened, they joined the fray.

The scene descended into complete chaos. The three men were trapped in the middle, kicked and punched from every side as their screams rang out one after another.

As for the Shrek Seven Devils? Ning Rongrong hid behind Gu Rong, while Tang San was being mobbed and beaten. The others? They'd sensed trouble and run off long ago.

Xuan Qing paid them no mind and simply continued speaking to himself.

"Geniuses stroll beneath the stars, while the mediocre can't even follow a single footprint. Ordinary folk have no choice but to learn to walk on their own, spending a life of mediocrity stumbling and getting back up."

"But a failed life is still a life. They have the right to see it through to the end. And only when a fool falls and finds no one there to help can he learn how to stand back up."

The crowd paused for a moment.

That was right!

They were ordinary, but that didn't make them failures. What right did that piece of trash have to belittle them?

Suddenly, someone shouted.

"Don't stop! This young master makes a good point, but that bastard really did belittle us! I'm not swallowing that!"

The crowd beat them even harder.

Dugu Bo came over and patted Xuan Qing on the shoulder.

"Why bother telling them all those big ideas? The biggest fist makes the rules. Don't like it? Swallow it."

Xuan Qing shook his head. "Other people's refusal to reason isn't a reason for us to follow suit. Reason is all in books, but being human is something you learn outside them."

"Today, I taught a thing that wasn't human how to behave. I'd say that counts as a good deed."

After he said this, his mind suddenly cleared, and he felt refreshed, as though he'd found the final piece of a puzzle.

Two voices suddenly rang out in his mind.

[Azure Dragon God Trial, Third Trial: Red Dust Heart Inquiry, completed.]

[Reward: One Soul Ring exclusive to the Azure Dragon Martial Soul, stored in Portable Space.]

[Qilin God Trial, Second Trial: Red Dust Heart Inquiry, completed.]

[Reward: Immunity to the Five Decays of Heaven and Man.]

Xuan Qing's expression was quite something.

What was this supposed to mean?

If someone annoyed him, he should just beat the hell out of them. That was going with the flow and following his true nature?

If someone made him miserable, he'd make them even more miserable?

He couldn't bottle up his anger, or his Dao heart might become unstable?

Xuan Qing was full of questions, but... it felt good to have his thoughts clear!

He felt like something had changed, but also like nothing had. He couldn't put it into words.

To be honest, he didn't even know what the Five Decays of Heaven and Man were. He only knew they were a calamity that cultivators faced. He didn't know a thing about the specifics.

And there was no prompt for another trial. It seemed the trials had come to a temporary end.

Xuan Qing looked at Dugu Bo.

"Old Poison, sorry for the trouble, but could you find us a hotel? We'll stay here tonight. I'm honestly exhausted after traveling for a year and ten months."

Dugu Bo looked at his tired expression and nodded.

"No problem! The best hotel! My treat!"

The four of them left the street and headed toward the hotel not far away. The screams from Yu Xiaogang and the others, along with the crowd's angry curses, continued behind them.

Ning Fengzhi asked in a low voice, "Qinghe, what do you think of that young man?"

Xue Qinghe was silent for a long while before giving four words in reply: "Far too clearheaded."

Ning Fengzhi nodded. "Indeed. Far too clearheaded—frighteningly so, and worthy of awe. He sees the myriad things of the mortal world too clearly."

Gu Rong furrowed his brows and spoke gravely.

"That's exactly why we should try even harder to bring him over. If Spirit Hall recruits him, we may as well give up resisting."

Ning Fengzhi nodded, his expression more solemn than ever.

"Exactly. Spirit Hall is already powerful, and Pope Bibi Dong is unfathomable. Although there are rumors that the other one has died, still..."

He didn't finish, but Gu Rong understood.

Qian Daoliu!

He was the true pillar of Spirit Hall. As long as he stood, Spirit Hall would never fall.

When they returned to their lodgings, Qian Renxue stood by the window. She had already removed her disguise, but her beautiful face was twisted with indecision.

She had originally wanted to ask her grandfather, Qian Daoliu, to come over.

But after reconsidering, she dismissed the idea.

She knew her grandfather's character better than anyone. If a genius, no matter how monstrous, couldn't be made useful to Spirit Hall, he would eliminate them.

The strength of the force behind Xuan Qing was a complete mystery. That Demon Dragon Douluo looked to be only in his twenties, yet already possessed level ninety-seven strength.

He was definitely not the strongest person behind Xuan Qing. Even if Spirit Hall mobilized every last person, it might not come out on top. And even if it won, it would certainly suffer heavy losses.

Qian Renxue clenched her fists, having made up her mind. She turned toward the shadows.

"Pufferfish, Snake Lance."

Two figures emerged from the shadows. They were the two Titled Douluo assigned to protect her.

"What are your orders, Young Master?"

Qian Renxue's voice was cold as ice.

"Don't tell anyone about Xuan Qing—not even my grandfather. Otherwise..."

She didn't finish, but the chill that flashed through her eyes made both men's hearts tighten.

Snake Lance Douluo bowed.

"Rest assured, Young Master. We understand."

Porcupinefish Douluo hesitated, but still steeled himself to speak.

"Young Master, if a genius like him can't be made to serve us, he'll become a great threat in the future!"

"Do you think I don't know that? That's exactly why we have to be careful. First, we'll find out what he's about, then decide what to do. Investigate him in secret, but don't alert him."

The two men nodded and quietly withdrew.

Meanwhile, in Ning Fengzhi's room, Gu Rong sat in a chair, tapping his fingers against the armrest.

"Fengzhi, what do you think that young man might like? Money? Power? Or beautiful women?"

Ning Fengzhi smiled wryly.

"He looks like he lacks for nothing. He'll gamble one hundred thousand Gold Soul Coins without a second thought, he has a Titled Douluo with him, and even Dugu Bo treats him with respect."

"As for beautiful women..."

He thought of Zi JI. That woman was cold and beautiful, but she was clearly different with Xuan Qing.

"That Demon Dragon Douluo by his side is no ordinary person."

Gu Rong sighed. "That makes things difficult. He won't bend to force or persuasion. How are we supposed to win him over?"

Ning Fengzhi pondered for a moment. "Perhaps... we should change our approach. There's no need to rush to win him over. Let's build a relationship first and have Rongrong spend more time with him."

Gu Rong's eyes lit up. "That's a good idea. Young people get along more easily, and that girl Rongrong doesn't seem to dislike him."

If it had been anyone else, Gu Rong would never have agreed so readily.

But faced with a freak like Xuan Qing, he truly didn't know what to do.

The two exchanged a smile, having settled on a plan.