Yu Xiaogang, Stop Deceiving Yourself

Spirit City, library.

A young woman stood behind the bookshelves, her slender fingers lightly brushing over the spines until they stopped at a yellowed tome.

"Compendium of Spirit Beasts... This is the one." The young woman murmured to herself, pulled out the tome—thick enough to knock someone unconscious—and hugged it to her chest, preparing to turn around.

Just then, a voice came from the other end of the bookshelf.

"Miss."

The young woman glanced over and saw a medium-built man walking toward her.

He looked ordinary, and his expression carried a hint of dejection, but the moment his eyes fell on her face, they lit up briefly.

"Could you lend me the book you're holding for a little while?"

"It won't take long. I need to look something up in it."

The young woman raised her eyes to study the unfamiliar man before her, then slowly asked:

"Who are you? How come I've never seen you before?"

The man's lips pulled into a stiff smile as he introduced himself:

"My name is Yu Xiaogang. I'm a new librarian, and also a theoretical expert who studies Martial Souls."

"A theoretical expert who studies Martial Souls?" The young woman made no move to hand him the book. "Do you specialize in Martial Soul research?"

"Exactly." Yu Xiaogang perked up and took half a step forward. "I've made a major breakthrough in Martial Soul research. If you're interested, I..."

"Yu Xiaogang, are you spouting nonsense again?"

A clear, resonant voice abruptly cut between them.

"You're only a Soul Grandmaster. Even if you've studied Martial Souls inside and out, what does that prove?"

The two turned toward the voice and saw a handsome young man emerge from the shadows between the bookshelves.

He stopped calmly in front of Bibi Dong, bowed slightly, and spoke in a warm, courteous voice. "So it's Her Highness the Holy Maiden. I hope this man hasn't managed to fool you?"

Bibi Dong studied him and asked, "You know me?"

"My name is Zhao Linchuan. I'm a new librarian, and also an enthusiast of Martial Soul research."

The young man's voice was neither servile nor overbearing. His clear eyes met hers.

"Who in Spirit City hasn't heard the name of the Holy Maiden?"

Bibi Dong furrowed her brows slightly and turned her gaze to Yu Xiaogang. "You can't say that. He doesn't know me."

Her eyes narrowed, a sharp glint passing through them. "This is strange. The library is one of the core areas of Spirit Hall. How did a Soul Grandmaster like you manage to sneak in?"

Yu Xiaogang straightened his back, trying to maintain his dignity.

"I was specially invited to Spirit Hall for academic exchanges and research as an expert in Martial Soul theory."

After speaking, he looked at Zhao Linchuan, his brows knitted together.

"Who are you? I don't even know..."

"Yu Xiaogang, stop deceiving yourself."

Zhao Linchuan interrupted him without the slightest courtesy. He stepped forward, placing himself squarely between Bibi Dong and Yu Xiaogang.

"You claim to be an expert in Martial Soul theory, but you're only a Soul Grandmaster."

"Someone who hasn't even entered the middle ranks of the Soul Master path—what could you possibly have researched?"

Zhao Linchuan leaned forward slightly, staring straight at Yu Xiaogang. "Let's start with something simple. Do you know how Soul Elders cultivate?"

"Do you know what Soul Masters need to pay attention to when absorbing Soul Rings?"

His tone was scornful. "You don't, because you're nothing but a good-for-nothing with a Soul Power level of twenty-nine!"

"You!" Yu Xiaogang's face flushed red, veins bulging at his temples as he rasped, "A person's achievements shouldn't be judged by their Soul Power level. I..."

"Fine." Zhao Linchuan interrupted him again. "If strength doesn't determine who's superior, then let's talk about something else."

He raised a hand. "Since you call yourself a theoretical expert, tell us the maximum age of the Soul Rings that Soul Masters at each rank can absorb."

"This is the most basic, yet most fundamental, topic in the Soul Master World. Surely you, 'Grandmaster,' know it by heart?"

His fingers paused in midair, curling slightly. "Surely you can answer that?"

Yu Xiaogang's mouth opened and closed, beads of sweat forming across his forehead.

His theoretical research leaned more toward Martial Soul classification and mutations. When it came to Soul Ring age limits—a subject requiring extensive examples and supporting records, and one that the major powers kept under tight wraps—he knew very little. In fact, he knew less than some experienced Soul Masters.

He unconsciously gripped his sleeve, his gaze beginning to wander.

Zhao Linchuan glanced at Bibi Dong, lifting an eyebrow slightly. A trace of suspicion showed in his eyes.

"Your Highness, there seems to be something wrong with this man."

He stepped half a pace closer to Bibi Dong and lowered his voice.

"I just saw him approach you. He may be trying to use this as an excuse to get close to you, then pry some confidential information from you."

Bibi Dong's gaze darkened, and her voice suddenly turned cold. "There is indeed something wrong with him. A Soul Grandmaster shouldn't be working as a librarian in a place like this."

She turned slightly and barked, "Someone! Go fetch Director Wilson!"

Before long, a plump, middle-aged man came hurrying through the bookshelves.

He stopped in front of Bibi Dong, bowed, and spoke anxiously. "Your subordinate Wilson pays his respects to Your Highness the Holy Maiden."

"Wilson." Bibi Dong pointed at Yu Xiaogang. "Who is he? Why is he in a place like this?"

Wilson shot Yu Xiaogang a quick glance, swallowed, and answered through gritted teeth:

"Your Highness, this is Young Master Yu Xiaogang, the second son of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan."

"Oh? The Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan?" Zhao Linchuan raised an eyebrow, his voice turning significant.

He walked slowly toward Wilson. "Director Wilson, if I remember correctly, the Upper Three Sects stand together as one, and when it comes to Spirit Hall..."

He paused slightly, his gaze settling on Wilson's face. "They've always been courteous on the surface, but there's been no shortage of friction beneath it—and even hidden resentment."

He stopped in front of Wilson and looked down at the middle-aged man, who was half a head shorter than him.

"Given that, why would they send one of their successors to Spirit Hall?"

"Exactly!" Bibi Dong picked up the thread. She stepped forward and stood beside Zhao Linchuan. "You've held this position for so many years. You should understand that, shouldn't you?"

Wilson's knees buckled, and he almost fell to the floor. "I... I understand, Your Highness..."

"Since you understand!" Bibi Dong's voice suddenly sharpened, her gaze as keen as a blade. "How dare you let him into the library?!"

Zhao Linchuan sighed softly, his gaze sweeping over the towering bookshelves around them. His voice was full of concern.

"This place houses the vast collection of books Spirit Hall has accumulated over tens of thousands of years. The growth journeys of countless geniuses, countless closely guarded secrets—all of it is here."

He looked at Yu Xiaogang, his tone grave. "What if he has a photographic memory and commits all of it to memory, then takes it back to the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan? Then everything would be over."

"Wilson!!" Zhao Linchuan's words were like a spark landing in a powder keg. "Do you know your crime?!!"