"Senior, that really was a misunderstanding just now. I really am a master of theory."
Even after being taught a lesson, Yu Xiaogang still hadn't learned from it. Instead, he tried to bluff his way out.
"Poison Douluo, have you ever heard of the Pope of Spirit Hall?"
Seeing that Dugu Bo's mood had shifted, Yu Xiaogang began bluffing under Bibi Dong's name.
"Bibi Dong? She's certainly someone to be reckoned with."
"But what does that have to do with a good-for-nothing like you?"
"One is level 29, while the other is a Titled Douluo..."
Dugu Bo said coldly, his icy gaze sweeping over Yu Xiaogang again and again.
A Soul Grandmaster in his forties who was only level 29 could hardly have gotten involved with the lofty Pope.
But the other man had actually brought up the Pope. What if they really knew each other?
For a moment, even Dugu Bo couldn't be sure.
Seeing this scene,
Tang San's eyes were bloodshot, and he panted like an ox.
His fists clenched, veins bulging, but he said nothing. His gaze simply shifted back and forth between Dugu Bo and Yu Xiaogang.
"There's something you don't know, Senior. Although the Pope holds a high position, when Bibi Dong and I were young, we were both in Spirit Hall and studied Martial Soul Theory together."
"Back then, the Ten Core Competitiveness Theories of Martial Souls that I developed won her great admiration."
"Because of that, I even became an elder of Spirit Hall."
Yu Xiaogang took a deep breath, clasped his hands behind his back, and struck the pose of an enlightened master. Then, affecting an air of mystery, he spoke.
"What the hell are these Ten Core Competitiveness Theories of Martial Souls? How come I've never even heard of them?"
Dugu Bo wasn't that easy to fool. He thought it over, but couldn't recall anything of the sort. Clearly, it couldn't be some famous work.
Could this Yu Xiaogang be a con artist?
"I don't believe Bibi Dong would associate with a good-for-nothing like you. She's the lofty Pope, after all."
"If you can't give me a reason I find convincing, and you're lying to me, I'll cripple you right now."
Dugu Bo hadn't wanted to waste time arguing with him, but Yu Xiaogang had shamelessly come over to show off. He was useless and loved to put on airs, which Dugu Bo found deeply repulsive.
"You may never have heard of me, but surely you've seen this Pope Token?"
Yu Xiaogang took a token from his clothes and held it up before Dugu Bo.
Dugu Bo's expression instantly tightened. This token really did look like a Pope Token.
"You actually have a Pope Token. How did you get it?"
Dugu Bo could hardly believe his eyes. Could Yu Xiaogang really be an elder of Spirit Hall?
Still, surprise was one thing; he wasn't the least bit afraid. Even if he killed this man, no one would ever know he'd done it.
"Of course Bibi Dong gave it to me."
"Surely you believe that Bibi Dong and I are acquainted now, Senior?"
"My Ten Core Theories of Martial Souls were personally recognized by the Pope."
Dugu Bo eyed Yu Xiaogang suspiciously and said, "I've never heard of the theories you're talking about."
"How about this: tell me a few of your Martial Soul theories, and I'll see just how much substance you have."
Dugu Bo stood with his hands behind his back. The Pope Token looked genuine, but he couldn't bring himself to believe anything else Yu Xiaogang had said.
After all, this good-for-nothing was in his forties, yet his level was lower than that of Dugu Bo's granddaughter and disciple. By all appearances, he really was useless.
"One of my Ten Core Competitiveness Theories of Martial Souls is that Plant-type Martial Souls aren't necessarily unable to absorb animal-type Soul Rings!"
Then he turned to Tang San, his tone utterly earnest. "My disciple here followed my Martial Soul Theory and absorbed animal-type Soul Rings. That gave Blue Silver Grass, a Trash Martial Soul, powerful control abilities."
But as soon as the words left his mouth, Dugu Bo burst out laughing.
"I thought it was going to be some profound theory. Turns out it's not worth a fart!"
"What you're talking about has been common knowledge across the continent for ages. For tens of thousands of years, countless Plant-type Martial Soul masters have absorbed animal-type Soul Rings, and there have been just as many animal-type Martial Soul masters who've absorbed plant-type Soul Rings. You call that a theory?"
"You're killing me."
"And here I thought you were some master of theory."
"Turns out you're just a con artist, swindling people with your lies."
"That's not a theory at all."
"You've just dressed up common knowledge about Martial Souls and claimed it as your own."
"You still want to fool me? Looks like the lesson you got earlier wasn't enough!"
A vast surge of Soul Power erupted from Dugu Bo and crashed down on Yu Xiaogang.
Yu Xiaogang's strength was nowhere near enough to withstand it. He dropped to his knees on the spot and couldn't even get back up.
"Now, tell me properly. How did you get that Pope Token?"
Dugu Bo knew that Pope Tokens were rare treasures. There were only six in total: one for each of the Upper Three Sects, and three for Spirit Hall.
And yet such a precious item had ended up in Yu Xiaogang's hands.
It was simply inconceivable.
At those words, Yu Xiaogang's expression froze, and the corner of his mouth twitched. For a moment, he couldn't find anything to say in his defense. He knelt there in silence, then a flash of anger crossed his eyes before he finally spoke.
"I'm the son of Yu Yuanzhen, the sect master of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan. Poison Douluo, I ask you to show mercy."
"My father isn't someone you want to provoke."
Seeing that he couldn't fool Dugu Bo, Yu Xiaogang brought up another connection, hoping to scare him.
"The Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan?"
"Yu Xiaogang?"
"So it's you!"
"Now I remember."
Dugu Bo gave a cold laugh. "So you're that good-for-nothing."
"I heard Yu Xiaogang was banished from the clan for carrying on an incestuous affair with his cousin, Liu Erlong. That was you, wasn't it?"
"You still have the nerve to go around swindling people?"
"I hate spineless good-for-nothings like you most of all."
Dugu Bo quickly recalled some of the rumors surrounding the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan.
Back then, the story of Yu Xiaogang's incestuous affair with his cousin Liu Erlong had spread throughout the Soul Master World. The mighty Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan had lost plenty of face over it.
He hadn't expected the man himself to show up and try to swindle people right in front of him.
Dugu Bo laughed.
"If that old dragon from the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan had come, I might have shown him some respect."
"But you're nothing more than a disgraced good-for-nothing, expelled from your clan and infamous everywhere. You dare act up in front of me?"
"Even if the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan comes after me, what do I have to fear?"
"If I make a move, I can wipe out every last person in the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan except their Titled Douluo!"
Now that he'd thoroughly uncovered Yu Xiaogang's background, Dugu Bo had no reason to fear anything.
He'd initially thought Yu Xiaogang might really have some powerful connections.
But the moment Yu Xiaogang blurted it all out, Dugu Bo understood his trump card.
Nothing special!
As those words fell, Grandmaster's expression grew extremely ugly. The muscles at the corners of his eyes twitched, and his temples throbbed faintly.
For a moment, he couldn't say a word. He was angry and humiliated, yet had no way to argue back.
In an instant, his face flushed red, and he panted like an ox. His emotions were about to explode, but he could only hold them in.
Clearly, he didn't dare provoke Dugu Bo, a Titled Douluo. That would be asking for death.
Before you continue