Gangzi Reaped What He Sowed!

"Teacher, shouldn't we announce ourselves before going in?"

Seeing Yu Xiaogang put on that haughty, self-important air again, Tang San immediately felt a bad premonition rise in his heart.

Yu Xiaogang habitually clasped his hands behind his back, slightly raised his chin, and pointed his nostrils at a forty-five-degree angle toward the sky. With an arrogant, disdainful bearing, he strode straight toward Shrek Academy's gates.

"Hey, gatekeeper, go call Flender out to see me!"

The one standing guard at the academy entrance was Li Yusong, a genuine Soul Emperor expert.

Hearing this flat-topped man open his mouth and start barking so arrogantly, as though no one else existed, Li Yusong briefly suspected that he had stood watch for too long and was seeing things from exhaustion.

He raised a hand and rubbed his eyes, carefully examining the man spouting such nonsense before him. Nearly fifty years old, yet his Soul Power was only level twenty-nine.

"What a strange thing. These days, any stray cat or dog can just barge through Shrek Academy's gates?"

Li Yusong paid no attention to Yu Xiaogang's shouting. He simply turned aside, intending to continue his peaceful nap.

That utter disregard instantly pierced Yu Xiaogang's already fragile self-esteem.

Years of accumulated humiliation surged into his mind, piling up and choking his heart.

Back when he faced Qian Xunji, he had cowered in fear;

when he entered the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, he had tread carefully;

even when he encountered Zhou Tao in Notting City, he could only swallow his anger.

But this was Shrek Academy, his brother Flender's territory. It could even be considered half his home ground!

A mere gatekeeper actually dared not take him, the continent's foremost theoretical Grandmaster, seriously. Clearly, he no longer wanted to remain here!

"Good, good, good! It seems I haven't shown my edge in too long. The entire Spirit Master World is about to forget my name!"

"Come out, Luo Sanpao!"

Consumed by rage, Yu Xiaogang summoned a pig-dog-like Martial Soul before him as two bright yellow century-old Spirit Rings slowly rose.

Li Yusong raised an eyebrow. Looking at the flat-topped man who had released his Martial Soul, his eyes were full of surprise.

"You, a mere Soul Grandmaster, dare challenge me?"

Having lived so many years and been a Soul Emperor for decades, this was the first time he had ever been challenged to his face by a Soul Grandmaster. The man before him seemed like nothing more than a clown.

It was not recruitment season, and guarding the gate every day was dull and tedious. Now that entertainment had delivered itself to his door, he was happy to watch the show.

Yet Yu Xiaogang's way of thinking differed from ordinary people's. Seeing Li Yusong's relaxed expression, he instead mistook it for fear.

"Now you know fear? Too late!"

Yu Xiaogang lifted his chin, his tone becoming even more overbearing.

"I'll first teach you, a lowly gatekeeping peasant who knows no respect, a proper lesson. Then I'll have Flender expel you!"

"Oh? You want to teach me a lesson?"

Li Yusong forcibly suppressed the laughter twitching at the corners of his lips.

Having traveled the Douluo Continent for most of his life and seen all kinds of Spirit Masters, he had truly never met someone so absurdly arrogant.

At fifty, stuck at level twenty-nine, he was plainly a mediocre man with no hope of further cultivation. Yet he dared spout wild nonsense at a Soul Emperor. Anyone unaware of the truth might think he was a Titled Douluo.

Yu Xiaogang's Soul Power had already gathered at its peak. All the frustration he had suppressed over the years surged into his heart, and he desperately needed someone on whom to vent his anger.

He glared viciously at Li Yusong and shouted sternly.

"Old fool, kneel and beg forgiveness now, and I may still plead with Flender on your behalf and spare your life. Continue to be stubborn, and today will be the day you die!"

Those words completely shattered the last of Li Yusong's restraint. This man was simply too outrageous to endure.

A Dragon-Pattern Long Staff formed in his palm, and he casually gave a light tap—

Bang!

With a soft sound, one of Yu Xiaogang's legs bent on the spot.

Another light tap followed. Unable to withstand the impact, Luo Sanpao let out a miserable howl, dispersed, and retreated into Yu Xiaogang's body.

"Ah—!"

Piercing pain shot through his leg bones and Martial Soul meridians, spreading throughout his body. Yu Xiaogang's legs gave out, and he crashed heavily to his knees. His heart-rending scream echoed through the academy entrance.

He endured the pain and looked up, about to spit out another threat, but his gaze suddenly froze on the six distinct Spirit Rings quietly revolving beneath the old man's feet.

A Soul Emperor!

Damn it, he had kicked an iron plate again!

"S-senior, it's a misunderstanding. It's all a misunderstanding!"

Yu Xiaogang trembled all over from pain. His previous arrogance had vanished without a trace as he hurriedly apologized in a low voice.

"Hehe, admitting your mistake now? Too late."

There was not a ripple in Li Yusong's eyes. Raising his hand, he prepared to break Yu Xiaogang's other leg and properly teach this man the difference between seniority and rank.

Then a fierce slap landed squarely across Yu Xiaogang's face. Half his cheek immediately swelled high, making him look like a pig-headed man.

"Senior! I'm Headmaster Flender's sworn brother. It truly was just a misunderstanding!" Yu Xiaogang wailed endlessly as he lay sprawled on the ground.

The commotion at the gate drew many academy students over to watch.

"You still dare lie? How could Flender have a brother as overconfident as you? His judgment cannot possibly be this poor."

Li Yusong did not believe him in the slightest. He raised the Dragon-Pattern Staff again, ready to bring it down and break Yu Xiaogang's other leg.

"I'm telling the truth! We were the Golden Iron Triangle back then! Just inform Flender and ask him!"

Upon hearing the words "Golden Iron Triangle," the Dragon-Pattern Staff in Li Yusong's hand abruptly stopped in midair.

He vaguely remembered Flender mentioning that name before.

Just then, Flender, who had returned from a small shop in Suotuo City, strolled over while humming a tune. Having just sweet-talked several newcomers into enrolling, he was in an excellent mood.

Seeing a crowd gathered around the gates from afar, he immediately grew curious and hurried over.

The moment Yu Xiaogang saw Flender, the grievances he had bottled up could no longer be restrained. Ignoring the excruciating pain throughout his body, he crawled toward him with all his strength.

Flender was suddenly seized by someone whose swollen face was unrecognizable. Feeling a wave of nausea, he frowned and rebuked him.

"Where did this beggar come from? Stay away from me!"

"It's me, Yu Xiaogang, your brother..."

Half of Yu Xiaogang's mouth was swollen and numb. That slap had knocked out several of his front teeth, so his words leaked air and came out unclear.

"Look at my Martial Soul, Luo Sanpao!"

As his words fell, Luo Sanpao reluctantly appeared again. The pig-dog-like Martial Soul stood before Flender.

Flender stared blankly at the Martial Soul. Only after a long while did he react.

"It really is Xiaogang? This misunderstanding has gone way too far."

Yu Xiaogang's eyes immediately reddened. Just as he was about to tearfully recount the grievances he had suffered, Flender saw his battered, wounded state and quickly spoke.

"Come inside and treat your injuries first. We can talk once we're in."

After washing up, bandaging himself, and treating his wounds, Yu Xiaogang finally regained a little of his original appearance.

The moment he saw Flender, he burst into tears.

"Brother, you have to stand up for me! I was bullied terribly!"

Flender paused slightly.

"Who dared to do that?"

Yet an absurd thought secretly surfaced in his heart. If Yu Xiaogang completely lost his fighting spirit, then Liu Erlong... wouldn't that leave an opening for him?

With his brother in trouble, he could certainly keep Liu Erlong company properly in Yu Xiaogang's place.

Outwardly, however, Flender put on a grief-stricken expression and patted Yu Xiaogang's shoulder.

"Brother, don't be too sad. Who did this? I'll seek justice for you!"

Yu Xiaogang wept until tears and snot streamed down his face, gritting his teeth as he accused.

"It was some brat named Zhou Tao. His Martial Soul is the Golden Ancient Tree. That man is arrogant beyond measure and repeatedly humiliated me with his words. He has no respect for his elders and teachers. He is clearly an evil Spirit Master!"

Flender's heart jolted.

From that description, it was clearly the Zhou Tao he had encountered earlier.

That person was indeed quite powerful, but when had he been branded an evil Spirit Master?