The Much-Anticipated Second Place Revealed: Yu Xiaogang, the Theory-Invincible Master, Makes the List!

[Hypocrite Rankings, Second Place: Yu Xiaogang]

[Title: Theory-Invincible Master, Founder of the Ten Core Competencies of Martial Soul]

Suotuo City, a shabby little tavern.

Yu Xiaogang sat in a corner with half a cup of cheap ale before him. A young soul master approached and bowed respectfully.

"Master, I have a question about the theory of Martial Soul Evolution..."

Yu Xiaogang raised a hand to cut him off, his expression grave.

"Martial Soul Evolution concerns the essence of life. It cannot be explained in just a few words. Go back and study Chapter Three, Section Seven of my Ten Core Competencies of Martial Soul first. Come back and ask me again in three months."

The young soul master looked full of admiration and repeatedly nodded before withdrawing.

The view pulled back.

Yu Xiaogang turned and left the tavern, ducking into an alley before taking out a worn notebook.

Written prominently across its cover were the words: Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan · Inner Clan Codex · Fragmentary Notes on Martial Soul Mutation Research.

He flipped to a certain page and compared it with the question the young soul master had just asked. The corner of his mouth curled up.

"Good thing I stole this book back then. Otherwise, I would have been exposed today."

The comments instantly exploded.

[What the hell?]

[His theories were copied from his clan's codices?]

[I'm gonna puke.]

[Suotuo City soul master: I met Master three years ago. This was exactly how he brushed me off.]

Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, main peak hall.

Yu Yuanzhen smashed the stone table before him with one palm.

"Unfilial bastard!"

More than a dozen elders rose to their feet in unison, their faces livid.

Yu Luomian gritted his teeth.

"Big Brother, I told you long ago that we should have crippled him outright. Sparing his life was our greatest mistake."

The Light Screen gave no one time to catch their breath as a second layer of images unfolded.

Heaven Dou City, Soul Master Association headquarters.

Yu Xiaogang stood at the podium in a neat long robe, speaking eloquently to over a hundred soul masters.

"Everyone, Martial Soul awakening is the starting point of a soul master's life, but it is not the end. After thirty years of research, I have summarized the Ten Core Competencies of Martial Soul..."

Thunderous applause erupted below the stage.

The scene shifted.

Shrek Academy, Yu Xiaogang's room.

He lay sprawled over his desk, with seven or eight ancient books bearing different covers spread out before him.

"Spirit Hall: Compendium of Awakening Theory"

"Star Luo Royal Family: Notes on Beast Martial Soul Research"

"Clear Sky Sect: Insights into Tool Martial Soul Forging"

Yu Xiaogang copied and wrote, patching together and integrating content from different texts. Finally, he signed his name: Martial Soul Theory Researcher, Yu Xiaogang.

The comments completely erupted.

[A patchwork monster?]

[You call this research? This is plagiarism!]

[Clear Sky Sect Tang Xiao: When did our sect's codices leak out? Investigate!]

[Spirit Hall Chrysanthemum Douluo: Interesting. How did he get his hands on Spirit Hall's internal materials?]

Shrek Academy.

Tang San's face turned deathly pale, his fingers trembling.

"Teacher wouldn't..."

Zhao Wuji remained silent, while Ma Hongjun lowered his head and did not dare speak.

Flender suddenly turned around and typed at the Light Screen.

[Shrek Academy Headmaster Flender: Nonsense! Xiaogang's theories were researched by himself! What do you people know? So what if he is only Rank 29? Theoretical research does not require a high rank!]

The Light Screen shook.

A third layer of images burst open with a roar.

An enormous information panel floated in midair.

[Name: Yu Xiaogang]

[Martial Soul: Luo Sanpao (a malignant mutated form of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon)]

[Rank: Rank 29 Soul Grandmaster (incapable of ever breaking through)]

[Soul Rings: Yellow, Yellow]

[Combat Ability Assessment: 60% of an ordinary Rank 28 Soul Grandmaster]

[Theoretical Achievements: 37 papers published. The core content of 32 originated from the internal codices of major forces, while 5 were summaries of common knowledge. Original theoretical contribution: 0.]

[Nording City commoner: My son awakened a useless Martial Soul. Master said there were no useless Martial Souls, and I believed him for five years. Now you're telling me it was false?]

[Suotuo City soul master: Original contribution is zero? Then what were the theories I spent three years studying?]

[Heaven Dou City advanced Soul Master Academy instructor: Shocking. I even quoted Master's words in class.]

[Star Luo Empire Soul Elder: Hilarious. A Rank 29 teaching us how to cultivate?]

Blue Tyrant Academy.

Liu Erlong's Soul Power surged around her as she roared and typed.

[Blue Tyrant Academy Headmaster Liu Erlong: What do you trash know? Xiaogang's theories have helped countless soul masters. What right do you have to slander him? The Golden Iron Triangle fears no challenge. Whoever dares say one more bad word about Xiaogang, I, Liu Erlong, will kill them!]

The comments froze for two seconds.

[Heaven Dou City commoner: Is she threatening us?]

[Suotuo City soul master: Protecting him to this extent?]

[Spirit Hall Platinum Bishop: Liu Erlong, as the headmaster of an academy, you are openly threatening civilians. Spirit Hall has taken note.]

The Light Screen changed again.

The image shifted to the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan twenty years earlier.

Inside the Clan Rules Hall, Yu Xiaogang knelt on the ground. Yu Yuanzhen and more than a dozen elders stood before him.

An elder held an account book, his voice icy.

"Yu Xiaogang, as a clan disciple, you refused to improve yourself. After your Martial Soul mutated, you did not seek a breakthrough. Instead, you stole thirteen volumes of clan codices and sold them to others in exchange for Gold Soul Coins. Is this true?"

Yu Xiaogang lowered his head without speaking.

Yu Yuanzhen closed his eyes and waved a hand.

"Expel him from the core circle. Reduce his allowance. He will receive only basic living expenses each month."

Yu Xiaogang looked up, a flash of resentment passing through his eyes.

"Yes, Clan Head."

The view froze on his departing back. Half the cover of an ancient book protruded from the bundle hanging at his waist.

The comments exploded.

[He stole codices and sold them too?]

[Is that something a human would do?]

[So all his theories were stolen?]

Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan.

Yu Luomian rose to his feet and typed toward the Light Screen.

[Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan Elder Yu Luomian: What the Sky Screen said is true. The trial records from that year have been preserved in their entirety. Yu Xiaogang stole thirteen volumes of codices, eight of which have been confirmed to have entered the black market. This man's character is utterly corrupt. The Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan has no further relationship with him.]

Shrek Academy.

Flender collapsed into a chair, his face pale.

"Xiaogang... is this true?"

Tang San clenched his fists, even the hand he used to type trembling.

[Shrek Academy Tang San: Everyone, Teacher's theories truly helped me cultivate Blue Silver Grass. His theory that there are no useless Martial Souls encouraged countless soul masters from the lower classes. These achievements cannot be erased!]

A three-thousand-word essay flooded the screen, listing Yu Xiaogang's various contributions.

The Light Screen shook.

Large blood-red words emerged.

[Questioning Session for Lower-Class Soul Masters Begins]

Hundreds of comments surged out at once.

[Nording City soul master: Master said there are no useless Martial Souls, so why can't he himself break through Rank 30?]

[Suotuo City commoner: His theories are useful? My son cultivated according to Master's methods for three years and is still stuck at a bottleneck.]

[Heaven Dou City soul master: Laughable. A Rank 29 teaching us how to break through to Soul Elder?]

[Star Luo Empire soul master: Theories copied through plagiarism count as contributions too?]

Tang San's essay was instantly drowned out.

The Light Screen shifted again.

A majestic building appeared, entirely white, with a Six-Winged Angel relief carved at its peak.

Spirit Hall, the core Library Pavilion.

The view zoomed in.

Twenty years earlier, the young Yu Xiaogang stood before the Library Pavilion's entrance.

He wore a long robe with purple-gold trim, specially authorized by Pope Hall, and a token hung at his waist.

Beneath the Six-Winged Angel emblem on the token were two engraved words:

Special Envoy.

The Soul Emperor guarding the entrance bowed respectfully.

"Special Envoy Yu, please."

Yu Xiaogang nodded and pushed the door open.

The view froze.

Everyone across the continent stopped breathing.

[A Spirit Hall special envoy?]

[He was one of Spirit Hall's people?]

[A token specially authorized by Pope Hall?]

Spirit Hall, Pope Hall.

Bibi Dong watched the Light Screen as a crack in the scepter in her hand widened with a crisp snap.

Chrysanthemum Douluo and Ghost Douluo exchanged a glance, neither daring to speak.

Heaven Dou Imperial Palace.

Xue Ye narrowed his eyes.

"A Spirit Hall special envoy? Heh, interesting."

Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan.

Yu Yuanzhen abruptly rose to his feet.

"When did he become one of Spirit Hall's people?"

The Light Screen froze at the moment Yu Xiaogang pushed open the Library Pavilion's doors.

[To be revealed next: The secret between the Martial Soul theory master and Spirit Hall]