Yu Xiaogang's Challenge

However, no matter how disdainful Qi Ji was of this so-called "Yu Xiaogang," he had no choice but to accept this challenge.

After all, the Young Genius Rankings rules were right there—any ranked genius had to accept challenges from those ranked below them, unless they voluntarily gave up their ranking.

And as the Federation's heavily supported poster-child genius, Qi Ji absolutely could not avoid battle in this regard. He represented not only himself, but the entire Federation's honor.

With Qi Ji, the Federation had thoroughly slapped Shrek Academy in the face.

Whenever people mentioned talented youths in the past, the first person they thought of was always some student from Shrek Academy. Now, however, Qi Ji's name stood firmly above every peer of his generation.

Even the enrollment quality at Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineering Academy had improved significantly compared to previous years. Parents and children who had once been determined to squeeze their way into Shrek began reconsidering their choices after seeing that Qi Ji attended Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineering Academy.

One could only say that those in their positions had to fulfill their duties, right?

The Federation had invested so many resources in Qi Ji, so naturally, he had to shoulder the corresponding responsibilities and obligations.

Over the past three years, his treatment had been nothing short of extravagant.

The metal materials for his Battle Armor had been personally forged by Divine Craftsman Zhenhua. No one knew how they had managed to persuade Zhenhua to specially forge Spirit Alloy for him.

His mecha had been designed by a level-ten mecha designer from Illustrious Virtue Hall and personally built by a level-ten mecha manufacturer, with every detail refined to perfection.

There was even a logistics team made up of level-nine mecha repair technicians on standby at all times. As long as his mecha sustained any damage, they could restore it in the shortest possible time.

And so as not to delay his cultivation, Qi Ji had even chosen the notoriously "slacker" side profession of mecha repair technician.

In any case, specialists handled repairs. He only needed the title and did not have to worry about anything else. All he had to do was become sufficiently familiar with his Battle Armor and mecha.

Over the past three years, Qi Ji had enjoyed all kinds of preferential treatment that others would not even dare dream of.

Naturally, the Federation gave him such treatment because of his talent and potential.

Since he had enjoyed so many resources, he had to become the perfect genius in the Federation's eyes—someone with the strength to crush everything, as well as an image that met public expectations.

Therefore, no matter how little regard he had for this so-called Yu Xiaogang, he still had to accept the challenge.

"Did he say when?"

Qi Ji asked Tang Wuling.

This seclusion to break through rank forty had taken him nearly a week. His phone had remained switched off inside his storage Soul Tool, and he had no idea whether that guy had set a specific time for the duel.

"That guy's been spouting nonsense all over social media, saying you don't dare accept the challenge. He's been making posts and shouting about it everywhere, so no time has been set."

Tang Wuling curled her lip, her face full of disgust.

"Heh..."

Qi Ji sneered, took out his phone, and opened Douluo Continent's largest social media platform.

His fingers rapidly typed out a line of text before he decisively hit send.

"Mingdu Stadium tomorrow. Anyone who doesn't come is gay."

After sending it, he turned his phone screen facedown and could not be bothered to look at the reaction.

There were simply too many people harassing him. He had long since turned off private messages, and his comment section had been blocked year-round. Out of sight, out of mind.

Anyway, he would make a trip to the stadium tomorrow. If no one showed up, that would save him the trouble, and he would not need to pay attention to such clowns again.

"Also, Wuling," Qi Ji said as he put down his phone and looked at Tang Wuling, his tone becoming more serious.

"When will you break through to three rings and raise your Mental Power to the Spirit Sea Realm? When the time comes, I'll personally take you to the Spirit Pagoda to ascend your spirit and increase your Soul Ring age."

"How could I compare to Brother Qi Ji..."

Tang Wuling could not help sighing, her shoulders drooping. "I'm already working really hard to have reached rank twenty-nine, okay? I cultivate desperately every day, meditate even when I sleep, and I'm only one step away from cutting out meal times too."

Qi Ji thought about it and realized that was indeed true.

Compared to Tang Wulin from the original story, who had only been rank eleven at nine years old, the current Tang Wuling was already working unimaginably harder.

But Tang Wulin in the original story had neither resources nor guidance from famous teachers at the time. He had relied entirely on his own exploration. How could he compare with the current Tang Wuling, who had a Titled Douluo like Gu Chaosheng as her master and received extra tutoring from Qi Ji from time to time? Their resources and treatment were worlds apart.

"I heard that the Silver Dragon Princess, who's only one rank below you, is already planning to enter seclusion and break through rank thirty."

Qi Ji raised an eyebrow, his tone carrying a hint of teasing.

"That bitch..."

Tang Wuling's expression visibly darkened. Her cheerful face instantly switched into low-pressure mode, as though a black aura were churning around her.

Naturally, Qi Ji was referring to the Silver Dragon King, who went by the alias Gu Yuena.

The first time he had discovered Gu Yuena's existence was when he heard the news that the "Silver Dragon Princess Gu Yuena" had suddenly appeared at eighth place on the Young Genius Rankings.

That name came directly after the seventh-ranked "Golden Dragon Princess Tang Wuling." The two names sitting side by side were especially eye-catching.

It was only then that Qi Ji realized that Gu Yuena in this world had not split into the two individuals Na'er and Gu Yue as she had in the original story. Instead, she had entered human society directly as the complete Silver Dragon King.

He did not know whether this result had been caused by his own butterfly effect, but that was the reality.

After that, Gu Yuena enrolled at Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineering Academy in Mingdu shortly afterward.

On her first day, she directly transferred into Qi Ji's class.

Then, beneath the dumbfounded stares of the entire class, she pushed her desk together with Qi Ji's and fussed over him with meticulous care.

That undisguised intimacy and possessiveness made Tang Wuling, who had always considered herself "Qi Ji's childhood sweetheart," bristle on the spot.

The two fought on the very first day.

As it turned out, at the two-ring stage, the Soft Bone Rabbit and Golden Dragon combination—with teleportation and gravity control—was simply too overpowered. Even against the Silver Dragon King, Tang Wuling forcibly suppressed Gu Yuena.

After that, the feud between the two girls was completely cemented. A small fight every three days, a major fight every five—the entire Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineering Academy had grown used to it.

Over these three years, they had fought so many arranged battles that they could not be counted on two hands, with victories and defeats on both sides.

But overall, Tang Wuling had always held Gu Yuena down through the advantage of her Twin Martial Souls.

However, if Gu Yuena truly broke through to three rings, then things would be difficult to predict.

Once one stepped into the Soul Elder level, one's strength would undergo a qualitative leap. Whether Tang Wuling could still suppress her then was hard to say.

"No... I can't let that bitch surpass me!"

Tang Wuling suddenly clenched her fists, flames of fighting spirit burning in her eyes.

"After watching your match tomorrow, I'm going into seclusion! I won't come out until I break through rank thirty!"

"Mm-hmm... Good luck?" Qi Ji patted Tang Wuling on the shoulder in encouragement.