Yu Xiaogang's gruesome death!

"You did nothing wrong."

Shui Yuerou turned toward the path leading to the lake.

"Yu Xiaogang trespassed on academy grounds and injured our teachers. This is no longer just about Ma Hongjun."

Long Yao remained seated at the table.

He gazed at the tea in his cup, his expression unchanged.

A moment later.

A figure appeared at the far end of the lakeside path.

Yu Xiaogang wore a black robe.

In his right hand, he held a Spirit Hall Elder Token.

Luo Sanpao followed at his feet.

Several academy teachers pursued him all the way there.

They did not attack again.

The Elder Token in Yu Xiaogang's hand represented the authority of a Spirit Hall elder.

Ordinary academy teachers dared not risk offending one.

Shui Yuerou stepped into the middle of the path.

"Yu Xiaogang."

"This is Skywater Academy."

"You trespassed on our grounds and injured our teachers. You owe us an explanation."

Yu Xiaogang raised the Elder Token.

"I represent Spirit Hall in investigating Ma Hongjun's injuries."

"Anyone who obstructs this investigation is defying Spirit Hall's orders."

Shui Yuerou looked at the token.

"You're a Spirit Hall elder?"

Yu Xiaogang's expression darkened slightly.

"This Elder Token is sufficient proof of my status."

"Let Shui Bing'er come with me."

"Once the investigation is complete, I will naturally let her return."

Shui Bing'er stepped out from behind Shui Yuerou.

"You've already seen what happened."

"I will not go with you."

Yu Xiaogang fixed his gaze on her.

"Ma Hongjun was indeed at fault."

"But it is also a fact that you went too far."

"You must take responsibility."

Shui Yue'er came to her sister's side.

"Ma Hongjun tried to hurt us."

"My sister was only protecting herself."

"Why do you keep speaking up for Ma Hongjun?"

Yu Xiaogang did not answer Shui Yue'er.

He looked back at Shui Bing'er.

"Come with me."

"Don't force me to take you myself."

Shui Yuerou stepped forward.

"I've already sent someone to notify the Spirit Hall Sacred Temple in Heaven Dou City."

"We'll soon know whether your Elder Token truly lets you represent Spirit Hall."

The look in Yu Xiaogang's eyes changed.

This Elder Token had come from Tang Hao.

The token itself was genuine.

But Spirit Hall had never acknowledged him as an elder.

If people from the Spirit Hall Sacred Temple in Heaven Dou City arrived, he would no longer be able to use this token to take Shui Bing'er away.

Yu Xiaogang raised his right hand.

Luo Sanpao immediately charged forward.

Yellow soul power poured from its body.

"Two teachers have already been poisoned because of you."

Shui Yuerou released her martial soul.

A curtain of water rose in front of everyone.

"And you still intend to attack?"

Yu Xiaogang looked at Shui Bing'er.

"I'm only taking her."

"The rest of you, stand aside."

Luo Sanpao opened its mouth.

A cloud of yellow gas rapidly gathered.

Shui Bing'er raised her right hand.

The Ice Phoenix appeared behind her.

A freezing chill instantly swept across the lakeside.

The attack Luo Sanpao had just gathered was frozen in place.

A layer of frost also coated its limbs.

Yu Xiaogang's expression changed.

The last time he had visited Skywater Academy, Shui Bing'er had not displayed this level of control.

In just a few days, her strength had improved noticeably.

"Shui Bing'er."

Yu Xiaogang took a step back.

"To treat a companion so viciously."

"If Skywater Academy keeps shielding you, it will only lead you down an evil path."

Shui Bing'er looked at him.

"Ma Hongjun is not my companion."

"He barged into the academy, made lewd remarks, and unleashed a soul skill first."

"I didn't kill him."

"That is all the explanation I owe you."

Yu Xiaogang raised the Elder Token.

"Since Skywater Academy refuses to hand her over, I have no choice but to enforce Spirit Hall's orders."

Two soul rings rose from beneath his feet.

The soul power within Luo Sanpao surged rapidly.

The frost covering its body began to crack.

The curtain of water in Shui Yuerou's hands expanded in response.

A vast swath of lake water rose into the air.

Long Yao set his teacup back on the table.

The clear clink reached everyone's ears.

The soul power surrounding Luo Sanpao instantly dissipated.

The two soul rings froze behind Yu Xiaogang.

No matter how he tried to activate them, they would not move.

Yu Xiaogang looked at Long Yao, who sat beneath the tree.

This was his first time meeting Skywater Academy's true dean.

The face shown on the Golden Ranking had already become known throughout the continent.

Yu Xiaogang naturally recognized him.

But having come this far, he could not leave empty-handed.

"Long Yao."

Yu Xiaogang raised the Elder Token.

"No matter how powerful you are, you cannot openly make an enemy of Spirit Hall."

Long Yao glanced at the token.

"That trinket gave you the nerve to trespass on Skywater Academy's grounds?"

Yu Xiaogang held the token higher.

"To see the Elder Token is to stand before a Spirit Hall elder."

"Skywater Academy must cooperate with the investigation."

Long Yao picked up his teacup again.

"A false identity."

"A borrowed token."

"And you think you're worthy of representing Spirit Hall?"

Yu Xiaogang's expression grew uglier by the moment.

"The token is real."

"Whether Spirit Hall acknowledges my status is not something I need to explain to you."

Long Yao took a sip of tea.

"You injured two of the academy's teachers."

Yu Xiaogang glanced back down the path.

"They obstructed Spirit Hall's investigation."

"I merely had Luo Sanpao drive them back."

"That little bit of poison won't kill them."

Long Yao set down his teacup.

"You intend to take Shui Bing'er away?"

"She crippled Ma Hongjun. She must submit to an investigation."

Yu Xiaogang straightened.

"As long as Skywater Academy hands her over, I can overlook today's incident."

Shui Yuerou stared at Yu Xiaogang.

"You trespassed on our grounds and injured our teachers."

"And now you expect Skywater Academy to let it slide?"

Yu Xiaogang ignored her.

His gaze remained fixed on Long Yao.

In Yu Xiaogang's view, since Long Yao was an existence beyond god level, he ought to be all the more mindful of his standing.

If the strong attacked the weak on a whim, they would inevitably face condemnation from every faction on the continent.

Besides, he still held a Spirit Hall Elder Token.

Long Yao studied Yu Xiaogang for a moment.

"The first time you came to the academy, you allowed Ma Hongjun to threaten our students."

"The academy let you leave."

"The second time you came, you demanded an apology from Shui Bing'er and insisted that I treat Ma Hongjun."

"The academy still let you leave in one piece."

"Today marks the third time."

Yu Xiaogang tightened his grip on the token.

"Everything I've done has been for my student."

Long Yao's expression remained calm.

"When your student does wrong, you refuse to discipline him."

"Yet when others fight back, you consider them guilty."

"You call your favoritism the bond between teacher and student."

"And you treat your own judgment as the standard for right and wrong."

Yu Xiaogang took a step forward.

"Ma Hongjun has already paid the price."

"But he shouldn't have to bear this pain for the rest of his life."

"Shui Bing'er must come back with me."

Long Yao did not continue arguing with him.

"Shui Bing'er is a student of Skywater Academy."

"No one can take her away by force."

Yu Xiaogang raised a hand and pointed at Long Yao.

"You possess power beyond God Level, yet you shield a disciple who attacked so viciously."

"You have no right to be dean."

The elemental energy around the lakeside stopped flowing.

Shui Yuerou looked at Yu Xiaogang, her gaze cold.

Several academy teachers released their Martial Souls at once.

Shui Bing'er remained where she stood.

Yu Xiaogang's words had not shaken her.

Long Yao rose from his seat.

"Whether I deserve to be dean is not for you to judge."

Yu Xiaogang sensed the change around him.

He immediately channeled his Soul Power.

Luo Sanpao turned and lunged at Shui Bing'er.

If he could seize Shui Bing'er, he could force Skywater Academy to yield.

Shui Bing'er was about to strike.

Long Yao had already raised a finger.

Luo Sanpao froze in midair.

His body dissolved into specks of yellow Soul Power and vanished on the spot.

A muffled crack sounded inside Yu Xiaogang.

His two Soul Rings shattered.

At that moment, his Martial Soul Origin was completely erased.

Yu Xiaogang spat out a mouthful of blood.

He fell to his knees, and the Elder Token in his hand dropped onto the stone path.

"My Martial Soul..."

Yu Xiaogang looked up.

"You destroyed my Martial Soul?"

Long Yao walked up to him.

"You challenged Skywater Academy three times."

"Today, you even broke into the academy and attacked its people."

"I gave you a chance to leave."

Yu Xiaogang reached for the Elder Token on the ground.

"I am Tang San's teacher."

"Tang San is Clear Sky Douluo's son."

"Bibi Dong won't let you kill me either."

Long Yao looked at him.

"Who they are means nothing to me."

Yu Xiaogang's hand stopped just short of the token.

Only then did he truly realize.

Long Yao had never cared about Spirit Hall.

Nor did Long Yao hold Clear Sky Douluo in any regard.

The names Yu Xiaogang had counted on carried no weight before Long Yao.

"I only wanted justice for my disciple."

Yu Xiaogang looked up at Long Yao.

"Ma Hongjun has already been crippled."

"What is he supposed to do now?"

Long Yao did not answer that question.

"That is Shrek's concern."

"You should never have reached into Skywater Academy."

Yu Xiaogang tried to speak again.

A strand of golden light struck the space between his brows.

His body went rigid.

The Soul Power within him stopped circulating.

His life was extinguished in an instant.

Yu Xiaogang collapsed onto the stone path.

The Spirit Hall Elder Token lay beside his hand.

Yu Xiaogang was dead.

At the lakeside.

Yu Xiaogang lay on the stone path.

His Martial Soul Origin was gone.

Not a trace of life remained in his body.

Shui Yuerou looked at the corpse on the ground without speaking.

Several academy teachers stood on either side of the path.

They withdrew their Martial Souls, their gazes settling on the Spirit Hall Elder Token.

Yu Xiaogang had used that token to force his way into the academy.

He had also injured two teachers.

Now, he had finally paid for what he had done.

Long Yao raised his right hand.

The Spirit Hall Elder Token rose from the stone path and flew to Shui Yuerou.

"Send the token to the Spirit Hall Sacred Temple in Heaven Dou City."

"Let Spirit Hall investigate where it came from."

Shui Yuerou caught the token.

"Yes, Dean."

Long Yao turned to the academy teachers.

"How are the injured?"

One teacher stepped forward.

"Luo Sanpao's poison has been suppressed."

"The vice dean is having an antidote prepared."

Long Yao raised a finger.

Two streaks of pale golden light passed through the trees toward the outer academy.

A moment later.

The poison in both injured teachers vanished at once.

Sensing the change in the distance, Shui Yuerou immediately bowed.

"Thank you, Dean."

Long Yao sat down beneath the tree again.

"Dispose of him."

Shui Yuerou looked toward the end of the path.

"Someone, come here."

Two academy attendants approached Yu Xiaogang.

They lifted his body and carried it out of the academy.

Shui Bing'er stood by the lake.

She watched Yu Xiaogang being taken away, her expression unchanged.

Yu Xiaogang had come to Skywater Academy three times.

On the first two visits, the academy had let him leave unharmed.

Today, he had brought Luo Sanpao and forced his way in.

He had even tried to abduct her in front of everyone.

Long Yao had already given him a chance.

Shui Yue'er came to her sister's side.

"He won't come back to cause trouble anymore."

Shui Bing'er nodded faintly.

"That was his own choice."

Shui Yuerou put the Spirit Hall Elder Token into her Storage Soul Tool.

"I'll record everything that happened today."

"If the Spirit Hall Sacred Temple in Heaven Dou City comes asking, the academy will have a full account and evidence."

Long Yao picked up his teacup.

"They won't make an enemy of Skywater Academy over Yu Xiaogang."

Shui Yuerou glanced in the direction Yu Xiaogang had been carried.

Spirit Hall had never recognized Yu Xiaogang as an elder.

The token had most likely come from someone outside Spirit Hall.

By using the Elder Token to attack people, Yu Xiaogang had damaged Spirit Hall's authority instead.

Once Spirit Hall learned of this, it might not stand up for him at all.

Quiet returned to the lakeside.

Shui Bing'er and Shui Yue'er prepared to resume their training.

Just then.

The Golden Ranking above the heavens erupted with dazzling golden light.

Its radiance covered the entire Skywater Academy.

Layer upon layer of golden ripples spread across the lake.

Shui Bing'er stopped.

"Fourth place is about to be revealed."

Shui Yue'er immediately looked up.

"Dean, who's in fourth place?"

Long Yao set down his teacup.

"Qian Daoliu."

Shui Yuerou's gaze sharpened.

"Spirit Hall's Great Enshrined?"

"Yes."

Long Yao looked toward the Golden Ranking.

"A level ninety-nine Peerless Douluo."

"He has the Six-Winged Angel Martial Soul."

"And he is the Angel God's Great Enshrined in the mortal world."

Shui Bing'er recalled the figure in golden robes who had stood beside the Papal Palace.

"Qian Daoliu ranks above Bo Saixi."

"Is he stronger than her?"

Long Yao watched the golden light gather.

"Their Soul Power Levels are the same."

"On Sea God Island, Bo Saixi can draw upon faith in the Sea God."

"In Spirit City, Qian Daoliu can likewise draw upon Angel Divine Power."

Shui Yue'er asked:

"Then why is Qian Daoliu in fourth place?"

"The Six-Winged Angel Martial Soul has a powerful advantage against evil and darkness."

Long Yao raised his eyes.

"Qian Daoliu is also faster than Bo Saixi."

"Once they leave their respective places of inheritance, his combat strength is more consistent."

As his words faded.

Upon the Golden Ranking.

A golden sun slowly rose.

At its center, a magnificent temple gradually appeared.

The temple stood atop a mountain.

Twelve golden stone pillars stood outside it.

Each pillar was carved with a Six-Winged Angel.

At the far end of the temple.

A towering Angel God Statue held a holy sword and looked down over all of Spirit City.

Countless golden motes rose from the city.

They passed through the clouds and gathered around the Angel God Statue.

Then—

Six golden wings slowly unfurled across the sky.

Each wing stretched hundreds of yards.

Golden light illuminated the continent.

Darkness receded.

The evil aura between heaven and earth was suppressed.

The Evil Demon Forest.

Vast swathes of purplish-black spiritual power swiftly contracted.

The Evil Emperor opened his single eye.

He looked up at the six golden wings.

"Angel Divine Power."

The Evil God Crown released a violet glow, shutting out the golden light descending upon the forest.

Countless Evil Eye Tyrants burrowed underground.

Their Spiritual Origins were suppressed by the angelic aura. They did not dare look up at the sky.

The Far North.

The Ice Empress stood at the edge of an ice platform.

Golden light fell across the snow and ice, tinting the entire icefield pale gold.

"Sister Snow Empress, this power is even stronger than when Bo Saixi made the rankings."