Qian Daoliu slowly stepped down from the carriage.
He turned toward the crowd and spoke slowly. "Thank you all for your trust in Spirit Hall. Now, please calm down for a moment. I have a few more words to say."
Qian Daoliu's gentle voice spread through his soul power. Everyone in the area fell quiet upon hearing him, waiting for him to speak.
"Spirit Hall treats ordinary people and soul masters alike, without discrimination.
We hope that everyone with soul power can embark on the path of a soul master and shine brightly along that path.
If you share Spirit Hall's aspirations, you are welcome to join us.
I, Qian Daoliu, thank you all on behalf of Spirit Hall."
Only after finishing did Qian Daoliu turn toward Lin Zhen, the dean of Plant Academy.
Lin Zhen tactfully picked up where he left off and soothed the crowd, allowing Qian Daoliu to gracefully conclude his fan meet-and-greet and enter Plant Academy.
As for Golden Crocodile Douluo, no one seemed to recognize him.
Lin Zhen was still outside the academy calming the crowd to prevent unnecessary chaos, so the task of receiving their guests fell to the director of studies, Ye Nanzhu, and the Great Enshrined's new disciple, Jin Yang.
In Qian Daoliu's eyes, Plant Academy's scenery was nothing worth looking at.
Qian Daoliu had only come to put in an appearance and show his face, lending his support to Jin Yang and Plant Academy.
He did not stay long before flying back to Spirit City with Golden Crocodile Douluo.
Afterward, news that the Great Enshrined had taken Jin Yang as his disciple spread outward from Spirit City.
The various sects reacted differently to this sudden news.
The Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Sect flew into a rage.
The Clear Sky Sect's hideout and the four great clans fell deathly silent.
The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect was shocked.
The two imperial clans delved deeply into the current situation.
Not a single clan regarded the Great Enshrined's decision to take a disciple as a simple matter.
Those who acted quickly, such as Xue Ye, already had congratulatory gifts for Jin Yang on the way.
Those who acted slowly were still asking around about Jin Yang's preferences.
News of Qian Daoliu taking a disciple flew everywhere, eventually reaching Yu Xiaogang's ears.
"..."
Yu Xiaogang fell silent.
In truth, when Huisinuo had tortured him, he had already known he was wrong.
When he encountered a child capable of defeating Tang San, he should have treated him with courtesy.
Unfortunately, it was all too late. Now, there was probably nothing left between them but a fight to the death.
Perhaps this child named Jin Yang was the one truly suited to being his disciple.
Tang San... he had cast Tang San aside long ago.
This year marked the sixth anniversary of his regret over severing his master-disciple relationship with Tang San.
With Tang San's talent of innate full soul power, surpassing Jin Yang by now might not have been impossible under the guidance of a Grandmaster like him.
Even if Qian Daoliu wanted to take Tang San as his disciple, he could accept sharing a disciple with him, guiding Tang San together along the path to godhood.
Sadly, he had ruined all of it himself.
Yu Xiaogang sat forlornly on the edge of his bed, gazing at the beautiful scenery of the distant Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Sect.
All five flavors mingled in his heart.
Although his physical injuries had healed, a gaping hole remained in his heart.
He had swallowed all the nourishing supplements Bibi Dong had sent over the years.
Yet his cultivation still showed not the slightest sign of a breakthrough.
The soul power in his body seemed trapped firmly at the bottleneck, unable to break through.
Yu Xiaogang clenched his fist and slammed it hard into the bed. The soft quilt and mattress instantly sank around his fist, absorbing all his force.
Just like his resentment and anger, it had nowhere to go.
"Does even Bibi Dong, the exalted Pope of Spirit Hall, have no way to help?"
Yu Xiaogang gave a miserable smile and collapsed onto the bed, with nothing left to live for.
Just then, a voice suddenly surfaced in Yu Xiaogang's mind. "Teacher!"
Tang San! There was still Tang San.
Only then did Yu Xiaogang realize what he had lost.
He had lost someone who truly loved and respected him, who trusted him completely and revered him like a father.
"Little San!"
Yu Xiaogang slowly closed his eyes. A tear from his left eye slid across the bridge of his nose and pooled in his right.
"Little San, I was wrong. I've wronged you!"
"I'll definitely find a chance to leave the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Sect. Then I'll make it up to you properly and teach you."
The maid standing outside the door happened to hear this. Hatred surged in her heart, and she immediately pushed the door open.
She walked up to Yu Xiaogang's bed.
Startled, Yu Xiaogang abruptly rolled over and sat up.
"What are you doing here? Get out!"
The maid did not budge. She stared at him without a word, complex emotions churning in her eyes.
"Xiaogang!"
"You wouldn't want the sect master to find out about this person called Little San, would you?"
The maid spoke coldly.
"Don't force me to act!"
Yu Xiaogang released the fluctuations of his rank-29 soul power, and Luo Sanpao appeared beside him.
The maid acted as though she had noticed nothing. Her right hand gripped Yu Xiaogang's chin like an iron vise as she carefully studied his aging face.
"After six years, you've grown old just like me."
The maid spoke softly, her eyes filled with twisted tenderness.
"Look, we're the only ones who are truly a perfect match."
"We're the only two who can truly grow old together until our hair turns white."
"Why do you always reject me?"
Yu Xiaogang took a deep breath, then poured soul power into his soul ring. "Fart like mist, hypnotize into sleep, Luo Sanpao!"
Yu Xiaogang instantly activated his soul skill. Luo Sanpao raised his plump rear and expelled a cloud of yellow smoke toward the maid, carrying a heavy, cloying radish stench that made one want to vomit.
Long since accustomed to it, the maid covered her mouth and nose and activated her own defensive soul skill.
She pinned both of Yu Xiaogang's arms with one hand and covered his mouth with the other.
"If you love farting so much, take a good whiff yourself."
After smelling them for so many years, the maid knew what sort of fart Yu Xiaogang was about to let out the moment he raised his rear.
"I'll be sure to report this to the sect master."
Only after saying this did the maid release Yu Xiaogang. Then she turned and left.
Yu Xiaogang was left standing there alone in a daze.
Spirit Hall, Elder Hall.
"Your Holiness, what brings you here to see me?" Chrysanthemum Douluo leisurely held his teacup and took a small sip.
"Did you do it on purpose?" Bibi Dong frowned deeply at Chrysanthemum Douluo's attitude, which was completely different from before.
"Your Holiness, you've misunderstood. Haven't I already finished what you asked me to do?"
"Didn't I tell you to give it to me yourself? Why did you have a deacon deliver it?" A trace of anger appeared on Bibi Dong's face, and she seemed thoroughly agitated.
"Your Holiness, please calm down," Ghost Douluo said from the side.
"Yes, Your Holiness, please calm down. Old Ghost and I just want to take some time off."
Chrysanthemum Douluo raised an eyebrow and spoke helplessly.
"I haven't had a vacation in years. I've toiled away day after day, so taking a break now isn't unreasonable, is it? Can't we just leave the little things to our subordinates?"
"But..." Bibi Dong was struck speechless, momentarily unsure what to say.
Could she really say that she simply wanted to order the two of them around?
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