Yu Xiaogang Taught a God; Whoever Wins the Grandmaster Wins the World; the Ordinary Caravan (5K)

"The Plane Divine Artifact has acknowledged a master, one favored by the Netherworld's Favor..."

Sweeping his gaze over his lifelike subordinates trapped within the gray crystal, the Three-Headed Hellhound felt no pity. All three heads stared fixedly at Lin Qing as he spoke in a human tongue:

"You came too late. The Netherworld already has a ruler."

"For billions of years, the Netherworld has revered only the great Dao of reincarnation. It has never had a ruler. Three-Headed Hellhound, you've defected to the enemy."

Lin Qing answered icily, regarding the Three-Headed Hellhound as something between a silver-tongued traitor who could make lotuses bloom from his tongue and a rootless stray dog.

"The Netherworld governs reincarnation, life, and death, yet has never nurtured a deity. The Divine Realm has invincible God Kings. How could the Netherworld possibly win? Surrender preserves its surviving forces."

The Three-Headed Hellhound was unbothered. "A God King sent word through the invaders. The Divine Realm has strict rules; deities may not interfere with the Netherworld's operations.

"The invaders will eventually need resurrection or reincarnation. The Netherworld needs the Hellhound clan to maintain order. Forgive me, but I cannot refuse such a tremendous honor."

"So the former guardian beast of the Reincarnation Gate has fallen so low that he's become a pet dog, tucking his tail and spinning in circles whenever the Divine Realm tosses a bone onto the ground."

"Hellhounds have always been watchdogs." The Three-Headed Hellhound's breathing grew heavy. "Whether I guard the Netherworld's door or the Divine Realm's makes no difference to me!

"I know only one thing: if a dog cannot even guard the gate, the God King will kick him aside without mercy, skin him, and eat his flesh.

"One favored by the Netherworld's Favor, I have no choice—and neither do you!"

The Three-Headed Hellhound had set his heart on guarding the Divine Realm's home, craving whatever scraps fell from a God King's fingertips. For that, he would even attack the savior chosen by the Netherworld.

All three heads opened their jaws at once, lunging viciously at Lin Qing from three directions. Uneven, bone-white fangs interlocked, their tips glinting with a cold, ghostly light after devouring countless Netherworld creatures.

Death energy condensed around the fangs, forming three grotesquely terrifying black maws, each over ten times larger than the Three-Headed Hellhound's actual mouths. Twisted faces crawled out of their throats, and dead souls screamed in anguish, their sound waves disrupting Lin Qing's Sea of Consciousness!

The Three-Headed Hellhound's innate skill, Hell-Rending Fangs!

A savage, malevolent aura rushed toward him. Sensing the chasm between their cultivation levels, Lin Qing decisively took three thudding steps back and calmly positioned Electrolux in front of him as a shield!

"Elder Yi, I'm no match for him. Beat him up!"

"You sneaky little brat..."

Electrolux was utterly shocked. The world was going downhill, and people's hearts were no longer what they used to be. Youngsters these days had no respect for their elders!

Complaints aside, Electrolux inwardly praised Lin Qing for recognizing the situation.

Too many juniors relied on a little talent to challenge the impossible, smashing eggs against rocks. Lin Qing, by contrast, was like a roadside pole on an old city street: he knew exactly where he stood. When he needed backing, he sought it!

A staff appeared in Electrolux's hand, golden patterns winding around its shaft and a skull-shaped gray gemstone set into its tip. He chanted an obscure incantation and pointed the Undead Staff forward. Space abruptly tore open, and a vast, ancient pressure descended across the spatial divide.

A pallid head emerged, complete and enormous. Two brilliant golden flames of soul fire burned in its eye sockets. It was unmistakably the intact skull of a Bone Dragon.

Unlike the darkness and evil of ordinary undead creatures, the Bone Dragon summoned through the Holy Necromancer's undead magic was blazing and pure. It released a vast, majestic power of light, like a sacred afterglow falling from the ninth heaven!

"ROAR-"

The Bone Dragon roared fiercely, its pressure surging in every direction like a rolling tide. All six of the Three-Headed Hellhound's eyes contracted. Recognizing a worthy opponent, he increased the force of his Hell-Rending Fangs by another thirty percent. The exaggerated maws, thick with death energy, snapped shut recklessly, determined to tear both Lin Qing and the suddenly appearing Bone Dragon apart!

The soul fire abruptly flared, flames spilling from the Bone Dragon's eye sockets as the surrounding temperature soared. He swung his head, and a brilliant golden stream of Dragon Flame swept forth like a holy sword of light capable of mowing down an army!

"BOOM-"

The brilliant golden Dragon Flame pierced the Hell-Rending Fangs directly ahead in a single strike. The instant the dead souls met it, they screamed hysterically and melted. The Bone Dragon blasted a skylight-sized hole through the center of the maw, which promptly collapsed and dissolved into scattering smoke and dust.

The Dragon Flame continued unabated, shattering the remaining Hell-Rending Fangs one after another, sweeping through them like rotten wood. It slammed squarely into the Three-Headed Hellhound's mountain-sized body, sending him flying with a howl of pain before he crashed heavily into the ground with an earth-shaking roar!

"More enemies, and stronger ones, are approaching. We should retreat."

Electrolux spoke without sparing the wounded Three-Headed Hellhound a glance.

"...Elder Yi, when you promised to keep me alive, did you mean that was all you'd do?"

"Obviously," Electrolux snapped. "I'm a mere fragment of divine consciousness. After crossing time and space to reach the Douluo Continent, I was on the verge of dissipating. Only after drawing a few mouthfuls of reincarnation energy from the Nether Emperor Sword did I stabilize. I'm nowhere near my prime and cannot sustain a prolonged battle. Keeping your little life intact today is already my limit.

"Reincarnation involves several procedures. Now that the Netherworld plane has been invaded by a powerful enemy and its reincarnation order disrupted by outside forces, the efficiency of cleansing memories and retracing souls has fallen drastically. You needn't worry about your sister being reincarnated.

"We'll return to the Douluo Continent and recuperate for a while. Let me absorb more power of reincarnation to strengthen my divine consciousness. Meanwhile, get acquainted with some trustworthy Douluo experts. Then you can use the Nether Emperor Sword to open a spatial gate and allow the living to enter the Netherworld. Together, we'll help you resist the invaders!

"Of course, finding heavenly treasures that nourish the soul would be ideal. They would greatly accelerate the recovery of my divine consciousness."

That sounds awfully familiar...

Elder Yi?

Elder Yao!

Lin Qing marveled that old men from different planes could actually have a crossover. A moment later, the Nether Emperor Sword cut open a spatial gate, and the old man and young man slowly vanished.

Powerful enemies surrounded the Netherworld. Neither resurrecting Lin Lan nor reclaiming the Netherworld could be accomplished overnight. This trip had established where Lin Lan was, but rescuing her still required careful, long-term planning.

Improve his own cultivation, help Electrolux return to his prime, bring allies into the Netherworld, and avenge his grievances: these were Lin Qing's four great goals in life from now on.

"Damn it, where did that old ghost come from..."

The spatial gate thundered shut. Baring his teeth, the Three-Headed Hellhound crawled out of the deep crater. The places struck by Dragon Flame were scorched black, the skin and flesh mangled. Embers hissed in his wounds, preventing them from healing.

The Nether Emperor Sword suppressed every Netherworld creature, and Electrolux's undead magic was equally effective against them. One moment of carelessness had nearly cost the Three-Headed Hellhound his life.

"Doggy, you really got beaten into a sorry state."

A teasing, aged voice suddenly rang out, and three figures appeared above the Three-Headed Hellhound.

The elderly man on the right had sparse hair on his forehead. He was tall but so thin he resembled a skeleton, and he grinned as he mocked the Three-Headed Hellhound's disheveled state.

The Three-Headed Hellhound grunted twice. Knowing he could not afford to provoke the man, he bitterly turned his heads away. Seeing this, the warm, approachable middle-aged man among the three hurried to smooth things over:

"The Three-Headed Hellhound was wounded defending the Netherworld. He is truly a valiant beast skilled in battle. Uncle Bone, please don't tease him.

"Three-Headed Hellhound, what fiend wounded you?"

"The Plane Divine Artifact has acknowledged a master." At these words, the Three-Headed Hellhound's expression changed from cloudy to sunny. "An old man follows him around. He naturally suppresses us Netherworld creatures, and he should be able to suppress dead souls like you as well."

"..."

The three abruptly fell silent. The one-armed elder said quietly, "Fengzhi, the Plane Divine Artifact is the Netherworld's central nexus. This is no trivial matter.

"His Excellency Haotian and His Excellency the Sea God cannot spare their attention. Should we consult the Horn of Wisdom?"

"The Horn of Wisdom?" The Three-Headed Hellhound tilted all three heads.

Ning Fengzhi explained gently, "'There are no useless martial souls, only useless soul masters.' That is the Horn of Wisdom's famous saying, widely known across the continent.

"Grandmaster Yu Xiaogang, the Horn of Wisdom of the Golden Iron Triangle, was the Blue Lightning King of the Heaven Dou Empire in life. His name was renowned, his military achievements outstanding. His skillful command during the epochal war between the Heaven Dou Empire and the Spirit Hall Empire earned him immense merit. But the achievement most respected by the people of Douluo was...

"Yu Xiaogang taught a god."

"C-could it be..." the Three-Headed Hellhound stammered.

"Yes. Yu Xiaogang taught the Divine Realm's Asura God King!"

It was as though a thunderbolt had split the clear sky, striking the Three-Headed Hellhound's mind. His regard for this teacher of a God King, whom he had never met, instantly rose to that of someone gazing up at an unattainable mountain!

"Grandmaster, this is Ning Fengzhi."

Using a special means of communication, Ning Fengzhi contacted the Grandmaster. A hoarse voice came from the other end.

"What is it, Brother Ning?"

Ning Fengzhi briefly described the situation at the Reincarnation Gate. The Grandmaster pondered at length before saying thoughtfully, "Power in the Divine Realm is divided among the Five Great God Kings. The Asura God King does not have the final say in everything. We must not rashly contact Xiao San and give the Destruction God King any excuse to make trouble.

"His Excellency Haotian and His Excellency the Sea God are guarding the divine positions that are about to take shape. Those two creatures loyal to the Netherworld are also sealed there.

"The Myriad Spirits Grand Formation envelops the Netherworld, using a spark of spirituality from every living being to accelerate the growth of the divine positions. Brother Ning, Sword Douluo, Bone Douluo, the Myriad Spirits Grand Formation is far more important than the Reincarnation Gate. Leave this matter alone and hurry to the formation to prevent the one favored by the Netherworld's Favor from launching a sneak attack."

"What if that fellow returns to the Reincarnation Gate? We don't even know why he came," Sword Douluo countered.

"There's no need to worry." Yu Xiaogang displayed the confidence of someone who had everything under control. "The Reincarnation Gate manages the reincarnation of Douluo's dead souls. It has nothing to do with the divine positions we need and is essentially insignificant. There's no need to assign too much manpower to guard it.

"You may leave without concern. Entrust the Reincarnation Gate to our Golden Iron Triangle. The Three-Headed Hellhound's cultivation rivals that of a hundred-thousand-year soul beast on the Douluo Continent, and he commands the Hellhound clan. With proper coordination, they are a force that cannot be underestimated.

"There are no useless Netherworld creatures, only useless leaders.

"I will teach the Hellhounds the supreme secret art of twisting themselves into a single rope. It was the key that allowed Xiao San and those seven children to overturn the odds all the way to the Soul Master Tournament championship. We will crush the Netherworld's will and its futile struggles."

"An impeccable plan. Whoever wins the Grandmaster... wins the world!"

The three men and one hound nodded vigorously, showering him with praise. The Grandmaster had arrived, and another enemy was about to suffer!

Although the Divine Realm's rules had prevented their descendants from bringing the older generation up to enjoy its comforts, the founding trio of the Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect firmly believed that if Yu Xiaogang ever gained a deity's favor, his divine position would certainly be the God of Wisdom!

The three set off for the Myriad Spirits Grand Formation with peace of mind. Along the way, Ning Fengzhi could not help remarking, "The God King promised that once matters in the Netherworld are settled, we can return to the mortal world and receive an exception to visit Rongrong in the Divine Realm."

"I wonder whether Rongrong and Xiao Ao have had a son or daughter to spread the branches and leaves of the family and inherit the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda bloodline," Sword Douluo added.

Bone Douluo scoffed. "Do you need to fret over that? Rongrong is gifted and clever. How could she not know that inheritance is crucial to a martial soul?

"I'll wager that the Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect has produced geniuses in abundance over these ten thousand years. Under the leadership of the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda, it must be flourishing as the continent's foremost support sect, challenging the Clear Sky Sect's position as the greatest sect under heaven!"

"We'll wait and see!" Ning Fengzhi and Sword Douluo laughed heartily.

"I can't wait for the day we return from the dead and witness the Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect's glory!"

Tianming City, on the border of the Heaven Dou Empire.

The blazing sun burned like fire. Tianming City's thick walls glowed a scorched yellow beneath its searing rays. Every step onto the dirt sent a wave of heat up through the soles and into trouser legs, making passersby want to curse the infernal weather.

As a border city, Tianming City had never had much to do with peace or tranquility. People from every walk of life mingled there, dragons swimming among fish.

Caravans traveling between the two countries to resell valuable goods departed from this city and usually needed to hire escorts, so a large number of soul masters gathered there.

"The Ordinary Commerce Association urgently needs twenty three-ring Soul Elders! Departure today, from Tianming City to Mingdu! Pay: one hundred gold soul coins! Higher soul power preferred! Battle Soul Masters preferred! Thousand-year soul rings preferred!"

Amid the surging crowds stood a wooden table draped in velvet, with a crystal ball for testing soul power set upon it.

Behind the table stood a bevy of enchanting women, their fans constantly fluttering up and down, stirring the flowing hems of their bold, revealing dresses. The snow-white skin at their chests was like a little hand tugging at the heartstrings, enticing passing soul masters to come closer.

"The Ordinary Commerce Association is hiring?"

The soul masters immediately flocked over at the news. The Ordinary Commerce Association was a veteran caravan.

Its travelers were always a group of gorgeous women. Its headquarters was said to be in Mingdu, and its business was the hugely profitable trade of smuggling rare metals.

The girls were delicate, supple, and captivating enough to steal a man's soul. Sun Moon dignitaries were bewitched out of their senses and willingly became the Ordinary Commerce Association's protectors.

Powerful men in Tianming City had tried to seize the Ordinary Caravan, intending to take both women and goods for themselves. Without exception, their heads had ended up hanging from the crooked-necked tree outside the city.

As its reputation accumulated over the years, Tianming City's soul masters gradually reached a consensus: the Ordinary Caravan was absolutely one of the forces they must not provoke.

The Ordinary Commerce Association's strength was anything but ordinary, so it rarely recruited outside guards. Recently, however, a band of unidentified villains had appeared along the border between the two countries, massacring three entire caravans.

The killers' brutality made one's hair stand on end. They seemed to be creatures even crueler than evil soul masters, leaving not a single survivor. The men were eaten alive, while the women's fates were even more horrific.

The women of the Ordinary Commerce Association feared these uninvited visitors, so they urgently recruited temporary guards to escort them and their goods safely to Mingdu.

"Me! Me!"

A brawny man with a brutish face squeezed to the front and reached his large hand toward the crystal ball.

The woman in charge smiled seductively and pushed the crystal ball closer. The burly man poured soul power into his palm, and the crystal ball lit up to seventy percent.

"Level thirty-five. Qualified." The woman told the girl in blue beside her, "Record his name and keep him."

"Heh, Miss Shangguan, have you forgotten? Last time the Ordinary Commerce Association hired guards, I, Hu San, was selected!"

The burly man grinned broadly and stood off to one side with his hands on his hips.

After that, soul masters signed up one after another: level thirty-one, level thirty-six, level thirty-eight...

Shangguan Ying'er greeted them with a smile throughout. Occasionally, she offered a bowl of cool tea and a few soft, gentle words, leaving the hulking soul masters weak in half their bones as they thumped their chests and promised to spare no effort.

After fourteen or fifteen soul masters had been accepted, enthusiasm for the Ordinary Commerce Association's recruitment began to fade. After all, reaching level thirty meant transforming from a Blue Silver Grass Realm soul master into a Soft Bone Rabbit Realm soul master, someone welcomed by any force on the Douluo Continent.

At an advanced Soul Master Academy, one was surrounded by talented soul masters in droves. In the continent's wider soul master world, however, there were plenty who still had not broken through level thirty at fifty years old.

One hundred gold soul coins could cover a family of three's living expenses for a year. It was a considerable sum even to these border soul masters who licked blood from their blades, but unfortunately, the three-ring requirement shut out a large number of interested men.

"BZZ-"

A jade-white hand gently covered the crystal ball. Shangguan Ying'er followed it upward with her gaze, and her beautiful eyes involuntarily froze for a moment.

An exceedingly young face came into view. Though traces of youthful innocence remained, his handsome features already possessed a sharpness that stirred the heart. He was like a keen sword hidden in its sheath, its edge restrained but faintly exuding an icy chill. His silver-gray eyes seemed capable of seeing through every illusion.

In an instant, the crystal ball shone with dazzling blue light, passing thirty, thirty-five, forty... before settling steadily around level forty-two.

The crowd erupted in gasps so terrifyingly powerful that they almost sucked the air around the Ordinary Commerce Association into a vacuum!

This young boy was actually a level forty-two Soul Ancestor. Even in a major sect of the Heaven Dou Empire, his talent would qualify him to be its chief disciple!

"Please sit, young sir!" A brilliant smile bloomed on Shangguan Ying'er's lips as she personally pulled out a chair, her skirt spreading like a red lotus in full bloom. "Standing in this heat must be exhausting.

"This honeydew melon is a Tianming City specialty. Soft, fragrant, and sweet."

Smiling, Shangguan Ying'er brought over a plate of chilled honeydew melon. Her gentle manner did not resemble someone recruiting guards at all, but rather a young lady from a wealthy household entertaining an honored guest.

The border soul masters watching the spectacle nearly popped their eyes out. The difference in treatment was plain to see.

"Miss," Lin Qing said softly, "I intend to immigrate to Mingdu and settle there. I don't need payment in gold soul coins for this trip. Could the Ordinary Commerce Association help me obtain proof of residency instead?"

Still an illegal immigrant seeking a green card.

The word "Ordinary" reminded Lin Qing of one of Mingdu's three major underground powers. An all-female caravan matched its characteristics perfectly.

No wonder such a young, talented soul master has appeared so incongruously at the border. Understanding dawned on Shangguan Ying'er, and she said with a smile, "A trivial matter. Welcome to the Sun Moon Empire, young sir.

"Since the Sun Moon Empire has few powerful martial soul bloodlines-essentially only the Sun Moon Dragon that symbolizes the imperial family, the Hongchen Family, and a handful of others-it has always encouraged Douluo soul masters to immigrate, especially talented ones who have awakened high-grade martial souls.

"As long as this shipment reaches Mingdu safely, the Ordinary Commerce Association is willing to help every Douluo guard who plans to remain in Sun Moon obtain a Permanent Imperial Residence Permit."

"Thank you."

"Not at all." Shangguan Ying'er waved her pale hand and lowered her voice. "If you have nowhere to go, young sir, you could join our Ordinary Commerce Association..."

A promising young man traveling alone as an illegal immigrant was naturally someone Shangguan Ying'er wanted to recruit. Even if Lin Qing refused, the residency permit would forge a friendly connection. She stood to gain either way.

"The Ordinary Commerce Association can actually obtain permanent residency permits? Then I'll sign up as a guard too."

A graceful, brilliant golden figure passed through the crowd, approaching at an unhurried pace.