A test: Yu Xiaogang's true colors

"Hmph! Then why didn't you publish your Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan's secret arts too? Why are yours off-limits?"

Qian Xunji snorted coldly, his aura forcing Yu Xiaogang, who had just struggled to his feet, back onto the floor.

Yu Xiaogang trembled at Qian Xunji's words. Publish the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan's secret arts? Even my father couldn't protect me then.

Qian Xunji said grimly, "Why aren't you speaking? Spirit Hall won't withdraw the theories already published, but we will correct them."

"N-no, you can't do that," Yu Xiaogang said anxiously.

Correct what? Of course he meant changing those names back.

"Those things belong to Spirit Hall. If you want to make a name for yourself, go home and use your own clan's work."

Watching the frantic Yu Xiaogang, Bibi Dong recalled how he had once spoken to her as an equal.

How laughable it all seemed now. He had only dared because his father was a Titled Douluo!

"Lost your tongue already?" Jiang Mo said scornfully.

Looking at Yu Xiaogang below the dais, Qian Xunji said coldly, "That settles the matter of martial soul theory. There's no need to discuss it further. Let's talk about something else."

"T-talk about what?"

A chill crept up Yu Xiaogang's back. He had a bad feeling.

"Let's talk about how a mere Soul Grandmaster like you managed to swindle my Saintess Token out of her."

"Spirit Hall has plenty of people better than you. How did you manage to succeed?"

Qian Xunji put away the Pope's Scepter and descended the steps one at a time.

Behind the screen,

Bibi Dong lowered her head even further when she heard Qian Xunji turn the conversation toward her.

Under Qian Xunji's protection, Bibi Dong had barely experienced the world. She could count the people she interacted with.

"No, I didn't deceive Dong'er. Dong'er and I truly love each other."

Yu Xiaogang hastily spoke as he watched Qian Daoliu approach him.

"Truly love each other?" Qian Xunji scoffed.

"I think you simply lusted after her beauty. If you truly loved her, you wouldn't have taken her token into the Library Pavilion."

"Colluding with outsiders and leaking secrets-Yu Xiaogang, you should know what would happen if this took place in your Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan."

"As the son of a clan leader, you should understand the consequences."

"And you still dare claim you truly love Dong'er?"

Qian Xunji stopped in front of Yu Xiaogang, murderous intent spilling from him as the temperature around them dropped.

When Yu Xiaogang imagined this happening to him, the consequences frightened him so badly that his face turned white.

"Hmph." Qian Xunji snorted coldly.

"Ah!" Yu Xiaogang collapsed in fright.

A single snort sent him crumpling to the floor. Yu Xiaogang, how could you be such a useless coward?

Qian Xunji looked at Yu Xiaogang with undisguised disgust. How on earth did Bibi Dong fall for him?

"By the way, Bibi Dong has already been stripped of her Saintess title over this incident. She also incurred the Great Enshrined's wrath. In his fury, he sentenced her to death. She will be executed in a few days."

"If you truly love Bibi Dong, Yu Xiaogang, I can give you a chance to take her place. Are you willing?"

"What?!" Yu Xiaogang stared at Qian Xunji, his eyes wide with disbelief.

"Y-you... how could you do this?"

Yu Xiaogang spoke feebly, his face deathly pale.

"Yu Xiaogang, I'll ask you once more. Are you willing to die in Bibi Dong's place?"

"I..."

Hesitation covered Yu Xiaogang's face, and he unconsciously began shaking his head. Though he never finished his sentence, his thoughts were written plainly on his face.

Seeing this, Qian Xunji's expression grew even colder.

He leaned closer and unleashed the pressure of a level ninety-five Titled Douluo, concentrating it on Yu Xiaogang as he asked in a grave voice:

"Answer me. Are you willing to save her?"

"Y-you... you can't do this."

Yu Xiaogang's voice trembled. Barely able to breathe beneath Qian Xunji's pressure, he murmured in panic:

"She only gave me a token. That doesn't warrant death."

Qian Xunji said coldly:

"In Spirit Hall, giving someone that token is a capital offense. She did it for you."

"This should have been your fate, but she is suffering the punishment in your place. You keep insisting that you love her. Are you willing to bear all this for her?"

"I..."

Yu Xiaogang still hesitated.

Qian Xunji sneered. Without another word, he attacked a tree outside the hall, sending a streak of golden light toward it.

Bang!

The little tree exploded instantly.

The thunderous noise made Yu Xiaogang shudder. He was so frightened that he wet himself.

"You think you're worthy of saying you love Dong'er?"

Behind the screen, everyone frowned deeply.

"What's that smell?" Lion asked with a frown.

"To think the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan produced a coward like this. They have no worthy successors left," Golden Crocodile said with a sigh.

Jiang Mo stared outside the hall, his eyes brimming with anger.

"Big brother, I can't stomach this. Let's wipe out that loach clan!"

Since the Pope's Hall had been established, nothing like this had ever happened before.

Everyone was indignant as well.

Looking at Yu Xiaogang, who had wet himself, Qian Xunji's face filled with disgust.

"For Dong'er's sake, I won't kill you today. Crawl back to your Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan. If you ever dare set so much as half a foot in Spirit City again, I'll make you wish you were dead."

"Get out!"

"Thank you, Your Holiness. I'll never come here again."

Yu Xiaogang shakily rose to his feet. Looking forlorn, he turned and left the hall without the slightest hesitation. As for whether Bibi Dong lived or died, he did not ask another word.

Behind the screen, Bibi Dong watched Yu Xiaogang leave without hesitation, tears already streaming down her face.

He was just leaving like that?

Although she knew this was Qian Xunji's test, Yu Xiaogang's heartlessness still pierced her heart deeply. Was this the real Yu Xiaogang?

At that moment, Bibi Dong finally saw Yu Xiaogang's true colors.

"Waaah..."

Two years of love had come to this. Grief welled up in Bibi Dong's heart. She turned toward Qian Daoliu beside her, threw herself into his arms, and sobbed aloud.

Qian Daoliu was startled. He had never expected the girl to embrace him. It seemed she truly trusted him now.

But he also knew how heartbroken she was, so he gently patted her back to comfort her.

The front hall

After watching Yu Xiaogang leave, Qian Xunji gave Yue Guan another instruction.

"Yue Guan, you and Gui Mei will help the Saintess complete this article."

"Understood!" Yue Guan bowed and withdrew from the Pope's Hall.

Qian Daoliu lightly waved a hand at the others. Although they wanted to say something, they dared not linger after receiving his instruction.

And after that day,

Spirit Hall publicly announced that the previously released ten great martial soul theories had caused errors in Soul Masters' cultivation because their compiler, Yu Xiaogang, had stolen information and organized it improperly. Fortunately, the Great Enshrined had discovered and corrected the mistakes. Yu Xiaogang's punishment was now as follows: he was forever forbidden from entering Spirit Hall's territory, on pain of death without mercy!

As for the ten great martial soul theories, Spirit Hall's Saintess would correct them.

Gui Mei and Yue Guan worked efficiently. In just a few days, the news spread across the continent.

Yu Xiaogang went straight from a universally praised Grandmaster of theory to a rat scurrying across the street for stealing others' achievements-a clown everyone clamored to beat.