You Expect Me to Listen to You?

Yu Xiaogang's name was renowned far and wide.

As one of his close friends, Flender was hardly out of line in asking that question.

Besides, although Yang Jian had belonged to Shrek Academy all these years, he had always had very firm ideas of his own when it came to cultivation.

He had barely ever discussed it with the academy's teachers, only occasionally seeking their advice when he encountered something he did not understand.

But such occasions were exceedingly rare.

Most of the time, Yang Jian read on his own and found his answers in books.

In other words, as far as theoretical knowledge went, Yang Jian's current cultivation had practically nothing whatsoever to do with Shrek Academy.

In his daily life, the only real help Shrek Academy could offer him was hunting Soul Beasts that possessed dragon bloodlines.

Normally, even actual Soul Beasts rarely fed on dragon-type Soul Beasts, let alone a detached Martial Soul-and a puppy at that.

Feeding a puppy dragon meat and dragon blood was enough to arouse suspicion in itself.

All the more so when that puppy was a detached Martial Soul.

Had it not been for Yang Jian's insistence, coupled with his cultivation speed that advanced a thousand miles a day, Flender would never have indulged this nonsense.

But that inexplicable trust had begun to crumble three years ago.

For one thing, starting three years ago, Yang Jian's own Soul Power had begun increasing extremely slowly, leaving him nothing like the prodigy he had once been.

Although he could still average one level of Soul Power a year, even an ordinary genius would have found that pace slow.

Much less a genius like him, who was more monstrous than the monsters.

Xiaotian was the second reason.

After eating dragon blood and dragon meat for seven or eight whole years, the puppy had not grown even a fraction taller, nor displayed anything unusual at all, let alone awakened any innate Soul Skills.

Over the past three years, Flender had sought other people's opinions, but none of them could offer a clear explanation. Most of their guesses were much the same as Yu Xiaogang's.

None, however, had been so extreme.

With Yang Jian continuing to insist, Flender had been left with no choice but to shelve the matter for the time being.

Now, hearing a similar assessment again-and from Yu Xiaogang, no less-he could not help wavering.

"Flender, do you think I'm lying to you?"

Yu Xiaogang countered.

"Xiaogang, explain it to me."

Flender pulled Yu Xiaogang toward a less crowded stretch of woods, hoping to spare Yang Jian the discomfort of overhearing them and keep anyone else from hearing something that might damage his standing among the others.

However.

Yu Xiaogang had evidently seen through this as well. He merely pretended to follow Flender for a few steps before stopping outright.

"Flender, surely you've noticed it too? A level thirty-six Soul Elder at twelve, yet barely level forty at fifteen. Something's wrong with that cultivation speed, isn't it?"

Yu Xiaogang asked, his expression cold.

In truth, he had only just realized the issue himself. His anger had clouded his mind before, and only over the past few days had he gradually regained his composure.

"Yes, his cultivation speed really has dropped considerably these past three years. I've had people examine him, and I've checked his body myself. There's nothing wrong with him."

Flender answered with his head lowered.

An inexplicable weariness seemed to settle over his face.

"That's exactly it, because right now, he's draining the pond to catch the fish!"

Yu Xiaogang delivered those last words very loudly. Everyone present was a Soul Master, so even without paying attention, they could hear him clearly.

What was more, Ma Hongjun and the others were deeply concerned about Yang Jian to begin with, so naturally, they caught every word.

"What?!"

Flender did not stop to wonder why Yu Xiaogang had suddenly raised his voice, simply assuming he was angry at Yang Jian for failing to live up to his potential. He immediately pressed him. "Xiaogang, are you saying Little Yang's cultivation speed before was entirely because he fed Xiaotian dragon blood and dragon meat?"

"Exactly. Otherwise, do you really think someone could cultivate to level thirty-six at twelve?"

"Flender, not to criticize you, but you're hardly a youngster anymore. After all your years traveling north and south, have you ever seen anyone reach level thirty-six at twelve?"

"Or have you ever heard of anyone attaining level thirty-six Soul Power at twelve?"

"Not even Qin Ming managed that, did he?"

Qin Ming had also come from Shrek Academy and was recorded by Spirit Hall as the second-youngest Soul Emperor in history.

Yu Xiaogang's words thus landed with resounding authority.

"Then what should Little Yang do, Xiaogang? Please, save this child. His words may be unpleasant, but he's still one of our Shrek Academy students."

Flender clasped Yu Xiaogang's hand, his tone almost pleading.

"Don't worry." Yu Xiaogang patted Flender's hand. "As his elder, I naturally won't hold too much against a junior. As long as he's willing to listen and stops feeding that stray dog dragon blood and dragon meat from now on, then with my care, he'll still have a chance to reach Soul Emperor, or even Soul Saint."

In the world as it was, even a Soul Emperor, let alone a Soul Saint, could be treated as an honored guest by the great powers.

There was nothing terribly wrong with Yu Xiaogang's statement, yet Flender still felt that something was off.

But this was clearly not the time to delve into that.

"All right, then. I'll speak to him in a little while. That child is terribly stubborn, though. I'm afraid it won't be easy to talk him around."

Flender sighed again.

He had watched Yang Jian grow up, after all, and naturally knew his temperament.

If not for that temperament, he would have taken Yang Jian as his personal disciple long ago, just as he had Ma Hongjun.

Things would never have come to this.

"Flender, everyone has their own fate."

"If he insists on continuing, then even if I want to help him, I won't have the chance."

"Think it over carefully. We've been old friends for so many years. Would I lie to you?"

"Xiaogang, does he absolutely have to stop feeding Xiaotian dragon blood and dragon meat before we can take the next step?" Flender asked, his eyes reddening slightly.

"Absolutely!"

"Only once he stops using that fresh blood and meat can I help him reach Soul Emperor, or even Soul Saint. Otherwise, he will never advance to Soul Emperor in his lifetime, and he'll spend no fewer than ten years stalled even at Soul King!"

Seeing that he had already cowed Flender with his bluff, Yu Xiaogang could no longer resist spouting grandiose claims.

He made no effort to lower his voice, deliberately raising it considerably instead.

For a moment.

Every student of Shrek Academy heard their exchange perfectly clearly.

Sorrow and disbelief appeared on Ma Hongjun's face, while Ning Rongrong's expression gained a hint of amusement.

Zhu Zhuqing remained silent.

Xiao Wu, Tang San, Oscar, and the others each wore different expressions as well.

Only Dai Mubai looked furious as he stared at the Grandmaster-Yu Xiaogang-whom he had previously respected because of the rumors, as though he had seen through something.

"Tsk. So you're saying that if I don't listen to you, my Soul Power won't go up anymore?"