You'd Better Pray There's an Aeon Behind You Too

"What... outrageous! Ning Rongrong, where are the manners your Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect taught you?"

Ning Rongrong's words instantly shattered Yu Xiaogang's composure. Why had she started insulting him right off the bat?

Ning Rongrong merely curled her lips in disdain at his response.

"I speak to people however they deserve. I don't need you teaching me.

What? Not happy? Come hit me if you've got the guts! Bleh, bleh, bleh!"

Who was Ning Rongrong? Even Xue Ye would call her a Demon Pill if he were here. How could Yu Xiaogang's words possibly faze her?

Seeing her act like this, Yu Xiaogang seethed helplessly. He was almost fifty. Surely he couldn't actually lay hands on a little girl?

Besides, even if he did, he might not be able to beat Ning Rongrong.

"Hmph. I didn't come to argue with you. I came for an academic exchange."

"An academic exchange?"

The moment Yu Xiaogang finished speaking, a clear voice rang out behind him.

Yu Xiaogang and Tang San turned toward the voice and saw a woman in a jade-green dress walking over.

She had a lovely figure, long emerald hair that fluttered in the breeze, and fair skin glowing with the luster of jade. Her entire presence seemed ethereal, removed from the mortal world.

Yet her tall figure, those long legs, and the sway of her body as she walked,

along with her alluring oval face and mismatched eyes of ice and fire, lent her an uncanny charm.

A flash of awe crossed both Yu Xiaogang's and Tang San's eyes. Such an exquisite beauty was rarely found in this world.

"Who's that?"

Yu Feng nudged Osler with his elbow as he watched the beauty who had suddenly appeared.

"If you don't know, how would I?"

The members of the Imperial Fighting Team also murmured among themselves, discussing the identity of this unexpected beauty.

"Yanyan."

Ye Lingling, who had remained silent at the side, suddenly spoke, drawing everyone's attention.

Seeing Ye Lingling, Dugu Yan revealed a faint, heart-stirring smile. In a flash, she appeared before her.

Dugu Yan wrapped an arm around Ye Lingling and spoke with playful sweetness.

"Aww, Lingling, how did you recognize me so quickly?"

"Dugu Yan?"

Yu Xiaogang and Tang San were startled. They hadn't seen her for barely more than ten days. How had she become an entirely different person?

"Holy crap, Sister Yan? Did you... get plastic surgery?"

Even in his shock, Yu Feng hadn't forgotten his usual smart mouth. Still, he had voiced exactly what everyone else was thinking. The change was simply too drastic.

Dugu Yan glanced at Yu Feng, her eyes full of warning.

"We'll talk about that later."

With that, Dugu Yan turned to Yu Xiaogang.

"You want an academic exchange?"

At Dugu Yan's question, Yu Xiaogang came to his senses, coughed twice, and clasped his hands behind his back.

"That's right. I heard that every member of the Imperial Fighting Team has made a breakthrough. How can Heaven Dou Royal Academy monopolize something that benefits the development of the Soul Master World? It ought to be shared with all soul masters!"

Yu Xiaogang raised his head and puffed out his chest as he spoke, as though he were acting for the sake of all living beings.

Inwardly, however, he was wondering whether this method could allow him to break through rank thirty.

Disdain appeared in Dugu Yan's eyes, and a cold smile curved her lips.

"Share it? Hmph, you fame-fishing fraud! What, now that you've seen your theories overturned, you want to take this method and publish it under your own name, pretending you invented it?

'Grandmaster' Yu, go find somewhere cool to sit. Heaven Dou Royal Academy doesn't welcome thieves like you."

With that, Dugu Yan took Ye Lingling by the hand and headed into Heaven Dou Royal Academy. Seeing their pillar of support leave, the others followed.

Only Yu Xiaogang and Tang San remained at the entrance. Yu Xiaogang's expression darkened. He tried to step forward and stop them from leaving, only to be blocked by the knights at the gate.

"Heaven Dou Royal Academy. Outsiders are forbidden entry!"

Seeing Yu Xiaogang make such a fool of himself, Tang San covered his face.

This useless fool. How did I never notice he was this stupid before?

Unable to get inside, Yu Xiaogang turned and left. He didn't dare shout or make a scene. What if the guards at the gate beat him up?

He rubbed the hard token in his hand, and a plan he considered excellent took shape in his mind.

I refuse to believe you can silence the countless voices of all the world's soul masters.

With that thought, Yu Xiaogang hurried toward Heaven Dou City, not even greeting Flender and the others when he encountered them along the way.

"What's wrong with Xiaogang?"

Liu Erlong watched Yu Xiaogang hurry away, her face full of concern.

Flender shook his head at her question. Seeing that Yu Xiaogang hadn't followed them, he looked toward Tang San, who was approaching unhurriedly from behind, and took two steps forward.

"Little Three, what happened?"

Tang San spread his hands helplessly and explained how Yu Xiaogang had been turned away at the gate.

"What kind of students does this Heaven Dou Royal Academy teach? What right do they have to withhold the method for increasing soul power from us?"

Before she had even finished listening, Liu Erlong began throwing a tantrum, hurling abuse at Heaven Dou Royal Academy.

Watching this, Tang San's expression remained unchanged, but inwardly he was filled with contempt.

Why is the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan full of people like this? Given how fiercely they shield their own, they might well keep coming after me, one after another.

The Tang Sect's treasured records: once you have confirmed that an enemy has given you cause to kill them, you must cut out the weeds by the roots!

Their questions yielded nothing, and they didn't dare go to Heaven Dou Royal Academy, so the group had no choice but to return to Shrek Academy.

Meanwhile, Yu Xiaogang had already hurried to the Spirit Hall sanctuary in Heaven Dou City.

Salas rushed out of his office and into the reception hall, offering Yu Xiaogang an ingratiating smile.

"I didn't know an elder was coming, so I failed to welcome you properly. What instructions do you have for me?"

Yu Xiaogang greatly enjoyed the feeling of standing above others. He lifted his chin and spoke arrogantly.

"I have something for you to do."

He then explained that Heaven Dou Royal Academy possessed a method for increasing soul power and told Salas to spread the news.

He also told him to report it to the Supreme Pontiff and have her send people to demand the method.

After hearing him out, Salas gained a new appreciation for Yu Xiaogang's shamelessness, but he said nothing more.

Whatever those above ordered, those below carried out. If anything went wrong, he wouldn't be responsible. Why risk his neck for the handful of Gold Soul Coins he earned each month?

"Understood. I'll see to it immediately."

With that, Salas went out and issued two proclamations in succession, ordering his subordinates to distribute them to the Spirit Hall branches in the major cities and send them to Spirit City as well.

Over the next few days, with Spirit Hall fanning the flames, the news that Heaven Dou Royal Academy possessed a secret method for increasing soul power once again surged into the headlines.

People had lost track of how many times this had happened. Over the past month, major events in the Heaven Dou Empire had come one after another.

Naturally, Sunday, who was at Heaven Dou Royal Academy, also received the news.

He stopped playing and looked at Dugu Bo beside him.

"So you think Yu Xiaogang went to Spirit Hall?"

Dugu Bo nodded, his expression grim.

"Yanyan told me she ran into that useless Yu Xiaogang when she came back that day. I reckon he's the one behind this.

I've now heard that Spirit City has sent two Titled Douluo to Heaven Dou City..."

Sunday shook his head with a smile.

"Then you're just worried I won't be able to handle it, aren't you? If you want to help me, just say so, you hopeless granddaughter fanatic."

"Who... who wants to help you? I'm worried about Yanyan."

Dugu Bo stiffened his neck and retorted at Sunday's words.

Sunday paid him no further attention and resumed playing the piano. For the first time, impatience appeared in his eyes.

Bibi Dong? Interesting. You'd better pray there's an Aeon standing behind you too!