Yu Xiaogang's True Face Exposed! A Hypocrite!

Tang San lowered his head.

He did not dare look at Yu Xiaogang.

Qian Daoliu withdrew his gaze.

"This is the disciple you taught."

"You planned his Soul Rings and taught him theory."

"Now you're about to die, yet he doesn't even dare take a single step forward."

Yu Xiaogang opened his mouth.

He still wanted to cry out.

A surge of Soul Power sealed his mouth.

Qian Daoliu started walking again.

Tang San remained where he stood.

Even after Qian Daoliu had walked several dozen feet away, he still had not taken out a Hidden Weapon.

Flender caught up, supporting himself against the wall.

His meridians had suffered a backlash from the Martial Soul Fusion Skill, and every step sent searing pain through his chest.

"Senior, please wait."

Qian Daoliu did not stop.

Flender quickened his pace.

He blocked Qian Daoliu's path with his body.

"Senior, Xiaogang has already lost an arm."

"You also crushed the Golden Iron Triangle with your own hands."

"What he just did was indeed despicable."

"But I've known him for years. I can't watch him be taken away."

Yu Xiaogang floated behind them.

As he watched Flender blocking the way ahead, a little more hope appeared in his eyes.

Qian Daoliu looked at Flender.

"You want to plead for him?"

Flender nodded.

"Yes."

"I'm willing to shoulder part of the burden for what he did wrong."

Qian Daoliu asked, "Including attacking me?"

Flender's expression froze.

After a moment, he still nodded.

"Including that."

"The three of us unleashed the Golden Sacred Dragon together."

"Xiaogang shouldn't be the only one to bear the consequences."

Qian Daoliu raised his right hand.

The divine markings of the Angel Space-Rending Sword lit up on the back of his hand.

A Golden Longsword slowly appeared in his palm.

The instant the Golden Sword Edge appeared, space down the center of the street split open in succession.

The Cat Owl Martial Soul within Flender was suppressed.

The Soul Power he had just gathered also rapidly dispersed beneath the Angel God's divine might.

"You're willing to bear the burden for him."

"Then bear it with your life."

Flender's pupils contracted.

Qian Daoliu slashed his sword down.

No Soul Rings.

No Soul Skills.

A streak of Golden Sword Light swept through the center of the street.

Flender tried to release his Martial Soul.

Before his Soul Power could surge out of his meridians, the sword light had already pierced his chest.

Squelch!

Blood sprayed from Flender's back.

His body stopped in place.

His crystal spectacles slipped from the bridge of his nose and fell onto the stone paving.

The lenses shattered into several pieces.

Flender lowered his head to look at his chest.

A long, narrow wound pierced straight through his body.

No more blood flowed from around the wound.

His heart, meridians, and Martial Soul had all been severed at once by the Angel Space-Rending Sword.

Flender turned his head.

He took one last look at Yu Xiaogang.

Yu Xiaogang floated within the golden Soul Power.

There was nothing but relief in his eyes.

Flender had taken that sword strike for him.

He had survived again.

When Flender saw Yu Xiaogang's expression clearly, his lips moved slightly.

"So..."

He never managed to say the rest.

His body fell to the ground.

Flender, the Horn of Flight.

He died on the spot.

At the other end of the street.

Everyone from Shrek went pale.

Oscar backed away.

Ma Hongjun's legs went weak, and he braced himself against the wall beside him.

Dai Mubai grabbed Tang San's shoulder and pulled him back into the crowd.

No one dared collect Flender's body.

Even less did anyone dare step forward to plead for Yu Xiaogang.

Yu Xiaogang looked at Flender on the ground.

He soon averted his gaze.

"Senior."

"Flender has already borne the burden for me."

"Could you let me go now?"

Liu Erlong raised her face.

She looked at Yu Xiaogang, the last shred of affection in her eyes vanishing completely.

Flender had died to save him.

Yu Xiaogang felt no sorrow.

No guilt.

He only wanted to trade Flender's life for his own survival.

Liu Erlong suddenly felt something.

The Yu Xiaogang she had known in the past had never truly existed.

That man who spoke endlessly of theories, acted with composure, and willingly endured the world's ridicule for his ideals was merely one side Yu Xiaogang had deliberately displayed.

Qian Daoliu put away the Angel Space-Rending Sword.

The Golden Longsword turned back into divine markings and merged into the back of his right hand.

He continued walking forward.

Yu Xiaogang was dragged along behind him by Soul Power.

Liu Erlong stood beside Flender's corpse.

She looked down for a moment, then raised a hand to wipe the tears from the corners of her eyes.

"Senior."

Qian Daoliu stopped.

Liu Erlong came up behind him.

Her long black dress was already stained with dust.

One corner of the crimson sash around her waist had torn off.

Her black hair hung loose over her shoulders, and traces of blood still remained beside her lips.

"There's something I want to ask you."

Qian Daoliu turned to look at her.

"Ask."

Liu Erlong glanced at Yu Xiaogang.

"Is he truly as despicable as you said?"

"Did those Martial Soul Theories of his truly come from Spirit Hall?"

"Did he approach me only because he couldn't have Bibi Dong?"

Yu Xiaogang's expression changed abruptly.

"Erlong!"

"Don't believe him!"

Liu Erlong did not look at him.

She still waited for Qian Daoliu's answer.

Qian Daoliu raised his palm.

A mass of golden radiance appeared between them.

Within the radiance, images rapidly emerged one after another.

A young Yu Xiaogang stood inside Spirit Hall's Library.

Using the token Bibi Dong had given him, he leafed through one precious tome after another.

Soul Beast classifications.

Martial Soul inheritance.

Soul Ring limits.

Paths of development for Soul Masters.

Every subject had complete records left by generations of Spirit Hall scholars.

The images continued to change.

Yu Xiaogang left Spirit Hall.

He copied down the contents of those tomes and compiled them into his own works.

Those achievements that had originally belonged to Spirit Hall were credited to the Grandmaster.

Liu Erlong watched the images within the golden radiance.

Her fingers slowly drooped.

Qian Daoliu said, "Yu Xiaogang's theories aren't entirely wrong."

"Because the correct parts came from Spirit Hall to begin with."

"Most of what truly belongs to him is nothing more than unverified conjecture."

Liu Erlong asked, "Then what about Bibi Dong?"

Qian Daoliu's expression remained calm.

"Yu Xiaogang has never let go of Bibi Dong."

"After he and Bibi Dong parted, he needed someone who could comfort him."

"You happened to appear at that time."

Liu Erlong's face went pale.

Yu Xiaogang hurriedly said, "That's not true!"

"Erlong, my feelings for you are genuine!"

Liu Erlong finally looked at him.

"Were you being genuine when you offered me to Senior just now, too?"

Yu Xiaogang fell silent on the spot.

Liu Erlong asked again, "Flender died for you."

"Why wouldn't you even spare him another glance?"

Yu Xiaogang hastily explained.

"He was already dead."

"Even if I kept looking, I couldn't bring him back to life."

"The most important thing now is to preserve Shrek Academy."

"As long as I survive, Flender's life's work won't have been in vain."

Liu Erlong took half a step back.

She no longer needed to keep asking.

Every explanation only made Yu Xiaogang seem more despicable.

Qian Daoliu had not deceived her.

The truth was even more disgraceful than what Qian Daoliu had told her.

Liu Erlong closed her eyes.

She remembered all those years she had spent waiting for Yu Xiaogang.

Blue Tyrant Academy.

The Golden Iron Triangle.

That unfinished wedding.

And the excuses she had made for Yu Xiaogang time and again.

Everything she had held fast to had become a joke today.

A moment later.

Liu Erlong opened her eyes again.

She approached Qian Daoliu.

The hem of her black dress fell along her legs.

Liu Erlong bent both knees and knelt on the rubble-strewn street.

"Senior."

"Thank you for letting me see the truth."

Qian Daoliu looked down at her.

"What do you want to do?"

Liu Erlong lowered her head.

"I have already severed all ties with Yu Xiaogang."

"Flender is dead, and the Golden Iron Triangle no longer exists."

"From this day forward, I am willing to submit to you, Senior."

"Whatever you ask of me, I will do."

"I will never betray you."

Several days later.

Star Dou Great Forest.

Golden divine light pierced the clouds and fell upon the forest's outskirts.

Qian Daoliu withdrew his soul power.

Qian Renxue and Liu Erlong landed after him on a patch of grass.

Dense ancient trees stretched into the depths of the forest.

Thick branches and leaves blocked most of the sunlight, leaving only dappled light and shadow on the ground.

Liu Erlong raised her head and looked around.

The Star Dou Great Forest she knew so well seemed especially quiet now.

As Qian Daoliu passed high overhead, his divine angelic might had already alarmed the soul beasts along the way.

The hundred-year and thousand-year soul beasts had long since fled.

Even ten-thousand-year soul beasts dared not approach the area where the three stood.

Qian Renxue took a few steps forward.

Her long white dress brushed over the grass.

A few drops of dew left from the early morning clung to its hem.

She glanced down, and the Ice and Fire Golden Body began circulating on its own.

A faint crimson glow flowed along the edge of her dress.

The droplets immediately turned into white mist and dispersed.

Qian Daoliu looked into the depths of the forest.

His spiritual perception covered a vast area.

Thousands upon thousands of soul beasts appeared within his perception, one after another.

Liu Erlong came to his side.

"Senior."

"We need to go farther east to reach the place where that Light Sacred Tiger last appeared."

"It's already close to the core region."

Qian Daoliu nodded.

"Lead the way."

Liu Erlong released her Fire Dragon Martial Soul.

Crimson scales covered her arms.

Two dragon horns emerged from her black hair.

Flames encircled her mature figure, dispelling the surrounding gloom.

She walked ahead, clearing the brambles blocking the way for the other two.

Qian Renxue linked her arm through her grandfather's.

"Grandpa."

"Is a seventy-thousand-year Light Sacred Tiger really suitable for me?"

"That depends on its bloodline."

Qian Daoliu said, "An ordinary light-attribute soul beast can't offer much improvement to the Six-Winged Angel Martial Soul."

"If its bloodline is pure enough, it can serve as your seventh soul ring."

"If it isn't, we'll choose another."

Qian Renxue nodded lightly.

"I'll listen to you, Grandpa."

The three continued deeper into the forest.

They encountered no obstacles along the way.

Liu Erlong occasionally discovered tracks left by soul beasts.

Most of those tracks were very fresh.

But whenever she followed them, the soul beasts had already fled without a trace.

She turned to glance at Qian Daoliu.

The White-Haired Man had not released his martial soul.

Nor was any soul power leaking from his body.

Yet the surrounding soul beasts could still sense his presence.

It was suppression stemming from the level of his very existence.

Soul beasts' perception of danger far surpassed that of ordinary soul masters.

They did not even need to see Qian Daoliu to avoid this area of their own accord.

Liu Erlong withdrew the dragon scales covering her arms.

"With you here, Senior, I'm afraid finding a soul beast won't be easy."

Qian Renxue looked at her.

"Grandpa scared all the soul beasts away?"

"Most likely."

Liu Erlong said, "The higher a soul beast's cultivation, the more clearly it understands your grandfather's strength."

"They won't stay where they are and wait for us to approach."

Qian Daoliu paid it no mind.

"Keep going."

The three passed through a grove of ancient trees.

A clear stream appeared ahead.

Liu Erlong stopped.

"The traces of the Light Sacred Tiger's aura are nearby."

Qian Daoliu raised his hand and beckoned.

A strand of pale golden fur flew out from behind a rock beside the stream and landed in his palm.

A faint aura of light lingered within the strand.

Qian Renxue extended her slender hand.

Her fingertip gently touched the golden fur.

The Six-Winged Angel Martial Soul showed no reaction.

"Grandpa."

"Its light attribute is very weak."

Qian Daoliu released the strand.

The golden fur drifted into the stream on the wind.

"It isn't suitable for you."

Liu Erlong asked, "Then shall we keep looking for other light-attribute soul beasts?"

"There's no need to restrict ourselves to one attribute."

Qian Daoliu looked at Qian Renxue.

"The most important function of the seventh soul ring is to unlock the Martial Soul Avatar."

"Xue'er's Six-Winged Angel Martial Soul is already pure enough."

"What she needs more now is a soul ring that can comprehensively strengthen her physique and soul power."

Liu Erlong thought for a moment.

"There are quite a few soul beasts with immense strength in Star Dou Great Forest."

"But finding a high-age soul beast suitable for a seventh soul ring will take time."

Qian Daoliu raised his eyes toward the core region.

"One is already here."

Liu Erlong's expression tightened.

She immediately released her spiritual power.

There was still no obvious movement in the depths of the forest.

Yet the pebbles on the ground began to bounce gently.

Ripples spread across the surface of the stream.

A moment later.

The crash of breaking trees came from the distance.

The tremors beneath Liu Erlong's feet grew stronger and stronger.

Flocks of birds swept over the forest, while the soul beasts living nearby scrambled to flee.

Qian Renxue raised her eyes to look.

An ancient tree so thick it would take several people to encircle it suddenly toppled sideways.

Boom!

The thick trunk slammed into the ground.

Dust and fallen leaves billowed in all directions.

A pitch-black hand reached out from the dense woods.

Hard, horny skin covered its surface.

Five fingers gripped another ancient tree and shoved it forcefully aside.

The trunk snapped on the spot.

An enormous ape soul beast walked out of the forest.

Its limbs were thick and powerful.

Its shoulders were as broad as a mountain wall.

Pitch-black fur covered its entire body, but great slabs of hard muscle bulged across its chest and abdomen.

With every step it took, the ground shook.

Liu Erlong's expression swiftly changed when she recognized the soul beast.

"Titan Giant Ape!"

She immediately retreated to Qian Daoliu's side.

"Senior, this is a hundred-thousand-year soul beast!"

The Titan Giant Ape stopped on the opposite side of the stream.

It lowered its enormous body, its eyes fixed on the three people standing on the grass.

An oppressive pressure spread in all directions.

The stream stopped flowing on the spot.

Dozens of ancient trees nearby bent outward.

The Fire Dragon Martial Soul within Liu Erlong suffered the impact.

The crimson scales that had just appeared kept stinging.

She immediately moved to shield Qian Renxue.

"Young mistress, be careful."

Qian Renxue did not retreat.

She stood beside her grandfather, her golden eyes fixed on the Titan Giant Ape throughout.

The pressure from a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast indeed far surpassed that of an ordinary soul beast.

Yet she sensed no danger.

As long as Qian Daoliu stood beside her, the Titan Giant Ape could not hurt her.

The Titan Giant Ape raised its head.

A beast's roar shook the forest.

A powerful wave of air swept across the stream and slammed toward the three of them.

Qian Daoliu took one step forward.

All the waves of air instantly dissipated.

The stream suppressed by the Titan Giant Ape began flowing again.

Qian Daoliu looked at the enormous soul beast before him.

"A hundred-thousand-year Titan Giant Ape."

"Both its strength and its life essence are powerful enough."

"It can serve as your Seventh Soul Ring."