Dai Mubai's words.
Were likewise rebuffed by Yu Xiaogang.
"If I defeated you."
"That would indeed be the best demonstration of my theories."
"But I don't need to act personally."
"Because."
Yu Xiaogang pointed at Tang San.
"You can't even defeat my disciple. What right do you have to challenge me, his teacher?!"
"Go back!"
"I know what you're thinking!"
"You simply think my handling of this was somewhat unfair."
"But doesn't Tang San, who cultivated using my methods, prove that my theories work?"
"If my theories work and you still refuse to learn, then Shrek Academy welcomes you to withdraw! That includes you, Dai Mubai!"
By the time Yu Xiaogang finished speaking.
His tone had almost become a scolding.
Dai Mubai's eyes were fixed on Yu Xiaogang before him.
As a prince of the Star Luo Empire.
He had never been scolded in such a tone since birth.
Anger rose in his heart.
"Yu Xiaogang."
"What did you say?"
Every trace of respect vanished from Dai Mubai's tone.
He called him directly by name.
Puncturing this Grandmaster's hypocrisy.
"You're a level twenty-nine Soul Master, and you're teaching us how to cultivate?"
"Are you worthy?!"
"You summarize Spirit Hall's theories and change the name, and suddenly they're yours, is that it? We call you Grandmaster, and you actually think you are one?"
"Have any of the Seven Great Sects invited you to lecture?"
"Have the Heaven Dou Royal Academy or the Star Luo Empire Academy invited you to teach?"
"Tang San is talented in his own right. He dared to risk certain death to absorb a Soul Ring twice the age limit. If he'd followed your theories, would he have gotten where he is today?"
"Fuck you!"
Dai Mubai had never been good-tempered to begin with.
Now that all pretense had been torn away, he spared Yu Xiaogang no dignity, ripping that veil of respectability to shreds.
Tang San felt a headache coming on.
He had indeed defeated Dai Mubai.
At least that proved his teacher's theory today was correct.
But Yu Xiaogang's words...
Even he could tell they were taking a veiled jab at Lu Ning.
That really was somewhat petty.
After hesitating for half a second.
Tang San still stepped in front of Yu Xiaogang.
Heaven, earth, sovereign, parents, teacher.
This was a principle branded into the depths of his soul.
"Boss Dai!"
"Don't say such hurtful things."
"Teacher is only here to teach. If you don't agree with his principles, just find another teacher."
"Shrek Academy has more than one teacher."
Tang San seemed to be mediating.
In reality, he had likewise sided with Yu Xiaogang.
Compared with his classmates, his affections leaned more toward his teacher.
Even if his teacher was in the wrong.
He still had to step forward and defend Yu Xiaogang.
"Get lost!"
"Xiao San."
"If the Dean hadn't handed all the teaching duties straight to him, do you think I'd want to attend his classes?"
"He hasn't accomplished a thing since coming to Shrek Academy."
"All he fucking does is order people around, throwing this person out and that person out. Starting next year, I'm no longer investing in Shrek Academy. Let's see what happens when the academy can't even pay its fucking rent!"
Dai Mubai did not anger easily.
But once he did, he spared even Tang San no dignity.
Even though he had just lost to Tang San.
He still stood against him, point for point.
Even losing another fight would not matter!
This affront.
He had to fight back against it!
"Boss Dai!"
"We can talk this through calmly."
"There's no need to attack Teacher, is there?"
As Tang San looked at Dai Mubai, a trace of killing intent likewise surfaced in his eyes.
No one could hurt Yu Xiaogang.
Not even Dai Mubai!
At the village entrance, swords were drawn and bows were bent.
Yet at that moment, Lu Ning hung his wine flask at his waist and slowly spoke. "Grandmaster, isn't this just because you think my drinking makes me a wastrel, and your attempt to use me to establish your authority failed?"
"Was there any need for so much nonsense and all these twists and turns?"
"You!" At these words, Yu Xiaogang's eyes likewise filled with anger.
But before he could speak.
Lu Ning spoke first. "Everyone has their own habits. Your methods don't have to suit everyone."
"Have you ever learned anything about me?"
"You don't even know what my Martial Soul is, do you?"
Lu Ning tapped the Wine Gourd at his waist with his fingertips.
"This is my Martial Soul."
"So what's wrong with me relying on drinking to cultivate?"
Yu Xiaogang looked at the white jade gourd, clearly not believing Lu Ning's nonsense.
If it was a Martial Soul, he could withdraw it into his body.
Why would he need to hang it at his waist?
Lu Ning paid no mind to the Wine Gourd hanging at his waist solely to look cool, turning his gaze toward Tang San.
"Since your teacher says."
"Control System Soul Masters counter Power Attack System Soul Masters."
"And lower-level Soul Masters can defeat higher-level Soul Masters through combat experience."
"Then why don't the two of us have a match?"
"You can use any methods you like."
Lu Ning's words.
Honed the tension another inch sharper.
They had seen Dai Mubai lose to Tang San with their own eyes.
And now...
Lu Ning was going to challenge Tang San too?
And he was even letting Tang San choose any methods he liked?
How could he possibly win?
Those strange Hidden Weapons of Tang San's.
Even Teacher Zhao Wuji had to guard against them.
Could Lu Ning manage it?
"Do you mean that?"
A fighting spirit rose in Tang San's eyes.
Ever since arriving at Shrek Academy, he had felt that this fellow named Lu Ning stood a head above him.
Even Xiao Wu had taken an interest in this Lu Ning.
He had long wanted to have a fight like this with Lu Ning!
He simply hadn't found a suitable opportunity before.
Now.
This chance to prove himself lay right before his eyes.
How could he possibly let it slip away?
"I do." Lu Ning stretched lazily and beckoned to Tang San before him.
"Come on."
"If you lose."
"You and your teacher won't be allowed to fart anymore."
Lu Ning had meant for the two of them to stop barking like dogs from then on.
But Ning Rongrong, standing in the crowd, misunderstood.
She burst into laughter.
Forbidding Yu Xiaogang from farting-wasn't that effectively banning his Martial Soul altogether?
After all, farting was all Grandmaster's Martial Soul had left.
"Good, Xiao San."
"Fight him in a Soul Master duel."
"If he loses, he can leave Shrek Academy himself!"
Yu Xiaogang decisively agreed to the duel.
Everyone quickly cleared an open space.
Giving the two of them room to duel.
Tang San cupped his fist in salute.
Outwardly, he still maintained a Soul Master's etiquette.
"Tang San, Martial Soul: Blue Silver Grass, level thirty-one Control System Battle Soul Elder."
Lu Ning flicked out a longsword with his right hand.
The longsword shone like the stars, its blade slender and plain. The instant it appeared, azure lotuses seemed to bloom faintly, answered by a dragon's cry, and then three Soul Rings emerged around Lu Ning.
But those three Soul Rings completely overturned Yu Xiaogang's understanding.
They did not follow his theory of optimal Soul Ring ages.
Nor were they the optimal configuration he knew of: two yellow and one purple.
Instead...
They were three Thousand-Year Soul Rings radiating a pale purple light!
Yu Xiaogang's face turned ashen in that instant. He stared fixedly at those three Soul Rings, wanting to roar that this was an illusion!
Yet those three Soul Rings were so clear.
Without the slightest impurity.
"Lu Ning, Martial Soul: Azure Lotus Sword, level thirty-nine Power Attack System Battle Soul Elder."
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