At the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, Ning Fengzhi had long since received word that the eldest prince, Xue Beng, was coming to pay his respects, and had gone out early to wait at the mountain gate to receive him.
"What exactly does this eldest prince want?"
"According to the word he put out, it's a routine visit."
As members of the imperial family, they did sometimes need to visit the leaders of various powers. The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect had the closest ties to the Heaven Dou Empire of any sect, so a prince visiting was nothing unusual.
But coming to visit immediately after the Pride of Heaven Ranking was released? Even thinking with one's backside, it was obvious that he had come to lick the boots of those two on the ranking.
There was nothing to say about Qiye, but as for Ning Rongrong...
They had heard that the eldest prince had yet to marry.
"Let's hope this eldest prince knows which way the wind blows and doesn't entertain any thoughts he shouldn't."
"Otherwise, Qiye will get angry."
...Zhu Zhuqing was hard at work studying...
Outside Spirit City, a beggar in ragged clothes arrived that day.
This beggar was in a truly miserable state. All four limbs were broken, his clothes were in tatters, and even the local beggars in Spirit City couldn't help tossing a couple of Copper Soul Coins in front of him.
"Shoo, shoo! Where did this beggar come from? You don't even have the entrance fee."
"Open those dog eyes of yours! I'm a Soul Master!"
Yu Xiaogang abruptly revealed two Soul Rings. The Spirit Hall soldier at Spirit City was startled too, then abruptly revealed... three Soul Rings.
"Well, well! You think having Soul Rings makes you something special? Do you know where you are?"
"This is Spirit City! You stinking outsider, what did you just call me? A dog looking down on people? Let your granddaddy tell you: in Spirit City, two Soul Rings don't mean squat."
"I'm not talking to you. I'm an elder of your Spirit Hall! Hurry up and notify the Supreme Pontiff, or I'll have you punished!"
The guard looked Yu Xiaogang up and down, then spat a thick glob of phlegm right into his face.
"Pah! Who the hell do you think you are, calling yourself a Spirit Hall elder? Since when has our Spirit Hall had an elder with two Soul Rings? Piss yourself a puddle and take a look in that mirror. You're no spring chicken, so how come you haven't even cultivated a third ring?"
"A piece of trash like you dares impersonate one of our Spirit Hall elders? You must have swallowed a bear's heart and a leopard's gall!"
With that, the guard kicked him over. Yu Xiaogang was in such pain that he couldn't get up for ages, looking just like an overturned turtle.
A group of guards gathered to make fun of Yu Xiaogang and even started taking bets on the spot.
"Brothers, how long do you think it'll take this old thing to turn over?"
"I bet fifteen minutes."
"He's a Soul Grandmaster, after all. Five minutes should be enough no matter what."
"I'll go kick him again."
"Hey, hey, hey! Kicking him back over doesn't count."
The guards had rarely found such entertainment and were enjoying themselves immensely at the side, until a cloud of dust rose in the distance. "Brothers, stop playing around. Judging by that commotion, those people must be back."
Amid the dust, four spirited horses galloped straight through the city gates without even stopping.
The guards made no attempt to stop them.
Although the fine horses were galloping fast, Yu Xiaogang still recognized at a glance that one of the two people riding the last horse was Dai Mubai. But before he could call out, the horse had already entered the city.
The riders ahead dismounted in front of Spirit Hall and hurried off to report to the Supreme Pontiff. Meanwhile, Hu Liena, on the last horse, slapped the thigh of the man behind her in exasperation. "What, still can't bear to get off?"
"I just want to hold you a little longer."
Hu Liena rolled her eyes at him in exasperation. "Teacher is still anxious. Watch out, or she'll punish you later."
Only upon hearing this did Dai Mubai reluctantly dismount, even making a gentlemanly gesture for her to follow.
Her face slightly flushed, Hu Liena placed her hand in Dai Mubai's, then swung herself off the horse and into his arms.
"All right, all right. If we wait any longer, Teacher really will get anxious."
The two hurried into the great hall, where Bibi Dong was still raging from her seat above. "Useless! You're all a bunch of useless fools! You couldn't even find a single thread of a clue! What do I keep you around for?"
Several Titled Douluos kept their heads lowered, meek and submissive, not daring to speak.
Ever since learning that Yu Xiaogang had been abducted by Tang Hao, Bibi Dong had immediately sent people to search the area around Shrek Academy for any clues Tang Hao might have left during his escape. But with so much time having passed, how could they possibly find anything? Without question, their efforts had been entirely fruitless.
Once Bibi Dong calmed down, she understood this too.
She helplessly waved them away. "Ah, Xiaogang, Xiaogang. Where are you now? I miss you so much! Now I have the final say over all of Spirit Hall. As long as I can find you again, I swear I'll make up for all the regrets between us."
Bibi Dong couldn't help recalling Yu Xiaogang's dashing figure back then.
They had both been young that year. Although Yu Xiaogang's Soul Power had only been somewhere in the teens, his eyes had shone with light.
Bibi Dong had decided then that although this man's Soul Power would never reach great heights, he had lofty ambitions and would surely accomplish something. Yes, he simply lacked a platform.
And I am his greatest platform. Xiaogang, once I bring you back, I'll let you put your talents to full use and accomplish something in this world. Xiaogang, wait for me.
At that very moment, outside the city gates, Yu Xiaogang abruptly flipped himself over.
"He turned over! He turned over! Didn't I say fifteen minutes? Pay up, pay up."
Several guards beside him immediately sighed and groaned. "Rotten luck, truly rotten luck. How can a Soul Grandmaster be this useless? One kick from me, and it took him fifteen minutes to get back up. Since you won the money, you're responsible for locking this old thing in prison. Daring to impersonate a Spirit Hall elder here in Spirit City? He must be tired of living."
"I'm a Spirit Hall elder! I'm a Spirit Hall elder! You can't treat me like this! You'll get your just deserts!"
The guards merely took his words for mad ravings and paid them no mind, dragging him straight into the dungeon.
...Zhu Zhuqing was still hard at work studying...
At the lake in the center of the Star Dou Great Forest, Tang Hao roared with laughter. "I've done it! I've learned it! So this is a cultivation method? Truly miraculous."
During this time, Tang San had taught his father, Tang Hao, all their martial arts.
But these cultivation methods belonged to Tang Sect disciples, so Tang Hao would at least have to join the Tang Sect first.
Tang San had originally thought getting his father to join another sect would be extremely difficult. Who knew that, without another word, he would drop to both knees before Tang San and bang his head against the ground in several resounding kowtows?
"Sect Master of the Tang Sect, this disciple, Tang Hao, wishes to join the Tang Sect and hopes you will teach me martial arts."
Seeing this, Tang San was especially delighted. "Wonderful, Father! From now on, we're both members of the Tang Sect."
"I believe that with the Tang Sect Secret Arts I teach you, your combat strength will surely soar, and you'll easily cultivate to level 99."
"Good, then I'll gladly accept your auspicious words, Sect Master."
After that, Tang Hao stayed in the Star Dou Great Forest, learning all the Tang Sect's cultivation methods from Tang San. Only today had he finally mastered the Mysterious Heaven Skill.
As Soul Power circulated through the meridians within his body, Tang Hao was utterly entranced. This was a sensation he had never experienced before.
"Divine skill! Truly divine skill!"
Tang Hao exclaimed in admiration, and Tang San was naturally very satisfied with his expression. In his view, the Mysterious Heaven Skill had several hundred years of history and had been studied by countless Tang Sect forebears. It would have been abnormal if Tang Hao hadn't been shocked.
This cultivation method was absolutely unique in this world. Even if the Soul Rings of his Blue Silver Grass Martial Soul were wrong and he couldn't follow the path of the Life Law, with this cultivation method and those Tang Sect Hidden Weapons, he would surely surpass everyone.
After all, who else in this world besides him possessed a cultivation method?
Even if the so-called number one on the Pride of Heaven Ranking had created his own martial path, that so-called martial path he had created was probably only on the level of those outer sect cultivation methods from Tang San's previous life.
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