Pfft.
Xiao Xuan ultimately couldn't hold it in.
"So... can I take that to mean you only have theories and no strength?"
"You... how dare you!"
Yu Xiaogang trembled all over with rage, pointing a quivering finger at Xiao Xuan.
"Ignorant junior! My theories are recognized across the entire continent! Even the current Pope acknowledges them! How dare a wet-behind-the-ears brat like you question them?!"
The last shred of patience in Xiao Xuan's heart vanished.
Was she acknowledging your bullshit theories?!
You clearly stole them from Spirit Hall and dressed them up in different words to make them your own. How could Bibi Dong not acknowledge them?!
Gangzi had used his old lover's reputation to gild his own face, and had done it so tastefully, too. Xiao Xuan had to admire the thickness of his skin.
Still, Xiao Xuan couldn't be bothered wasting any more words.
He shrugged and waved a hand dismissively. "Fine, fine. Your theories are unbeatable, and the Pope acknowledges you too. Happy now?"
Hearing that, Yu Xiaogang's stiff face finally softened somewhat.
He thought the boy before him had been cowed by Spirit Hall's name, and was just about to wave his hand magnanimously and accept this disciple who had come so cheaply.
But the next second, Xiao Xuan mercilessly delivered the rest of his sentence:
"But no matter how impressive you are, it doesn't have a damn thing to do with me. I'm not interested in taking you as my teacher."
With that, Xiao Xuan walked straight around Yu Xiaogang and strode toward the boys' dormitory.
"Xiao Xuan! You... you arrogant fool who doesn't know the immensity of heaven and earth!!"
Yu Xiaogang had come especially to wait for Xiao Xuan tonight. Who would have thought it would end like this? He completely lost his composure and jumped up and down on the spot, raging like thunder.
"You'll regret this! Without my guidance, that Mutated Martial Soul of yours will ruin you sooner or later!"
Xiao Xuan didn't look back. He merely waved a hand casually with his back to Yu Xiaogang.
"You don't need to worry about that. You'd better figure out how to break through level thirty first."
"You-!"
Clutching his chest, Yu Xiaogang nearly spat a mouthful of old blood onto the ground right then and there.
Just as Xiao Xuan reached the dormitory building, a lean figure stepped in front of him.
"Stop!"
"Go back and apologize to my teacher at once!!"
Xiao Xuan stopped and looked up.
The person who had called him to a halt was none other than Tang San, his face full of anger.
"What if I say no?"
Xiao Xuan raised an eyebrow slightly.
He usually kept his distance from Tang San and Xiao Wu and had never even been to the work-study students' dormitory.
Yet here were this teacher and disciple: one narcissistic and arrogant, with an inflated opinion of himself; the other partial and stubborn, demanding people kneel and apologize at the slightest provocation.
Do you really take me for a soft persimmon you can squeeze however you like?!
"Xiao Xuan, insulting someone's teacher is like disgracing their parents!"
"Since you refuse to apologize, we'll settle this with our fists! Let's fight. If you lose, you'll kneel obediently before my teacher at once, kowtow and admit your mistake!"
Xiao Xuan sneered. "And what if I win?"
"Win?"
Tang San's brows snapped together, and he froze for a moment.
As he saw it, he possessed the Tang Sect's secret techniques, and his First Soul Ring came from a four-hundred-year-old Mandala Snake! How could he, Tang San, possibly lose?!
Seeing that Tang San had nothing to say, Xiao Xuan continued:
"I can fight you, but we need to change the stakes."
"If I win, from now on, whenever you see me at Nuoding Academy, you'll go out of your way to avoid me. Can you do that?"
Tang San didn't know where Xiao Xuan got his confidence, but he was certain he wouldn't lose.
"Fine! It's a deal!"
The two then walked toward the open space in front of the dormitory building.
Xiao Wu, who had been keeping an eye on Tang San from upstairs, immediately called the work-study students from Dorm Seven to go down and cheer him on.
A crowd quickly gathered, whispers rising and falling.
Xiao Wu, Wang Sheng and the others squeezed into the front row and shouted their support for Tang San.
"Go, Xiao San! Show this fellow who doesn't know the immensity of heaven and earth what you're made of!"
Yu Xiaogang walked over as well.
Seeing Tang San stand up for him of his own accord, Yu Xiaogang finally found a little comfort for the heart Xiao Xuan had torn to shreds.
"Xiao San, even a lion uses its full strength to hunt a rabbit! Show him everything you've got, and let him see the difference between someone with a teacher and someone without one!"
"Don't worry, teacher. I understand!"
Tang San cupped his fists and saluted Yu Xiaogang. Today, he had to make Xiao Xuan understand that his teacher was worthy of the title of Grandmaster!
At the center of the open space, a fighting ring ten zhang across had been cleared.
Without another word, Tang San stamped his foot and struck first!
Humm-!
A dazzling Yellow Soul Ring suddenly rose from beneath Tang San's feet, and a wave of Soul Power swept across the entire area!
"First Soul Skill-Entanglement!!"
Tang San gave a low shout.
Dozens of tough vines, each as thick as an adult's arm and covered in barbs, tore through the earth and surged from the ground in every direction!
They swept toward Xiao Xuan's position with the speed of thunder, leaving no time to cover one's ears!
"Gasp... so fast! What fearsome battlefield control!"
"If those bind him, Xiao Xuan definitely won't be able to break free! Tang San's sure to win!"
The watching students cried out in surprise, and even Yu Xiaogang couldn't help the slight upward curve of his lips.
Strengthened by the Mandala Snake's Soul Ring, Xiao San's Blue Silver Grass had not only become several times tougher, but had also gained a poison attribute!
What did it matter if a mere stalk of Lone Bamboo had mutated?
Could he cut through those vines?
Tang San had already won this match!
Yet facing the vines whistling toward him, Xiao Xuan didn't so much as bat an eyelid, much less move his heels half an inch.
Just as they were about to trap him, he lifted his eyelids slightly.
Humm-!!
A stalk of Lone Bamboo, shaped like a spear, instantly landed in his hand!
Xiao Xuan used no Soul Power, nor did he reveal a Soul Ring.
With a thought, the spear moved with his body!
Xiao Xuan lowered his forearm slightly and snapped his wrist!
The spear technique engraved almost into his muscle memory came forth in that instant!
Swish!
Swish, swish, swish-!!
A piercing whistle suddenly burst through the air!
The Lone Bamboo in Xiao Xuan's hand left a string of afterimages in midair, force flowing through to its tip as it turned smoothly at his command!
Those despair-inducing vines were hacked to pieces and torn apart on the spot by Xiao Xuan's utterly ordinary sweeping thrust, filling the sky with flying scraps of severed grass!
"What?!"
The smile on Yu Xiaogang's face froze. He stood as though struck by lightning, his eyes bulging so far they nearly popped out of their sockets!
There had been no burst of Soul Power, nor had Xiao Xuan used any Soul Skill.
With a single stalk of Lone Bamboo, he had chopped Tang San's vines, strengthened by a four-hundred-year Soul Ring, to pieces as if slicing tofu?!
Before the stunned crowd could react-
Tap!
Xiao Xuan closed the distance in an instant!
An icy wind rushed at Tang San's face, and his pupils contracted sharply.
Warning bells rang in his heart. He instinctively tried to retreat with Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track, only to find that the tip of the Lone Bamboo spear in Xiao Xuan's hand had already stopped in front of his chest!
Tang San swallowed with difficulty, a drop of cold sweat appearing on his forehead.
The entire place fell silent in an instant.
Holding the spear level with one hand, Xiao Xuan spoke calmly:
"You lost."