"So, Grandmaster, you turned to studying martial soul theory only after your mutated martial soul made your cultivation fruitless in your early years?"
Zhou Qing asked deliberately.
"That's right! I firmly believe—my theories are not wrong!"
Yu Xiaogang nodded vigorously.
"Even though people across the continent mock me, it's only because they've been manipulated by the Spirit Hall and other major powers. My theories touched on their vested interests. But since I come from a powerful clan myself, they don't dare act against me directly—so all they can do is try to ruin my reputation."
"As for the commoner Spirit Masters who make up the majority of the population—most of them just curry favor with the powerful, parroting whatever they hear without independent thought."
"You three are intelligent. I trust you won't blindly believe those hearsay rumors, will you?"
These words were, at present, Yu Xiaogang's greatest display of sincerity.
But they were also carefully calculated.
The first line—"My theories are not wrong"—was meant to cast himself as a confident, steadfast man.
The second, about being mocked for infringing on the interests of the powerful, was to suggest he had real influence and a background to protect him—and, by extension, could protect them too.
The third was a jab at the intelligence of commoner Spirit Masters.
And the fourth line, the apparent compliment—calling Zhou Qing and the others "smart"—was actually a trap. The implied meaning was:
If you still refuse to acknowledge me, then you're no better than those brainless commoners.
Xiao Wu was the first to be taken in by the flattery. But seeing Zhou Qing and Tang San remain silent, she simply mumbled,
"Sister Xiao Wu is pretty smart, after all."
Tang San said nothing. Having spent time around Zhou Qing, he had developed a habit of thinking deeply before acting.
Yu Xiaogang's speech sounded reasonable on the surface. Publishing unorthodox martial soul theories across the entire continent would indeed offend many major factions...
But Tang San couldn't shake the feeling that the continent-wide ridicule Yu Xiaogang faced wasn't just because of that. And some of his other statements felt like hidden traps—though he couldn't quite identify what they were yet.
Only Zhou Qing, with memories of a previous life in the corporate world, saw through the layers of meaning immediately. He didn't challenge Yu Xiaogang directly, but instead asked,
"So, Grandmaster, are you saying your clan could help us go to spirit beast-rich areas like the Star Dou Great Forest to hunt for the most suitable spirit beasts?"
"No."
Yu Xiaogang shook his head slightly, muttering inwardly: As expected of country kids—so practical...
"I can't rely on my clan. My martial soul mutated, so I was cast aside... But I'm still a Spirit Grandmaster. Helping you hunt for your second rings is within my ability. Plus, I have an old friend who, based on his talent, should already be a Spirit Sage."
"Spirit Sage?"
Tang San was surprised—he didn't expect Yu Xiaogang to know someone of such a high level.
But Xiao Wu had already made up her mind to steer clear of him.
After all, she was a hundred-thousand-year spirit beast in human form. Yu Xiaogang hailed from a noble clan and even knew a Spirit Sage—who knew if his clan had a Spirit Douluo or two?
Going to that kind of place would be far too risky for her.
"How many years has it been since you last saw this Spirit Sage friend, Grandmaster?"
Zhou Qing asked.
"About fourteen years," Yu Xiaogang replied, puzzled by the question.
"There's an old saying," Zhou Qing said, "If you don't visit for three years, even family becomes strangers. You haven't seen him in fourteen. If he still remembers you, it's likely because of your clan. You think he'd sincerely help you out of loyalty?"
Yu Xiaogang was talking about Flender. And Flender did still care about him.
But here's the problem—
Zhou Qing shouldn't have known that. Which meant he had every right to make such a realistic analysis.
"Impossible! Absolutely impossible!"
Yu Xiaogang practically roared.
"Back in the day, Flender and I adventured across the continent! We were inseparable! There's no way he's that kind of person!"
"People change."
Tang San had calmed down and found Yu Xiaogang overly naive.
"You two didn't exactly grow up wearing the same pants. Why would he still be loyal to you?"
[Only people like me and Zhou Qing, who've grown up together, can truly trust one another.]
"You… You're all… unreasonable!"
In the end, Yu Xiaogang let out a cold snort, flicked his sleeve, and walked off.
He had no more interest in conversing with Zhou Qing and the others—and even felt a faint urge to leave the academy altogether.
Even though he was reluctant to give up on three students with innate full spirit power, their attitude… reeked of petty scheming and worldly calculation. It clashed bitterly with his own sense of pride and purity.
"Commoners are commoners in the end," he muttered bitterly.
"Even with innate full spirit power, their short-sightedness is in their bones. No wonder they're doomed to toil in the dirt for life!"
His voice wasn't quiet. Though Yu Xiaogang had already walked away, his words still carried clearly to Zhou Qing, Tang San, and Xiao Wu.
"That guy! Unbelievable!"
Xiao Wu had now fully caught on to Yu Xiaogang's manipulations. Furious, she stomped her foot and said,
"He says we're doomed to dig in the dirt? What the hell! We were being nice, trying to give him a reality check, and he lashes out at us! No wonder people mock him—he deserves it!"
"Qing-ge, about his claim that his theories offended powerful factions—is that actually true?"
Tang San asked.
"'The Ten Core Theories of Martial Soul Cultivation'—those were his."
Zhou Qing didn't answer directly.
"Oh. Got it."
Tang San had read that work. And now it was clear—Yu Xiaogang wasn't hated because his theories offended powerful groups.
It was because his theories were flawed.
"What'd you get? Tell me!"
Xiao Wu didn't understand and nudged Tang San.
So Tang San began to explain the many errors in Yu Xiaogang's so-called "Ten Core Theories," giving Xiao Wu a better understanding of the situation.
"Sister Xiao Wu was right after all," she laughed coldly. "He does deserve the ridicule!"
Claiming he'd offended powerful interests—when in reality, his theories were full of holes.
"He definitely deserved it," Zhou Qing said.
"If his theories had really offended the major powers, they never would've been publicly disseminated across the continent. Think about it—how did they become so widespread among Spirit Masters? The only way that could happen is if they were endorsed and published by the Spirit Hall."
Zhou Qing was certain—there had to be someone helping Yu Xiaogang from behind the scenes. Most likely, it was Bibi Dong, acting under the spell of love. Otherwise, how could such flawed theories be released to the entire continent?
Later, when the previous Supreme Pontiff of Spirit Hall found out, he probably saw it as an excuse to suppress the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan.
Who could've guessed that not long after…
The former Pontiff would suddenly "meet an accident"?
In the end—
He was just unlucky.