Chapter 49: The Unceremonious Yu Xiaogang (Bonus Chapter)

Having gained nothing in Suotuo City, Flender dejectedly led his old companions back to Shrek Academy.

Upon arriving at the city gate, he noticed a commotion and couldn't help but take a few extra looks.

The person surrounded by soldiers seemed somewhat familiar to him.

Suddenly, he raised an eyebrow, "Isn't this Xiaogang? Why is he clashing with the city guards?"

Without time to overthink, he quickly stepped forward to mediate.

Flender knew very well how much this old friend valued his pride.

If the city guards didn't back down today, the two sides would likely remain in a standoff.

"Gentlemen, could you do me a favor and let this matter rest here?" Flender said with a conciliatory smile.

Seeing his figure, the soldiers' attitudes softened considerably.

Flender was a Spirit Saint powerhouse, and he had recently broken up criminal gangs within Suotuo City, saving them from quite a bit of trouble.

Both out of reason and sentiment, they were willing to grant him this favor.

"Flender, why are you here?" Yu Xiaogang asked indifferently.

The guard captain took the opportunity to step down, "So it's a friend of Senior Flender. A misunderstanding, a misunderstanding. Everyone, disperse."

Yet Yu Xiaogang was not one to let things go, "Let it go? Heh, charging Spirit Masters an entry fee? If the Spirit Hall finds out about this, you lot can wait to be thrown in jail!"

The Spirit Hall represented the interests of all Spirit Masters.

Spirit Master subsidies, as well as the "privileges" that only a large number of Spirit Masters possessed, were all secured by the Spirit Hall.

Naturally, this included not having to pay an entry fee when entering a city.

In the past, if the Spirit Hall had found out about such a thing, these soldiers would have at most received a verbal reprimand.

But times were different now; the Spirit Hall was acting increasingly overbearing, and these were soldiers of the Bala Kingdom, not the Heaven Dou Empire.

If it were truly pursued, the Bala Kingdom would likely throw them out as scapegoats to appease the dual wrath of the Spirit Hall and the Heaven Dou Empire.

Flender did not want to blow the matter out of proportion and hurriedly pulled Yu Xiaogang away, "Let's go, let's go. Tonight, we won't stop until we're drunk."

Shrek Academy was already being targeted by the Bala Kingdom; if they made a scene of this, wouldn't they be offending the Bala royal family?

In the future, the academy's situation would only become more difficult.

Facing Flender's enthusiasm, Yu Xiaogang found it hard to refuse, so he dropped a few harsh words and strode away.

Inside the hotel.

Qiangu Changkong relaxed his body and mind, sprawling out on the soft, large bed.

"Human society is still the most comfortable. These past few days have been exhausting."

Having obtained his Soul Ring, his biggest recent goal was complete, and he instinctively wanted to relax for a while.

However, Wu Qi would not give him that chance.

"Starting today, you are only allowed to participate in Soul Elder-level Spirit Fighting. With your current soul power level, you are at the very bottom in this bracket."

"Your winning streak might not continue, but I hope you can steady your mindset, figure out the fighting style of Soul Elders, and turn defeat into victory."

Qiangu Changkong groaned, "You're kidding, right? We just got back and I have to participate in Spirit Fighting already?"

Wu Qi knew that he was likely just reluctant to lose his points.

"If you lose tonight, we'll team up for a two-on-two Spirit Fighting match to win back the lost points."

Hearing this, Qiangu Changkong did a kip-up, sat up, and said with a grin, "It's a deal then."

"But I don't guarantee a win," Wu Qi added.

There is always someone better, and there is always a heaven beyond the heaven.

He dared not guarantee that they wouldn't encounter a formidable team in the next match.

"Look at you," Ning Rongrong said with annoyance.

She had no training goals, and it didn't matter to her whether her Spirit Fighting Badge rank improved or not.

"Rongrong, you are at level twenty-six now, you still need to spend more time on cultivation. Once you break through, we will help you obtain a Soul Ring," Wu Qi added.

"Really?" Ning Rongrong blinked her eyes.

Whether she obtained a Soul Ring wasn't important; what mattered was that they could stay together, and that was enough.

Qiangu Changkong chimed in, "You help me hunt for souls, and we will definitely help you. In the future, we'll be a team, and we still have to compete in the Spirit Master Tournament."

Ning Rongrong was no stranger to the Spirit Master Tournament, but they only had three people now, couldn't form a team, and hadn't even enrolled in an academy yet.

One had to know that Advanced Spirit Master Academies often started preparing two years in advance to assemble a team for the Spirit Master Tournament.

At this moment, the preliminary candidates for the various academy teams had already been established, and after enrolling, they would still have to compete with the people on those lists.

Furthermore, their soul power levels were not particularly advantageous; they were more than enough to enter a second-rate academy team, but it would be difficult to achieve good results in the tournament.

To join a first-rate academy team, their strength was not yet enough.

Ning Rongrong nodded slightly without saying more.

With the influence of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, they could have more choices and didn't need to rush.

Inside Shrek Academy.

Flender had intended to host a welcome banquet for Yu Xiaogang after dark, but unfortunately, Zhao Wuji had just returned with his team.

Yu Xiaogang only cared about Tang San's cultivation progress and didn't care about this welcome banquet.

Consequently, Flender stopped insisting.

Zhao Wuji reported the encounters during this soul-hunting trip, and he emphasized the matter regarding Wu Qi and the others.

When he mentioned the "bull's roar" that Xiao Wu had described, the wise Yu Xiaogang appeared.

Just now, he had been secretly listening to their conversation.

To highlight his theoretical attainments, he chose this moment to make an appearance.

"Old Zhao, let me introduce you; this is the brother I told you about, the one I traveled the continent with back in the day—Master Yu Xiaogang."

"So it is the Master, I have long heard of your reputation," Zhao Wuji said politely.

Flender had indeed told him about this matter, but he had long since forgotten it to the back of his mind.

These words were merely polite pleasantries.

Yet, in Yu Xiaogang's eyes, they became words of high praise.

He simply stood with his hands behind his back, head held high, and said indifferently, "Immovable Bright King is too kind. I wonder how Xiao San is doing?"

Flender added, "Old Zhao, Xiaogang is Tang San's teacher, hurry and tell him the situation."

The corners of Zhao Wuji's mouth twitched slightly.

What kind of thing is Yu Xiaogang to be so rude?

Someone who didn't know better might think he was a powerful Spirit Douluo from some major faction.

How could a mere Great Spirit Master dare to be so arrogant in front of a Spirit Saint?

Zhao Wuji was no pushover, and "Immovable Bright King" was an infamous title!

If not for Flender being here, Yu Xiaogang would have long been slapped into a pile of mush by him.

Seeing his expression shifting between light and dark, Flender scolded, "Old Zhao, I'm asking you a question!"

For the sake of the Dean, Zhao Wuji truthfully recounted what had happened to Tang San.

Upon hearing this, Yu Xiaogang flew into a rage: "Who told you to let Xiao San hunt a Plant-type Soul Ring? Before I left, I had already designated several types of Soul Beasts for him; did he not tell you!?"

Zhao Wuji's eyes widened.

Pushing his luck, are we!

Besides, it wasn't even him who helped Tang San obtain the Soul Ring, so why take it out on him!

Flender hurriedly held Yu Xiaogang back, "Xiaogang, Old Zhao just told me that the Soul Ring was chosen and hunted by Tang San himself, it has nothing to do with him, you cannot—"

(End of chapter)