At this moment, Lin Feng couldn't help but feel that taking Tang San as a disciple might have been a stain on Yao Lao's legacy.
Still, now that Tang San had been driven to the point of attempting patricide, Lin Feng figured the boy probably had no one left to rely on except him. To Tang San, he must now be the only family—the closest thing to a father.
Standing before him, Yu Xiaogang noticed Lin Feng simply staring at him without speaking. The silence quickly fanned the flames of his irritation.
"Hmph! I'm a busy man. I don't have time to waste here waiting on you."
With that, he shot Lin Feng a sharp glare and turned to leave.
But before he could take a step, Liu Erlong moved swiftly, blocking his path like an unyielding barrier.
"You're not leaving. The Young Master hasn't given permission."
Her tone was cold and absolute, with an undeniable authority.
Yu Xiaogang froze on the spot, eyes wide with shock.
He couldn't believe Liu Erlong was speaking to him … over another man.
"What exactly do you want?" he snapped, face flushed with anger, legs rooted to the ground as he glared at Lin Feng.
"I heard your theories on the Ten Core Competencies of a Soul Master are quite famous," Lin Feng finally said, his tone calm and composed. "So I came to learn a thing or two."
Yu Xiaogang's stern expression shifted slightly, revealing a flicker of pride. His chest puffed up unconsciously.
He hadn't expected that his theories would become so renowned that someone would seek him out for instruction.
But before he could fully bask in that pride, Lin Feng continued:
"Unfortunately, now that I've met you in person… I'm thoroughly disappointed."
"You're questioning my theories?" Yu Xiaogang's face darkened instantly, eyes bulging as he shouted at Lin Feng.
"According to your second theory—'There are no trash martial souls, only trash soul masters,'" Lin Feng replied steadily. "Then let me ask you this—why are you still stuck at Rank 29?"
His tone remained composed, but his gaze was sharp and unyielding.
A trace of panic flickered across Yu Xiaogang's face, but he quickly regained his composure.
"That's because my innate soul power was only half a rank. Reaching Rank 29 over more than thirty years is already quite an achievement!" he retorted, straining his neck with defiance. "Most people start with at least Rank 1!"
Lin Feng let out a cold chuckle, stepping closer as he pressed the point:
"You're the one who said 'There are no trash martial souls, only trash soul masters.'"
"If you spend all your time envying others, why don't you ask yourself—have you truly worked hard enough?"
"Maybe the problem… is you."
"Maybe you never tried hard at all."
Yu Xiaogang was so infuriated by the relentless questions that his face turned crimson. His eyes darted to Liu Erlong, pleading as he exclaimed, "Erlong, you're really going to stay with someone like him?"
"Don't lecture me," Liu Erlong snapped. "You're no saint either."
"When Bibi Dong rose to fame for your sake, you acted all self-righteous, disapproving of her methods, pretending you didn't care."
"But deep down, your smug grin nearly reached the heavens."
Her voice was ice-cold, her words merciless.
Yu Xiaogang was left speechless, a bitter look of frustration twisting his face.
Yet somehow, seeing this sharper, colder version of Liu Erlong stirred something unfamiliar in him. In that moment, he found her… strangely captivating.
Lin Feng stood up slowly and walked to stand before Yu Xiaogang.
"If you're weak, then train harder."
He looked down on him, voice cold and disdainful, before turning and walking away with effortless grace. The others followed closely behind.
Yu Xiaogang watched Liu Erlong's departing back with eyes full of reluctance. Unable to hold back, he shouted:
"Erlong! It's been so long—let's catch up with Flender sometime, yeah?"
"I'll go on my own. And you should call him 'Boss Flender,'" she said coldly without even glancing back.
"If it weren't for him stepping aside for you back then, you wouldn't have stood a chance."
"Wait… so Yu Xiaogang basically just picked up someone else's leftovers?" Dugu Yan gasped, covering her mouth and whispering in shock.
"Sorry, Sister Liu, I didn't mean you…" she quickly added when she realized what she had just said, her face turning red.
"No worries. I really was blind back then. I deserve the scolding," Liu Erlong said calmly, waving it off.
Did she like Flender?
No, not romantically. What she said earlier was just to spite Yu Xiaogang.
Still… Yu Xiaogang's words had reminded her of those days traveling the continent with Flender.
A twinge of guilt surfaced in her heart.
If there was anyone she owed an apology to, it was Boss Flender.
He had loved her deeply but still forced a smile and gave them his blessing.
She would apologize to him in person.
Behind them, Yu Xiaogang stood there, face alternating between red and pale—as if he'd been slapped repeatedly.
"Lin Feng really nailed it today! I've always hated that arrogant Yu Xiaogang," Dugu Yan said excitedly after they'd left Nuoding Academy, finally relaxing.
"So, where are we headed next?" she asked curiously, blinking her big eyes as she looked at Lin Feng.
He didn't respond immediately. Instead, he gently closed his eyes as the aura around him began to shift.
A powerful wave of Observation Haki rippled silently outward like an invisible tide.
He had planned to scan the Tang family estate to monitor any activity—but unexpectedly, he sensed something else.
A chillingly familiar aura.
Looking in the direction of the aura, he saw Bibi Dong and her party flying rapidly toward the Star Dou Great Forest.
Dressed in a billowing black robe, she soared through the air like a shadow on the wind.
Beside her, Chrysanthemum Douluo and Ghost Douluo followed closely, both bearing solemn expressions.
Her eyes were like lightning, sharp and focused, and her presence exuded an overwhelming pressure that chilled the air.
"She's already heading out for a hundred-thousand-year soul ring? That's months ahead of schedule…"
Lin Feng murmured, calculating silently.
"Let's find a place to stay first," he said, turning to Dugu Yan with a calm expression.
She nodded obediently.
After entering their room, Lin Feng pretended to sit down and cultivate.
In truth, his divine soul had already slipped free from his body, silently trailing Bibi Dong and her entourage like a ghostly shadow.
In the air, Bibi Dong's gaze was locked ahead with burning intensity.
"I must break through to the rank of Limit Douluo as soon as possible… and burn that Qian Daoliu and Xiao Yan alive!" she swore in her heart.
In this world where only the strong are respected, only by constantly growing stronger could she stand at the top and control everything.
And this hundred-thousand-year soul ring—was the key to her ascent.
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