Chapter 46: Xiaogang's Plan
This was the first meeting between Bibi Dong and Yu Xiaogang. To lift Yu Xiaogang's spirits, Bibi Dong took him around Coconut City—boating, watching lanterns, and laughing by the riverbanks.
For Bibi Dong, it was a joyful day, perhaps the happiest since she joined Spirit Hall. For the first time, she had found someone who spoke to her sincerely—someone who treated her as a friend, not as the Holy Maiden.
But as their day came to an end, and they sat by the docks under the evening glow, Yu Xiaogang suddenly asked, "I heard you came out this time to hunt a new spirit ring. Which one will it be?"
"My fifth," Bibi Dong replied without hesitation.
"Your fifth ring?" Yu Xiaogang was stunned.
"Of course!" she said proudly, hands on her hips. "I'm already a quasi–Soul King."
Those words stabbed deep into Yu Xiaogang's heart. Twin top-tier beast spirits, innate full soul power… why not me? Why does heaven give all its blessings to someone else?
He suppressed the jealousy boiling in his chest, masking it behind a thoughtful expression. Then, with feigned calm, he offered the line he'd prepared in advance: "Death Spider Emperor… for your fifth ring, I'd suggest a poison-type insect spirit beast—preferably a ten-thousand-year Venom Queen Wasp. It should give you an excellent new ability."
Bibi Dong looked at him in puzzlement. "You know the developmental path of the Death Spider Emperor?"
At that time, even skilled soul masters barely understood their own martial spirits, let alone others'. His claim was extraordinary. Coincidentally, however, the Venom Queen Wasp happened to be one of the beasts she planned to hunt.
Yu Xiaogang clasped his hands behind his back and spoke with grave wisdom. "After my martial spirit's mutation, Luo Sanpao was nothing like the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon. There were no teachings or precedents I could follow, so I had to discover my own path. To understand which spirit beasts suited it, I read countless books and studied every martial spirit and creature relationship I could find."
Bibi Dong's eyes softened in admiration. "That's amazing. Thank you. I'll remember your advice." Then she took out a small pouch of coins and a golden ticket, offering them to him. "Here, take this. It's a ticket to the Heaven Dou Soul Master Tournament. I'm a member of the Spirit Hall team—you must come watch us compete."
With that, she smiled and left.
As she disappeared into the crowd, Yu Xiaogang's lips curled in satisfaction. Staring at the ticket in his hand, he knew his plan was halfway to success.
If he could win Bibi Dong's favor, he could use her Holy Maiden status to enter Spirit Hall's inner library and gain access to its vast records—records that surely contained the method to evolve his martial spirit.
The Continental Soul Master Tournament, held once every five years, represented the peak of each generation's power. Nearly all of the continent's most renowned figures rose to fame on its stage.
In the last tournament, the twin stars of the Clear Sky Clan had triumphed over Spirit Hall's team, shocking the entire world. Around that same time, Ning Fengzhi met Chen Xin and Gu Rong—future pillars of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.
And now, five years later, the tournament was once again underway, its grand finals held in the capital, Heaven Dou City.
Traveling there with the gold coins Bibi Dong had given him, Yu Xiaogang soon found himself seated among the roaring spectators, clutching his ticket tightly.
As he watched the competing teams, his eyes suddenly locked onto one name projected on the crystal scoreboard—Heaven Dou Royal Academy.
And among their lineup stood a figure he would recognize even if he were reduced to dust: Yu Xiaomen.
He had almost forgotten that Yu Xiaomen, his rival and bane, attended Heaven Dou Royal Academy—and was the core fighter of the Emperor Battle Team.
The instant he saw him, Yu Xiaogang's mood soured.
On the stage, Yu Xiaomen faced the Star Luo team. The battle was fierce—Yu Xiaomen, at level forty-seven Soul Ancestor, coordinated his teammates flawlessly, using strategy to isolate the Star Luo Cat Spirit user, breaking the fusion of the Nether White Tiger before defeating their powerhouse in a dazzling clash of "dragon versus tiger."
When Yu Xiaomen, bloodied but victorious, stood tall at the arena's center, the roar of the crowd shook the skies.
"Heaven Dou Royal Team!
Thunder War God, Yu Xiaomen!
War God! War God! War God!"
Yu Xiaogang's fists clenched tight, nails digging into his palms. His eyes were bloodshot as he glared at the stage.
Before awakening his spirit, Yu Xiaogang had often compared himself to prodigies like Tang Hao and Tang Xiao. He'd dreamed of standing on that stage one day, bathed in glory.
That dream shattered the day his martial soul revealed itself as a pig.
Now, seeing Yu Xiaomen in the spotlight, absorbing the worship of thousands, that old bitterness burst forth again.
That's supposed to be me! he thought, trembling with fury. That position belongs to me! Damn you, Yu Xiaomen… damn you, Luo Sanpao!
But then, another team drew his attention—Spirit Hall's team, led by Bibi Dong herself.
At only level fifty, she stood as a Soul King among her peers, a level none of her opponents could match. Even without invoking her martial spirit fusion form, she dispatched challengers effortlessly, earning thunderous applause.
As the tournament progressed, both Yu Xiaomen's Heaven Dou team and Bibi Dong's Spirit Hall team advanced to the final round.
When the two teams faced each other in the grand finale, Yu Xiaogang whispered under his breath from the stands, "Go on, Bibi Dong. Spirit Hall team, win… knock that smug bastard down."
He didn't truly care about Bibi Dong or Spirit Hall. But if she could defeat Yu Xiaomen, that alone was satisfaction enough.
The final match began. Both sides summoned their spirits, unleashing radiant power. All eyes fixed upon the two brightest stars—Bibi Dong and Yu Xiaomen.
Against a powerhouse like Yu Xiaomen, even Bibi Dong couldn't hold back. After several exchanges, she was forced to activate her martial spirit possession.
Her body shimmered with transformation—the Death Spider Emperor taking form.
Seeing her transformed, Yu Xiaogang's brow furrowed. A trace of disdain crossed his face. "Disgusting," he muttered.
Her beauty diminished slightly, perhaps, though not to others—there was a strange, fierce allure to her form. But in Yu Xiaogang's eyes, her appearance disgusted him. It was only by holding that sense of superiority that he could pretend to stand above her.
Yet, in her possessed state, Bibi Dong's might rose dramatically. With the Death Spider Emperor's venomous power, she overwhelmed Yu Xiaomen, forcing him to the ground.
When the final blow landed and Yu Xiaomen collapsed, Yu Xiaogang felt a thrill rush through him—like drinking ice water under a burning sun.
Pure, wicked satisfaction.
(END CHAPTER)
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