Yu Xiaogang's expression stiffened. A flicker of something dark and unclear passed through the depths of his eyes, but on the surface, he still forced a smile and said:
"Probably because I came here too hastily…"
Just as You Mengchu was about to say something, a voice transmission entered her ear. You Mengchu was slightly stunned, a trace of doubt flashing in her eyes, but her expression remained calm as she faintly said:
"If you claim to be a scholar, then please first show me your research results or works. Secondly, I understand your confusion. After all, this isn't something a mere Great Soul Master like you would normally come into contact with."
A hint of humiliation appeared in Yu Xiaogang's eyes, but he still said:
"Her Highness the Feather Emperor, my name is Yu Xiaogang. I believe many soul masters present have read my work. It is called The Ten Core Competencies of Martial Souls."
Hearing this title, Yu Luomian's expression on the stage suddenly changed. Even Ning Fengzhi and Sword Douluo were momentarily stunned, their faces showing strange looks.
A trace of confusion appeared in You Mengchu's eyes. Then, a richly dressed middle-aged soul master nearby seemed to suddenly remember something. He rummaged through his soul guide device for a moment before taking out a very plain-looking book. Gathering his courage, he said:
"Her Highness the Feather Emperor, I happen to have an original copy of The Ten Core Competencies of Martial Souls right here."
You Mengchu raised an eyebrow, accepted the book, thanked him, and gently opened the thin volume…
…
Up on the high platform, the Snow Empress gently tugged on Shen Hanyu's hand and asked:
"What did you say to her?"
Shen Hanyu raised an eyebrow and smiled:
"I told You Mengchu, she could have some fun with this guy, and the result should be quite interesting…"
"Interesting…"
The Snow Empress murmured, then turned her gaze back downward.
After flipping through just a few pages, You Mengchu's expression became somewhat strange. She glanced at Yu Xiaogang and asked with some suspicion:
"Are you certain that this was entirely summarized and perfected by you alone?"
Yu Xiaogang nodded firmly.
You Mengchu returned the book to its owner, then took out an ancient text she had borrowed from the Snow Empress and quickly flipped through several pages. She pointed to a certain section, frowned, and said:
"Are you sure you were born seventeen hundred years ago?"
Yu Xiaogang was momentarily confused and shook his head.
You Mengchu displayed the section she had pointed to. Below the printed text, there was even a considerate little note with the date, seventeen hundred years ago.
Yu Xiaogang also saw the content in the ancient text. His body instantly froze.
You Mengchu said with some amusement:
"If I remember correctly, the very first of your so-called Ten Core Competencies of Martial Souls states that the level of innate soul power is directly proportional to the strength of the martial soul, correct?"
"But I'm very curious, clearly, our predecessors had already reached this conclusion seventeen hundred years ago, and possibly even earlier. So how exactly did you manage to take existing theories, put your own name on them, and publish them as your own…"
Yu Xiaogang's expression darkened. He said:
"That was my oversight. I truly didn't know…"
You Mengchu waved her hand. The look in her eyes toward Yu Xiaogang had already turned somewhat disgusted. She laughed and said:
"Although I am not a native of the continent, even in that small place back in my homeland, a lot of what you wrote is basically common knowledge."
"I've read quite a few ancient texts and scholarly works since coming to the continent. Your so-called Ten Core Competencies are simply the most important parts cherry-picked from various theories and research conclusions. You slightly rearranged the order, cut and trimmed a few words, slapped your name on it, and acted as if you created the entire thing yourself…"
"Let me tell you, this behavior is called outright plagiarism!"
"As a scholar, I find this kind of conduct shameful and detestable. People like you had better stop tarnishing the honorable title of 'scholar'…"
Laughter erupted from the surroundings, followed by waves of murmuring, mockery, and ridicule.
Faced with such a scene, no matter how sharp Yu Xiaogang's tongue usually was, he still couldn't squeeze out a single word.
Shen Hanyu watched the scene below with amusement and couldn't help but praise:
"To be honest, You Mengchu's tongue isn't as sharp as mine, but sometimes she's really good at killing with words and destroying hearts…"
When the Snow Empress heard the words "tongue," a faint blush appeared on her snow-white face, as if she had remembered something…
…
On the other side of the stands.
Yu Luomian stood with arms crossed, coldly watching everything.
He had never looked favorably upon this so-called nephew. Not to mention that this guy had almost gotten involved in a forbidden romance with his illegitimate daughter. Only someone who had experienced it could understand what he had gone through back then…
But thinking of his older brother, Yu Luomian gave a cold laugh. The greatest concession he was willing to make was to ensure this man didn't die right in front of him. Anything else had nothing to do with him!
Bibi Dong watched the scene, feeling a sudden daze. Something long buried deep in her heart seemed to have been touched, making it hard for her to distinguish between reality and illusion for a moment.
The hand gripping her scepter tightened slightly. After a moment of silence, Bibi Dong finally stepped forward and said:
"Everyone, if there are any more questions, please raise them now. Her Highness the Feather Emperor's time is valuable; let us not waste it any further…"
At these words, You Mengchu was slightly stunned. She looked up at Bibi Dong, whose expression couldn't be clearly seen, then glanced at Yu Xiaogang, whose face was flushed red mixed with green. She turned and left.
Yu Luomian glanced at Bibi Dong and gave a cold laugh, the corner of his mouth curling into a mocking arc.
…
"Wait!"
Before You Mengchu could take more than a few steps, Yu Xiaogang suddenly shouted.
The crowd was momentarily stunned by his yell. Even You Mengchu paused, turned back, and said:
"What else do you want?"
Yu Xiaogang looked at You Mengchu, then swept his gaze across the crowd. The intense humiliation and unwillingness in his heart made his mind feel somewhat blurred, but he still forced himself to endure the discomfort and continued:
"Her Highness the Feather Emperor's theory also has no evidence. Are we just supposed to believe her word alone? Moreover, her Heavenly Water Academy possesses a method to absorb soul rings beyond one's level. Such a method that could benefit all soul masters across the continent is only held by a handful of people in their academy. In my opinion, this method should be made available to benefit the entire continent. I only want more people to see my theories. What exactly have I done wrong…?"
The strange logic left the surrounding people dumbfounded. Even Bibi Dong, up on the high platform, showed a slight tremor in her eyes. This version of Yu Xiaogang felt both familiar and utterly alien to her.
The mockery in Yu Luomian's eyes grew even stronger. The amusement was plainly written across his face. He had no intention of stepping in for his seemingly crazed nephew.
The looks the crowd, and even You Mengchu, gave Yu Xiaogang now carried a hint of pity, as though they were looking at an idiot. Still, quite a few people were stirred by his words, their gazes subtly falling on You Mengchu and the area where Heavenly Water Academy should have been standing.
"Heh…"
A somewhat abrupt chuckle slowly came from above.
Shen Hanyu took one step forward and instantly appeared high in the air. Ice-blue soul power surged, causing countless frost patterns to slowly climb across the ground and buildings below. Pure white snowflakes began drifting down from the sky all around, beautiful yet heart-shaking.
Yu Xiaogang was jolted awake by the bone-piercing cold. Under the dazzling sunlight, he could barely make out the figure standing not far ahead in midair. Though the man seemed to wear a light smile, the invisible pressure he exuded was even colder and more terrifying than the aura on Bibi Dong.
Shen Hanyu stepped through the void, slowly coming closer until he stopped nearby. He looked at the so-called "Great Master" with a smile.
"Evidence? What do you think counts as evidence?"
Shen Hanyu asked with a smile.
Yu Xiaogang was forced back two steps by the oncoming icy aura. His mind raced. After a moment, he took a deep breath and said:
"Esteemed Highness, anything that can prove what Her Highness the Feather Emperor said is true can be considered evidence."
Shen Hanyu smiled with interest. His gaze swept across the crowd. Everyone whose eyes passed over felt a piercing chill.
After nodding toward You Mengchu, Shen Hanyu smiled and said:
"Very simple. How about I give you the evidence myself?"
Yu Xiaogang barely steadied himself and said:
"May I ask what evidence Your Highness is referring to…?"
Shen Hanyu gave a light laugh and said:
"Very simple. If someone successfully absorbs the soul ring of a ferocious beast and stands before you perfectly unharmed, wouldn't that be the greatest evidence?"
Yu Xiaogang was stunned. Then he saw ring after ring of brilliant soul rings rising beneath Shen Hanyu's feet.
Yellow, purple, purple, black, black, red, white-gold, red, red—nine soul rings circled Shen Hanyu, each one carrying terrifying pressure. Especially the ninth soul ring: the vivid red ring bore seven dazzling golden stripes. Compared to it, even the other red rings with golden patterns and that strange white-gold ring seemed somewhat inferior.
Shen Hanyu pointed at the ninth-ranked red soul ring beneath his feet and smiled:
"Can you count how many golden stripes there are?"
Yu Xiaogang's mind was completely overwhelmed by the impact and turned to mush. Still, by instinct, he answered:
"Sev… seven…"
"Hahahaha…"
"Smart. Do you know what that means?"
Shen Hanyu continued to ask.
Yu Xiaogang felt the world spinning. All the soul ring theories he had once proudly believed in shattered into bubbles. What remained was suffocating pressure and confusion.
"I… don't know…"
Shen Hanyu's expression remained unchanged. He simply continued:
"Let me play the role of free tutor for everyone once more. It's very simple. One golden stripe means the soul beast underwent one heavenly tribulation and has lived over a hundred thousand years. Two golden stripes mean the soul ring came from a two-hundred-thousand-year ferocious beast. Seven golden stripes, this means the soul ring was produced by a soul beast emperor that has lived over seven hundred thousand years, a super powerhouse comparable to a human Quasi-God, a god among beasts, just one step away from true divinity!"
Up above, the Snow Empress watched Shen Hanyu and felt nothing wrong with what he was saying. Her attitude toward him had gone from icy cold to gentle, then to the passionate warmth and clinginess that now refused to fade even on their bed. This change wasn't just in her—Shen Hanyu had also been steadily maturing and growing more high-spirited. If choosing Shen Hanyu back then had been the work of fate and circumstance, now she would answer that question with the word "love."
Dong——
A crisp sound pulled everyone's attention back.
At the same time, Bibi Dong on the high platform took a deep breath, stepped forward a few paces, and said:
"Lord Cold Heaven, I think today's lecture can conclude here. The Spirit Hall has urgent matters to attend to. Afterward, we will send appropriate compensation to you and your companions. Everyone, please exit in an orderly manner…"
The corner of Shen Hanyu's mouth curled into a cold smile. He loudly said:
"Pope, rotten love should stay buried in those wasted years. It shouldn't be carried around forever, growing more and more foul until even you yourself rot along with it without realizing when it happened…"
Bibi Dong's face turned livid. Then she said calmly:
"Thank you for the lesson, Lord Cold Heaven. But this seat can handle my own affairs. There is no need for Lord Cold Heaven to worry."
Shen Hanyu glanced at Yu Xiaogang, who now looked ashen and lifeless, then withdrew his soul rings and turned to leave…
…
In a side hall.
Several girls were sitting cross-legged on the ground, stabilizing their breathing. Sensing the group's arrival, they opened their eyes and stood up one after another.
Shen Hanyu briefly checked whether there were any hidden issues in their bodies. After confirming everything was fine, he said:
"What a pity. You girls missed a good show…"
The girls giggled and said:
"Not really. Before we came, we asked Sister Mengchu to carry a recording soul guide. Though the image is a bit blurry, we can still watch it later."
You Mengchu smiled and took out a strange-looking soul guide device from her chest. The girls immediately treated it like a treasure and carefully put it away.
Shen Hanyu gently held the Snow Empress's hand and said with a light smile:
"Though the result was a bit different from what I imagined, at least nothing changed in the end. Let's go off to the Worship Hall. After that, our days will slowly become more and more interesting…"
The Snow Empress nodded gently, her eyes filled with tenderness.
…
Meanwhile, in the Pope's Palace on the other side.
Bibi Dong sat on the throne with a dark face. Below her, Chrysanthemum Douluo and Ghost Douluo trembled in fear.
After a long while, Bibi Dong let out a soft sigh. The tightly gripped scepter slammed heavily onto the ground, echoing loudly in the empty hall.
"Rotten love… heh… how laughable…"
Bibi Dong pinched her brow and let out a miserable, almost crazed laugh that nearly caused Chrysanthemum and Ghost's hearts to stop.
After a long time, she finally lifted her heavy eyelids slightly and said:
"Proceed according to my arrangements from now on. Ghost Douluo, go make preparations for Nana and the others. Chrysanthemum Douluo, you handle the follow-up continental feedback issues…"
"This seat… needs to rest properly…"
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