Chapter 146: The Misery of Yu Xiaogang
"Halt!"
As Yu Xiaogang approached the Pope's Palace, a squad of palace guards blocked his path. Leading them were the two Cardinals, Jin Cang and Gu Changrong, who had been instructed by Qian Renxue and were waiting for him. They had been stationed here for three days already.
Yu Xiaogang's distinctive short-cropped hair and the weak, level-29 spirit power fluctuation made him easy to identify. Jin Cang and Gu Changrong exchanged a knowing glance, guessing that he was indeed the man Qian Renxue had sent them to intercept. After all, soul masters at his age with such a low level rarely dared come so close to the Pope's Palace.
"This is a restricted area. Move another step, and you will be killed without mercy."
Jin Cang and Gu Changrong walked up to Yu Xiaogang, their cold gazes sweeping over this unremarkable man.
Feigning confidence, Yu Xiaogang raised his hand and showed the Pope's Token that Tang Hao had given him. "Take me to see the Pope."
When the token appeared, Jin Cang and Gu Changrong exchanged glances and nodded, now fully certain of his identity.
With a simple motion, Jin Cang snatched the Pope's Token from Yu Xiaogang's hand.
"What are you doing?" Yu Xiaogang's face changed as he glared at Jin Cang. "Return my Pope's Token immediately! If you don't, I'll make sure the Pope hears about this and sees to your punishment!"
"Your Pope's Token?"
Jin Cang sneered. "The Pope's Token is the highest symbol of honor in Spirit Hall, reserved for the most powerful figures across the continent. And you, a worthless level-29 weakling, dare to possess it? I'm certain you forged it!"
Gu Changrong immediately chimed in, "Forging the Pope's Token? Such audacity! Guards, seize this man at once!"
The palace guards behind them didn't hesitate. They stepped forward, their sharp spears aimed directly at Yu Xiaogang's neck.
"Insolent! How dare you!" Yu Xiaogang's eyes showed a flicker of panic, though he tried to maintain a stern demeanor. "I am an honorary elder of Spirit Hall! Take me to see the Pope—she can verify my identity!"
Smack!
Gu Changrong slapped him, his face filled with disgust. "The Pope is busy attending to countless affairs. She has no time to waste on a piece of trash like you."
"Why are you just standing there?" Jin Cang barked at the guards on either side. "Are you going to let this fool yell and disturb the peace of the Pope's Palace? Get this trash out of here!"
"Yes, yes, right away!"
The palace guards, as if snapped out of a daze, rushed toward Yu Xiaogang, seizing him firmly and dragging him away.
"Bibi Dong! Bibi Dong!"
Yu Xiaogang, now truly panicked, forgot any semblance of dignity, shouting at the top of his lungs, "It's me, Yu Xiaogang! I'm here to see you, Bibi Dong!"
Smack! Smack! Smack!
But his desperate cries were met only by the guards' harsh blows. Several spear shafts struck his mouth relentlessly, leaving him spitting blood as two of his front teeth were knocked out.
Yet even in this state, Yu Xiaogang refused to stop, screaming Bibi Dong's name, each call more pitiful and shrill than the last.
"Knock him out! Don't let him continue to make a fool of himself in front of the Pope's Palace and embarrass us!"
Jin Cang and Gu Changrong, worried that the commotion might actually alert Bibi Dong, immediately ordered their men.
Several palace guards channeled their spirit power and struck Yu Xiaogang hard across the back with their spears.
Each of these guards possessed spirit power above level 50, so a level-29 spirit master like Yu Xiaogang didn't last long. After a few hits, his eyes rolled back, and he fainted.
"What should we do with him, sir?"
The guards looked to Jin Cang and Gu Changrong for instructions.
Killing him outright was out of the question. If Yu Xiaogang were killed, Bibi Dong, known for her unpredictable temperament, would surely fly into a rage. Before sending his envoy, Xiao Yu had repeatedly instructed them to convey to Qian Renxue's people that roughing up Yu Xiaogang was fine, but taking his life was absolutely off-limits.
Following orders strictly, Jin Cang waved his hand. "Break his limbs and throw him out of Spirit City. Let him fend for himself."
"Ahhh!"
The guards dragged Yu Xiaogang aside and, with a few strong blows, shattered his arms and legs. The pain brought Yu Xiaogang out of unconsciousness, and he let out a scream like a slaughtered pig.
Yet no one felt any sympathy for him. Everyone had heard his previous cries, and this man had dared to forge a Pope's Token, impersonate an honorary elder, and shout disrespectfully in front of the sacred Pope's Palace.
Within Spirit City, most soul masters, aside from a few spies from opposing factions, truly revered the Spirit Hall as a holy place. That they didn't deliver another blow was a sign of their restraint.
The pitiful Yu Xiaogang was thrown out of Spirit City like garbage, with his limbs broken. Due to his disrespect toward Spirit Hall, no one was willing to treat him, leaving him lying on the roadside like a dying dog, unable to move.
Bibi Dong, as the Pope, was unaware that Yu Xiaogang had come at all. The subordinates merely saw him as a petty fraud, not worthy of reporting.
Moreover, with the ambush on the Heaven Dou Empire's team having failed, one of the five dispatched elders was killed in action, and the four who returned were heavily injured. The strength shown by the Nine Star Hall gave Bibi Dong a sense of serious crisis, leaving her with no time to concern herself with minor matters.
Fortunately, within a couple of days, the participating academies from the Heaven Dou Empire arrived in Spirit City. Flander and Liu Erlong, knowing Yu Xiaogang's whereabouts, became concerned when he hadn't joined them. They began searching for him in Spirit City, eventually finding him on the roadside, barely clinging to life.
Seeing Yu Xiaogang in such a pitiful state, Liu Erlong was furious and wanted to storm into the Pope's Palace to tear the "shameless woman" Bibi Dong apart.
Flander, though equally angered by Yu Xiaogang's fate, retained his rationality. Before Liu Erlong could make a scene in the streets, he managed to hold her back.
Disrespecting the Pope, even verbally, in the Spirit Hall's headquarters would incite countless soul masters against them. Even though they were both Spirit Sages and had the spirit fusion ability, it was likely they wouldn't escape with their lives.
As for Tang San, he had already learned of the enmity between the Clear Sky Clan and Spirit Hall from Ning Fengzhi and Titan. Seeing Yu Xiaogang in this state added yet another blood debt in his heart against Spirit Hall. He silently vowed to one day overthrow Spirit Hall and avenge his loved ones.
(End of Chapter)
🌟 Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! 🌟
Hello, beloved readers and supporters!
I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you'll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including:
📚 Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn't have to wait!
💬 Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do.
👏 Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey!
Patreon.com/anish_44