*[Emotion Points +111111]*
Yu Xiaogang's short hair bristled like steel needles, perfectly capturing his rage.
His gaze at Tang San held:
- Three parts disbelief,
- Three parts existential doubt,
- Three parts loss and bewilderment,
- And ninety-one parts burning fury!!!
"Ungrateful wretch!" Yu Xiaogang growled, teeth clenched.
"How could you be so ungrateful?!" he shouted. "Have you forgotten when I took you to hunt your first spirit ring? I almost died protecting you! This is outright betrayal!"
"Think of your father—how would he feel if he knew?"
"Xiao San, I'll give you one last chance. Make the right choice."
Yu Xiaogang tried to take the moral high ground, hoping guilt would sway Tang San's decision.
But Tang San's eyes were cold.
Sacrifice the chance to become a god for the likes of Yu Xiaogang? Impossible.
He had hoped to leave peacefully, maintaining some semblance of a relationship. But if Yu Xiaogang was set on confrontation… well, he knew how to reveal secrets too.
"Teacher, you must be mistaken," Tang San replied calmly. "That 400-year-old Mandala Snake bit your Spirit Luo San Pao, poisoning you. It was I who killed the snake, cured you, and led us out of the Spirit Beast Forest."
Yu Xiaogang's eyes widened in disbelief—how dare he expose his teacher's faults? Where was his respect for his master?
Nearby, watching the dog-eat-dog display between Tang San and Yu Xiaogang, Zhuge Lan was amused, though surprised to find no emotion points accumulating.
Oh right! Only emotions spurred by him would add to his points.
He wasn't having that. Time to make his presence felt.
"Based on what Xiao San just said," Zhuge Lan interjected, "are you saying, Yu Xiaogang, that you couldn't even handle a mere 400-year spirit beast? And that, in the end, it was Xiao San who saved you?"
*[Emotion Points +44444]*
*[Emotion Points +6666]*
The numbers said it all.
Yu Xiaogang glared at Zhuge Lan with a face dark as thunder.
Refocusing on Tang San, he attempted to regroup and salvage his pride.
"Let's not dwell on that. But what about your second spirit ring? Wasn't I the one who asked the principal of Nuoding Academy for help?"
Tang San's expression turned cold.
"So we're going to talk about that now?"
"Thank Principal Nuoding instead! Back then, you delayed my second spirit ring for two months just to test your theory about bottlenecked spirit power growth. It was Principal Nuoding who noticed the delay and convinced you to let me proceed."
Tang San turned to Zhuge Lan.
"Zhuge, if I'd gained my spirit ring on time, wouldn't I already be past level 30?"
Zhuge Lan nodded, unable to resist the opening.
"Bottlenecked spirit power can only handle so much before it overflows, which often weakens any compressed spirit power after a breakthrough. Overall benefit? Minimal."
"And that theory of yours… my family's dogs would shake their heads at it."
*[Emotion Points +119119]*
*[Emotion Points +9999]*
Yu Xiaogang shook with fury.
As Tang San took it in, even he was surprised—he hadn't expected the theory's flaws to be so extensive.
"Enough nonsense!" Yu Xiaogang roared. "The theory of spirit power growth is mentioned in the Spirit Hall archives, attributed to a titled Douluo! Who are you to contradict it?"
"Oh, a titled Douluo. How impressive," Zhuge Lan mocked. "Need more authority, do you?"
"My family's gatekeepers are titled Douluo, and three gods emerged from our ranks. Should I trust your word or my family's?"
*[Emotion Points +120120]*
*[Emotion Points +55555]*
*[Emotion Points +66666]*
A stunned crowd murmured, casting skeptical glances at Yu Xiaogang.
"I've experienced it myself. Zhuge's theory is undoubtedly superior!" Tang San declared firmly.
*[Emotion Points +74748]*
Yu Xiaogang's lips trembled as he pointed at Tang San.
Just whose disciple are you?
"Who knows if he's telling the truth?" Yu Xiaogang countered. "Titled Douluo as gatekeepers? Three gods? That's a stretch."
Everyone's expressions turned skeptical.
In the past, gods might've been legends. But just moments ago, a mere wisp of divine will alone had subdued Sword Douluo.
Facts spoke louder than words: not only were gods real, but Zhuge Lan's family might even possess one.
Flander stepped in, kindly reminding Yu Xiaogang, "While I didn't witness it firsthand, I did feel an overwhelming pressure earlier that even made me hesitate to approach."
Zhao Wuji and the others, recalling the sheer terror they'd felt, nodded in agreement.
*[Emotion Points +99999]*
Yu Xiaogang's eyes widened. There really are gods?
"Then why didn't I sense anything?"
"Too weak," Zhuge Lan shrugged. "Nature can be both cruel and merciful. Ants don't fear humans because they lack the awareness."
"Likewise, as a mere two-ring Spirit Master, you're shielded from sensing divine power, or you'd explode on the spot."
*[Emotion Points +111111]*
Yu Xiaogang's brow pulsed as he opened his mouth, speechless.
The same way he hadn't known about spirit ring soul resonance… he found himself out of his depth.
*[Emotion Points +101111]*
*[Emotion Points +99595]*
*[Emotion Points +151515]*
Zhuge Lan glanced at his earnings, astonished.
Just how much emotion was that?
---
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