However, having already seen through Yu Xiaogang's selfish and despicable nature, how could Qian Renxue possibly let him off? After all, if it weren't for him, her mother would never have endured such a fate.
And that wasn't even the worst of it—this man had the audacity to come crawling back after more than twenty years, asking her for the cultivation method of the twin spirit martial souls! What an utterly repulsive excuse for a man. The more she thought about it, the more disgusted she felt. With a cold voice, Qian Renxue continued:
"Even this isn't enough for you?! After more than twenty years, you actually had the gall to ask me for the cultivation method of the twin spirit martial souls—all so your disciple could cultivate them too!
This was a private matter between us; I don't wish to say more.
But you've truly made me lose all respect for you. You knew full well that Tang San was a remnant of the Hao Tian Sect, yet you still dared to try and take this secret technique from me to aid the enemy!
At the time, you even had the audacity to tell me that you'd restrain Tang San and ensure he wouldn't seek revenge against my Spirit Hall. Where did you get the confidence to make such promises?
Fortunately, I didn't give it to you. Look at yourself now, Yu Xiaogang—pathetic and reduced to such a sorry state. Is Tang San really worth throwing away every shred of dignity for just to nurture him?"
The audience couldn't believe their ears. They had come to watch a competition, only to stumble upon some juicy drama involving the Pope herself—and what a scandal it was!
The crowd struggled to imagine how this fifty-something-year-old failure, whose cultivation hadn't even surpassed the early stages of Soul Elder, had managed to charm their Pope in the past. They were dying to know the full story!
As everyone stared curiously, Yu Xiaogang's face suddenly twisted in anger. Struggling to break free from Liu Erlong's embrace, he forced himself to stand up.
"Shut up! Bibi Dong, you wretched woman! If you had fully loved me back then and become my wife, I wouldn't be in this miserable state now! I waited for so many years, only to finally find a genius like Tang San who has the potential to become a Title Douluo. I'm already over fifty years old—if I don't groom Tang San into talent now, I—!!!"
Pfft!!!
Before he could finish, Yu Xiaogang violently spat out another mouthful of blood. The force of the spray sent the crimson liquid flying as far as three meters.
By this point, everyone recalled Ju Douluo's earlier analysis—they realized this was Yu Xiaogang's final burst of vitality before death.
But no one felt sympathy for Yu Xiaogang's plight. In fact, they couldn't fathom how someone like him—a complete failure—had the audacity to suggest that Bibi Dong should have married him back then.
Qian Renxue's gaze remained cold and indifferent as she said, "After all these years, you're still as laughable as ever, Yu Xiaogang. Like a clown performing for others' amusement.
Your 'Ten Core Competencies of Martial Souls' theory claims there are no useless martial souls, only useless soul masters. So after all your efforts, is your martial soul useless, or are you the useless one?"
At this moment, the answer was clear in everyone's minds: Yu Xiaogang was nothing but a total failure. There were plenty of soul masters who spent their entire lives stuck at the Soul Grandmaster level, yet none of them were as extreme as him. He blamed all his misfortunes on others, refusing to take responsibility—a textbook example of a despicable human being.
With that, Qian Renxue continued, "Enough. There's no point in saying more to someone who's about to die.
As the current Pope of the Spirit Hall, I hereby pass judgment.
Yu Xiaogang, you are guilty of harboring remnants of the Hao Tian Douluo, stealing secrets from the Spirit Hall and leaking them to the outside world, and spreading false theories while falsely claiming the title of 'Master,' which resulted in the deaths or severe injuries of multiple soul masters.
For these combined crimes, you are sentenced to death!"
At this moment, Qian Renxue's eyes turned icy. She didn't think a simple execution would be enough to compensate for the harm Yu Xiaogang had caused her mother. She went on:
"And to prevent shameless individuals from stealing precious inheritances, slapping their own names on them, and gaining fame across the continent, I will use Yu Xiaogang as a prototype to erect a monument of infamy. This will serve as a warning to those who deceive the public and steal others' legacies. Should anyone commit similar offenses in the future, they will be punished with the same severity!
Every theory of soul master cultivation represents the invaluable knowledge painstakingly gained by countless predecessors through blood and sacrifice. Their sacrifices must not be exploited by these frauds!
Therefore, in the name of the Pope of the Spirit Hall, I hereby establish an ironclad rule for the continent: any scholar who disseminates theories of martial soul cultivation must clearly cite the sources and names of previous contributors. Failure to do so will result in charges of plagiarism!"
As Qian Renxue's final words echoed through the air, cheers erupted once again in Spirit City. Among the most ecstatic were the scholars, as this new law protected those lower-tier soul masters who, unable to advance in practical cultivation, had devoted themselves to theoretical research instead.
However, unlike the jubilant crowd, Yu Xiaogang's face was a mask of despair and distortion. Yet, he couldn't muster a single word of rebuttal.
Yu Xiaogang knew it was all over for him. Once the monument of infamy was erected, he would forever be nailed to the pillar of shame in the Douluo Continent. How could someone who had chased fame and fortune all his life possibly accept such a fate?
In his deeply twisted state of mind, Yu Xiaogang coughed up several more mouthfuls of blood. Finally, amidst Liu Erlong's anguished cries, blood streamed from his seven orifices, and his face contorted in agony as he took his last breath.
According to careful observers present, Yu Xiaogang's eyes remained wide open even in death, and no matter how hard they tried, they couldn't close them. His death was horrifying, filled with ill omens.
Watching Yu Xiaogang die in her arms, Liu Erlong completely lost her sanity.
She had waited for Yu Xiaogang for a full twenty years! Just when he had finally agreed to enter into a Platonic "spiritual marriage" with her, the dream of happiness she had barely begun to fantasize about was cruelly snatched away. Her lover had died in her arms, and in such a tragic manner.
But that wasn't the end. Even as love-struck as Liu Erlong was, she could now see clearly that with Bibi Dong's verdict, her lover was finished—not just physically, but spiritually as well!
At this moment, Liu Erlong's eyes bulged with rage, and something within her seemed to snap. A powerful surge of soul power began to emanate from her body.
Under the overwhelming emotional turmoil, Liu Erlong unconsciously broke through to the 79th rank—a milestone she wouldn't have reached for another five years according to the original timeline.
Flander, who had been watching nearby, snapped out of his daze due to the sudden surge of soul power from Liu Erlong. Having acted as Liu Erlong's lapdog for so many years, Flander immediately knew what she intended to do. Panic-stricken, he shouted:
"Erlong! Don't do it!"
As everyone knew, once a love-obsessed individual in the Douluo Continent lost control, they wouldn't care about their family or friends. At this moment, all Liu Erlong wanted was to crush Bibi Dong with her newly enhanced strength!
"Bibi Dong, prepare to die! Seventh Soul Skill—Fire Dragon True Body!"
Though Liu Erlong had lost most of her rationality, she knew her flames alone wouldn't be enough to harm Bibi Dong. Instead, she planned to rely on the terrifying might of her Fire Dragon True Body to tear the woman apart limb by limb!
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