The moment Lin Fan's words fell, it was like a stone dropped into a calm lake—instantly causing a tidal wave of shock.
On both sides of the wide avenue in Spirit City, soul masters turned in unison to look toward the source of the voice.
Dozens of eyes glared at Lin Fan with mounting fury. The hot-headed among them rolled up their sleeves, ready to charge forward.
Even soul masters who had just been casually spectating moments ago now swarmed in, surrounding Lin Fan and Xiao Wu completely.
The entire street became so packed that not even a drop of water could pass through.
Those who understood what had just been said were especially outraged.
After all, Lin Fan's remark had been a blanket insult!
Anyone capable of walking freely through Spirit City was either powerful, influential, or both.
Who could tolerate being called trash by some arrogant brat?
But despite the overwhelming hostility, Lin Fan remained completely unbothered, standing with a faint smile as he gazed calmly at the crowd closing in around him.
Xiao Wu, standing beside him, looked intrigued, her scarlet eyes sparkling with excitement—clearly eager for a fight.
With a smirk, Lin Fan slowly turned toward the person who had dared to speak back to him. His brow rose slightly as he studied the man.
Before him stood a weathered, somewhat shabby-looking man. His expression held both pride and a trace of lingering bitterness.
Though his clothes were simple, the arrogance in his posture was impossible to miss.
His hair was streaked black and silver, giving him an even more "aged and wise" look.
His face bore the sort of look that screamed: "I've seen too much to be surprised anymore."
And in that moment, Lin Fan's mind flashed with a ridiculous thought.
This guy…
Could it be…?
With narrowed eyes, Lin Fan asked, "And who are you, exactly? You think you're qualified to lecture me?"
The man calmly reached up and brushed back his greasy bangs, then spoke in a deep, deliberate tone:
"I'm but a humble spirit master—not worth mentioning."
"But… you may call me Master. Or, if you prefer—Yu Xiaogang."
As he spoke the name, he tilted his head forty-five degrees toward the sky, eyes filled with practiced depth and mystery.
The aura of tragic pride and misunderstood genius radiated from him like a fog.
"WHAT?!"
The crowd exploded in excitement.
Spirit masters began chattering rapidly, their eyes lit up with admiration.
"It's really Yu Xiaogang! I can't believe I'm seeing the Master in person!"
"I heard he vanished from the continent years ago. And now—here he is, in Spirit City!"
"Yeah! His ten core theories? I haven't even figured them all out yet! To think it's really him!"
"Master! Can you guide my training?! Please, Master!"
"…"
Lin Fan watched the theatrical display with a deadpan expression as Yu Xiaogang dramatically stared into the sky, basking in the praise.
So… it really was him.
What the hell is going on? Did I walk into some kind of protagonist hive?
Why do I keep running into named characters?!
And more importantly—what was Yu Xiaogang doing in Spirit City at this time?
Lin Fan narrowed his eyes.
If memory served, after getting together with Liu Erlong, Yu Xiaogang rarely appeared in Spirit Hall again.
The only time he came to Spirit City in the original timeline was during the Continental Advanced Spirit Master Academy Elite Tournament—to help Tang San gain favor with Bibi Dong and seek solutions to the twin martial soul issue.
But the current timeline… didn't match up at all.
Which meant Yu Xiaogang's presence here… was very suspicious.
Lin Fan's gaze swept over the crowd. With his powerful perception, he confirmed there was no sign of Liu Erlong.
So Yu Xiaogang had come here alone?
A grin curled at Lin Fan's lips.
His eyes gleamed with amusement.
Xiao Wu saw that expression and couldn't help but shake her head.
Whenever Lord Ruler shows that face, someone's about to suffer.
She cast a sympathetic glance toward the weathered man before them.
"Ohhh~?" Lin Fan dragged out the sound deliberately.
He glanced at Yu Xiaogang's proudly upright posture and spoke with feigned admiration, "So you're the great Yu Xiaogang? Ah, my apologies for the disrespect!"
Yu Xiaogang brushed his bangs forward to cover his eyes and gave a dry cough, replying in his trademark brooding voice, "It's merely a title others forced upon me. Not worth remembering."
But Lin Fan ignored his act and suddenly let out a light "Hmm?" before continuing in a curious tone:
"If I remember correctly, aren't you the guy who failed to evolve the top-tier Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon martial soul… and turned it into a pig?"
Boom.
Yu Xiaogang's body stiffened instantly.
He glared at Lin Fan, eyes sharp and full of warning.
But Lin Fan was just getting started.
"Oh! And didn't you get kicked out of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan for being a complete failure?"
"Isn't that right, Master?"
Lin Fan looked at him with mock reverence, as though examining a clown on stage.
And then—chaos erupted in the crowd.
"What?! The great theorist is a failure?"
"His martial soul turned into a pig?! No way!"
"He ruined a Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon? That kind of martial soul is practically heaven-defying!"
"How did he come up with all those theories then?"
"Bet he just plagiarized them!"
"HAHAHAHAHAHA!"
Yu Xiaogang's face darkened like an overcast sky. His fists clenched tight.
Teeth grinding, he growled, "Who the hell are you?!"
Lin Fan raised an eyebrow and added with a chuckle, "Why so impatient? I seem to recall something else… Weren't you planning to marry your cousin?"
"A tragic love story between brother and sister, was it?"
"HAHAHAHA!"
Lin Fan's mocking laughter echoed through the entire street.
And the crowd?
They followed suit, laughing and pointing at Yu Xiaogang.
Just moments ago, they were singing his praises… and now they tore him apart.
Yu Xiaogang stood frozen, trembling, his face pale with rage.
He stared daggers at Lin Fan, his bloodshot eyes filled with fury.
How…?
How did this man know so much about me?
These were things only he—and a few others—should've known.
Wait…
She knew too.
Yu Xiaogang looked toward the towering shadow of the Pope's Palace in the distance.
His eyes briefly flickered with deep hatred.
Then, without another word, he turned and pushed his way out of the crowd, head down and shoulders tense.
As for the jeering strangers around him… it wasn't like he wasn't used to it by now.
Lin Fan watched the retreating figure with a smirk.
Oh, you like keeping a low profile? You like playing the "mysterious sage"?
Then I'll make sure everyone knows your name.
He gave Xiao Wu a slight nod, and she instantly understood.
Her scarlet eyes gleamed, and in the distance—just beyond the city walls—
the ground began to tremble faintly.
Then the tremor faded, and multiple black shadows emerged from the earth.
They scurried off in different directions, vanishing into the streets.
Lin Fan turned back, ready to continue toward the Pope's Palace with Xiao Wu.
But just as he took a step forward—he suddenly stopped.
He looked up, eyes narrowing as he stared toward the end of the street.
"...Interesting," he muttered.
"The main character has arrived."
****
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