Without sparing a glance at the astonished expressions around him, Li Chang'an dove straight into the day's training. And today, even Tang San was unusually focused and obedient, following instructions with a rare diligence.
There was no helping it. In front of Li Chang'an, even these so-called prodigies of heaven were nothing. Though they prided themselves on their talents, compared to Li Chang'an, there was really only one way to describe it:
They were nothing!
Among them, Ning Rongrong's gaze toward Li Chang'an had become increasingly dreamy and admiring—she was a full-blown fangirl at this point. Xiao Wu wore an expression that seemed to say, "That's my man, alright!" Meanwhile, Zhu Zhuqing looked as if she'd made up her mind on somthing important.Tang San, on the other hand, was deeply puzzled...
After all, with the Mysterious Heaven Skill in his arsenal, Tang San had always believed that his cultivation speed surpassed any native of the Douluo Continent. Yet Li Chang'an had shattered that belief with cold, hard results—this was what a true genius looked like.
During a break in training, Tang San walked over to Yu Xiaogang, who was standing in place, brows furrowed in deep thought.
"Teacher, don't take it too hard. Your theories aren't wrong. Teacher Li... he might just be a rare anomaly."
Tang San sat beside Yu Xiaogang, speaking in a tone of consolation.
Truth be told, Tang San was also upset that his role as team strategist had been taken by Li Chang'an. As a transmigrator, he'd always felt his choices were foolproof—selecting his teacher, choosing his cultivation path—every step had been meticulously planned. But now? All of that planning had led to this humiliating moment.
In Tang San's mind, Yu Xiaogang had always been a mad genius—someone with insane but brilliant theories. When he first chose to follow him, Tang San had even congratulated himself for picking the right mentor. After all, in the beginning, their relationship had been mostly one of mutual benefit.
Yu Xiaogang wanted to use his twin spirits to create a Spirit master that would shock the continent, while Tang San wanted to use Yu Xiaogang's theories to climb to the peak.
Naturally, after all these years, the bond between them had solidified into a genuine teacher-student relationship. And not a bad one at that.
"Sigh… Xiao San, you don't understand. What pains me is not that my theories were disproven by Li Chang'an… what hurts is that my life's proudest work—my theory—collapsed completely in the face of reality!"
Yu Xiaogang let out a long sigh.
He had always been a man plagued by inferiority. From the day his Martial soul was awakened, that sense of inadequacy had never left him. His theories and research were his last refuge—his final defense, his final bit of dignity.
"But Xiao San, don't be discouraged. My theories aren't just about soul rings and cultivation. When it comes to tactical deployment, my research is second to none!"
"I've studied countless Spirit master battles over the years—big and small—and from them I've conducted thorough research, drawn conclusions, and built my own system of understanding, which I passed on to you."
"Li Chang'an's natural talent might be exceptional enough to break through my theories, but when it comes to the art of battle? He can't compare. Without a foundation of foresight, deep knowledge, and decades of experience, no one can even be mentioned in the same breath as me!"
"…Yes, Teacher. I believe you." Tang San nodded earnestly. His mind was mature enough to know that Yu Xiaogang wasn't just blowing smoke—but for some reason, an unshakable sense of unease gnawed at his gut.
___
The Next Day – Suotuo City, Great Spirit Arena
Today was the busiest day the Great Spirit Arena had seen in a long time—every seat was filled to the brim. The reason? A match between rising star Shrek Team and the veteran powerhouse Emperor Team.
Bets were flying everywhere. Gamblers and noble families alike had placed heavy wagers. Some bet on Shrek, others on the Emperor Team—but overall, the latter had far more support.
After all, in both strength and reputation, the Emperor Team still held the upper hand. Betting on them seemed like a surefire way to make a fortune.
Suotuo City was a large urban hub. Over the past year, two major trade associations had moved in, and the local branch of the Spirit Hall had been elevated in status. With more rich people around, the stakes were naturally higher.
But this morning, something unusual happened: a flood of people poured into every major casino in Suotuo City—all of them betting on a Shrek victory. Their individual wagers weren't massive, but there were so many of them that it made an impact.
This swarm? None other than the Li and Hong Chambers of Commerce.
After receiving word that Li Chang'an would be participating, they mobilized a hundred agents. These agents spread out across the city, placing bets on Shrek in dozens of casinos. The total wager? Fifty million gold soul coins.
And based on the current odds, if Shrek won, the return would be fivefold—two hundred and fifty million gold soul coins.
Two hundred and fifty million—more than enough to bankrupt almost every casino in Suotuo overnight. This was part of Li Chang'an's grand strategy. Where others fought for honor or points, he fought for profit—and power.
This match wasn't just about ranking points.
It was about putting Yu Xiaogang in his place, getting closer to Ye Lingling, that mysterious woman, and most importantly, gaining control over Suotuo City itself.
With its strategic location, Li Chang'an had long planned to make Suotuo his own—and he intended to install a proxy ruler to become the true emperor of Suotuo's underworld.
In the VIP viewing section, Yu Xiaogang, Tang San, Flender, and Zhao Wuji had all taken their seats. Their expressions varied.
"Don't get too worked up, Xiaogang," Flender patted Yu Xiaogang on the shoulder comfortingly. "Changsheng is definitely going to suffer in this match. You'll be back in charge of tactics soon enough."
What he said wasn't wrong. No matter how talented Li Chang'an was, tactics required experience, not brute force. This was a field where Li Chang'an was bound to stumble.
Zhao Wuji sat quietly, saying nothing. Although he wasn't exactly a Li Chang'an fan, he had even less respect for this so-called "Grandmaster."
Yu Xiaogang nodded slowly, putting on a thoughtful expression. "Let's just wait and see. Who knows—maybe he'll pull off a miracle."
His words sounded humble on the surface, but the irony was unmistakable. With his old friend's encouragement, his confidence had returned somewhat—and with it, his disdain for Li Chang'an.
After all, he was Yu Xiaogang. He was The Grandmaster.
The match was set to take place in the central main arena—the crown jewel of the Great Spirit Arena.
The central arena had twelve elite VIP suites and three hundred and twenty standard ones, all of which were usually booked out at the beginning of every year. There was rarely an empty room.
Suddenly, the arena's already-bright golden lights intensified. Instead of scattering in all directions, the lights focused downward—like an enormous spotlight shining from the heavens—illuminating the entire stage.
Just from this lighting soul tool alone, it was clear: the arena was loaded.
In the center of the stage, a circular platform two meters wide began to rise from the ground. Supported by a thick golden column, it slowly ascended. Leaning gracefully against the column was a young woman.
She appeared to be about eighteen or nineteen, dressed in an elegant white gown. Her chestnut-colored, wavy hair cascaded down in gentle curls. Her voluptuous figure and delicate waistline radiated a captivating allure. She held a conical voice amplifier—a soul tool—and wore a professional smile on her flawless face.
"It's an honor to see you all again," she said, her voice crisp and clear as the platform reached full height. She twirled once on the spot and waved gracefully to the surrounding audience.
The moment she stepped forward, the platform silently descended back into place, vanishing without a trace.
Not even a mark was left behind.
___
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