Chapter 89: Expelled from the Clan
Not long after Qian Xunji left, Jing Ni and Golden Crocodile returned.
Jing Ni, clad in a form-fitting purple and white metallic battle suit, looked heroic and valiant. Her aura was stable, without a single hair out of place.
In contrast, Golden Crocodile's exaggerated golden armor was damaged. His aura was unstable, his skin was crisscrossed with small sword marks, and there were signs of frostbite across his body. A piece of his beard was even missing. He wore a bitter expression, looking utterly disheveled.
Who won and who lost was clear at a glance.
"You lost?" Qian Daoliu asked him.
Golden Crocodile nodded in frustration. He glanced at Jing Ni and grumbled, "This girl's top-grade Spirit Bones have already formed a full suit of armor, her sword skills far surpass those of Chen Xin, the Sword Douluo, from back in the day, and she possesses a Slaughter God Domain that has evolved to a terrifying level. I am not her opponent."
He wasn't a sore loser; he was just embarrassed to have been so completely suppressed by a young woman under twenty-five, who barely even used her Spirit Abilities to defeat him.
"It seems you are even more formidable than I imagined," Qian Daoliu said, looking at Jing Ni with admiration. "From this day forward, you are the Second Worship of Spirit Hall. In three days, I will personally crown you. Also, since you are new to this realm, you may seek my guidance at any time."
"Thank you, High Priest," Jing Ni replied with her clear, cold voice before quietly departing.
"This woman's future is limitless," Qian Daoliu murmured as he watched her leave, his expression turning solemn.
Golden Crocodile nodded in agreement, a hint of ruthlessness flashing in his eyes before softening. "Indeed. It's fortunate she is Xuan'er's wife. Otherwise, she could have become a great enemy to our Spirit Hall."
"This is the first time I've heard you praise someone so much. Don't you feel wronged, being bested by a junior?" Qian Daoliu asked with a hint of amusement.
Of course I feel wronged, Golden Crocodile thought, his old face flushing. He turned his head and snorted. "Do I look like someone who can't handle a loss?"
"Let's talk about the battle, then," Qian Daoliu smiled, not pressing the issue.
At the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan...
"Bastard! An explanation? What explanation? Does Qian Xunji really think my Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan is so easily bullied?"
In the great hall, Yu Yuanzhen, the current clan master, smashed his fist onto the table, shattering it and the letter from Spirit Hall into pieces. Just a moment ago, the two newly promoted Titled Douluo, Gui Mei and Yue Guan, had delivered an invitation for the upcoming Sect Competition. He had been thrilled, intending to avenge the humiliation of his father's defeat against Tang Chen in the previous competition.
But his joy was short-lived. The duo had also been mandated by the Supreme Pontiff to demand an explanation for the deaths caused by his son's theory, "The Ten Core Competencies of a Spirit." As a proud sect leader, he had almost come to blows with them, only stopped at the last second by his younger brother, Yu Luomian.
"Brother, calm down," Yu Luomian advised. "You know how stubborn Xiao Gang is. He has caused a great disaster this time. Even the two great empires have expressed their dissatisfaction with our clan."
"Why is he so stubborn?" Yu Yuanzhen said, his heart aching at the mention of his second son. He had once had such high hopes for him, only for the boy's Spirit to mutate into a pig, branding him a failure.
"Brother, you saw the spirit rings of Chrysanthemum and Ghost Douluo," Yu Luomian said hesitantly. "If the rumors are true and they possess 100,000-year rings, improper handling of this matter could bring disaster to our clan."
Yu Yuanzhen knew this. A 100,000-year spirit ring meant they also likely had a 100,000-year Spirit Bone. With such strength, even he had to be cautious. "But you can't ask me to punish my own son, can you?" he said angrily.
"As things stand, there is only one way," Yu Luomian said, his jaw set.
"What way?"
"Expel Xiao Gang from the clan," he replied grimly. "It is the only way to preserve the clan. Spirit Hall will have no reason to trouble us, and the other powers will say nothing more."
Yu Yuanzhen fell silent. After a long while, he sighed, his voice full of helplessness. "Then we have no choice. We can only wrong Xiao Gang." He was protective of his son, but he valued the interests of his sect more. This time, his son had gone too far.
The news that Yu Xiaogang was expelled from the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan spread like wildfire. At the same time, his work was officially declared "impractical" by the major powers.
From rising star to pariah, Yu Xiaogang was blissfully unaware of the dramatic fall his reputation had taken. At that moment, he was on a ferry heading to Sea God Island, the wind in his hair and the sun on his face. Fifty large sea vessels, flying the golden angel emblem of Spirit Hall, sailed swiftly across the ocean. On the main ship, four Titled Douluo stood at the prow, gazing into the distance. Inside the cabin, thanks to Bibi Dong's status as Holy Maiden, Yu Xiaogang was safe and sound.