Chapter 179: Yu Xiaogang Breaks Again and Again

The next morning, the sun was shining brightly, and the weather was perfect for the competition.

Before the match even began, all fifteen participating teams had already gathered. The central spectator area was, as usual, packed with people, with Emperor Xue Ye seated in the most prominent position.

The advancement matches differed from the preliminary rounds. While the preliminaries tested teamwork and tactical arrangements, the advancement matches focused on personnel deployment and individual strength.

The fifteen teams were divided into different zones within the circular battle arena. Royal Knight soldiers stood guard at various elevated positions around the venue, allowing them to observe the battles below with perfect clarity. Of course, this arrangement had another purpose—to inspire the soldiers to train harder.

Not everyone on the continent could become a Soul Master. The Royal Knights belonged solely to the Heaven Dou Imperial Family, under the direct command of Emperor Xue Ye. The entire force comprised fifty thousand soldiers, making them the elite of the Heaven Dou Empire.

"Qinghe, I heard that you punished the Shrek Academy's Grandmaster in public yesterday?"

Emperor Xue Ye, seated in the main position, glanced toward his son, Crown Prince Xue Qinghe. It had to be said that the emperor had the sharpest ears—no surprise, considering the massive commotion caused by yesterday's incident.

It was said that Grandmaster was still lying in bed, his backside already a mess.

At this point, all that was missing was for him to become an eunuch…

Seeing his father's gaze, Xue Qinghe stood up and respectfully saluted before replying, "Yesterday, Grandmaster of Shrek Academy spoke disrespectfully to me and repeatedly made things difficult for my close friend, Ye Hao. Therefore, I couldn't hold back and decided to teach him a lesson."

Emperor Xue Ye had already been informed of the full incident.

Initially, his reaction was one of fury.

Grandmaster was from the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan. Though he had been expelled, he still lacked basic awareness. How dare he be so bold as to disrespect a crown prince?

More importantly, Xue Qinghe was the heir apparent. Once Emperor Xue Ye passed away, Qinghe would be the next ruler. Someone who dared to insult the crown prince today would undoubtedly become a black mark in history once he took the throne.

"Qinghe, you handled this well. Some people who think too highly of themselves need to be taught a lesson."

Emperor Xue Ye's gaze was cold as he glanced toward the Shrek Academy group, who were whispering among themselves.

Sitting nearby, Ning Fengzhi remained silent, but the slight curve at the corner of his mouth betrayed his amusement.

Yesterday, when he heard that Grandmaster had been beaten—by none other than Xue Qinghe himself—Ning Fengzhi was genuinely surprised.

But after understanding the full story, he made an important decision—one that would even impact the direction of his sect.

From now on, he would no longer respond to Tang Hao's requests for help.

Ever since Shrek Academy entered his sight, it had been one mess after another. The more their facade was stripped away, the more their flaws were exposed.

First, it was about his own daughter. Then, the trouble with Heaven Dou Imperial Academy. More recently, Grandmaster's reckless behavior. And now, once again, it was Grandmaster causing problems.

"If you don't seek trouble, you won't die."

Looking back, the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan's decision to expel Yu Xiaogang was absolutely the right choice.

Meanwhile, in Shrek Academy's area, Flender was busy organizing personnel adjustments, completely oblivious to the fact that they were being publicly humiliated. With Grandmaster injured, all scheduling matters over the next few days fell entirely on Flender's shoulders.

"Alright, the battle is about to begin. Everyone, do your best! Defeat Barak Academy and show everyone present that Shrek Academy cannot be humiliated!" Flender declared with enthusiasm.

His grudge against Barak Academy ran deep. Back in Soto City, they had already been rivals, and even here in Heaven Dou City, nothing had changed.

Shrek's first competitor was Xiao Wu. On the other side, Barak Academy sent out their captain, a tall and muscular student whose soul power had already surpassed rank forty—he was the strongest member of their team.

"Barak Academy is going to lose."

Ye Hao, seated in the stands, muttered casually.

"How do you know that?" Dugu Yan suddenly asked.

Ye Hao shrugged and explained, "Barak Academy and Shrek have a long-standing feud. Back in Soto City, the two sides were already at odds. Yesterday, Grandmaster was humiliated—I'm sure you all know about it. More importantly, Barak Academy even openly mocked him as a useless failure. I heard about it from people gossiping afterward."

"Since Barak Academy has already underestimated their opponent, they will inevitably let their guard down in today's match. That's why I'm certain they will lose."

His reasoning made sense, but it was still hard for others to believe him so confidently predicting the outcome before the match even started.

After all, battles were full of uncertainties. What if… Barak Academy won?

"By the way, I haven't seen Old Poison around lately..."

"Wait, Sis Yan, how's your grandfather doing?" Ye Hao suddenly asked.

Hearing this, Dugu Yan sighed deeply, looking troubled.

"What's wrong?" Ye Hao asked, noticing her unusual demeanor.

After hesitating for a moment, Dugu Yan finally spoke, "Grandfather has been acting strangely these days."

"Strangely?" Ye Hao frowned.

Honestly, wasn't Dugu Bo always a bit… unusual? That was just who he was.

The man never played by the rules, and no one could ever guess what he was thinking. If he wasn't unpredictable, he wouldn't be the notorious "Old Poison."

Dugu Yan continued, "Lately, he's been frequently appearing at Shrek Academy. I only found out after investigating."

"Shrek Academy?" Ye Hao fell into deep thought. What was Old Poison doing there?

There had to be some important reason.

"Could it be…!" Ye Hao's brows furrowed as a thought struck him.

Would Dugu Bo intervene when Chrysanthemum and Ghost Douluo attacked Tang San?

It didn't make sense. Logically, Dugu Bo had no reason to get involved.

So what exactly could be forcing him to act?

For a moment, Ye Hao was lost in thought…

----

As expected, just as Ye Hao predicted—

Barak Academy's captain was overconfident and careless. He was hit directly by Xiao Wu's Charm, his mind instantly thrown into disarray.

Seizing the opportunity, Xiao Wu wasted no time. She had no good impression of Barak Academy and harbored plenty of resentment against them. Without hesitation, she launched a fierce assault.

—The battle had only just begun, but the outcome was already determined.

These people were the ones who openly mocked Grandmaster and Tang San yesterday—the captain of Barak Academy standing before them was one of them.

Xiao Wu stuck to her usual combo: Teleportation, Waist Bow, Eight-Stage Drop!

Miserable screams filled the air. The sight made the Barak Academy team grit their teeth in fury, itching to rush forward and teach this arrogant girl a lesson.

Meanwhile, Shrek's team, led by Ma Hongjun, cheered loudly, even making faces at Barak Academy, further adding fuel to the fire.

Finally, with a powerful whip kick, Xiao Wu sent the battered Barak Academy captain crashing to the ground.

Seizing the moment, she cast a disdainful glance at the remaining members of Barak Academy.

"Who's next?"

A simple sentence, yet it ignited a storm of rage among Barak Academy's ranks.

Feeling triumphant from her first victory, Xiao Wu couldn't help but glance at Ye Hao.

When their eyes met, the chilling killing intent in Xiao Wu's gaze made Ye Hao pause for a moment.

"This rabbit is getting cocky, huh? A few days without a beating, and she forgets her place?"

At that moment, seven or eight furious Barak Academy members stormed onto the stage, looking ready to fight.

Two of them dragged their unconscious captain away, while the rest encircled Xiao Wu, malice flickering in their eyes.

Seeing this, Shrek's team had no intention of backing down. One by one, they jumped onto the stage, completely ignoring the referee's authority.

The entire arena instantly descended into chaos…

-----

Deep inside the dense forest, towering trees intertwined, forming a secluded and shadowed domain.

"Impossible!"

Dugu Bo stood before Tang Hao, his expression firm as he flatly rejected Tang Hao's request.

Tang Hao's gaze darkened as he locked eyes with Dugu Bo, making the latter shiver involuntarily.

"Dugu Bo, when you kidnapped my son before, I should have killed you."

Tang Hao took a deep breath, and the Clear Sky Hammer suddenly appeared in his grasp.

"I'm only asking you to ensure my son's safety. That's all. Once the tournament ends, you'll be free."

Despite Tang Hao's repeated coercion, Dugu Bo remained defiant.

"Tang Hao, I am not some pushover! If you push me too far, do you really think I won't kill your son right now?"

As he spoke, Dugu Bo flipped his palm, and a thick, venomous green mist began to swirl—the Jade Phosphor Serpent Emperor's poison. Killing intent flickered in his eyes.

"You dare?!"

Tang Hao's fury erupted as he raised the Clear Sky Hammer, its oppressive aura manifesting in a tangible white killing intent around him.

"Hmph!" Dugu Bo snorted coldly. "You've forced me into a corner, and now you think I won't dare? Last time, I already agreed to protect your son from the shadows. Now you come to me again, expecting me to bow?!"

Indeed, forcing Dugu Bo into a desperate situation would only be counterproductive.

At present, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan was no longer an option—they were only looking out for their own interests.

That whole "Upper Three Clans stand together" nonsense sounded nice, but when help was truly needed, they only cared about themselves.

Now, Tang Hao's elder brother, Tang Xiao, had secretly decided to intervene. However, as the leader of the Clear Sky Clan, he could not openly act. His only option was to disguise himself in black robes and support from the shadows.

The Clear Sky Clan was still in seclusion. If Tang Xiao, as the current clan leader, made a public move, the clan would erupt in controversy—especially the five elders, who would never let it slide.

Tang Hao understood this well. He took a moment to compose himself, lowering the Clear Sky Hammer, which then gradually disappeared.

Even so, Dugu Bo remained wary. He knew that in terms of sheer combat strength, he was no match for Tang Hao.

"Dugu Bo, I'm just reminding you—don't forget the promise you made to me."

With that, Tang Hao turned and walked away.

Dugu Bo clenched his fists, his expression dark.

"When has this old man ever been treated like this?!"

Ever since he became a Titled Douluo, this was undoubtedly the most humiliating experience he had ever endured.

Elsewhere in the Forest, Tang Hao walked further away from Dugu Bo's sight, a figure emerged from the shadows.

A tall, burly man dressed in black robes slowly stepped forward, lifting his hood to reveal a weathered face—one strikingly similar to Tang Hao's.

"Second Brother, it's been a long time."

His voice was deep, tinged with emotion.

"All these years, I've thought of you constantly."

Tang Hao froze in place for a long moment before his eyes welled up.

Without hesitation, he strode forward and embraced the man.

After a long silence…

"Big Brother… I knew you wouldn't abandon me." Tang Hao's voice carried both relief and sorrow.

But before he could continue, he hesitated. "You're the clan leader now… Coming here, won't it—"

Tang Xiao forced a bitter smile.

"Ever since our clan secluded itself, this is my first time leaving the mountain. Normally, I only handle internal affairs."

"After I received news from Yuehua, I informed the clan that I would be going into seclusion for two months. That gives me some time to act freely outside."

He patted Tang Hao's shoulder and smiled faintly.

"It's been over a decade since we last saw each other. Let's sit and talk. Tell me—how is Xiao San doing?"

The two brothers sat down and began talking at length…

After the earlier scuffle, the battle between Shrek Academy and Barak Academy resumed.

As expected—it was a one-sided slaughter.

Barak Academy had been too careless, and now they were paying the price.

The scales of victory tipped heavily in Shrek's favor. One by one, Barak Academy's students fell.

With the last opponent collapsing, the match finally ended.

"See? I told you Barak Academy would lose. You guys just didn't believe me."

Ye Hao lounged in his seat, looking entirely unbothered.

Across from him, Shrek Academy's members glared at him with eyes full of murderous intent.

In response, Ye Hao simply raised his middle finger, taunting them further.

Shrek's team clenched their fists in rage. If it weren't for the competition rules restricting them, they would have already charged at him—just like Barak Academy had done earlier.

In the end, even the proud Shrek Academy had to endure the humiliation.

With their mindset, Shrek Academy is a united whole!

The next match between Heaven Dou Imperial Academy's Second Team and Divine Wind Academy, one of the Four Elemental Academies, began.

Leading the charge was Yu Tianheng, facing off against a Soul Ancestor from Divine Wind Academy.

"Divine Wind Academy vs. Heaven Dou Imperial Academy Second Team—battle begins!"

At the referee's command, fierce winds howled across the arena, carrying swift bolts of lightning. The two combatants matched each other blow for blow, both displaying impressive strength. The crowd erupted in cheers, the atmosphere surging to a fever pitch.

At that moment, two nurses pushed Grandmaster into the arena.

Lying flat on a hospital bed, his rear end raised, his entire backside wrapped in thick white bandages, Grandmaster arrived at the Shrek viewing area, his eyes bloodshot.

The moment he appeared, all eyes turned from the battlefield to him.

Frankly, after enduring a hundred strikes, it was a miracle he was still alive—truly an unkillable cockroach.

As the saying goes, what doesn't kill you makes you stronger.

Yet, despite being the center of countless stares, Grandmaster acted as if he was invincible, choosing to ignore everyone.

"Xiaogang, why aren't you resting in bed? What are you doing here?" Flender walked up to Grandmaster's bedside, attempting to comfort him.

Hearing his old friend's concern, Grandmaster felt a warmth in his heart, forcing out an ugly smile.

"I was just worried… so I had them bring me here. How did the match between Shrek Academy and Barak Academy go?" Grandmaster asked anxiously.

The group exchanged glances before breaking into smug smiles.

Dai Mubai pointed to the side. "Shrek Academy didn't even break a sweat. Barak Academy got completely destroyed. In fact, we gave them a good beating. Grandmaster, are you satisfied with that outcome?"

Following Dai Mubai's gaze, Grandmaster looked over—and sure enough!

Just as Dai Mubai had said, the Barak Academy team looked utterly dejected. Some were wrapped in bandages, some had swollen faces, and others were still wincing in pain—clear evidence of their crushing defeat.

Seeing this, Grandmaster barely contained his joy, instead putting on a somber expression.

"That's good, that's good."

"If Heaven Dou Imperial Academy's Second Team loses to us, that would be even better."

This was Grandmaster's true thoughts.

Ever since what happened at the Spirit Hall, his mindset had completely changed. His hatred for Spirit Hall had reached an all-time high, and Ye Hao, the person responsible for his humiliation, was at the top of his revenge list.

If not for Ye Hao's relentless scheming, he wouldn't have ended up like this—a rat that everyone wanted to beat down.

Once he recovered, he was determined to go to the Pope's Palace and file a complaint!

Tang San, filled with confidence, assured, "Teacher, please focus on recovering. With my current Soul King strength, defeating Ye Hao won't be a problem."

"As for Heaven Dou Imperial Academy, Shrek Academy will definitely teach them a lesson!"

Having just won their battle, Shrek Academy's morale was at an all-time high.

At this moment, Grandmaster saw hope, his eyes gleaming.

In his mind, he envisioned Shrek Academy winning the championship, securing those three priceless soul bones in front of the entire continent.

Lost in his fantasies, he even started drooling.

Perhaps influenced by the excitement of the moment, Flender, as the headmaster, was also feeling optimistic about Shrek Academy's future.

With a grin, he plopped down on Grandmaster's hospital bed and patted him reassuringly.

"Xiaogang, just focus on healing. Leave the rest to me."

Unable to hold back his laughter, Flender's right hand firmly patted up and down—

But perhaps… he patted the wrong place.

"AAAAAAHHHHH!!!"

"FLENDER! YOU DID THAT ON PURPOSE! I'M GOING TO KILL YOU!!!"

A piercing scream erupted, so loud that the ongoing match came to an abrupt halt.

Curious, the crowd turned their heads—even Ye Hao was confused.

"What's wrong with Yu Xiaogang? Why's he suddenly screaming like a banshee?"

They saw Grandmaster's face frozen in agony, both hands clutching his backside, snot and tears streaming down his face.

A continuous stream of blood gushed from his rear.

Shrek Academy's members were utterly stunned.

As for Flender, the culprit behind it all, he was completely mortified.

He had only meant to pat Grandmaster's back in excitement—

How was he supposed to know it would cause such a catastrophic reaction?!

Realizing the gravity of the situation, the nurses who had brought Grandmaster in were momentarily stunned before one of them suddenly shouted—

"Grandmaster, your wound reopened!"

At those words, the entire arena fell silent.

Then—

Laughter erupted from every corner!

Even Emperor Xue Ye couldn't help but chuckle.

The laughter echoed across the venue, making Grandmaster's face turn dark as iron.

Despite his excruciating pain, he glared daggers at Flender.

This bastard definitely did it on purpose!

In front of all fifteen academies and Heaven Dou Empire's nobility, he had been utterly humiliated.

Where was his dignity as Grandmaster supposed to go now?!

Without wasting any time, the nurses rushed forward, dragging the injured Grandmaster away for urgent medical attention.

As he was taken away, Flender wiped the sweat off his forehead, suddenly feeling several cold stares on his back.

Slowly, he turned his head—

Liu Erlong, Tang San, and the entire Shrek team were all staring at him with deep resentment.

Realizing the danger, Flender swallowed hard and without another word—he bolted!

Watching Flender flee, Ye Hao wiped away a tear of laughter and gave him a thumbs-up.

"As Grandmaster's friend, Flender has truly outdone himself."

After the unexpected comic relief, the battle resumed.

Yu Tianheng flipped his palm, and the sky darkened in an instant.

Several thick lightning bolts rained down like massive infant arms, leaving his Divine Wind Academy opponent paralyzed and twitching.

Yu Tianheng went on to defeat three consecutive opponents, but in the end, he ran out of soul power and stamina, ultimately losing the match.

At that moment, Divine Wind Academy's captain, Feng Xiaotian, stepped forward.

"Ye Hao, do you dare to face me in a match?"

His eyes burned with battle intent.

They hadn't gotten the chance to fight in the preliminary rounds, but now, in the first match of the advancement rounds, fate had brought them together.

Feng Xiaotian was confident—this time, he would finally settle things with Ye Hao.

Hearing this, Ye Hao smiled calmly and replied,

"Of course. As expected of Divine Wind Academy's captain, Feng Xiaotian. If you want a match, I'll grant you one."

With that, Ye Hao leaped into the ring.

The crowd's interest instantly peaked. Everyone stretched their necks, eager to witness this battle.

Especially Tang San, his eyes fixed on Ye Hao, studying his every move.

"I can't afford to let Ye Hao be an obstacle."

"I must analyze every detail of this fight before I face him myself."

As the match began, Ye Hao instantly activated his Death Spider Emperor possession.

Five soul rings rose beneath him.

His arms transformed into massive purple scythes, his gaze locked onto his opponent.

"Battle begins!"

At the referee's signal, Ye Hao vanished in a blur.

A second later—

His opponent's eyes rolled back, and he collapsed unconscious.

One move. Just one move.

The crowd fell into stunned silence.

Even Tang San, with his Purple Demon Eyes, could only catch a faint shadow.

His heart grew heavier.

"Ye Hao… is an extremely troublesome opponent."