The Abandoned Xiaogang

20+ Advance chapters on Patreon

The city guards stood poised, ready to spring into action the moment the two red-robed bishops gave the order. You must understand, this was Spirit City. Forget a mere Spirit Saint, even a Titled Douluo would face unrelenting resistance if they dared to barge in.

Under the crushing pressure of two Spirit Sages and over a hundred Spirit Kings from the Spirit Hall, everyone from the Shrek team inside the carriage froze in place, stunned at the same moment.

One couldn't help but wonder, was this Mother Tyrannosaurus really so fearless? Did she actually dare to start a fight in Spirit City?

Fortunately, at the critical moment, Flender kept his wits about him. He swiftly held Liu Erlong back, preventing a clash from erupting.

With a polite smile, he addressed the guards, "Gentlemen, this is the renowned Grandmaster of the soul master world, once a member of Spirit Hall. Now he serves as the leading teacher of our Shrek team. Surely you wouldn't bar him from entry?"

One of the red-robed bishops responded coldly, "We don't care about any Grandmaster. If you're not a soul master, even the emperors of the two great empires wouldn't be allowed to set foot in this city."

The commotion quickly drew the attention of Ning Fengzhi and Xue Qinghe. Sword Douluo followed silently behind Ning Fengzhi.

"I am Ning Fengzhi, sect master of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan," Ning Fengzhi announced. "This is Crown Prince Xue Qinghe of the Heaven Dou Empire. We're here as members of the Soul Master Competition organizing committee to observe the matches. Could someone explain what's going on here?"

Before the Spirit Hall's red-robed bishop could reply, Liu Erlong interjected, "Sect Master Ning, you've arrived just in time! Xiaoagang is the leading teacher of our Shrek team, but they're refusing him entry. It's outrageous!"

'Yu Xiaoagang?'

Ning Fengzhi studied Yu Xiaogang closely. Not a single trace of soul power emanated from him, rendering him no different from a powerless nobody. Inwardly, Ning Fengzhi felt a wave of disbelief.

'Is Dean Liu Erlong truly this foolish?'

'To claim, right in front of the Heaven Dou Empire's Crown Prince, that Yu Xiaoagang was the Shrek team's leading teacher and then try to force their way into Spirit City?'

'Never mind that Yu Xiaogang had already been personally expelled from the Heaven Dou Imperial Academy by Emperor Xue Ye, stripped of his role as team leader for the Soul Master Competition. Even if he were still the leading teacher, with no soul power to speak of, it'd be a miracle if the city guards let him through.'

With that, Ning Fengzhi glanced at Qian Renxue. Deliberately avoiding mention of Yu Xiaoagang's expulsion from the academy, he spoke gently, "Dean Liu Erlong, this isn't about being unfair. Since ancient times, the Spirit Hall has upheld the rule that only soul masters may enter."

"Uncle Ning?" Tang San finally spoke. "Is there really no way for my teacher to get in?" Truth be told, he didn't care much about Yu Xiaoagang's entry. What mattered to him was whether Yu Xiaoagang could ask the Pope about cultivating twin martial souls.

"Unless Brother Yu can demonstrate at least level 10 soul power, there's no way," Ning Fengzhi replied.

He shook his head, then sent a voice transmission to Tang San, "Xiao San, I know you harbor grudges against the Spirit Hall. But until you've grown stronger, you must hold back. Don't give them a reason to target you over something petty."

Tang San nodded, recalling his father's advice to build ties with the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan. He flashed Ning Fengzhi a grateful look.

But when his eyes fell on Yu Xiaoagang, the respect once there had faded. If not for Yu Xiaogang's ties to the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, Tang San might've already dealt with him himself.

Yu Xiaogang remained oblivious to the shift. He simply sank deeper into despair, his hopes of entering Spirit City crumbled into dust.

Now, his only hope was the distant dream that Tang San would one day become a Titled Douluo and redeem his name.

In the end, Yu Xiaogang failed to enter Spirit City.

Since he couldn't get in, Liu Erlong refused to go either. The two lingered outside Spirit City, awaiting the finals' end.

With Yu Xiaogang gone, the city guards stepped aside. The competing students filed into Spirit City without issue.

Back inside the carriage, Ning Fengzhi grew anxious that his earlier actions might sour Emperor Xue Ye's opinion of him. Turning to Qian Renxue, who'd stayed silent throughout, he said, "Qinghe, I didn't mention Yu Xiaogang's dismissal by his Majesty earlier. You don't mind, do you?"

"Teacher, how could I blame you?" Qian Renxue replied with a smile. "I know this grandmaster Yu Xiaogang lacks talent and learning, but he's still Tang San's teacher. Plus, Brother Ning Tian told me he's the legitimate son of Sect Master Yu from the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan. With the Upper Three Sects' unity at stake, I, Qinghe, understand what truly matters."

Qian Renxue's tone was respectful.

Yet inwardly, she sneered, 'What an old fox who can't change his ways. Let's see how long you keep this up.'

Meanwhile, Ning Tian and his group had already entered Spirit City ahead of the others.

Spirit City was vast and open, its streets sparsely populated, with shops few and far between.

The few shops that existed catered exclusively to soul masters: items like storage soul tools and the like.

After settling into a hotel west of the Spirit Hall, the Spirit Hall granted all teams a three-day rest period.

With time to spare, Ning Tian headed out alone. He bought a storage soul tool on the street, planning to give it to Xiao Wu that evening. The ring he'd given her before had just one cubic meter of space, pathetic by any standard.

She'd spent the last two years undercover at Shrek Academy, and it couldn't have been easy. With three days of rest before the competition, he figured he'd make it up to her and treat her well that night.

But before he could browse further, Snake Lance Douluo approached him.

"Young Master Ning Tian, my young master requests your presence."

"Very well. Thank you for leading the way, Senior," Ning Tian replied with a slight nod.

Guided by Snake Lance Douluo, Ning Tian ascended Pope's Mountain. At a pavilion halfway up, he spotted Qian Renxue in her true form. Her slender frame, draped in a pale yellow gown, exuded a bold and spirited charm. Porcupinefish Douluo stood behind her.

Qian Renxue seemed in high spirits. Spotting Ning Tian, she smiled and waved him over.

"What's this? Did something good happen?" Ning Tian asked as he drew near.

"Yes," she said.

The more she recalled the scene at Spirit City's gates, the happier she felt.

"Come on, tell me quickly, so I can share the fun," Ning Tian urged.

Qian Renxue didn't tease him further. "You wouldn't believe it. Earlier, at Spirit City's entrance, that eunuch Yu Xiaogang got stopped by the guards."

She recounted Yu Xiaoagang's rejection like a lighthearted tale swapped between friends.

Since Ning Tian had already entered Spirit City by then, he'd missed it. Hearing her story, a sly grin crept onto his face. "Now that's comedy."

━━━━⊱⋆⊰━━━━━━━━⊱⋆⊰━━━━━━━━⊱⋆⊰━━━━━━━━━

patreon.com/DUKE3500 for advance chapters for all the novels i translate for 2$