Yu Xiaogang noticed the Huang Dou Battle Team's eyes on him; he gave a light cough, clasped his hands behind his back, and looked utterly unperturbed—truly every inch the Grandmaster.
But the next second his expression collapsed.
It was Ning Rongrong again.
After listening to Flender's introduction, she looked Yu Xiaogang up and down.
"Him?""
"And he dares call himself the foremost theorist of Spirit Masters on the continent?""
In the crowd Yu Tianheng frowned when he saw Ning Rongrong daring to question his uncle.
"Ning Rongrong, my uncle isn't someone you can question. Besides, the fact he trained a Disciple like Tang San proves his ability.""
"Uncle?""
Everyone started and turned to Yu Tianheng and Yu Xiaogang.
The Huang Dou Battle Team knew Yu Tianheng's identity, but none had imagined he had an uncle teaching in such a backwater academy.
Among the Shrek Group, apart from Flender, the rest were equally unaware of the connection between Yu Xiaogang and Yu Tianheng.
Tang San stood in the crowd, stunned.
Though he had studied under his teacher for six years, this was the first he'd heard of the man having a nephew.
And that nephew was a Blue Lightning Tyrant DragonSpirit Master.
"The Yu surname—I should have guessed my teacher's background. So his Spirit must be a failed mutation of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon.""
"No wonder he's so bitter; he could have been a powerful Spirit Master himself, but fate was cruel.""
Tang San sighed inwardly at heaven's caprice.
At the same time he shot Ning Rongrong a dangerous look for daring to question his teacher.
Were it not for the two Titled Douluo behind her, her disrespect alone would already mark her for death.
Ning Rongrong, of course, had no idea that a single question of hers had earned someone's killing intent.
She gave a cold snort; as the little witch of Heaven Dou Academy she feared no one, least of all Yu Tianheng.
"So what if he's your uncle? Am I not allowed to question him?""
"He merely trained a Tang San, yet claims to be the continent's top theorist. With Yang Yuan around, he'll never be number one.""
"Yang Yuan—!!""
The Shrek Group paled at the name and whipped their heads toward Ning Rongrong.
Only then did they remember that the Huang Dou Battle Team were students of Heaven Dou Academy—of course they knew Yang Yuan.
Yu Xiaogang especially felt his heart clench at the name.
He had already heard from Tang San and the others about their encounter with Yang Yuan.
Learning that Yang Yuan's strength had soared and that he had easily crushed Yu Xiaogang's proudest Disciple, Tang San, filled him with deep regret.
If only back at Nuoding Academy he had been firmer and taken Yang Yuan as his Disciple.
Though he still believed that as a twin-SpiritTang San would eventually surpass Yang Yuan after rank ninety.
Even so, Yang Yuan's displayed talent and power could not be underestimated; his potential might even exceed that of the Clear Sky Douluo he idolized—limit Douluo potential for sure.
Had he become the boy's teacher, he would likely have ended up the mentor of two limit Douluo.
But what was missed was missed.
Yu Xiaogang could only console himself by saying Yang Yuan's character was flawed.
Now, hearing Ning Rongrong compare his beloved Spirit Master theory to Yang Yuan's, he let out a snort of disdain.
Calmly he said, "Little girl, you may question my strength, but in Spirit Master theory I am invincible.""
Ning Rongrong sneered. "Anyone can brag.""
"Bragging?""
Yu Xiaogang merely smiled, unangered. "Did you know Yang Yuan wanted to become my Disciple when he was at Nuoding Academy in Nuoding City? I refused because I found his character less sincere than Little San's.""
"I meant to give him another chance, but after he left for his spirit ring he never returned.""
"Yet even Yang Yuan respects my theories—so you compare his theoretical ability to mine?""
"Go back and ask whether he dares claim to surpass this Grandmaster in theory.""
The Huang Dou Battle Team stared at Yu Xiaogang in astonishment.
Chief Yang Yuan had such a past?
They revered Yang Yuan; if this "Grandmaster" was acknowledged by him, perhaps he truly had substance.
Yu Xiaogang basked in their gaze, his vanity instantly satisfied.
Yu Tianheng seized the moment and sneered at Ning Rongrong. "Still question my uncle's theories? Even your precious Yang Yuan recognizes them.""
Ning Rongrong was momentarily speechless; then Dugu Yan spoke up.
"What he says may not be true. At Heaven Dou Academy everyone knows Yang Yuan's character. For this 'Grandmaster' to claim he rejected Yang Yuan over character is impossible.""
Others chimed in at once.
"Sister Yan's right—we all know the class president's temperament. This guy's slandering him; he's clearly talking nonsense.""
"Exactly. Our class president is noble and Heaven-Defying in talent, always guiding our Cultivation—yet this man dares defame him. I say this so-called Grandmaster is all show.""
"Right, the class president would never behave like that; he must be maligning him.""
Ning Rongrong clapped her hands in sudden realization.
"I get it—he didn't reject Yang Yuan; Yang Yuan simply looked down on him. Now he's bad-mouthing him out of sour grapes.""
Everyone agreed; after all, who would refuse the chance to be Yang Yuan's teacher?
Voices rose in chatter, and Yu Xiaogang's face changed; stung to the quick, he shouted back.
"Rubbish, utter rubbish!""
"I, the eminent theorist Grandmaster, would slander a junior?""
"As for Yang Yuan rejecting me—preposterous!""
"I say you've been kept in the dark. Months ago in the Star Dou Great Forest he beat up our Shrek kids over a trifle—doesn't that prove his poor character?""
With a cold snort Yu Xiaogang slapped that accusation on Yang Yuan.
Behind him, Flender and Zhao Wuji, knowing the truth, turned away in embarrassment.
The Huang Dou group blinked in surprise.
Ning Rongrong sneered. "Liar! When we left academy a few months ago Yang Yuan was only rank fifty-six—how could he have been in the Star Dou Great Forest?""
"You're talking nonsense!""
But the moment she finished, every Shrek student trembled.
Yu Xiaogang cried out in shock.
"Fifty-six?""
"You say Yang Yuan is rank fifty-six?""
"Impossible—he's only twelve; how could he be fifty-six? How could he possibly be fifty-six?""
"No, it's fake, it must be fake!""
This time the Huang Dou Battle Team was stunned.
"Twelve years old?""
"What do you mean twelve?""
"What nonsense are you spouting? Yang Yuan is clearly fourteen!"
(End of Chapter)
[Get +50 Extra Chapters on - P@tr3on "RinBlaze"]
[Every 15 Power Stones = 1 Bonus Chapter Drop]
[Thanks for Reading!]