"This is the last time."

Diyi Hong spoke coldly—

"You really think you can lecture me like some elder? I'll break all three of your legs!"

Only now did Yu Xiaogang understand—

He got beaten up simply because of his "bad attitude."

This… is way too aggressive, right?

But the worst part—he actually couldn't beat the kid. So he didn't dare say anything more harsh.

Whoosh—

Flender rushed over, landing beside Yu Xiaogang.

Yu Xiaogang's eyes lit up.

Someone who could take down that brat had finally arrived!

He struggled to his feet, pointed at Diyi Hong, and was about to reprimand him—

"Hey?!"

But Flender grabbed his hand mid-gesture, face full of alarm.

"Xiaogang, you just got here. There's a lot you don't understand."

"Let's head back first. I'll explain it to you slowly."

Yu Xiaogang was confused.

Why did his old friend…

Look so afraid?

"Dean Flender," Diyi Hong said lazily, "he kicked my door down, and he's just going to leave?"

Flender came to a bitter stop and turned to face Diyi Hong.

"It's just a door. I'll get you a better one tomorrow."

Coming from Flender, a notorious cheapskate, this was genuine sincerity.

Unfortunately—

Diyi Hong had a task to complete.

"A door? That was a slap in my face!" Diyi Hong said bluntly. "I'm not being unreasonable. He came to reason with me, didn't he? Then let's talk things out."

"Talk it out?"

"Just words, no fists?" Flender asked.

"As long as that guy keeps his mouth clean and doesn't act high and mighty, I won't slap him again," Diyi Hong replied casually.

Flender quietly sighed in relief.

As long as there were no fists involved.

In a pure debate…

He actually had a lot of faith in Yu Xiaogang.

"Xiaogang," Flender warned cautiously, "You can debate, but watch your tone. Otherwise, this might get troublesome."

Yu Xiaogang frowned slightly.

This kid has that much backing?

From one of the Upper Three Clans?

Tang San came from the Clear Sky Clan, and he himself was from the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan.

Could this Diyi Hong be some prodigy from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan?

"Say something!" Flender urged. "Otherwise, forget it—I'll take you back."

"I got it," Yu Xiaogang said gravely. "When it comes to theory, I fear no one."

He straightened his clothes and confidently stepped forward.

Facing Diyi Hong directly.

"Young man, you said my external soul bone theory is flawed, but do you know the data comes from the Spirit Hall archives? How could it be wrong?"

["Rakshasa God": I'm literally in the archive right now. Tell that idiot to cite the source of that theory!]

A live, in-the-moment face slap…

No need to rush.

"Oh?" Diyi Hong replied indifferently. "It's not even your theory. What are you so proud of?"

Yu Xiaogang's momentum stalled.

"And just because it's from Spirit Hall, it must be right?" Diyi Hong countered. "Then back when the former Pope forbade you and Bibi Dong from being together, was that right or wrong?"

In an instant—

The live chat froze. All the gods were waiting for Yu Xiaogang's reply.

Especially Rakshasa God.

Though she shouted "kill him," it was just rage from unrequited love.

If—

Yu Xiaogang was momentarily stunned.

Huh?

We were having a proper debate—how did it suddenly turn personal?

Personal attack!

This was clearly a personal attack!

"My relationship with Bibi Dong… I have no comment!" Yu Xiaogang said coldly. "And this has nothing to do with the topic at hand!"

Diyi Hong shook his head.

Even when given a chance, he blew it.

If Yu Xiaogang had simply admitted he and Bibi Dong were soulmates, and the former Pope tore them apart…

Rakshasa God might've gone soft and canceled the bounty out of love.

But now—

["Rakshasa God": Streamer, slap his face! I want him to suffer a fate worse than death! KILL HIM!!!]

Diyi Hong grinned.

This was exactly the outcome he wanted—to strengthen Rakshasa God's thirst for revenge.

Otherwise, if he started punishing Yu Xiaogang and she suddenly got sentimental halfway through, wouldn't that be awkward?

Alright, let's do this!

"Fine," Diyi Hong yawned. "I don't feel like wasting words either. Let's prove it with facts."

He pulled out a soul bone, murky gray in color, shapeless, constantly shifting form.

A God-Given Soul Bone!

The cursed thing with randomized location and age.

Just by appearance, it didn't belong to the standard six types of soul bones. Whether it was external could be entirely up to him to say.

If it randomly turned out to be an external soul bone—victory.

If not, it'd still gross people out—because removing a soul bone required cutting it out alive.

"This soul bone comes from a soul beast called Slime. Judging by the shape, it's not part of the six standard types."

"As for what kind of external soul bone it is—I can't tell."

"But that doesn't stop us from doing an experiment."

"To prevent any accusations of cheating, you can pick anyone you want. I guarantee none of them have a Slime soul ring."

"As long as the person successfully absorbs this external soul bone, then your crap theory—that soul rings must match external soul bones—will be proven wrong!"

"And then you'll shout three times on the spot: Yu Xiaogang is a fraud!"

Not a heavy punishment.

But for Yu Xiaogang, who only had theory left and valued his reputation more than life—

It was the same as public execution.

But—

Tang San was staring hard at that "external soul bone," tugging at his teacher's robe!

Hurry up and accept!

Diyi Hong said Yu Xiaogang could choose who absorbed it.

Then who else could it be?

It had to be his prized disciple, Tang San!

If successful, they'd gain a free external soul bone.

If it failed, it would prove the theory wasn't wrong.

There was no downside!

Yu Xiaogang, of course, thought of that too.

He calmly replied—

"Slime soul beast? Never heard of it. Are you sure you didn't make it up?"

"Tch!" Diyi Hong mocked. "Then do you know that beyond the Douluo Continent, there's a Dragon Valley, Sea God Island, and the Sun-Moon Continent?"

Yu Xiaogang's face darkened from the retort—but he suddenly realized something.

He'd heard of Sea God Island.

He didn't know much about marine soul beasts.

So this Slime might very well be from outside the Douluo Continent.

"If I lose, there's punishment. What if you lose?" Yu Xiaogang revealed his real motive.

"Don't play those cheap tricks with me," Diyi Hong sneered. "Whether I win or lose, this soul bone's going to the dogs either way."

Brutal words.

But for a soul bone, Yu Xiaogang chose to endure it.

"Fine, let's do it!"

Yu Xiaogang looked around the training ground.

Even though Dai Mubai and the others knew he would probably choose Tang San—

They all puffed out their chests with hope.

Because what if?

That was an external soul bone!

Even Flender was tempted.

An external soul bone!

If he could absorb it, he'd break through to Soul Douluo for sure.

Maybe even try for Titled Douluo!

However—

Faced with the eager gazes of the others, Tang San's confident smile, and Diyi Hong's amused look—

Yu Xiaogang made a choice that stunned everyone!

He chose—

______________________

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