Chapter Ninety-Nine: Yu Xiaogang—Xiao Yu's Future Cultivation Will Be Difficult to Advance

"Nine Star Hall!"

Bibi Dong's brows furrowed slightly. "That's the sect which sells soul tools and medicinal pills to outsiders. According to information gathered by her undercover agent in the Heaven Dou royal family, aside from Poison Douluo Dugu Bo, this sect has two other formidable Title Douluo whose origins are unknown, both possessing ninth soul rings at the hundred-thousand-year level. What of it? What does this have to do with her participating in the Soul Master Tournament?"

"The Nine Star Hall's strength isn't limited to its high-ranking members—I'm afraid their younger generation is far beyond your imagination as well."

Qian Daoliu's expression remained indifferent. Even though he was deeply shaken inside, he never showed any emotion in front of Bibi Dong. "Although Xiaoxue's letter didn't state it outright, I am certain that the Spirit Hall Academy team led by Hu Liena and the others stands almost no chance against the Nine Star Academy team founded by the Nine Star Hall."

"What did you say?" Bibi Dong's face darkened in fury. The Golden Generation was her pride, especially her personal disciple Hu Liena, whom she'd groomed as her successor. Now someone was telling her that, when faced with their peers, her Golden Generation was little more than trash.

"You know what kind of person Xiaoxue is—she's never deigned to lie."

Qian Daoliu glanced at Bibi Dong and said, "There have always been geniuses in the soul master world. Your disciple's talent is decent at best. Not to mention Xiaoxue, even you and Tang Hao in your youth far surpassed her."

"If she knows the Nine Star team poses a threat to the Spirit Hall Academy team, why allow them to compete? As Crown Prince of the Heaven Dou Empire, is it so difficult for her to disqualify a team? Or is she waiting to see me humiliated?"

Bibi Dong bit her lip, speaking each word deliberately. "I will never give her that chance. The Spirit Hall Academy team doesn't need her help. Just three Title Douluo? Is Spirit Hall so incompetent it can't handle them?"

Qian Daoliu replied, "The Worship Hall will not support you in any action against the Nine Star Hall, because Xiaoxue has already established a partnership with them."

He paused, then added, "And not as Xue Qinghe, but as Qian Renxue."

Bibi Dong seemed infuriated, slamming her papal throne hard. "Without my permission, who allowed her to reveal her identity? Who gave her the authority to form alliances with other sects?"

"Xiaoxue doesn't need your consent, just as I never interfered in your little schemes."

Qian Daoliu's usually placid face flashed briefly with contempt. "Besides, do you even deserve it?"

"Remember, if you dare act against the Nine Star Hall on your own and disrupt Xiaoxue's plans, I won't hesitate to convene the Elder Council and strip you of your papal position!"

With that final warning, Qian Daoliu stepped into golden light and vanished from the Papal Hall, leaving Bibi Dong gnashing her teeth in frustration on her throne.

...

In Heaven Dou City, the Blue Tyrant Academy had already been renamed Shrek Academy. In a quiet woodland cabin, a sudden burst of wild laughter shattered the tranquility.

"Hahaha, level forty-three!" Dai Mubai waved his arms in excitement. "The Nine Star Hall's medicinal pills are truly marvelous—they've raised me two levels directly!"

"Congratulations, Boss Dai!"

Oscar grinned foolishly, congratulating Dai Mubai while boasting about himself. "My soul power has reached level thirty-seven, and I feel my cultivation speed has increased a lot too."

Turning, he looked at his goddess Ning Rongrong. "Rongrong, thank you. If not for you, where would we have gotten such miraculous pills?"

"The Seven Monsters as one—being able to boost everyone's cultivation makes me happy too."

Ning Rongrong smiled slightly. After persistent persuasion from several PUA-like masters, her loyalty had shifted outward. She revealed to the other six monsters and their teacher that her father Ning Fengzhi had once spent a fortune buying her medicinal pills, and emphasized their effects—her breakthrough to Soul Elder at twelve owed much to those pills.

Yu Xiaogang and Tang San, teacher and disciple, quickly concluded after hearing Ning Rongrong's story: Ning Rongrong was the future heir of the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Clan. With Ning Fengzhi, Sword Douluo, and Bone Douluo watching over her, they would never risk stunting her future for short-term gains. The pills she used must be top-grade, nourishing and strengthening.

Yu Xiaogang then shamelessly asked Ning Rongrong if she could help acquire pills for the other six monsters, claiming it was for the team's future.

Heavily indoctrinated like someone sucked into a pyramid scheme, Ning Rongrong didn't hesitate. She invoked Ning Fengzhi's name and purchased six pills—though not as potent as her own, they were excellent for boosting cultivation and reinforcing soul power.

"No wonder that Xiao Yu is so formidable. As the young master of the Nine Star Hall, he's surely taken even better pills."

Ma Hongjun, whose soul power rose to thirty-four after taking his pill, squinted and recalled Xiao Yu, who had broken his nose with a single punch outside the Star Dou Forest tavern. He grumbled bitterly.

Mentioning Xiao Yu made the group, who had just celebrated their breakthroughs, fall silent.

Indeed, these pills were developed by Xiao Yu's sect. As the young master, he surely had access to the best. Could they ever catch up and redeem their defeat?

Seeing their spirits sink, Master Yu Xiaogang immediately encouraged them. "Don't worry. Though these pills are miraculous, frequent use will cause excessive accumulation of medicinal effects, hindering future cultivation."

Yu Xiaogang straightened, speaking with authority. "I've heard Zao Wou-ki talk about that Xiao Yu. Based on my analysis, his soul power was at least level fifty-five back then. That's why he could block Mubai without using his martial soul. A high-level Soul King under twenty years old—I've never heard of such a thing. Not even the youngest Title Douluo could match that. Clearly, he's consumed a large amount of these pills. While this lets him far outpace his peers for now, it's also draining his future potential. I can confidently say, in a year or two, maybe three or five at most, he'll hit a bottleneck and stagnate. Then, you'll surpass him."

"Especially you, Tang San!"

Yu Xiaogang turned to his silent disciple, speaking earnestly. "You were born with full soul power and possess twin martial souls. You're destined for the peak of the continent. There's no need to fixate on someone who's burning through his potential. Your true rivals are those seasoned Title Douluo who've already made their names."

The iconic scene of the old ape recognizing its master had already played out at Shrek Academy. But thanks to Xiao Yu's butterfly effect—the emergence of melee soul tools—Ning Rongrong had no interest in Tang San's hidden weapons, and the Immortal Daylily had been intercepted by Xiao Yu. As a result, Ning Rongrong, currently running away from home, hadn't returned to her clan; Ning Fengzhi hadn't visited Shrek Academy; and Xiao Wu, who had lost the Red String Amorous Herb that masked her aura, avoided being turned into spicy rabbit stew by Sword and Bone Douluo.

Since the Shrek Seven had already seen Tang San's Clear Sky Hammer, Yu Xiaogang saw no need to hide anything from them.

Changing the update schedule—I really can't handle writing early mornings anymore, it's exhausting.