"That's it?"
Li Chang'an looked at the absurdly simple "Chickens and Rabbits in the Same Cage" math problem and smiled gently.
'Yu Xiaogang, is this the arithmetic you're so proud of? Seriously…'
He didn't even bother to set up an unknown variable X. After glancing at the problem three times, he directly wrote down the answer.
Turning to the next and final question, Li Chang'an smiled again.
Written on the paper:
"1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + ..."
The sum went up to 100. The task was simply to calculate the total sum. This wasn't a test of intelligence, but of calculation speed.
With a soft smile, Li Chang'an wrote down the answer "5050," then raised his hand to submit his paper.
Just ten seconds earlier, Flender had only just announced the two main problems. He wanted to give the students a heads-up—and also use this test to help restore Yu Xiaogang's reputation a bit.
After all, Yu Xiaogang had had a particularly rough year. As his longtime brother, Flender couldn't help but be concerned.
But as soon as the students saw the problems, they were stunned. Some began to plug in numbers one by one, while others gave up on the first problem entirely and skipped to the second.
Then, while everyone else was still scratching their heads, Li Chang'an suddenly raised his hand.
"You guys still haven't finished? I'm done."
"What?" Flender rushed over to Li Chang'an, stared at the two numbers on his paper, and fell silent.
He had memorized the correct answers beforehand. That's why he was so shocked—how long had it been? A few seconds? How could Li Chang'an possibly have solved them so fast?
"Dean Flender, did I get them right?" Li Chang'an asked politely.
"You… you got them right..." Flender couldn't lie to himself and had to give him the truth.
As soon as he said it, the students below instantly lost their cool. Being a little faster makes you a genius. But being this much faster? You're no longer human.
"Flender… What did you say?" Yu Xiaogang stared at Li Chang'an in disbelief. He was completely dumbfounded.
He had been studying math problems for years and had developed his own clever shortcuts and methods. But even so, there was no way he could solve them that quickly!
"Xiaogang, there's no need to keep calculating. You've already lost."
Flender's voice was low and reluctant as he gave Yu Xiaogang the truth. At that moment, Yu Xiaogang's expression twisted in fury.
"You leaked the questions to him, didn't you?! Flender, I knew it."
"Ever since he entered the academy, your support for me has waned. Now you've even leaked the test to him. So this is the end of our brotherhood, huh?!"
Yu Xiaogang's dissatisfaction exploded. He looked like a crazed beast, eyes wild—completely unlike himself.
Flender stood frozen for a long time. Then, looking at Yu Xiaogang with a faint smile, he said, "Xiaogang, is that what you think of me? Is this what trust between brothers looks like?"
Nothing feels colder than a dead heart. That was exactly how Flender felt at that moment. The man before him—selfish, unfamiliar—was no longer the brother he once knew.
"Ahem. I really shouldn't interrupt, but I still want to say something," Li Chang'an finally spoke up. "Dean Flender didn't leak anything to me. These questions were just really simple."
"Students, allow me to give you a quick lesson. Let's start with the first problem."
"For this question, you can assume the number of chickens or rabbits is X..."
"Now, the second one is even simpler. Add the first and last number..."
With an elegant explanation and confident delivery, Li Chang'an gained 10,000 points. More importantly, he successfully introduced two modern arithmetic techniques into the world of Douluo Continent.
In that moment, he wasn't just fighting alone. Behind him stood countless compatriots. He was the embodiment of Nine-Year Compulsory Education waging war on outdated logic.
"So, Teacher Yu, do you concede?" Li Chang'an looked toward Yu Xiaogang with a calm smile.
"Let's move on to the next round," Yu Xiaogang said coldly. "Flender, I'm sorry—I wronged you."
Flender simply nodded. He didn't say much, but deep down, a giant question mark had been etched between them—along with a rift that might never be healed.
---
"For the next round, we will test your memory," Flender announced. "Each contestant has a sheet of paper in front of them filled with a random sequence of numbers. You have one minute to memorize as much as possible. The one who recalls the most numbers in the correct order wins!"
Li Chang'an looked at the chaotic paper, briefly dazed. But in his mind, thoughts were already racing. He had studied several mnemonic systems in the past—and more importantly, he had a skull-type soul bone that had been upgraded to over 500,000 years using a Soul Bone Fruit.
In other words, he now had a photographic memory.
He deliberately slowed his gaze, and with a mental "click," he took a snapshot of the entire sheet.
This method—visual imprinting—was effective but limited in time and required a high level of natural ability.
Yet when Li Chang'an recited every number flawlessly, not missing a single digit, Yu Xiaogang's face turned ashen once more.
He had lost. Again.
Thankfully, there was still the third round. At least when it came to actual combat, he might still have a chance.
"Xiaogang, maybe… maybe don't go through with this. You're not his match," Liu Erlong said gently. Just the day before, Li Chang'an had three-punched a Spirit Douluo—how could Yu Xiaogang possibly compete?
"My business is none of yours," Yu Xiaogang snapped.
"You've always tried to interfere in my life just because your strength is above mine. But do I look like I need you to manage me?"
His thoughts laid bare, Yu Xiaogang stormed off.
Liu Erlong stared at the unfamiliar figure walking away, her eyes blank. This was the man she had waited so long for? This was the man she'd longed for, day and night?
In his eyes, she had always been nothing more than a meddling woman?
Who cooked for him when he didn't know how to take care of himself?
Who saved him time and again when he was on the brink of death?
Who supported his research and protected him from his family's torment?
Without her interference, Yu Xiaogang would have likely been ground to dust by the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan.
'Xiaogang... Flender was right. You really have changed.'
---
"I, Yu Xiaogang, Spirit Master—level 54 Beast Spirit king! Prepare yourself!"
As he spoke, two yellow, two purple, and one black soul ring lit up behind him. A massive, dark-scaled, dragon-like beast—over ten meters long—manifested with a thunderous roar.
The pressure it exuded was overwhelming. Weaker spirit masters in the crowd had already turned pale. Though only level 50+, Yu Xiaogang could clearly contend with level 60+ powerhouses!
Li Chang'an didn't summon his martial soul, nor did he say a word. He simply looked at the beast, frowning slightly.
'What on earth did Yu Xiaogang obtain to cause such rapid growth in his martial soul?'
'No matter. Let's end this quickly.'
He stood up.
He launched.
He punched.
"Impudent beast! How dare you act so wildly!"
BOOM!
The dragon shattered under his fist, and Yu Xiaogang suffered tremendous backlash, vomiting blood as he was blasted off the stage!
"Don't forget, Teacher Yu—you're supposed to run naked and bark like a dog!"
"Pfft—!"
Yu Xiaogang passed out on the spot.
__
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