Thump, thump, thump—!
Yu Xiaogang was startled by Taichu's gaze, his heart pounding violently.
"My uncle is not someone trash like you is qualified to comment on!"
The instant the Mangekyō Sharingan activated, Taichu felt as if he had been plunged into an icy abyss. His spirit trembled violently. Though Yu Xiaogang's words had momentarily driven him into rage, he quickly regained his composure and forcibly suppressed the killing intent surging within him.
"You…!"
Yu Xiaogang was furious.
To him, the word trash was unbearably grating.
At his side, Tang San could no longer remain still.
For someone to humiliate his teacher so openly was no different from humiliating him personally. As a disciple who revered his teacher and upheld moral principles, he felt it was his duty to step forward.
"Enough of your arrogance!" Tang San shouted as he stepped forward.
"My teacher offered to guide you out of goodwill. Even if you weren't grateful, you repeatedly humiliated him! Do you really think that just because my teacher has a good temper, you can insult him without consequences?"
"Apologize to my teacher. Right now!"
"Goodwill?" Taichu sneered.
"A plagiarizing dog who stole Spirit Hall data thinks he's worthy of guiding me? What a colossal joke."
Taichu knew all too well how Yu Xiaogang's so-called title of "Grandmaster" had come to be.
"What nonsense are you spouting?!" Tang San retorted angrily.
"My teacher devoted decades to researching Spirit theory, making immense contributions to the entire Spirit Master world. That's why the continent reveres him as 'Grandmaster'!"
"My teacher's greatness is something a frog at the bottom of a well like you could never comprehend—let alone slander. Apologize immediately!"
Yu Xiaogang, who had been burning with guilt and anger, straightened his back when he heard Tang San's words. A surge of gratification rose within him.
He truly had taken in an excellent disciple.
"This piece of trash isn't worthy," Taichu said coldly.
The Mangekyō Sharingan in his eyes swept indifferently over Yu Xiaogang.
If not for this man, his uncle would never have been sent to the Angel Hunting Squad. He wouldn't have lost his leg.
Yu Xiaogang was the root of all this.
Apologize?
Absolutely impossible.
"You still dare insult my teacher?!" Tang San roared.
Calling his teacher trash meant that he, as the disciple, was trash among trash. This was no longer just an insult to his teacher—it was an insult to him.
"Tang San," he declared coldly,
"Martial Soul: Blue Silver Grass. Rank 11 One-Ring Tool Spirit Master. I challenge you!"
"If you lose, kneel down and apologize to my teacher!"
As he spoke, Tang San released his Martial Soul. A yellow hundred-year spirit ring slowly rose from beneath his feet.
Master Ma and Su Yuntao both showed looks of shock.
They hadn't expected Tang San's first spirit ring to be a hundred-year one.
Although the theoretical optimal configuration was two yellow, two purple, four black, and one red, in reality, even most Titled Douluo only possessed two yellow, two purple, and five black rings.
For ordinary Spirit Masters, the common setup was one white, one yellow, and three purple—or even worse. Even Su Yuntao, Master Ma, and Si Si had only ten-year rings for their first ring.
Seeing Tang San's hundred-year first ring left them deeply shaken.
"Your teacher isn't worthy," Taichu said coldly.
"And neither are you."
Those words completely ignited Tang San's fury.
"You… you're courting death!"
In his previous life, why had he stolen the Tang Sect's secret manual?
Because he had never been valued. He had always lacked recognition.
For the first six years of this life, Tang Hao had barely acted like a father. But after his Martial Soul Awakening—after his twin spirits were revealed and Tang Hao embraced him—he finally felt acknowledged. No matter how cold Tang Hao had been before, Tang San considered it all erased.
The same was true for Yu Xiaogang—the man who was "invincible in theory."
To Tang San, those he acknowledged were family.
And family could not be insulted.
Never.
"First Spirit Ability—Blue Silver Binding!!!"
The spirit ring on the Blue Silver Grass lit up instantly. Vines shot forward, rapidly coiling toward Taichu.
Taichu leapt aside to dodge.
"Hmph! You think you can dodge my Blue Silver Binding? How ignorant!"
Tang San looked utterly confident, as if victory were already in his grasp.
The next moment—
"Not good!"
Taichu's expression changed drastically as he noticed the Blue Silver Grass beneath his landing point.
Before he could break free—
"It's too late!"
Tang San grinned triumphantly, continuously channeling spirit power into his Martial Soul.
The Blue Silver Grass surged upward, binding Taichu's legs, waist—then his entire body.
Taichu struggled.
But soon, pain spread across his face.
"It's useless," Tang San said smugly.
"The toxin from my Blue Silver Grass has already entered your body. You don't even have the strength to resist now."
"You…"
Taichu glared at him resentfully.
"Trash," Tang San commanded coldly.
"Kneel and apologize to my teacher. Now."
"You only won because you absorbed a spirit ring before me," Taichu said through clenched teeth.
"If I were already a Spirit Master, your garbage Blue Silver Grass wouldn't stand a chance."
"You lost," Tang San replied coldly.
"You have only one option—kneel and apologize obediently!"
"Grandpa Ma!" Taichu shouted.
Master Ma immediately released his Martial Soul. One white and one yellow spirit ring rose beneath his feet.
"Does that trash Yu Xiaogang even deserve an apology from Xiao Chu?"
"Stop this immediately," he said coldly, gripping his Iron Staff tightly,
"or don't blame me for taking action."
"I am the eldest legitimate son of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan!"
Yu Xiaogang roared, eyes bloodshot.
"How dare you insult me like this?!"
"Little San—do it! Kill that damned brat for me!"
Hearing this, Tang San didn't know what kind of clan the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan was. But since his teacher spoke with such confidence, it clearly meant his backing was immense.
Besides, Tang San already believed Taichu was courting death.
In that case—
Whoosh—!!!
A sleeve arrow shot out, aimed straight at the heart.
Even Master Ma couldn't react in time.
Under Tang San's gaze, the person he believed he had struck wore a face filled with resentment.
Then—
"AAAH—!!!"
A shrill, agonized scream pierced the air.
Tang San froze.
That voice… was familiar.
His vision blurred for an instant. When he blinked—
Everything had changed.
The Taichu who should have been bound by Blue Silver Grass was gone.
In his place stood Yu Xiaogang.
His teacher was clutching his groin in agony, where Tang San clearly saw his own sleeve arrow embedded.
Blood poured out, instantly soaking his trousers crimson.
And the one screaming in unbearable pain—
Was none other than his own teacher.
Yu Xiaogang.