Chapter 200: Yu Xiaogang Exposed
Tang Hao's fury burned like fire, but Luo Ling remained utterly calm. The Titled Douluos of Spirit Hall had already stepped forward, forming a barrier before him.
He was the Holy Son of Spirit Hall—how could they possibly allow Tang Hao to attack him without restraint?
Luo Ling flashed backward dozens of steps, making room for the confrontation between Tang Hao and the gathered Titled Douluos.
"Haotian Douluo, why anger yourself so? Did I say anything untrue?" Luo Ling asked with an easy smile, his gaze falling upon Tang San.
Grinding his teeth, Tang Hao stopped himself. As a pure power-type Douluo, his speed wasn't his strength—surrounded by several Titled Douluos, he couldn't advance any further.
The tension in the air grew suffocating.
In Shrek's resting area, Yu Xiaogang finally let out a shaky breath of relief.
When Tang San had devoured Oscar's and the others' life force, he'd panicked, fearing Spirit Hall might brand him an evil soul master and execute him on the spot. But now that Tang Hao had appeared, even if Tang San ended up being condemned, at least his life could be spared.
That fleeting comfort vanished the moment Yu Xiaogang noticed Luo Ling's eyes fall upon him—with that infuriatingly knowing smile. His heart skipped a beat.
"Haotian Douluo," Luo Ling began lazily, hands clasped behind his back, "I actually met Tang San before, back in Soto City. We weren't close, but all this—his transformation into an evil soul master—it isn't entirely his fault."
Every expert present turned toward him, interest piqued.
Even Bibi Dong looked surprised. She hadn't expected Luo Ling to defend Tang San at a time like this.
But Yu Xiaogang's face drained of color.
Luo Ling's words had been directed straight at him.
Following Luo Ling's gaze, even the Titled Douluos turned their attention toward Yu Xiaogang.
"Tang San's external spirit bone can absorb life force and spirit power to increase strength," Luo Ling continued. "I imagine his teacher, Yu Xiaogang, must have known about it."
"Yu Xiaogang—'the great master' known throughout the spirit world for decades. Surely, he wasn't ignorant of the fact that devouring life and power is a forbidden act. Thus, would it not be fair to assume that Tang San's path to corruption… began with his teacher?"
Each deliberate word hit like a hammer. Even Tang Hao frowned, turning to glare coldly at Yu Xiaogang.
Yu Xiaogang turned deathly pale. "Luo Ling! Stop spouting nonsense! I, Yu Xiaogang, would never teach Tang San such vile methods!"
But his denial was feeble.
Every pair of eyes in the coliseum was now fixed on him, the weight of suspicion growing unbearable.
Flender, Zhao Wuji, and the others who had taken part in the Blood Demon Ritual exchanged uneasy looks, all avoiding his gaze—confirming to everyone present that Luo Ling's accusation had merit.
Yu Xiaogang's protests fell on deaf ears. The looks directed at him had already shifted—from doubt to quiet realization. His face twisted with humiliation and fear.
Then, Luo Ling's eyes gleamed with malicious amusement as he asked, "Tell us, Master Yu Xiaogang, have you ever heard of the Cult of the Original God?"
The reaction was instantaneous.
Shock rippled through Shrek's members. Yu Xiaogang froze as though struck, eyes wide before panic crept across his face.
"I—I don't know what you're talking about! I've never heard of such a thing!" he stammered, waving his hands desperately.
Luo Ling only smiled wider and turned calmly toward the assembled elites.
"Some of you may not be familiar with this sect," he said softly. "The Cult of the Original God has emerged recently within our Heaven Dou Empire. Not long ago, they orchestrated a prison massacre in Heaven Dou City and nearby towns—slaughtering every prisoner within. It is believed they use blood and flesh to fuel their power."
"The sect reportedly performs sacrificial rituals in the name of their so-called deity—the Original God—in exchange for strength."
"And our investigations thus far reveal the existence of one divine messenger… and two saints within their ranks."
As Luo Ling spoke, even the most composed of the crowd grew solemn, their interest turning into concern.
"Luo Ling," Ning Fengzhi interjected, brow furrowed, "what does this cult have to do with Yu Xiaogang?"
He too had heard of the sect's growing infamy—it was a corruption that even his Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect found troublesome. To mention it now clearly meant Luo Ling was drawing a connection.
Luo Ling's smile deepened. "Master Ning, have you never found it strange how quickly Tang San's team grew? In the preliminary rounds, Tang San had barely reached rank forty-one as a Soul Ancestor. And now, within months, he's surpassed rank fifty."
He paused, his gaze sharp as steel.
"And I happened to see Yu Xiaogang at the site of that prison massacre."
The air around the stands turned frigid.
Yu Xiaogang's body trembled. He had never imagined that Luo Ling would have witnessed that night with his own eyes.
"Lies!" he barked, forcing a shaky glare. "You're lying! I've never once set foot in Heaven Dou's prison!"
"Oh?" Luo Ling said smoothly. "Then, surely, you wouldn't mind if we search your soul tool? If you have no ties to that cult, you have nothing to hide."
As he stepped closer, Yu Xiaogang's hand snapped reflexively over his storage soul guide, his face drenched in sweat.
Luo Ling's eyes narrowed. The reaction told him everything.
Before leaving the massacre, he had secretly planted a soul guide on Yu Xiaogang—containing the evidence: the corpses and materials from the ritual.
He hadn't been certain Yu Xiaogang would keep the Blood Demon Ritual on him. Now, seeing that fear, all doubt vanished.
"Why the hesitation, Master Yu?" Luo Ling's voice dripped with mockery. "Could it be you truly do have something to hide?"
Yu Xiaogang shook like a leaf. He knew that if the contents of his storage device were revealed, he would be utterly ruined.
Flender and Zhao Wuji both tensed, ready to move if things went wrong. If the situation turned deadly, they would have to flee—no matter the cost.
"Stop!"
The commanding voice froze the air.
The crowd parted as Xue Qinghe—Qian Renxue in disguise—stepped forward.
The royal prince of Heaven Dou Empire was known to all.
Calm as ever, Xue Qinghe produced a small leather-bound notebook from his spatial ring and said, "In regard to the prison massacre, my father ordered me to lead an investigation. Among the ruins, I discovered this."
She opened it, holding it high for all to see.
"This is a research journal containing detailed notes on the cultivation and spirit ring configurations of the Blue Silver Grass martial soul. At first, I thought it strange—but after hearing Luo Ling just now, I realize how it fits."
Her steady voice carried across the courtyard. "Tang San's martial soul is none other than Blue Silver Grass—and the recorded spirit ring setups inside are identical to his."
A stunned silence swallowed the hall.
Yu Xiaogang's face turned paper-white. His worst fear had come true.
He had lost a notebook in the chaos of that night—but he never thought it would end up in the Crown Prince's hands.
That single revelation was the nail in his coffin.
Luo Ling turned to him with a pleasant smile. "Tell me, Grandmaster, how is it that your research journal ended up in that slaughtered prison—one you claim never to have visited?"
The forces of Spirit Hall stirred restlessly, their killing intent rising.
To have evidence of an evil cult linked to a participant of the tournament—this was nothing less than open provocation against Spirit Hall's authority.
(END CHAPTER)
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