Black World, Shrek Academy
"Hehe… Grandmaster, didn't you say before that success was absolutely impossible?"
"Why aren't you saying anything now? Or do you simply not like speaking anymore?"
Ning Rongrong's crisp, teasing voice broke the suffocating silence.
The scene displayed in the heavenly curtain had stunned everyone present. No one had expected that Yu Xiaogang—the same man they all knew—would actually succeed in absorbing a thousand-year spirit ring as his first ring.
It defied common sense.
It overturned everything they believed.
And most of all—it shattered Yu Xiaogang himself.
Ning Rongrong stood with her arms crossed, a playful smile tugging at her lips. But her eyes carried sharp mockery as she looked straight at him.
That gaze…
That tone…
It pierced directly into Yu Xiaogang's heart.
For a fleeting moment, it reminded him of those people from his past—those who had once mocked him, dismissed him, and denied his worth.
Under normal circumstances, such ridicule would have ignited his anger instantly.
He would have lashed out.
He would have defended himself.
But now…
He couldn't.
His mind was in chaos.
A storm of disbelief and confusion raged within him, leaving him unable to think clearly.
Why…?
Why was there such a difference?
The same person.
The same martial spirit.
The same background.
Why did the Yu Xiaogang in that parallel world achieve something he himself could never even dare to attempt?
What made him inferior?
Was he truly lacking in courage… or was it something deeper?
His thoughts spiraled uncontrollably.
That other Yu Xiaogang had dared to absorb a thousand-year spirit ring as his first.
Even Tang San—his most outstanding disciple—had not dared to attempt such madness.
And yet…
He succeeded.
Was he not afraid of death?
Was he not afraid that the overwhelming power of the spirit ring would tear his body apart?
"Impossible…"
Yu Xiaogang's legs suddenly gave out.
With a dull thud, he collapsed to the ground.
His eyes were unfocused, his lips trembling as he muttered repeatedly:
"Impossible… this is impossible…"
His voice grew weaker with each repetition.
The once-proud Grandmaster now looked utterly broken.
Seeing this, Ning Rongrong's mocking expression gradually faded.
Her interest disappeared just as quickly as it had come.
"…How boring."
She turned away with a slight pout.
There was no satisfaction in mocking someone who had already collapsed completely.
Tang San's Inner Turmoil
Nearby, Tang San stood silently.
His gaze lingered on Yu Xiaogang, but he did not step forward to help.
Not this time.
Because at this very moment—
He himself was shaken.
Deeply.
Tang San had always believed that choosing Yu Xiaogang as his teacher was the most correct decision of his life.
It was under Yu Xiaogang's guidance that he had learned about the Spirit system of this world.
He had gained knowledge about Spirit Beasts.
He had understood the structure of the Douluo Continent.
More importantly—
Yu Xiaogang had helped him chart a path for cultivation that aligned perfectly with Tang San's own ambitions of spreading the Tang Sect's legacy.
Everything seemed… destined.
As someone who once lived within the Tang Sect, Tang San had always believed in fate.
He believed that Yu Xiaogang was a teacher chosen for him by heaven.
That belief had never wavered.
Until now.
The comparison shown by the heavenly curtain was too stark.
Too cruel.
The difference between the two Yu Xiaogangs was like night and day.
One dared to walk forward even when death loomed ahead.
The other chose safety—even when the risk was minimal.
One embraced danger to achieve greatness.
The other avoided it at all costs.
This wasn't just a difference in strength.
It was a difference in character.
And character…
Determined destiny.
Tang San clenched his fists slightly.
A chilling thought surfaced in his mind.
If he continued to follow such a teacher…
What would happen in the future?
When he revived the Tang Sect in this world—
Would others look down on it because of Yu Xiaogang?
Would they mock him for having such a master?
A trace of coldness spread through his chest.
But soon—
Tang San took a deep breath.
He forcibly suppressed those thoughts.
"Now is not the time to think about this…"
His eyes steadied.
"For now, my cultivation still depends on Teacher."
"And he promised to help me resolve the drawbacks of my twin spirits."
Rationality prevailed.
No matter what doubts he had, Yu Xiaogang still held value for him—for now.
And so—
Tang San chose to remain silent.
Heaven Dou Empire — Crown Prince's Residence
In another part of the continent, within the luxurious halls of the Heaven Dou Empire's Crown Prince Residence—
A young man dressed in royal attire stood quietly before the heavenly curtain.
Xue Qinghe.
The Crown Prince of the Heaven Dou Empire.
But beneath that identity…
Was another truth.
She was Qian Renxue.
The granddaughter of Qian Daoliu, High Priest of Spirit Hall.
Her golden eyes reflected the image of Yu Xiaogang in the heavenly curtain.
For a long moment, she said nothing.
Then—
A soft, pleasant voice echoed in the room.
"Uncle Snake Spear… do you think I've been too complacent?"
Her tone carried a rare trace of doubt.
Behind her stood Snake Lance Douluo, one of her protectors.
Hearing her question, he hesitated.
"This…"
He struggled to find the right words.
Before he could answer, Qian Renxue continued.
"Look at him."
"That Dragon God Douluo…"
"With only level one innate spirit power, he risked his life to obtain a thousand-year first spirit ring."
"He achieved something unprecedented."
Her voice grew heavier.
"And me?"
"I was born with level twenty innate spirit power."
"My first spirit ring was only a hundred-year."
"My second… also a hundred-year."
"Only the third reached a thousand years."
She paused briefly.
A faint bitterness appeared in her expression.
"I didn't even consider attempting a thousand-year second spirit ring."
"But he…"
"He achieved a thousand-year first."
Her gaze sharpened.
"With such a beginning… how powerful will his future become?"
"How fast will his cultivation progress?"
She didn't say the final thought aloud—
That perhaps…
He might even reach godhood.
Snake Lance Douluo finally spoke.
"Young Miss, there is no need to compare yourself to such an anomaly."
He spoke firmly.
"That individual is a rare case—an exception chosen by the heavenly curtain precisely because he is extraordinary."
"Such feats are not something ordinary people can replicate."
"Even if we now know that Whale Glue can enhance spirit ring limits…"
He shook his head.
"There will still be very few who can achieve what he did."
At this moment, Porcupinefish Douluo also stepped forward.
"That's right."
"Think about Tang Chen of the Clear Sky Sect."
"He rose to greatness with his own strength and created techniques that pushed him to the peak of the continent."
"He was known as invincible."
"But after him?"
"Even though his techniques were passed down…"
"Who has ever reached his level again?"
He smiled faintly.
"Geniuses like that are singular existences."
"You don't need to burden yourself by comparing to them."
"As long as you cultivate steadily, you will inevitably reach the level of the High Priest."
Qian Renxue's Resolution
Qian Renxue fell silent.
Their words made sense.
She knew that.
Her starting point was already far beyond most people.
Even if she did nothing extraordinary—
She was destined to become a Titled Douluo.
Compared to someone who had to risk his life just to break through…
Her path was much easier.
Slowly, the tension in her expression eased.
"Yes…"
She nodded slightly.
"There's no need to compare."
Yet—
A spark had already been ignited in her heart.
Even if she didn't need to compare—
She didn't want to fall behind.
She didn't want to be overshadowed.
As the top genius of the Douluo Continent—
How could she allow herself to be reduced to mediocrity?
Her golden eyes burned with renewed determination.
"From today onward…"
"I will cultivate seriously."
Her voice was calm—but firm.
"When obtaining spirit rings, I will also challenge my limits."
Even if she couldn't replicate that miracle—
She would still push herself further than before.
Because she was—
Qian Renxue.
A genius who stood at the peak.
And she refused to let herself fall into the shadows of another.
Advance Chapters avilable on patreon (Obito_uchiha)