[The scene within the heavenly screen continued.]
Inside the grand library of Spirit Hall, Yu Xiaogang behaved like a starving man who had suddenly stumbled into a feast.
Rows upon rows of shelves towered around him, filled with ancient scrolls, spirit beast records, cultivation manuals, martial soul studies, historical texts, and research accumulated over countless years. To Yu Xiaogang, who had long been obsessed with theory and knowledge, this place was no less than paradise.
He immersed himself completely.
Day after day, he buried himself in books, reading with such intensity that he often forgot the passing of time. Sometimes he remained seated for hours without moving, eyes bloodshot, hands trembling slightly as he copied notes with frantic speed.
Several times, the staff assigned to monitor him had to interrupt.
"Your contribution points are exhausted."
"If you wish to continue reading, you must contribute more."
Each reminder dragged Yu Xiaogang back to reality.
Yet every time, he responded the same way.
Without hesitation, he handed over new records, documents, and clan knowledge that he had personally written down—most of it concerning the secrets and theories of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Sect.
The Spirit Hall members receiving these documents could not help feeling strange.
This man was truly selling his ancestral fields without a trace of guilt.
Fortunately for Yu Xiaogang, they were members of Spirit Hall.
Had they belonged to the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Sect, they might have died from anger on the spot.
Searching for Answers
After surrendering a large amount of his sect's information, Yu Xiaogang was granted access to all books below Level Three.
He searched tirelessly.
He studied martial soul mutations.
He examined records of spirit rings and cultivation bottlenecks.
He compared bloodlines, beast spirits, and inherited techniques.
He even read old battlefield records, hoping to discover hidden truths.
But in the end, the results disappointed him.
Though he found some useful theories, none were enough to solve the greatest problem tormenting him—his own lack of talent.
Still, during his search, he learned something important.
The Spirit Hall library possessed higher-level archives.
Level Four.
Level Five.
These were said to contain the true treasures of Spirit Hall's knowledge—materials unavailable to ordinary members.
The thought of such hidden wisdom burned in his mind like fire.
So once again, Yu Xiaogang gathered everything he could offer and approached the librarians.
He requested access.
He was rejected immediately.
Insufficient Contribution
"Insufficient contribution?"
Yu Xiaogang stared at the official before him, eyes widening in disbelief.
The man folded his arms and sneered.
"Of course it is insufficient."
"Level Four collections are reserved for core members of Spirit Hall."
"As for Level Five…"
He laughed softly.
"Even some Titled Douluo are not qualified to view them."
Then he glanced at the papers in Yu Xiaogang's hands with open contempt.
"With these scraps, you wish to access the true treasures of Spirit Hall?"
"Heh."
The dismissive smile struck Yu Xiaogang harder than any slap.
His fists tightened unconsciously.
His pride, always fragile, was deeply wounded.
For several long moments, he said nothing.
Then he slowly turned his head and looked at the towering library doors behind the man.
His eyes burned with greed, frustration, and unwillingness.
Finally, without another word, he turned and left.
A Taste of Success
Although denied access to the higher archives, Yu Xiaogang did not give up.
Instead, he began digesting everything he had already read.
He organized his notes.
He tested breathing methods.
He adjusted cultivation routines based on old theories.
To his surprise, some of the methods actually worked.
His cultivation speed increased.
Only slightly—but for Yu Xiaogang, even the smallest progress was enough to fill him with joy.
He almost shouted aloud.
This success confirmed something he had long believed:
Theory was the path he was meant to walk.
If he could not rise through talent, then he would rise through knowledge.
Yet that conviction only deepened his obsession with the Level Four and Level Five collections.
Those books had to contain even greater truths.
But under normal circumstances, he would never be allowed near them.
Unless…
He found another way.
A Chance Encounter
One afternoon, Yu Xiaogang was walking through Spirit City when someone passed by him.
A graceful young woman.
Elegant posture.
Long purple hair.
A face of extraordinary beauty.
For a moment, Yu Xiaogang forgot to breathe.
By the time he regained himself, she had already walked past.
Of course, he knew exactly who she was.
Bibi Dong.
The Holy Maiden of Spirit Hall.
Disciple of the Pope, Qian Xunji.
A peerless genius blessed with full innate spirit power and twin martial souls.
As long as no accident occurred, everyone believed she would one day stand at the summit of the continent.
Since arriving in Spirit City, Yu Xiaogang had heard countless rumors about her.
Some said she was kind-hearted and lively.
Some said she enjoyed wandering the markets and listening to stories.
Others claimed she loved battle and crushed opponents without mercy.
Whether true or false, all the rumors carried the same message:
Bibi Dong was extraordinary.
She stood at a height others could only admire from below.
But Yu Xiaogang did not see it that way.
He was the son of a Titled Douluo.
He was destined to become famous through theory.
Why should he be beneath her?
In his own mind, he was her equal.
And with that thought, another idea formed.
Perhaps… she could be useful.
The Plan
As the Pope's disciple, Bibi Dong was unquestionably a core member of Spirit Hall.
She would certainly have access to Level Four collections.
Perhaps even Level Five.
After all, with twin martial souls and full innate spirit power, she was practically guaranteed to become a future Titled Douluo.
Spirit Hall would naturally place immense trust in someone like her.
Yu Xiaogang's eyes brightened.
If he could win her favor…
Then the library's doors might open.
From that day onward, he began quietly gathering information.
He learned her routines.
Her favorite places.
The foods she liked.
The topics that interested her.
The things she disliked.
The times she visited the market.
The routes she took through the academy.
He prepared carefully and thoroughly.
For Yu Xiaogang, this was not chance.
It was strategy.
The First Meeting
One morning, Yu Xiaogang arrived early outside a popular snack shop.
He stood there casually, documents in hand, waiting.
Before long, Bibi Dong appeared and took her place near the entrance, waiting for the shop to open.
Yu Xiaogang immediately stepped forward.
Then, with perfect timing—
He "accidentally" collided with her.
The papers in his hands scattered across the ground.
"Oh! I'm sorry," Bibi Dong said at once.
She crouched down to help gather the documents.
As she picked them up, she noticed the contents.
The pages were filled with martial soul theories, spirit beast classifications, and cultivation formulas.
Her curiosity was piqued.
"You study these things?"
Yu Xiaogang smiled modestly.
"Just personal interests."
They exchanged a few words while gathering the papers.
Then, after thanking her politely, Yu Xiaogang departed without lingering.
To Bibi Dong, it was merely a small encounter.
Nothing more.
But it did not end there.
Coincidences Again and Again
Soon afterward, Bibi Dong saw him again.
This time in the library.
She had been reading quietly when a cough startled her.
Looking up, she found Yu Xiaogang seated directly across from her.
He smiled politely.
What a coincidence.
Later, she encountered him at the Spirit Hall Academy.
Then outside a shop.
Then near the Spirit Arena.
Again.
And again.
Repeated meetings gradually turned curiosity into familiarity.
Each time, Yu Xiaogang seemed to know exactly what interested her.
He brought up books she liked.
Stories she enjoyed.
Topics she found meaningful.
Their conversations grew longer.
Their smiles became easier.
Slowly, Bibi Dong lowered her guard.
To her, Yu Xiaogang seemed thoughtful, intelligent, and unlike the arrogant young elites who constantly surrounded her.
To Yu Xiaogang, things were proceeding exactly as planned.
Shared Burdens
Once he felt the time was right, Yu Xiaogang changed the tone of their conversations.
He began speaking of his hardships.
He spoke of how his mind was full of ideas, yet his talent was too poor to realize them.
He spoke of being the son of a Titled Douluo, burdened by expectations he could never meet.
He spoke of humiliation, disappointment, and loneliness.
As Bibi Dong listened, her heart softened.
She pitied him sincerely.
Because in his pain, she saw reflections of herself.
As the disciple of Pope Qian Xunji, expectations pressed heavily upon her shoulders every day.
She did not want to disappoint her teacher.
She did not want to disappoint her grandfather.
She did not want to fail Spirit Hall.
So she trained relentlessly.
Cultivated endlessly.
Forced herself to remain strong.
Yet beneath all of that, she also felt exhausted.
Lonely.
Lost.
And when those emotions overwhelmed her, she had no one to confide in.
No one around her truly understood.
No one could stand where she stood.
Until now.
For the first time, she had met someone who seemed able to understand pressure, loneliness, and silent suffering.
Someone who could speak to her as a person, not as the Holy Maiden of Spirit Hall.
And so, without realizing it, Bibi Dong's heart began to open.
Advance Chapters avilable on patreon (Obito_uchiha)