Now that Yu Xiaogang had already clarified that there were countless projects waiting for him to study, he couldn't help laughing when Qian Xunji tried to threaten him with Spirit Hall's knowledge of the Light Attribute.
Yes, Spirit Hall was indeed unrivaled when it came to researching the Light Attribute.
However, Yu Xiaogang wasn't dependent on Spirit Hall.
There were other powerful families on the Douluo Continent that also possessed considerable knowledge and research regarding the Light Attribute. If Spirit Hall truly refused to let him continue studying, he could simply seek guidance from those families.
The reason he had come to Spirit Hall in the first place was because he wanted to learn from the best.
If Spirit Hall was unwilling to teach him, then so be it.
He could leave.
Once his strength increased, if he wanted to study the Light Attribute again, he would have plenty of things he could use as bargaining chips.
And when that time came, the person he would be negotiating with certainly wouldn't be Qian Xunji.
Besides, Yu Xiaogang wasn't simply copying Spirit Hall's research.
Even while learning from their accumulated knowledge, he was conducting his own experiments, research, and analysis.
Did Qian Xunji really think Yu Xiaogang was some mediocre Spirit Master who could only copy other people's research without developing his own path?
"You... Yu Xiaogang, you should understand that, on the entire Douluo Continent, no one can compare with Spirit Hall when it comes to research on the Light Attribute."
Seeing that Yu Xiaogang had rejected his second option without hesitation, Qian Xunji's expression became increasingly gloomy.
As the Supreme Pontiff of Spirit Hall, what he disliked most was someone who could not be controlled.
Coercion didn't work.
Inducements didn't work.
He couldn't use excessive force.
And, most importantly, the things Yu Xiaogang cared about could simply be abandoned if necessary.
This meant that almost every method Qian Xunji could use against him had become ineffective.
How could he not be irritated?
"Thank you for reminding me, Your Holiness," Yu Xiaogang said calmly. "But it is impossible for me to accept five years of imprisonment."
"...Kid, you should understand what those five years of imprisonment are for."
Qian Xunji tightened his grip around his scepter.
Beside him, Bibi Dong couldn't help feeling nervous.
She wanted to remind Yu Xiaogang not to provoke her teacher any further.
Was this really necessary?
Was he truly not afraid that her teacher would simply raise his scepter and knock him over the head?
"I naturally understand," Yu Xiaogang replied. "But haven't I already made my position clear?"
His tone remained polite from beginning to end.
That only made Qian Xunji even more frustrated.
As the Supreme Pontiff of Spirit Hall, he had not encountered anyone who dared to reject him so directly for many years.
Yet here stood a mere Spirit Ancestor.
Yu Xiaogang's attitude was respectful, but every word he spoke was essentially a refusal.
It was extremely irritating.
"Very good."
Qian Xunji snorted coldly.
"Since you are so determined, then don't come begging Spirit Hall in the future!"
He waved his sleeve, signaling that Yu Xiaogang could leave.
Yu Xiaogang didn't hesitate.
Having received permission to leave, he still maintained his manners. He turned toward the three Titled Douluo and politely bid them farewell.
Before leaving, he glanced at Bibi Dong.
She was looking at him with obvious concern.
Yu Xiaogang smiled reassuringly at her before turning around and walking out of the Supreme Pontiff Palace.
The moment Yu Xiaogang disappeared from sight, the atmosphere inside the hall became heavy.
Not long afterward—
Bang!
Qian Xunji slammed his palm against the desk.
"Damn Yu Yuanzhen!"
His face was filled with anger.
"His strength has actually risen to such a level!"
"And my father... If he hadn't insisted on following those ridiculous rules, we would have already obtained the secret of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Sect!"
The two Titled Douluo standing below exchanged glances.
After a moment, Dragon Scale Douluo stepped forward.
"Your Holiness, since that old dragon, Yu Yuanzhen, has already reached an agreement with the High Priest, as long as that child Xiaogang is willing to reveal the secret, the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Sect won't interfere."
"We don't need to rush."
"Although I haven't interacted with Xiaogang very much, I can make some judgments based on the information we've gathered."
"He doesn't seem like an ungrateful person."
"As long as Spirit Hall is willing to pay an appropriate price, I believe he will eventually return the favor."
Dragon Scale Douluo paused before continuing.
"Furthermore, we can use this opportunity to establish a closer relationship with the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Sect."
"That child Xiaogang appears to be the future Sect Master of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Sect."
"If one of the Upper Three Sects becomes friendly toward Spirit Hall, wouldn't that be beneficial to us?"
Dragon Scale Douluo spoke sincerely.
Although he had joined Spirit Hall and become one of Qian Xunji's direct subordinates, he didn't always agree with the Supreme Pontiff's methods.
In Dragon Scale Douluo's opinion, Qian Xunji placed too much emphasis on authority.
He believed that maintaining absolute majesty was the best way to control others.
That method wasn't necessarily wrong.
It simply depended on the person being dealt with.
For ordinary Spirit Masters whose potential stopped at the Spirit Saint level—or even those who could never reach that level—Qian Xunji's authority was indeed enough to make them obedient.
But Yu Xiaogang was different.
He was a genius who possessed the potential to become a Titled Douluo.
Treating such a person like an ordinary Spirit Master was inappropriate.
Summoning him whenever they wanted, dismissing him whenever they pleased, and demanding that he hand over his secrets the moment they met...
How could a proud genius possibly feel comfortable with that?
And once Yu Xiaogang eventually became a Titled Douluo, would he still have any goodwill toward Spirit Hall?
"Your Holiness," Iron Wall Douluo added, "I am not as familiar with Yu Yuanzhen as Dragon Scale is, but I can see Yu Xiaogang's character quite clearly."
"That child is the type who responds to softness but resists force."
"If you continue using a hard approach, he will only become more resistant."
"However, if you show enough sincerity and treat him with genuine kindness, he may actually be willing to reveal the secret out of gratitude."
Qian Xunji's expression remained cold.
"Hmph."
"You two make it sound easy."
"But what about what happened with the Clear Sky Sect?"
Dragon Scale Douluo and Iron Wall Douluo immediately fell silent.
They knew exactly what Qian Xunji was referring to.
Back then, because of Qian Daoliu and Tang Chen, Spirit Hall and the Clear Sky Sect had once maintained a relatively friendly relationship.
Unfortunately, the goodwill Spirit Hall extended had essentially been taken for granted by the Clear Sky Sect.
After experiencing several incidents that made Spirit Hall feel as though its goodwill had been repaid with ingratitude, the relationship between the two sides gradually deteriorated.
Since then, Spirit Hall had never been willing to easily extend goodwill toward the Clear Sky Sect again.
In fact, the experience had caused Spirit Hall to subconsciously view the other two members of the Upper Three Sects with suspicion as well.
Qian Xunji leaned back against his throne.
"Besides, don't you think it's too late to say these things now?"
"The pressure that should have been applied has already been applied."
"The threats that should have been made have already been made."
"If I suddenly change my attitude now, that child may even laugh at me."
His expression gradually became colder.
"Therefore, I can only walk this path to the end."
After a brief pause, however, Qian Xunji's expression changed slightly.
"Still, your methods aren't completely useless."
He turned his gaze toward Bibi Dong.
"Dong'er."
"You performed the task I assigned to you very well."
"That child Yu Xiaogang was willing to bring you along when he obtained his third Spirit Ring."
"This proves that he already considers you a friend."
Bibi Dong listened quietly.
Qian Xunji continued.
"So you need to continue building that relationship."
"Fortunately, I have already forbidden him from continuing to study Spirit Hall's collection of books."
A calculating light flashed through Qian Xunji's eyes.
"You can occasionally take one or two less important books from the library and give them to him."
Bibi Dong's expression changed slightly.
"Teacher..."
Qian Xunji smiled.
"Think about it."
"As my disciple, you are willing to defy your teacher and secretly bring books to him."
"Wouldn't he be moved by that?"
"Once his trust in you deepens, things will naturally become much easier."
Qian Xunji's smile gradually became more confident.
"With the two of us working together—master and disciple—taking down Yu Xiaogang will be easy."
He clearly believed that his plan was flawless.
After all, Yu Xiaogang was still only a ten-year-old child in his eyes.
No matter how talented he was, he was still young and inexperienced.
Qian Xunji had plenty of ways to make him open his mouth.
"Heh..."
A cold smile appeared on his face.
"Just a ten-year-old child."
"I have plenty of ways to make him reveal what we want."
Bibi Dong lowered her head, her expression complicated.
She knew her teacher's character very well.
Once Qian Xunji decided on something, changing his mind was extremely difficult.
But she also knew Yu Xiaogang.
The more someone tried to force him, the more stubborn he would become.
And now, her teacher was planning to use her relationship with Yu Xiaogang to obtain the secret of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Sect.
Bibi Dong couldn't help feeling conflicted.
On one side was the teacher who had raised and taught her.
On the other was the first true friend she had made outside Spirit Hall.
More importantly, Yu Xiaogang had never treated her differently because of her status as the Supreme Pontiff's disciple.
He had simply treated her as a friend.
Bibi Dong clenched her hands slightly.
She didn't know how things would develop from here.
But one thing was certain.
The seemingly simple conflict between Yu Xiaogang and Spirit Hall had already become far more complicated than it appeared on the surface.
And Qian Xunji, convinced that his master-and-disciple plan would succeed, had no idea that the young Spirit Master he regarded as easy to manipulate was already beginning to walk a path completely beyond his expectations.
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