Yu Xiaogang was completely broken down, feeling like his future was shrouded in darkness.

But…

That didn't stop Diyi Hong from kicking him while he was down!

"Hey."

"You've got a pig tail now, but no pig spirit ring. This proves your theory is wrong."

"Oh wait, it's not even your theory—it's something you plagiarized from Spirit Hall."

"A bet's a bet. Time to say it."

The shattered Yu Xiaogang stared blankly at him.

Several seconds later.

He finally remembered—he lost the bet and had to say it.

A flush of angry red spread across his dull expression!

Damn it!

Can't you see I'm in a bad mood right now?

Why choose this moment?! Diyi Hong, as if reading his mind, said bluntly—

"Don't even think about using the excuse of being upset or asking to do it later."

"This is just the first part of today's debate. After you say it, we still have other topics to cover."

"Get on with it!"

"Or is this all the integrity your Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan has?"

Yu Xiaogang jumped on the spot!

"I already left the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan. I have nothing to do with them!"

"Oh? Then why's your surname still Yu?" Diyi Hong delivered a pinpoint strike.

"…"

"When you walk around outside, anyone who gives you face is only doing so for the clan's sake," Diyi Hong continued the barrage.

"…"

"If you didn't have a Titled Douluo father, do you think Qian Xunji wouldn't have torn you to pieces back then?"

"…"

Seeing that Diyi Hong was about to keep going—

Yu Xiaogang hurriedly raised his hand to interrupt.

"Alright, alright, I got it."

"It's just saying something out loud, right? Give me a second to mentally prepare."

Only then did Diyi Hong mute himself in satisfaction.

Heh!

This guy's entire past is an open book to me. I know exactly where to hit him.

A guy like him, all about saving face, won't last long.

Got him.

After bracing himself—

Yu Xiaogang closed his eyes and said—

"I, Yu Xiaogang, am… a fraud…"

"Nope!" Diyi Hong cut in, dissatisfied. "Was that a mosquito buzzing? Say it loud! That last one doesn't count!"

Yu Xiaogang's face twitched! You're seriously taking this this far?

Seeing Diyi Hong's stern expression, Yu Xiaogang knew he wasn't getting out of it today.

He steeled his heart—better to rip the bandage off quickly!

"I! Yu Xiaogang! Am… a fraud!"

"I, Yu Xiaogang! Am a fraud!"

"I, Yu Xiaogang, am a fraud!!"

He shouted loud and clear, full of energy.

Diyi Hong glanced at the livestream chat.

["Rakshasa God": Watching you this frustrated really lifts my mood!]

["Rakshasa God": So this is the joy of revenge?]

["Rakshasa God": Why did I ever like such a pathetic man?]

["Rakshasa God": What a nightmare!]

Rakshasa God spammed the screen madly.

Her image of worship had collapsed. Her delusional romantic mind was gone. All that remained were questions.

Was I brain-dead back then to like someone like this?

[User "Rakshasa God" has sent a gift: "Rakshasa Divine Sense" ×10]

["Rakshasa God": Keep going! Ruin him today, streamer!]

'Alright, message received!'

Diyi Hong floated forward, grinning as he circled around Yu Xiaogang.

He focused the stream's camera right on that pink pig tail.

Yu Xiaogang seemed to sense it.

The pink pig tail twitched slightly, trying to curl up, but it was too short to do much.

This left Yu Xiaogang utterly helpless.

Why did I absorb this thing?

If only I'd given it to Tang San! It wouldn't have hindered his cultivation and still could've proven the theory.

"Hey," Diyi Hong suddenly said, "Weren't you here to debate? Keep going then."

Yu Xiaogang was flustered.

Debate?

He'd only come to demand an explanation.

Now that he'd been proven wrong, how could he still have the heart to argue? "Nothing to say, huh? Then I'll start." Diyi Hong said, "Your proudest work is the 'Ten Core Competencies of Martial Spirits,' right?"

Yu Xiaogang's heart skipped a beat!

He knew better than anyone—this patchwork theory had plenty of holes to be picked.

No!

I can't let him steer the conversation!

"It's getting late," Yu Xiaogang forced a smile, "You guys just got back from a spirit ring hunt—you must be tired. Why not pick another day—"

"Oh hey, what a coincidence! No day like today!" Diyi Hong shut him down. "And you're the one who came looking for trouble. Now you wanna leave? You think this is your house—you come and go as you please?"

Yu Xiaogang's face turned even darker.

Ungrateful bastard, huh? He looked toward Flender.

You're seriously just going to stand there? I'm your specially hired teacher! Flender responded with a helpless shrug and double-handed gesture.

I gave you the chance to walk away earlier. You didn't take it.

Besides—

"Xiaogang, believe in yourself. Your 'Ten Core Competencies' can't be wrong!" Flender said earnestly.

As a civilian spirit master himself, most of his advanced knowledge came from Yu Xiaogang.

So his trust was genuine.

What could Yu Xiaogang do?

Admit that he'd been bluffing with ancient knowledge?

He couldn't bear the shame.

He could only grit his teeth and look at Diyi Hong.

"Which one do you want to debate?"

"All of them," Diyi Hong smiled. "Let's start from number one."

"Hold on!" Yu Xiaogang quickly said, "All of them? That's too time-consuming. Everyone needs sleep!"

Diyi Hong chuckled.

He looked around.

"Did you hear that? If you're sleepy, go sleep."

"What time is it?" Oscar jumped in. "We're spirit masters—how can we sleep early? It's still early!"

"Yeah, we need to train." Dai Mubai immediately started doing squats on the spot.

"Hey you, stop wasting time," Meng Yiran added. "Debate or concede. What's the big deal?"

What's the big deal? This was Yu Xiaogang's entire career! Yu Xiaogang was fuming. He adjusted his robe and placed his hands behind his back—

Then touched the pig tail. A sharp pain shot through him.

His finger had been cut open.

Damn it!

Even this external spirit bone doesn't acknowledge its owner? And from an outsider's perspective, Yu Xiaogang's flailing made him look like a clown.

Utterly laughable.

Diyi Hong's patience had worn thin.

He directly pointed out—

"Several of your so-called theories are total nonsense."

"'Innate soul power correlates directly with martial spirit quality!'"

"'The amplification effect of Martial Soul True Body corresponds to the martial spirit's inherent quality!'"

"Aren't these common sense? You needed to wrap them up into a theory?"

Yu Xiaogang, to his credit, kept his cool.

He argued, "To us it may be common sense, but to many civilian spirit masters, this is foundational enlightenment."

"What does that change?" Diyi Hong asked, "Do those two theories increase their innate soul power or improve their martial spirit quality?"

"Semantics!" Yu Xiaogang snapped. "They're foundational theory, used for research!"

"Then why do these long-known facts carry your name? Why are they labeled as theories you developed?" Diyi Hong pressed.

Yu Xiaogang was momentarily speechless.

So this wasn't about the theory itself—it was personal!

It looked like a debate on theory—

But was really a judgment of character!

______________________

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