Yu Xiaogang stood there, face dark, not knowing how to respond.

But Diyi Hong had no intention of letting him off the hook.

"And let's talk about your soul power accumulation theory. You only said bottlenecks don't matter and you can continue cultivating—why didn't you mention that after a breakthrough, cultivation speed multiplies several times over?"

"This kind of misleading claim makes people think it's fine to delay getting soul rings. But because of your soul ring limit theory, they're afraid to absorb higher-year rings—so all that accumulated soul power becomes worthless."

"Slower cultivation, no improvement in soul ring quality… They end up falling behind their peers."

"One step behind, and they're done for life."

"You're misleading the younger generation!"

Yu Xiaogang's mouth fell slightly open.

That theory could be interpreted that way?

"I-I never considered that…"

"You never considered it—or you just didn't care?" Diyi Hong exposed him coldly. "You wrote those Ten Core Competencies of Martial Souls just to soothe your own self-pity about being unable to cultivate. What does that have to do with common soul masters?"

Another direct hit. Yu Xiaogang's face turned beet red with anger.

But Diyi Hong wasn't done.

"And your martial soul simulation theory—plants absorbing beast-type rings? You dare call that your own research?"

"Before you were even born, beast-type soul masters had already been absorbing beast-type soul rings. What, you think they just didn't absorb 100,000-year plant beasts like the Blue Silver Emperor?"

"Until the ring's quality reaches a major breakthrough, absorbing rings of the same type is optimal for enhancing your martial soul's traits."

"Yet you had Tang San, with a life-type Blue Silver Grass, go absorb a snake-type ring just for the paralysis poison?"

"Leaving aside how flawed that is—there are tons of plant soul beasts with poison. Why force a cross-type absorption of a beast soul ring?"

"Wasn't it just to validate your theory? You manipulated him into it, didn't you?"

Yu Xiaogang opened his mouth, trying to rebut—

But he had no idea where to even start.

He could only mutter, "The Mandala Snake's age was just right for San at the time…"

"Bullshit!" Diyi Hong turned to Flender. "Dean Flender, would you choose a mediocre but age-appropriate plant ring—or would you keep searching for one that truly matches the martial soul's traits?"

Flender: "…"

He didn't answer right away—he even turned his head away from Yu Xiaogang's gaze.

That said everything.

—Of course you'd keep searching!

Settle for less? Soul cultivation isn't about settling!

Soul masters will search for years for the right ring. Who would settle?

"See?" Diyi Hong shrugged. "Even your friend won't back your theory. Still want to keep arguing?"

Yu Xiaogang's jaw clenched so hard his molars nearly cracked.

This kid's theoretical knowledge was terrifyingly solid—he pounced straight on the weak points!

"Don't grind your teeth. We're not done."

Diyi Hong fired off again—

"You claim there are only two types of martial souls—Tool and Beast?"

"That just shows how ignorant you are!"

"Have you heard of Body Martial Souls?"

"They're martial souls based on one's own body—arms, tongue, even the brain. Their control is even greater than other types!"

"There's even a hidden clan—the Body Sect—that specializes in recruiting those with body martial souls. Bet you didn't know that either?"

"Well, of course."

"Such confidential info is only accessible to high-level figures. You could have learned about it—but no, you just had to cut ties with your family and leave."

"Feeling stupid yet?"

Yu Xiaogang no longer clenched his teeth. He just stood there, mouth wide open.

Body martial souls?

He'd never even heard of them!

But…

He had seen the occasional case—people with martial souls like eyes, ears, or even their entire body. He had always lumped those into "beast" souls. Turns out, they were something else entirely.

The feeling of being crushed by superior knowledge made Yu Xiaogang burn with shame.

—He used to be the one dominating debates.

That was all he had left for pride.

But now, even that had been taken away by a twelve-year-old.

Yu Xiaogang's eyes dulled, and he sank into a spiral of self-doubt.

"Don't spiral into depression just yet."

Diyi Hong interrupted the spell—

"What pisses me off the most is that line of yours: 'There are no useless martial souls, only useless soul masters.'"

"What, so you're just a lazy bum? Is that why you're stuck at rank 29?"

Yu Xiaogang stood frozen.

Now he was being personally attacked after his theories?

Diyi Hong didn't care—he continued:

"I don't like you because you stole knowledge from your predecessors, dressed it up, and called it your own."

"But those theories are shallow, half-baked—some even flat-out wrong!"

"And why? Because your strength is lacking. You barely understand anything deeply and insist on injecting your own flawed interpretations instead of quoting the originals."

"You're harming people!"

Yu Xiaogang stood there like a lifeless husk, eyes void of light.

So he… was that pathetic?

His proud "Ten Core Competencies" were full of holes?

His pride, his beliefs, all came crashing down.

He didn't even want to speak anymore—just stumbled away, driven by instinct.

—Anywhere but here.

Watching Yu Xiaogang's retreating back, Diyi Hong turned to the livestream:

"Rakshasa God, satisfied with that?"

"If not, I can force him to come back online and roast him again!"

"But theory roasting is done. Beyond this is just personal attacks, old dirt, and tribal conflict."

["Rakshasa God": So that's how bad his theories were… Why didn't I see it before?]

["Rakshasa God": In the end, just a third-rate clown.]

["Rakshasa God": I'm completely over this pathetic creature.]

[User "Rakshasa God" sent gift: [Divine Technique: Netherworld Rakshasa] ×1]

[User "Rakshasa God" sent gift: [Divine Technique: Curse of Ruin] ×1]

[User "Rakshasa God" sent gift: [Divine Technique: Purgatory Ghost Hand] ×1]

["Rakshasa God": These are the most valuable gifts I can send right now.]

["Rakshasa God": Once I finish my affairs in the mortal world and ascend to the divine realm, I'll send more.]

"Sweet! Thanks for the tips, boss!" Diyi Hong grinned.

As other gods discussed their reactions, he casually checked the descriptions of the divine techniques.

Both [Netherworld Rakshasa] and [Purgatory Ghost Hand] required the divine artifact: Rakshasa Scythe.

Kinda useless.

Even if she gave him the scythe, he, a mere four-ring Soul Ancestor, couldn't use it.

[Curse of Ruin] didn't need the artifact, but it sounded hella evil—and not cool at all.

And the earlier gifted [Rakshasa Prison]? A mini-world made from Rakshasa divine power.

Required divine sense to activate, and besides, he already had his own miniature realm—his "Divine Realm Fragment."

Also useless.

He sold them all.

[+200,000 Livestream Points]

At 50,000 points each—pretty decent.

He glanced at his balance:

[423,000 Livestream Points]

Still had 4 divine-gifted martial souls, over 100 divine soul rings, nearly 600 divine senses shards, and tons of miscellaneous items.

Might be time for a shopping spree.

"Diyi Hong," Flender called out. "What's your plan now?"

"Oh, it's fine." Diyi Hong waved. "Everyone get some rest. Good night."

He strolled back to his room.

Boom!

A stone wall rose up from the ground, sealing the missing door.

Xiao Wu looked at it with a complicated gaze.

—That was Er Ming's power…

Everyone else also left.

Among them—

Xiao Wu had a spat with Meng Yiran, then stormed toward Tang San's dorm—he had a solo room too.

Meng Yiran returned smugly.

Only Zhu Zhuqing stayed rooted in place, eyes flashing as she stared at Diyi Hong's room.

Maybe…

Night raid?

______________________

Exclusive access to 50 advance chapters in my patreon, patreon.com/ryuuu_

Your support is greatly appreciated!