NOVEL NEXT Chapter 179: Is it too late
"Hiss—"
Everyone gasped, their scalps tingling, as though something was scratching at their hearts.
"Pure and Untainted" is often used to describe a woman's noble character. But now Tang San says he himself is pure and untainted?
This statement forced everyone to reevaluate their understanding of the term!
"How can he lie so brazenly with a straight face?"
The Skywater girls' group was visibly stunned. Shui Yue'er raised her slender jade-like hand and pointed at Tang San. From the trembling of her body, it was obvious she was furious.
A thick-skinned man, boldly claiming to be...
Shui Yue'er felt her brain short-circuiting. Her mouth opened slightly as if she wanted to hurl insults, but being the refined lady she was, she couldn't bring herself to say anything vulgar.
Mocking opponents? That they were good at. But insulting a mentally off Tang San? That put her in a dilemma.
Xue Wu's eye twitched. She glanced sideways at Shui Bing'er and whispered, "Bing'er, I suddenly don't dare to call myself pure and untainted anymore..."
Not just her—after this scene, who would still dare claim that?
Oh? Xiao Wu!
Right, Xiao Wu!
Her understanding of human vocabulary was still somewhat superficial.
When Tang San declared himself pure and chaste, Xiao Wu nodded earnestly, fully convinced.
In her heart, that was exactly the kind of person Tang San was.
"Xue Wu, same here..."
Shui Bing'er responded softly.
It could be said that the entire Skywater girls' group was trembling in collective discomfort. Wasn't the term "pure and untainted" supposed to describe 'them'?
But thanks to Tang San's antics, these two words were now destined to become a joke.
"Is it too late to change my name now?"
Shui Bing'er murmured, her eye twitching.
Suddenly, as if realizing something, Shui Bing'er added, "These two master and disciple are bad news. Sisters, be careful around them."
"Oh, and Shrek Academy too!"
"Take a look at that trouble-stirring fatty over there. He doesn't seem guilty at all. Right now, he's ogling all the women in the arena with his lecherous eyes!"
Ma Hongjun was just like that. Even if he managed to get rid of the demonic fire afflicting him, his behavior would likely remain unchanged.
In short: a leopard doesn't change its spots.
As for what Yu Xiaogang had said earlier, everyone just treated it as a joke.
Only Yu Xiaogang himself thought his impassioned roar had caught people off guard for a moment.
But when they came to their senses, the commoners couldn't help but curse Yu Xiaogang's shamelessness in their hearts!
"Me? Babbling nonsense?"
"And you're pure and untainted?"
Yu Xiaogang's eyes widened in disbelief.
How could this disciple of his, a betrayer of his master and ancestors, shamelessly make such claims?
Luckily, Yu Xiaogang didn't know that Tang San had also betrayed his master and ancestors in his previous life!
Now, as he betrayed his second master, he didn't seem to feel the slightest bit of guilt.
Hearing this, Tang San revealed a look of disdain and said, "Yu Xiaogang, aren't you exactly someone who babbles nonsense?"
"???"
Where did this come from?
Yu Xiaogang had always considered himself to be "upright and honorable." Other than a few questionable schemes, when had he ever spoken nonsense? Even in his current miserable state, his mind was still sharp, and every word he spoke was carefully considered.
How could that be called babbling nonsense?
Seeing Yu Xiaogang's confused expression, Tang San's lips curled into a sly smile.
At this moment, Tang San felt like his mind had suddenly cleared. Many things became crystal clear.
Especially after Yu Xiaogang was "exposed," Tang San felt as though thoughts he had previously avoided thinking about were rushing into his mind all at once.
If Yu Xiaogang hadn't been "exposed," Tang San might have continued regarding him as a teacher on the surface, even if he knew what kind of person Yu Xiaogang truly was.
It's well known that Tang San valued his personal reputation highly. Even if his actions behind the scenes were less than honorable, he always maintained the facade of a noble gentleman in public.
"I ask you," Tang San began, his gaze cold, "how much of your so-called theoretical knowledge can commoners actually use?"
Before Yu Xiaogang could respond, Tang San continued relentlessly, "Your 'Ten Core Competencies of Martial Souls'? All of it is just common sense!"
"Anyone who has attended even a basic soul master academy knows this. Who doesn't?"
Hearing this, those in the audience who had read Yu Xiaogang's books subconsciously nodded in agreement.
This was precisely why Yu Xiaogang was often seen as a laughingstock.
His theories were, for the most part, correct—there was no denying that.
But the problem lay in the fact that these so-called theories weren't his. They came from the Spirit Hall and the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, painstakingly tested and refined over generations.
Yet, the majority of these theories were just basic knowledge!
Anyone who had attended a basic soul master academy would already know these "common sense" principles.
It was only someone like Tang San, who had initially been ignorant of these basics, that could be fooled into believing Yu Xiaogang's claims.
What's that?
Commoners can't afford to attend basic soul master academies?
What about the work-study quotas?
Even in remote villages, if one or two children were born with spirit power, they could borrow slots from neighboring villages or wait until the following year.
And if all else failed, they could join the Spirit Hall!
Even someone like Su Yuntao, a spirit master with only innate rank 2 spirit power, was able to join the Spirit Hall. This showed how open and accommodating the Spirit Hall was.
To the common folk, the Spirit Hall was sacred, and many considered it an honor to join.
For most commoners, this wasn't a problem at all.
As long as there was a chance to change their destiny, they were content.
Seeming to think of something else, Tang San continued, "And what about your claims regarding the maximum age limit of spirit rings for spirit masters?"
"Let me ask you this—so what if they know the maximum spirit ring age they can absorb? Can they even defeat those spirit beasts?"
"Most commoners' first spirit rings are only ten-year spirit rings. Do they really need your knowledge for that?"
"Does knowing or not knowing make any difference?"
These words left the noble spirit masters unfazed, but the commoner spirit masters were left speechless, their mouths slightly open as if wanting to retort but finding no argument.
Wasn't that the truth?
Knowing the limits of what they could absorb meant little if they couldn't even defeat the spirit beasts in the first place!
For them, just obtaining a spirit ring to break through was already a tremendous achievement.
All this talk about the "most suitable" or "optimal" spirit ring ages? What nonsense!
Teachers at basic soul master academies would teach such theories, but teaching was one thing—those teachers themselves might not even be able to defeat top-tier spirit beasts!
As commoners, they had to be content with what they could achieve.
Sure, they could save up gold spirit coins to hire higher-level spirit masters for assistance, but as commoners, where would they find that kind of money?
Until they broke through to spirit master rank, they wouldn't even qualify for the spirit master subsidy.
Even if they saved up those subsidies—12 gold spirit coins a year, 120 over ten years—that amount wouldn't even be enough to hire someone to hunt a decent hundred-year spirit beast.
To put things into perspective, even the son of the City Lord of Nuoding City only had a ten-year spirit ring for his first ring, not a hundred-year one.
Clearly, even among nobles, not everyone had access to optimal resources.
Yu Xiaogang was dumbfounded. He blinked repeatedly, momentarily forgetting his injuries. Fueled by sheer willpower, he glanced around at the audience.
From their expressions, it was clear that Tang San's words were striking a chord.
And for once, Yu Xiaogang couldn't refute them.