Douluo Continent: My Martial Soul is the Black Dragon, I am the Lord of the Gods

……

Liu Erlong was so angry at Xuanming's "refreshing and unconventional" advice that she was furious, but it also miraculously dispelled the deathly aura that had been lingering in her heart for many days.

That familiar urge to grab Xuanming's ear and call him a "little rascal" made her feel real again that she was "alive".

Following Xuanming's suggestion, she decided to leave this place that held too many painful memories.

She first had a simple meal with Xuanming, as a farewell to the past. Afterwards, she found Flander.

Flander was looking at a pile of college documents with a headache when he saw Liu Erlong come in, especially when he saw the complex but no longer empty look in her eyes. He was stunned for a moment, and then a trace of relief and... a deeper loneliness flashed in his eyes.

“Erlong, you…” Flander stood up, somewhat at a loss.

Looking at the man who had loved her for most of his life but never received a response, Liu Erlong was filled with mixed emotions. She calmly said, "Flander, I'm leaving."

Flander stiffened slightly, a bitter smile forcing across his face: "Go? Where to?... With him?"

Although he didn't say it explicitly, they both knew the truth.

Xiao Wu and the others had just arrived and hadn't been able to influence Liu Erlong. So, who else in this world could cause such a change in Liu Erlong?

Liu Erlong neither denied nor confirmed, but simply said, "Go out for a walk, leave this suffocating place. Perhaps... I won't come back."

Flanders fell silent. He had known this day would come, but he hadn't expected it to come so soon. He looked at Liu Erlong, a thousand words stuck in his throat, finally turning into a long sigh: "...Take care."

Liu Erlong nodded, his eyes filled with a hint of apology and gratitude: "Flander, thank you... all these years. You are my best friend, my best brother."

This statement completely severed the boundary.

Flander felt a pang of pain in his heart, but he could only accept it. He forced a smile: "Take care of yourself too. If... if you're unhappy out there, you can always come back. Shrek Academy will always be your home."

Liu Erlong smiled, didn't reply, and turned to leave the office.

Some paths, once decided upon, offer no turning back.

……

The news that Liu Erlong was planning to leave quickly reached Yu Xiaogang's ears.

Now that he is the Imperial Preceptor, he doesn't care about this.

In his heart, ever since Liu Erlong chose to "betray" him and even exonerate her "enemy" after returning from Wuhun City, they had become strangers.

Now he holds a high position in the court, enjoys the emperor's trust, and has a talented disciple like Tang San. He has finally achieved the status and respect he once dreamed of.

That past relationship, which violated human ethics and was too painful to recall, had long been buried deep in his heart, regarded as a stain that must be severed.

What does Liu Erlong's departure or stay have to do with him?
However, upon learning the news, Tang San immediately sought out Yu Xiaogang.

"Teacher," Tang San frowned, "Teacher Liu Erlong is leaving Heaven Dou City. Aren't you... going to try to persuade her? She's waited for you half her life, and in the end..."

In Tang San's view, regardless of right or wrong, his teacher still owed Liu Erlong something.

The situation on the mainland is currently volatile and unpredictable, and Liu Erlong's safety is uncertain as he leaves alone.

Yu Xiaogang put down his pen, raised his head, and looked calmly at Tang San, his tone carrying an undeniable coldness: "Xiao San, I have nothing more to say to her. We are on different paths, so we cannot work together. Since she has made her choice, whether she stays or leaves is her own business. If I were to intervene, it would only create more awkwardness and damage the reputation of the Imperial Preceptor."

He abruptly changed the subject, his gaze sharpening as he looked at Tang San: "But you, Little San. I heard you've been getting quite close to that Xu Guoshi of the Sun Moon Empire these past few days? Could it be... that you've been swayed by his words?" Tang San was taken aback by the question and fell silent.

The world of soul tools described by Xu Hong, and the ideas that the Martial Soul Empire was promoting in an attempt to break the privileged class of soul masters and establish a fairer order, did indeed stir up huge waves in his heart.

How similar this is to his experience in the Tang Sect in his previous life? Back then, he had extraordinary talent, but because he was born into an outer sect, he was forever excluded from the core and never had the chance to show it.

He eventually stole the inner sect's ultimate technique and created the Buddha's Wrath Lotus, but he still couldn't gain recognition; instead, he was plunged into an abyss.

Before he learned that he possessed the bloodline of the Clear Sky Sect, he had suffered discrimination because of his useless spirit, Blue Silver Grass. He felt injustice and anger at the situation where noble spirit masters monopolized resources and common spirit masters had no chance of advancement.

"There are no useless martial spirits, only useless soul masters"—this statement, to some extent, is his resistance against this injustice.

Now, the actions of the Spirit Empire seem to be an attempt to break this injustice.

He agrees with the idea.

but……

Tang San raised his head, meeting Yu Xiaogang's scrutinizing gaze, his voice low but firm: "Teacher, I understand my position."

Yes, stance.

He is now the Blue King of the Heaven Dou Empire, a disciple of the Clear Sky Sect, and a student of Yu Xiaogang.

He carries too many responsibilities and burdens on his shoulders.

Often, personal beliefs and preferences seem so insignificant in the face of grander stances and interests, and may even have to be suppressed and sacrificed.

When it comes to fairness and right and wrong, compromise is often necessary when it comes to one's stance.

Yu Xiaogang watched as the struggle in Tang San's eyes was finally replaced by determination, and nodded in satisfaction: "It's good that you understand. Remember, our conflict with the Spirit Empire is a struggle of principles, a struggle for life and death, and there is no room for compromise."

He paused, then changed the subject, his tone becoming serious and profound: "However, Xiao San, regarding that Imperial Preceptor Xu... I heard that he seems to be interested in taking you as his disciple?"

Tang San's heart skipped a beat; he hadn't expected his teacher to know about this. He immediately replied respectfully, "Yes, teacher. Senior Xu has indeed mentioned this matter several times, but I have clearly declined. I already have a master and would never dare to seek refuge with another."

Upon hearing this, Yu Xiaogang slowly shook his head, a profound and unfathomable expression on his face: "Xiao San, you are wrong. At this critical juncture concerning the survival of the empire, personal status and principles sometimes need to give way to the greater good."

Tang San was stunned, looking at Yu Xiaogang in disbelief: "Teacher, you mean..."

Yu Xiaogang stood up, put his hands behind his back, walked to the window, looked at the scene of Tiandou City outside the window, and said in a deep voice: "It's not that I don't mind if you take someone else as your master. But times have changed."

The Spirit Empire is now incredibly powerful, and its soul tool technology far surpasses our imagination. If the Heaven Dou Empire wants to contend with it, it must acquire equal or even greater power.

This Grand Preceptor Xu, from the overseas Sun Moon Empire, is not only a level 99 Peerless Douluo, but also a leading figure in the Soul Tool system.

He turned around and looked intently at Tang San: "If you can become his disciple, you will not only learn advanced soul tool techniques, but also establish a relationship with the Sun Moon Empire."

If they could secure the support of the Sun Moon Empire, even limited cooperation, it would be a glimmer of hope for the already precarious Heavenly Dou Empire!

Tang San was completely stunned. He never expected that his teacher, who always valued the dignity of teachers and was even somewhat stubborn, would actually take the initiative to persuade him to switch to another master!

"Teacher, this...this is impossible!" Tang San hurriedly said, "I have achieved what I have today thanks to your teachings. A teacher for a day is a father for life. How can I..."

"Nonsense!" Yu Xiaogang interrupted him, his tone stern with a hint of disappointment. "Xiao San! What time is it now? Is this the time to be so concerned with these empty formalities? Is the survival of the empire, the safety of hundreds of millions of people, less important than our master-disciple relationship?" (End of Chapter)