Douluo: Ma Hongjun The Ancestor Phoenix!

Yu Xiaogang took a step back, eyeing Dai Mubai warily.

"Boss Dai, wait a moment."

Ma Hongjun raised his hand again, motioning for Dai Mubai behind him to stay calm.

His cold gaze locked onto Yu Xiaogang.

That mesmerizing stare, laced with killing intent, weighed down on Yu Xiaogang like a death sentence.

Feeling the suffocating pressure and looming threat, Yu Xiaogang staggered back two steps. His legs gave way, and he fell to his knees.

"You… What do you want?"

His face had gone pale as he tried to hold his ground.

At that moment, he truly regretted interfering.

It was the dead of night, and even if the Blue Lightning Tyrannosaurus Rex Clan wanted to step in, they probably couldn't do anything in time.

"I advise you young people not to act recklessly."

Yu Xiaogang stiffened his neck but kept his eyes locked on Ma Hongjun.

He could sense a powerful killing aura radiating from the red-haired youth.

"Apologize. Don't make me say it a third time."

"Next time, I won't be so polite."

Ma Hongjun's expression was cold as he looked down at Yu Xiaogang, now sitting on the ground, his gaze full of hostility.

Yu Xiaogang had lost all the composure and elegance he'd shown earlier.

Several others stepped forward, surrounding him in a loose circle.

Their eyes bore into him, full of silent pressure.

Yu Xiaogang swallowed hard. His fingers scraped the ground as blue veins began to bulge on the backs of his hands.

He was hesitating.

Having left the Blue Lightning Tyrannosaurus Rex Clan for years, he knew how cruel the soul master world could be.

If not for his connection with Flander and Liu Erlong, he would've been dismissed and looked down on long ago.

What good is talent without the strength to back it up?

After the group disbanded, he'd understood what the future would hold.

That's why he had gone straight to a remote town where there were few soul masters, and their levels were low.

Living there for so long, he'd momentarily forgotten—this was the imperial city.

And in the imperial city, the last thing lacking was monstrous geniuses with terrifying power.

Xiao Wu silently watched Yu Xiaogang on the ground and said nothing.

Back at the academy, Yu Xiaogang had been Tang San's teacher and had taken good care of her.

She had wanted to speak up—but she hadn't expected Yu Xiaogang to start blaming her.

Later, he even insulted Dean Flander.

She knew very well how much Ma Hongjun respected Flander.

So in the end, she simply couldn't bring herself to speak for him.

"Uncle Xiaogang?"

Just as Yu Xiaogang was pondering how to escape this situation, a drunken voice came from behind the crowd.

Through the figures of Ma Hongjun and the others, Yu Xiaogang vaguely saw a somewhat familiar face.

"You are…?"

His brows furrowed, his eyes flickering with recognition.

"Uncle Xiaogang, it's me, Tianheng!"

The staggering figure quickly approached. Once he saw clearly, he hurried over to Yu Xiaogang.

"I wasn't sure at first—you looked so familiar. I didn't expect it to really be you."

Yu Tianheng grinned in surprise. After all, Yu Xiaogang had always treated him well.

Though his eyes were hazy from the alcohol, his joy was clear.

But when he saw Yu Xiaogang sitting on the ground, anger instantly surged.

"Who did this?! Who bullied you?"

He spun around—and saw Ma Hongjun and the others standing nearby.

His sleepy eyes suddenly widened as he stared in disbelief.

"It's you?"

His voice cracked with emotion.

Damn it. He hadn't expected to meet this guy here.

Yu Tianheng's eyes turned red in an instant, bloodshot and full of rage.

After that breakup, Dugu Yan had completely changed.

She never spoke to him again. And even if she did, it was distant, as if talking to a stranger.

Every time he tried to get close, she pushed him away.

He'd even heard that Dugu Yan had gone to her grandfather Dugu Bo to arrange for a school transfer.

He was drowning in sorrow, helplessness, and pain.

He had looked for her countless times, but nothing worked. So all he could do was get drunk to forget.

"You've got the nerve to show your face here?! I'll kill you, you bastard!"

Yu Tianheng, consumed by rage, charged forward.

But Ma Hongjun didn't take him seriously. He didn't even need to summon his martial soul to crush Yu Tianheng now.

He raised his foot—faster than Tianheng could react—and kicked him flying.

"Tianheng, are you alright?!"

Yu Xiaogang rushed over and helped him up, glaring furiously at the Shrek team.

"Who are you?! Name yourselves if you dare! The Blue Lightning Tyrannosaurus Rex Clan will never let this slide!"

His face was grim.

"Hmph. Who do you think you are? Just some backwater bumpkin."

"You won one time by luck, and now you think you're unbeatable?"

"If you've got guts, fight me one-on-one! If you're a man, don't hide behind your friends!"

After taking that heavy blow, Yu Tianheng came to his senses and glared at Ma Hongjun with venom.

His eyes burned with rage as he stared down the one who had humiliated him.

"Martial Spirit Possession!"

Yu Tianheng activated his martial soul on the spot.

Dai Mubai looked at him with disdain and snorted.

Fatty's strength had been enough to crush this guy even before.

Now, after absorbing the immortal herbs, their strength had grown even more terrifying.

Let them gang up on him?

That would be an insult to Fatty!

"Boss Dai, leave this to me," Ma Hongjun waved him back, signaling the others to stay out of it.

"Alright, Fatty, teach this kid a lesson. Show him what true power looks like."

"Maybe then he'll stop acting like he's number one in the world."

Oscar glared at Yu Tianheng with disgust, eager for Ma Hongjun to give him a brutal beating.

"Yeah! Brother Hongjun, don't hold back!" Ning Rongrong joined in, full of righteous fury. She clenched her fists and gave two quick air punches.

Hearing their words, Yu Tianheng's face turned darker than ever.

His eyes, cold and venomous, swept over everyone one by one, as if trying to memorize each face.

But Ning Rongrong caught his glance.

She raised her hand, made a funny face at him, then pointed her finger downward with a mocking grin.

"You…!"

Yu Tianheng's face went pale in an instant.

Seeing his expression, Ning Rongrong laughed triumphantly.

She didn't take the Blue Lightning Tyrannosaurus Rex Clan seriously at all.

Everyone else laughed too.

They didn't give Yu Tianheng—or anyone behind him—even a shred of respect.

Yu Xiaogang's eyes grew deep and unreadable. No one knew what he was thinking.

But the confrontation just now had given him a very bad feeling.

He was absolutely sure—

Tianheng was no match for the red-haired boy in front of him.

Even in a one-on-one fight, he wouldn't stand a chance.