The Butterfly Effect Begins

Bibi Dong was deeply dissatisfied with Lin Dong's thesis, but in her view, Lin Dong had no more than two motives for doing this.

First, to conceal his true identity.

Bibi Dong understood this very well. Since Lin Dong—or rather, Xiao Yan—had not appeared at Martial Soul Hall, had used Martial Soul Hall's channels to publish his thesis, and had not collected any remuneration, either his strength was relatively weak, and he feared Martial Soul Hall would force him, or he was worried that someone else would find him. Perhaps he had offended someone.

If it was the latter, considering that Lin Dong and Xiao Yan had always been slandering her Xiaogang, Bibi Dong believed that Lin Dong must have a grudge against Yu Xiaogang.

Second, Lin Dong was worried that Martial Soul Hall would refuse to publish this thesis.

If that was the reason, then Lin Dong could be considered a pure scholar, a Researcher.

As for the remuneration, perhaps Lin Dong simply did not think much of it?

Bibi Dong reclined upon the Papal Seat, pondering the impact of publishing this thesis.

If things truly went as Lin Dong claimed, all Soul Masters would strive to train their bodies, and the basic quality of Soul Masters across the entire continent would improve.

Not only that, the Two Great Empires, the Three Upper Sects, the Lower Four Sects, and other forces might undergo earth-shaking changes.

Perhaps some hidden forces would emerge as well.

More importantly, when certain Soul Douluo powerhouses broke through to Rank 90 Douluo, they might choose Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beasts.

That would be extremely unfavorable to Martial Soul Hall's Future development. It seemed the pace of subjugating the Lower Four Sects had to be accelerated.

"Yue Guan, from now on, you will be responsible for Na Na and the others' soul rings. They must be as perfect as possible."

At this moment, Bibi Dong spoke to Yue Guan and Gui Mei below, who had long since finished reading the thesis.

"Yes, Pope."

Yue Guan agreed readily, a faint smile curling at the corner of his lips.

Yue Guan had no intention of refusing Bibi Dong's order. If things were as the thesis had stated, Martial Soul Hall would only grow stronger in the Future.

And as the mentor of the Martial Soul Hall Golden Generation, with close ties to them, his days would only get better and better.

"Mm. Gui Mei, what about your side?"

Bibi Dong swept her gaze toward Gui Mei and asked.

"Reporting to the Pope, aside from the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, I have no issues with the other forces."

"Good. As for the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan's thesis, Yue Guan and Gui Mei, the two of you will retrieve it together."

"As for the theses, once they are collected and their authenticity confirmed, publish them immediately."

After saying that, Bibi Dong waved her hand.

"Yes, we understand."

Yue Guan and Gui Mei replied in unison.

The next second, only Bibi Dong remained in the vast Papal Hall.

At that moment, Bibi Dong looked up at the ceiling of the Papal Hall, her gaze somewhat unfocused as she murmured, "I wonder how Xiaogang will react when he sees this thesis?"

"Ah!"

Meanwhile, the heads of the various Advanced Academies received a thesis.

If Xiao Yan's thesis had not sold so well before, and if Lin Dong's name had not been written on the letter, the academy heads would not have paid attention to such a small letter.

Yet this thesis contained only a single page, and below it was written that the remaining content was in the hands of other academy heads.

That left several academy heads utterly confused. They could only infer the general topic of the thesis from some of its contents.

In other words, the ability to absorb soul rings beyond one's limit was related to physical fitness?

But it did not specify just how strong one's physical fitness had to be, making their teeth itch with frustration.

This author called Lin Dong was truly sly.

They did not want to cooperate with the heads of several other academies.

In three more years, the Continental Advanced Academy Soul Master Tournament would begin.

But if they did not cooperate and read this thesis together, other forces might instead find an opportunity to slander their academies.

As academy heads, they were equally unwilling to see such a thing happen.

In the end, after reaching a consensus, several academy heads agreed to examine it together in Spirit City. That happened to align with Martial Soul Hall's plans.

At the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's training grounds.

A group of young Soul Masters were diligently cultivating and sparring.

Ning Fengzhi stood in the distance, watching as though lost in thought.

Behind Ning Fengzhi, Gu Rong looked at the thesis in his hand. His gaunt yet towering body trembled slightly, and then he drew in a sharp breath.

Hiss!

"Fengzhi, the contents of this thesis can be trusted."

After a long pause, Gu Rong finally spoke, affirming the thesis's contents.

"Oh? This thesis is only one page long, and the data is pitifully scarce. How can Uncle Gu believe it?"

Ning Fengzhi turned around and looked at Gu Rong with a puzzled expression.

"Isn't the thesis's argument simply that the stronger one's physical condition is, the stronger the soul ring one can absorb?"

"That is common knowledge to us Titled Douluo. Moreover, it is indeed true that Soul Masters' physical condition has been steadily improving."

"Not to mention anything distant—just look at the continent today. There are increasingly younger Titled Douluo, increasingly powerful Titled Douluo, and Titled Douluo whose Ninth Soul Ring comes from a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast."

"These are all proof. And compared to you, isn't Rongrong that child more outstanding with each generation?"

When Gu Rong mentioned Ning Rongrong, a faint smile could not help appearing at the corner of his mouth.

"With Rongrong's talent, if she exceeded her limits to absorb her First Soul Ring and took in a five-hundred-year soul ring, then it would not be impossible for the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect to rename itself the Eight Treasure Glazed Tile Sect."

Resting his chin on one large hand, Gu Rong watched Ning Rongrong, that Little Witch, bully the other children on the training grounds and could not help but smile.

"Come to think of it, Rongrong was far wilder and livelier than you were as a child, Fengzhi."

With those words, Gu Rong was also indicating that Ning Rongrong's talent far surpassed Ning Fengzhi's, and even her physical condition was no weaker than Ning Fengzhi's had been as a child.

Ning Fengzhi smiled lightly at that. "Uncle Gu, you actually said that."

Then, Ning Fengzhi changed the subject, his expression turning serious. "Since Uncle Gu has said so, Rongrong can't be allowed to play around like this anymore. I'll have her put in twelve parts effort out of ten, then exceed her limits to absorb her first soul ring."

"Fengzhi, you... Rongrong will hate you for this."

Gu Rong froze before saying so.

"No, no, wasn't this what Uncle Gu said?"

At that moment, Ning Fengzhi revealed a fox-like smile.

"Fengzhi, you..."

Gu Rong frowned upon hearing this. He did not even know what to say to Ning Fengzhi anymore. He was even calculating over something like this.

"By the way, Uncle Gu, take me to Spirit Hall in a few days. I need to see the full thesis before I can judge it."

"Alright. I really don't know what that Xiao Yan is up to."

Gu Rong agreed casually. The meaning in his words was clear: they had also recognized the handwriting as belonging to the same person. Xiao Yan and Lin Dong were the same person.

Dragon City, in the northeastern region of the Heaven Dou Empire.

Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan.

Within an ancient, imposing golden hall.

Yu Yuanzhen narrowed his eyes as he looked at the newspaper in his hand. "Is this Lin Dong trying to wipe out the roots of our Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon?"

As he spoke, Yu Yuanzhen tossed a page of the thesis in his hand to Yu Luomian.

After examining it carefully, Yu Luomian understood Yu Yuanzhen's meaning as well.

"Big Brother, our Medicinal Bath helps our own clan members undergo Dragon Transformation. It does not simply strengthen physical condition. Without the Martial Soul Possession of our Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon, even that Evil Eye White Tiger martial soul would likewise be unable to endure it."

"If we made a lower-grade version of the Medicinal Bath, it wouldn't be bad to use it to earn some money."

"That may be true, but what if Spirit Hall doesn't believe it? What if the other factions and the Soul Masters across all of Douluo Continent don't believe it?"

"Have you forgotten Yu Xiaogang? He only managed to absorb a four-hundred-year soul ring after successfully undergoing the Medicinal Bath."

Yu Yuanzhen had already sensed that the continent would undergo earth-shaking changes in the future. If they did not make preparations now, their clan might even be wiped out.

"Yu Luomian, in the name of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan's sect master, I order you to take part of the clan into seclusion. For fifty years, they are not to come out."

"Yes."

Yu Luomian clasped his hands in salute and solemnly accepted the order.