Yu Xiaogang's Death

"Order?"

"Of course Spirit Hall would not kill people without reason, but your existence is, to me, the greatest reason."

Looking at Yu Xiaogang's confused and terrified face, he unusually took the patience to explain further. "Have you heard of the butterfly effect? A butterfly flapping its wings in South America might cause a storm in North America."

"You, Yu Xiaogang, may not have the strength to kill me directly, but your existence, certain things you might do in the future, certain people you might meet, could be like that butterfly and ultimately lead to someone else killing me."

"Although..." He paused, recalling that bastard Qian Xunji's fate in the original story, and his tone turned somewhat subtle. "I really did do some things wrong myself. I mean, the original owner of this body."

Yu Xiaogang was completely dumbfounded, his face filled with confusion and absurdity.

A butterfly?

South America?

A storm?

What kind of incomprehensible nonsense was he talking about?

What did he mean by saying he himself would be killed?

Was this Pope insane?

Or had he gone mad from cultivation?

Seeing the expression on the other man's face that plainly said, "What the hell is this guy talking about?" Qian Xunji lost interest in explaining further.

He raised a hand, and a longsword of brilliant gold silently appeared in his grasp. Faint patterns resembling Angel Wings emerged along its blade.

"Enough nonsense. Time to go."

"No, you can't! Let me go! The Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan won't let you off... Urgh!"

Yu Xiaogang's roar came to an abrupt halt.

A flash of cold golden light streaked past.

"Splurt."

Yu Xiaogang's body stiffened, and the light rapidly faded from his pupils.

A line of blood slowly appeared across his neck. Then warm blood sprayed out, staining the nearby wall and the manuscripts scattered across the floor.

Qian Xunji flicked his wrist and took out a snow-white handkerchief, leisurely wiping the blade clean.

He walked over to Yu Xiaogang's corpse, whose eyes remained wide open, lowered his head, and looked at him for a moment before letting out a soft sigh.

"The scourge has been dealt with. Rest in peace, theory master."

"In your next life, remember to awaken a more reliable martial soul."

With that, he placed the handkerchief he had used to wipe the sword over Yu Xiaogang's face, covering those eyes that refused to close in death.

"Clean up the scene. Do not leave any trace of Spirit Hall."

"Yes, Your Holiness!" The two deacons bowed in acknowledgment and professionally began clearing the scene.

Qian Xunji did not linger. He turned and walked out of the small house.

The moment he left the alley and stepped onto the relatively brighter main street, the system's prompt sounded in his mind.

[Ding. Key plot character Yu Xiaogang has been detected as dead. The possibility of him forming a deep bond with target character Bibi Dong has dropped to zero.]

[Main quest: Prevent Bibi Dong's corruption. Progress updated: 100%! Quest complete!]

[Quest rewards issued: Angel Carving Knife, Level 1 Soul Tool Communicator Blueprint, and core formation analysis.]

Qian Xunji asked inwardly, "Angel Carving Knife?"

[System: The Angel Carving Knife is forged from Angel God divine power and special metals. It is a tool for carving Soul Tool core formations and possesses multiple attributes, including 'purification,' 'amplification,' and 'evil-breaking.']

[When used in battle, it can easily break defenses of the same level and has an extremely powerful suppressive effect against dark and evil attributes.]

[When used to carve Soul Tool formations, it can increase formation stability and energy transmission efficiency by 15%, with a certain chance of granting the formation a holy additional attribute.]

[It is an exceptional auxiliary tool for creating high-level Soul Tools, especially light-attribute Soul Tools.]

"Sounds good. That's a fine treasure."

Qian Xunji nodded, then thought of another issue. "But the problem is, Soul Tool technology on the Douluo Continent hasn't developed yet, has it?"

"At most, they have storage Soul Tools and lighting Soul Tools. As for a communicator..."

[System: That is why the host must stand at the forefront of development in the Douluo Plane.]

[As quests progress, higher-level Soul Tool blueprints and technical principles will gradually be provided.]

[Only by leading the era can one control the future.]

Qian Xunji pondered this. "That makes sense. I remember that it would be several thousand years before the Sun Moon Continent collided with this land and brought more advanced Soul Tool technology."

"Besides the continent, there's also advanced technology... Right now, I could try to make Spirit Hall's tech tree go crooked first... No, I mean, light it up a step ahead."

Thinking about the possibility of letting Spirit Hall enter the age of Soul Tools early, he even felt a little wicked anticipation.

"Oh, right. Yu Xiaogang, that major worry, has been dealt with. What's the new quest?"

[New stage main quest released: Win Bibi Dong's heart.]

[Current quest progress: 40%.]

"Only 40%..." Qian Xunji stroked his chin, somewhat surprised. "I thought it would at least be sixty or seventy percent."

[System: Reminder. Before the host transmigrated and occupied this body, the original Qian Xunji's 'favorability' in Bibi Dong's heart was only 5%—based on awe, fear, and their master-disciple relationship. The host's current progress already constitutes explosive growth.]

Qian Xunji was speechless for a moment, then found it reasonable.

With that coffin face and PUA-master personality of the original owner, having 5% meant Bibi Dong had been remarkably respectful of her teacher.

"Fair enough. We'll take it slowly; there's no rush. Besides, Dong'er without any chance of turning dark really is adorable and lovable. This quest is hardly a loss."

He suddenly remembered something else. "By the way, System, when does that Light God Trial begin?"

[The qualifications for the God of Light's divine trial have been bound.]

[As long as the host is willing, the first trial may be initiated at any time. The trial's content and difficulty will automatically adapt to the host's current strength.]

At any time?

Qian Xunji began to think.

According to the original plot, Qian Xunji would later be severely injured by Tang Hao. Although the main reason was that he had courted death by trying to capture Ah Yin, insufficient strength was also a fatal weakness.

Now that he had a chance to inherit the God of Light's legacy, his strength would undoubtedly increase greatly.

When he encountered Tang Hao again... Rather than being hammered by him, it might even be possible to hammer him to pieces in return, leaving Tang San without even a chance to be born.

"Fine. Once Yelin City's Lantern Festival is over and I've had enough fun with Dong'er, I'll find a quiet place to begin the divine trial."

Qian Xunji made his decision.

Strength was important, but spending time with his disciple and nurturing their bond was equally important. He needed to handle both.

Under the night sky, Spirit Hall's Pope hummed a terribly off-key little tune in high spirits as he leisurely headed toward the Hot Spring Inn.

At this moment, Bibi Dong and Ling Yuan were happily soaking in their pool.

Fresh flower petals floated over the water's surface. The faint scent of sulfur mingled with floral fragrance, making the air relaxing.

Several stone lanterns cast soft halos of light, illuminating the wisps of rising steam and making the place seem like a fairyland.

Bibi Dong submerged her entire body in the warm spring water, revealing only her shoulders and delicate collarbones.

The hot water had steamed her fair skin into an alluring pink, while her wet purple hair clung to her cheeks and neck, making her skin appear even more jade-like.

As the water rippled, the graceful curves beneath the surface could vaguely be seen, their youthful beauty already beginning to bloom with breathtaking allure.

She sighed comfortably and placed a cold towel over her forehead.

Beside her, Ling Yuan played with the water as she could not help saying, "Saintess, honestly... I think His Holiness the Pope likes you."