A Different Course of World Development

The next day, Yu Yuanzhen received a letter from Notting City.

Yu Yuanzhen's first reaction was surprise, mixed with a hint of delight. "Did that unfilial brat finally come to his senses?"

But when he opened the letter and saw the words written inside—

His fury shot straight to his head. "Unfilial brat! You unfilial brat!"

"How did I end up raising such an overambitious, incapable piece of trash?!"

"Someone, go call Xiao Gang here!" Yu Yuanzhen could no longer take it. Suppressing the urge to tear the letter to pieces, he sent someone to summon Yu Xiaogang.

After waiting for quite a while, Yu Xiaogang finally arrived. "Sorry, Father. My breakthrough delayed me a little. I'm not late, am I?"

The displeasure in Yu Yuanzhen's heart was more than half washed away by Yu Xiaogang's breakthrough. His eyes lit up. "Xiao Gang, you've broken through to Rank 15?"

"Yes, I just broke through. I'll definitely reach Rank 20 before I turn seven." Yu Xiaogang estimated his cultivation speed and knew it was achievable.

"Good, good, good!"

"Father, let's discuss the important matter. Has Spirit Hall made some move?" Yu Xiaogang asked, somewhat puzzled.

He did not know what Spirit Hall was like in this world.

But in his previous life, Qian Xunji had indeed harbored certain designs on the Upper Three Sects.

The Clear Sky Sect had been the strongest on the surface, so it was targeted first and suffered the greatest losses.

The Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan and Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect had fared much better.

That had given him a long period of time to develop.

But after beating the young one, the old one came.

Qian Xunji had nearly been beaten to death by him, and then Qian Daoliu arrived.

Fortunately, Qian Daoliu had been reasonable and made a ten-year pact with him.

If he won, Spirit Hall would never again entertain improper ambitions. If he lost, the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan would unconditionally submit to Spirit Hall, and Yu Xiaogang would agree to join the Worship Hall.

In the end, he had defeated Rank 99 Qian Daoliu while at Rank 98.

He had not used the Blood-Burning Secret Art, and Qian Daoliu had not used the Angel God's power either.

Their conflict had not reached the point where they needed to fight to the death.

"There have been some, but they were all people sent to investigate information about you. It hasn't had much impact."

"Come to think of it, when you attained Self-Created Godhood in your previous life, who was Spirit Hall's Pope?" Yu Yuanzhen suddenly remembered something.

"Qian Xunji. If I remember correctly, he should have reached Rank 96 before I reincarnated."

"..." Yu Yuanzhen's expression changed at once.

Seeing the shift in Yu Yuanzhen's expression, Yu Xiaogang frowned slightly. "Father, is there something wrong with that?"

The first thing he had done after coming to this world was secure his father Yu Yuanzhen's support.

The next had been tempering his foundation and preparing for his martial soul awakening.

Everything else had been set aside.

He knew well what mattered more and what mattered less.

He could wait until after his martial soul awakened and his foundation was stable before slowly investigating this world.

He also knew that he seemed to have arrived somewhat late, but after all these years—

Qian Xunji should have had descendants by now. By the timeline, they certainly would not yet be comparable to Bibi Dong.

Therefore, it was not unreasonable for Spirit Hall's Saintess, Bibi Dong, to temporarily assume the position of Pope until Qian Xunji's descendants had grown up.

"...What was your relationship with Bibi Dong like in your previous life?" Yu Yuanzhen abruptly asked a seemingly unrelated question.

For now, he could set aside the matter of Yu Xiaogang angering him and deal with it later. This was the urgent matter at hand.

"She had always been pursuing me, but my goal was godhood, so I kept putting her off and never agreed."

Yu Yuanzhen murmured, "That's it. That must be it..."

"Father?" Yu Xiaogang raised his voice slightly, calling the absent-minded Yu Yuanzhen back. "Don't mutter to yourself. Tell me about it."

"Xiao Gang, you're very intelligent. I'll tell you everything I know without adding my own subjective judgment. I want to hear your assessment."

Yu Yuanzhen pulled Yu Xiaogang over to sit down. "First, Qian Xunji of our era died long ago."

Yu Xiaogang had his doubts, but he did not speak. "Mm. Please continue. I'm listening."

"According to Spirit Hall, he died at Tang Hao's hands."

"Also, for a period after Qian Xunji's death, Bibi Dong's cultivation advanced by leaps and bounds. She became a Titled Douluo in an extremely short time and began attaching Soul Rings to her second martial soul."

"After that, Bibi Dong took up the position of Pope and has held it ever since."

"Wait a moment. I'll bring you the sect records from that year." Yu Yuanzhen rose, found the old sect archives, and handed them to Yu Xiaogang.

Yu Xiaogang read through them carefully. "...Father, I truly hope you're telling me these records are a joke."

"What is it?"

"Do they really think that Tang Hao, who had only just become a Titled Douluo, could kill Rank 95 Qian Xunji?" Yu Xiaogang laughed.

It was the kind of laugh born of sheer speechlessness.

"It's not as though I never fought Qian Xunji or the brothers Tang Xiao and Tang Hao. Qian Xunji was not particularly strong, but even if Tang Hao used Ring Detonation, he could at most severely injure Qian Xunji. Tang Hao himself would not have much strength left either."

"So your judgment is...?" Hearing Yu Xiaogang's words, Yu Yuanzhen already had a guess in his heart.

"Qian Xunji was not killed by Tang Hao. Even if Qian Xunji had been severely injured, with Spirit Hall's resources, it would have been impossible for him to die from his injuries without treatment."

In his previous life, he had fought Rank 95 Qian Xunji, as well as the Rank 93 brothers Tang Xiao and Tang Hao.

He knew their respective strengths very well.

This world's development seemed to be completely different from his previous life.

Why was that?

If he had to name the only difference between the two lives, it would be the difference in Yu Xiaogang.

Wait...

The difference in Yu Xiaogang? Qian Xunji's inexplicable death? Bibi Dong's rapid advancement in cultivation?

He remembered that when he had previously examined the sect records concerning the other Yu Xiaogang in this world, he had seen something... In their early years, Bibi Dong had gone separate ways with Yu Xiaogang for some reason.

Yu Xiaogang's tone became grave. "Father, did Qian Xunji leave behind any descendants in this era?"

"Uh... as far as I know, no." Yu Yuanzhen thought for a moment before answering.

Yu Xiaogang's serious expression made him realize that there seemed to be... rather a lot going on here!

"What kind of impression does Bibi Dong give you?"

"Let me think. Cold, decisive, ruthless. She's an extremely troublesome woman. To be frank, it hasn't just been our Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan that has suffered at her hands in recent years. The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect has as well."

"Nothing has happened to the Clear Sky Sect, since it sealed off its mountain."

By this point, Yu Xiaogang already had a guess. "There is a very high chance that Bibi Dong killed Qian Xunji."

"?!!!"

"Xiao Gang, you cannot say something like that carelessly."

Yu Xiaogang shook his head. "I'm not saying it without basis."

"Father, do you know what Bibi Dong was like in my previous life?"

"Hm?"

"She was an innocent, lively young girl. Once she made up her mind about something, she would never waver because of anyone else."

"But based on the impression you have of Bibi Dong, it is not merely different. It is like night and day."

"There is a very high chance that something serious happened and caused her personality to change drastically."

Yu Xiaogang was certain of this.

A person could not undergo such a drastic change in temperament for no reason, as though she had become someone else entirely.

The reason for Bibi Dong's drastic change in temperament was very likely connected to Yu Xiaogang of this world and Qian Xunji.

As for what exactly had caused it... he did not know.