Father of Technology Li Xun

[The scene suddenly changed to a detached house.

The house was large and looked luxurious even from the outside. Its grounds were spacious, with an artificial lawn.

Beside the front door stood a statue of a Six-Winged Angel.

The next moment, a blond boy flew down from the sky and landed steadily in the yard. He wore a loose black robe trimmed with gold, with a high standing collar, gilded relief patterns on the shoulders, and a Six-Winged Angel emblem embroidered in gold thread across the chest.

The blond boy looked only five or six years old. He had striking brows and bright eyes. Though he had yet to grow into his features, he already had the makings of a handsome young man. He strode to the door, went inside, and called, "I'm home."

He took off his shoes and entered the living room, where two men in their early twenties sat on the sofa.

One had a round, handsome face and looked rather like a Daoist. His deep eyes seemed to hold endless stars and the weight of ages. The other had waist-length blue hair and a striking face, with a trident-shaped divine mark gleaming on his forehead.

"Master, you're back?" The blond boy ran over, delighted.

"Mm, Qingyang. You didn't get into trouble while I was away, did you?"]

Spirit Hall's Worship Hall.

Golden Crocodile Douluo fixed his gaze on the blond boy in the Heavenly Screen, then turned to Qian Daoliu, who sat at the head of the hall. "Big Brother, look at that child! His eyes, his features, his blond hair—he looks exactly like Xue'er did when she was little!"

Qian Daoliu gave a slow nod. From the moment the blond boy appeared on the Heavenly Screen, he had sensed the unmistakable bearing of the Angel Lineage. The scene also seemed connected to Spirit Hall. He had already reached his conclusion.

"He must be Xue'er's child."

Golden Crocodile Douluo stiffened as realization struck. "Then the Heavenly Screen isn't showing the past at all. It's showing the future!"

As his words faded, Azure Luan Douluo, the Third Offering, spoke from where he stood nearby. His clear voice raised the most pressing question.

"Big Brother, I'm more concerned about the other two men on the Heavenly Screen. One is the blond child's father, and the other is his master."

He frowned slightly, studying them. "Neither feels familiar. They certainly aren't from Spirit Hall. Does that mean... Xue'er will marry someone outside Spirit Hall?"

Silence fell over the Worship Hall.

The gentle golden light around Qian Daoliu vanished, and his face darkened visibly.

Elsewhere, at the Crown Prince's Estate in Heaven Dou Palace.

Pufferfish Douluo stared at the Heavenly Screen in astonishment. "Why does that blond kid look so much like the young mistress? What do you think, Snake Lance?"

An awkward cough sounded beside him.

Pufferfish frowned and turned, a little impatient. "I'm talking to you. What are you coughing for—"

The words caught in his throat.

Snake Lance Douluo was nowhere to be seen.

Qian Renxue stood beside him instead. Her beautiful, fair face had turned crimson, and her ears burned with embarrassment and irritation.

Pufferfish's pupils contracted. His mind went blank. He hurriedly bowed his head, thoroughly flustered. "I—I spoke out of turn! Please forgive me, young mistress. I was talking nonsense. I meant no disrespect!"

Qian Renxue steadied herself and took two deep breaths. "It's fine. Just be more careful next time."

With that, she looked back at the Heavenly Screen. Even she could not help wondering about the blond boy. He truly did look remarkably like her.

[Those two men have such an imposing presence. What rank of Titled Douluo are they?]

[Don't you think the blond kid also looks a bit like the current Pope, Bibi Dong?]

[Good eye. Their features really are a little alike.]

[Could he be the Pope's child?]

[Stop guessing. We'll find out if we keep watching.]

[Li Qingyang sprawled comfortably on the sofa, anticipation in his eyes. "Master, did you come back especially for my Spirit Awakening Ceremony?"

On the screen, Li Xun and Tang San exchanged a glance, their expressions turning grave. Li Xun looked at the unsuspecting boy and spoke with utmost seriousness. "Qingyang, your master and I came back to tell you something vital. This Spirit Awakening Ceremony at Spirit Hall Academy will be broadcast live across the entire continent. When you register and the staff ask who your father is, you must not give them my name. Remember that!"

"Huh? Why?"

Li Qingyang looked utterly bewildered.

Neither Li Xun nor Tang San answered him.

Their silence only deepened Li Qingyang's curiosity. He stared at them, desperate to know the answer.

After a tense pause, Tang San could no longer bear it. He was about to explain. "Back then—"

"Little San!" Li Xun cut him off at once.

Tang San turned to him, steady and resolute. "He'll learn the truth sooner or later. Telling him now might not be a bad thing."

Li Qingyang could no longer contain himself. "Why, though? Come on, tell me!"]

Li Qingyang was not the only one anxious to hear the answer. Everyone watching the Heavenly Screen was, too.

Qian Renxue was especially eager to learn who her future lover would be.

[At last, Li Xun sighed, and Tang San began calmly, "When we were young, things weren't as peaceful as they are now. Your grandmother Bibi Dong founded the Spirit Hall Empire and planned to unite the entire Douluo Continent. Your father and I joined forces to stop her. We made her ascend to the Divine Realm so she would no longer interfere with affairs on the continent."

"But that's a good thing! You saved everyone." Li Qingyang frowned in confusion. "So why can't I say my father's name now?"

Tang San glanced at Li Xun and paused. "Your father's father—your grandfather, Li Hu—died after nobles in Nod Town mistreated him while your father and I were away studying. So after your father became a god and stopped your grandmother, he killed many nobles. Your father's wish was to create a world where everyone was equal."

"Holy shit, Father, you were that incredible?" Li Qingyang stared at Li Xun in disbelief.]

Nobles throughout the Heaven Dou Empire and the Star Luo Empire were terrified by those words. They wished they could set out for Nod Town that very moment and kill the nobles there.

At the Crown Prince's Estate.

Qian Renxue's eyes lit up. Here was her chance to find her future lover. "Pufferfish, go to Nod Town and look for a man named Li Hu. Invite him and his son here."

"Yes, young mistress." Pufferfish dropped to one knee and answered respectfully.

At the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.

"Sorry for the trouble, Uncle Jian." A glint flashed in Ning Fengzhi's eyes. "Anyone who appears on the Heavenly Screen can't be ordinary. We should try to win him over."

Sword Douluo Chen Xin nodded. "All right. I'll go take a look."

[Creating a world where everyone is equal? That's quite an ambition.]

[Killing nobles on sight? That's some deep hatred!]

[He looks so refined and easygoing on the screen. How could he have such a murderous streak?]

[Aren't you missing the point? The current Pope, Bibi Dong, founded the Spirit Hall Empire, became a god, and tried to unite the continent!]

[Exactly. Bibi Dong is seriously ambitious!]

Once his surprise faded, Li Qingyang waved his hands. "Impossible. I know Father better than anyone. He loses his temper sometimes, but he'd never be that kind of person."

He pointed at Li Xun. "Besides, as far back as I can remember, Father has always been refined and easygoing."

Tang San went on. "You weren't born back then. A lot of things weren't what you imagine. What kind of person do you think your father is?"

"Isn't he a musician?" Li Qingyang asked.

"That was only after you were born." Tang San shook his head. "After your younger sister was born, especially, he disappeared from public view altogether. That's why your generation doesn't know about Brother Xun's past."

"Back then, Brother Xun's hatred of nobles drove him to leave rivers of blood in his wake. He killed the heads of almost every noble family. The nobles on the Douluo Continent still hold grudges against him."

Li Qingyang was stunned. "Father, you killed that many nobles?"

Li Xun nodded calmly.

"But..." Li Qingyang looked baffled. "After everything you did, hasn't anyone tried to take revenge on you all these years?"

Tang San sighed. "First, they fear your father's strength. Frankly, no one on the Douluo Continent can beat him now. Second, there's technology. The televisions, phones, cars, and tall buildings you see today all came about because your father pushed their development. He is the Father of Technology. That makes him very important."