Spirit Hall's Response

Worship Hall.

"Bullshit! It's all bullshit!" Golden Crocodile shouted in the hall, still refusing to believe it. "What novel? Things like that don't happen! Grand Worshipper, we can't listen to his nonsense."

Qian Daoliu said nothing.

The hall fell silent except for Golden Crocodile's heavy breathing.

Only after a long while did Qian Daoliu speak, his voice even. "Are you finished?"

Golden Crocodile froze.

Qian Daoliu slowly rose and regarded him calmly. "Golden Crocodile, you've lived longer than any of us. How are you the one who loses his composure so easily?"

"Grand Worshipper, I—"

"An ordinary man couldn't cause much trouble. That's true," Qian Daoliu interrupted. "But the fact that an ordinary man could speak of a level ninety-nine Peerless Douluo, the inheritance of Divine Positions, and the fates of the Angel God and the Rakshasa God is unusual in itself."

Golden Crocodile argued, "He could have overheard Spirit Hall's secrets and woven them into a story to fool us. Who knows whether he made up all that talk of resurrection, god-kings, and the Rakshasa God?"

Qian Xunji spoke up. "Uncle Golden Crocodile, he truly is blind, and there isn't a trace of Soul Power in him. I examined him myself with my Martial Soul. He couldn't have faked it. How could someone like him gain access to Spirit Hall's deepest secrets?"

"So what? What does that prove?" Golden Crocodile still refused to believe it. "Everything he talked about is in the future, not the present. Anyone can make up things that haven't happened yet."

Qian Xunji added at just the right moment, "Uncle Golden Crocodile, many of the things Lin Fan mentioned were new even to me. If he's just a fraud making things up, he knows an awful lot."

"But what if... someone is speaking through him to throw Spirit Hall into chaos?" Golden Crocodile still wouldn't concede, though his tone had softened.

Qian Daoliu shook his head gently. "If someone could invent a story this detailed to disrupt Spirit Hall, that person would be even more frightening than Lin Fan. Their knowledge of Spirit Hall would extend to the secrets of Divine Positions."

"How can you prove that?" Golden Crocodile asked.

"Because what he said about sacrificing oneself to help another become a god is true," Qian Daoliu said quietly. "If someone inherits the Angel God's Divine Position in the future, I will need to sacrifice myself to help that person attain it."

"That is my duty. Even Xunji doesn't know about it."

"Only someone who assumes the position of Grand Worshipper can learn it. In other words, no one besides me should know."

"Father!" Qian Xunji said anxiously.

"Say no more." Qian Daoliu cut him off, calm but resolute. "This is the Grand Worshipper's destiny and the Qian family's honor. If the Angel God can descend upon the world again, what does my death matter?"

Qian Daoliu then turned to Golden Crocodile, his expression composed. "Golden Crocodile, you've devoted your life to Spirit Hall. I understand your concerns. But with some things, it's better to take them seriously than dismiss them. If Lin Fan truly has glimpsed the future, that would be a heaven-sent opportunity for Spirit Hall."

"Perhaps this is the turning point for Spirit Hall he spoke of. Perhaps his words will allow Spirit Hall to survive."

Golden Crocodile Douluo opened his mouth but couldn't get a word out.

At last, Golden Crocodile said slowly, "In that case, I'll follow your lead. What does Spirit Hall do next?"

Qian Daoliu's eyes hardened. "I'm launching the Infiltration Plan. We'll commit more people and keep watch over the entire land."

"Every Soul Master family, sect, empire, noble house, town, and even village must have someone from Spirit Hall in it!"

"Of course, we can't alert them. It must be done in secret. Most importantly, we need to find out when the events of this novel begin."

"Xunji, you're the Pope, so I'm leaving this to you. Remember: gather information and observe from the shadows. Don't act rashly. At the very least, we must be ready to take the initiative when those future events come to pass."

Qian Xunji accepted the order. "I understand, Father. I'll send people out immediately and make sure that within a year, our people are in every corner of the continent."

Qian Daoliu nodded. "Exactly. Don't neglect Lin Fan, either. Draw more details out of him."

"And pay close attention to your disciple. Her talent is exceptional, the kind seen once in a century. Handle matters with her carefully."

"I understand," Qian Xunji said.

In the rear hall of the Pope's Palace.

Qian Xunji was reviewing a list of Spirit Hall personnel when a knock came at the door. Without looking up, he said, "Come in."

Bibi Dong entered and bowed. "Teacher, you wanted to see me?"

"Sit." Qian Xunji set down his pen and looked at her.

Bibi Dong sat as instructed, her posture respectful.

"How did your conversation with Lin Fan go after we left?" Qian Xunji asked.

"Well enough," Bibi Dong said. "I asked him how Bibi Dong ended up falling for Yu Xiaogang."

"Oh? Tell me."

Bibi Dong hesitated, then gave him a selective account of Lin Fan's remarks about being blinded by love.

Qian Xunji listened closely. When she finished, he suddenly smiled.

"He does have some insight. So you'll be meeting Yu Xiaogang soon."

Bibi Dong lowered her head. "I also think he sees things more clearly than most people."

"So what do you think?" Qian Xunji asked, changing tack.

"I think... he's right." Bibi Dong raised her head, her gaze firm. "I won't abandon Spirit Hall for anyone."

Qian Xunji studied her, his gaze searching, as though weighing whether she meant it.

After a moment, he nodded slowly. "Good. Dong'er, remember what you said today."

"Yes."

Qian Xunji stood and walked to the window, turning his back to her.

"As for Yu Xiaogang, I'll make sure he never appears before you again."

Bibi Dong's heart tightened. "Teacher, I have no feelings for Yu Xiaogang. You don't need to go to any trouble for my sake."

"Whether you have feelings for him isn't something you can settle now." Qian Xunji's voice was calm, but it carried unquestionable authority. "I'll simply do what needs to be done."

He turned to face Bibi Dong.

"Dong'er, you are Spirit Hall's Saintess. One day, you will lead it. Now that you know what may happen, you must always stay vigilant. And I needn't become the Qian Xunji Lin Fan described."

Bibi Dong looked up and briefly met Qian Xunji's eyes before quickly lowering hers again.

"I understand, Teacher." Her voice was soft, but every word was clear. "I won't let the ending in that story happen to you or Spirit Hall."

Qian Xunji watched her for a long moment, then nodded.

"You're more sensible than I thought," he said slowly. There was less pressure in his voice now, replaced by a trace of something more complicated.

"Go back and continue looking after Lin Fan."

"Yes."

Bibi Dong rose and took her leave.

As she reached the door, Qian Xunji called, "Dong'er."

She stopped and turned back.

"I won't let you go down that same path." Qian Xunji didn't look at her, keeping his eyes on the list. "But remember this: I won't forget what you said today. If you ever betray Spirit Hall, I won't show you mercy."

Bibi Dong took a deep breath. "I will never betray Spirit Hall."

She pulled the door open and strode away.

Qian Xunji gazed out the window. "It seems my future daughter, Qian Renxue, needs to arrive as soon as possible. Who else on this continent could match Dong'er's talent?"

Qian Xunji then put away the new book and summoned Yue Guan and Gui Mei to his room to lay out the Infiltration Plan.

Bibi Dong returned to Lin Fan's bedroom.

"Lin Fan, have you rested enough?" Bibi Dong asked as she approached.

"Dong'er, what happened just now? Why did you suddenly leave?" Lin Fan asked, puzzled.

"Nothing. I just went to the bathroom," Bibi Dong said after a moment's thought.

"When you've got to go, you've got to go. I understand. I thought I'd said something wrong and made you angry." Lin Fan smiled.

Bibi Dong rolled her eyes. He said I had something wrong with my head. Of course I was angry.

Luckily, Lin Fan couldn't see her.

"No, I just had to go urgently, so I ran off for a bit. Anyway, I brewed you a pot of mountain tea from our village. Have a taste." Bibi Dong poured him a cup.

Lin Fan felt around for the cup, picked it up, and took a sip. "Mm. Fragrant and fresh!"

Bibi Dong sat at the edge of the bed and watched him drink his tea with his head lowered. Suddenly, she asked softly, "Lin Fan, do you think... a person can change their fate?"

"Especially if they already know what their future holds."

Lin Fan paused, then turned toward her voice. Though he couldn't see her, a gentle smile appeared on his face.

"Miss Dong'er, you're so young. Why do you keep asking such deep questions?"

Bibi Dong didn't smile. "Answer me."

Lin Fan thought for a moment before replying earnestly. "I think fate... is half decided by heaven and half by your own choices. You can't change the part heaven decides, like where you're born, who your parents are, or whether you have talent."

"But if you're asking about knowing your future already, there's a saying you should believe in."

"What saying?" Bibi Dong asked.

"As heaven moves with vigor, so must we strive without cease. Human resolve can overcome fate."