Straightening Out the Timeline

The first time Li Changqing killed someone, he felt nothing. After a moment's thought, he understood: he had lived through that great battle in Perfect World. What had just happened could not compare.

Having figured it out, Li Changqing nodded slightly, a cold glint flashing in his eyes. "Just as well. In a world where the weak are prey to the strong, and the strong reign supreme, a soft heart will only get me killed. This kind of desensitization is a good thing for me."

He crouched down and searched the bodies to see how much money he could find.

The result disappointed him. The three bandits had little of value: three Gold Soul Coins, ten Silver Soul Coins, and five Copper Soul Coins between them.

Li Changqing was speechless. "That's it? The scar-faced one was a Soul Master, at least. How could he be this poor?"

On the Douluo Continent, one Gold Soul Coin equaled a hundred Silver Soul Coins, and one Silver Soul Coin equaled a hundred Copper Soul Coins. The scar-faced man was a Soul Master and a bandit to boot. Surely he should have had more money than this.

"Oh well. Better than nothing. At least I've got some starting funds." Li Changqing sighed, put the coins in a pouch, and tucked it away.

Then he opened his left hand. A blazing mass of Sun True Fire appeared in his palm. At a thought, it split into three streams and flew toward the bodies.

Boom! Golden flames engulfed the three bodies. In moments, they had burned away completely, leaving not even ashes. A gust of wind swept away the lingering heat.

Only a patch of blood-soaked earth, darkened to a faint red, showed that a killing had taken place there not long ago.

With the bodies taken care of, Li Changqing dusted off his hands and continued toward Balkov City.

As the sun sank westward, a city slowly came into full view.

Li Changqing gazed at it, let out a long breath, and relaxed a little.

Balkov City was only a small city in the Haagen-Dazs Kingdom, with no important strategic position. Its walls were neither tall nor thick. The gates stood wide open, and the guards barely inspected the people passing through.

Li Changqing straightened his clothes and walked into the city.

Seeing only an ordinary-looking child in ordinary clothes, the guards paid him little attention. They let him through without a single question.

As he passed through the gate, the bustle of the city washed over him.

Stalls and shops lined both sides of the street, selling clothes, medicines, ironwork... Vendors' cries rose and fell amid the sounds of haggling, filling the street with the lively bustle of everyday life.

Li Changqing took a deep breath. "It's been a long time since I felt this."

He continued down the street, looking for a general store. He needed to buy a map and ask for some information before heading to the Star Dou Great Forest.

Near the middle of the street, Li Changqing spotted a shop filled with all sorts of goods: animal pelts, medicinal herbs, and things that looked like jewelry.

"They should sell maps here." With that, Li Changqing stepped inside.

The shop's strange assortment of wares dazzled him for a moment.

"Kid, what are you looking for?" The speaker was a plump, middle-aged man seated behind the central counter—the shop's owner.

Li Changqing came back to his senses, approached the counter, and got straight to the point. "I want a detailed map of the Douluo Continent."

The owner stroked his chin. "I've got all kinds of maps. The area around Balkov City, the Haagen-Dazs Kingdom, the whole Heaven Dou Empire, even the entire Douluo Continent. Which one do you want?"

Li Changqing was speechless. He had said he wanted a map of the Douluo Continent. How had the owner missed that? He kept his patience and said, "The one covering the entire Douluo Continent."

"That one? Five Silver Soul Coins." The owner nodded and named his price.

Li Changqing frowned. "That expensive?"

"You call that expensive? I only sell them so cheap because few people buy maps in a little city like Balkov. In a big city like Heaven Dou City, the same map would fetch twice as much." The owner curled his lip in disdain.

Then he snorted. "If you're not buying, leave. Don't get in the way of my business."

Li Changqing had no desire to haggle with him. "Fine. Let me see it first."

The owner bent down, took out a paper map, and spread it across the counter.

The map was drawn in great detail.

Major cities such as Heaven Dou City, Spirit City, and Star Luo City were clearly marked, as were important places like the Sunset Forest, the Star Dou Great Forest, and the Far North. Even the main roads, mountain ranges, and rivers were labeled clearly.

Li Changqing examined it carefully. Every place he remembered from descriptions of the Douluo Continent was there. Satisfied, he took out his pouch, counted out five Silver Soul Coins, and placed them on the counter.

The owner smiled as he pocketed the coins. "Need anything else, kid?"

Li Changqing folded the map and put it away. "Has anything big happened on the continent lately? Something that would catch the attention of the major factions?"

"Something big? Let me think." The owner put on a show of pondering. It was obvious he wanted something in return.

Speechless, Li Changqing set another Silver Soul Coin on the counter.

The owner took it with a chuckle. "A few days ago, Tang Hao, the Clear Sky Sect's prodigy, was hunted by Spirit Hall. No one knows why. They say Pope Qian Xunji led two Titled Douluo Elders after him. Three Titled Douluo with long-standing reputations! Tang Hao's in trouble now."

Going by the original story, the two with Qian Xunji were Chrysanthemum Douluo and Ghost Douluo. That meant Qian Xunji had already discovered Ah Yin's identity as a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast.

Before long, Tang San would be born, Ah Yin would sacrifice herself, and Tang Hao would gravely wound Qian Xunji before fleeing to Holy Soul Village to live in seclusion. Bibi Dong would seize the opportunity to devour Qian Xunji and become Spirit Hall's new Pope.

Having straightened out the timeline, Li Changqing left the shop and found an inn for the night. He planned to head to the Star Dou Great Forest the next day.

The next day, a carriage rolled out of Balkov City toward the Star Dou Great Forest.

Li Changqing had hired it. He had no intention of walking to the Star Dou Great Forest; judging by the map, the trip would take at least half a month on foot.

Seated in the carriage, Li Changqing closed his eyes to rest and considered his future.

The Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well in the Sunset Forest topped the Douluo must-eat list. But he knew nothing about medicinal herbs, so he could not fool Dugu Bo. He would have to wait until he was strong enough, then take it by force.

There was no rush. Tang San would not come into contact with Dugu Bo for another twelve years. That was plenty of time for Li Changqing to grow stronger.

As for the grudges between the protagonists and Spirit Hall, and the struggles among the major factions, he had no intention of getting involved.