Chapter 56: The Countdown to Qian Xunji's Death
Bibi Dong hesitated for a moment, her gaze falling from Qin Xuan's intense stare. She looked down at the tome in her hands, her knuckles white. "I… I will try my best to persuade my teacher."
Before Qin Xuan had cornered her in the small forest, before he had kissed her and shattered her composure, her path had been so simple.
She had naturally intended to wait. She would wait for Yu Xiaogang to complete his grand theory of the "Spirit's Ten Core Competencies" and prove himself to the world. Then, she would proudly announce their relationship to her teacher, Qian Xunji.
After she succeeded the Supreme Pontiff, she would then mobilize the entire power of Spirit Hall—her power—to find a way for Yu Xiaogang to resolve his mutated Spirit.
This was the grand, beautiful blueprint Bibi Dong had drawn for their future.
Only now, because of Qin Xuan's words, because of the undeniable truth in the Spirit Hall library, and because of the memory of his kiss, she seemed to be wavering.
Moreover, she did not know—she could not possibly know—that this very action, this planned confrontation with her teacher, would be the final trigger that would push her into an inescapable, lightless abyss.
Of course, given Qian Xunji's depraved and obsessive nature, even if Bibi Dong didn't do this, even if she never spoke of Yu Xiaogang, her teacher would eventually extend his demonic claws towards her.
It was only a matter of time.
The reason he had not acted sooner was merely his twisted concern that the "pure" and "proud" Bibi Dong would seek death afterward. He needed her alive, broken but alive, to contribute to the growth and continuation of his angelic bloodline.
Qin Xuan watched her, his expression unreadable. He knew her plan. He knew her "blueprint" was a roadmap to her own destruction.
"And what if your teacher doesn't agree?" he asked, his voice soft but sharp. "What if he forbids it? What are you planning to do then? Threaten him with yourself? Tell him that if he doesn't agree, you'll leave Spirit Hall?"
Qin Xuan's words struck her like a physical blow, causing Bibi Dong to fall silent again.
She couldn't answer. She didn't know how to answer.
Because, deep down, she knew that was exactly what she had originally intended to do.
But hearing him say it aloud, she realized the horrifying implication. It would mean she would become the very ungrateful, treacherous person Qin Xuan had described—someone 'eating with the bowl in hand, then cursing her mother after putting it down.'
She, who had been raised, fed, clothed, and trained by Spirit Hall, would be throwing it all away for a man who had given her nothing but theories.
"Alright," Qin Xuan said, his voice flat. He turned around, his back to Bibi Dong, breaking the intense connection. "I think I already know your answer."
He knew he didn't have much time left to prepare. His entire plan hinged on this moment, on Qian Xunji's inevitable, monstrous reaction.
Normally, when Qian Xunji traveled, no matter where he went, he was accompanied by his two personal Titled Douluo guards and a large number of Cardinals above the Spirit Saint rank. He was never vulnerable.
There was only one exception.
The underground secret chamber of the Supreme Pontiff Palace. A place whose concealment was comparable to the City of Slaughter, a place almost completely isolated from the outside World, where not even Qian Daoliu's divine sense could easily penetrate.
It was there, and only there, that Qian Xunji would leave his main group to "meditate"… or, in this case, to confront his disciple in absolute privacy.
And this would undoubtedly be Qin Xuan's best, and only, opportunity before Bibi Dong was violated.
Qin Xuan vaguely remembered that in the original work, before Bibi Dong confronted Qian Xunji, her teacher already knew about her relationship with Yu Xiaogang. The only reason Yu Xiaogang had been able to exploit the situation for so long was entirely due to his "useless" mutated spirit and his unremarkable appearance. Qian Xunji hadn't even considered him a threat, just an annoyance.
But now that the two had been intimate for so long, their secret meetings in the library becoming more frequent, even an idiot could see something was amiss.
Presumably, Qian Xunji was already restless. He was already suspicious. He was just waiting for Bibi Dong to make the first move, to give him the excuse he needed.
Bibi Dong's confrontation would be the final spark.
The timeline is accelerating, Qin Xuan thought, his mind racing. Additionally, Ah Yin's side also needs to be expedited.
Tang Hao was 13 years older than Qin Xuan, which made him 33 years old right now. In another two years, at age 35, he would meet Ah Yin.
One must know that in the original work, Ah Yin had almost no flaws, apart from her naivete and her choice in men, which ultimately led to her giving birth to Tang San.
At least, that was the case in Douluo Dalu 1.
Some fans, himself included, even felt that a pristine, untouched Ah Yin was more desirable, more of a "goddess," than a pristine Bibi Dong.
If he didn't intercept that meeting... if he allowed that flower to be plucked by that hammer... it would simply be an affront to justice.
As for how Tang San would be born after that? That was not his concern.
He was not afraid of losing his foresight because he worried that changing the plot would lead to Tang San being born elsewhere.
He only believed that man could conquer nature.
What's more, the Asura God, the entity who single-handedly caused Tang San's transmigration, was not "heaven." He was not an omnipotent, all-seeing god.
He was just a pseudo-god in this World, a being who possessed power beyond that of a Spirit Master, but who was still bound by rules and limitations.
At worst, Qin Xuan thought, a dark, wicked smile playing on his lips, I'll just have to arrange for Tang Hao to meet someone else. An extremely ugly woman, perhaps, so ugly she's beyond compare. I can have her disguise herself with [Thousand Faces] and [Phoenix Fire] as a peerless beauty of the same gentle type as Ah Yin.
He could let Tang Hao fall in love, have a child... and then, only after the child was born, would the disguise be lifted.
That scene, he mused, would definitely be stimulating enough.
Wait... why did he have to find him a wife? Why not a husband?
It seemed, from certain angles, Tang Hao could also...
Just as Qin Xuan was sinking deep into his pleasant thoughts about how to scheme against Qian Xunji and "Tang Ritian," Bibi Dong's voice, now hesitant and small, echoed in his ear.
[Inorin's Note: "Tang Ritian" is a derogatory fan nickname for Tang Hao, which the protagonist uses in his internal monologues. It implies Tang Hao is arrogant and "defies the heavens."]
"Then… regarding the Immortal Herb, Qin Xuan… can you help me?"
"Cough." Qin Xuan lightly coughed, clearing his throat and schooling his features. He kept his back to Bibi Dong, a sly, calculating smile gracing his handsome face. "For your sake... I can keep an eye out. But then you'll have to promise me one condition."
"One... condition?" Bibi Dong's face flushed again, her heart suddenly both nervous and indignant, with a tiny, traitorous hint of anticipation she herself didn't even know about.
Could it be? she thought, her mind flashing back to the forest. Is he going to... drag me into the small forest again?
No! Absolutely not! I absolutely cannot let down Xiao Gang again!
Qin Xuan, sensing her internal panic, pursed his lips and smiled. "Yes. One condition."
Giving the Immortal Herb to Xiao Gang is impossible, he thought. A cuckold's hat, however... that can be given to him. A hat so big and so green that at that time, he wouldn't even be able to refuse to wear it.
By the time Bibi Dong descended to the third floor, Yu Xiaogang was pacing impatiently by the stairs. He immediately rushed forward, his face a mask of anxiety.
"Bibi Dong, how are things? What did he say?"
Bibi Dong looked at the man she had once adored. Now, after seeing Qin Xuan's power, his decisiveness, and his intellect... Yu Xiaogang seemed... smaller.
"Qin Xuan said there is indeed an Immortal Herb that can solve the problem of your mutated Spirit," she relayed, her voice flat. "However, Immortal Herbs are impossibly rare in the World. He only found one back then by pure luck, but... he said he will help you keep an eye out in the future."
For Yu Xiaogang, this was neither good nor bad news. It was just... hope. However slim, it was still hope. He chose to take it as a victory.
Once Bibi Dong left, her mind clearly elsewhere, the third floor of the library became quiet again.
Qin Xuan found Otto, the Spirit Douluo guardian of the library. Otto was an old man with a perpetually tired face, a man who, due to his limited talent, was destined to remain at Level 89 for life, never to become a Titled Douluo.
Qin Xuan requested, politely but firmly, that no one be allowed to disturb him on the third floor while he was reading.
As the Supreme Pontiff's 'Second Majesty' and a direct disciple of the Sixth and Seventh Priests, Otto, as a high-ranking Elder in Spirit Hall, knew a fair bit about him.
He knew this young man was the monster who had returned from the City of Slaughter. He knew that obtaining the Slaughter God Domain required a long, quiet period to calm one's killing intent and prevent a backlash.
Considering that not many people usually came to the third floor anyway, and that the Titled Douluo and Priests would almost certainly not come unless summoned, he readily agreed.
Qin Xuan then began his work. He moved many materials—histories, maps, bestiaries, and clan records—from the first and second floors up to the third.
During this time, he saw Yu Xiaogang and Bibi Dong in a corner of the second floor, deep in discussion over the so-called "Spirit's Ten Core Competencies."
Yu Xiaogang, seeing Qin Xuan approach, visibly tensed. He seemed to have developed a psychological shadow from the earlier Slaughter God Domain incident and did not dare to meet Qin Xuan's gaze.
As for Bibi Dong, her gaze towards Qin Xuan—towards the man who had shattered her pride and then spared her—no longer held its former aloofness and impatience. She looked as if she wanted to speak, but hesitated, her lips parting slightly.
But Qin Xuan did not give her a chance.
He acted as if he had truly given up. He merely nodded slightly, a polite, distant gesture to a fellow disciple, and then left without looking back, carrying a stack of books.
Returning to the third floor, Qin Xuan tightly closed the heavy oak doors and windows, locking himself inside. He looked at the room now full of books, his personal research collection.
He secretly released his mental force to probe the entire floor, confirming that no one was monitoring him, before exerting force with his left leg, activating his 100,000-year Spirit Bone skill.
Qin Xuan's left leg bone was a 100,000-year self-adaptive Spirit Bone. After absorption, it had generated the most suitable skills based on his own situation and his Spirit.
After he absorbed it, the Spirit Bone that manifested was named the 100,000-Year Suzaku Left Leg Bone.
It had two heaven-defying skills.
First Spirit Bone Skill: Elementalization.
It allows the user to transform their entire body into pure Vermillion Bird Flame, ignoring all physical and spirit power attacks below the divine level. It ignores 50% of all mental attacks and comes with a scorching counter-damage effect to any who touch the flame form.
In the elementalized state, the user can also use the flames for instant movement, appearing anywhere a flame can exist.
Second Spirit Bone Skill: Clone.
Creates four clones with the exact same strength and spirit power as the main body. They possess consciousness independent of the user's main body. After being dispelled, all of the clones' memories and experiences return to the main body.
If the main body dies, a clone can be used for resurrection. However, in this state, the main body cannot use Elementalization, as the power is split.
Accompanied by a flash of intense, golden-red light, Qin Xuan's figure instantly split into five.
One main body, and four perfect, identical clones.
A total of five Qin Xuans stood in the silent, dusty library. They looked at each other, a silent, perfectly coordinated army, and a cold smile touched all five of their faces.
Then, as one, they plunged into the sea of books, and the great work of absorbing all of Spirit Hall's knowledge began.
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