Chapter 1: Hellish Beginning
Supreme Pontiff Palace. Deliberation Hall.
"Damn it, how did I end up asking the Supreme Pontiff for a marriage arrangement out of nowhere?"
The thought echoed like a death knell in Qin Xuan's mind. He could still feel the vibrations of his own voice fading in the cavernous hall, the last word of his suicidal request hanging in the air.
"I just transmigrated. I'm still so young, so handsome, and it's already over for me."
"And in the form of a simp. A colossal, brain-dead simp."
Inside the enormous Deliberation Hall, spanning over a thousand square meters, a young man was clutching his temples. A pained, almost nauseated expression was plastered on his face, as if he had just swallowed something unimaginably foul.
The hall itself was a monument to overwhelming power and wealth. The ceilings soared high overhead, supported by massive pillars carved in the likeness of six-winged angels. Every surface was gilded, gleaming with a resplendent, oppressive gold that seemed to suck the very air from the room.
The young man standing in the center appeared to be only 18 or 19 years old, with features so handsome they bordered on divine.
He wore a bright, fiery red, form-fitting long robe, embroidered with intricate patterns that seemed to dance in the light. His long black hair cascaded down his back like a waterfall of silk. His pupils were pure, unblemished black, set above a high, heroic nose and flawless facial features that combined in perfect harmony.
If he were in his previous life on Blue Star, a single glance from him would cause a stampede. Any woman who saw him would momentarily lose herself, captivated by his ethereal charm.
A dashing young man, raising his goblet and looking up at the sky with a disdainful gaze, as elegant as a jade tree before the wind.
These poetic lines were not an exaggeration to describe him.
But Qin Xuan was frowning at this moment, his gaze shifting restlessly. He surveyed the angelic statues and golden decorations around him, but the splendor only made his stomach churn. He couldn't feel any joy, only a deepening, icy dread.
Ultimately, it was because he was not from this world.
Before this, he was actually an ordinary young man living in the 21st century on Blue Star. He had a normal life, a passable job, and a passion for online novels.
He also had soaring ambitions and a passionate heart, dreaming of one day making his mark.
But before he could even draft a business plan, he got sick.
Yes, the kind where you don't wake up. A sudden, anticlimactic end to an unwritten story.
When he opened his eyes again, he found himself in this strange, terrifying world.
Sitting before him on a towering golden throne was a middle-aged man with a majestic, almost divine demeanor.
Two Elders, their auras as deep and profound as the ocean, stood guard on either side, their eyes closed as if in meditation.
The man on the throne was tall and robust, clad in luxurious golden battle armor inlaid with intricate wing patterns. He wore a Nine-Curved Purple Gold Crown, his skin was fair, and his features were handsome. His piercing golden pupils made him appear utterly unique.
Especially the faint golden light bathing his body. It exuded an invisible majesty and sanctity, a holy pressure that made people involuntarily want to prostrate themselves in worship, filled with longing and reverence.
Before Qin Xuan could even process the situation or familiarize himself with this new world, a powerful spiritual power pressure, originating from the middle-aged man, swept over him like a tsunami, engulfing his entire body.
Thud—
The next second, his legs buckled. He was pressed down onto one knee, the marble floor cold against his skin. Cold sweat streamed down his face, his body screaming in protest against the crushing weight.
It turned out the man on the throne was Qian Xunji, the current Supreme Pontiff of Spirit Hall.
The two beside him were Titled Douluo, cannon fodder in the original novel, not even mentioned by name. They were the ones who were one dead and one crippled by Tang Hao during his infamous rampage.
And he, Qin Xuan, was a member of Spirit Hall.
He could be considered a favored son of heaven. In Spirit Hall, his talent was second only to Bibi Dong, the Holy Maiden who possessed terrifying twin spirits.
Due to the special nature of his Spirit, he was exceptionally taken as a disciple by Qian Jun and Jiang Mo, two venerated Elders of the Elder Palace who rarely left their secluded cultivation.
His previous self, the original owner of this body, was secretly in love with the Holy Maiden Bibi Dong.
Fueled by jealousy and frustration from seeing Bibi Dong and a useless parasite named Yu Xiaogang flirting all day, the original Qin Xuan got a sudden rush of blood to his head. He had stormed alone into the Supreme Pontiff Palace, right into the lion's den.
At the very moment he awakened his past life memories, he had just finished speaking the most fatal sentence of his new life.
He had proposed to the Supreme Pontiff, asking Qian Xunji to marry his disciple, Bibi Dong, to him.
By the time Qin Xuan, the transmigrator, reacted, it was too late. The words were already out. The silence in the hall was deafening.
Who was Qian Xunji? A sanctimonious scoundrel who would eventually force himself upon his own disciple.
Even Qin Xuan, who considered himself knowledgeable in the ways of the world from his previous life, found Qian Xunji utterly perverted and despicable.
To keep Bibi Dong, that ungrateful wretch, from leaving him...
He resorted to force.
"But why use force when there are other ways?" Qin Xuan screamed internally, the pressure making it impossible to speak.
"Couldn't he have just said, 'Bibi Dong, you wouldn't want Yu Xiaogang to get into trouble, would you?' Wouldn't that be better?"
"With Yu Xiaogang's pathetic strength, Spirit Hall has a thousand ways to make him disappear. Would Bibi Dong still dare to betray Spirit Hall then?"
"Or he could have taken back everything Spirit Hall had given her, crippled her cultivation, or simply killed her with a single blow. She was his disciple; her life was his to take!"
That would be far better than the path he chose. Forcing Bibi Dong, making her stay in Spirit Hall consumed by hatred, planting a ticking time bomb right next to him.
Did it have to be so extreme?
Ultimately, Qian Xunji was too perverted, his mind twisted. He lusted after Bibi Dong's body, treating his own disciple as a reproductive tool for the Angel Clan.
Although any man would lust after her, she was his disciple!
Thinking of this, Qin Xuan couldn't help but want to slap his previous self a few times.
Of all things to be, why be a simp?
He had long legs, broad shoulders, a slender waist, a handsome appearance, and, most importantly, extraordinary talent.
At only 19, his spirit power had already reached level 54. He was a Spirit King!
He was exceptionally taken as a disciple by Qian Jun and Jiang Mo, two venerated, high-ranking Elders of the Elder Palace who rarely left their secluded cultivation.
With such strength, backing, and talent, even if he couldn't compare to Bibi Dong and the future Shrek Seven Devils who would cheat by consuming Immortal Herbs, he was still far superior to the so-called Golden Generation of Spirit Hall.
Yet, every time he was in front of Bibi Dong, he acted humble and simpy.
It was one thing not to pursue her openly.
But he was a simp, afraid of making Bibi Dong angry, almost acting as a lookout when she and Yu Xiaogang were flirting. He was pathetic.
No wonder Bibi Dong looked down on him.
Damn it. This appearance. Even if it were him, he wouldn't look up to it.
He was too much of a simp, only swallowing his pride and suffering in silence.
And in the end, he even foolishly ran to Qian Xunji to propose marriage.
Didn't he have any self-awareness?
What did Bibi Dong like? Why did she fall for Yu Xiaogang?
Anyone who has read the original Douluo novel knows.
As the favored daughter of heaven in Spirit Hall, no matter where she went, everyone was respectful.
Plus, Qian Xunji strictly guarded her against excellent male peers, protecting her too well, like a flower in a greenhouse.
This left Bibi Dong almost blank in terms of emotions, ignorant of the ways of the world or the darkness in men's hearts.
Only Yu Xiaogang, born into the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, was a unique combination of self-abasing and arrogant. A waste whose spirit power would forever be stuck at level 29.
He was the only one who would make Qian Xunji relax his guard.
When facing Bibi Dong, Yu Xiaogang could remain calm. Then, having read a few more books, he showed off his "profound" knowledge, which piqued the sheltered Bibi Dong's interest. He seized the opportunity and, with his theories, captivated Bibi Dong's soul.
If his previous self really wanted to marry Bibi Dong, why not directly approach his two Elder Palace teachers?
With his talent, second only to Bibi Dong's twin spirits, and with the guarantee of Qian Jun and Jiang Mo, two highly respected Elders, Qian Daoliu would have been happy to see it happen! Even Qian Xunji, as the Supreme Pontiff, would have had no reason to refuse such a perfect match.
Now, it's a mess.
Qian Xunji, who regarded Bibi Dong as his forbidden possession, clearly had murderous intent.
Now, whether Qin Xuan could even walk out of the Supreme Pontiff Palace was a question.
Although he still had two convenient teachers as his backing, their true loyalty was to Spirit Hall, and ultimately, to the Angel Clan.
Even if Qian Xunji really killed him, those two would probably only say a few words. Then Qian Daoliu would verbally reprimand his son, and Qian Xunji would still be fine, sitting firmly in the Supreme Pontiff's position.
He would just wait to be severely injured by Tang Hao and finally devoured by a vengeful Bibi Dong.
Alas, nothing he said now mattered.
If only he had recovered his memories sooner.
My Dong'er, Ah Yin, Xue'er, Zhuqing...
Some of you haven't even been born yet, and your Brother Xuan might already be finished.
And at this moment, Qian Xunji indeed harbored murderous intent.
The vast conference hall was eerily quiet. The only sounds were the faint cracking of Qin Xuan's bones under the spirit power pressure and the rhythmic tap, tap, tap of Qian Xunji's fingers on the armrest of his golden throne.
If Qin Xuan were merely an ordinary talented member of Spirit Hall, a simple lesson would have been enough to deter him forever.
But he had two powerful and highly respected Elder teachers.
Qian Xunji knew how much those two old men in the Elder Palace valued Qin Xuan.
Even his father, Qian Daoliu, had high hopes for him, praising the unique nature of his Spirit.
Given his father's relationship with those two, it was indeed possible that they might agree to this matter.
If the two most talented young people in Spirit Hall could be together, it would indeed be a match made in heaven, a massive boon for Spirit Hall's future.
But Bibi Dong was his forbidden possession.
She was the hope for the Angel Clan's growth in his heart. She had to bear extraordinarily talented offspring for the Angel Clan.
No one was allowed to covet her.
Even if two Elder Palace Elders stood behind him.