Douluo; Zhongli Adventures in Mortal World with Paimon

"It's quite laughable, really. I, the esteemed Pope, was actually deceived by a mere Grand Soul Master..."

Bibi Dong said this without any attempt to conceal her feelings.

"Honored Martial God, Body Douluo, Flender, Liu Erlong,"

She suddenly addressed Zhongli and the others with a serious expression.

"I, Bibi Dong, am also a victim here. Shouldn't I have the right to deal with this so-called hypocritical 'master of spirit theory'?"

Flender and Liu Erlong exchanged glances after looking at Bibi Dong. For a moment, they were at a loss for words.

In the past, due to Yu Xiaogang, they had always disliked this Pope of the Spirit Hall—truly disliked her from the bottom of their hearts.

The saying "love me, love my dog" applied here as well.

Yu Xiaogang had a grudge against the Spirit Hall, and even more so against Bibi Dong. As his comrades—no, as his companions—disliking her felt perfectly natural.

Even if there were no direct benefits or personal connections involved, their animosity made sense.

Body Douluo, meanwhile, looked toward Zhongli because of the mention of his name by Bibi Dong. He dared not act arbitrarily in this matter.

Everything he did was for his sect leader, for the faith in his heart.

Whatever Zhongli said would be what he adhered to.

Upon hearing this, Zhongli put down his teacup, his face devoid of expression.

In his past life's terms, Yu Xiaogang was nothing more than a clown. He didn't care about the man's fate or what punishment awaited him.

'Bibi Dong came to Heaven Dou City to see me—what exactly is her purpose?'

This question had been on Zhongli's mind for, yet it remained a puzzle.

He and Bibi Dong had only met once, and that was under the witness of "Xue Qinghe."

Now, in such a public setting, Bibi Dong had made such bold, almost reckless remarks, creating a somewhat unfavorable impression.

After pondering for a moment, Zhongli stood up with a composed demeanor and said with a serious expression:

"From a subjective perspective, my theories and research are meant to give the people of the world—both commoners and soul masters, especially Body Soul Masters—more opportunities to grow stronger."

"I do not concern myself with how these ideas are disseminated or how they reach the masses, as long as they can lead better lives."

As soon as he said this, the entire hall collectively gasped, feeling a chill down their spines.

Lord Martial God... truly astonishing!

And yet, it was true!

The theories he had publicly shared genuinely helped many become stronger.

This selfless approach stood in stark contrast to the aristocratic families, powerful factions, and great sects.

Even though the Lord Martial God had likely withheld some core knowledge about Body Souls, his theories had nonetheless aided countless soul masters.

The arena fell silent once more, so quiet that one could hear a pin drop. All eyes were on Zhongli, waiting for him to continue.

Meanwhile, the rulers of the Douluo Continent—Emperor Xue Ye, Ning Fengzhi, and Bibi Dong—were left utterly dumbfounded.

Why did the Lord Martial God's words seem so... irrefutable?

Moreover, they carried a certain allure, a charm that inspired admiration and even a feeling of "worship."

Of course, as rulers, they had to consider far more complex implications than the common people.

Given Zhongli's statements and personal charisma, if he ever truly aimed for power, a single call to action could rally the majority of the world's populace to his side.

This would be an enormous threat to the ruling powers—a sword hanging over their necks.

Fortunately, Zhongli appeared to have no such ambitions. Even the establishment of the Body Sect was more of an "accident."

With this in mind, they collectively breathed a sigh of relief.

"Let's hope this man lives out his days peacefully and doesn't stir up any trouble..."

A helpless thought, but it was all they could muster.

To confront him? The cost would be astronomical, and there was no guarantee of victory!

Fighting him was out of the question. They could only pretend he didn't exist.

Given the current circumstances, Zhongli had no intention of pursuing greater power. The Body Sect focused solely on cultivation, avoiding unnecessary conflicts—a rare and reassuring stability.

In that sense, it was a small blessing amid their misfortune.

"From an objective perspective, Yu Xiaogang, as a..."

Here, Zhongli paused, unsure of what to call Yu Xiaogang.

A master of theory?

A scholar?

...

By the standards of his past life, Yu Xiaogang wasn't truly a scholar. He was merely a carrier of knowledge.

"Ahem... my apologies. That was a bit impolite."

As soon as these words were spoken, who dared to respond?

To cause the Lord Martial God to even slightly lose his composure—Yu Xiaogang could boast about this for a lifetime!

What need was there for him to prove anything further?

"To plagiarize my theories and research findings while deliberately omitting my name—such behavior truly warrants punishment."

"Otherwise, wouldn't the efforts of scholars across the world be in vain?"

"If mere plagiarism could make someone a master, it would certainly foster an unhealthy trend in the future!"

As Zhongli's voice faded, the entire arena fell deathly silent. Everyone was digesting his words.

Plagiarism?

It was clearly theft! Yet, the Lord Martial God still chose to give Yu Xiaogang a shred of dignity. How gentle he was!

It turned out that Zhongli's desire to punish Yu Xiaogang wasn't for his own sake but for the sake of scholars everywhere!

Scholars painstakingly create knowledge through their own hard work. If their names aren't attached to their discoveries, what meaning would it hold?

For a few, reputation might not matter. But for most, recognition for their creativity is precisely what they seek!

If plagiarism were to be rewarded, why would anyone strive for innovation in the future?

"Clap, clap, clap..."

When the crowd finally recovered, the arena erupted into thunderous applause. The clapping came straight from their hearts.

Even though Zhongli's words bore little relevance to the ordinary folk present, it didn't diminish their admiration for his character.

On the Douluo Continent, to have such a powerful figure, one who stood up for principles—what if, one day, they, the common people, benefited from Zhongli's kindness?

The members of the Body Sect were even more ecstatic, clapping with all their might.

This was their sect leader!

A single remark from him often left them deeply moved.

The deputy sect leader's recent transformation only solidified this admiration—after spending just a few days learning from Zhongli, he had undergone astonishing growth.

"Punishing Yu Xiaogang is necessary, and it must be carried out."

"Let this serve as an example, a reflection for history, so future generations may learn from it."

"As for the matters between the Pope, Dean Flender, and Madam Liu Erlong with Yu Xiaogang—that is beyond my authority to interfere."

Zhongli's meaning was clear: he would punish Yu Xiaogang, but as for what Bibi Dong, Liu Erlong, and Flender wanted to do with him, that was their business.

With that, Zhongli sat back down, calmly picked up his teacup, and took a sip.

It was only after a while that the crowd snapped out of their daze. The way they looked at Zhongli was filled with a peculiar respect.

This man's words carried layers of profound meaning!

After a brief pause, Bibi Dong finally spoke:

"We are all victims here. Why not spare Yu Xiaogang's life and instead make him wish he were dead?"

The first half of her statement caused a collective change in expression. Many thought Bibi Dong still harbored feelings for her former lover.

Despite being deceived into such foolishness, even after learning the truth, was she still playing the role of a devoted fool?