"The key shaped like a ring was initially just a minor interlude."
"Yu Xiaogang and his group did not intend to stay in Suweier City for too long; their destination this time was very clear, which was to reach the largest town in the coastal region of the Heaven Dou Empire—Vast Sea City."
"Yu Xiaogang himself, out of curiosity about the overseas, prepared to search abroad to see if he could verify his hypothesis about a New World."
"However, he did not disclose this purpose to the others; after all, the possibility of a New World existing overseas was merely his own speculation."
"But the place known as Sea God Island truly existed, and Spirit Hall had detailed records of it."
"That was a place similarly favored by the gods, and naturally, Bibi Dong and the others were also very curious."
"Of course, most of Spirit Hall's records regarding Sea God Island were about how dangerous and terrifying it was."
"Under normal circumstances, Sea God Island was definitely not a good place for an adventure."
"But they couldn't help it—they had an acquaintance there."
"Before leaving Spirit City, Yu Xiaogang had asked Qian Daoliu, who was familiar with Sea God Island, about what to watch out for if one wanted to visit."
"After learning where Yu Xiaogang was going, Qian Daoliu remained silent for a long time, eventually informing him of some of the rules of Sea God Island."
"Besides that, before they left, Qian Daoliu handed Yu Xiaogang and his group a letter, asking them to help deliver it to the High Priest of Sea God Island, Bo Saixi."
"Qian Daoliu's actions made Yu Xiaogang even more certain of his previous speculation."
"Although the ending was not good, looking at Qian Daoliu's demeanor, it was clear that he had not forgotten."
"Yu Xiaogang would not interfere in these matters of the previous generation, but with this letter, he believed that at the very least, they would not be troubled when they went to visit Sea God Island."
"While purchasing supplies in Suweier City, the conversation of other people who had also come to shop caught Yu Xiaogang's attention."
"'Have you heard? Recently, many small villages around the city have had incidents where adults have gone missing.'"
"'I've heard it too. Every village has more or less had one or two people go missing—the kind where you don't see them alive, nor do you see their corpses.'"
"'What on earth is going on? Could it be that Wolftaken have appeared in the vicinity?'"
"'It can't be Wolftaken. Wolftaken are extremely bloodthirsty. If it really were those beasts, I reckon the surrounding villages would have been slaughtered clean. How could it be like it is now, with only one or two missing per village?'"
"'Who can say for sure? Perhaps a group of Wolftaken that know how to hide and are sinister and cunning has been born.'"
"'That would be more likely to be the work of a Fallen Spirit Master; that would be truly sinister and cunning.'"
"'That's also unlikely. A Fallen Spirit Master is still a Spirit Master. Since they are already a Spirit Master, who would be willing to skulk around in the shadows?'"
"'I guess those people offended someone, or perhaps some noble lord needed manpower.'"
"'...That's true.'"
"'...'"
"The discussion among the people around him instantly reminded Yu Xiaogang of his second trial."
"If those Fallen Spirit Masters were employing such methods, it would indeed be difficult to attract the attention of a branch of Spirit Hall."
"In this World of Douluo Continent where a minority holds power, people lose their lives every day, and the reasons for their deaths are strange and varied."
"Perhaps there are two feuding families in a village, and one day one family decides they won't tolerate it anymore and decides to hire a Spirit Master to wipe out the other."
"Or perhaps a merchant sells goods, and some buyers feel there is a problem after using them and demand a return, causing the merchant to harbor resentment and hire a Spirit Master for revenge."
"Yu Xiaogang had even seen some very abstract cases, such as a cold-blooded assassin who, having been abandoned by his wife, kept searching for her to seek reconciliation."
"After being mercilessly rejected, the assassin, unable to let go, began searching for a substitute for his wife to satisfy himself."
"But in the process of being with his wife's substitute, the assassin continued to seek his wife's forgiveness; eventually, the two reconciled, and the assassin would mercilessly kill the substitute."
"However, not long after, the assassin would be abandoned by his wife again, and the assassin would repeat the previous operation; this went on and on, and the number of dead substitutes was more than one could count on one hand."
"When Yu Xiaogang first saw this case, he was greatly shocked."
"What kind of ultimate simp is this?"
"How can a person be so abstract?"
"And furthermore, what did those substitutes do wrong?"
"It can be said that in this World of Douluo Continent where the strong are respected, many times, human life is truly worthless."
"That is why commoners are so eager to become Spirit Masters, and at the same time, so in awe of them."
"And if those Fallen Spirit Masters were committing evil in this way, it was no wonder they were able to hide."
"Exchanging a glance with Bibi Dong, Yu Xiaogang signaled with his eyes towards the people who were talking."
"Noticing Yu Xiaogang's gaze, a flicker of confusion crossed Bibi Dong's mind."
"She recalled the conversation those people had just had and didn't think there was anything to it."
"Seeing this, Yu Xiaogang could only ask about the situation first, and explain his hypothesis to Bibi Dong later."
"Yu Xiaogang walked up and inquired in detail from the people chatting about the situation of the missing persons cases in the surrounding villages."
"At first, those people looked guarded, but after Bibi Dong showed her identification from Spirit Hall, they relaxed."
"Of course, the identification Bibi Dong showed was that of an ordinary member of Spirit Hall."
"After some questioning, Yu Xiaogang had gathered sufficient information, and then purchased enough supplies before leaving the shop."
"'Xiaogang, did you find something by asking those questions just now?'"
"Bibi Dong asked."
"Yu Xiaogang briefly explained his hypothesis."
"Bibi Dong frowned."
"'If it really is as you guessed, then that would be troublesome.'"
"Indeed, very troublesome."
"Yu Xiaogang nodded in agreement."
"If it were that kind of large-scale slaughter, Spirit Hall could simply send a group of Spirit Masters to charge in and wipe those guys out entirely."
"But if it were this kind of situation that required long-term tracking and careful investigation, there would be no shortage of trouble."
"After all, who should be sent to investigate such time-consuming and labor-intensive matters that ultimately don't yield any huge rewards?"
"Send powerful Spirit Masters?"
"That's not realistic; powerful Spirit Masters often hold important positions. If they were sent to investigate, not to mention whether they would be willing, who would do their work?"
"Send Spirit Masters who aren't strong?"
"Not to mention whether such Spirit Masters could investigate it, generally speaking, such Spirit Masters in Spirit Hall are young people."
"And for young people, the most important thing is always to Cultivate."
"Taking Yu Xiaogang himself as an example, if it were the version of him that was only around level twenty, he wouldn't even step out the door."
"That is why Bibi Dong frowned."
"Watching Bibi Dong frown, Yu Xiaogang sighed."
"Spirit Hall's care for commoners was already quite good, providing free Spirit Awakening and allowing most commoners to live stable lives."
"It could be said that Yu Xiaogang was not surprised at all that Spirit Hall possessed its current status."
"He just felt it was a pity that although Spirit Hall possessed the recognition of most commoners on the Douluo Continent today, they ignored this recognition."
"'Possessing a treasure trove without knowing it' is exactly what describes Spirit Hall."
"If only Spirit Hall, while possessing ambition, could also recognize the power that commoners possess, the Two Great Empires would have long ceased to exist."
"This time is the same; if only Spirit Hall understood the power of the masses, this kind of thing would be very easy to resolve."
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