As a pioneer, one always encounters unexpected difficulties.

All sorts of problems cannot be answered by asking others.

One can only search for similar situations in ancient texts and then try them one by one, to see if they are feasible or not.

Forging a Great Dao is always much more arduous.

Something like an unstable Golden Core causing automatic transformation—even if you searched, you likely wouldn't find any examples.

To prevent causing a commotion in Beihai, Shion lightly traced a claw through the air with her dragon claw. The rippling small pond beside her parted to form a door.

She entered the Main God Space, went into her personal space, and began researching her current condition.

"Is this situation unsolvable?" the Little Black Dragon, who was still helping The Emperor control her power, whispered. "If you don't give up on this so-called Golden Core, Boss, it seems like you'll keep being in this unstable state."

"Ignorant child," Shion said indifferently. "According to ancient texts, it's most likely just an issue of power control."

"You can even cite ancient texts to prove your point for this..."

"After all, losing control due to power exceeding what one can handle is countless in number."

In the Dragon Lord Shion state, it was fine. Essentially, she was still a Magical Girl, just with power layered on top of a Magical Girl, so her precision in controlling mana remained very high.

But after exiting the transformation state, in the Jiang Si state, the actual precision of mana control wasn't that high.

After all, the original body had more limitations on mana control, which is why the constantly circulating Golden Core, once its power overflowed, would cause the physical body to transform directly.

"What needs to be strengthened is my physical body's mastery over mana," Shion's gaze sharpened. "Next, you need to continuously use the Golden Core's elixir fluid to impact my physical body."

With that, she de-transformed again.

The Emperor hesitated for a moment but still did as Jiang Si instructed.

And then, as expected, when the Golden Core's elixir fluid—the tripartite mana (without injecting a Personal Reality containing strong consciousness, the tripartite mana wouldn't become Divine Sense)—began impacting Jiang Si's body, the moment Jiang Si resisted the spread of power to transform,

the physical body immediately experienced violent upheaval!

The Emperor could even feel the tearing and destruction of the flesh, the mana directly causing damage starting from the internal organs.

Until Jiang Si couldn't hold on any longer and transformed again, covering the previous injuries.

"Again!"

The immense power instantly ruptured the internal organs.

"Again!"

Half the body was a bloody, mangled mess.

"Again!"

Perhaps I really don't understand him enough.

Watching Jiang Si, under the tripartite mana, with skin torn and flesh lacerated, with almost no intact parts left,

Xia Zhi suddenly realized that one thing.

Later, when he asked me to do something as dangerous as controlling Jiang Si, perhaps he didn't have any ill intentions, nor did he want me to die.

It was simply that Jiang Si himself had come this way.

Because he had come this way himself, he naturally thought others should do the same.

Judging others by oneself, that's all.

"Again!"

In the final surge of power, skin and blood vessels burst open, white bones clearly visible to the naked eye. Bathed in blood, like a man of gore, the youth just gave a carefree smile.

"It seems, that's it."

Transforming again to refresh the state, after de-transforming this time, he didn't let her manipulate mana to impact the physical body anymore.

"You... have you always been like this?"

"I've always been like this."

The Emperor's smile was one of relief. "Then I'm reassured."

I understand him a little more now.

For Jiang Si, since a bit of stray mana could make him transform, he directly used a large amount of mana to impact himself, to see exactly where the problem lay and how to control mana to avoid automatic transformation.

Once he gradually began to grasp the trick, he started observing the flow of stray mana during normal times, adjusting control precision and direction.

To avoid automatic transformation.

And just as Jiang Si was further researching the reason for his uncontrollable transformation,

the Demon Squad of the Main God Space finally returned.

Ruo Yun, Hyacinth, and Helen, who had just completed a mission, all looked utterly exhausted. Ruo Yun still seemed somewhat dazed.

Soon after, Mi, the only resident personnel in the Main God Space, poked her head out from Helen's private space.

Although Mi later entered the Main God Space, she herself had been constructing dungeons within the Main God and hadn't gone on any missions to date.

Now seeing her teammates return, she immediately waved excitedly, greeting Helen and Ruo Yun—she hadn't noticed Jiang Si's visit earlier at all.

"Family! My new video has broken ten million views again!"

Helen just lay on the ground. "Here we go again. I'm telling you, don't think you can just get by in the Saint Hall like you did in the Witch Association, relying on smear campaigns against the Azure Cloud Sect through self-media. I've long been annoyed with you. Everyone else is exhausted, and you just flap your lips."

"We self-media folks work hard too, you know!"

Mi said while serving tea and water to her teammates—after all, since she didn't go on missions, she should contribute some daily effort.

To avoid being optimized out by the Demon Squad.

"Ever since entering the Main God Space, I haven't rested for a moment. Not only have I been helping the Saint Hall create initial dungeons for horror films, but I've also been editing promotional videos for the Saint Hall according to Captain Ruo Yun's instructions! Getting up early and working late, the pressure is huge."

As she spoke, Mi played the videos she made for her teammates.

Not just Saint Hall promotions, but also attacks on the Witch Association.

Teammate Mi was most skilled at manipulating public opinion.

Back then, she single-handedly dragged the Azure Cloud Sect's reputation into the gutter, owning several short videos with over a hundred million views. One could say she held sway over the online world.

"Good work," Ruo Yun said, though somewhat absentmindedly, she still offered a word of comfort.

Mi waved her hands repeatedly. "It's alright, really."

Then she sighed with emotion.

Only when she started promoting the Saint Hall and attacking the Witch Association did Mi realize what a bitter life she had been living before.

You have to understand, back when facing the Azure Cloud Sect, she could rely on just a bit of hearsay, baseless rumors, and gossip to create many explosive video topics, stirring up hostility among a large number of netizens, making them hate the Azure Cloud Sect to the bone.

Even today, there are netizens she influenced who spontaneously slander and attack the Azure Cloud Sect daily.

And that was making bricks without straw. When she came to the Saint Hall and started making videos about the Witch Association, Mi realized just how damn satisfying it was to have ample material.

Human experimentation, corrupting Magical Girls, murder.

You have so much material, Witch Association!

It's endless, absolutely endless. I could make a different video every day without repeating. Unlike when I was in the Witch Association making negative videos about the Azure Cloud Sect and the Disaster Control Bureau, where every day was harder than constipation. Now making videos is as smooth as clearing a blockage, and she's even enjoying making them herself.

She directly pushed the Witch Association further into becoming public enemy number one in online public opinion. Whether the moderates or the radicals, all of you, die!

Helen, with nothing better to do, scrolled through the comments section of Mi's video.

"Everyone is actually this shocked? I thought this was common knowledge. Some people wrote about exposing the Witch Association's true nature xxx years ago..."

"I noticed long ago, but many people are too deeply brainwashed. The Witch Association grips online public opinion tighter than the Disaster Control Bureau. Last time I talked about the evil deeds the Witch Association did, no one believed me, and I got roasted."

"Everyone knew it was bad, but they didn't realize it was this bad! Now it all clicks into place for everyone. I always thought they acted weirdly before, but now I finally understand, so that's what they're like! It all makes sense now, it all makes sense..."

Looking at the pile of hindsight-having netizens, Helen climbed onto a nearby chair and rolled her eyes. "Buying water armies, huh?"

"That's how you occupy the high ground of public opinion, you know?" Mi also had little good will for Helen, a fellow Witch Association traitor. "Do you understand what propaganda is? Some battles are fought not on the battlefield, but through the camera lens, little girl."

"Gossip hag."

"Idiot!"

Watching the two bicker, Hyacinth became curious. "How much profit can it bring?"

Stopping the argument, Mi smoothed her hair. "Well, that's not certain yet. The Disaster Control Bureau recently launched an incentive campaign for sharing exposures of the Witch Association's vile actions. The Witch Association also had incentives before, but they ended up in debt, even directly reporting videos to get them taken down, so you couldn't get the money at all. With the Disaster Control Bureau, you don't have to worry about that..."

Hyacinth sighed. "Truly the Witch Association."

The three of them chattered about the main direction of their next promotional efforts, which was still to promote the Saint Hall.

After all, Ruo Yun, as the captain of the Demon Squad, had always been thinking about expanding the Saint Hall's business scope.

The tasks issued by the Main God were good, but there weren't actually that many tasks. Most of the time, the Main God's points couldn't be exchanged for money, and some of the Main God's mission props required buying with money—the Saint Hall Envoy charged money.

So Ruo Yun thought about simply taking on external missions, though mainly missions from the old world. Now, with the promotions, she wanted to take on some missions from the Disaster Control Bureau, even missions from the Azure Cloud Sect.

Just as they were talking about Azure Cloud Sect missions, Ruo Yun suddenly stood up.

All three fell silent and turned to look at their captain.

"Hyacinth, remember to bring Coral back to the Saint Hall later. Don't let her run around anymore."

After confirming her parents had been looking for her, Coral went home crying.

Hyacinth nodded. "Okay, Captain."

Her gaze was expectant and curious, waiting for Ruo Yun's next move.

After arranging for Helen and Mira to leave, she saw Ruo Yun walk straight to the Saint Hall Envoy's door.

The Main God Space was getting bigger and bigger now. Each person's private space was like a small house. Except for Mi, who didn't have enough points and was currently living with Helen, everyone else had their own room.

Standing before the door now, Ruo Yun took a deep breath and knocked.

"Is the Saint Hall Envoy in? This is Ruo Yun."

Helen and Mira both poked their heads out from their private spaces, secretly watching their captain.

The person in charge of the Demon Squad was, and only was, Ruo Yun.

The entire Demon Squad was pulled together by Ruo Yun. The one who actually accepted missions and handled the Demon Squad's business was also Ruo Yun.

Everyone respected Ruo Yun's strength, judgment, and even organizational skills. Including the decision to have Mi not go on external missions but focus on making promotional videos and the Saint Hall's initial dungeons—that was also Ruo Yun's decision.

The Saint Hall Envoy didn't manage the Saint Hall much; most of the work actually had to be done by Ruo Yun.

So when Ruo Yun stood at the Envoy's door, the three had different reactions.

Hyacinth: "Great fortune is coming~"

Helen: "No way, she's still going to do it? Surely she's not planning for the Demon Squad to leave the Saint Hall?"

Mi: "What's going on, what's going on? I smell breaking news!"

Just as the three were chattering, a voice came from the Saint Hall Envoy's personal space, instantly silencing them.

"Come in."

After Ruo Yun went in, the three teammates tacitly crept closer, pressing their ears against the door.

As soon as Ruo Yun entered, she froze for a moment, staring at the Saint Hall Envoy, the Heavenly Being, whose face bore some bloodstains. For a moment, she forgot what she wanted to say.

"What is it?"

"Saint Hall Envoy..." Regaining her senses, she subconsciously uttered this phrase, then smiled self-deprecatingly. "Or should I say Simo Tu-sama, Mr. Jiang Si, is better?"

"As you wish."

"Then, what about Miss Shion?" Ruo Yun said, enunciating each word. "Sect Master?"

Mi and Helen looked at each other, then Mi whispered, "Holy crap, I once fought the Azure Cloud Sect's Sect Master Shion head-on and retreated unscathed!"

"Stop bragging. I once suppressed the entire Beihai."

Hyacinth pressed both their heads down, telling them not to cause trouble. She pressed her entire face against the door, wishing she could squeeze an eyeball through.

Damn eyes, why aren't they X-ray vision?

Can't see their expressions, so anxious.

"Any is fine."

Jiang Si's response was still devoid of emotion.

Ruo Yun bit her lip, then slowly knelt down.

Jiang Si, who had still been pondering stabilizing his transformation, glanced at her.

"The Sect Master's kindness, Ruo Yun truly cannot repay. After much thought, only this method remains. Thank you for your promotion and help, Ruo Yun. Really, I am endlessly grateful, Sect Master."

Jiang Si raised an eyebrow. "Oh."

"If not for the Sect Master taking in my teacher, Bai Mei, and teaching Teacher Bai Mei Sword Intent, perhaps Ruo Yun would have long become a corpse under the Witch Association's hands. After that, although Teacher Bai Mei was very, very good, and Shui Ling and Gan Jing were also very, very good, Ruo Yun couldn't make progress in that kind of environment."

Some people are suited for the academic path, some are suited for the practical combat path.

Jiang Si could tell at a glance that Ruo Yun was a promising talent for the practical combat path.

Although he saw it now, it didn't hinder the fact that he had a premonition back then.

This child is destined for greatness!

"It was because the Sect Master, under the name of the Saint Hall Envoy, took Ruo Yun in that Ruo Yun found her direction, constantly honing her own strength in these missions, breaking through her limits, and, moreover, meeting more... friends."

Hyacinth outside felt a slight warmth in her heart.

Right, they were good friends. Precisely because the relationship was good, she wanted to see her good friend's embarrassing and amusing moments...

"Ruo Yun has never regretted joining the Saint Hall!"

"Good."

Bang!

Suddenly startled, many emotions were instantly suppressed, making her look up somewhat bewildered, directly meeting the Saint Hall Envoy's gaze.

She saw, under a huge transformation shockwave, the person before her transformed into Dragon Lord Shion.

Can't look directly...

Not only could she not look directly, but the stray corrupted magic power was so immense that Ruo Yun could barely lift her head.

Ruo Yun, who originally intended to say something more, found her throat choked.

Her mouth hung open for a long time, but no words came out.

"What's wrong?" Shion's tail swayed gently behind her as she said, "Continue."

It's just... looking at this face, some words really... are a bit hard to say...

Then Jiang Si de-transformed. Ruo Yun sighed slightly in relief. Regardless, she still had to finish.

"So, Ruo Yun..." Bang!

The youth in front transformed again. The immense pressure once again strangled her breath.

Then, as if nothing happened, he de-transformed.

"Has always felt..." Boom!

Transformed again.

"Very fortunate..." Bang.

De-transformed.

"To join the Saint Hall..." Bang!

Will this ever end?!

Ruo Yun stared at the Saint Hall Envoy who had transformed again, beginning to consider the possibility that he was deliberately putting her in her place.

Dragon Lord Shion saw she had stopped talking again and immediately grew impatient. "Can't you speak more directly?"

Could you please not transform and de-transform so casually?!

Almost unable to breathe, Ruo Yun was on the verge of a breakdown.

All the emotions she had built up were utterly shattered!

But she still gritted her teeth.

"So, Ruo Yun is very fortunate to have joined the Saint Hall, Mr. Jiang Si, I—!"

As the other party de-transformed again with an explosive sound, for some reason, Ruo Yun inexplicably thought of a part of her teacher's past novel.

Transforming like thunder cracking heaven and earth, Jiang Three Explosions...

She raised her voice, forcefully overriding her own wild thoughts and the sound of the Saint Hall Envoy de-transforming. "I want to stay in the Saint Hall forever! I want to keep the Demon Squad together for a lifetime!"

Helen and Mi both looked excited, nodding repeatedly.

They both relied on the Demon Squad for their livelihood. Once the Demon Squad disbanded, they would be purged and have nowhere to go. Now hearing their captain intended to keep the Demon Squad together for life, they were moved to tears.

Their futures were secured. This was even more reliable than getting a civil service job!

Hyacinth's originally amused expression also turned into one of relief and contentment, a slight smile curling at the corner of her mouth.

She knew it. Ruo Yun wouldn't disappoint her.

The so-called amusement was most enjoyable when everything wasn't heading in a terrible direction.

Because amusement was born for happiness and joy, to dispel the meaninglessness and pain.

"So, no matter what you think, no matter if you just formed the Saint Hall as a whim, never really cared about us, and plan to abandon us at any time!"

Ruo Yun's voice rose to a shout.

"I will definitely stay in the Saint Hall! If the Saint Hall and the Main God Space are real, I will make them better. If they are fake, I will make them real! This time, I won't rely on others anymore. I won't beg for others' tempering and gifts."

This time, Ruo Yun looked up, meeting the gaze of Shion, who had suddenly transformed again, and paused.

"I will rely on my own strength to create a place that belongs to me."

Ruo Yun clutched her chest tightly.

"Saint Hall Envoy, Sect Master, Simo Tu-sama, Mr. Jiang Si, Miss Shion—this is my resolve. No matter how you mock me in your heart, no matter how disappointed my teacher is in me, no matter how insignificant I am, no matter how difficult the future is, I will definitely walk the path I've chosen, without regret!"

She breathed heavily, waiting for the other's mockery and belittlement, even having prepared for possibly being expelled from the Saint Hall.

But she had to say it. Even if she was driven out, she would use her own strength to continue creating a Saint Hall in her heart.

No one said her fantasy couldn't become reality.

The person before her had already done enough.

He wove a beautiful and happy dream for her. Even if it shattered, she shouldn't complain. Instead, it was her turn to personally weave and continue the dream she needed!

"Disciple of Bai Mei."

However, she suddenly heard the Sect Master say indifferently, "Not bad."

In truth, she had prepared herself for all kinds of impacts.

But this one, completely unexpected praise, instantly shattered all her defenses and prepared responses.

Her emotions lost control suddenly. Tears just started flowing directly.

There was no sobbing, nor did she want to cry. Ruo Yun flusteredly tried to wipe them clean but simply couldn't.

They just kept flowing more and more. Although she forced herself to calm down, to reply to the Saint Hall Envoy's words calmly and maturely,

her voice still trembled.

"Not at all. Ruo Yun is far from it. Just a... rebellious disciple, unworthy of being Teacher Bai Mei's student, even more... unworthy of the Azure Cloud Sect..."

"In the future, you may take the position of Saint Hall Envoy."

Jiang Si casually threw the Main God Space authority key to her. "Never forget today's determination. With this heart, you may seek the Great Dao."

Ruo Yun kowtowed heavily. "Thank you, Grandmaster!"

"Ruo Yun will definitely not fail this trust! I will make the name of the Saint Hall resound throughout all realms! Become the glory in your heart!"

For the glory of the Saint Hall!

Jiang Si didn't say anything more. He also gave her and Helen a portion of compressed world bubbles, telling them to find and create methods for long-term preservation of world bubbles. He also listened to Ruo Yun's future development strategy.

Expand the Main God Space, establish more squads, recruit and screen Saints of the Hall. She planned to develop exactly as Jiang Si had said before, with the goal of leading everyone beyond the world.

It seemed Ruo Yun and the others had also seen the World Tree.

Quite satisfied, Jiang Si didn't say much. After arranging tasks and reminding them not to forget the manufacturing of the Void Mirror, just as he was about to leave, Hyacinth approached.

"Ruo Yun really is a good child. For me, the greatest happiness is watching them twist and struggle in adversity, then walk forward even stronger. Nothing makes me feel happier than that."

Jiang Si glanced at her. "Didn't you want to protect all Magical Girls?"

"Even if I tried my hardest, my strength is insignificant. So, I want to watch Magical Girls grow until they possess the power to protect themselves. How about it? Isn't this dream more practical now?"

"As you wish."

"However, I'm sorry, Miss Shion." Jiang Si hadn't transformed, yet Hyacinth directly called out the Magical Girl's name. "I might... not be able to hold onto the dream of protecting even you anymore."

"Why?" 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝒆𝔀𝒆𝙗𝓷𝒐𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝓶

"On one hand, I really can't see you as a Magical Girl," Hyacinth sighed, then tilted her head, blinking her empty gray-white eyes at the youth.

"On the other hand, compared to protecting you, now I, like Ruo Yun, also want my dream to be protected by you."

"The Saint Hall doesn't offer childcare services."

Ignoring Hyacinth's look of regret, Jiang Si left the Saint Hall.

Since he was now almost able to suppress the Magical Girl's automatic transformation, he planned to go home first and say hello to Keke.

Jogging all the way from the city center back home, the sky was already beginning to brighten.

Running all the way to the intersection, the spot where White Fox had stood before—he had already asked An Shiyu to send White Fox home, so he wasn't worried about that girl's condition.

Had to find a way to go to the Mirror Kingdom to stop the ghost marriage. If the ghost marriage succeeded, his breaking off the engagement would be completely ruined. Also had to find a way for White Fox to master Magical Girl power, then get a Full Bloom slot from the Prince, giving her a chance for revenge.

Quite a lot of things to do.

Planning all this in his mind, he saw a primary school student jogging towards him.

It was the untransformed Li Yi, also known as Silver Lotus. She was wearing a tracksuit now, looking like some kind of sports girl, probably out for a morning run. That tracksuit seemed to be his.

While still feeling strange in his heart, Li Yi over there also saw him. Her pupils lit up, and she immediately waved.

"What a coincidence, Jiang Si..."

However, before she could finish, a flash of dark power passed.

Jiang Si had accidentally transformed into Shion again.

Li Yi's movements froze.

Then she immediately maintained her smile, lowered her hand, pretended she hadn't seen anything, and nonchalantly passed by the Dragon Lord, who was a head taller than her, continuing her jog away from the roadside.

"Sorry, wrong person..."

That was a bit forced.