83: variable

Bai Yao was completely unaware of the dark schemes brewing in Lou Qi's heart, and continued to enthusiastically explain the principles of the Crossbow.

At this moment, Lou Qi's interest in Bai Yao had soared to a new height.

She was no longer just a Female with a vitality liquid and strange abilities; she was a treasure trove of technology capable of overturning the balance of power.

Since the opportunity was right before him, there was no reason for him to let it go.

Unlike his previous simple observation, this time, Lou Qi watched with extreme focus, his eyes almost catching every subtle movement of Bai Yao's fingertips, analyzing the logical fit of each component.

Bai Yao was completely unprepared for this; her technology came from the knowledge accumulation of another world, and in her view, it was not a secret that needed to be strictly guarded.

Moreover, she was facing a curious Cub and a helpful partner.

She demonstrated with grace and generosity.

Lou Qi maintained an innocent facade, and seizing an opportune moment, he asked in an adoring tone:

"Elder Sister, you know so much. Can you... teach me this too?"

This question made Bai Yao pause.

She looked down at Lou Qi, trying to find something beyond mere curiosity in his eyes, but only saw the thirst for knowledge typical of a child.

Perhaps he just found it fun? Bai Yao eventually dismissed her doubts.

"Okay, Elder Sister will teach you."

She picked up a set of parts and began to slow down her movements, guiding him hand-in-hand.

Xuan Mo, who was standing by, saw this, his golden eyes flickering slightly, and he also spoke in a deep voice: "Teach me too."

He watched Bai Yao busy herself alone, wanting to share the burden, yet subtly unwilling for that Little Cub to monopolize Bai Yao's attention.

"More people, faster work."

Bai Yao thought so too; with two helpers, efficiency could indeed be greatly improved.

"Alright, then you both come and try."

Thus, a peculiar scene unfolded in front of the stone house: Bai Yao, as the instructor, moved between Xuan Mo and Lou Qi.

And these two Males, one large and one small, seemed to be secretly competing, each meticulously working on the parts in their hands.

"This tenon needs to be inserted diagonally into this groove first, and after hearing a soft 'click,' then push it flat..."

Bai Yao patiently corrected Lou Qi's movements.

Lou Qi learned extremely quickly; his profound understanding of mechanical structures and force transmission allowed him to quickly grasp the knack.

Under Bai Yao's guidance, the parts in his hands assembled at an astonishing speed, and although his movements still carried a childlike clumsiness, the process was precise and accurate.

In contrast, Xuan Mo's fingers, accustomed to explosive force, seemed somewhat disobedient for this kind of work that required precision and delicate skill.

With a 'snap,' a delicate wooden component cracked in his hand.

Xuan Mo: "..."

He thought to himself, "This thing is harder than dealing with a berserk Rhinoceros Horn Beast!"

Just then, Lou Qi had already completed the main structure of the Crossbow in his hands.

He looked up, raising the half-finished product he had assembled to Bai Yao, his small face full of a desire for praise:

"Elder Sister, look, did I do it right?"

Bai Yao took it and inspected it carefully; although there were still some rough details, the core structure was completely correct. For a beginner Cub, it was truly extraordinary talent.

"Little Long is amazing, you did very well!"

She praised him unreservedly.

Upon hearing this, Lou Qi immediately turned to Xuan Mo, a barely perceptible hint of triumph flashing in his silver eyes.

Xuan Mo looked at the Little Cub's provoking gaze,

Then at another part in his hand that was almost deformed, and the atmospheric pressure around him dropped even further. This little thing was definitely doing it on purpose!

Bai Yao noticed Xuan Mo's low spirits and quickly smoothed things over:

"Xuan Mo, this kind of delicate work really requires some patience. How about this, you're strong, so help me process these toughest beast tendons. Stretch and fix them to this length; this is the most strenuous and most important step."

"Leave the remaining assembly to me. We'll divide the work; it'll be most efficient!"

She cleverly assigned him the tasks that required strength, preserving Xuan Mo's self-esteem.

Hearing that his work was so important, Xuan Mo's expression brightened from gloomy, and he nodded, taking the beast tendons and beginning to focus on using his precise control of strength.

Bai Yao then turned to Lou Qi, saying softly:

"Little Long did very well, but this task is very mentally taxing. You're still young, so leave the rest to Elder Sister. Go play for a while and rest."

Lou Qi knew that he had already mastered the core assembly techniques and key steps, and his goal was achieved, so he nodded obediently:

"Okay, Elder Sister."

He clapped his small hands and went to sit aside, seemingly resting, but in his mind, he was rapidly outlining how he would mass-produce these Crossbows after returning to the City of Ten Thousand Evils.

How he would make the surrounding Tribes and Hundred Beasts City tremble in fear... a massive plan of conquest was already taking shape.

All of this was thanks to the unsuspecting Female before him.

He once again turned his gaze to Bai Yao, who was focused on her work, and a possessiveness bordering on obsession quietly began to grow.

If she, and everything she possessed, belonged only to him, how wonderful that would be.

Meanwhile, Bai Yao was happy to have Xuan Mo as an able assistant, completely unaware that the technology she had imparted had already been leaked.

At the same time, far away in the Fox Tribe, deep within the Divine Temple.

Xing Che, the Great Priest, who had been meditating, suddenly opened his eyes. In those fox eyes, capable of peering into the threads of destiny, a rare trace of doubt appeared.

His slender fingers rapidly calculated in the void, his brows furrowing tighter and tighter.

"Great Priest, is something amiss?"

A servant standing by cautiously asked.

Xing Che slowly spoke, his voice carrying a hint of uncertainty: "I sensed... the one from the City of Ten Thousand Evils has left his lair."

"And I only sensed it now..."

The servant was startled: "That City Lord? Doesn't he never leave the City of Ten Thousand Evils?"

Whenever that person left, it often meant bloodshed.

"Exactly so."

Xing Che's eyes gleamed, "But strangely, I cannot deduce where he went, or what his purpose is."

This was an extremely rare situation for him, as if an invisible force, or some great variable, was interfering with the manifestation of heavenly secrets.

He pondered for a moment, then continued: "Moreover, the trajectory of destiny is becoming blurred..."

"I sense that a profoundly significant event is about to occur, but what exactly it is, is now shrouded in a thick fog, making it unclear..."

The servant's face showed shock; in his heart, the omnipotent Great Priest also had futures he couldn't see clearly?

"Indeed,"

Xing Che gazed at the changing clouds outside the window, murmuring,

"Unforeseeable variables have quietly intervened, and the future's trajectory... is deviating from its original path."

Silence returned to the Divine Temple, with only the deep contemplation in Xing Che's eyes hinting that peaceful days might soon come to an end.