Chapter 37

"I know, Master Gu Yi, you have a skill that can draw out souls. Can you give mine a try?" Qin Li asked directly.

"I could, but I can't do it for you," Gu Yi shook her head and said.

"Why? Am I any different from an ordinary person? Do I not have a soul?" Qin Li asked curiously.

"The thing is, I haven't fully studied souls, but like us sorcerers, the longer we practice, the stronger our soul power becomes. However, our souls can still leave our bodies. Yours, though, is different. The power your soul carries is immense. It's the strongest I've felt so far. Even Arkham doesn't compare to you." Gu Yi picked up her cup and calmly took a sip.

"So, you're saying that because my soul power is too great, it can't leave?" Qin Li asked, still confused.

"Not exactly. Normally, the stronger the soul, the easier it is for it to leave the body. Some even abandon their physical form entirely without issue. But your case is different. I'm not sure how to solve it," Gu Yi replied helplessly.

"Alright, but do you know where souls go once they disperse?" Qin Li got straight to the point.

Gu Yi set her cup down and replied seriously, "Have you heard the legend of the five primordial gods of the universe? The Planet Devourer, Death, Eternity, Oblivion, and Infinity. Among them, Death is the embodiment of the primordial god of death, the ruler of souls, the origin, creator, and controller of all life and souls in the universe. All souls of the deceased go to her realm." She paused for a moment, then continued, "If you're thinking of searching for those souls, I suggest you don't."

Qin Li shrugged and said, "I was thinking of going, but now that you mention it, with all the legends, I'm guessing finding them will be quite difficult, right?"

Gu Yi looked at him with a shocked expression and asked, "You really want to go? Why?"

Qin Li took a sip of tea and slowly explained what had happened the night before. After hearing him out, Gu Yi fell silent for a moment. The two of them sat there quietly, just drinking tea. Eventually, Gu Yi broke the silence, saying, "Since they've returned to the embrace of death, it's best to let it be. With all the commotion last night, I thought it was just you eliminating vampires."

Qin Li sighed and said, "I'm not sure if death's embrace is comfortable, but I thought if I could help a little, I should. Eliminate vampires? Honestly, I didn't even plan on it."

"Well, it was an unfortunate disaster. The holy light that spread across all of New York instantly turned the vampires who had infiltrated to ash. You did what you said you'd do—eliminate every vampire you saw, even if it meant wiping out all of New York," Gu Yi said without concern.

"I don't care. They're not my kind, so I have no sympathy. I killed them. Their whole race? Just a bunch of walking targets. Two obvious weaknesses—sunlight and silver weapons. I'm surprised they haven't been wiped out already. Someone must think they still have some use, which is why they're still around," Qin Li said with a shrug.

"By the way, I was thinking of spreading your power throughout the sorcerer community. Do you mind?" Gu Yi asked. After all, it was Qin Li's power, and they were borrowing it. Although Gu Yi had previously stolen power from Dormammu without consulting him, Dormammu didn't leave much room for negotiation. Gu Yi wasn't like Stephen Strange, who had to strike deals with Dormammu. But Qin Li was right here, and his light-based power was positive and growing—perfect for the sorcerers.

"No problem. I don't lack much, but this power? I have plenty of it, and it keeps growing daily. It would be a waste not to use it," Qin Li said casually while sipping his tea. The base of his holy light power was enormous, and it increased daily, not as a recovery after use but as an increase in the upper limit. Since arriving in the Marvel universe, it had been steadily growing. Though it felt like a small increase to him, to Gu Yi, the small increase was far greater than the total amount of power she had stolen from Dormammu.

"Alright then, I'll start teaching it tomorrow," Gu Yi nodded.

"Then what about your future disciples? Even if you don't teach them, they should still learn, right?" Qin Li asked with a smile.

"That's a matter for the future. As for that, I think I'll let them decide for themselves," Gu Yi replied calmly. In the past, she hadn't wanted Stephen Strange to learn the holy light because it would have hindered his ability to foresee the future. But now, she no longer cared. She wasn't sure why.

Qin Li imagined what it would be like if Stephen Strange learned the holy light. He'd be wearing his red sorcerer robes, standing before Ebony Maw, and shouting, "Holy light! The enemy before me is worthy of battle!" He couldn't help but chuckle at the thought.

Gu Yi looked at Qin Li, puzzled by his strange behavior, but didn't say anything. After all, he had his quirks and often wandered in his own world.

"Well, if that's everything, I'll head out. I'm starving, and honestly, your temple's food needs some improvement. Protecting Earth doesn't mean we have to live like ascetics," Qin Li said, getting up.

"Alright, Father Li, we'll take your suggestion into account. Take care and don't worry about us," Gu Yi said without standing up. She continued sipping her tea.

Qin Li made his way back to the portal, waved goodbye to Old Wang at the New York Temple, and headed out. As he stepped outside into the scorching sunlight, he wasn't sure where to go next. Suddenly, he remembered Tony Stark mentioning a Turkish kebab shop. On a whim, he decided to check it out and see if the food was good.

By the time Qin Li emerged from the Turkish kebab shop, his face was dark with frustration. "Damn it, next time, I'd rather fly into space than set foot in this place again. What kind of dark cuisine is this? Is this even edible? No wonder the superheroes don't eat here. They just play with Thor's hammer. Not even a dog would eat this."

Starving, he'd ended up in a "black market" of a restaurant, and now his stomach was even emptier than before. He didn't even feel like eating anymore. It was a tragic experience. He returned to the church and found there was no food there either. The situation was truly miserable. He had to settle for ordering takeout: two cheeseburgers and a soda. As he bit into the cheeseburger, he remembered Tony Stark just getting back. It had been a while since he'd eaten a proper burger, and it was indeed delicious.

"Should I cook your portion tonight?" Jessica asked, seeing Qin Li eating the burger with a smile.

"Of course! There's nothing left, so how about we go out for a big feast tonight?" Qin Li replied between bites of the burger.