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"Level 38… Mom, what's wrong?" Xiao Wu asked in confusion.
"Level 38…"
Ah Rou confirmed that she hadn't misheard and asked, puzzled, "Xiao Wu, our transformed soul beasts cultivate far faster than humans. After two and a half years in the Star Dou Forest, you've only advanced by eight levels. Why?"
"T-That's because…" Xiao Wu lowered her head, a blush appearing on her cheeks. "I didn't want to hurt San Ge's pride. He may always seem polite, unambitious, and uncompetitive, but in reality, his self-esteem is higher than anyone's. He hates being surpassed. That time when he lost to Feng Xiaotian, he shut himself away for two whole days. It took Uncle Tang Hao's guidance to help him recover."
"So, to avoid discouraging San Ge, I only leveled up when he did… That's why I only advanced eight levels."
At those words, Ah Rou suddenly stood up, disbelief written all over her face. "Xiao Wu… Are you telling me you deliberately slowed your cultivation just so you wouldn't surpass your San Ge?"
Xiao Wu nodded, still confused. "Mom, what's wrong? Did I say something to upset you?"
Ah Rou's voice trembled with suppressed anger. She scolded, "Xiao Wu! You told me earlier that you saw Da Ming and Er Ming's corpses. You thought I was dead too. You swore to avenge me, Da Ming, and Er Ming alongside Tang San! So why didn't you train harder?!"
Hearing her mother's reprimand, Xiao Wu lowered her head, feeling a bit aggrieved. "Mom, I already explained… San Ge is very proud. I didn't want to hurt him. After everything that happened, our bond grew even deeper, and I didn't want anything to come between us. Besides… Mom, you're still alive."
"Da Ming and Er Ming only lost their lives. But if I surpassed San Ge, it would crush his pride. If that happened, our relationship might suffer, and we… we might not be able to be together."
A suffocating silence filled the small prison cell.
Then, Ah Rou's heavy, ragged breathing shattered the stillness.
Xiao Wu raised her hand, only to see her mother's bloodshot eyes. Ah Rou's gaze burned with barely restrained fury, her breath coming in harsh gasps as if she was struggling to contain her rage.
"Mom… What's wrong?" Xiao Wu asked cautiously. "Did I say something wrong? If I did, please tell me…" She quickly stood up and clung to Ah Rou's arm, shaking it playfully, trying to ease the tension. She had never seen her mother this angry before.
Seeing that Xiao Wu still didn't understand her mistake, Ah Rou's expression darkened with utter disappointment.
Without hesitation, she raised her hand—
SMACK!
A sharp, resounding slap echoed through the room.
A bright red handprint instantly appeared on Xiao Wu's delicate, rosy cheek. Half of her face swelled from the impact.
Xiao Wu's eyes turned red with tears. Holding her face, she sobbed, "Mom… Why did you hit me? What did I do wrong?"
"Don't call me Mom!"
Ah Rou yanked her arm free from Xiao Wu's grasp, her heart twisting in unbearable pain. She roared, "Xiao Wu! Da Ming and Er Ming died protecting you and Tang San! And you—just to protect Tang San's pride—chose to slow down your own cultivation?!"
"Three lives—Da Ming's, Er Ming's, and mine. Years of our mother-daughter bond. Your ten-thousand-year-long siblinghood with Da Ming and Er Ming. Does all of that mean less to you than just six years with Tang San?!"
Xiao Wu finally realized the gravity of her mistake. She dropped to her knees, hugging Ah Rou's legs tightly.
"Mom, I was wrong! I know I was wrong! I was foolish—please forgive me!" she pleaded desperately.
Ah Rou let out a deep sigh, her expression devoid of emotion. She pried Xiao Wu's hands off her legs and whispered, "I have no daughter like you. I don't have a daughter like this…"
"It's my fault. I spoiled you too much. I failed to teach you properly. This is all my fault. Because of me, Da Ming and Er Ming died in vain… This is all my fault… I need to go apologize to them."
With that, Ah Rou moved toward the prison door like a lifeless puppet.
"Mom! Where are you going? Don't scare me! Don't leave me alone!"
Xiao Wu's heart clenched with fear. She immediately lunged forward, wrapping her arms around Ah Rou's waist, refusing to let go. Tears streamed down her face as she sobbed uncontrollably, begging for forgiveness.
BANG!
With a powerful kick, Ah Rou sent Xiao Wu flying.
Even with her soul power sealed, her body—tempered by nine spirit rings—was far beyond that of an ordinary person. Xiao Wu had no chance of stopping her.
The kick landed squarely on Xiao Wu's abdomen. She crashed onto the bed, knees hitting the ground. The pain was so intense that she couldn't even cry out.
Just then, loud bangs erupted at the cell door.
A group of Spirit Hall soul masters, who had been patrolling the prison, stormed over. One of them angrily kicked open the small meal window on the door and barked,
"What's all this racket?! Rou Bone Rabbit, are you itching for a beating?!"
"I want to see the Pope! I want to offer myself as a sacrifice! I don't want to live anymore!"
Ah Rou's voice was resolute. Xiao Wu's shocking words had completely shattered her last thread of hope.
A child's mistakes stem from the mother's failure to teach.
She had failed to raise Xiao Wu properly, and because of that, Da Ming and Er Ming had died. Now, with no hope of avenging them, she could only follow them in death—so she could continue taking care of them in the afterlife.
The Spirit Hall soul master standing guard was momentarily stunned by her words. Then, realizing the gravity of the situation, he bolted toward the Papal Palace to report.
---
Secret Chamber of the Papal Palace
Qian Renxun was still deep in meditation, working on the fusion of the Angel Meditation Technique and Xuantian Skill when—
"Your Holiness."
The voice of Ghost Douluo suddenly broke the silence.
At this moment, Chrysanthemum Douluo was busy summoning Spirit Masters from various sub-halls across the continent, preparing for their mission—to annihilate the Clear Sky Sect within a month.
Qian Renxun opened his eyes, a flicker of displeasure flashing through them. "Elder Gui, what is it?"
Ghost Douluo bowed and reported respectfully, "Your Holiness, according to our latest intelligence, that hundred-thousand-year-old Soft-Boned Rabbit has lost the will to live and wishes to sacrifice herself."
Qian Renxun's eyes narrowed slightly. "Are you certain?"
Ghost Douluo replied, "Yes. Upon receiving the report, I personally visited the prison to confirm it. She is indeed willing to sacrifice herself."
Qian Renxun pondered for a moment before ordering, "Take Lingling with you. Her cultivation is currently at Level 46, and the soul power from the sacrifice will be just enough to help her break through her bottleneck. Besides, the Soft-Boned Rabbit, as a low-tier, herbivorous soul beast, has strong survival abilities—making it a perfect fit for her."
After a brief pause, Qian Renxun added, "Did the Soft-Boned Rabbit make any requests before offering herself?"
"Yes," Ghost Douluo answered. "Her only wish is for her daughter to be released from the dark, sunless prison and to have decent food, clothing, and living conditions before she dies."
Even though Ah Rou's heart was filled with sorrow and disappointment over Xiao Wu's actions, in the end, she was still her mother. Until her last breath, she wanted her daughter to live well.
Qian Renxun nodded. "Granted."
---
That night, beneath the vast starry sky, Spirit City lay in peaceful slumber.
Suddenly, a blood-red light erupted into the heavens, radiating a terrifying pressure across the city—
The unmistakable sign of a hundred-thousand-year soul beast perishing.
(End of Chapter)