The battle between Bibi Dong and You Huamo was still raging. They had already left the village of the Holy Spirit Cult, and the ghastly green aura radiating from Bibi Dong clashed violently with the dark blue aura emanating from You Huamo. The two forces collided like whirlpools, neither yielding to the other.
However, having acquired a godhood, Bibi Dong temporarily held the upper hand due to her strength originally surpassing that of You Huamo.
You Huamo had already exhausted all her strength. For her, escaping would have been the wiser choice—and no one could've stopped her. But the sensation she had just felt from her two children made her realize something had happened to Ming Tian and Ming Xue. She couldn't run. She had to defeat Bibi Dong and save her children!
"Screeeee!!!"
A piercing screech burst once more from You Huamo's mouth. At this point, she no longer looked human. Her body was completely covered in dark blue Blue Silver Grass, whipping wildly in the air.
The dark blue vines surged toward Bibi Dong, seemingly trying to engulf and consume her.
"A soul beast! You're actually a soul beast turned human!"
Bibi Dong exclaimed in shock. Her green eyes sparkled not with fear—but with greed.
If she killed the person in front of her, she could obtain a hundred-thousand-year ninth spirit ring and spirit bone!
She was already at level eighty-nine—at the pinnacle. One more step, and she would become a Title Douluo!
"Hahaha! I searched high and low, only to find you without effort. Today, you shall become my ninth spirit ring!!"
The aura around Bibi Dong surged again. The Death Spider Empress Domain, the Death Domain—she activated them all. All eight spirit abilities were unleashed simultaneously.
"You want me as your spirit ring? Keep dreaming!"
"Rakshasa God, Rakshasa Scythe!"
Relying solely on her own power, Bibi Dong could never have defeated You Huamo. But she had inherited the power of a god—although only the beginning of the inheritance, she had already obtained a part of the Rakshasa God's power, including the divine weapon: the Rakshasa Black Scythe!
If Qian Daoliu was currently considered the number one person on the Douluo Continent, then Bibi Dong could be said to have the greatest potential. Qian Daoliu once said: Give Bibi Dong ten more years, and she would surpass both him and Tang Chen, becoming number one—and the next Pope of Spirit Hall.
Divine weapons were extremely rare on the Douluo Continent. The only known ones were part of the Angel Set owned by the Spirit Hall. Legends spoke of a Sea God Island overseas where other gods existed, but it remained unexplored and unknown.
Although You Huamo had extraordinary talent and shared the same bloodline as the hundred-thousand-year Blue Silver Emperor, known as sisters in spirit, and her devouring ability was unparalleled—she was still just a soul beast turned human. Compared to true human spirit masters, there was still a gap. And divine weapons were not so easily resisted. In the future, Bibi Dong would even use this weapon to severely injure Sea God Tang San!
The dark Rakshasa Scythe slashed down, carrying the aura of death and resentment. Countless strands of dark Blue Silver Grass were severed. The aura of the Rakshasa God invaded You Huamo's body. The previously regenerative dark grass could no longer regrow, and even her devouring ability was severely weakened.
Black-purple smoke rose from You Huamo's body—Rakshasa energy had invaded her.
"No! Impossible! I still have to save my children! Die! DIE!!"
You Huamo screamed in madness, trying to force back Bibi Dong. But how could Bibi Dong grant her wish?
Her spirit skills were depleted—but she still had spirit bones!
Bibi Dong's left arm suddenly radiated pink light, and a golden shield enveloped her body. No matter how You Huamo attacked, she couldn't get close.
"How is this possible?!"
"Heh, this is the spirit bone I obtained when I accompanied the Pope to hunt a hundred-thousand-year-old Soft Bone Charming Rabbit. The Pope gave me the hundred-thousand-year spirit bone it dropped. This is my spirit bone skill: Invincible Golden Body!"
The Soft Bone Charming Rabbit she referred to was, of course, Xiao Wu's mother. Her spirit ring became Qian Daoliu's ninth ring, and this spirit bone—he didn't give it to Bibi Dong for free. He made one condition: become Qian Xunji's disciple.
Bibi Dong had agreed, but later Qian Xunji forced himself on her, using it as an excuse to keep her away from Yu Xiaogang. Enraged, Bibi Dong cut off her own left arm and returned the spirit bone to Qian Xunji. Later, he replaced it with another bone and reattached her limb. When Qian Xunji was severely injured by Tang Hao and later assassinated by Bibi Dong, that bone was buried with him. But that was all in the future—right now, Bibi Dong hadn't even met Yu Xiaogang yet.
The Invincible Golden Body protected Bibi Dong from being corroded. She just needed to wait for the Rakshasa Resentment inside You Huamo to consume her completely.
"NO!!! BIBI DONG!! I won't forgive you even in death!! I curse you to never find true love! To be defiled by someone you don't love!"
You Huamo, completely corrupted by the Rakshasa resentment, began to disintegrate into strands of dark Blue Silver Grass, each thread trailing Rakshasa black energy.
A dark crimson hundred-thousand-year spirit ring hovered quietly in front of Bibi Dong, along with a spirit bone.
"Pffft—"
Bibi Dong coughed up blood, her face pale and weak—but she still smiled. She had won.
As for You Huamo's curse? She didn't care in the slightest. She had no one she loved. How could she lose what she never had?
To avoid further complications, Bibi Dong pulled the powerful hundred-thousand-year ring to the ground and picked up You Huamo's spirit bone.
"Too bad it's a left arm bone—I already have a hundred-thousand-year one. What a waste."
Bibi Dong said with some regret.
She gazed at the spirit ring—and began absorbing it.
What she didn't know was: while she was absorbing the ring, a man was silently watching her.
Night fell quickly. Some soul beasts passed by occasionally, but the man chased them all away.
"Jeez, how is it not over yet? Once she wakes up, I've got some serious questions."
The man said.
He began preparing food—roasting some meat.
Just then, a century-old black tiger slowly approached. The man jumped in fright.
He only had spirit power of level 20—no way he could fight this thing!
"If you don't want to die, get lost!"
A terrifying aura burst from behind the man, and the tiger bolted, tail between its legs.
"You're awake?"
"Mm. Who are you? I can sense you mean no harm, but why are you here?"
"My name's Yu Xiaogang. I'm from the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon clan. I'm a fanatic about martial spirit research. I heard that the Spirit Hall discovered traces of evil soul masters nearby, so I followed along to observe the battle—but I got lost. Then I saw you, severely injured and resting here. I was afraid soul beasts might bother you, so I stayed to guard you."
Yu Xiaogang said shyly. Bibi Dong couldn't help but laugh.
"You? Protect me? With only level 20 spirit power?"
"I know you're powerful. You're a Title Douluo, right? I just saw you absorb a hundred-thousand-year ring! That's unprecedented! It's invaluable for my research. Can I see your martial spirit?"
Yu Xiaogang asked.
Bibi Dong froze. She had never seen such sincere, untainted eyes. Was this man really just a martial spirit geek? What an interesting guy.
"Fine, but don't get scared."
She teased. Then released her Death Spider Empress spirit: two yellow, two purple, four black, and one red ring—nine in total.
"Amazing! You really are a Title Douluo! You must be the youngest one on the continent!"
"Maybe. I'm not even twenty yet."
"Someone like you should be in the Spirit Hall!"
Bibi Dong smiled but didn't mention that she was from the Spirit Hall.
"Huh? What's going on?"
"What's wrong?"
"Why do I feel... like I have another martial spirit?"
Bibi Dong said in confusion. She retracted her Death Spider Empress, and another powerful aura erupted behind her—a dark blue figure appeared.
"A twin martial spirit?!"
They both shouted in unison.
"Wait, what? You didn't know you had a second martial spirit?"
"I shouldn't have one. Where did this come from?"
Bibi Dong was baffled.
"What kind of spirit is it?"
"It seems to be called the Soul-Devouring Spider Empress. Its abilities are kind of like that dark Blue Silver Grass I killed."
"An acquired awakening? A second spirit? This is amazing! This is incredibly valuable for my research! Bibi Dong, can I stay by your side to study it?"
"Of course you can!"
Bibi Dong didn't know why, but she had a good feeling about this Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon man.
What they didn't know was that the origin of this martial spirit would puzzle Yu Xiaogang his entire life. Ten thousand years later, a million-year soul beast—the Skydream Iceworm—would finally provide the answer.
There was only one way to acquire a second spirit post-birth: it must be bestowed by a million-year soul beast.
In her final moments, though You Huamo still had the power of a hundred-thousand-year soul beast, she possessed one last ability—age devouring. After consuming the lifespans of many evil soul masters, her accumulated years had surpassed a million—though her abilities were still capped at the hundred-thousand level.
The Soul-Devouring Spider Empress was exactly the martial spirit Bibi Dong gained from the inherited essence of You Huamo's million-year age—an evolution of her original spirit.
"Are you hungry? I just finished roasting some meat. It smells amazing."
"Mm, sure. Tastes great."
Under the night sky, two people brought together by fate began a twisted relationship neither of them could yet understand.
(end of chapter)