The Demon Whale King's soul ring and bone were extraordinarily powerful. It took Ning Rongrong a full day and night to finish absorption. Next, she needed only pass a test of heart to inherit the Sea God's position.
Compared to the Demon Whale King, that trial was not so difficult. Ning Rongrong was confident she would pass.
"Sword Brother, wait a little longer for me. I'll be right back." She glanced toward the continent, then flashed away toward Sea God Island.
Her speed now actually surpassed Xiao Bai in the sea. In actual combat, she was not much inferior to an Ultimate Douluo.
Several inheritors had reached the final step at the same time, but fully bearing a godhood still required some time. One person was faster than the rest—Rakshasa God Bibi Dong.
…
"Hahaha, finally done."
In a mountain valley, a sky-scraping evil aura surged out. Bibi Dong's Devour-Soul Spider Emperor spirit had become nine red rings and one dark gold.
Originally, she had wanted to bear the godhood with her Death Spider Emperor—the latter's evil attribute was stronger. But that martial soul had been shattered by the Silver Dragon King, so she had to settle for second-best.
Still, that was fine. The Devour-Soul Spider Emperor's ring configuration had always been higher than the Death Spider Emperor's: black, black, black, black, black, black, red, black, black—with each ring above fifty thousand years. Now with a godhood's boost, each gained another fifty thousand years, becoming today's nine-red-one-gold top-tier setup—extremely powerful.
However, the bit of self-will Bibi Dong had once retained was now gone. Having inherited the Rakshasa godhood, her entire being was wrapped in evil divine power. Yet, all evil thoughts in the world were under the control of the Evil Sword Immortal; she was completely reduced to his puppet.
"All right, Bibi Dong, let's go straight to the God Realm. As for the mortal world—once we become the strongest gods, we'll come back and destroy it. Let Jun Tianlin and the others live a little longer." The Evil Sword Immortal's voice transmitted from within the Evil Spirit Pearl.
A single first-tier god's strength was not enough for him. There were two first-tier gods on the Douluo Continent now, both righteous. His power to devour evil thoughts was useless against them. He couldn't win two-on-one.
He had to go to the God Realm first, devour the Seven Deadly Sins gods—ideally the Evil God King as well—then he would become truly invincible.
Without hesitation, the Evil Sword Immortal had Bibi Dong invoke divine power to contact the God Realm. Sensing a first-tier god in the lower realm preparing to ascend, the God Realm Core automatically opened an entrance.
…
In Spirit City, Chen Xin, who was continuing to cultivate the sword, and Qian Renxue, who was keeping Tianlin's parents company, suddenly stood up, faces changing.
"What's wrong, Xue'er?" Mo Lan asked, puzzled. This second daughter-in-law was usually calm and wise.
"It's nothing, don't worry. I have something to take care of. I'll be right back." Qian Renxue soothed Mo Lan, then soared into the sky.
At the same time, Chen Xin turned into a beam of sword light and rushed over.
"Qian Renxue, you sensed it too, didn't you? The passage to the God Realm has opened—someone is about to ascend."
Qian Renxue nodded. "Master, if I'm not mistaken, that person must be my mother."
Tianlin, Ning Rongrong, Ma Hongjun, and Huan Yin had not yet become gods, and neither she nor Chen Xin intended to go to the God Realm right now. Thus, the only one who would open the passage at this time had to be Bibi Dong.
"We have to intercept and kill her. Can you bring yourself to do it?" Chen Xin asked.
Qian Renxue hesitated for a moment, then recalled what Tianlin had told her that night. Her hesitation hardened into resolve. "Don't worry, Master. I can."
"Good. Then let's go."
They became twin beams of light, streaking toward the place where the passage had opened. At their first-tier-god speed, crossing the continent would take no time; reaching the valley would take less than a minute.
Bibi Dong had just fully opened the passage and was heading toward it.
"Angel Hexagram!"
"Heavenly Sword!"
A giant hexagram and a golden greatsword hurtled toward her.
As if anticipating it, Bibi Dong—or rather, the Evil Sword Immortal—showed no fear. The massive purple-black scythe in her hand swung lightly. Purple radiance swept down with the scythe's arc, condensing into a hundreds-meter-long purple blade of light.
In a single move, she blocked attacks from two first-tier gods. The Rakshasa Scythe alone couldn't do that; it was only possible with the Evil Spirit Pearl's amplification still on Bibi Dong.
"Hehe, so you've come at last. My good daughter, to strike so hard at your mother—how unfilial." The Evil Sword Immortal's voice was full of mad desire, stirring the seven emotions.
If she were her old self, Qian Renxue would have been unsettled by that power. But now, after Tianlin's guidance, and with no interference from that Sea God, she had undergone the true Angel God seven-emotions trial, even killing Bibi Dong once in the illusion space. Her heart was now firm. She attacked without the slightest hesitation.
"Mother, to save you, I must kill you first. Only by crossing life and death and redeeming your sins can we reunite as mother and daughter." Qian Renxue's gaze was steadfast. "So my answer is: Angel Fire Dragon Formation!"
The strongest formation attached to the Angel Domain, drawing on the true power of the sun to burn all things—it now firmly blocked the passage to the God Realm.
Bibi Dong frowned. She hadn't expected Qian Renxue to be completely free of familial shackles and so decisive—or rather, to grasp what true kinship meant. Letting Bibi Dong sink deeper into darkness was the true foolishness. A moment's hesitation here would not only doom Bibi Dong but might drag the world into ruin.
"Death's Reaping." Bibi Dong's Rakshasa Scythe carved a blood blade that tore a channel through the Fire Dragon Formation.
"Seven Kill Sword Formation!" At that instant, a sword formation overlaid the fire formation. Under the twin arrays, Bibi Dong could not ascend.
Inside the Evil Spirit Pearl, the Evil Sword Immortal grew anxious. He hadn't expected Qian Renxue to have no mental weak point and to attack Bibi Dong without wavering. Joined with Chen Xin, they were too much for Bibi Dong alone.
He wanted to use the Evil Spirit Pearl's power, but he meant to save it for the gods of the God Realm, not waste it on mere Qian Renxue and Chen Xin.
Yet as things were, without it, Bibi Dong couldn't even break their blockade, let alone reach the God Realm.
Just as he readied his hand, someone moved first. From the God Realm's portal, a purple-black thunderbolt shot out, instantly shattering Qian Renxue's fire formation and Chen Xin's sword formation, opening the way wide for Bibi Dong.