Chapter 34: Rebirth from the Ashes — The Undying Body!
The explosion left even Dugu Bo completely dumbfounded.
When he saw Yue Guan coughing up blood and staggering backward, he hurriedly caught him.
"Chrysanthemum Douluo! Get a hold of yourself!"
"Old Ghost… he…"
Yue Guan trembled uncontrollably, his eyes fixed on the two frozen hundred-thousand-year soul rings — and the countless fragments of Gui Mei's shattered, ethereal body suspended in the air.
At that moment, his entire world collapsed.
It felt as though his own heart had shattered — as if a part of him had died along with Gui Mei.
Yue Guan and Gui Mei shared humble origins. Both had grown up suffering, enduring the cruelties and hardships of the world.
Even so, they never gave in to despair.
Instead, they fought against fate itself, clawing their way up from the abyss.
Perhaps it was that shared pain that drew them together — two lost souls finding light in each other. From the moment they met, they gradually began walking the same path, becoming the guiding flame that illuminated one another's journey.
For years, the two had traveled across the continent — through countless battles, life-and-death crises, victories and defeats.
They competed, they grew, they bled together.
Eventually, they developed perfect synergy, even creating their powerful Martial Soul Fusion Skill — Polar Static Domain.
Their strength soon earned them fame across the Douluo Continent. The names Chrysanthemum Douluo and Ghost Douluo became known throughout the Soul Master world.
Eventually, the Spirit Hall took notice of them. Forced by circumstance — yet driven by ambition — they accepted its invitation.
Through relentless effort, both reached the pinnacle — Titled Douluo.
Since then, they have been inseparable.
Every mission, every battle — they faced it together.
Neither of them had family left in this world.
To each other, they were all that remained — more than brothers, more than comrades.
And now…
Watching Gui Mei's body shatter into countless fragments, Yue Guan's heart felt as if it had been torn apart.
The pain was the same as that day long ago — when he had watched his beloved sister die before his eyes.
"Old Ghost…"
His voice trembled as despair filled his eyes. Then, suddenly, he broke free of Dugu Bo's grip, rushing madly toward the motionless space ahead, screaming hoarsely,
"OLD GHOST!!"
But Dugu Bo grabbed him tightly, forcing him back.
"Chrysanthemum Douluo! Calm down!"
Meanwhile, Gui Mei drifted within an endless spiritual sea.
All around him surged boundless tides of psychic energy, crashing endlessly against his consciousness.
Within that vast, shadowy ocean, he saw it — a dark figure identical to himself.
That shadow radiated a strange and eerie aura. It felt both familiar and alien — as if it were the embodiment of the power hidden deep within his own soul.
"So… this is my soul?"
A powerful instinctive urge rose within Gui Mei — he needed to grasp it, to make it his.
He swam through the endless waves, desperately reaching for that shadow.
Every time he extended his hand, it seemed within reach — yet the instant he touched it, it drifted away again.
On and on he chased, unable to tell if this was a dream or reality. With every pursuit, his awareness dimmed, exhaustion weighing on his mind — yet he couldn't stop.
Amid the roaring waves, his consciousness began to drown. Just before darkness consumed him, he whispered,
"Finally… caught you."
His hand closed around the shadow.
---
"Chrysanthemum Douluo! Look—!"
Yue Guan, drowning in despair, suddenly heard Dugu Bo's startled voice. He jerked his head up instinctively.
And what he saw made his eyes widen in disbelief.
The space that had fallen still moments ago began to stir again — as if life itself had returned to it.
The two blood-red hundred-thousand-year rings suddenly flared with light and began to rotate once more!
The fragments of Gui Mei's shattered body began to move too — gathering, swirling toward the center of the rings.
Both Yue Guan and Dugu Bo stood rooted to the spot, utterly stunned.
Yue Guan stared ahead, hardly daring to blink. The two soul rings spun faster and faster — until, in the blink of an eye, they merged into one, releasing a blinding orange-golden radiance!
Slowly, that orange-golden ring steadied, its rotation slowing to a gentle hum.
And at its very center — the fragments of Gui Mei's body reformed, flesh and spirit converging once again into his true form.
When Gui Mei's figure reformed, he looked the same as before — the same youthful face, calm and composed, as if nothing had ever happened.
Both Yue Guan and Dugu Bo stood frozen, eyes wide in disbelief.
If they hadn't witnessed it with their own eyes, they would never have believed it possible.
"The two soul rings… actually merged into one…"
"Old Ghost… he's not dead… He—he came back to life!"
Yue Guan's body trembled, his voice choking with emotion.
Dugu Bo's lips curved into a grin.
"Yeah, he made it! Old Ghost actually survived the impossible — he pulled through!"
At that moment, the mysterious power of the Blue Silver Emperor within Gui Mei's body awakened. It flowed gently through his meridians like a tranquil stream. Wherever it passed, the raging energy of the twin soul rings calmed, tamed by that soothing vitality.
A faint blue-golden glow spread across Gui Mei's body, wrapping him in a serene, holy light.
His breathing grew steady. His complexion, peaceful.
Seeing this, Yue Guan finally exhaled a long sigh of relief and collapsed to the ground, utterly drained.
"He's alive… Old Ghost really survived."
Dugu Bo smiled and nodded.
"It must've been the Blue Silver Emperor's life force that stabilized him. But honestly… It's mostly because of his sheer will. His body literally exploded — yet he still reformed. That's beyond human endurance."
Yue Guan stared at Gui Mei intently, eyes filled with awe and lingering disbelief.
He suddenly recalled Bibi Dong's ninth soul skill, born from her Death Spider Emperor Martial Soul — Undying Body.
That ability granted her two powers:
One — even if her body was shattered, she could reassemble herself.
Two — she could transform her body into pure energy.
Both shared a terrifying trait:
As long as her opponent wasn't a god, she could not die in that state.
"Old Ghost… could it be… you've found the connection between your two martial souls?" Yue Guan whispered in shock.
Time trickled by, second by second.
Gui Mei sat quietly within the softly spinning orange-golden soul ring, his aura stable — the energy perfectly harmonious.
"Chrysanthemum Douluo," Dugu Bo said after a while, "he's fine now. I'll keep watching here — you go collect the Titan Giant Ape's soul bone."
Yue Guan shook his head firmly.
"No. I'm not leaving him. You go instead — please."
Dugu Bo sighed helplessly.
"You… Fine. I'll go."
Unknowingly, five days and nights passed.
At dawn on the fifth day, Gui Mei finally opened his eyes.
A surge of tremendous power burst from his body, rippling through the air like a shockwave. Even space itself seemed to shudder.
Yue Guan instantly leapt to his feet and rushed over, grabbing Gui Mei's arms tightly.
"Old Ghost! You're awake! You did it — you actually absorbed both hundred-thousand-year soul rings!"
Tears shimmered in Yue Guan's eyes, his voice trembling with excitement.
Gui Mei stood slowly, a faint smile tugging at his lips.
"Old Chrysanthemum, look at you. I'm standing right here — why are you crying?"
Dugu Bo chuckled from the side.
"Old Ghost, you've got no idea how close that was. This guy nearly died of heartbreak — cried like a baby!"
"Huh?" Gui Mei raised a brow.
"Your body turned transparent," Dugu Bo explained, "then shattered into a million fragments and froze midair with those soul rings. It looked like you were gone for good. Then — out of nowhere — you pulled yourself back together. It was terrifying to watch."
Yue Guan released his grip, hastily wiping the tears from his face.
"I can't believe the old poison saw me like that… Don't you dare spread this, or I'll lose all my dignity."
"Hahaha!" Dugu Bo burst out laughing.
"By the way, Old Ghost," Yue Guan asked, "what exactly happened? Didn't you feel anything?"
Gui Mei shook his head.
"I was inside a vast spiritual sea, completely cut off from the outside world. But I think I understand now… This must be my new ability."
He paused, eyes glinting with calm confidence.
"—The Undying Body."
—
End of Chapter