Chapter 345: The Divine Mark on Ah Du's Forehead
Bibi Dong frowned slightly, her gaze lingering on the little angel for a moment before she turned and left. It seemed that Qian Renxue wouldn't be leaving Spirit City anytime soon, so their conversation could be postponed for another time.
As everything settled down, the cold voice of the Ice God rang again in Ning Bei's mind.
"Ice God's Eighth Trial, the first person beneath the gods, defeating two 99th-level Limit Douluos has been completed. Target: 99th-level Limit Douluo Poseidon, 99th-level Limit Douluo Qian Daoliu. Trial evaluation: Excellent. Reward granted."
"Reward: One divine soul ring, all soul ring years for the Ice Empress increased by 50,000 years, all soul bones' years increased by 50,000 years. External soul bone, Spirit Snake Wings, evolved into Ice Snow Divine Wings."
Amidst the astonished gazes of those around him, Ning Bei's body suddenly lifted into the air. The external soul bone, which originally had only two wings, now transformed into three pairs, much like the Six-Winged Angel Martial Soul. The color gradually shifted from dark brown to translucent ice-blue, looking both mysterious and noble.
"Grandfather, what's happening to Ah bei?"
After pondering for a moment, Qian Daoliu seemed to have figured it out.
"This should be a reward from completing the Divine Trial. Hurry up and finish what you're doing so you can come back and take your trial. You and this kid were originally on the same level, but now you've been left far behind by him in terms of martial souls."
The little angel stuck out her tongue. She too wanted to quickly return to the Spirit Hall and take the trial, but some trivial matters, once started, couldn't be easily stopped, or else her efforts would have been in vain.
"I understand, Grandpa. Once the matters with the Haotian Sect are resolved, I'll head back to the God Temple to take the trial. You can send someone to manage the affairs of the Tiandou Empire."
"Mm. Those are just external forces; becoming a god is the root of everything. As long as you have a plan in your heart, I won't say more."
During the conversation between grandfather and granddaughter, Ning Bei completed the reception of his rewards. His eyes gleamed with joy as his body slowly descended beside the little angel.
"Ah bei, you finished the trial?"
"Yes, the eighth trial is complete. The rewards are quite generous."
"Then what about your ninth trial?"
The little angel's question reminded Ning Bei. After a failed attempt to communicate, he shook his head.
"It hasn't been issued yet. I think it requires some time or specific conditions. No need to rush for now."
"I see..."
Qian Daoliu, with a complicated look, glanced at his grandson-in-law. His hesitant expression made Ning Bei chuckle, and he could only transmit his thoughts to the old man to stop his outburst.
After a brief exchange of glances, Qian Daoliu led his old friends back to the God Temple.
Qian Renxue's delicate face showed some confusion.
"Why the cryptic talk with Grandpa? Is there something you're hiding from me?"
"It's nothing, just a suggestion about the Divine Trial. Don't you want to meet that person?"
Ning Bei didn't dare to directly tell the little angel that her grandfather planned to sacrifice himself for her to become a god. He wasn't sure whether the medicine he gave her would even be useful for her ninth trial. If Qian Renxue refused to take the trial, it would be problematic.
Fortunately, Ning Bei successfully changed the subject, and the little angel didn't press the issue, though she looked at Ning Bei with a conflicted expression.
"She... she just patted my head."
The little angel's complicated expression made Ning Bei laugh. Did she really need to be so serious about being patted on the head by her mother?
"Is that so? It means she truly wants to improve your relationship. If you also want to, you should go meet her. I'll wait outside the Pope's Hall."
After some thought, Qian Renxue seemed to have made up her mind, or perhaps she truly wanted to clear up her long-standing doubts. She nodded and led Ning Bei toward the Pope's Hall.
Along the way, the little angel kept her head down, looking deep in thought. Ning Bei didn't know how to comfort her, so he decided to wait and adapt after they finished talking.
Fortunately, just before reaching the Pope's Hall, two figures broke the oppressive silence. Ning Bei saw them and was surprised. He raised his hand and called out to them.
"Ah Du!"
"Second Young Master!"
It had been two years since they last met, and the black-haired young man had completely shed his childishness, now appearing mature, stable, and reliable.
Hearing Ning Bei's call, Ah Du felt a surge of joy and immediately rushed toward him.
"Second Young Master, it's been a long time! Are you well?"
"Doing well, but you made me worry for a bit."
Ning Bei glanced at him, slightly annoyed. After leaving, he hadn't sent any messages to the sect; what was he doing running to Spirit Hall like this?
At this moment, Hu Liena also quietly followed, offering a respectful salute to Ning Bei.
"Young Master Ning, it's been a while. Once again, thank you for the medicine. It has helped me get through many tough situations."
"No need for such formalities. It was just a casual act."
Ning Bei waved his hand, signaling Hu Liena to stop, and then turned to Ah Du, intending to ask why he had come to Spirit Hall.
"Ah Du, what brings you here?"
Before he could finish, Ning Bei suddenly swallowed the rest of his words. He noticed a strange yet familiar black mark on Ah Du's forehead.
Familiar because he had seen similar marks on his own forehead and on Nami's, but unfamiliar because this mark didn't belong to either the Sea God or the Ice God.
Ning Bei's expression shifted from teasing to serious, and both Ah Du and Hu Liena grew tense.
"Ah Du, what's this divine mark on your forehead? Did the Shura God or the Rakshasa God find you?"
The two had just returned from the City of Slaughter, and the only gods Ning Bei could think of related to that place were these two.
Ning Bei's words shocked Qian Renxue, who immediately looked at Ah Du's forehead, where a mysterious and noble-looking mark was indeed visible.
Although the little fox knew where the mark came from, she didn't realize it was related to the gods. Ah Du had returned with them to ask Bibi Dong if she knew the origin of the mark. However, they ran into Ning Bei and were immediately pointed out.
"Divine mark?"
Hu Liena shuddered, looking at Ah Du with disbelief. She never expected the companion she had spent the past two years with would carry such a fate.
"Second Young Master, I don't know what's going on, but if this is truly a divine mark, I can assure you it's not from the Shura or Rakshasa Gods."
"Oh? Why are you so sure?"
"Because they referred to themselves as the God of Death, so..."
"The God of Death? Have you already taken the Divine Trial?"
"No, they told me to increase my soul power to level 70 within two years, and if I succeed, I'm to visit again."
Ah Du's explanation left Ning Bei stunned. Visit again? Where? The City of Slaughter?
"Tell me everything in detail."
"Yes, Second Young Master."
Ah Du didn't hesitate and told his entire story. After his martial soul anomaly, he and Hu Liena had headed to the Death Canyon. Originally, the little fox intended to check if Xie Yue and Yan were still there, but they seemed to have completed their trials and returned to Spirit Hall. So Hu Liena decided to head back home.
However, Ah Du's martial soul anomaly led him deep into the Death Canyon.
(END CHAPTER)
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