Chapter 26: Some Explanations About the System
After passing through the territory of the Dark Gold Bat Colony, Bibi Dong continued toward the exit of the Hell Road.
The closer she drew to the Blood Pool, the higher the temperature became—and the narrower the path grew.
For the Ten-Headed Fierce Yang Serpent, a beast of pure fire attribute, this scorching environment was its natural domain.
"It's coming!"
Qi Tian's alert voice sounded suddenly.
Bibi Dong's expression sharpened. She, too, heard the faint slithering noise of scales scraping against stone—and the eerie "waa waa" cry, resembling the wail of a newborn child.
In the next instant, a streak of firelight raced along the ground, illuminating the narrow stone path ahead.
Behind them, the bat swarm still hovered at a distance. Though fearful of Bibi Dong's Death Domain and the Ten-Headed Serpent's aura, they were reluctant to retreat—still watching greedily, waiting for a chance.
And before her, blocking the path, a ten-meter-long crimson serpent coiled its massive body across the narrow passage.
Its head was unique— from its thick neck sprouted nine swollen red lumps, like fleshy mushrooms. These were the embryonic forms of its nine other heads, and also the cores where it stored its energy.
The blazing fire that had just illuminated the path—that was one of its attacks.
That single strike carried a power comparable to a ten-thousand-year soul skill—absolutely not to be underestimated.
Yet Bibi Dong remained calm.
"Don't worry," Qi Tian reminded softly. "Your soul power can neutralize fire-elemental energy attacks."
"I know," Bibi Dong's reply was cool and steady.
Her Martial Soul erupted—the Death Spider Emperor.
Her body merged with the soul spirit, eight sharp, obsidian spider legs unfurling from her back as she lunged forward toward the Ten-Headed Serpent.
At the same time, she scattered the realgar powder she had prepared in advance. The toxic mineral flared faintly as it touched the serpent's aura.
Her spider legs pierced through the fiery light on the ground, stabbing directly toward the beast's scaled body.
The Ten-Headed Fierce Yang Serpent hissed sharply. When it realized that neither its flame attacks nor venom could harm Bibi Dong, fury overtook it.
It whipped its massive tail sideways, aiming to shatter the narrow stone bridge ahead—the only path crossing the Blood Pool.
If it succeeded, Bibi Dong would surely plummet into the molten pool below.
But she had already read its intent.
With a sudden leap, her figure blurred through the air and landed atop the serpent's head.
A thunderous crash echoed behind her—the stone pillar she had just stood on shattered completely, chunks of rock plunging into the crimson Blood Pool below, dissolving instantly in the bubbling liquid.
Without hesitation, Bibi Dong swung her spider legs like curved scythes, slashing at the serpent's neck—specifically, at the fleshy lumps along it.
Its scales were thick as armor, but those nine lumps were its weakness.
The Fierce Yang Serpent reacted instantly. It released the shattered pillar from its coils and lunged upward, its gaping maw snapping toward Bibi Dong as its long body coiled to ensnare her.
In the fiery glow, the scene resembled a surreal battle—a two-meter spider demon clashing with a ten-meter crimson serpent, a fight of tooth and fang like something out of a primeval nightmare.
To Qi Tian, who observed from within, it was like watching a 5D battle projection—so vivid he could almost feel the heat. He didn't dare make a sound, afraid even the smallest distraction might endanger her.
One of the serpent's fleshy lumps burst open under Bibi Dong's strike, spraying golden-red liquid that hissed as it hit the stone.
The serpent bit in the empty air. Its coils missed their mark, and its constriction attack failed.
Bibi Dong twisted nimbly away, repeating her motion— spider legs flashing as she targeted another lump.
"Waa—waa!!"
The serpent's distorted cry filled the cavern as the remaining eight lumps began to glow gold. It tried to unleash another devastating skill—But Bibi Dong would not allow it.
Her spider legs moved again in a blur, slashing through another lump—interrupting its buildup of energy.
By the time she destroyed the fifth lump, the Ten-Headed Fierce Yang Serpent finally broke.
Fear replaced fury. It no longer dared engage her directly.
With a hiss, it coiled back, its massive form twisting away as it fled deeper into the Hell Road.
At the same time, it tried to collapse the narrow path ahead, hoping to trap Bibi Dong behind.
But how could she let it escape?
The moment it turned to flee, its enormous body became a perfect target.
In the span of a few breaths, all nine lumps were shredded open.
The Death Spider's venom had already begun to take hold—spreading swiftly through its body.
Although the Ten-Headed Fierce Yang Serpent had a strong resistance to poison, Bibi Dong's Death Spider Venom was not something it could ignore. Its body began to weaken, movements slowing, its strength gradually fading.
Seizing the opportunity, Bibi Dong's spider legs gleamed like deathly scythes. She slashed precisely at the junction where its fleshy lumps grew—severing its massive neck in one swift, decisive motion.
The Ten-Headed Fierce Yang Serpent collapsed lifelessly, its body twitching once before falling still.
From the wounds where the fleshy lumps had been, golden-red liquid oozed out—merging midair. Before Bibi Dong's eyes, it condensed into a glowing inner core.
She reached out, catching it in her palm, studying it carefully as a faint heat pulsed from its surface.
"What a potent toxin... So this is an inner core? It's my first time seeing one."
Qi Tian's tone carried a hint of awe.
"Of course. That was the sovereign of serpents, an ancient primordial beast. In the outside world, it would rank among the top-tier soul beasts."
Bibi Dong frowned slightly. "But why didn't it have a soul ring? Could it be that ancient beasts only possess these inner cores—and not soul rings?"
Qi Tian paused for a moment, clearly unsure, before voicing his reasoning.
"In the ancient era, there probably weren't soul masters or soul beasts. All living beings cultivated strength through different means back then."
"The City of Slaughter is enveloped by the Death God Domain, which preserves the rules of that ancient age. That's why none of the creatures here possess soul rings."
He thought about it deeper, realization dawning.
"The God of Shura ascended before the Dragon God's fall—long before martial souls and soul rings came into existence, which were creations of the Dragon God's divine essence. So, naturally, Shura's cultivation method was completely different."
Bibi Dong's eyes flashed with surprise. "The Death God Domain can preserve such ancient laws?"
"Of course," Qi Tian explained. "This place carries two divine inheritances. The Death God Domain itself is a fragment of a god's true domain."
Her brows furrowed. "Divine inheritance... could it be that this place hides the secret to reaching level 100—to becoming a god?"
For any soul master, the mystery of divine ascension was an irresistible temptation. Even Bibi Dong, who usually held her composure, couldn't conceal her curiosity.
"You're right," Qi Tian admitted. "But whether one can obtain a God Position depends entirely on the will of the deity."
"If a god chooses to pass down their power, we can receive the inheritance. But if they refuse... forcing contact could instead make us their servants."
He wasn't exaggerating. No matter how talented a person was, if the deity refused to acknowledge them, they could end up bound—like a High Priest tied to a divine temple.
Becoming a god's priest might sound glorious, but it was a golden cage. Bound by duty, forever unable to act freely, their life and death at the whim of the deity.
"At least," Qi Tian added, "the priests of the City of Slaughter and Spirit Hall can move freely between their sanctuaries. But the Sea God's High Priest and his worship elders? They can't even leave Sea God Island without divine permission. Tell me, isn't that just another kind of prison?"
He finished explaining, and Bibi Dong's earlier excitement slowly cooled.
After a long silence, she glanced at the serpent's corpse and murmured,
"If we could uncover the secret behind ancient cultivation... wouldn't that mean we could find another way to become gods?"
Qi Tian's eyes brightened. "That's... actually a great idea. You're planning to take the serpent's body with you for research?"
Bibi Dong nodded firmly. "Yes. That's exactly my plan."
"Then take it," Qi Tian said with conviction. "If you can unravel even a fragment of its mysteries, you might just reshape the future of the Douluo Continent."
After all, a fully matured Ten-Headed Fierce Yang Serpent was nothing less than a true divine beast. Even the legendary Ten-Headed Phoenix that Ma Hongjun would one day possess came from the same bloodline.
Qi Tian couldn't help but smile wryly. He never expected that the once-naïve, easily deceived Bibi Dong would now be thinking about scientific research and ancient cultivation theory.
Perhaps, he thought, if she truly succeeded...Then maybe, just maybe—she would uncover a new path toward godhood.
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End of Chapter