This was the first time Bibi Dong and Yu Xiaogang met. To lift the gloom in his heart, she took him boating in Coconut Grove City and then to see the lantern festival.
Bibi Dong had a wonderful time that day. He was the first friend she could truly open her heart to.
At last, just before they parted, Yu Xiaogang asked curiously, "I heard you came out this time to hunt for a Soul Ring. Which ring are you adding?"
"The Fifth Soul Ring," Bibi Dong replied without hesitation.
"The Fifth Soul Ring?" Yu Xiaogang said in shock.
"Of course. I'm already a Quasi-Soul King," Bibi Dong said proudly, planting her hands on her hips.
Jealousy surged through Yu Xiaogang. Twin Top-Tier Beast Martial Souls and Innate Full Soul Power—why hadn't such talent been his? Why—
Suppressing the bitter emotions churning inside him, Yu Xiaogang pretended to think for a moment, then delivered the advice he had prepared long ago. "For the Death Spider Emperor's Fifth Soul Skill, I suggest hunting a Poison-Attribute Insect Type Soul Beast. A ten-thousand-year Venomous Wasp Queen would be best. It could give you a fine Soul Skill."
Bibi Dong looked at him suspiciously. "You know the development path for my Death Spider Emperor?"
In this era, Soul Masters generally understood only the development paths of their own Martial Souls. The Death Spider Emperor had nothing to do with Yu Xiaogang's Martial Soul. How could he know its path?
And the Venomous Wasp Queen happened to be among the Soul Beasts Bibi Dong was considering for this hunt.
Yu Xiaogang clasped his hands behind his back. He wore a world-weary expression, but his eyes shone with wisdom. "After my Martial Soul mutated, Luo Sanpao had nothing in common with the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Martial Soul. I had no one's experience to rely on, so I had to find my own path. To work out which Soul Rings would suit Luo Sanpao, I read a great many books. That's how I learned which Soul Beasts suited different Martial Souls."
"You're amazing. Thank you—I'll take your advice." With that, Bibi Dong handed Yu Xiaogang a ticket and a pouch of coins. Reluctance showed on her face. "I've been happy spending time with you. Here, take this. It's a ticket to the Heaven Dou Soul Master Competition. I'm a member of the Spirit Hall Team, so you must come and watch."
With that, Bibi Dong left.
Watching her walk away, Yu Xiaogang's mouth curved into a crooked smile. One look at the ticket in his hand told him his plan had already half succeeded.
Once he won Bibi Dong over, he could use her authority as Saintess to enter Spirit Hall and read through its tens of thousands of years' worth of books. There, he would find a way to evolve his Martial Soul.
The All-Continent Soul Master Competition was held every five years. It represented the highest level of the Soul Master world in any given era, and most of the continent's strongest figures had competed in it.
In an earlier competition, the Haotian Twin Stars had risen above the rest, defeated the Spirit Hall Team, and claimed first place, earning fame throughout the land.
It was also at an earlier competition that Ning Fengzhi had met Chen Xin and Gu Rong and invited them to join the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.
This year, the competition was being held again, with the finals in Heaven Dou City.
After receiving the ticket, Yu Xiaogang spent the Gold Soul Coins Bibi Dong had given him and made his way to Heaven Dou City to watch the competition.
From the stands, Yu Xiaogang noticed one team in particular: the Heaven Dou Royal Academy Team.
Among its members was someone Yu Xiaogang would have recognized even if he had been reduced to ashes—Yu Xiaomen.
Only then did Yu Xiaogang remember that Yu Xiaomen attended Heaven Dou Royal Academy. He was now a core fighter on the Imperial Fighting Team.
The moment Yu Xiaogang saw him, his good mood vanished.
He watched Yu Xiaomen lead the Imperial Fighting Team against the Star Luo Team. At level 47, Yu Xiaomen was a Soul Ancestor. With well-judged tactics, he led his team in eliminating the Soul Master with the Spirit Cat Martial Soul first, preventing the Hell White Tiger from forming. What followed was a thrilling Dragon-Tiger Showdown, with the dragon ultimately defeating the tiger.
When Yu Xiaomen, bloodied from battle, defeated the Star Luo Team's last contestant, countless spectators roared, "Imperial Fighting Team! Thunder God Yu Xiaomen! God of War! God of War! God of War!"
Yu Xiaogang clenched his fists, his eyes bloodshot as he stared at the young man standing in the center of the arena.
Before his Spirit Awakening, Yu Xiaogang had always measured himself against the brothers Tang Hao and Tang Xiao. He, too, had dreamed of standing on the stage of the All-Continent Soul Master Competition, stunning everyone and becoming the center of attention.
But his Spirit Awakening had shattered that dream.
Now, seeing Yu Xiaomen standing there in the spotlight, basking in the crowd's cheers, Yu Xiaogang burned with jealousy.
Damn it! That place should have been mine! Damn Yu Xiaomen! Damn Luo Sanpao! Yu Xiaogang raged inwardly.
Another team also caught his attention: the Spirit Hall Team, led by Bibi Dong. In this competition, she was a Soul King, something unprecedented for the team.
She easily defeated her opponent without even using Martial Soul Possession, drawing applause and cheers from the crowd.
In the end, Yu Xiaomen's Imperial Fighting Team and Bibi Dong's Spirit Hall Team reached the Finals Bracket.
As the two teams faced off in the arena, Yu Xiaogang silently urged them on from the stands. Come on, Bibi Dong. Come on, Spirit Hall Team.
Yu Xiaogang only wanted to use Bibi Dong, and he felt no affection for the Spirit Hall Team. But because their opponent was Yu Xiaomen, he sincerely hoped Yu Xiaomen would fall flat in the final.
The match began. Both sides summoned their Martial Souls, filling the arena with all manner of forms as each team brought its skills to bear. Bibi Dong and Yu Xiaomen became the focus of the contest.
Against a Soul Ancestor as powerful as Yu Xiaomen, Bibi Dong could not win without Martial Soul Possession. Pressed hard, she had no choice but to let the Death Spider Emperor possess her.
Yu Xiaogang frowned slightly at the sight of Bibi Dong transformed into a spider woman. A flash of disgust crossed his eyes. "How revolting."
In truth, although Martial Soul Possession made Bibi Dong less beautiful, she was hardly ugly. It even gave her a distinctive allure. But to Yu Xiaogang, she looked hideous in that form. Only by seeing her that way could he find some small sense of superiority while pursuing her.
Once possessed by her Martial Soul, Bibi Dong finally unleashed the overwhelming power of a Soul King. Yu Xiaomen ultimately fell to the Death Spider Emperor's deadly poison.
The sight of Yu Xiaomen collapsing left Yu Xiaogang feeling as refreshed as if he had drunk an ice-cold Sprite on a sweltering day.
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