Asura and Rakshasa

Bibi Dong accepted the championship prize on behalf of the Spirit Hall Team. After the tournament ended, she went to find Yu Xiaogang.

When she saw him, her gaze flickered away.

Bibi Dong thought her Death Spider Emperor looked ugly when she used Martial Soul Possession. She had no qualms about using it in front of others, but after the tournament, she suddenly remembered that Yu Xiaogang had been there watching.

He was the only friend she had ever truly opened up to, and she hadn't wanted him to see that side of her. She was afraid he would run away, just as the friends she had made as a child had fled when they saw her use Martial Soul Possession.

"Did I look ugly when I used Martial Soul Possession?" Bibi Dong asked, her voice uncertain.

Looking at the anxious girl before him, Yu Xiaogang thought with a sense of superiority, Yes. So ugly it made me sick. I'm probably the only person in the world who could accept that flaw of yours. Feeling magnanimous, he shook his head. "No. Ugly is what other people call your Martial Soul. No matter what you look like after using Martial Soul Possession, you're the most beautiful person in my eyes."

"Really?" Bibi Dong said, moved.

"Of course."

"Oh, right, Xiao Gang," Bibi Dong said. "You have nowhere to go. Why not come to Spirit Hall? You want to fix the flaw in your Martial Soul, don't you? Spirit Hall might have a way."

"Really? Wouldn't that be asking too much?"

Bibi Dong patted her chest and said confidently, "Don't worry. I'm the Saintess of Spirit Hall. I only need to speak to my master about letting you join."

"How could I trouble you with that?" Yu Xiaogang's eyes darted away as he made a show of reluctance.

"It's no trouble, Xiao Gang. Aren't we friends?"

"All right, then. Sorry for the trouble, Bibi Dong," Yu Xiaogang said.

At last, Yu Xiaogang had taken the first step toward his hidden goal.

Divine Realm

In a secluded corner.

Shura God stood with his hands behind his back, speaking as though he held the fate of all living beings in his hands:

"In a little over ten days, the once-in-ten-thousand-years Fortune Convergence will arrive. Douluo Continent will welcome the Son of Destiny everyone has been waiting for. My Great Treasure must be born at that exact moment. Only then can he naturally claim the Son of Destiny's supreme fortune and take his place as the one favored by fate in this era."

Shura God stroked his chin.

"For my Great Treasure to become Douluo Continent's Son of Destiny—that's a blessing for the continent and all its people."

He paced about, thoroughly pleased with himself. From his Great Treasure's previous life to his birth, his growth, and finally his Becoming a God, old Shura had arranged everything down to the last detail. He would guide him every step of the way.

"Under my careful guidance, my Great Treasure is sure to grow into an extraordinary talent and take on the great responsibility of leading the God Realm Committee."

But when Shura God thought of the God of Destruction, his brow furrowed slightly.

"Once my Great Treasure becomes a god, he must take possession of the key to the God Realm Central Hub. After Goodness, Evil, and I leave to roam the universe, who else could take that position? Unfortunately, my Great Treasure won't have the seniority. Destruction may object."

He continued, "That's why, when my Great Treasure becomes a god, he'll need a suitable trial. Ideally, he'll ascend to the Divine Realm with the achievement of saving the world from a crisis. Only then will everyone support him when he takes charge of the God Realm Committee."

"So that's why you had me find a successor?" A resentful voice came from behind Shura God. "What a clever plan. You're sacrificing my Divine Throne to pave the way for your successor."

Behind Shura God stood a striking woman in dark purple and black, staring at him with resentment.

Hearing the bitterness in Rakshasa's voice, Shura God frowned. "Rakshasa, haven't we always worked together like this? How many times have I told you to be sensible and stop making a fuss?"

"Yes, we've always worked together like this. You always tell me to be sensible and stop making a fuss. But what have I gotten out of it? Our origins once complemented each other. I was no less than you. Yet you kept judging me for my sins until you had fashioned yourself into a noble, righteous Law Enforcement God. And me? I became a Rakshasa despised by the Divine Realm." Rakshasa's voice rose in anger. "Now you want me to put everything I have into that precious treasure of yours, exactly as you say. What will I get in return?"

Rakshasa's emotions were growing unstable. She was on the verge of exploding.

Only then did Shura God realize he could no longer brush her off as he had before.

"Rakshasa, I promise this is the last time. The last time I'll ask for your help," Shura God said. "After this, I'll lay down my responsibilities in the Divine Realm, and we'll roam the universe together. How does that sound?"

"Do you mean it?" Rakshasa was tempted at once.

"I swear." Shura patted his chest.

Rakshasa God gazed at Shura with tender eyes, then pressed for more.

"That's not enough. You must also make our relationship public, like Life and Destruction, and Goodness and Evil."

A flash of coldness crossed Shura's eyes. He quickly concealed it and soothed her. "All right, Rakshasa. I promise. I'll agree to anything you want, okay?"

"Hmph. That's more like it," Rakshasa God said.

"How is your search for a successor going?" Shura asked.

"I've already chosen one. She's an exceptionally good match for my Divine Throne. If it weren't for the task you gave me, I'd almost want to train her properly." Rakshasa God leaned close to Shura God and whispered in his ear, "Should I train her well? The stronger she becomes, the more pressure your Great Treasure will face. That'll help him grow faster, won't it?"

"Hmph." Shura God gave a cold snort. "No need. If you make your successor too powerful, what if she hurts my Great Treasure? Besides, my Great Treasure alone deserves Douluo Continent's opportunities. Every bit your successor gets is a bit less for him. I won't allow that. Understood?"

Rakshasa God pursed her lips and said nothing more.

Shura God went on, "Once you set her Divine Trial, remember to restrict her growth and delay her Becoming a God. Leave my Great Treasure plenty of room to grow. She must become a god one step after him, understood? And don't give her any rewards for the Divine Trial. The Rakshasa God's Divine Throne and a Divine Artifact will be more than enough."

Rakshasa God rolled her eyes. "Yes, yes. I'll hold my successor back and make sure she grows slowly. Best not give her any rewards at all. We couldn't possibly let her hurt your precious Great Treasure, could we?"