A Great Leap in Strength, the Essence of a Martial Soul

"You've done very well these past three months. This Emperor keeps her word. It is yours."

Bibi Dong sat down gracefully, naturally crossing her legs.

It had become her habit, causing her nightgown to ride up slightly.

Making her even more dazzling.

"This item is called the Wisdom Skull of Spiritual Condensation. It came from a Top-Tier Spirit Beast Over Fifty Thousand Years, and its attributes are an exceptional match for your martial soul."

Lu Yan examined the soul bone.

It was supposed to be awarded several years later as a prize for the finalist team in the All-Continent High-Level Soul Master Competition.

He could not help but sigh inwardly. Bibi Dong was truly generous.

This soul bone could not only greatly increase Spiritual Power, but also enhance a soul master's intelligence.

It would also be of immense help to his future development of Self-Created Soul Skills.

"Thank you for Your Eminence the Pope's generous gift," Lu Yan said solemnly.

"Fuse it here," Bibi Dong said. "This Emperor will personally stand guard for you."

It was exactly what Lu Yan wanted.

He immediately sat cross-legged upon the soft carpet, brought the skull radiating a deep-blue glow to his forehead, and slowly released his Spiritual Power.

Buzz—

In an instant, the skull seemed to activate, transforming into a gentle blue streak of light that smoothly flowed into the Spiritual Platform between Lu Yan's brows like mercury.

There was no searing pain. Instead, he felt an indescribable comfort, as though parched earth had been nourished by sweet rain.

His Spiritual Power rose rapidly, while his Sea of Consciousness continually expanded and strengthened.

The foundations he had accumulated over years of cultivating Purple Demon Eyes were also stirred.

Purple Intent filled his eyes, which gleamed with brilliant light.

The Heaven and Earth Vitality around him was drawn in, beginning to gather around his body.

Bibi Dong, seated beside him and attentively guarding him, suddenly narrowed her eyes.

Her gaze fell upon the Strange Eye-Shaped Object with Seven-Colored Light that silently emerged between Lu Yan's brows.

She was startled at first, then a knowing smile spread across her lips.

"No wonder... your Spiritual Power is so extraordinary. You were hiding an External Soul Bone as well."

The integration of this new soul bone complemented that strange External Soul Bone, causing Lu Yan's Spiritual Power to soar as if it had been launched like a rocket.

"It seems that with this soul bone, you little fellow will truly become unstoppable in the future."

Lu Yan could clearly feel his Spiritual Power surging, at a rate that even surpassed when he had consumed the Full Moon Wearing Autumn Dew.

This refinement lasted a full two days.

Bibi Dong also sat quietly in the room, guarding him for two days.

When everything returned to calm, Lu Yan abruptly opened his eyes.

Purple-gold flames flickered within them. Spiritual Power burst from his body, only to sink back into his mind in the blink of an eye and fall silent.

He had not trained for nothing over the past three months. Controlling Spiritual Power was merely routine for him.

"Indeed, this soul bone is a perfect match for you."

Bibi Dong's cool voice sounded.

"It even nourished your External Soul Bone, raising its quality to the ten-thousand-year level."

Lu Yan was not surprised that Bibi Dong had discovered his External Soul Bone.

Now that the soul bone had fused with him, it did not matter if she found out. Even if she killed him, she would not be able to extract it.

"Without Your Eminence the Pope's reward, I would never have received such an opportunity," Lu Yan said sincerely.

The benefits brought by fusing the soul bone and advancing his External Soul Bone were immediate—

His Soul Power leaped several levels in succession, reaching the peak of level thirty-eight.

But that was not the most important part.

Most importantly, his Spiritual Power had crossed that vast threshold and stabilized at the Soul Saint realm.

Lu Yan was absolutely confident that, combined with the mysteries of the Dream Butterfly Martial Soul, even a Soul Saint Expert would obediently enter a Dream before him.

Moreover, the Wisdom Skull had indeed deeply fused with Purple Demon Eyes, giving rise to a powerful spiritual attack soul skill—

Purple Divine Light.

Its power was enough to threaten even Soul Emperor-level experts.

His thinking speed had also reached an entirely new level, and many of the doubts that had plagued his cultivation were now effortlessly resolved.

And... at this moment, Lu Yan could sense a brand-new power gestating deep within his martial soul, ready to burst forth.

"Very good."

Bibi Dong shifted the subject.

"However, your Spiritual Power has risen too quickly, and your foundation may be somewhat unstable. Before you leave, This Emperor will temper you one final time."

Lu Yan understood what this "tempering" meant—drawing upon the Rakshasa God's Mind to hone his spirit amid danger.

Risk and opportunity went hand in hand.

"Right now?"

"No." Bibi Dong shook her head. "You have just fused the soul bone and need time to stabilize it. Come here again tonight."

"Yes."

Lu Yan turned and left.

Bibi Dong watched his figure disappear through the doorway. Her Purple Eyes were profound as she murmured softly, "I hope you... can truly become that key and help me break these final shackles."

Night fell.

Lu Yan arrived at Bibi Dong's bedchamber.

Tonight, she was completely different from usual. She wore Pope Robes and had clearly been waiting for some time.

"Follow me."

When she saw him arrive, Bibi Dong merely glanced at him before rising and walking toward a seemingly ordinary wall at one side of the room.

She pressed her jade-like hand against the wall.

With the faint sound of mechanisms turning, the wall silently slid inward, revealing the entrance to a deep passage ahead.

A cold, damp scent mixed with the dust of ages wafted out from within.

Lu Yan's Pupils contracted slightly, and alarm bells rang wildly in his mind.

No way?

He thought of a certain place.

He suddenly wanted to run.

"Come here." Bibi Dong's voice came again, devoid of any discernible emotion.

Lu Yan drew a deep breath, suppressed the unease in his heart, and stepped forward after her.

The passage concealed another world within.

Night-luminescent pearls embedded in the walls on either side gave off a cold glow, illuminating the way ahead.

The deeper they went, the more oppressive the atmosphere became.

At last, they reached the end of the passage—the Secret Chamber he had seen in the Dream.

"This is...?" Lu Yan forced himself to remain calm as he asked.

Bibi Dong looked back, her gaze sharp as a blade, as if it could pierce through his disguise.

"There is no need to pretend you do not know. This is where everything began, and also... where the nightmare began."

It was also the root of all her pain and hatred.

Bibi Dong's gaze swept across the Secret Chamber, and the hatred she had buried for decades churned in her chest like a volcano.

Qian Xunji's nauseating voice seemed to ring in her ears once more.

Today, she would make a complete break with the past here.

"Why... must it be this place?" Lu Yan asked in a low voice.

"Only by facing the past can one completely sever the Chains and be reborn."

Bibi Dong's voice carried an icy resolve.

"If I wish to cast off the past, I must personally bury it here."

Before her words had even faded—

A far denser and purer evil, corrupt aura than ever before erupted violently from her body.

Dark-purple Rakshasa Divine Power coiled around her like living creatures.

Strange, eerie dark-purple patterns rapidly spread across Bibi Dong's coldly beautiful and noble face.

Rather than damaging her beauty, they added a bewitching charm that made one's heart tremble.

"With your help, I am only one final step away from truly mastering this power."

Bibi Dong raised her hand, looking at the Rakshasa Divine Power flowing over her fingertips like liquid.

"But there has always been an invisible barrier preventing me from completely merging with it. I can sense that it is the lingering echo of the past, causing trouble Deep within the soul."

Bibi Dong's gaze completely Lock On Lu Yan, no longer concealing anything.

Over the past three months, Lu Yan had already witnessed her at her most miserable and disheveled. Before him, her secrets had nowhere left to hide.

"I need you to use your current Soul Saint-level Spiritual Power to help me find it, and then... destroy it completely."

Lu Yan's heart shook violently, and he immediately refused.

"Your Eminence the Pope, forgive me, but I cannot comply. This power is too formidable. Even if it is only a trace, I must use all my strength to resist it. If I become contaminated by more of it, I fear..."

"Things are different now," Bibi Dong interrupted.

"I can already control ninety percent of this power, enough to protect your consciousness. Besides..."

She paused again and looked deeply at Lu Yan.

"Perhaps you still do not fully understand what your ability to freely invade Others' Dreams truly means. It is not merely Spiritual Power—it is a force that touches upon the Soul Origin. In this world, aside from you, I have never seen a second person with such a gift."

"Therefore, only you can find and remove the obstruction Deep within my soul."

Bibi Dong had seen through the essence of his martial soul.