She raised her other hand, and the Soul-Eater Spider Emperor Martial Soul appeared. A dark golden light gathered in her palm.
The Soul-Eater Spider Emperor Martial Soul's ability—Soul Rend.
Anyone struck by it would suffer severe damage to their soul.
Lu Jiuyuan watched the light grow brighter and suddenly chuckled.
"Bibi Dong."
He spoke calmly, his tone far too composed for someone who had been restrained.
"Have you ever wondered why I stood still and let you hit me?"
Bibi Dong raised an eyebrow.
"What do you mean?"
Lu Jiuyuan didn't answer. He simply slipped free of his restraints with ease.
Crack—!!!
The incredibly tough Death Spider Web split apart at once!
Bibi Dong's pupils shrank.
"How is that possible?!"
She knew better than anyone how tough the Death Spider Web was. Even a Titled Douluo would have a hard time breaking free once ensnared.
Lu Jiuyuan looked like an utterly ordinary man, and his strength was at most that of a Soul Saint. How could he possibly break free?!
Before she could figure it out, Lu Jiuyuan had already vanished from where he stood.
In the next instant,
a flash of sword light appeared right in front of Bibi Dong. It was so fast as to be lightning, leaving her no time to react. All she could do was watch helplessly as it pierced her body.
[Battle over.] [Winner: Lu Jiuyuan!] [Score: 1:0]
Soon, Bibi Dong reappeared in her original position. She still hadn't recovered, and stood there in a daze!
After a long while, a trace of killing intent flashed through Bibi Dong's violet eyes. She said coldly, "Lu Jiuyuan, that was just a fluke. This time, I won't hold back!"
As she spoke, she took a deep breath, and the aura around her began to surge once more.
"Now you'll see my true strength!"
As soon as she finished speaking, nine Soul Rings appeared around her—two yellow, two purple, and five black. They slowly revolved, releasing terrifying waves of energy.
The ninth Soul Ring lit up.
It was a Hundred Thousand Year Soul Ring.
Lu Jiuyuan looked at the nine Soul Rings and frowned slightly. It seemed she was about to get serious.
Ninth Soul Skill—Death Spider Emperor Avatar!
Her body instantly swelled, and the enormous phantom of the Death Spider Emperor appeared behind her.
Eight Spider Spears extended from her back. Each was as black as ink, glinting with a cold light.
She transformed into a half-human, half-spider form, moving at incredible speed.
This was Bibi Dong's true trump card.
Lu Jiuyuan looked up at the towering figure, his expression finally turning serious.
"This is a bit tricky, but it's no big deal!"
He murmured to himself, the corners of his mouth lifting slightly.
Hearing Lu Jiuyuan's words, Bibi Dong gave him a scornful smile. Her tone was brimming with arrogance and confidence.
"Lu Jiuyuan, you certainly talk big, but you won't get another chance!
"If you surrender now, perhaps I'll give you a position in the future!"
Lu Jiuyuan didn't answer her.
"Then I'll try this one too."
He raised his left hand and rapidly formed a series of hand seals with his fingers.
"Vast heaven and earth, righteousness everlasting; not to slay the immortals, but to cut down the ghosts and gods!"
He didn't use the Divine Sword Thunder Control Technique.
Instead, he used another of the Qingyun Sect's ultimate signature arts—
Ghost-Slaying Slash!
"BOOM!!!"
The heavens and earth changed color.
The star-studded void was suddenly shrouded in dark clouds, and thunder rumbled. But this time, what descended wasn't thunder. It was a sword beam imbued with overwhelming righteousness!
The sword beam seemed to come from the highest heavens, carrying an invincible might that could cut down every ghost and god in the world. It slashed straight toward Bibi Dong!
Bibi Dong's pupils contracted. She felt her body begin to tremble against her will. Her legs seemed to have gone numb, leaving her unable to move.
"What... what kind of power is this? How can it be so terrifying?!"
She sensed the will contained within the sword intent. It was the sword of the righteous path, the sword that vanquished evil, the righteous sword that cut down all the ghosts and gods under heaven.
The Death Spider Emperor Martial Soul trembled instinctively.
This was elemental suppression!
But she was, after all, a Peerless Douluo at level ninety-nine. She remained composed in the face of danger, crossing her eight Spider Spears into a web as brilliant light blazed around her.
Her eighth and ninth Soul Skills erupted at once!
"RUMBLE—"
The sword beam clashed with the Spider Spears.
Violent energy burst in every direction, and the entire battle space trembled.
The light faded.
Bibi Dong was down on one knee. Her Death Spider Emperor Avatar had been broken, and she staggered back dozens of steps, blood trickling from the corner of her mouth.
Clutching the wound on her shoulder, she stared at Lu Jiuyuan in disbelief.
Bibi Dong's expression was incredibly complicated.
There was shock, wariness, and a trace of admiration she hadn't even noticed in herself...
"What is that sword technique called?"
"Ghost-Slaying Slash." Lu Jiuyuan casually wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth. "It's one of my sect's signature techniques, designed to slay demons and exorcise evil."
Bibi Dong fell silent for a moment, then suddenly smiled.
It was the first time she had smiled since that calamity in the secret chamber.
Her smile was complicated, tinged with helplessness and a softness she hadn't even noticed in herself.
"What a fine Ghost-Slaying Slash," Bibi Dong murmured.
[Battle over.] [Winner: Lu Jiuyuan.] [Score: 2:0.]
Bibi Dong's figure disappeared as well, leaving Lu Jiuyuan standing alone.
Before long, his vision flashed.
When he opened his eyes again, he was standing on a vast, empty platform.
The platform was surrounded by an endless void, filled with twinkling stars stretching as far as the eye could see.
Smooth stone slabs beneath his feet reflected the starlight.
Across from him, a slender figure slowly appeared.
Feng Qing'er.
She wore a golden-red dress whose hem trailed along the ground, with a dark gold belt cinched around her waist.
Her long hair was tied high, revealing a profile of exquisite beauty.
Most striking were her eyes. Her irises were pale gold, radiating an innate arrogance and coldness.
The Heaven Demon Phoenix Clan.
Descendants of the Ancient Heavenly Phoenix from the Battle Through the Heavens world, they possessed bloodline talent comparable to that of a Dou Sheng Expert.
Now that she stood before him in person, her arrogant aura was truly overwhelming—few could compare.
"You're Lu Jiuyuan?"
Feng Qing'er looked him up and down, a trace of disdain flashing through her pale golden eyes.
"Had your fill?" Lu Jiuyuan smiled. "If so, let's get started."
Feng Qing'er snorted. "Don't think you can get cocky just because you won one match. You won't be smiling for long."
She raised her hand. Golden Dou Qi gathered in her palm, forming a slender golden sword.
The blade shimmered with light, and the faint cry of a phoenix seemed to come from within it.
"This sword is called Huangyu, a treasure of the Heaven Demon Phoenix Clan." Feng Qing'er pointed its tip at Lu Jiuyuan. "Remember the name of the one who defeats you."
Before she had even finished speaking, she moved.
A flash of golden light, and Feng Qing'er had vanished from where she stood.
Lu Jiuyuan's pupils contracted. Almost at the same moment, a sharp sword beam swept past his cheek, cutting off several strands of his hair.
So fast!
He had no time to think. Summoning his sword with a flick of his hand, he blocked the second strike that immediately followed.
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