"Ten-thousand-year Soul Bone!" Bibi Dong cried out in surprise, her eyes filled with disbelief.
"Ten-thousand-year Soul Bones have a drop rate of less than one percent. And from the looks of it, this is the rarest kind—a Head Soul Bone. Xiao Xuan, you really are lucky!"
With that, she moved her thoughts, and the black Soul Bone flew into her hand. She immediately began examining it carefully.
Seeing this, Qin Xuan's surprise flashed across his face, but only a faint smile appeared.
The Nether Demon Spirit Tiger dropping a Soul Bone had truly been beyond his expectations.
After all, according to the odds for Soul Bones on the Douluo Continent, the lower a Soul Beast's age, the less likely it was to drop a Soul Bone.
The older the Soul Beast, the more likely it was to drop one.
In particular, a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast was guaranteed to drop a Soul Bone.
Although Soul Bones were exceedingly rare, Qin Xuan had no intention of absorbing this one.
He watched Bibi Dong's delighted expression and fell into thought.
Though Soul Bones are rare, a Soul Master can absorb only seven at most: one for each limb, a Head Soul Bone, a torso bone, and the rarest kind, an External Soul Bone.
With my talent, I'll be able to absorb a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Ring for my Sixth Soul Ring. And Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beasts are guaranteed to drop Soul Bones, so there's no need to covet this mere ten-thousand-year Soul Bone.
Absorbing the Soul Bone along with the Soul Ring could indeed raise my Soul Power by several levels. But looking at the bigger picture, it wouldn't be worth the loss.
A Soul Master can hold only seven Soul Bones in total. If I had seven Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Bones one day, even without becoming a god, I could still fight the Sea God, right?
At that moment, though there was a hint of reluctance in Bibi Dong's eyes, she still tossed the Soul Bone to Qin Xuan.
"Xiao Xuan, absorb this Head Soul Bone as well. I'll guard you."
Hearing this, Qin Xuan looked at the ten-thousand-year Soul Bone in his hand. Though he knew Bibi Dong already had a full set of Soul Bones, he still put on a serious expression.
"Teacher, absorbing the ten-thousand-year Soul Ring is enough for me."
"As for this Head Soul Bone, please keep it."
With that, he tossed the Nether Demon Spirit Tiger's Head Soul Bone back in front of Bibi Dong.
"Oh? Now this is interesting." Bibi Dong wore a faintly amused expression.
"Absorbing this Soul Bone as well would raise your Soul Power by at least six levels. Are you sure you don't want it?"
"Mm." Qin Xuan nodded slightly. Before Bibi Dong could respond, he sat down where he was and began absorbing the ten-thousand-year Soul Ring.
The black Soul Ring spun rapidly in midair, then floated above his head.
Hearing his answer, Bibi Dong put the ten-thousand-year Soul Bone away in her Soul Tool without hesitation.
Both of them were clever. Although Qin Xuan hadn't explained why he wouldn't absorb the Soul Bone, Bibi Dong had already guessed the general idea.
This boy's greed is quite like my own.
If he successfully absorbs this ten-thousand-year Soul Ring, then his fourth and fifth Soul Rings will be able to absorb Soul Beasts between thirty thousand and sixty thousand years old.
With two thousand-year Soul Rings and three ten-thousand-year Soul Rings, he'll be able to challenge himself to absorb a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Ring for his Sixth Soul Ring.
And Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Rings are guaranteed to come with Soul Bones. Xiao Xuan must be trying to gather six Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Bones!
As for an External Soul Bone, that'll depend on whether he gets the chance one day!
Putting those thoughts aside, Bibi Dong's beautiful eyes shifted as she spoke.
"I have no shortage of Soul Bones. Why not give this Head Soul Bone to Nana?"
"Whatever you decide, Teacher," Qin Xuan replied evenly. Then his expression gradually grew pained.
He wasn't upset about giving the Soul Bone to Nana. Rather, the Nether Demon Spirit Tiger's resentment was far stronger than he had expected.
Inside Qin Xuan's Sea of Consciousness, all was pitch-black.
A purple tiger and a black tiger were locked in combat, evenly matched.
One couldn't use any Soul Skills to eliminate a Soul Beast's resentment.
The purple figure was the Nether Demon Spirit Tiger. The black figure, twice its size, was naturally the Nine Nether Evil God Tiger.
The two tigers were locked in a fierce, purely physical battle, but it was clear that the Nine Nether Evil God Tiger had the upper hand.
Even so, its body was covered in claw marks.
As a result, Qin Xuan's spiritual power had suffered some minor damage.
"Absorbing a ten-thousand-year Soul Ring really isn't easy." Seeing the cold sweat on Qin Xuan's face, Bibi Dong couldn't help feeling tense.
"Such insolence!"
"Who dares trespass on this old man's territory? Come out at once!"
An aged, deep voice suddenly rang out from all directions.
Immediately afterward, a tremendous rumbling sounded nearby.
A massive emerald-green serpent came crashing through.
It was so enormous that it must have been over a hundred meters long; its body stretched beyond sight.
"Don't panic, my disciple. Just focus on absorbing the Soul Ring," Bibi Dong said softly. Then she flew into the air to face the serpent, her eyes full of disdain.
When the emerald-green serpent got a clear look at Bibi Dong, it stopped near the mountains, five hundred meters away.
"Y-Your Holiness the Pope!" At that moment, an old man with a head of white hair and dark-green armor slowly rose from the serpent's head.
Without a doubt, this was Dugu Bo, a Titled Douluo renowned for his poison.
"Poison Douluo, what a mighty show of force. What was it you said just now?"
"Dare to say it again to my face!"
Bibi Dong's expression turned cold. One yellow, two purple, five black, and one red Soul Ring rose one after another from her feet, nine in total.
The instant the Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Ring appeared, an area five hundred meters across was dyed pale red!
Then a wave of red aura descended directly upon Dugu Bo.
He immediately felt as if a mountain had been pressing down on his back. Every step took tremendous effort.
Damn, this suppression of Soul Power is terrifying!
I never imagined this female Pope had a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Ring!
What terrible luck! I actually ran into Bibi Dong!
What's the Pope of the mighty Spirit Hall doing in Sunset Forest, deep in Heaven Dou territory—and so close to my Herb Garden, no less?
If I'd known it was Bibi Dong, I wouldn't have been so arrogant.
Dugu Bo quickly thought it over, then hurriedly spoke.
"So it's Your Holiness the Pope. Please forgive my offense!"
With that, the pressure didn't disappear. It only grew stronger.
Bibi Dong's eyes glowed red, and the corners of her lips curled into a faint, sinister smile. She had already decided to kill him.
Although Dugu Bo wasn't among the strongest Titled Douluo—in fact, he could be called the weakest—no one could match the wide-ranging destructive power of his poison.
That was why Spirit Hall had sent people several times to invite Dugu Bo to become an elder. He had rejected them every time, much to Bibi Dong's irritation.
Now, having happened upon Dugu Bo in this desolate place, Bibi Dong naturally intended to eliminate the threat for good!
"If you won't serve me, then you're my enemy!"
"Dugu Bo, you'll stay here forever!"
Bibi Dong's face was icy. Then her left arm transformed into a black scythe, and she swung it through the air toward Dugu Bo.
Before you continue