More than half a year later.
A wave of Soul Power rapidly spread through Bibi Dong's Cultivation Room. The immense pressure jolted Ling Feng awake from his cultivation.
Ling Feng opened his eyes and saw Bibi Dong's clothes fluttering without a breeze, an immense Soul Power pressure radiating from her.
Bibi Dong had broken through. In less than a year, her Soul Power had surged from level 47 to level 50.
And she was only eighteen years old. This was the heaven-defying cultivation talent of a true genius.
Bibi Dong opened her eyes, a hint of joy in them.
Ling Feng met her gaze and quickly offered his congratulations.
"Bibi Dong, congratulations! You'll soon become a Soul King!"
Bibi Dong smiled. "Didn't you break through to level 37, too?"
Just as Bibi Dong said, Ling Feng had also successfully gained two levels of Soul Power over the past six months or so.
He had Bibi Dong's Cultivation Room to thank for that, along with the aura of her Spider Emperor Martial Soul, which had created the perfect Mimicry Cultivation Environment for him.
The miniature Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well inside his body could gather spiritual energy, giving both of their cultivation speeds a slight boost.
"I'm still a long way behind you!" Ling Feng said modestly.
He was seventeen now, yet his cultivation was only at level 37—worse than Dai Mubai's would be in the future.
Still, Ling Feng was satisfied with his progress over the past year. His cultivation had risen from level 30 to level 37.
Raising his level by seven in a year was a terrifying pace, one that even a genius with Innate Full Soul Power would struggle to match.
"Don't be discouraged. I believe that with your intelligence, you'll definitely catch up to me!"
"Of course, even if you don't, that's fine. I can protect you!"
Hearing Bibi Dong's comfort—and her frank confession—Ling Feng felt his heart stir.
After spending nearly a year by Bibi Dong's side day and night, it was impossible to say he felt nothing for her.
Still, Ling Feng held himself back and didn't answer her directly. He was afraid she'd get carried away and confront Qian Xunji.
He was nowhere near a match for Qian Xunji or Spirit Hall yet. If Qian Xunji went berserk, Ling Feng couldn't stop him even if he fought with his life on the line.
Even if he could find Qian Daoliu, that great benefactor, Qian Daoliu might not step in. After all, he had wanted an heir for a long time.
"Bibi Dong, could you take me with you when you hunt Soul Beasts?" Ling Feng asked.
Though Bibi Dong had to hunt Soul Beasts herself as part of her training, someone would certainly be protecting her in secret.
She knew this as well, so she understood that she was unlikely to face mortal danger.
Since there was no danger, Bibi Dong thought it over and agreed to Ling Feng's request.
"Sure! You have a Ten-Thousand-Year Soul Skill, after all. Maybe you can help me!"
She would be absorbing a Ten Thousand Year Soul Ring this time, but she didn't have a Ten-Thousand-Year Soul Skill. She might struggle against a Ten-Thousand-Year Soul Beast.
Taking Ling Feng along for the training might prove helpful. More importantly, she wanted to share more experiences with him.
"You're giving me too much credit. With my Soul Power, I can only use my Ten-Thousand-Year Soul Skill a few times." Ling Feng smiled.
"But there's something I need your help with."
"What is it?" Bibi Dong asked curiously.
Ling Feng thought for a moment. "I want to go somewhere to train. After you break through, could you come with me?"
This was Ling Feng's real purpose. As long as Bibi Dong entered the Capital of Slaughter, Qian Xunji would have little chance of getting his hands on her.
If they could drag things out for a few years, Qian Xunji's lustful obsession with Bibi Dong might fade.
This was also what Rakshasa Bibi Dong wanted. Once Bibi Dong obtained the Divine Slaughter's Domain, she could freely enter and leave the Capital of Slaughter and protect herself.
"Where do you want to train?"
Ling Feng answered honestly. "The Capital of Slaughter?"
"You want to go to the Capital of Slaughter?" Bibi Dong exclaimed.
"You're only level 37. I'm afraid it'll be hard for you to survive there."
Bibi Dong was worried. As the Pope's disciple, how could she not know about the Capital of Slaughter?
Besides, she planned to train there herself someday, so she knew a fair bit about the place.
It was both a paradise for the fallen and their hell, a prison where Spirit Hall locked away the depraved.
Spirit Hall supplied the fallen with the necessities they needed to survive.
But it wasn't charity. Spirit Hall sold those supplies to the fallen at exorbitant prices.
The Capital of Slaughter was an underground city where nothing was produced. The strong could survive by drinking Bloody Mary, while the weak had to rely on supplies from outside. No matter how high Spirit Hall set the prices, they had no choice but to accept them.
It was also a punishment Spirit Hall inflicted on them, letting them slowly die in despair.
"That's why I want you to take me there. With your talent, you'll definitely become the Killing God of the Capital of Slaughter."
"And a Killing God can come and go freely from the Capital of Slaughter, and use Soul Ring skills there."
"If I can't make it out, you can take me out, too," Ling Feng said.
He was actually lying to Bibi Dong. The Rakshasa Bibi Dong in his mind had been the Rakshasa God in her previous life.
With the Rakshasa God of her previous life protecting him, how could he be unable to enter and leave the Capital of Slaughter at will?
On the contrary, Rakshasa Bibi Dong had sent him to the Capital of Slaughter to protect Bibi Dong and keep her from failing her trial.
Bibi Dong thought it over. "All right. I need to train there, too, so let's go together!"
When Ling Feng saw that Bibi Dong had agreed, the stone weighing on his heart finally dropped.
Night fell. Ling Feng sat cross-legged in his room.
But his mind had entered his Mental Space, where Rakshasa Bibi Dong dwelled.
The place brimmed with bloodlust, wicked energy, and all kinds of depraved, evil thoughts. The moment Ling Feng stepped inside, a flood of distractions arose in his mind.
Rakshasa Bibi Dong was bathing in the crimson Blood Pool.
Ling Feng had only to look at her once for his mind to fill with all kinds of lustful and murderous desires.
Fortunately, he was a spirit form now. Otherwise, he would have made a fool of himself in front of Rakshasa Bibi Dong.
"Senior, Bibi Dong agreed to go with me to the Capital of Slaughter for training," Ling Feng said.
Rakshasa Bibi Dong nodded. "You did well."
"But the Capital of Slaughter is full of danger. With your current cultivation, training there would be too much for you."
"Please guide me, Senior!" Ling Feng prompted.
Rakshasa Bibi Dong said, "Very well. Over the past six months or so, I've recovered some of my divine power. I'll give you a hand."
"I'll use my divine power to nourish your Martial Soul. How far it can go will be up to you." Bibi Dong said.
"As for your Soul Power, you'll have to cultivate it yourself. I won't help you raise it."
"Thank you, Senior. That's more than enough!" Ling Feng was overjoyed. This was exactly what he wanted.
If his Martial Soul evolved into a Spider Emperor only when he had eight Soul Rings or even became a Titled Douluo, the result would be worlds apart from evolving now.
At least he wouldn't get stuck at a bottleneck, unable to advance any further.
The Spider Emperor Martial Soul was practically a guaranteed ticket to becoming a Titled Douluo.