King of Slaughter watched the scene, his eyes bloodshot and a savage killing intent radiating from him as he charged at Dugu Bo, intent on tearing the man to pieces.
Dugu Bo stood not far away. A chill flashed in his eyes, but his expression remained calm.
He raised a hand slightly and spoke with a hint of mockery. "King of Slaughter, your fury is truly terrifying."
Just as King of Slaughter was about to reach Dugu Bo, the ground suddenly began to shake violently.
In the next instant, a massive ice cone burst up from beneath the earth, glinting coldly as it pointed straight at King of Slaughter's chest.
King of Slaughter's pupils contracted. His body abruptly checked, and he narrowly avoided the ice cone that had nearly pierced him.
Shock flashed in his eyes. "Who's pulling strings behind my back?"
As his words fell, Snow Empress and Ice Empress appeared in the air as well. Ice Empress covered her nose and said to Qian Lingche, "Hey, let's finish this quickly. This place is disgusting. I don't want to stay any longer."
Half a year later...
Bibi Dong sat on the high seat in Pope Palace, resting with her eyes closed, when Chrysanthemum Douluo suddenly hurried in with a report.
She opened her eyes slightly, displeasure in her voice. "What's the rush?"
Chrysanthemum Douluo knelt on one knee, his voice trembling slightly. "His Holiness the Pope, we've just received word that the Young Master... destroyed the Capital of Slaughter!"
At that, Bibi Dong sprang to her feet, disbelief filling her eyes. "What? Qian Lingche destroyed the Capital of Slaughter? How is that possible?"
Even if Qian Lingche had obtained a divine trial, those two—Shi Yi and Guang Ling—couldn't have destroyed the Capital of Slaughter.
It wasn't as if she had never seen King of Slaughter. Within the Capital of Slaughter, even she wasn't sure she could defeat him.
Chrysanthemum Douluo kept his head lowered, uncertainty in his eyes.
He held a letter in his hand, wondering whether he should continue reporting the matter.
Seeing him like this, Bibi Dong said impatiently, "What are you hesitating for? Speak."
Chrysanthemum Douluo took a deep breath and raised his head, speaking cautiously. "His Holiness the Pope, Eternal Night Frost Song Hall sent word that we should execute the Evil Soul Masters on the spot. There's no need to send them to the Capital of Slaughter anymore."
Bibi Dong's hand clenched into a fist, her nails nearly digging into her palm. A cold killing intent flashed in her eyes.
A moment later, she slowly relaxed her hand, her expression returning to calm. She looked at Chrysanthemum Douluo and said indifferently, "You may leave."
Chrysanthemum Douluo froze slightly, clearly not expecting Bibi Dong to be so calm.
After a moment's hesitation, he asked in a low voice, "His Holiness the Pope, what about the Young Master...?"
Bibi Dong gave him a cold look. "I have my own arrangements. You need only do your job."
Chrysanthemum Douluo's heart tightened, and he hurriedly lowered his head. "Yes, Your Holiness the Pope."
He didn't dare say anything more and turned to leave Pope Palace.
Bibi Dong gazed thoughtfully in the direction of Eternal Night Frost Song Hall. "Qian Lingche... It seems she's had quite a few fortuitous encounters."
"Snow God's Third Trial: Destroy the Capital of Slaughter. Complete."
"Reward: All Soul Ring age limits increased by 2,000 years; Soul Power Level increased by 2 levels."
"Additional reward: Companions' Soul Ring age limits increased by 1,000 years."
As the voice fell, Qian Lingche's Second Soul Ring abruptly turned black.
At the same time, her Soul Power Level broke through to Level 60, allowing her to absorb her Sixth Soul Ring.
Just then, Guang Ling, Ling Yuan, and the others suddenly felt energy flow into their bodies.
Their first two Soul Rings gradually changed from yellow to purple, and their Soul Power grew noticeably stronger.
"What's going on?" Guang Ling looked down at his Soul Rings, confusion filling his eyes.
Ling Yuan felt the change within her as well, delight in her voice. "This power actually increased the age of our Soul Rings!"
But Snow Empress and Ice Empress were Soul Beasts and had no Soul Rings.
Although their Soul Ring age limits couldn't be increased, the energy instead transformed directly into pure cultivation and flowed into their bodies.
Snow Empress felt the changes within her, a complicated look in her eyes.
At the same time, everyone except Qian Lingche, who was inside Snow God Hall—including Guang Ling and Ling Yuan—bowed reverently toward it.
Then Snow God's voice rang out. "Snow God's Fourth Trial will begin after you obtain the Sixth Soul Ring."
Divine Realm, inside Snow God Hall.
Qian Shangyi sat on her divine throne and suddenly laughed, her laughter brimming with smug satisfaction.
Just then, Qian Yuhan walked in from outside the hall, her brows slightly furrowed and confusion in her eyes. "Qian Shangyi, what are you laughing about? What's made you so happy?"
When Qian Shangyi saw Qian Yuhan enter, her smile widened.
She waved a hand, and a light screen appeared out of nowhere. It showed the Capital of Slaughter: the once gloomy and terrifying city now lay in ruins, a lifeless air hanging among its broken walls.
Qian Yuhan looked at the scene on the screen, surprise flashing in her eyes. "The Capital of Slaughter... has been destroyed? Who did this?"
That little schemer Asura must be going mad. His inheritance grounds had been completely destroyed.
A smile curved Qian Shangyi's lips. "Who else could it be? Of course, my descendant, Qian Lingche."
She looked at Qian Yuhan. "My Third Trial was to destroy the Capital of Slaughter."
Qian Yuhan nodded. "Good. That place of sin shouldn't have existed in the first place. It's gone, and good riddance."
Just then, an enraged roar came from outside the hall, shaking all of Snow God Hall. "Qian Shangyi!"
Qian Yuhan's brows knitted, a cold glint flashing in her eyes.
She raised a hand, and a golden barrier instantly took shape before her, blocking the sword energy flying toward them.
"Asura, what's gotten into you?" Qian Yuhan asked coldly, displeasure in her voice.
Asura God appeared at the entrance to the hall, a savage killing intent radiating from him. His eyes were bloodshot; he was clearly furious beyond measure.
He glared at Qian Shangyi and ground out, "Qian Shangyi, how dare you have your successor destroy the Capital of Slaughter! That was my inheritance ground!"
He'd only wanted to trip that kid up. He hadn't actually made a move. Was Qian Shangyi really going to fight him to the death over this?
Qian Shangyi sat on her divine throne and chuckled. "Asura, the Capital of Slaughter was a place of sin. It deserved to be destroyed long ago. What right do you have to question me?"
"My former inheritance ground was destroyed because of your schemes, wasn't it? You could call this tit for tat."
She raised a hand slightly, and several enormous ice cones abruptly condensed in the air around Asura God, radiating bone-piercing cold.
"Asura, either leave, or we fight again." Qian Shangyi watched Asura God coldly.
Asura God glanced at the enormous ice cones surrounding him, apprehension flashing in his eyes.
Asura God fell silent for a moment, then gave a cold snort and turned to leave Snow God Hall.