Life, Already a Walking Corpse; Death, Still an Impossible Dream
A burning light flashed in Lin Xia's eyes, as if she had discovered a treasure!
The value of this ring to him might even be no less than the Light-Gathering Furnace that Qian Daoliu promised!
"Ugh--!!! Waaah... Ugh!!!"
Just then, Yue Hongsheng, who was lying on the ground with the shadows choking him, saw the ring fall into Lin Xia's hands, and especially heard Lin Xia's delighted words, "It will be of great help." It was as if the last piece of rotten wood had been completely removed from his support!
His body began to convulse violently and uncontrollably, and a desperate, dying howl escaped from deep within his throat!
Muddy tears mixed with blood and saliva gushed out like a burst dam, flowing freely down his filthy cheeks!
That look in his eyes was no longer resentment, but utter collapse, despair, and heartbreak!
That was the essence of all the poisons he had collected and developed, after a lifetime of hard work, countless near-death experiences, and even taking the path of evil!
It was the foundation he regarded as his life, the source of his power, and the only hope for breaking through to the Soul Douluo! It was the meaning of his existence!
Now, it's all gone!
It fell into the hands of our enemies! It became a stepping stone for our enemies to advance further!
Lin Xia's last words, "Isn't it more thorough to make use of waste?" echoed repeatedly in his collapsing consciousness like the most vicious Curse!
The crippled limbs twitched weakly, and the throat emitted a discordant wheeze under the shadows. Only the eyes, completely devoid of light and blurred by tears, were fixed on the ring in Lin Xia's hand!
All his life's work has been wasted.
Life has become like that of a walking corpse.
Even death has become a luxury.
This was the ending Lin Xia had chosen for him.
Bibi Dong watched her disciple's decision below, saw the cold and clear understanding of the nature of power flashing in his eyes, and watched him easily obtain his enemy's lifelong Last Resort as resources... A faint, yet chilling, smile slowly curved her lips.
That smile contained approval, expectation, and even a hint of cold, deep satisfaction.
Meanwhile, Yue Guan, standing to the side, lowered his head deeply, his shoulders slightly relaxed, as if a heavy burden had been lifted from his shoulders.
He understood the cruelty behind Lin Xia's "kindness," but at least... the bloodline had not been completely severed before his eyes.
Yue Guan gazed at Lin Xia's retreating figure, a complex emotion lingered, ultimately revealing an indescribable... gratitude? Or perhaps, a deeper sense of awe?
"In that case, let's do as Lin Xia says!"
"Gui Mei, take him to the dungeon and get everything he knows out of him. Remember, don't let him die!"
Gui Mei nodded, then carried Yue Hongsheng and disappeared from the main hall!
After Bibi Dong finished speaking, she glanced at Yue Guan, and seeing that he didn't react much, she slowly continued:
"Yue Guan, can you accept this?"
Given Yue Hongsheng's certain death, surviving was already a miracle. Their relationship was only so-so to begin with, so upon hearing Bibi Dong's question, he simply replied:
"Completely acceptable!"
Bibi Dong nodded.
"Then you may leave!"
Yue Guan's departing figure disappeared outside the heavy palace doors, his footsteps fading into the distance, until only the deathly silence of the empty hall remained.
After a while.
"Come over."
The two words, cold and aloof, were like a drop of water falling into a frigid pool.
Lin Xia's heart skipped a beat, and she dared not delay, immediately stepping forward.
The hard soles of the boots made a crisp "tap, tap" sound as they stepped on the smooth ground, which was particularly clear in this empty and oppressive space.
Lin Xia walked down the steps, only a few steps away from the high throne, and lowered her head slightly, waiting for Bibi Dong to speak.
However, something completely unexpected happened to Lin Xia.
Bibi Dong's gaze did not linger on him for long. Instead, it fell on Ivysaur at his feet, which was restless and agitated by the tension of its master, and whose golden-red flower buds on its carapace were shimmering slightly.
Bibi Dong suddenly bent down, extending her fair, jade-like hands—hands that symbolized supreme authority—with an indescribable familiarity and... a hint of barely Frisk tenderness?
He easily picked up the Ivysaur had grown considerably!
Ivysaur seemed to be taken aback for a moment, a hint of confusion flashing in its scarlet eyes, but it did not resist. Instead, it let out a low, somewhat comfortable "Dana".
The head, covered in hard, dark green scales, seemed to unconsciously rub against Bibi Dong's Pope robe sleeve.
Bibi Dong, holding Ivysaur, sat back on the throne that symbolized the pinnacle of power.
He adjusted his position, letting Ivysaur's massive body half-lie on her knees in a slightly comical yet strangely harmonious posture.
Then, her slender hand naturally landed on Ivysaur's smooth, hard skull scales and began to stroke them slowly and rhythmically.
Brushing across the edge of its tough, dark green crystal armor, skimming over the fine scales covering its cheeks, my fingertips occasionally brushed against the warm stem at the base of the giant flower bud.
The posture, the expression—so focused, as if polishing a rare treasure, or perhaps... petting a gentle, large cat?
Lin Xia stared in disbelief, her mouth slightly agape, her mind going blank for a moment.
Just moments ago, the hall was filled with Gui Mei chill, Yue Hongsheng's resentment, and a bloody murderous aura; now, however, a strange, almost warm, atmosphere has begun to permeate it?
If it weren't for the storage Soul Tool Ring in Lin Xia's hand, Lin Xia would have almost doubted whether she had wandered onto the wrong set.
This stark contrast left Lin Xia speechless. She could only stand there silently, watching her powerful companion being "frolicked" at the Pope's knees, seemingly quite comfortable, the light from the flower bud softening considerably.
Lin Xia was hesitating whether she should bow and take her leave so as not to disturb the Pope's rare "refined interest" when...
Bibi Dong's cool voice rang out again, and her gaze lifted from Ivysaur to Lin Xia's face. The faint gentleness she had just shown vanished instantly, replaced by the Pope's profound and inquisitive expression.
"What did Qian Daoliu... teach you?"
Her tone was calm, revealing neither joy nor anger, but Lin Xia keenly detected a hint of scrutiny. It seemed that even though a certain superficial balance had been achieved, Bibi Dong was still paying close attention to Lin Xia's movements with Qian Daoliu.
Lin Xia dared not conceal anything, nor was there any need to. He composed himself, organized his thoughts, and clearly recounted Harvest in the Worship Hall during this period:
"Reporting to Master, Qiandao... The Grand Pontiff Master mainly guides his disciples to understand the essence and application of light energy, especially how to transform pure light energy into a vital force that nourishes life and purifies impurities."
Lin Xia explained the meaning of order and protection contained in the Angel Holy Light, taught the Calm Mind method of inducing and condensing the essence of the sun, and how to integrate this power of light more efficiently into the symbiotic cycle of Ivysaur.
Furthermore, the Grand Pontiff Master highly valued Ivysaur's ability to utilize sunlight and proposed the idea of building a 'Light-Gathering Furnace' to accelerate its evolution and the accumulation of its primal power in an extreme light-energy environment..."
Lin Xia's answer was clear and logical, and it contained all genuine cultivation content.
Lin Xia paused, recalling Qian Daoliu's profound words at the end, and felt it necessary to let Bibi Dong know, as this might also involve the other party's attitude.
Then Lin Xia continued:
"Before leaving, the Grand Pontiff Master asked his disciple about the origins of the Spirit Hall and recounted some things that were not recorded in the books."