"I was able to trap the Titan Giant Ape thanks to my Soul Power reaching the level-seventy bottleneck and all my Soul Bones being Asura Legacy Soul Bones."
"On top of that, my sixth Soul Ring is already a Shura God Ring. Even if I can't use Asura divine power, it is still stronger than ordinary Soul Rings."
"So even as a Six-Ring Soul Emperor, I can hold my own against a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast like the Titan Giant Ape."
"However, the Asura Sword Formation consumes too much Soul Power. I don't have much Soul Power left now, and all the killing intent contained within Divine Slaughter's Domain has been exhausted. I'll need to wait a while before the killing intent in Divine Slaughter's Domain recovers fully."
"As for why my sixth Soul Ring is a red hundred-thousand-year one, that was the reward for completing the Asura Second Trial."
After hearing Su Qi's account, the three Worshippers felt both admiration and envy.
If circumstances allowed, they truly wanted to be reincarnated. If they were lucky in their next lives, perhaps they would not have to work so hard!
Still, the three Worshippers were only joking.
Thousand Jun Worshipper carried the unconscious Demon Subduing Worshipper on his back and asked Su Qi, "Old Eight, since you've already reached the level-seventy bottleneck, should we rest for a while and then help you find a suitable soul beast for your seventh Soul Ring?"
Su Qi shook his head. "No need. When I completed the Asura Second Trial, I received a God-Bestowed Spirit Ring. I just need to return to Worship Hall and absorb it."
Lion Worshipper froze at those words. "Then Douluo Continent will soon welcome a monster who breaks through to Seven-Ring Soul Sage at eight years old! Old Eight, surely you won't become a god by eighteen?"
Su Qi laughed heartily. "I'll borrow Fourth Worshipper's auspicious words. Let's go. We need to return to Worship Hall quickly, report our safety to the First Worshipper, and then I must immediately begin the Asura Third Trial."
After chatting for a while, the group of four flew toward Worship Hall in Spirit City.
Meanwhile, at the northern frontier of Douluo Continent.
There was an exceptionally unusual city.
It seemed to have been built within an independent space. Its surroundings were eerie and sinister, with a red full moon hanging high in the sky. It looked utterly out of place beside any other city on Douluo Continent.
Even stranger, the walls on all four sides of the city were carved with reliefs of ferocious ghost faces, every groove steeped in special restrictions.
Once one stepped through the city gates and entered the city, any soul master would be forbidden from using soul skills.
This city was precisely the Shura God's inheritance ground, Slaughter City.
Yet ever since it had been affected by Rakshasa Divine Sense, Slaughter City had become a paradise for fallen soul masters.
Within Slaughter City, there were no rules, no morality, no good or evil.
There was only slaughter, plunder, and carnage!
However, the usually deathly chaotic Slaughter City suddenly became incomparably solemn today.
Clad in a purple robe, the stunningly beautiful Bibi Dong slowly walked through Slaughter City's gates.
At this moment, she had shed the lofty status of Spirit Hall's Pope. With the aura of a Slaughter God around her, every movement exuded the domineering majesty of one who looked down upon all living beings!
Slaughter City did indeed prohibit soul masters from using soul skills, but soul masters who possessed the title of Slaughter God inherently had Divine Slaughter's Domain. They could ignore Slaughter City's restrictions and use soul skills freely.
It was precisely because she possessed the title of Slaughter God and could use soul skills that Bibi Dong dared to enter Slaughter City alone.
On both sides of the gate, Slaughter City's black-clad enforcement team bowed their heads and respectfully welcomed her.
The fallen soul masters who were usually bloodthirsty and cruel, treating human lives as worthless, all came running out to watch. They wanted to witness the bearing of a Slaughter God.
A cold woman with a graceful figure and a black veil over her face emerged from within the city. She was the King of Slaughter's personal assistant, the Black Gauze Woman.
She bowed as she led the way, her attitude exceptionally humble. She guided Bibi Dong through the blood-red streets all the way to the King of Slaughter's Slaughter Grand Hall.
The hall was dark and icy, its killing intent so dense it seemed tangible.
At the north-facing position in the hall stood a red throne formed entirely from condensed killing intent.
The master of Slaughter City, the King of Slaughter, sat upon the red throne. His blood-red eyes narrowed slightly as he watched the Black Gauze Woman bring Bibi Dong to the center of the hall.
"What a rare guest. Bibi Dong, have you come to see me today as the Pope of Spirit Hall, or as a Slaughter God?"
The King of Slaughter's cold, hoarse voice rang out. Every word carried tangible killing intent, causing the temperature within the hall to plummet.
Bibi Dong looked up at the King of Slaughter on his throne and replied calmly, "Naturally, as a Slaughter God."
"King of Slaughter, tell me this. A year ago, did you personally kill Ye Fan, Spirit Hall's Holy Son who entered Slaughter City to train?"
The King of Slaughter said indifferently, "Ye Fan?"
"Didn't I send back the two Soul Bones he left behind? Was that not enough to prove that he was thoroughly dead?"
Bibi Dong's purple lips curved into a cold smile. "You did indeed kill Ye Fan."
"But all you killed was his physical body."
"Not only did his soul survive, it was reincarnated and reborn as a child named Su Qi."
Upon hearing this, the King of Slaughter was surprised, but his expression remained calm. "Oh? A soul reincarnated and reborn?"
"To think such a thing exists. That truly exceeds my expectations. And then? Bibi Dong, did you come here merely to ask me that?"
Bibi Dong slowly stepped forward, her purple robe trailing across the floor. The frigid killing intent around her blanketed the entire hall as her gaze fixed firmly on the King of Slaughter. "Of course not."
"I came today to tell you something truly concerning your fate."
"Su Qi, Ye Fan's reincarnation, possesses the Asura Demon Sword Martial Soul. You should know what that represents, shouldn't you?"
At the words Asura Demon Sword, the King of Slaughter finally lost his previous calm composure. A trace of wariness appeared on his face.
Seeing this, Bibi Dong probed, "It seems you truly know what this means."
"King of Slaughter, the sword you use should also be the Asura Demon Sword, correct? Then you too are an inheritor of the Shura God."
"I'm curious. Why did the Shura God abandon you and choose Su Qi instead? Did you fail one of the Asura God's Trials?"
The moment she said this, the King of Slaughter could no longer restrain his fury. Killing intent surged wildly from his body.
Only he himself knew that the one who possessed the Asura Demon Sword was Tang Chen, whom he had parasitized.
The one who possessed the Asura God's Trial was also Tang Chen, whom he had parasitized.
As for himself, he was merely an ancient beast, the Blood-Red Nine-Headed Bat King.
He had originally believed that by parasitizing Tang Chen, he could attain Asura Godhood in Tang Chen's identity. Yet he had never expected to become the King of Slaughter he was today.
So it was Su Qi, Ye Fan's reincarnation, who had secretly begun Shura God's Nine Trials. No wonder the Shura God had abandoned Tang Chen!
His agitation gradually subsided. The King of Slaughter stared coldly at Bibi Dong and demanded, "Bibi Dong, you didn't come here just to bring me bad news, did you?"
Bibi Dong's expression became more composed, her eyes carrying a faint arrogance as she explained, "Naturally not. I came to cooperate with you. King of Slaughter, if you wish to regain the Shura God's favor, why not join hands with me once more?"
"How do you want me to cooperate with you?" the King of Slaughter asked.
Bibi Dong smiled beautifully, though her smile was cold and cunning. She went straight to the point. "It's very simple."
"As far as I know, most Deities who wish to pass on their positions want to retire."
"In that case, what they value is not a particular inheritor. They only care that someone inherits their godhood. Perhaps the Shura God is the same."
"Therefore, as long as you have a better chance than Su Qi of inheriting Asura Godhood, you can regain the Shura God's recognition."
"The method I thought of is this: I will do my best to persuade Su Qi to absorb a full set of Soul Bones. Then, under the Shura God's blessing, his entire set of Soul Bones will evolve into Asura God Armor."
"When the time comes, I will pretend to accompany him into Slaughter City to seek revenge against you. Then we will join forces and kill him."
"If you devour him, won't you obtain his Asura God Armor and Asura Demon Sword Martial Soul?"
"When your Asura Demon Sword merges with his Asura Demon Sword, it will become complete. With the aid of Asura God Armor, I believe the Shura God will restore your Asura God's Trial."
After hearing Bibi Dong's plan, a thoughtful gleam appeared in the King of Slaughter's blood-red eyes.
After weighing it for a moment, he asked with unusual seriousness, "Bibi Dong, are you confident you can kill Su Qi once he possesses Asura God Armor and the Asura Demon Sword?"
"And can you guarantee that when Su Qi is driven into a desperate situation, the Shura God will not intervene to help him?"
Bibi Dong countered, "Then why didn't the Shura God intervene when you were driven into a desperate situation? Why did he simply stand by?"
"Since the Shura God made Divine Slaughter's Domain the token of inheritance, allowing anyone to gain the chance to become an inheritor, it means he raises inheritors like venomous insects in a jar."
"If my guess is correct, King of Slaughter, you are one of the insects the Shura God raised and fattened. Later, you will likely serve as Su Qi's stepping stone."
"But you were once the Shura God's inheritor, and Su Qi is one as well. When two such insects fight, the Shura God will certainly favor neither side and simply watch from the sidelines."
"Whoever devours the other and survives to the end will inherit Asura Godhood. Based on your experience as a former Asura inheritor, can you judge whether my analysis makes sense?"
As he listened to Bibi Dong, the King of Slaughter was also analyzing the feasibility of her proposal.
Back then, Tang Chen had already begun the Asura Eighth Trial, yet after being parasitized by him, the Shura God had done nothing.
Now, even if Su Qi had begun the Asura God's Trial, it was absolutely impossible for him to have reached the progress of the Asura Eighth Trial.
If the Shura God could abandon even Tang Chen at the eighth trial, then he would certainly abandon Su Qi, who had only recently begun his Divine Trial.
If he could devour Su Qi, perhaps things truly would happen as Bibi Dong said. The Shura God might change his mind and restore Tang Chen's authorization for the Asura Eighth Trial.
Then he could become the Shura God in Tang Chen's identity and ascend to the Divine Realm!
The thought of himself, an ancient beast, being able to influence the balance of the Divine Realm made the King of Slaughter unable to suppress his excitement. He suddenly threw back his head and laughed.
A moment later, the King of Slaughter forcibly calmed his excitement and asked Bibi Dong, "Bibi Dong, since you call this cooperation, I can't be the only one benefiting, can I?"
"Do you truly hate Ye Fan that much? You plotted to kill him in his previous life, and now you're plotting against him again in this life. Has he once more obstructed your plan to destroy Spirit Hall?"
"What else could it be?" Bibi Dong said resentfully. "Su Qi is now opposed to me. He must have revealed that he is Ye Fan to Worship Hall."
"If I leave him alive, then once he becomes the Shura God, how could I still destroy Spirit Hall? Perhaps he might even cut me down with a single sword strike!"
"King of Slaughter, besides eliminating Su Qi, I have another purpose in cooperating with you again. Once you become the Shura God, I want you to help me destroy Spirit Hall!"
Hearing such a demand, the King of Slaughter smiled and agreed readily. "Fine, Bibi Dong. I accept your request. I look forward to the day you bring Su Qi into Slaughter City!"
"Farewell!" Once they reached an agreement, Bibi Dong said no more. She turned, flicked her sleeve, and departed, the back of her purple robe cold and resolute.
The Black Gauze Woman followed closely behind, seeing the guest out.
After leaving Slaughter City, Bibi Dong circulated her Soul Power and flew toward Spirit Hall.
A sinister smile suddenly curled across her lips, her eyes filled with calculation.
Cooperation?
Standing shoulder to shoulder?
They were merely using and plotting against each other!
After all, relying on others was never as good as relying on oneself!
Bibi Dong understood clearly that rather than letting the King of Slaughter become the Shura God and help her destroy Spirit Hall,
it would be better to devour the King of Slaughter herself after he devoured Su Qi.
That way, she too would have a chance of becoming the Shura God!
And since she possessed Divine Slaughter's Domain, she herself was qualified to begin Shura God's Nine Trials.
As for Rakshasa God Nine Trials.
If she could obtain Shura God's Nine Trials, what need would she have for Rakshasa God Nine Trials?
As for that Rakshasa God who had never helped her during her Divine Trials, she could simply let her fend for herself.
The next day at noon.
After returning to Spirit Hall, Bibi Dong received a report from a deacon. An outsider holding a Papal Token and calling himself Grandmaster wished to meet the Pope.
Upon hearing the title "Grandmaster," all the calculation and coldness in Bibi Dong's eyes vanished, replaced by tenderness like water.
But in the next instant, that tenderness transformed into intense hatred!
"Yu Xiaogang, I'd like to see what you came to find me for!" Bibi Dong murmured as she turned and headed toward the Papal Palace's council hall.
Half an hour later.
Within the Papal Palace's council hall, Grandmaster Yu Xiaogang quietly drank fine tea as he waited for Bibi Dong's arrival.
At this moment, he was the only person in the vast council hall.
"Wait outside. Without my orders, no one is permitted to disturb us." The gentle voice faded as the arched doors to the hall opened and Bibi Dong entered.
At the sight of her, Yu Xiaogang could not help rising to his feet. Tears gradually welled in his desolate eyes.
"You're here." Bibi Dong's voice was entirely unlike the one she had used while negotiating with the King of Slaughter. Her gentle tone easily made one feel as though they were bathed in a spring breeze.
Yu Xiaogang suppressed the complicated emotions in his heart and hid the tears in his eyes.
He knew he had not come to reminisce with his former lover. He had come for his disciple Tang San, to ask this former lover about knowledge related to Deities.
Or perhaps he could use her introduction to meet Su Qi.
Returning from his thoughts, Yu Xiaogang said in a trembling voice, "Bibi Dong, have you been well lately?"
Bibi Dong smiled faintly. "I stand above tens of thousands. What could possibly be bad? As the Pope of Spirit Hall, even the rulers of the two great empires must show me respect. Do you think I could be living poorly?"
Yu Xiaogang sighed. "Bibi Dong, I know the pain in your heart."
"Please address me as Pope or Your Holiness, Grandmaster. I am no longer that foolish Bibi Dong from back then."
Hearing this, Yu Xiaogang helplessly shook his head and changed his words. "Yes, Your Holiness the Pope. I came here this time to ask you a few questions."
Bibi Dong smiled mockingly. "So even the great master of theory has questions he does not know the answer to."
Yu Xiaogang ignored Bibi Dong's sarcastic mockery and said directly, "Your Holiness the Pope, I would like to ask whether you know anything related to Deities?"
Bibi Dong was immediately taken aback. "Yu Xiaogang, why have you suddenly become interested in knowledge related to Deities?"
Before you continue