It Is Its Honor

In his previous life, he had only been an ordinary college student. Forget killing soul beasts—he had never even killed a chicken.

He could not bear to harm even stray cats and dogs by the roadside. Yet now, he had to personally end a life, all to obtain its soul ring and make himself stronger.

It would have been a lie to say he did not feel awful.

Waves of physical discomfort rose within him, and his stomach churned faintly.

Bibi Dong walked over to his side and naturally noticed something was wrong. She did not force him to act immediately, only asking softly in a calm yet unquestionable tone, "Feeling unwell?"

"A little." Bibi Xu nodded honestly, his voice slightly tight. "It's my first time... killing something."

"That's normal." Bibi Dong's voice was gentle as her gaze settled on the Venom Soul Demon Spider.

"No one was born with blood on their hands. But Xu, remember this: this is Douluo Continent, a world where the strong prey on the weak. If you don't kill it, then once it recovers, you'll be the first one to die."

The path of a soul master had always been paved with the corpses of countless soul beasts and opponents. If he wanted to grow stronger, if he wanted to protect himself and those he cared about, then he had to take this step.

She paused, and her tone softened somewhat. "If you truly can't do it, give me your hand. Mom will do it with you. But I think it would be best if you overcame this hurdle yourself. Better sooner than later."

Bibi Xu fell silent for a moment.

He knew his mother was right.

Mercy was a luxury reserved for the strong. In this world, being softhearted was no different from seeking death. If he did not even dare to kill a soul beast, how would he face Tang San in the future? How would he face Spirit Hall's enemies? How would he protect his mother?

He took a deep breath and suppressed the discomfort and nausea in his heart.

His right hand slowly rose, soul power gathering at his fingertips and forming a sharp black blade of light.

"I'll do it myself." His voice was steady, carrying the determination of a young boy.

He walked to the front of the Millennium Venom Soul Demon Spider's head and looked at its dimming compound eyes. Without hesitation, he flicked his wrist.

With a soft pfft.

The blade of light pierced precisely into its head.

The Millennium Venom Soul Demon Spider twitched once. Its eight legs suddenly tensed, then slowly relaxed as it completely lost its life.

Foul-smelling blood flowed out, staining the ground red.

After finishing everything, Bibi Xu took two steps back and breathed lightly, his palms damp with sweat.

It would have been a lie to say he was not afraid, but what he felt more was the calm of finally settling the dust.

He had taken this step.

From this day onward, he was a true soul master.

"Well done." Bibi Dong stepped forward and patted his shoulder, approval in her eyes.

"For your first time, being able to do this already puts you above many others. Don't overthink it. The strong devouring the weak is simply the law of heaven and earth. It died a worthy death. Being the foundation for your growth is its honor."

Bibi Xu nodded, suppressing the stray thoughts in his mind and turning his attention back to the soul ring.

The moment the Venom Soul Demon Spider died completely, a pale violet soul ring slowly rose from its corpse and hovered in midair.

The soul ring's color was rich, its glow flowing in waves. It was more than a level brighter than a Century Soul Ring, and it carried the faint pressure of a millennium soul beast.

A twelve-hundred-year soul ring truly was extraordinary.

"Are you ready?" Bibi Dong asked seriously.

"The energy of a Millennium Soul Ring is violent, unlike the gentler energy of a Century Soul Ring. When you absorb it, circulate your soul power according to the cultivation method I taught you and refine it bit by bit. Don't rush. If you truly can't endure it, call for me, and I'll help suppress it. Remember, safety comes first. If it really doesn't work, it's fine to give up."

"I'm ready." Bibi Xu took a deep breath and sat down cross-legged. "Don't worry. I know my limits."

He closed his eyes and followed the method Bibi Dong had taught him, calming his mind as he extended his spiritual power. Carefully, he drew the pale violet soul ring toward himself.

The instant the soul ring landed on him, Bibi Xu's expression changed.

Pain!

Violent energy surged into his body through every pore like floodwaters bursting through a broken dam, crashing wildly through his meridians.

The power of the millennium soul beast carried savage toxicity. Wherever it passed, tearing pain shot through his meridians, as though countless tiny knives were scraping through them.

He let out a muffled groan, cold sweat beading on his forehead.

He had still underestimated the power of a Millennium Soul Ring.

He had thought that with his physical body as a foundation, he should have been able to withstand it easily. But only after making contact did he understand that millennium and century were entirely different concepts. The violence of the energy and the ferocity of the poison both far exceeded his expectations.

"Steady yourself." Bibi Dong's voice sounded beside his ear, carrying a trace of gravity. "Circulate your soul power. Guide the energy through your meridians and into your dantian. Don't resist it head-on—guide it along with its momentum."

Bibi Xu gritted his teeth, pressing his tongue against the roof of his mouth and forcing himself to calm down.

Following the profound cultivation method Bibi Dong had taught him, he activated the innate soul power within his body. Carefully, he wrapped it around the violent energy and guided it through his meridians in circulation, refining and purifying the savage power bit by bit before finally drawing it into his dantian.

The physical body tempered by Whale Glue for a year played a crucial role at this moment.

His broad and resilient meridians withstood the impact of the violent energy without suffering any tears.

His abundant vitality continuously nourished the damaged inner walls of his meridians, while the faint life aura emitted by the Life Azure Lotus repaired the tiny injuries.

Even so, the process remained unbearably painful.

The Millennium Venom Soul Demon Spider's poison seeped into his meridians along with the energy, bringing waves of numbness and burning pain. Cold and heat alternated, as though he were being thrown into an ice cellar one moment and a blazing pit the next.

Bibi Xu's face alternated between pale and flushed. Cold sweat streamed down his cheeks and soaked his collar.

He clenched his teeth tightly without letting out a single cry of pain.

His fingernails dug deeply into his palms until beads of blood seeped out, yet he did not notice at all.

He could not lose.

If he could not even endure his first soul ring, how would he challenge higher realms in the future? How would he protect his mother? How would he rewrite the ending?

Bibi Dong stood by his side, her brows tightly furrowed, her palms slick with sweat.

She could clearly sense the violent energy churning inside her son's body. Several times, it had reached the brink of losing control, yet each time, he forcibly suppressed it.

Seeing her son in such pain yet remaining so stubborn, her heart clenched painfully. Several times, she had wanted to step in and help him, but in the end, she restrained herself.

This was his path. No one else could walk it for him.

If she helped suppress it now, the soul ring's compatibility would decline, and his future potential would also be damaged. Better a short pain than a long one. As long as he endured it, the road ahead would become much easier.

All she could do was remain by his side, guard him, block out every external disturbance, and act immediately if he faced genuine danger to his life.

Time passed little by little.

After half an hour, Bibi Xu's body began to tremble faintly. His face was as pale as paper, and he had clearly reached his limit.

After an hour, the pale violet glow around his body gradually stabilized. The violent energy became increasingly docile and was refined and absorbed bit by bit.