Having him hunt the two Soul Rings separately was meant to verify her theory. Even the Six-Winged Angel could awaken its own domain; there was no reason the Holy Maiden, whose aura was even stronger, could not awaken one.
She had originally thought one Soul Ring would be enough to awaken the domain, but it had taken two. That was why Bibi Dong had seemed somewhat disappointed last time. But now she understood: because his domain was so powerful, it required two Soul Rings to awaken. Only after the Holy Maiden awakened its domain could it truly contend with the Six-Winged Angel.
"Dongfang Yu, starting tomorrow, you won't need to attend the academy anymore. You can read up on the basic knowledge yourself," Bibi Dong said after thinking for a while.
Dongfang Yu felt helpless, but he did not dare object. Teacher, don't you know that reading helps people grow? I'm studying for the rise of Spirit Hall, you know.
"This disciple will obey Teacher."
No matter how unwilling he was inside, he still had to agree aloud.
"Tomorrow, I'll arrange training for you. And while I'm at it... I'll give you the reward from last time." As she spoke the final sentence, Bibi Dong smiled sweetly, her tone utterly sincere.
It would have been one thing if he did not know her, but he did. As if she really had any reward for him. Dongfang Yu knew she was surely plotting to torment him again. Teacher, is this really okay? I'm still a six-year-old child. I can't take much more of this!
"Yes, Teacher," Dongfang Yu replied respectfully, his expression unchanged.
"Mm. Go rest."
After returning to his residence, Dongfang Yu grew increasingly uneasy. He repeatedly guessed how Bibi Dong might torment him tomorrow, but in the end, he could not make heads or tails of it.
Summoning his Martial Soul, Dongfang Yu simply stared blankly at Angewomon. Yes, she was still as breathtaking as she had been at first sight. But as he kept looking, his face fell again. For the first time, he felt that awakening this Martial Soul had been a mistake. She was beautiful and pleasing to the eye, and immensely powerful, but she had also brought him danger... Bibi Dong's covetousness.
"Angewomon, it would be nice if you were alive. At least then I'd have someone to confide in," Dongfang Yu sighed softly to himself. He was simply too wronged. No one understood his hardships. For all he knew, the day he lost his value, Bibi Dong might casually kill him.
All he could do was grow stronger as quickly as possible. Though he could not escape Bibi Dong's control for now, once he became powerful enough, he would be able to control his own fate. His life was completely beyond his control at present, but Dongfang Yu was not discouraged. Instead, he had great confidence in himself.
In the end, Dongfang Yu smiled in relief and murmured to Angewomon, "Let's work hard together. I believe you can help me reach that point."
What Dongfang Yu did not know was that the instant he turned away, Angewomon's fingertip twitched slightly. In the blink of an eye, it returned to stillness.
The next day, Dongfang Yu arrived at the Papal Hall early. Bibi Dong was already handling official affairs.
"Alright, follow me." Bibi Dong still walked ahead of him.
"Yes, Teacher." Dongfang Yu lowered his head and hurried after her.
An hour later, the two left Spirit Hall and arrived at a secluded place. A fighting stage stood in the middle, while the air around it was thick with the scent of blood. Yet not a single person was in sight.
Dongfang Yu looked utterly dead inside. What is this nonsense now? Why do you always bring me to these horrible places?
He looked around again, but still saw no one. Only then did Dongfang Yu look at Bibi Dong and cautiously ask, "Teacher, where is this?"
Hearing that, Bibi Dong stopped and turned around. Dongfang Yu was only about 1.2 meters tall now, and Bibi Dong looked down at him from above. "This is the second trial I have prepared for you.
"This arena is called the Hundred-Man Kill. As the name suggests, if you want to walk down from that stage, you must kill one hundred people."
Dongfang Yu's heart went cold. Do you have to play this hard? I'm really only six years old, and you want me to kill people?! A hundred people, no less!
Seeing Dongfang Yu freeze in place without making any other move, Bibi Dong continued, "They are all people at your level. Since this is your first time here, I naturally won't truly make you kill that many."
"Then how many...?"
"Ten." Bibi Dong answered calmly, as if human lives meant nothing in her eyes. This arena was modeled after Slaughter City. Though it was not as terrifying and the difficulty was not as high, it was still a considerable challenge for someone Dongfang Yu's age.
"Remember this: if you cannot bring yourself to strike others, then you will surely die."
"My disciple, this is the reward Teacher specially prepared for you. Are you satisfied?" Bibi Dong smiled very gently.
Dongfang Yu's face darkened. So her reward was sending him to kill people? It was survival in the cracks again. Put plainly, she was making him risk his life once more. This would ruin his Martial Soul. Angel-type Martial Souls represented holiness, cleansing away all filth and impurity. Once his hands were stained with the souls of innocent victims...
But Martial Souls were dead, while people were alive. Possessing a noble and holy Martial Soul did not mean its owner was holy as well. In other words, as long as he did not forget his original intentions, what did killing ten more people matter? You think this is enough to make me fall into darkness? You're way behind the times, Your Holiness!
I have no choice right now. But if I get the chance in the future, I want to be a good person!
"This disciple understands." Dongfang Yu steadied himself and replied without changing expression.
A trace of surprise appeared in Bibi Dong's eyes. She had thought he would need some time to recover, given his age, but she had not expected him to adapt so quickly. That... was fine too.
Her goal was to train a killing machine, one capable of opposing the Six-Winged Angel! If one day, a cold-blooded Soul Master who slaughtered innocents appeared on the continent, and his Martial Soul was the Angel Martial Soul that should have belonged to the light, how would the Qian Clan conduct itself then? What face would Qian Daoliu have left to sit securely upon his divine pedestal?
At that time... the scene would surely be very interesting. A fallen Angel fighting that so-called righteous Angel—just imagining it was enough to make one yearn for it...
At this moment, Bibi Dong was completely immersed in her mad plan. So long as she could take revenge on the Qian Clan, so long as she could bring down Spirit Hall, she was willing to pay everything, even that insignificant life.
Seeing the strange flickers pass through Bibi Dong's eyes, Dongfang Yu could not help sighing inwardly. Now, he finally had a rough idea why she had accepted him as her disciple. Her purpose was probably almost exactly what he had guessed.
This woman possessed the strength and ability to benefit countless people, yet she had chosen to fall into boundless darkness. Of course, he could not blame her for anything. After everything she had experienced, Dongfang Yu did not dare guarantee that, if he were in her place, he would not become even more insane than she was.
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