The Second Trial-The True Test

While they chatted, some rustling sounds caught the father and son's attention.

Yu Yuanzhen and Yu Xiaogang turned around and saw that Bibi Dong had finished cultivating.

Bibi Dong was staring down at her hands, disbelief written across her face. "Really... A single Immortal Herb completely healed all my injuries?"

It had even allowed her to break through to Rank 96.

The death power she possessed had been greatly amplified and was already approaching the level of Laws.

Her comprehension was already sufficient. All she needed now was to accumulate Soul Power, and she would be able to break through to Rank 98 without obstruction.

Just then,

A dignified voice resounded throughout the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well.

"Dark Nine Trials First Trial—complete."

"Reward: Dark Godhood affinity increased by 5%."

"All Soul Rings of the Death Spider Emperor and Soul-Devouring Spider Emperor will have their ages increased by three thousand years."

Bibi Dong froze upon hearing the trial rewards.

An increase of three thousand years to all Soul Ring ages?!

Bibi Dong hurriedly summoned her Death Spider Emperor martial soul.

Its nine Soul Rings changed from yellow, yellow, purple, purple, black, black, black, black, red to purple, purple, purple, black, black, black, black, black, red.

After gaining those three thousand years, the Death Spider Emperor's fourth Soul Ring had directly advanced into a Ten Thousand Year Soul Ring.

"So this is a Divine Trial..."

"It truly is terrifying." As Bibi Dong compared the Dark Nine Trials to the Rakshasa Nine Trials, the difference became immediately apparent.

The reward for the first trial of the Dark Nine Trials was already so generous. How abundant would the rewards for the remaining eight trials be?

Yu Yuanzhen's eyes widened. This was the first time he had personally witnessed the rewards granted upon completing a Divine Trial.

It was not as though he had never seen Bibi Dong's Death Spider Emperor before.

But now, Bibi Dong's first and second Soul Rings had changed directly from yellow hundred-year Soul Rings into thousand-year Soul Rings.

Her fourth Soul Ring had even become a Ten Thousand Year Soul Ring.

Increasing Soul Ring ages out of thin air—only gods could accomplish something like that, right?

Too terrifying...

And that divine voice had just said the first trial was complete.

This was only the first trial!

Yu Xiaogang patted Yu Yuanzhen on the back, signaling for his old father not to be so startled, then transmitted through Divine Sense, Don't make such a fuss, Father.

He walked to Bibi Dong's side. "Congratulations, Dong'er."

"This is all thanks to you, Xiao Gang." Bibi Dong looked at Yu Xiaogang with eyes practically brimming over, filled with boundless tenderness.

This was her Xiao Gang!

Yu Xiaogang nodded slightly. "Let's see what the second trial is."

As if the Dark God had been observing the two of them all along, the divine voice rang out, "Dark Nine Trials Second Trial—Dark Silence Heart Prison."

"Once you are prepared, communicate with the inheritance Divine Sense and enter the Absolute Darkness Domain. There will be no light, no sound, the five senses will be completely lost, and you will be unable to perceive the passage of time."

"Soul Power, Soul Skills, and domains will remain sealed throughout the entire process. Only consciousness will remain."

"Face your true heart and break through your inner demons."

"So long as you do not go mad, collapse, or deny yourself, you will pass."

"Time limit: one year."

The purpose of this trial was to temper the heart.

It would strip away weakness, obsession, resentment, and hatred from within, allowing the inheritor to better suit the Dark Law.

This trial was not meant to make the inheritor discard all emotion. It was meant to ensure that the inheritor would not be influenced by those emotions.

The inheritance Divine Sense manifested in response, and the Dark God's phantom figure looked down upon them from the air.

His gaze settled on Bibi Dong. "My inheritor, I shall give you a warning."

"This trial will be far more difficult for you than the second trials faced by other divine inheritors."

"Should you fail, this seat will ensure your life remains unharmed. However, your divine soul will be left with permanent flaws and wounds, and you will never in your lifetime be able to touch the threshold of Divine Rank."

"Even whether you can reach Rank 99 will become uncertain."

The Dark God did not hide anything from Bibi Dong and plainly told her the consequences.

He could go easy on certain Divine Trial stages, but some hard requirements had to be met.

Bibi Dong's flaws were far too obvious.

If they were not resolved, then even if she inherited the Godhood, her upper limit would be set in stone.

Thus, this trial had been specially tailored to address Bibi Dong's problems.

If she could resolve them, Bibi Dong would be able to easily complete every subsequent Divine Trial up to the seventh trial.

He would not even need to go easy on her.

If she could not resolve them, then he could only say that Bibi Dong was not fated for his Dark Godhood.

After hearing the Dark God's words through the inheritance Divine Sense, Yu Xiaogang could not help giving the Dark God silent praise.

As expected of a veteran.

He could see Bibi Dong's fundamental problem at a glance.

What Bibi Dong lacked was not talent at all, but rather enormous flaws in her state of mind, divine soul, and obsessions.

This second trial had clearly been designed specifically around Bibi Dong's problems.

It happened to align perfectly with his own goal.

The Dark God did not urge her. He merely declared, "Bibi Dong, if you do not wish to continue the Divine Trials, you may withdraw now."

"This seat will not blame you."

He was still quite tolerant toward his inheritors.

Even if Asura's scheme failed, strictly speaking, it would not truly be his fault.

At most, he had known about it and failed to report it. The worst that could happen was spending some time in prison.

It was not a capital offense.

So long as Xiaoguang left, that would be enough.

"I choose to continue the Divine Trials." Bibi Dong had clearly struggled for quite some time before making her decision.

She also understood what this trial meant to her.

Yu Xiaogang gently patted Bibi Dong's hand. "Dong'er, I'll help you."

"Dark God, the one-year time limit for the second trial of the Dark Nine Trials should not include the time spent within the Absolute Darkness Domain, right?"

The Dark God gave a precise answer. "It does not. So long as you enter the Absolute Darkness Domain and undergo the trial within one year, it will not count as overdue."

Originally, the hard requirement was indeed to pass within one year.

But just as he had intended before, he could relax a few insignificant conditions slightly.

It would be best if he could discard the Godhood together with Xiaoguang.

Considering Bibi Dong's special circumstances, the difficulty of passing was not even inferior to the seventh or eighth trials of other divine inheritors. It was not impossible to grant her some extra time as circumstances allowed.

That way, she would have more time to prepare properly.

"Thank you for your guidance, Dark God." Yu Xiaogang led Bibi Dong in bowing to the Dark God.

Seeing this, the Dark God nodded imperceptibly.

Then he transformed into inheritance Divine Sense and returned to Bibi Dong's sea of consciousness.

Yu Xiaogang plucked the other Immortal Herb he had chosen for Bibi Dong and stored it in a jade box.

"Dong'er, this is another Immortal Herb I selected for you. It should help you pass the second trial."

"The Starwave Soul-Condensing Snow Lotus. It strengthens the divine soul's foundation, stabilizes the sea of consciousness, repairs divine soul fractures, and suppresses inner demons and obsessions."

"After you have completely absorbed and refined the medicinal power of the Life-and-Death Reincarnation Jade Flower, consume the Starwave Soul-Condensing Snow Lotus."

"You should have enough time."

Yu Xiaogang roughly calculated the Divine Trial schedule. It should be about right.

Bibi Dong nodded slightly. "All right. When I return, I need to focus on cultivation as well."

Now that she had a clear Divine Trial goal, she naturally would not waste any more time on pointless matters.