As they chatted, a faint rustling caught the father and son's attention.
Yu Yuanzhen and Yu Xiaogang turned to see that Bibi Dong had finished cultivating.
Bibi Dong stared down at her hands in disbelief. "Really... a single Immortal Herb healed all my injuries?"
It had even helped her break through to Level 96.
The power of death she already possessed had grown enormously, bringing it close to Laws Rank.
Her comprehension was already sufficient. From here, she only needed to accumulate Soul Power to break through to Level 98 without obstruction.
Just then,
a majestic voice resounded throughout the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well.
"Dark Nine Trials First Trial—complete."
"Reward: affinity with the Dark Godhood increased by 5%."
"All Soul Rings of the Death Spider Emperor and Soul-Devouring Spider Emperor gain a Spirit Ring Age Increase of three thousand years."
Bibi Dong froze when she heard the reward.
Three thousand years added to every Soul Ring?!
She 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.
With those three thousand years added, the fourth Soul Ring of her Death Spider Emperor had advanced straight into a Ten Thousand Year Soul Ring.
"So this is a Divine Trial..."
"It truly is terrifying." The difference became clear the moment Bibi Dong compared the Dark Nine Trials with the Rakshasa Nine Trials.
If the First Trial of the Dark Nine Trials offered such a generous reward, what would the rewards for the remaining eight be like?
Yu Yuanzhen's eyes widened. This was his first time witnessing the reward for completing a Divine Trial.
It wasn't as though he had never seen Bibi Dong's Death Spider Emperor.
But now her First Soul Ring and Second Soul Ring 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 a Soul Ring's age out of thin air—surely only a god could do that?
Too terrifying...
And that divine voice had said she had completed the First Trial.
This was only the First Trial!
Yu Xiaogang patted Yu Yuanzhen on the back, signaling his father not to be so surprised. He sent him a message through Divine Sense: Don't make such a fuss, Father.
Then he walked over to Bibi Dong. "Congratulations, Dong'er."
"I owe it all to you, Xiao Gang." The tenderness in Bibi Dong's gaze as she looked at Yu Xiaogang seemed to stretch between them in silken threads.
This was her Xiao Gang!
Yu Xiaogang nodded slightly. "Let's see what the Second Trial is."
As though the Dark God had been watching them all along, the divine voice rang out: "Dark Nine Trials Second Trial—Dark Silence Heart Prison."
"Once you are ready, contact the inheritance Divine Sense and enter the Absolute Darkness Domain. There will be no light, no sound, and none of your five senses. You will not be able to feel time passing."
"Your Soul Power, Soul Skills, and domains will be sealed throughout. Only your consciousness will remain."
"Face your true heart and break through your inner demons."
"If you neither go mad, collapse, nor deny yourself, you pass."
"Time limit: one year."
The purpose of this trial was to temper the heart.
It would strip away weakness, obsessions, resentment, and hatred from the successor's heart, making her compatible with the Dark Law.
The trial was not meant to make the successor cast aside all emotion, but to ensure those emotions would not control her.
At those words, the inheritance Divine Sense manifested, and the Dark God's phantom looked down on the two of them from above.
His gaze settled on Bibi Dong. "My successor, I shall give you a warning."
"This trial will be far more difficult for you than the Second Trials faced by other gods' successors."
"If you fail, I will keep you alive, but your Divine Soul will suffer permanent flaws and wounds. You will never reach the threshold of Divine Rank in your lifetime."
"Whether you could even reach Level 99 would be in doubt."
The Dark God hid nothing from Bibi Dong, telling her the consequences outright.
He could make certain stages of the Divine Trial a little easier, but some strict requirements had to be met.
Bibi Dong's weaknesses were far too obvious.
If left unresolved, they would fix a ceiling on her potential even if she inherited the Godhood.
This trial, then, had been tailored specifically to Bibi Dong's problems.
If she could resolve them, she would complete every subsequent Divine Trial up to the Seventh Trial with ease.
He would not even need to make things easier for her.
If she could not, then all he could say was that Bibi Dong was not destined to inherit his Dark Godhood.
Hearing the Dark God's inheritance Divine Sense, Yu Xiaogang couldn't help giving him a mental thumbs-up.
As expected of such an old hand.
He had spotted the root of Bibi Dong's problem at a glance.
What Bibi Dong lacked was not talent. Her state of mind, Divine Soul, and obsessions were deeply flawed.
The Second Trial had clearly been designed around those very problems.
It aligned perfectly with Yu Xiaogang's own goal.
The Dark God did not press her. He merely declared, "Bibi Dong, if you do not wish to continue the Divine Trial, you may withdraw now."
"I will not blame you."
He was quite lenient toward his successor.
Even if Asura's scheme failed, the blame could not really be laid at his feet.
At worst, he had known and failed to report it. He might have to spend some time in prison.
It was not a capital offense.
Little Light simply had to leave.
"I choose... to continue the Divine Trial." Bibi Dong had clearly struggled before making her decision.
She understood what this trial meant for her.
Yu Xiaogang gently patted her hand. "Dong'er, I'll help you."
"Dark God, the one-year time limit for the Second Trial of the Dark Nine Trials doesn't include the time spent inside the Absolute Darkness Domain, does it?"
The Dark God gave a clear answer. "It does not. As long as you enter the Absolute Darkness Domain and begin the trial within a year, you will not exceed the limit."
Strictly speaking, she was supposed to pass within a year.
But as he had already planned, he could bend the rules a little on minor conditions.
It would be best if he and Little Light could both be rid of their Godhoods.
Considering Bibi Dong's unusual circumstances, this trial was no less difficult than the Seventh or Eighth Trials faced by other gods' successors. Allowing her a little extra time was not unreasonable.
That would give her more time to prepare properly.
"Thank you for your guidance, Dark God." Yu Xiaogang took Bibi Dong's hand, and together they bowed to him.
Seeing this, the Dark God gave an almost imperceptible nod.
Then he turned back into the inheritance Divine Sense and returned to Bibi Dong's Sea of Consciousness.
Yu Xiaogang picked the other Immortal Herb he had chosen for Bibi Dong and placed it in a jade box.
"Dong'er, this is the other Immortal Herb I chose for you. It should help you pass the Second Trial."
"The Starwave Soul-Condensing Snow Lotus primarily strengthens the foundation of the Divine Soul, stabilizes the Sea of Consciousness, repairs fractures in the Divine Soul, and suppresses inner demons and obsessions."
"Once you've fully absorbed and refined the medicinal power of the Life-and-Death Reincarnation Jade Flower, take the Starwave Soul-Condensing Snow Lotus."
"There should still be enough time."
Yu Xiaogang made a rough estimate of the Divine Trial's timing. It should work out.
Bibi Dong nodded slightly. "All right. Once I return, I'll devote myself to cultivation."
Now that she had a clear goal for the Divine Trial, she would not waste any more time on trifles.