Bibi Dong's Grand Promises and the Netherworld Sword's Terrifying Powers

"Huh..."

Gui Mei let out a surprised sound at the sight. The boy's willpower was stronger than he had imagined.

Even at such a disadvantage, Fang Fan had managed to suppress the Evil Thought and wake up on his own. Gui Mei had never expected that.

It made Gui Mei appreciate Fang Fan even more.

Whoosh...

Fang Fan saw Gui Mei wave his hand. The Soul Power enveloping the area withdrew, and everyone from the Spirit Hall Branch fell to the ground.

After several dull thuds, they scrambled up and knelt on one knee before Gui Mei, who wore the robes of a Spirit Hall elder.

"We pay our respects, Your Excellency!"

"Thank you for saving our lives, Your Excellency!"

"Thank you, Elder!"

"You discovered a genius, so you'll all be rewarded. Su Yuntao especially!"

Gui Mei stared at Fang Fan as he spoke coldly, his back to the others.

"Thank you, Elder!"

Su Yuntao was beside himself with excitement.

Gui Mei paid Su Yuntao no more attention. Instead, his tone softened, and a faint smile appeared on his face.

"Fang Fan, His Holiness the Pope is willing to take you as her personal disciple. You'll become Spirit Hall's Saint Son. Do you accept?"

"I do!"

Fang Fan agreed at once, then added,

"Make sure you reward Grandmaster Su Yuntao generously. Without him, you'd never have discovered a peerless genius like me!"

"I will. Now, let's go!"

Gui Mei nodded. He had no wish to linger.

"All right!"

Fang Fan nodded too.

With a wave of his hand, Gui Mei lifted Fang Fan with Soul Power and flew outside.

Fang Fan cupped his hands to bid the others farewell.

Su Yuntao and the others watched Fang Fan recede into the distance, full of envy.

Gui Mei was quiet throughout the journey, though he kept glancing at Fang Fan, intrigued by the boy's Martial Souls.

He did not ask Fang Fan to summon them. He would see them at Spirit Hall soon enough, so there was no need.

Before long, they arrived at Spirit Hall.

Fang Fan had enjoyed the sensation of flying. Along the way, he had also seen the bustle of Spirit City and the magnificent grandeur of Spirit Hall.

Inside, a woman with long purple hair and a purple robe sat calmly on the Pope's throne. She radiated an unmatched air of authority and noble grace.

Her delicate face, purple eyes, and shapely figure—everything about her was perfect.

She was so beautiful that a single glance nearly left Fang Fan spellbound.

Still, he kept his composure.

"Your Holiness, I've brought Fang Fan!"

Gui Mei bowed and stepped aside.

Fang Fan stood alone, five meters before the Pope's throne.

"Your—"

Fang Fan was marveling inwardly at Bibi Dong's beauty and bearing. He was about to bow when she interrupted him.

"No need for formalities. Come closer. Let me have a look at you!"

Bibi Dong smiled with sudden warmth, her purple eyes sweeping over Fang Fan.

"Uh..."

Fang Fan froze. Why was Bibi Dong so gentle? She showed none of the commanding presence he remembered from the anime or novel. It took him aback.

But only for a moment. He walked forward, climbed the stone steps, and stopped a meter from her.

A faint fragrance reached him.

Up close, Bibi Dong's skin was luminous and smooth, and her curves looked even more breathtaking.

Fang Fan took a deep breath.

"Strong brows, bright eyes, still so young. Twin Martial Souls and full innate Soul Power! Excellent. Excellent!"

Bibi Dong held out a hand, clearly pleased.

"Will you take me as your master and become my personal disciple?"

"What's in it for me if I do?"

Fang Fan asked curiously. His gaze kept roaming over her, without a trace of shyness. He could see appreciation and fondness in her eyes, which emboldened him to look as much as he pleased.

"Haha! You're the first person to ask what they'd gain by becoming the Pope's personal disciple!"

Bibi Dong liked Fang Fan's bluntness.

"You and I both have Twin Martial Souls, and both of ours carry an evil nature. As my personal disciple, you'd have my help suppressing the Evil Thought. I might even find a way to rid you of the Netherworld Evil Tiger's Evil Thought for good!"

"Second, Spirit Hall will spare no resources in nurturing you. I could give you an eighty-thousand-year Head Spirit Bone, for example..."

"Third, you'll be the future Saint Son and heir to the Pope!"

"Fourth, come a little closer."

Bibi Dong beckoned to Fang Fan.

Fang Fan stepped closer.

She leaned toward his ear and spoke softly. Her warm breath brushed his ear and cheek.

"I, too, am troubled by an Evil Thought. In that sense, we're alike.

But our circumstances differ.

Mine comes from the Rakshasa God and affects me through a Divine Test.

Yours comes from the Netherworld Evil Tiger, likely because your Martial Soul mutated.

I have plenty of experience and ways to deal with Evil Thoughts.

For example, absorbing an eighty-thousand-year Head Spirit Bone would greatly strengthen your mental power, giving you a better chance of resisting it.

If you're willing to become my disciple, summon both your Martial Souls. Let me see how powerful they are!"

Gui Mei drew a sharp breath at the Pope's offer. Even he was tempted by those terms.

He wanted an eighty-thousand-year Head Spirit Bone himself, but he had no such luck.

And the Pope was so gentle with Fang Fan—almost like a mother.

If she'd offered me that, I would've agreed to be her personal disciple long ago. Gui Mei silently cursed Fang Fan's good fortune.

"..."

Fang Fan had not expected Bibi Dong to tell him about her Divine Test just to persuade him. She was clearly sincere.

And the eighty-thousand-year Head Spirit Bone she intended to give him was even better than the sixty-thousand-year one Tang San would obtain in the future.

Though Tang San might not get that bone at all. Fang Fan planned to enter the Continental Advanced Soul Master Tournament too.

He had not realized that strengthening his mental power could help him suppress the Netherworld Evil Tiger's Evil Thought.

Bibi Dong really knew her stuff.

With Spirit Hall's resources behind him as well, the benefits were enormous.

Fang Fan made up his mind and summoned his Martial Soul with a thought.

Hummm...

The cry of a sword rang throughout Spirit Hall.

Evil Soul Power swept outward, accompanied by what sounded like the weeping of the dead.

A blood-red sword appeared before Fang Fan, radiating evil, as though countless souls were sealed within its blade.

The temperature around them plunged.

"That sword is so evil!"

Gui Mei had thought his own Martial Soul the strangest and most sinister. Yet Fang Fan's Netherworld Sword was not only powerful but even more uncanny and evil.

Startled, he frowned. The Netherworld Sword seemed extremely difficult to control, and its rank appeared no lower than the Netherworld Evil Tiger's.

Fang Fan really is a monster. Who are his parents, to have produced a genius like him?

"What can the Netherworld Sword do?"

Bibi Dong fixed an intent gaze on the sword and asked with keen interest.

"It can perform short-range Space Traversal, Space Concealment, and Space Ambush.

It can also summon and control souls, or seal them away. But those abilities consume souls."

Fang Fan told her plainly, hiding nothing.

"Oh? Then I can supply you with souls."

Gui Mei waved his hand, forming a small vortex of black Soul Power. A mass of dark ghostly figures poured out of it. "Go ahead and seal them!"

"Stop it! Fang Fan hasn't even acquired a Soul Ring. How is he supposed to absorb those wandering souls?"

Before Bibi Dong could finish speaking, Fang Fan moved.