Ye Xishui vs. Bibi Dong! Death God Douluo!

Golden Crocodile Douluo stood nearby, his face no less shocked.

"Tang Chen, Bo Saixi, the Deep Sea Demonic Whale King, the Snow Empress, and the Evil-Eyed Tyrant Ruler."

"Nearly every top powerhouse on the continent with a name worth knowing has made the list."

"Who could the remaining five spots belong to?"

Light Feather Douluo looked up at the Golden Rankings.

"There are still five people stronger than the Great Enshrined?"

"Where have they been hiding all this time?"

"Why has Spirit Hall never heard a whisper about them?"

Azure Luan Douluo slowly shook his head.

"The fact that they've evaded Spirit Hall's eyes and ears until now is proof enough that they're extraordinary."

"The top five may be beyond anything a Limit Douluo can measure."

Qian Daoliu drew back his gaze.

His eyes settled on the rewards displayed by the Golden Rankings.

[Reward: Cultivation and strength advance to Third-Level God!]

[Reward: One Cost Exemption Card!]

[After using the Cost Exemption Card, you can unlock the Ninth Trial of the Angel Nine Trials without dying!]

[Reward: The age of every Soul Ring increases by ten thousand years!]

As Qian Daoliu read the rewards, the shock in his heart gradually gave way to joy.

Third-Level God.

That was the realm of a true Deity.

Though he was the Great Enshrined of the Angel God and could call upon a portion of the Angel Divine Power, he had never undergone the leap to a higher plane of existence.

Once he left the Worship Hall and lost the support of that power, he was still only a Level 99 Limit Douluo.

Now things were different.

After receiving the reward from the Golden Rankings, he would advance directly to Third-Level God.

He would no longer be borrowing Divine Power.

He would possess god-level power that was truly his own.

More important still was the Cost Exemption Card.

Qian Daoliu looked up at its description, joy growing brighter in his eyes.

From the day he became the Great Enshrined of the Angel God, he had known how his life would end.

When the true heir to the Six-Winged Angel Godhood appeared, he would have to sacrifice his life to unlock the final trial of the Angel Nine Trials.

That heir was Qian Renxue.

Qian Daoliu had never intended to compete with his granddaughter for the Godhood.

The Angel Godhood had always belonged to the Qian Family.

And Qian Renxue possessed talent far beyond his own.

Once she completed the Angel Nine Trials, she could inherit a complete First-Level Godhood.

When that day came, both the Qian Family and Spirit Hall would have a true Deity.

But Qian Daoliu would have to pay with his life.

It was a duty the Great Enshrined could not escape.

Now, the Cost Exemption Card had changed everything.

"Xue'er can inherit the Angel Godhood."

"And I won't have to sacrifice my life."

A smile appeared on Qian Daoliu's face.

Not only could he witness Qian Renxue become a god with his own eyes, he could continue living after the Godhood Inheritance was complete.

And with the Third-Level God cultivation granted by the Golden Rankings, the Qian Family would have two god-level powerhouses once Qian Renxue inherited the Angel Godhood.

Golden Crocodile Douluo saw the card's value as well.

"Great Enshrined, with the Cost Exemption Card, you can personally help the young mistress complete the Angel Nine Trials."

"Once she becomes a god, Spirit Hall will have no rivals left."

Qian Daoliu nodded.

"This reward has indeed resolved my greatest concern."

"Xue'er is the most suitable heir to the Six-Winged Angel Godhood."

"That Godhood can belong only to her."

He looked toward the sky once more.

A golden pillar of light had gathered above the Worship Hall.

Vast energy passed through the hall's vaulted ceiling and descended before Qian Daoliu.

A golden card engraved with the pattern of a Six-Winged Angel floated within the pillar.

Nine clusters of golden light slowly revolved around it.

Each cluster corresponded to one of Qian Daoliu's Soul Rings.

Qian Daoliu raised his hand.

The Cost Exemption Card landed in his palm.

The Six-Winged Angel pattern on the card gradually lit up, connecting with the Angel Divine Power within him.

He could feel it clearly.

Once he absorbed the card, the rules of the Ninth Trial of the Angel Nine Trials would change.

The sacrifice that had once required his life would be waived entirely.

Qian Daoliu absorbed the card into his body.

Then he turned to the other Enshrined.

"Golden Crocodile, Azure Luan, Guang Ling."

"Guard the Worship Hall from outside."

"No one enters without my permission."

Golden Crocodile Douluo bowed at once.

"Yes, Great Enshrined."

Azure Luan Douluo and Light Feather Douluo saluted together.

"We will make certain the Worship Hall is secure."

The Enshrined turned and left.

The heavy doors slowly closed.

Qian Daoliu walked before the Angel God Statue and sat down cross-legged.

His Six-Winged Angel Martial Soul rose behind him.

Six golden wings spread to their full span.

Nine Soul Rings appeared in sequence.

Black, black, black, black, black, black, black, black, red.

The nine clusters of golden reward light entered the Soul Rings one by one.

The first black Soul Ring changed before the others.

Its age rose rapidly.

Then came the second, and the third.

By the time the ninth Soul Ring was reached, every ring had gained ten thousand years.

The pressure from Qian Daoliu's Soul Rings continued to intensify.

His ninth Soul Ring, already at the hundred-thousand-year level, deepened in color.

Once the Soul Rings had finished advancing, the golden pillar of light engulfed him completely.

A vast surge of Divine Power poured into his meridians.

The Soul Power within Qian Daoliu began to transform.

Before the power of the Golden Rankings, the bottleneck holding him at Level 99 Limit Douluo rapidly gave way.

Demigod.

Pseudo-God.

Third-Level God.

Qian Daoliu's Six-Winged Angel Martial Soul burst into dazzling golden light.

Sacred radiance enveloped the entire Worship Hall.

His flesh, meridians, and bones were washed again and again in Divine Power.

The aura of a mortal swiftly faded from him.

Golden divine markings spread down from Qian Daoliu's forehead.

His six angel wings grew broader.

Pure sacred power flowed through every feather.

Eyes closed, Qian Daoliu continued drawing the power granted by the Heaven Rankings into his body.

His Third-Level God cultivation gradually stabilized.

The Cost Exemption Card also merged completely with his Angel God Mark.

From that moment on, he was no longer merely a Great Enshrined who could borrow Angel Divine Power.

He had truly stepped into the realm of gods.

The Papal Palace.

The aura of Qian Daoliu's breakthrough to Third-Level God had spread throughout Spirit City.

Bibi Dong stood on the high platform and looked up at the firmament.

The golden light gradually faded.

[Reward: Cultivation and strength advance to Third-Level God!]

[Reward: One Cost Exemption Card!]

[Reward: The age of every Soul Ring increases by ten thousand years!]

The final line of text slowly vanished.

Bibi Dong's gaze lingered on the words Third-Level God.

"Qian Daoliu actually possesses the power of a Third-Level God."

She gripped her scepter, a trace of surprise appearing in her violet eyes.

Qian Daoliu had already been a Level 99 Limit Douluo.

With Angel Divine Power and the rewards from the Golden Rankings added to that, his strength had crossed fully into the realm of gods.

Even Bibi Dong did not dare underestimate him now.

Hu Liena stood behind her and said softly:

"Teacher, after receiving those rewards, Qian Daoliu must have become a true Deity."

"The power of a Third-Level God is formidable indeed."

Bibi Dong looked away.

"So what if he's a Third-Level God?"

She raised a hand, Rakshasa Divine Power slowly flowing between her fingers.

"Once I gain complete control of the Rakshasa Godhood, I can become a First-Level God directly."

"When that time comes, Qian Daoliu will only be able to stand behind me."

Respect shone in Hu Liena's eyes.

"Teacher, you'll certainly become a First-Level God."

Bibi Dong nodded.

She knew her own talent well.

Twin Martial Souls.

Level 98 Soul Power.

The Rakshasa God Trial.

Once she completed her final transformation, she would possess power second only to that of a God King.

"And yet, the more this ranking reveals, the harder it is to make sense of."

Bibi Dong looked toward the Heaven Rankings.

"Qian Daoliu now has Third-Level God cultivation, yet he ranks only sixth."

"Just what level have the five above him reached?"

Hu Liena considered for a moment.

"Tang Chen, Bo Saixi, and Qian Daoliu have all appeared."

"Among the Soul Beasts, there are also the Snow Empress, the Evil-Eyed Tyrant Ruler, and the Deep Sea Demonic Whale King."

"Perhaps the top five come from the Far North or the depths of the sea."

Bibi Dong shook her head slightly.

"The Snow Empress has already made the list."

"The Evil-Eyed Tyrant Ruler and the Deep Sea Demonic Whale King have appeared as well."

"The remaining powerhouses may not be Soul Beasts at all."

She looked toward the very top of the rankings.

"Perhaps there are deities hiding in the human world among the top five."

"Or perhaps they aren't people of this era at all."

The moment the words fell,

a powerful presence suddenly appeared above Spirit City.

Crimson light raced closer from the distant horizon.

Terrifying pressure descended.

Fine cracks spread across the flagstones outside the Papal Palace.

The candle flames inside leaned to either side at once.

Bibi Dong immediately raised her head.

"Someone's coming."

Hu Liena's expression changed.

She looked toward the entrance of the Papal Palace.

"Teacher, who would dare come to Spirit Hall and act so arrogantly?"

"Could it be Tang Chen?"

Bibi Dong tightened her grip on her scepter.

"I don't know either."

"Let's go and see."

The two walked out of the Papal Palace.

Spirit Hall's Soul Masters had already gathered in the square.

A steward in Spirit Hall robes looked up at the sky, his face full of wariness.

"How dare you!"

"This is Spirit Hall's Papal Palace! Who dares cause trouble here?"

"Stop at once!"

"Otherwise, you make yourself an enemy of Spirit Hall!"

Several Soul Masters released their Martial Souls.

Soul Rings rose one after another across the square.

Crimson light descended from high above.

A pair of golden-red phoenix wings slowly unfurled.

Ye Xishui descended from the air.

She wore a long red dress.

Purple-red hair fell to her waist.

Two utterly different auras converged around her.

Dark-red Blood Soul Power swirled on her left.

Pure flames of light burned on her right.

She paid no attention to the surrounding Soul Masters.

She simply stood in the center of the square and looked up toward the Papal Palace.

"So this is the Spirit Hall of ten thousand years ago."

Ye Xishui murmured to herself.

Long Yuan had once told her about Spirit Hall in this era.

Still, seeing it with her own eyes felt somewhat novel.

"It does seem to have more confidence than it will ten thousand years from now."

Spirit Hall's Soul Masters immediately closed in around her.

"Who exactly are you?"

"You entered Spirit Hall without permission. Do you know your crime?"

"Dismiss your Martial Soul at once, or don't blame us for attacking!"

Ye Xishui raised her eyes.

"Are you threatening me?"

The Soul Master's expression changed.

"Leave now, and we can let bygones be bygones."

"If you stay, you'll be challenging Spirit Hall!"

Ye Xishui gave a soft laugh.

"You people of Spirit Hall still love using your power to bully others."

"But a handful of Soul Kings and Soul Emperors hardly have the standing to say that to me."

The Soul Masters' expressions changed all at once.

Bibi Dong and Hu Liena arrived at the front of the square.

Chrysanthemum Douluo Yue Guan and Ghost Douluo Gui Mei followed behind them.

Bibi Dong glanced at the sky, then at Ye Xishui in the center of the square.

For an instant, her gaze lingered.

Ye Xishui was exceptionally beautiful.

Her red dress set off her mature figure.

Her long purple-red hair drifted gently in the air currents.

Merely standing there, she drew every gaze in the square.

What concerned Bibi Dong even more was Ye Xishui's bearing.

That oppressive presence was not something an ordinary powerhouse could possess.

Even without unleashing her full strength, Ye Xishui made Bibi Dong feel a trace of pressure.

Bibi Dong turned her head.

"Yue Guan, Gui Mei."

"Why haven't Qian Daoliu and Golden Crocodile Douluo come?"

Yue Guan answered at once:

"Your Holiness, the Great Enshrined is receiving his Golden Rankings reward in the Worship Hall."

"Golden Crocodile Douluo, Azure Luan Douluo, and Light Feather Douluo are guarding the Worship Hall."

"They won't leave without the Great Enshrined's permission."

Bibi Dong nodded.

She looked toward the distant Worship Hall.

Qian Daoliu was breaking through to Third-Level God.

Golden Crocodile Douluo and the others would not leave lightly.

That meant only she, Chrysanthemum Douluo, and Ghost Douluo could fight at the Papal Palace right now.

Bibi Dong stepped forward.

Spirit Hall's Soul Masters immediately parted to either side.

She walked to the center of the square and stopped a little over ten yards from Ye Xishui.

"Who are you?"

Bibi Dong raised her scepter.

"What have you come to Spirit Hall for?"

Ye Xishui studied the woman before her.

"So you're Bibi Dong, ranked twelfth on the Heaven Rankings?"

The square fell silent at once.

Bibi Dong's face darkened.

Twelfth place.

To her, those words were no honor.

Before the Golden Rankings appeared, she had always believed herself one of the continent's strongest.

Yet once the Golden Rankings appeared, she had placed only twelfth.

Eleven people stood above her.

The thought had remained a thorn in her heart.

Now Ye Xishui had brought it up before everyone in Spirit Hall, as though tearing open her wound.

"I am indeed Bibi Dong, the Pope."

Bibi Dong lifted her chin.

"Do you have a problem with that?"

Ye Xishui's gaze rested on Bibi Dong for a moment.

"The Evil Spider Empress of ten thousand years ago."

"I thought you would be stronger than this."

Bibi Dong's eyes darkened.

Ye Xishui continued:

"Still, your presence and bearing are respectable enough."

"You did rise to become Spirit Hall's Pope, so your reputation isn't entirely undeserved."

Bibi Dong heard what she meant.

Her presence was respectable.

Her bearing was respectable.

But Ye Xishui had said nothing of her strength.

She was saying Bibi Dong was not strong enough.

Hu Liena immediately stepped forward.

"How dare you!"

"How dare you disrespect my teacher!"

"This is Spirit Hall, not a place for you to run wild!"

Ye Xishui looked at Hu Liena.

"You're her disciple?"

"A mere Soul King dares step forward and lecture me?"

Hu Liena's expression changed.

Her Martial Soul immediately appeared behind her.

The phantom of a Demon Fox manifested in midair.

"I won't let you insult my teacher like that!"

Ye Xishui looked at her.

"Insult?"

She gently raised a hand.

"I only told the truth."

Bibi Dong raised a hand to stop Hu Liena.

She looked at Ye Xishui, killing intent already in her eyes.

"You barged into Spirit Hall, insulted me, and then looked down on Nana."

"It seems you have no intention of leaving here alive."