The Path of Rakshasa

Outside the Papal Palace.

The Star Luo Prince and Dai Weisi arrived, intending to meet the Pope of Spirit Hall and discuss cooperation between Spirit Hall and the Star Luo Empire.

"Ever since Qian Xunji died suddenly under mysterious circumstances and Bibi Dong took power, Spirit Hall's authority has been split in two."

The Star Luo Prince told Dai Weisi, "The ones in power are none other than Pope Bibi Dong and the Great Enshrined, Qian Daoliu. So if we want this cooperation to succeed, Bibi Dong's wishes will be crucial."

"But, Second Uncle," Dai Weisi said with a frown, "our Star Luo Empire has always been at odds with Spirit Hall. Would Bibi Dong really favor us?"

"Of course I've considered that." A trace of smugness appeared on the Star Luo Prince's face as he took a long, narrow box out of his Storage Soul Tool.

"Guess what's inside this box. Here's a hint: this item has something to do with the Angel God."

"Something to do with a god?" Shock appeared on Dai Weisi's face. After racking his brains, he admitted honestly, "I can't guess."

"Heh! Legend has it that before ascending to the Divine Realm, the Angel God tried to forge two ribs into divine artifacts, but only one succeeded—the Angel Holy Sword, Spirit Hall's legendary supreme treasure."

Dai Weisi's eyes widened as he looked at the box in his uncle's hands. "Could this be the other...?"

"Exactly." The Star Luo Prince looked as though victory was already in his grasp. "This is the other one, the failed semi-divine artifact. I've heard that if it falls into the hands of a powerful individual with a potent angel bloodline, it still has a chance of becoming a divine artifact."

"Besides, Bibi Dong's teacher was Qian Xunji. Surely a supreme treasure connected to the Angel God would hold special meaning for her."

"We've got this in the bag!"

Admiration filled Dai Weisi's face. "As expected of you, Second Uncle. Such a crafty old—pah, pah! Such thorough planning!"

Just then, another group arrived outside the palace.

One middle-aged man, one young adult, one youth, and one child.

They were Jian Chenxin, Ning Fengzhi, Xue Qinghe, and Ning Rongrong.

"Well, isn't this a coincidence!"

Convinced that victory was assured on this trip, the Star Luo Prince immediately approached and taunted them:

"Earlier, at the Third Offering's place, I was merely feeling unwell and misjudged things. This time, when we meet the Pope, you're destined to leave empty-handed!"

Ning Fengzhi raised an eyebrow. "Your Highness, isn't it unwise to speak with such absolute confidence?"

"Heh." Xue Qinghe smiled elegantly. "Then let's see who came better prepared."

Though Xue Qinghe's expression remained unchanged, he sighed inwardly. Mother left me alone in the Heaven Dou Imperial Palace for all these years and has barely shown any concern for me.

In her eyes, what does a daughter like me even count for?

Will she meet the Star Luo Prince first, or me? For a moment, he truly had no confidence in the answer.

The palace doors opened slightly.

Chrysanthemum Guan and Gui Mei emerged and asked, "What brings you all here?"

The Star Luo Prince stepped forward first, his tone almost ingratiating. "Elders, sorry for the trouble, but please inform the Pope that the Star Luo delegation requests an audience."

As he spoke, he handed Chrysanthemum Guan the long box containing the Angel Semi-Divine Artifact.

"This is a gift from our Star Luo Empire to His Holiness the Pope. It's only a small token, hardly worthy of expressing our respect. Please ask His Holiness the Pope to accept it."

Chrysanthemum Guan took the box, then turned toward Xue Qinghe and the others and asked:

"And you?"

Xue Qinghe stepped forward with a smile and likewise handed him a square gift box, saying:

"Sorry for the trouble, but please announce that the Heaven Dou delegation has come to visit and requests an audience with His Holiness the Pope."

Inside the box was a gift he had carefully prepared for his mother.

And so, Chrysanthemum Guan and Gui Mei carried the two boxes into the palace.

As time passed, everyone in the Star Luo and Heaven Dou delegations except Xue Qinghe grew increasingly anxious.

They knew that, essentially, whoever entered those palace doors first would be the side Bibi Dong favored.

The Star Luo Prince's expression grew somewhat more serious, much of the smugness fading from his features.

If Bibi Dong favored Heaven Dou, Star Luo would undoubtedly be finished.

After all, the Third Offering, who represented the Great Enshrined's wishes, had clearly shown his satisfaction with the Heaven Dou delegation earlier. Star Luo had no room left for error.

In theory, no gift should have attracted the attention of Spirit Hall's Pope more than the Angel Semi-Divine Artifact.

As the Pope of Spirit Hall, surely Bibi Dong couldn't hold a grudge against the angel bloodline?

That joke was not funny, especially to the Star Luo Prince at this moment.

Inside the Papal Palace.

Bibi Dong glanced at the square box with a complicated look in her eyes, then chose to open the first, long box.

The instant the box opened, dazzling golden light flooded the entire hall, setting it aglow.

Once the golden light faded, a slender, brilliant golden holy spear appeared before Bibi Dong.

Chrysanthemum Guan and Gui Mei, who waited respectfully nearby, saw it too.

Above the divine spear.

A holy spirit aura carrying a trace of divinity emerged. A sacred Angel Phantom appeared for an instant, only to be immediately suppressed by the unfathomable evil aura emanating from Bibi Dong.

"This... this is the Angel Holy Spear! Spirit Hall's other lost Angel Divine Artifact!"

Chrysanthemum Guan and Gui Mei looked stunned. They had never expected the Star Luo Prince to spare no expense and offer a semi-divine artifact as a greeting gift.

Surely the Pope would be overjoyed now?

Yet to their surprise, the instant Bibi Dong saw the divine spear, unmistakable disgust appeared in her eyes.

"Hmph!"

"Angel God, no one is more hypocritical than you. I certainly don't believe in you!"

Clatter!

The long box, along with the Angel Holy Spear, was tossed aside.

Bibi Dong picked up Xue Qinghe's square box. After hesitating for a moment, she chose to put it down without opening it.

"Both Heaven Dou and Star Luo seem to lack sincerity. Let them wait!"

With that, Bibi Dong closed her eyes to rest in her gilded chair, utterly disregarding the Heaven Dou and Star Luo delegations waiting outside.

Truthfully, the greeting gifts from these two delegations had brought back some unpleasant memories.

Because of that, she no longer even felt like meeting them.

Suddenly, her soul-devouring spider emperor martial soul stirred with a soul-craving disturbance. Bibi Dong's eyes abruptly reddened, and her pupils began to darken.

Terrifying killing intent rose from her, making her resemble an evil Rakshasa who had slaughtered all living beings.

"Whew..."

Damn it, the backlash from the Rakshasa God Trial is here.

Every time the backlash struck, it almost always ended with her sucking the essence, energy, and spirit out of several living Soul Masters.

To kill Qian Xunji, she had accepted the Rakshasa God Trial. But after accepting the trial, she had set foot on the evil path known as Rakshasa.

There was no turning back.

That was also the fundamental reason she loathed the angel bloodline.

Bibi Dong's heart fluttered with dread. She mobilized her soul power and spiritual power, barely managing to suppress the backlash from the Rakshasa God Trial.

Confusion crossed her face.

The backlash hasn't come for so long. Why today...?

It seemed that ever since she had devoured that child Xu Xiaonian's soul power and acquired the mysterious Dark Purple Mark on her neck, the Rakshasa God's backlash had not struck.

Bibi Dong checked the mark on the back of her neck in a mirror again and discovered that it had indeed faded considerably.

"Where is Xu Xiaonian now? Bring him here at once—the sooner, the better!"