Bibi Dong slowly rose, feeling the boundless fluctuations of soul power within her, a cold smile appearing on her breathtaking face.
The peak of level 98!
After absorbing Xiao Wu's Hundred Thousand Year Soul Ring and soul bone, her cultivation had not broken through outright, but it had reached the very peak of level 98. Only a paper-thin window screen stood between her and level 99.
With a thought from Bibi Dong, the Eight Spider Lances on her back began to dance nimbly, as though alive.
After an hour of familiarizing herself with it, she had thoroughly mastered the properties of this external soul bone.
The Eight Spider Lances not only contained deadly poison; more terrifying still, they possessed the rare property of "devouring."
They could absorb an enemy's life force to nourish her, and even cause the soul bone itself to evolve.
Earlier, when killing that level 92 Titled Douluo from the Clear Sky Sect, Bibi Dong had used the Eight Spider Lances to drain his life force dry.
After she refined that vast, pure life energy, it replenished what she had expended in battle and deepened the color of the Eight Spider Lances.
To evolve the Eight Spider Lances further, and use that to shatter the barrier in one stroke and enter the realm of a level 99 Peerless Douluo, I'll need to devour even greater quantities of life force...
Bibi Dong made her calculations inwardly.
Though ruthless in her actions, she had her own pride and limits.
She had not become so cruel and depraved that she would wantonly slaughter civilians and low-ranking Soul Masters to cultivate.
Since she could not kill people, she could only turn her sights toward soul beasts.
High-year spider-type soul beasts, with their life force and poison essence, would undoubtedly be more helpful in evolving the Eight Spider Lances. Especially... the Man Faced Demon Spider.
Just as Bibi Dong reined in her aura and prepared to order their departure.
A slightly hunched figure, forcing an air of composure, emerged from behind the distant ruins where he had been hiding.
It was none other than Yu Xiaogang.
That earth-shaking clash of gods had completely shattered the pride in his heart.
Tang San had been taken away by Sea God Island's High Priestess, his fate unknown.
Ning Rongrong had fled in disarray with Sword Douluo and Bone Douluo.
Shrek Academy had been all but razed to the ground, and the "Shrek Seven Devils" in whom he had once placed such high hopes had fallen apart.
This academy was utterly finished.
There was no more fame or benefit for him, Yu Xiaogang, to reap here.
But when he saw Bibi Dong, who resembled an unparalleled empress, uncontrollable ambition and greed sprouted in his heart.
Bibi Dong is now no weaker than a Peerless Douluo. Even the Clear Sky Sect and the Worship Hall have been trampled beneath her feet, Yu Xiaogang cried inwardly.
If... I could use our former feelings to reconcile with her, with such a nearly invincible woman backing me, why would I, Yu Xiaogang, have to worry about soaring straight into the clouds? Who on the entire Douluo Continent would still dare mock me as useless?!
At that thought, Yu Xiaogang worked to make his expression look deeply affectionate and weathered by life.
He straightened his dust-covered collar and approached Bibi Dong with what he considered elegant strides.
"Bibi Dong..." Yu Xiaogang deliberately lowered his voice, speaking with gentle emotion. "It's been so many years. You... you've suffered. Seeing you possess such great strength now truly makes me happy for you."
Bibi Dong turned her head, her cold, violet-gleaming eyes looking down at the man before her.
"Suffered?" Bibi Dong gave a cold laugh.
"Yu Xiaogang, put away that revolting face of yours. After all these years, I stand at the peak of level 98, looking down upon all living beings. And yet you're still marking time in the same place, barking madly here like a clown jumping about. Yu Xiaogang, you've disappointed me far too much."
At this merciless humiliation, Yu Xiaogang's face instantly flushed crimson.
He raised his head and urgently protested:
"No! That's not it. Bibi Dong, you've misunderstood me. I'm no longer that useless man who couldn't break through. I've broken past the level 30 bottleneck. I'm a Soul Elder now!"
To prove himself, Yu Xiaogang stirred the soul power within him.
Three soul rings, two yellow and one purple, slowly rose from beneath his feet.
"Look, I'm already level 31!" Yu Xiaogang pointed at his purple Thousand-Year Soul Ring, his eyes proud.
The mockery in Bibi Dong's eyes deepened.
"Want to prove yourself?" Bibi Dong extended a slender finger toward the Shrek group trembling among the distant ruins.
"Fine, I'll give you a chance. Don't you call yourself Grandmaster, the teacher of a group of so-called genius students? If you can defeat any one of them, I'll acknowledge your worth and let you stay by my side."
Hearing this, Yu Xiaogang was ecstatic.
He seemed to see himself standing at the pinnacle of Spirit Hall's power, revered by multitudes.
"Dong'er, you said it yourself. You can't go back on your word!" Yu Xiaogang was so excited that even his voice trembled.
"Shut up!" Bibi Dong's expression darkened. Her killing intent locked onto Yu Xiaogang, pressing down on him until he could barely breathe.
"Don't call me Dong'er. Hearing that name come out of your mouth only disgusts me."
Yu Xiaogang shuddered in fright and hastily shut his mouth, but the fervor in his eyes did not diminish in the slightest.
He turned around, his gaze sweeping over Shrek Academy's few remaining students as his mind raced.
Dai Mubai, a Power Attack System Battle Soul Elder with soul power as high as level 38 and the White Tiger martial soul, possessed extraordinarily overwhelming offensive power. He couldn't beat him.
Oscar, a food-type Tool Soul Elder with level 32 soul power, had no offensive ability, but if he took forever to beat even a support-type, it would be far too embarrassing in front of Bibi Dong.
That left only Ma Hongjun and Zhu Zhuqing.
Neither had broken through to Soul Elder yet; both were currently level 29 Soul Grandmasters.
With my strength as a level 31 Soul Elder, plus three soul skills, defeating a level 29 Soul Grandmaster will be as easy as reaching out and grabbing them!
So Yu Xiaogang thought.
His gaze wandered between Ma Hongjun and Zhu Zhuqing.
Ma Hongjun's Evil Fire Phoenix Martial Soul had tremendous explosive power, and its fire attribute had a certain restraining effect on foul farts.
Zhu Zhuqing, meanwhile, was an agility-type Soul Master. She was fast, but her offensive power was comparatively weak, and her body was fragile.
Having made up his mind, Yu Xiaogang pointed at the black-clad girl with the sultry figure and cold face.
"Zhu Zhuqing, come out." Yu Xiaogang assumed the righteous bearing of a senior teacher.
"Zhu Zhuqing, don't blame Grandmaster for being ruthless. I'm doing this for Shrek Academy's future as well, to secure a path to survival for all of you. Forgive me!"
Gritting her teeth, Zhu Zhuqing walked out of the ruins.
Her icy eyes were filled with anger and contempt.
She had never imagined that this "Grandmaster," who usually spoke of nothing but benevolence, righteousness, and morality.
Would truly turn his blade on his own student to please Spirit Hall's former Supreme Pontiff.
As Zhu Zhuqing prepared to fight, Bibi Dong's voice rang out again, like a death sentence pronounced by the god of death:
"Little girl, if you dare deliberately hold back because he's your teacher, I'll kill you first, right now."
Zhu Zhuqing trembled all over. Feeling that terrifying killing intent, she knew the woman was not joking.
"Grandmaster, in that case, forgive me." Zhu Zhuqing took a deep breath, and her Hell Spirit Cat martial soul instantly possessed her.
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