The two martial souls began to transform under the reshaping power of ascension. First came Bibi Dong's first martial soul, the Death Spider Emperor. Its body gradually faded, becoming a massive black-purple scythe nearly two meters long.
The Soul-Devouring Spider Emperor on the other side underwent the same change as the Death Spider Emperor, likewise turning into a scythe.
The second scythe was slightly smaller than the first, but just as sharp and sinister. It was pitch-black throughout, without a trace of any other color, exuding a terrifying presence like staring into an abyss.
[Death Demon Scythe] Grade: ultimate martial soul Ultimate attribute: poison Special effect: can switch between tool martial soul and beast martial soul forms [Soul-Devouring Demon Scythe] Grade: ultimate martial soul Ultimate attribute: darkness Special effect: can switch between tool martial soul and beast martial soul forms
"Is this ultimate power?"
Bibi Dong's current sensation was extraordinary.
She had entered martial soul possession using her first martial soul, the Death Spider Emperor.
Yet while possessed by her martial soul, Bibi Dong also held an inky-black giant scythe in her hand-the Soul-Devouring Demon Scythe, which represented ultimate darkness.
Unlike the Soul-Devouring Demon Spider in the original story, her second martial soul, having evolved to the ultimate level and fully awakened its powers of devouring and darkness, had become a pitch-black existence that could devour even light.
"Summoning them simultaneously!"
Bibi Dong had actually summoned both martial souls at once. Luo Chen immediately realized what the scene before him meant!
"I never imagined martial soul evolution would bring a benefit like this."
Joy filled Bibi Dong's face as she said, "Not only did both my martial souls improve in quality and awaken ultimate power, they also gained the special ability to switch between tool martial soul and beast martial soul forms."
Martial souls like these were exceedingly rare, but not unheard of.
The Coiling Dragon Staffs of Qian Jun and Jiang Mo, two of the Seven Enshrined, could switch between tool martial soul and beast martial soul forms.
However, the Coiling Dragon Staff merely had a Break Evil Dragon sealed within it.
Although it possessed the ability to transform, the Coiling Dragon Staff remained a tool martial soul and could not perform martial soul possession like a beast martial soul.
"Xiao Chen, this was all thanks to you."
Bibi Dong walked over to Luo Chen, her eyes brimming with doting affection. "Not only did your teacher break through to Titled Douluo, I reached the Super Douluo realm in one leap."
With that, soul rings appeared around Bibi Dong.
Yellow, purple, purple, black, black, black, black, black, red-nine soul rings radiated astonishing soul power pressure.
Bibi Dong had already reached level 90. After devouring Qian Xunji's level-95 cultivation, she had gained at least three levels of soul power.
However, that soul power had been unstable.
Devouring was an evil soul master's method, and it would have an enormous impact on a soul master's mind and martial soul.
Under the tempering of ascended power, however, the soul power from Qian Xunji had been purified. Every side effect had dissipated, leaving only the purest soul power cultivation.
Qian Xunji's soul power, the boost from a hundred-thousand-year natal soul ring, the qualitative improvement of twin martial souls evolving to ultimate quality, and the 72% of ascended power Luo Chen had poured in all at once.
"Then what level are you now, Teacher?"
"Your teacher is now a level-97 Super Douluo!"
As Bibi Dong spoke, her gaze toward Luo Chen was so tender it seemed water might drip from it. "With that final surprise you gave me, I have nothing to fear even from that old bastard Qian Daoliu!"
[Bibi Dong] Affection: ultimate trust, ultimate doting
Looking at Bibi Dong's current affection, Luo Chen could not help the slight upward curve of his lips. Two ultimate-level affections. That's enough.
Absolute-level affection was almost impossible to attain.
Especially for adults like Bibi Dong, who had already experienced a certain amount of life, there were some things they could never let go of.
Her daughter Qian Renxue, for instance.
No matter how much Bibi Dong loathed her, she still held a place deep within her heart.
If Bibi Dong's feelings for Luo Chen reached "absolute," it would mean that she could abandon even her own daughter.
Clearly, that was impossible.
Wang Sheng was absolutely loyal to Luo Chen because he had no other ties. Luo Chen was his most important family.
As for Hu Liena, she had her older brother Xie Yue.
That familial bond was something Hu Liena could never sever, no matter what.
Expressed in numbers, if absolute affection was 100, ultimate affection was 99.
Yes, 99.
Nine was the ultimate number. If it were not nearly perfect, how could it deserve to be called ultimate?
Still, Luo Chen felt somewhat ashamed at that moment.
He had never expected Bibi Dong to trust him so much.
"Douluo Continent, where the people are simple and honest. No wonder Tang San could turn it into his back garden."
As he reflected inwardly, Luo Chen suddenly noticed the information that had flashed past earlier.
"Wasn't there another notification just now?"
"The path to godhood?"
After searching, Luo Chen found the corresponding explanation among the information the Star Forger Martial Soul had previously transmitted. "I never imagined that the fifth-stage ascension ritual wasn't the endpoint. There's an even higher-level godhood ritual after it."
As its name suggested, attaining godhood was a stairway that could allow soul masters to become gods.
These gods were somewhat similar to the gods in the Douluo worldview, but even more powerful.
They were formed by the Star Forger's power fused with the origin of the Douluo Universe. In both potential and upper limits, they would far surpass the godhood inheritances of Douluo's native deities.
The only regret was that the godhood ritual required an enormous amount of what was called celestial power, which Luo Chen simply could not provide.
This also meant he had failed to obtain detailed information about attaining godhood. He only knew that such a thing existed, and that Bibi Dong had earned the recognition of the Star Forger's power, qualifying her to set foot on the path to godhood and explore its mysteries.
"To complete the godhood ritual, one must first meet the requirements for attaining godhood. Aptitude and disposition-neither can be lacking."
"And once that prerequisite is met, sufficient celestial power is also needed."
The so-called celestial realm did not refer to the Divine Realm, but to the boundless "universe."
Thus, celestial power could also be called the "power of the cosmic origin."
"To obtain celestial power, I need to raise the Douluo Plane's potential, then use it as a medium to release the Star Forger's mighty power throughout the universe."
In the terms of the Douluo World, ascended power, which could freely improve aptitude and martial soul quality, was like "divine power."
Celestial power stood one level above ascended power. It represented authority over the universe, something akin to the origin of laws.
The stronger Douluo Star became, the more universal laws it could command, and the amount of celestial power that could be refined would increase along with them.
"So that's how it works."
Luo Chen seemed to have grasped the essence of celestial power. "Because of me, the Star Forger's control over this universe needs to be channeled outward through my celestial star crown."
The stronger the celestial star crown, the larger the outlet, and the more cosmic origin it could control.
Douluo Star's role here was that of a central hub, used to suppress the cosmic origin governed by the celestial star crown.
In short, the godhood ritual held promise for the future.
It could not be done now because the Douluo Plane was still too weak to support Bibi Dong in completing the path to godhood.
Otherwise, Bibi Dong becoming a god alone would bring a leap in Douluo Star's standing.
The upper limit of the Star Forger's power Luo Chen could wield would also receive a considerable boost.
Most importantly, if Bibi Dong attained the divine realm through the godhood ritual, her relationship with Luo Chen would become tightly bound.
To put it simply, the two would belong to the same pantheon.
Within that pantheon, Luo Chen would be the sole true god, while Bibi Dong would be a goddess serving under him.
They would share honor and disgrace, never leave or abandon each other, and become family who could entrust their lives to one another.
"What a pity."
Luo Chen found this quite regrettable. He truly hoped Bibi Dong could become a deity of the celestial pantheon.
"Never mind celestial power. I've even used up every last drop of ascended power."
Performing ascension for Bibi Dong had exhausted all the power within the Sun Disc, sending Luo Chen straight back to square one overnight.
Fortunately, it had all been worth it.
All his ascended power in exchange for a breathtakingly beautiful Pope as his teacher, who would indulge his every wish and grant whatever he asked.
Bibi Dong might have profited from this deal, but Luo Chen certainly had not lost out.
"You must have been terrified just now, weren't you?"
Bibi Dong gently stroked Luo Chen's hair, her tone tender, like a beautiful young woman who had just gained a child. "Don't be afraid. With your teacher here, I won't let that old bastard force you."
What did ultimate doting mean?
As long as he did not ask Bibi Dong to kill Qian Renxue, she would not hesitate in the slightest over any request Luo Chen made.
Coupled with ultimate trust, Bibi Dong would not even doubt Luo Chen's words.
"Mm."
Luo Chen had done what he could. What came next was Bibi Dong's battle. "Teacher, show me your strength."
Bibi Dong bent down and placed a light kiss on Luo Chen's forehead. "All right."
"Boom!!"
In reality, Qian Daoliu had just risen from beneath the pressure of divine power.
Yet before he could ask anything, a black-purple figure burst out of the storm.
"What?!"
Carrying overwhelming might, a massive inky-black scythe smashed Qian Daoliu out of the Saintess Hall.
This was nothing like her soft, gentle words when facing Luo Chen in the Martial Soul Space.
At this moment, Bibi Dong was savage, vicious, and cold, like a demonic goddess emerging from the abyss to tear that golden, radiant angel to pieces!
"Bang!!"
A tremendous explosion rang out from the Saintess Hall, and invisible soul power instantly enveloped the surroundings.
"What is this?"
"The Pope's soul power fluctuations?"
"And that other presence is..."
Every soul master in Spirit City with cultivation at Soul Douluo or above sensed this soul power pressure.
The titled experts ranked elder and above hurried toward the scene. Even the six enshrined cultivating in seclusion within the Worship Hall rushed out in unison.
"That's the boss's soul power!"
"Why is he fighting Bibi Dong?"
The speaker was a white-haired youth who looked twelve or thirteen. He was Spirit Hall's Fifth Enshrined, Light Feather Douluo. "Wait, why can Bibi Dong fight the boss? Does that make any sense?"
Although Bibi Dong was a genius, at the absolute most, she was only a level-90 Titled Douluo.
What level was Qian Daoliu?
Never mind a mere Titled Douluo-even level-98 Golden Crocodile Douluo would probably be slapped flat by Qian Daoliu if he faced him.
The gap between a Peerless Douluo and a level-98 Douluo was even greater than the gap between a Titled Douluo and a low-level soul master.
Moreover, this was Qian Daoliu, the Angel God's high priest, a true demigod.
Just how bold was Bibi Dong to dare fight Qian Daoliu?
"This power? Something's wrong!"
His cultivation as a level-99 Peerless Douluo allowed Qian Daoliu to block Bibi Dong's surprise attack with ease.
Yet there was not the slightest relaxation on Qian Daoliu's face. Instead, he stared ahead solemnly. "How is this possible? Bibi Dong, how could your soul power have reached this level!"
Only the blink of an eye had passed. How many seconds had it even been?
The Bibi Dong before him seemed like an entirely different person.
Qian Daoliu felt as though his entire understanding of the world had suffered a tremendous blow.
So great was his shock that, in a moment of inattention during this brief exchange, Bibi Dong's giant scythe had even cut off a strand of his golden hair.
Clearly, Qian Daoliu had also noticed this small setback caused by his carelessness, and his gaze toward Bibi Dong grew even more astonished.
"Nothing is impossible!"
Bibi Dong stood proudly in the sky. Raising the Soul-Devouring Demon Scythe, she looked down imperiously over the entire Pope Mountain. "I told you, this is my territory."
"You shouldn't have come!"
With the Soul-Devouring Demon Scythe pointed at him, Qian Daoliu frowned slightly and asked uncertainly, "Is that a martial soul?"
"Isn't your second martial soul the Soul-Devouring Spider Emperor?"
Qian Daoliu knew Bibi Dong's information like the back of his hand. She possessed twin martial souls: her first was the Death Spider Emperor, and her second was the Soul-Devouring Spider Emperor. Both were super beast martial souls.
But now, what was this pitch-black scythe?
Qian Daoliu could sense the Soul-Devouring Spider Emperor's presence from the scythe, but why had the Soul-Devouring Spider Emperor become a scythe?
"Could it have the ability to switch between beast martial soul and tool martial soul forms, just like Sixth and Seventh's Coiling Dragon Staffs?"
Qian Daoliu was once again shaken by Bibi Dong's talent. "If so, then Bibi Dong's potential truly is rather terrifying."
Twin martial souls already offered an enormous advantage. If both martial souls could be used simultaneously, especially with one possessing the body while the other took tool form to be wielded by hand...
Add to that eighteen soul skills at her peak...
"No!"
Suddenly, Qian Daoliu looked at the trace of black soul power fluctuating in his palm.
"This is!!"
The next instant, Qian Daoliu's pupils contracted slightly, and his gaze toward Bibi Dong filled with shock. "Ultimate power!!"
"Your Holiness!"
"Great Enshrined?!"
Chrysanthemum Ghost Douluo arrived fastest. They had thought an outside enemy was invading.
But when they arrived and looked-good heavens, Bibi Dong and Qian Daoliu really were fighting.
At that, the two were utterly dumbfounded.
Yes!
They had indeed been preparing to pledge their allegiance to Bibi Dong.
But who was Qian Daoliu?
Fight him? Leaving aside whether they could beat him, even in terms of where they stood, they had no reason to attack Qian Daoliu.
"This has nothing to do with you!"
Bibi Dong swept her gaze over Chrysanthemum Douluo and Ghost Douluo and ordered, "Xiao Chen is still inside. Go protect him. You need not get involved in what happens here."
"Hiss..."
Both men shuddered all over under Bibi Dong's gaze.
Only then did they realize.
"The Supreme Pontiff actually broke through!"
The two knew the presences of the Worship Hall's worshippers very well. The pressure of Bibi Dong's Soul Power was at least on the same level as Lion and Azure Luan Douluo.
This meant Bibi Dong was no ordinary Titled Douluo, but a rank 97 Super Douluo!
What kind of joke was this?!
Chrysanthemum Douluo was utterly shaken. Breaking through seven ranks in a single day-and seven ranks in the Titled Douluo realm at that!
"Don't run your mouth."
Ghost Douluo gave his old friend a look, and the latter immediately understood. It was Xiao Chen's Sun Disc. The Supreme Pontiff underwent the Ascension Ritual!
This answer surfaced in both their hearts, making them suck in a breath of cold air.
Outrageous!
Utterly outrageous!
Although they had long known that the Sun Disc possessed inconceivable power, what kind of miracle was this, making someone on the verge of becoming a Titled Douluo break through to rank 97 out of nowhere?
(End of chapter)