Word Count: 2,839 Words
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Six of the seven Worships have arrived. Why not bring out Qian Daoliu as well?! This was the very first thought that flashed through Ling Bai's mind.
The pressure from the four Spirit Hall Worships was overwhelming; their combined presence felt like the sky itself collapsing. Cold intent filled the Snow Empress's eyes. With a distant point of her finger, she instantly froze Fifteen Ton Douluo and Falling Devil Douluo solid. Through the translucent ice, one could see excitement leaping across their faces.
An elderly man dressed in gold robes embroidered with silver stepped forward from the head of the group. Fine golden scales covered his entire body, and an enormous spike-studded tail trailed behind him.
Golden Crocodile Douluo, the Second Worship of Spirit Hall, a Rank 98 Titled Douluo. His Martial Spirit was the Golden Crocodile King.
The Snow Empress took a step forward and subtly shielded Ling Bai behind her. Her sky-blue eyes darkened as goose-feather snow raged within her Empress' Chill domain, scraping against the hard crocodile scales on Golden Crocodile Douluo's body with the sharp sound of metal striking metal.
"ROAR—"
The Death Abyss Bone Dragon let out a thunderous roar that swept its dragon might across the land. Crimson red stained its scythe-like curved claws. Golden Crocodile Douluo had entered the danger zone—the irrepressible desire of the Death Abyss Bone Dragon!
The atmosphere grew taut as a drawn bow. Golden Crocodile Douluo stopped in his tracks before the poised Snow Empress and Death Abyss Bone Dragon. His vigorous golden eyes gazed at Ling Bai atop the bone dragon. He bowed deeply and said, "I apologize to you on behalf of Qian Jun and Jiang Long.
They forgot one crucial matter. We are Spirit Hall Worships, bearing the responsibility of protecting the Angel God's bloodline. Being resurrected by Rakshasa evil power doesn't mean becoming that woman's hunting dogs.
We have all died once before. Defying her orders merely means dying once more. Qian Jun and Jiang Long shouldn't have raised their hands against you, a descendant of the Angel bloodline. Their current state is the consequence of their own actions."
No more fighting?
The Snow Empress secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
She had lost her fleshly body and spirit bones, leaving her strength at only half its peak. The four Worships were all top-tier human powerhouses. If a real battle broke out, Golden Crocodile Douluo could certainly entangle her for a while, giving the other three time to act. One Death Abyss Bone Dragon wouldn't be able to protect Ling Bai against three Worships.
"Senior Golden Crocodile, please rise. I understand your difficult position."
Ling Bai detected not a hint of hostility from Golden Crocodile Douluo through his Spider Emperor Sense, so he likewise released a signal of goodwill.
Golden Crocodile Douluo slowly rose. His bow wasn't directed at Ling Bai, a junior, but toward Spirit Hall and the Angel bloodline he had protected his entire life, and toward his Big Brother, Qian Daoliu, whom he had respected all his life.
"May I... see your Seraphim?" Golden Crocodile Douluo's lips quivered, unable to stop himself from making this request.
Ling Bai unfurled his six angelic wings and drifted to the ground. Although the real face of the illusory Seraphim behind him couldn't be clearly seen, it instantly drew the gazes of all four Worships.
"It's... it's Xue Er!"
Mighty Lion Douluo, the Fourth Worship, was overcome with emotion, tears streaming down his aged face. He'd had no descendants in his life and had looked upon Qian Renxue as if she were his own granddaughter. Ten thousand years ago, he had died to save her.
Azure Luan Douluo, the Third Worship, was solitary by nature, but warmth filled his eyes as he gazed at the angelic figure. Glowing Feather Douluo, the Fifth Worship, sighed and addressed Ling Bai:
"Big Brother's Seraphim was inherited from the first Angel God, while yours comes from Xue Er. The angelic aura is also hers. In a sense, you could be considered Xue Er's child."
'That doesn't seem quite right...'
Ling Bai fell into deep thought. The Seraphim belonged to the last Angel God, Qian Renxue. The problem was, he also possessed the Death Abyss Spider Emperor! Following Glowing Feather Douluo's logic, wouldn't that make him the child of both mother and daughter?!
He couldn't dwell on it, dared not dwell on it!
Having confirmed the origin of Ling Bai's bloodline, Golden Crocodile Douluo laughed heartily. "Young one, since you've inherited Xue Er's Seraphim, you're now the one we must protect. Whatever wish you have, we old fellows will help you fulfill it!"
"Senior Golden Crocodile, I wish to ask you two things."
Ling Bai pointed toward the outskirts of Jialing City. "What does she intend to do by capturing me alive? And where exactly are the Angel God and Rakshasa God positions?"
"Well..."
Golden Crocodile Douluo furrowed his brow. "I'm the strongest among the resurrected Titled Douluo. Her orders are usually given directly to me. She wants to capture you to have you do something for her, something that seems to be related to Xue Er as well.
As for the two God Positions... when the Rakshasa God fell, the Angel God Position was damaged. But as the former Rakshasa God, she might know the whereabouts of her own God Position."
Ling Bai clicked his tongue lightly. "Can she be invited here to meet me?"
Golden Crocodile Douluo shook his head. "She's restrained by the power of the Asura God and trapped within the Land of Godfall. She can't move and thus gave the order to bring you to her... In truth, it's not just her. All of us resurrected by the Rakshasa's evil power can only move within the limits of Jialing City."
"So it seems this meeting is unavoidable..."
Ling Bai sighed. "Since she wishes to see me so badly, then I'll trouble Senior to take me there."
Golden Crocodile Douluo gave him a deep look. Their exchange had already revealed why Ling Bai had agreed to meet her. The temptation of God Positions was enough to drive all Spirit Masters on the Douluo Continent to madness, let alone a destined inheritor like Ling Bai, who was extremely compatible with both God Positions.
"Little fellow, it's good that you have such ambition. No matter what conflicts arise between you two, we old things will risk our lives to protect you."
Golden Crocodile Douluo left these words and soared into the sky. The other three Worships shattered the ice that sealed Qian Jun and Jiang Long. The two brothers had barely reacted from their shivering before each received a heavy strike. Mighty Lion Douluo and Glowing Feather Douluo pummeled them from both sides while scolding in low voices:
"You two muddle-headed fools! You do whatever someone tells you? Daring to attack an Angel descendant—can you face the Spirit Hall, face Big Brother, face Xue Er?!"
"We were wrong! Fourth Brother, Fifth Brother, please go easy on us!"
The Death Abyss Bone Dragon followed behind Golden Crocodile Douluo with Ling Bai and the Snow Empress standing atop its head. The Snow Empress sent a voice transmission: "Are these fellows trustworthy? Will this trip be dangerous?"
Ling Bai replied via voice transmission: "They were Worships of Spirit Hall ten thousand years ago. Several of them died in battle for the last Angel God; their loyalty is relatively high.
Besides, what in this world is ever one hundred percent reliable? For our path to Godhood, for the two God Positions, we must take some risks to meet that resurrected Rakshasa God."
"Mm."
The Snow Empress nodded slightly. The night wind brushed past her cheeks as she tucked a fluttering strand of hair behind her ear and watched the figure beside her out of the corner of her eye, not uttering another word.
The group left Jialing City and arrived at the ancient battlefield of Jialing Pass. Ten thousand years had passed, and yellow sands had long since buried every sign of that great war. This ancient ruin had become a landmark where Spirit Masters would come to sigh with emotion.
The moment the Death Abyss Bone Dragon entered the battlefield's airspace, Ling Bai sensed a special domain-like space enveloping his entire body. Space itself seemed to fold, and all around became exceptionally silent.
Within this space, a continuous flow of power poured into his body. It was a force mingled with death, evil, and darkness. The Death Abyss Spider Emperor Martial Spirit stirred restlessly, as if it had found its mother.
White jade palaces stretched out in the distance. Golden Crocodile Douluo smiled. "This is Spirit Hall. Although it's an illusion she conjured using Rakshasa evil power, it can still let you see our glory from ten thousand years ago. Back then, it truly was the holy land for Spirit Masters in the hearts of the myriad people of Douluo Continent."
Spirit Hall was entirely carved from the finest white jade. All four walls were inscribed with reliefs of various ancient spirit beasts. Ling Bai spotted top-level spirit beasts like the Ice Jade Scorpion and Dark Gold Terror Claw Bear, but there was no carving of the Heavenly Snow Woman. He couldn't resist teasing the Snow Empress, saying that one day he would establish a faction of his own and erect the largest statue of her.
According to Spirit Hall's regulations from ten thousand years ago, the Supreme Pontiff Palace was situated lower than the Worship Hall where the seven Worships resided. However, since this entire space was conjured by one person, why would she deliberately make things unpleasant for herself? Within this space, the Supreme Pontiff Palace stood at the very summit of Spirit Hall.
Ling Bai pushed open the towering white jade doors of the Supreme Pontiff Palace. A graceful silhouette dressed in soft violet sat serenely upon the throne that symbolized supreme status. Ten thousand years had left no mark on her peerlessly beautiful face. Instead, her noble and cold allure had only grown more striking, so beautiful she seemed not of this world.
Ling Bai gazed at the breathtakingly beautiful woman seated high above and, with a faint smile, walked forward, "How should I address you?
Senior?
Rakshasa God?
Or perhaps...
Your Holiness the Supreme Pontiff."
The woman sat upon the Supreme Pontiff's throne, her jade-like hand gently supporting her noble head. Her breastplate outlined her enchanting, curvaceous body, and her long, snow-white legs were crossed elegantly. Her captivating eyes looked down at the handsome youth below as her red lips parted lightly:
"This is the Spirit Hall."
"Your Holiness the Supreme Pontiff."
The woman smiled with satisfaction. Her majestic voice carried to the Spirit Hall Worships at the doorway. "You may leave. I wish to speak with him alone."
Golden Crocodile Douluo warned, "Bibi Dong, if you harm this child, we brothers will definitely not let you off."
"Just by yourselves?"
Bibi Dong replied with disdain. "Golden Crocodile, the only reason you can stand here and speak is because of my Rakshasa evil power. To think that dogs I've raised would bare their fangs and threaten their master?"
"I'm merely stating our position; you're well aware of it." Golden Crocodile Douluo's tone grew heavier, not yielding an inch.
"You old relics were a nuisance to me ten thousand years ago, and you're just as troublesome ten thousand years later. Apart from listening to the Angel lineage, you ignore everyone else. You are stubborn and obstinate."
Bibi Dong waved her hand in annoyance. "I've already harmed one child; I don't wish to harm a second."
"That's for the best."
Golden Crocodile Douluo led the Worships away and closed the grand doors of the Supreme Pontiff Palace as he left.
Only Bibi Dong, Ling Bai, the Snow Empress, and the Death Abyss Bone Dragon remained within the magnificent Supreme Pontiff Palace.
Bibi Dong's lips curved into a half-smile. "If I recall correctly, you're not yet fifteen. You do have some skill, resolving the little trouble I left for you in your Spiritual Sea and even acquiring a Titled Douluo-level Spectral Creature as an enforcer.
And this must be the Heavenly Snow Woman from the Extreme North, correct? To think she would offer her spirit ring and spirit bone to a human, becoming a traitor to the spirit beast race just like that little rabbit did ten thousand years ago."
The temperature plummeted drastically. Anger flared in the Snow Empress's heart as a thick layer of ice instantly spread across the floor of the Supreme Pontiff Palace. Yet the ice stopped abruptly when it reached Bibi Dong's feet, as if it had encountered an impassable chasm.
Ling Bai took the Snow Empress's hand and gently pulled her behind him. His gaze burned as he said, "Your Holiness, the Snow Empress made her sacrifice precisely for the sake of her kin in the Extreme North. She's my most important companion and protector. Please choose your words carefully.
Why don't we both be direct? For what reason exactly did you wish to see me?"
Bibi Dong straightened her graceful body, a ripple passing through her deep purple eyes. "Very well, I won't beat around the bush with you either. I want you to find the possessor of the Holy Angel Martial Spirit and bring her to me."
"Holy Angel..."
Ling Bai narrowed his eyes. "Why?"
A trace of reminiscence flickered across Bibi Dong's expression as she slowly said. "Back then, during the Battle of the Gods at Jialing Pass, Xue Er and I were defeated by Tang San and Xiao Wu. I paid the price of my life to shield Xue Er from the fatal blow of the Asura Sword, yet her God Position still shattered, and her spirit power was forever stalled at Rank 89.
The Rakshasa God Position, however, remained intact. I hadn't chosen a successor for my divinity, so it always stayed by my side, continuously absorbing the evil thoughts from the Douluo Continent. After about a hundred years, I gradually regained a sliver of consciousness."
A glint flashed across Ling Bai's eyes. The Snow Empress also caught the crucial detail in Bibi Dong's words, her sky-blue eyes shining with great radiance.
Bibi Dong continued, "A century later, the world had undergone vast changes. Spirit Hall was long gone, leaving only the two great empires and the burgeoning Shrek Academy. I couldn't speak, couldn't move; I could only silently watch everything that transpired on this ancient battlefield.
Several more months passed, and Xue Er came. Tang San had honored his promise and spared her. That day was the anniversary of my death. She came to pay respects to me, her unworthy mother.
Xue Er spoke to me at length. Because of her Spirit Douluo cultivation, she was nearing the end of her life, but there was one thing she couldn't let go of. From Qian Daoliu to Qian Xunji, and then to her, the Seraphim Martial Spirit had always been passed down in a single line each generation. Yet she had long since sealed her heart to love and had failed to pass on the Seraphim lineage.
Perhaps it was fated. She found an abandoned infant in Jialing City and bestowed upon that child the residual Seraphim bloodline within her body. This was the first generation Holy Angel, a weakened version of the Seraphim.
Xue Er died before my eyes. I wanted so desperately to hold her, but at that time, I could only watch helplessly... Later, I exhausted all my strength and used Rakshasa evil power to resurrect a soldier of the Spirit Empire, ordering him to bury Xue Er's remains along with the six spirit bones of the Angel Sacred Armor and the Angel God's Divine Weapon, the Angel Sword.
In the ten thousand years that followed, I slowly gathered my strength while thinking ceaselessly of the child who had inherited Xue Er's bloodline. Until that one year, when a couple abandoned a child in the exact place where Xue Er was buried. He wasn't fated to die; he actually triggered the Angel Sword to merge with him.
The Angel Sword is the Divine Weapon of the Angel God. Furthermore, having absorbed the power from Xue Er's remains and the rest of the Angel Sacred Armor, the Seraphim bloodline it contained was even purer than what Xue Er had once infused into that first child.
An idea struck me then. I wanted to meet the descendant of Xue Er's bloodline. But neither I nor those resurrected by Rakshasa evil power could leave Jialing City. So why not let this child help me? I sent the Rakshasa Demon Scythe into his body, granting him my power, and watched as the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Clan took him away. There, he would receive the best conditions to grow.
I believed that once he discovered his connection to the two Gods of Spirit Hall, he would surely return to Jialing Pass. This was the guidance of fate..."
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Title: Your Holiness the Supreme Pontiff, The Mystery of Lineage, and Two Divine Weapons
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