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The Rakshasa Goddess and the Asura God were both deities born from slaughter, and thus shared certain similarities under specific circumstances.
Logically speaking, within the Asura Domain, others shouldn't be able to use soul skills or divine skills at all.
However, in her panic, Bibi Dong inadvertently used a divine skill that tapped into the common essence of the two gods, allowing it to activate.
Of course, Ning Tianchen's incomplete mastery of the Asura Domain was also a significant factor.
Countless hands of hell erupted from the ground, stretching toward Ning Tianchen as if attempting to completely engulf him.
With the Asura Demon Sword in hand, Ning Tianchen gradually calmed his emotions.
In his mind, he recalled the scenes of when he had once used the Asura divine skill.
Back then, his affinity with divine power hadn't been sufficient, so the divine skills he used were actually aided by the Asura God.
Now, with full affinity, these divine skills were no longer incomprehensible to him.
After a few breaths, the hands of hell were about to swallow him whole, and Bibi Dong, watching from afar, revealed a crazed smile.
Suddenly, Ning Tianchen opened his eyes. With a casual swing of the Asura Demon Sword, he shattered the hands of hell.
"Divine Skill: Asura Exorcism!"
The Asura Demon Sword slashed out, and crimson sword qi swept like a storm, obliterating all of Bibi Dong's efforts.
As the sword qi closed in step by step, Bibi Dong effectively entered a countdown to death.
At the last moment, observing the situation closely, the Rakshasa Goddess herself descended upon Bibi Dong.
Having thoroughly offended the Asura God, the Rakshasa Goddess could no longer remain in the divine realm.
Fortunately for her, the Asura God had found Ning Tianchen—a more satisfactory inheritor—so the intensity of her punishment had lessened significantly. Otherwise, she would still be on the run.
Bibi Dong was merely her inheritor and hadn't yet inherited her godhood.
If she died, where would the Rakshasa Goddess find another successor? The godhood was like a hot potato—if she didn't pass it on, how could she enjoy her future freedom?
Remember, aside from the divine artifact, the rewards for Bibi Dong's trials were negligible.
By retaining so much divine power, she intended to leave the divine realm immediately after transferring her godhood and head to a distant starry expanse to live freely.
The true form of the Rakshasa Goddess had descended, while Ning Tianchen's divine skill was merely an imitation based on his past insights—fundamentally different from a true divine skill.
Even though her godhood allowed her to sense this, the Rakshasa Goddess possessed Bibi Dong's body, wielding the Rakshasa Demon Scythe to effortlessly shatter Ning Tianchen's attack.
Ning Tianchen's expression changed abruptly.
The moment the Rakshasa Goddess descended, the Asura God had already informed him.
Facing a deity who had long ascended—even a first-tier god—was beyond his ability to handle.
"Inheritor of the Asura God, do you truly intend to exterminate me?" the Rakshasa Goddess demanded harshly.
Ning Tianchen's stance was crucial because, as the future Asura God, he would also join the divine council.
If he pursued the complete annihilation of the Rakshasa Goddess, not only would Bibi Dong perish, but even she might not escape the divine realm.
Ning Tianchen remained silent, prompting her to continue: "Both the Rakshasa and Asura draw their strength from humanity's malice. I've merely done what an evil god is meant to do. On what grounds do you seek to annihilate me?"
The grudge between the Rakshasa Goddess and the Asura God was a personal matter. Otherwise, the Asura God would have arrested her long ago and wouldn't have allowed her to search for an inheritor.
"Rakshasa Goddess, your words pertain to the grievances between you and the Asura God. My grievances with Bibi Dong have nothing to do with you."
Without Bibi Dong's instigation, would those kingdoms and duchies of the Heavenly Fighting Empire dare defy Xue Qinghe's orders?
The current state of the continent was entirely due to Bibi Dong's selfish ambitions.
Only by resolving the root cause could the continent return to peace.
With that, Ning Tianchen raised the Asura Demon Sword.
At this moment, he felt once again "divinely guided."
"Asura Judgment."
Though the Asura God had not descended upon him, He transmitted the knowledge of the divine skill to Ning Tianchen.
Raising the Asura Demon Sword above his head, the true figure of the Asura appeared behind Ning Tianchen.
The Rakshasa Goddess's soul trembled. The Asura Judgment represented an absolute rule-based suppression. Whether wielded by the Asura God or His inheritor, its power remained unchanged.
Once struck, survival was virtually impossible.
"Damn it, she's resisting me," the Rakshasa Goddess cursed inwardly.
Bibi Dong's survival instincts were attempting to "reclaim" control over her body.
Their conflicting wills left them unable to react in the brief time available.
The Asura Demon Sword descended, and everything around them fell silent.
The battlefield grew still. From afar, Ju and Gui Douluo and the others hiding in safety couldn't help but murmur, "Is it over?"
When two tigers fight, one is bound to be injured. They didn't know who had won or lost, but they clearly understood that if they didn't appear immediately, Bibi Dong would surely hold them accountable later.
…
The battle concluded, and Ning Tianchen retracted the Asura Domain.
He gazed at the Asura Demon Sword in his hand and muttered, "Did the predecessor, the Asura God, hold back?"
That final strike hadn't taken Bibi Dong's life.
This blow had only shattered the Rakshasa God mark on Bibi Dong's body, nullifying her inheritance of the godhood without causing significant harm to her physical self.
Of course, this wasn't due to any pity from the Asura God.
The feud between the Rakshasa Goddess and Him was purely personal.
Passing on a divine skill to Ning Tianchen, who hadn't completed all his trials, was already a violation of protocol against extraterrestrial evil gods.
Targeting only the Rakshasa Goddess while sparing Bibi Dong meant that if other god kings of the divine council questioned this, it would simply be regarded as a personal matter. Even if it violated procedure, it could be excused.
Ning Tianchen was unaware of the Asura God's thoughts.
Before he could reflect further, Bibi Dong regained consciousness before him.
At this moment, the madness that once dominated her face was gone, replaced by confusion and helplessness.
The Rakshasa Goddess could amplify the malice in people's hearts. When Bibi Dong received her divine trial, she had been emotionally broken, and the Rakshasa Goddess took advantage of this to magnify her inner darkness, making her deeply misanthropic.
All things considered, Bibi Dong was a tragic figure.
Meanwhile, the four Title Douluos of the Spirit Hall arrived at the battlefield.
Seeing Ning Tianchen standing firm as a pine while Bibi Dong lay collapsed on the ground, the outcome of the battle was clear.
The four hesitated briefly, but upon seeing that Ning Tianchen didn't intend to drive them away, they cautiously approached Bibi Dong.
"Your Holiness the Pope, we apologize for our tardiness in rescuing you."
They hadn't dared to intervene during the earlier battle. This apology was merely to excuse themselves.
At the same time, they silently vowed never to provoke Ning Tianchen or those close to him in the future.
Bibi Dong remained silent, rising slowly with the support of the four Title Douluos.
The confusion and helplessness on her face vanished, replaced by a faint, relieved smile.
On her forehead, the dark purple sickle mark of the Rakshasa Goddess disappeared, replaced by a black mark.
"Another divine trial!"
Ning Tianchen raised an eyebrow, unable to help but marvel at Bibi Dong's luck—it was a seamless transition.
Upon reflection, it made sense. Bibi Dong was the first person on the continent to successfully cultivate dual martial souls, and her talent and strength were unparalleled.
…
The Divine Realm.
In a blood-red mansion, a young man clad in tattered black robes bowed deeply to the Asura God seated on the high throne.
"Thank you, Lord God-King, for your understanding. As for the events that transpired earlier, my stance aligns with what you imagined."
Conflicts between deities could only be resolved within the divine realm and could not be brought to the mortal plane.
The Rakshasa Goddess was burdened by countless sins but remained unconcerned about such matters. However, as an enforcer of divine law, the Asura God could not act recklessly.
"Disabling" the inheritor of the Rakshasa Goddess was, in part, retribution for the past grudge she held against him.
As for the young man standing before him, he was another first-tier god of the divine realm—the God of Death.
The God of Death had long intended to pass on his divine position but had yet to find a suitable successor. Bibi Dong's talent and martial soul attributes were qualities no first-tier god could reject.
When the Rakshasa divine trial vanished from Bibi Dong's body, the God of Death seized the opportunity to step in immediately.
Of course, gaining such a successor came at a cost.
Regarding the events that occurred on the Douluo Continent earlier, as part of the exchange, he would need to fully support the Asura God and insist that the Rakshasa Goddess violated the rules first.
The Asura God nodded in satisfaction. "Go check on that wretch Rakshasa on my behalf—consider it a gesture of goodwill."
Meanwhile, in a dark corner of the divine realm:
The sharp, piercing roar of the Rakshasa Goddess echoed through her palace as she cursed the Asura God relentlessly.
Without an inheritor, once Ning Tianchen completed his trials, the Asura God would undoubtedly focus all his efforts on dealing with her.
After all, one day in the divine realm equaled a year in the mortal world.
With Ning Tianchen's strength, ascending to godhood would take only a day or two in the divine realm.
No one would share the "karmic consequences" with her—how could she bear it alone?
After venting her anger, the Rakshasa Goddess quickly regained her composure.
To complete the Rakshasa trial, Bibi Dong had constructed an altar within the Spirit Hall, embedding a fragment of her divine consciousness within it.
With a thought, this fragment of her divine consciousness left the Spirit Hall and temporarily concealed itself on the Douluo Continent. When the time was ripe, it would seek out a new inheritor.
Before the Asura God could exact his revenge, finding a scapegoat might allow her to land safely after all.
…
Within her mind, information about the divine trial surfaced, and Bibi Dong began formulating plans for what lay ahead.
"Elder Ju, Elder Gui, you will remain here to assist Ning Tianchen. Elder Mo Xiong and Elder Gui Bao will return with me to the Holy Spirit Hall."
Seeing that Bibi Dong did not reprimand them, the four elders sighed in relief.
However, recalling Bibi Dong's arrangements, Ju and Gui Douluo couldn't help but feel puzzled.
It wasn't just them—Ning Tianchen was equally perplexed. "Do you know why I'm here?"
Bibi Dong turned her gaze toward him. "Though you unexpectedly helped me, it doesn't mean we're friends. Consider this a token of gratitude—nothing more."
Even though she was no longer deranged, Bibi Dong remained the same Bibi Dong.
As the Pope of the Spirit Hall, she could not betray its interests. Of course, upon returning to the Spirit Hall this time, she had much to do.
It was akin to a person sobering up after a night of drunken folly, needing to explain their actions one by one.
Bibi Dong didn't linger further, flying off toward the outer edges of the forest.
Elder Mo Xiong said, "Yue Guan and Old Ghost, follow Her Holiness's instructions. We'll return to the hall first—if anything arises, we'll send someone to contact you."
The abrupt change in Bibi Dong's attitude was unexpected. Evidently, significant changes were about to occur within the Spirit Hall.
The two parties parted ways. Yue Guan let out a bitter laugh. "Her Holiness has schemed for so long, only to end up paving the way for you. You've come to hunt hundred-thousand-year soul beasts too, haven't you?"
Ning Tianchen chuckled and gave a slight bow. "What Elder Guan says is correct. However, I am also an elder of the Spirit Hall—we are colleagues, after all."
This attempt at camaraderie was something Ju and Gui Douluo dared not accept.
The strength Ning Tianchen had displayed earlier sent shivers down their spines.
Yue Guan's heart was filled with even more bitter laughter.
When Ning Tianchen had once tried to recruit him, he thought it was a joke. Later, when Ning Tianchen founded his sect, he entertained thoughts of switching sides.
Unfortunately, Bibi Dong's terrifying increase in power at the time made him fear she wouldn't be able to protect him, so he abandoned the idea.
Now, Ning Tianchen had become one of the continent's peak powerhouses, and the Tianjian Sect had long been established. It was no longer realistic to join his ranks.
Bibi Dong only took two Title Douluos with her, leaving Ju and Gui Douluo and the Spirit Hall team behind under Ning Tianchen's command.
The group moved deeper into the forest. Xie Yue and Yan followed Ju and Gui Douluo, standing beside Ning Tianchen.
However, they understood that Ning Tianchen's strength was beyond their comparison, and their relationship wasn't close enough to engage in conversation with him.
Xie Yue couldn't help but lament how circumstances had changed.
The three members of their Golden Generation, nurtured with abundant resources from the Spirit Hall, had now only reached the Soul Sage level, while Ning Tianchen had already become a Title Douluo—it was truly disheartening.
Reflecting on it now, losing to Ning Tianchen during the soul master tournament years ago was entirely justified.
…
Several days later, the group arrived at the Lake of Life.
Soul masters of the Douluo Continent had long speculated about the deepest parts of the Star Dou Forest.
Some believed it was just a forest, no different from other areas. Others thought it was a valley teeming with powerful soul beasts.
Now, having arrived here in person, many had formed their own conclusions.
When the Spirit Hall hunted Xiao Wu last time, Xie Yue and the others had been here and were familiar with the place.
"The two bastards who ruined Her Holiness's plans last time will pay for it this time!" Yan said furiously.
Their failure last time had earned them no shortage of scolding from Pope Bibi Dong upon their return to the Spirit Hall.
Xie Yue reminded him, "Keep your voice down. Don't disrupt the plan."
"It seems that little rabbit fell into your hands?" Ning Tianchen casually asked.
"No," Yue Guan replied. "Tang San suddenly appeared last time, disrupting our plans. In the end, that rabbit sacrificed herself to him."
Every time he recalled that incident, Yue Guan's teeth clenched in frustration.
They had labored for half a year, only to end up serving someone else's agenda.
"This time, it won't happen!" Ning Tianchen's eyes hardened as he immediately issued orders. "Xie Yue, Yan, take your teams to guard the outskirts of the battlefield and prevent anyone from approaching."
"Elders Ju and Gui, assist me in maintaining the perimeter. Use your Spirit Fusion Technique to trap those two."
Ju and Gui Douluo raised no objections.
After all, Ning Tianchen was the strongest among them—they had to listen.
Stepping forward, Ning Tianchen gazed at the calm lake surface and couldn't help but ask, "Are you sure those two are in the lake?"
Elder Ju nodded. "Our advance team has already confirmed the situation—it's accurate."
Before Ning Tianchen could respond, a surge of soul power rippled from beneath the lake's surface.
"They're here!"
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