From her chest, Bibi Dong unleashed a beam of blazing crimson light nearly a foot thick, striking straight toward the Rakshasa Soul.
At the same time, empowered by the right leg soul bone's ability, an identical beam shot forth again — for that soul bone's skill was called Mirror Image.
Mirror Image could perfectly duplicate another soul skill. Combined with the devastating attack from the torso soul bone, the two together rivaled even a god's divine ability. This was one of Bibi Dong's most powerful trump cards.
Knowing this was their one chance to annihilate the Rakshasa Soul, Bibi Dong poured every last drop of her soul power into these twin strikes, staking everything on the combined might of her two soul bones.
She understood this perfectly, and Lin Fan understood it as well.
His expression was grave as he gathered all his soul power into the tip of the Killing Sword.
He unleashed a strike condensed with pure killing intent and baleful aura.
"First Soul Skill — Deathblow!"
A crimson sword light tore through the air, slashing toward the Rakshasa Soul with lethal speed.
This Deathblow was no longer the casual strike he had once used in a tournament match.
Against a single opponent, the concentrated power of Deathblow was far more destructive than even the Blood Hurricane Sword. Not only was all its force focused into a single point, but it also ignored most forms of defense — the perfect weapon against this puppet-like foe.
This has to work!
Both Lin Fan and Bibi Dong thought the same thing, their eyes locked on the Rakshasa Soul with absolute focus.
Lin Fan's sword light cleaved straight through the Rakshasa Soul's body, already bound tightly by Bibi Dong's spider webs.
Then, her twin beams of crimson light slammed into the two halves.
BOOM!
The Rakshasa Soul exploded into a billowing mass of purple-black miasma.
The arena quaked even harder than before, the tremors so violent that the exhausted Lin Fan and Bibi Dong almost lost their footing.
As the miasma dissipated, the Hellflower of the Rakshasa Prison withered away and vanished completely. Silence returned to the arena.
Where the Rakshasa Soul had stood, nothing remained — as though everything just now had been a dream.
All that was left were two utterly drained fighters.
"It's over… right?" Lin Fan collapsed onto the ground with a sigh.
"Probably… I think so," Bibi Dong replied uncertainly before sitting down beside him without caring about appearances.
Clap… clap… clap…
Applause echoed from above. The Rakshasa God's divine spirit appeared before them in the blink of an eye.
"Congratulations — you have defeated the Rakshasa Soul." She spoke while still clapping, her voice carrying a strange weight.
Then her gaze shifted to Lin Fan. "What is your name?"
"Honored Rakshasa God, I am Lin Fan," he replied respectfully, forcing himself to his feet.
"Not bad. Would you show me your second martial soul?"
"Of course." Lin Fan did not hesitate, summoning the Killing Sword once again.
But with a wave of her hand, the Rakshasa God's spirit made the sword fly straight into her grasp.
"So pure… such untainted killing intent. It's so very similar — almost identical to that sword… only lacking the attribute of Destruction. What is its name?"
"The Killing Sword," Lin Fan answered simply.
"A fitting name. Here — take it back." She returned the weapon to him.
Lin Fan reabsorbed it into his body.
"A word of advice — you should visit the Slaughter City. If fate favors you, you may achieve a divine position not inferior to my own."
Her lips curled into a cold smile, a glint of sly cunning flashing in her eyes.
"Why tell me this?" Lin Fan's brow furrowed slightly.
Could it be… she's guessed that my Killing Sword is related to the Asura God's sword?
The Rakshasa God, as one of the eighteen first-tier deities, ranked among the strongest in the divine realm, and her position counterbalanced that of the Asura God. Her familiarity with the Asura God's power made her recognize the Killing Sword's origins, no surprise.
"I tell you this because you fought so hard for the sake of my successor," she said evenly. "And I hope that when she needs your aid again, you will continue to assist her in completing all nine Rakshasa God Trials."
"As for this Fourth Trial… within my authority, I can grant you one of two rewards — either increase your soul power by one level, or extend your ninth soul ring's age by ten thousand years. Choose."
Lin Fan hesitated, then spoke: "Many thanks, Rakshasa God. I choose to extend my ninth soul ring's age by ten thousand years."
At level 96, his second martial soul still lacked seven soul rings. Once he obtained them all, reaching level 99 was inevitable. An extra level now was far less tempting than turning his ninth soul ring into a true hundred-thousand-year ring.
Not only would that greatly enhance the ninth soul skill's power — it would also give him the prestige of wielding such a rare ring.
The Rakshasa God's spirit raised her hand, and a pillar of purple-black light descended, enveloping Lin Fan.
The soul rings of his Azure Shadow Sword appeared one after another, and he felt soul power surge into the ninth ring.
Its color shifted from deep black-red to a dazzling crimson — a true hundred-thousand-year soul ring.
"…???"
Bibi Dong could only stare in disbelief, suddenly feeling as though Lin Fan were the true inheritor of the Rakshasa God's position, while she was just a bystander. She had never seen the Rakshasa God act so generously.
"Rakshasa God, you're playing favorites!" she protested with a pout.
"Now it's your turn," the Rakshasa God said with a faint smile. "Congratulations on completing the Fourth Trial. Your affinity with the Rakshasa's power will increase by 20%. All soul rings of your first martial soul will gain ten thousand years. And to help you better absorb my power, I will grant you a trace of pure Rakshasa force for you to comprehend."
Her lips curved into another sinister smile — and before Bibi Dong could speak, the same purple-black light engulfed her.
This time, however, there was also a stream of violet-red energy flowing into her body.
"Ah—"
The moment the violet-red energy entered her, Bibi Dong let out an involuntary, alluring moan.
Before either could react, they felt the world spin violently — and in the next moment, they were back inside the sealed chamber, lying before the Rakshasa God's stone statue.
Bibi Dong's flushed face was pressed directly against Lin Fan's chest.
Lin Fan, though strengthened with a hundred-thousand-year soul ring, was still recovering from exhaustion, but Bibi Dong was different. She was brimming with new power, so much that he couldn't even push her away.
"Bibi Dong, wake up!" Lin Fan said, feeling her body radiating an intense heat.
He saw the hazy, unfocused look in her eyes.
No… this can't be good. That 'Rakshasa force' she gave you… Something's wrong with it.
Bibi Dong suddenly lifted her head, her gaze locking on his with a flush of red in her pupils.
Then her hands pressed down hard against his chest.
Here it comes… good thing I still have time to write the second part. But man, after an hour of cycling, my butt hurts like hell.