The sun rose over Spirit Hall, painting the sky in soft hues of pink and gold, and with it came a new day of purpose and routine.
For the twins, Renxue and Yorrichi, the morning was a familiar rhythm of diligent study and gentle play.
They were a perfect balance: Renxue's boundless energy and cheerful curiosity, and Yorrichi's calm, observant demeanor. Meanwhile, their mother, Bibi Dong, was far from the serene halls of Spirit Hall.
She was once again a ghost in the wind, her figure cloaked in anonymity, her purpose singular and ambitious. She wants to fight for more experience.
Her fighting intent led her to the dense, ancient forests of the Star Dou Forest, a place she had come to know intimately in this new life. She moved with a silent, deadly grace, her senses attuned to every rustle and breath. In the late afternoon, she finally found her target: a formidable Tempest-Winged Condor which is a fifty-thousand-year-old soul beast, its strength and spiritual energy a valuable prize.
The battle that ensued was a whirlwind of soul power and instinct, a brutal dance of death and survival.
When it was over, and the beast lay still breathing, Bibi Dong heaved a weary sigh and didn't kill it as usual. She had won, but her victory was a hollow one.
The profound sense of emptiness that followed her victories was a familiar companion.
As she rested, a new, unsettling sensation settled over her. She felt a subtle, yet unmistakable, shift in her soul, a familiar pull that resonated with a distant, terrifying power.
It was the Rakshasa God's Trial. A wave of confusion and unease washed over her. Why? she thought, the question a frantic echo in her mind.
In my last life, I had to earn this. I had to go to the Slaughter City, to kill, to bathe in the blood of a hundred men to earn the killing domain and the approval of the Rakshasa God. Why is it choosing me now, when I have done nothing?
She did not know the reason, but she knew the power of the domain. It was a power that could grant her a tremendous advantage in any fight, a power she craved.
But to gain it, she had to go to the Slaughter City, a place of no return. A place she could not go to now.
She had her children to protect, a family to raise. She would wait. She would go after she became the Pope. She had to.
While their mother was battling a soul beast in a far-off forest, the twins were in their own world of learning.
They were at Yue Guan's residence, their studies a world away from the battles their mother was fighting.
The class was a familiar rhythm of questions and answers, a dance of knowledge that they had come to know and love.
When the class was over, Yue Guan, his face a mask of solemn duty, informed them that he had an important mission to attend to and would not be able to give them classes for a few days.
He gave them some homework and then, with a serious expression, he went to his room.
A few minutes later, he emerged, a heavy, leather-bound book in his hands. He placed it on the study table with a gentle thud, the sound echoing in the quiet room.
"As I have already told you," he said, his voice a low, serious rumble, "this book is very important to me. It is a treasure of my lineage, and I am entrusting it to you, little ones."
He then paused, his eyes holding a profound sense of importance. "You need to learn about at least ten immortal herbs from this book."
Renxue, her eyes wide with curiosity, picked up the book and asked, "Master, what are immortal herbs? Are they like those we have been studying?"
Yorrichi, his mind a whirlwind of thought, felt a sudden jolt of recognition. He had a faint memory of an ancient legend from his past life, a legend of herbal plant so powerful they could grant a mortal godhood.
He looked at his sister and calmly said, "Sister, I think they're those special ones, right, Master? The ones we can't find anywhere."
Yue Guan's eyes widened with surprise. He had not expected such a quick, accurate guess from a child.
A proud, genuine smile appeared on his face. "You are correct, Yorrichi," he said, his voice filled with a profound sense of pride.
"Immortal herbs are like legendary ones which have not been found currently and are likely extinct."
He then looked at the book in Renxue's hands, a sad expression on his face.
"Even I couldn't manage to find them after using all of Spirit Hall's resources. They are so rare that those who manage to take a glimpse of them are considered very lucky."
He then continued, his voice now filled with a sense of wonder,
"These are named 'immortal' because they have been recorded in ancient times to grant a person the ability to ascend to godhood. It is said that with them, ascending to godhood is as easy as drinking a cup of tea."
Yorrichi and Renxue were both amazed. Renxue, ever the spirited one, bubbled with excitement. "I will find it!" she exclaimed, her eyes sparkling with determination. "I will become stronger! And I will find it!"
Yorrichi, his calm demeanor unruffled, smiled slightly at his sister's antics. He gently teased her, his voice a low, warm murmur.
"Sister, wouldn't you give some to your poor brother also? See? I am so pitiful." He then put his hands together, a gesture of mock humility, and pouted.
Renxue, a proud huff escaping her lips, looked at her brother with a playful glare. "Heh," she said, her voice filled with a childish arrogance.
"If you can make this queen happy, I can think about it."
Yorrichi let out a burst of laughter, his calm demeanor replaced by a rare, genuine humor. The sight of these two children, so full of life and love, was too much for Yue Guan.
He couldn't control himself. A deep, hearty laugh escaped his lips, a sound of pure joy that filled the room. The atmosphere was a happy and delightful one, filled with laughter and smiles.
After their laughter subsided, Yue Guan, his face now serious, looked at the twins. "I will not be present for some time," he said, his voice filled with a quiet sense of duty.
"So, study diligently, both of you. And remember to take breaks. Do not strain your minds." He then looked at them, a profound sense of warmth in his eyes.
"You will be six years old soon, won't you? Consider this book my gift to you. I hope you both awaken good martial souls."
He then added, a mischievous twinkle in his eyes, "Just don't forget to return it after you are finished with it."
"We won't, Master," the twins replied in unison, their voices filled with a profound sense of gratitude. "We will not disappoint you."
Yue Guan was satisfied. He then left for his mission, a new sense of purpose in his stride. The twins, after a grueling study session, went to the garden to relax.
They were a world away from the burdens of their mother and their teacher. They played for a while, their laughter a beautiful, musical sound.
Bibi Dong's clone, an extension of her own soul and her own thoughts, was with them, her gaze filled with a profound sense of love. She was a silent spectator, a quiet companion who watched over them. She listened as the twins happily chatted about the book, their voices full of excitement and wonder.
The clone was ecstatic. It had been waiting for the return of the original self to deliver this happy news.
As the sun began to set, painting the sky in soft hues of orange and violet, Bibi Dong was at a soul item auction in the capital of the Star Luo Empire. She had purchased a soul item, a precious artifact that would be a great help to her children in the future.
She felt a profound sense of satisfaction, a sense of accomplishment that had nothing to do with her own power, but everything to do with her children's safety and well-being.
She was now flying back to Spirit Hall, her mind a flurry of thoughts. She thought about the Rakshasa God's Trial, a future that she could not escape.
She thought about the Slaughter City, a place she could not go to now. She needed more power, and she needed it fast.
The thought of confronting Qian Xunji, a man who was now a Super Douluo, was a terrifying one.
She needed to be stronger.
She was also thinking about Da Ming and Er Ming. She had to meet them. She had to find out if they had found the right place for her to get her ninth soul ring.
She was running out of time. She needed to be stronger, faster. She needed to be the Pope.
When she would finally reach her room, she would be greeted with a surprise. A book. An ancient, powerful book that held the secrets of immortality.
A book that would change her life, and the lives of her children, forever. She was not aware of the gift her children had received, but her future, and her destiny, was about to change.
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Author's Note:
Sorry for the delays guys. I can give few chapters this week so have some patience also. You can Check my profile.