The journey from Ah Rou's simple lakeside hut to the hidden nesting grounds of the Abyssal Dark Panther was conducted in absolute silence. The party moved with a heavy, ritualistic reverence that matched the gravity of their purpose.
There was no casual chatting now, only the soft padding of massive paws belonging to Da Ming and Er Ming, the occasional delicate rustle of Ah Rou's velvet-like ears, and the soundless, almost spectral glide of Bibi Dong's footsteps. Even little Xiao Wu was silent, sensing the profound sorrow radiating from her mother and the two kings of the forest.
Bibi Dong kept her expression neutral, but her inner world was alight with a strange mixture of focused anticipation and genuine respect.
This was an opportunity unlike any other—to gain the final, decisive power necessary for her ascension, but to do so with the blessing of the forest's ancient powers. She walked behind the two great beasts, Da Ming leading the way, his muscular frame moving with a quiet, sorrowful dignity.
They traveled for nearly an hour, deeper and deeper into a remote, forgotten section of the Star Dou Forest—a place where the shadows seemed to possess a tangible density, and the ancient trees had roots thicker than small houses. The air grew cold, thick with an almost palpable, primal energy that felt both exhilarating and overwhelmingly heavy.
Finally, they arrived at a cavernous den concealed beneath a massive, black-veined rock outcropping. The entrance was draped with vines and moss, looking like the mouth of the earth itself.
The energy here was staggering: it was the soul pressure of a 100,000-year life, but it was dissolving, like a mountain slowly crumbling into dust. It was immense, yet tragic.
Da Ming stopped at the mouth of the den, turning his enormous head to look at Bibi Dong. His large, clear eyes, normally filled with the confidence of a ruler, were clouded with grief.
"This is her final resting place," Da Ming informed her, his voice barely a tremor in the silent air.
"The Abyssal Dark Panther has been here for centuries. She is one of the oldest and wisest protectors of our kind. Her strength is incomparable, even in her twilight years. She awaits you inside. Please, approach with the dignity and respect she deserves."
Er Ming let out a soft, mournful sigh that sounded like the wind being drawn into a vacuum. Ah Rou merely nodded, her eyes closed in sorrow.
Bibi Dong inhaled deeply, steadying her own powerful heart. This was the true test. She was about to enter the presence of a being who willingly offered the ultimate sacrifice, a creature she needed to treat not as prey, but as a venerable sovereign.
The sheer power permeating this space… it is terrifying, she thought, analyzing the residual aura. Even in death, her essence is superior to many of the Title Douluo I face daily. This moment was not about soul power; it was about spiritual integrity.
She nodded solemnly to the three soul beasts. "I understand. I offer my deepest respect to the Panther for her decision. I will heed her words."
Bibi Dong then stepped forward alone, penetrating the cool, silent darkness of the cavern.
The den was vast, but sparsely furnished by nature—a floor of smooth, cool stone, and the distant drip of water. In the center of the clearing, illuminated by a faint, eerie blue-green light that seemed to emanate from the moss on the cave walls, lay the Abyssal Dark Panther.
She was truly magnificent. The Panther was easily over thirty meters long, her coat the color of absolute midnight, shimmering faintly even in the low light. Her massive head rested heavily on the ground, but her eyes—golden and ancient—were open, fixed upon Bibi Dong. They held the wisdom of millennia, and the undeniable sorrow of a life ending. They were like two dying stars, burning with their final, fading brilliance.
Bibi Dong stopped several meters away, dropping into a deep, formal curtsy bow—a gesture reserved only for the Angel God or the grandest of nobility. It was the highest form of respect she could offer.
"Venerable elder of the forest, I am Bibi Dong. I thank you for granting me this audience," she stated, her voice clear and strong, cutting through the silence without sounding aggressive.
The Abyssal Dark Panther did not move, but a deep, resonant rumble emanated from her chest, vibrating the stone floor beneath Bibi Dong's feet. It was not a growl, but a language that spanned generations.
"The human speaks with respect," the Panther's voice echoed in Bibi Dong's mind, a direct, powerful telepathic link that bypassed the need for sound. The voice was deep, feminine, and weary, like the sound of shifting tectonic plates.
"You are not a mere subordinate of that hateful man, the Pope. You carry the mark of tyranny upon your soul, yet you carry the destiny of rule as well. The kings tell me you seek my final gift to further your path of power."
Bibi Dong straightened, maintaining her posture of dignity. "That is correct, Venerable Panther. Your sacrifice is a necessary step in my path to absolute power. A power I intend to use to correct the immense cruelty and imbalance inflicted by Spirit Hall's current leader."
The Panther's golden eyes narrowed slightly. "A convenient truth. All ambitious humans claim virtue. Why should I believe that my essence, my 100,000 years of lifelong cultivation, will not simply fuel a new, more effective tyrant? Why offer myself to you, when the option remains to simply allow my life to dissipate and deny all humans this power?"
Bibi Dong knew conventional flattery would fail. She had to be brutally honest and appeal to the Panther's highest priority: the continuation of her species.
"You are right to be skeptical," Bibi Dong admitted, her voice taking on a deep, truthful resonance.
"I will not pretend to be a saint. I seek power for vengeance and to protect my own children. But I have also seen the corruption and the blind slaughter that Spirit Hall has inflicted upon the Soul Beast population. The current system is unsustainable. The Spirit Hall leader, Qian Xunji, aims to hunt indiscriminately, focusing only on increasing his personal might, caring nothing for the ecological balance you maintain."
She paused, making eye contact with the magnificent, dying beast. "If I succeed, I will gain control over the organization. My priority will be to stabilize and formalize relations between Spirit Hall and the forest. I need allies here, not endless enemies. Your death, Venerable Panther, will give me the authority to curb the indiscriminate hunts sanctioned by the Hall, and establish rules where none existed before."
The Panther remained silent for a long moment, the blue-green light casting deep, weary shadows across her massive frame.
"You speak of policy. I speak of kin," the Panther finally returned. "My lineage, the Abyssal Dark Panthers, are creatures of shadow and silence. We are immensely powerful but fewer in number than the great species, and therefore more vulnerable to organized hunts. We have a sacred, ancient territory, a deep valley bordered by the Whispering Peaks."
The Panther lifted her head slightly, a movement that spoke of immense effort.
"My final request, my Dying Covenant, is this: You must swear by your soul, and by the fate of your two children, that when you achieve the position of Supreme Pontiff, you will immediately and publicly declare the Abyssal Dark Panther territory as a protected, absolute sanctuary. No Spirit Hall member, regardless of rank or reason, may enter that territory to hunt, harvest, or track. This sanctuary must be maintained for no less than two hundred years, ensuring the survival of my lineage until they can replenish their numbers."
The demand was absolute and specific, binding Bibi Dong not just politically, but spiritually—invoking the fate of her children, the most precious thing in her dual existence.
For a minute, Bibi Dong's mind spun through the strategic implications. This is not merely protection for the Panther's kin; this is a public statement of my future intent to the Great Beasts.
Fulfilling this pact would win her immense political capital and genuine trust from Da Ming, Er Ming, and Ah Rou—three powerful allies she desperately needed in the long war against the established powers and future threats. The cost was minimal, a small valley to secure the loyalty of the forest kings.
This is a chance to truly distinguish myself from the corruption that is Qian Xunji.
"I accept your covenant," Bibi Dong declared, her voice ringing with the finality of an oath. She stepped closer, placing her hand over her heart, a deeply ancient gesture of sincere pledge.
"I swear by the future of my soul and the well-being of my children, Qian Renxue and Yorrichi, that when I take the seat of the Supreme Pontiff, I will use my absolute authority to declare the Abyssal Dark Panther territory an absolute, inviolable sanctuary for two centuries. I will enforce this with the death penalty for any Soul Master who violates it."
The Panther's intense, ancient gaze searched Bibi Dong's face, probing the depths of her spirit, seeking any trace of deceit. After a long, silent moment of inspection, the tension in the cave finally broke. A profound, bone-deep relief settled over the Panther's features.
"The oath is taken," the Panther whispered, her voice fading, growing thin and reedy. "I believe the sincerity in your ambition, Bibi Dong. May this power serve your true purpose."
The magnificent beast closed her eyes. With a final, massive exhalation that shook the very foundation of the earth, the Abyssal Dark Panther's immense life force—100,000 years of spiritual energy and cultivation—began to leave her body.
The process was not violent; it was an exquisite, tragic release. The midnight black fur of the Panther turned dull and grey almost instantly.
From the top of her head, a swirling vortex of energy erupted, condensing rapidly into an unimaginably powerful, intensely dark, crimson soul ring. The color was so saturated it seemed to absorb the light around it, radiating ancient power and the fierce, protective spirit of the Panther.
The air outside the den instantly recognized the death of a king. Da Ming and Er Ming let out twin roars of profound anguish and sorrow that echoed across the forest, a sound of tragedy and eternal loss.
Inside the cavern, Bibi Dong was oblivious to the outer world, her entire focus locked on the magnificent soul ring hovering before her.
Its size, its color, and its raw, terrifying power instantly confirmed that this was the apex. The Ninth soul ring needed for breakthrough. The time for respect was over.
"Thank you, Venerable Panther," Bibi Dong whispered, her eyes burning with fierce determination. "Rest in peace. Your sacrifice will not be in vain."
With the Abyssal Dark Panther's lifeless body cooling on the stone floor, Bibi Dong settled into a deep, meditative position, her soul power surging forward like a tidal wave.
She had a contract to uphold, and now, she had the power to enforce it. The final, arduous, and monumentally dangerous process of absorbing the 100,000-year soul ring had begun.
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Author's Note:
Oh, think how will it impact on the whole soul beast race with this. Many more will come and add it to ur library to be stay updated.