On a quiet hillside outside Spirit Hall City—
For the first time, a ripple of emotion appeared on Bibi Dong's otherwise calm and indifferent face.
Her sword-like brows arched slightly, and under the moonlight, her eyes gleamed with an icy sharpness, as cold and venomous as a serpent's gaze.
"So, Your Excellency refuses?"
Chen Xiaoming shook his head slightly, meeting Bibi Dong's chilling gaze with unwavering calm. A venomous serpent? So what? Could she even scratch him?
She had been the Pope for too long—so long that she believed herself invincible. But in the end, she had been played like a pawn in someone else's game. How pathetic.
As their gazes locked, Bibi Dong saw something in his eyes—pity. Contempt. A surge of fury rose within her, but years of reigning as the Pope had honed her patience to perfection.
With a flick of her hand, she retrieved the wooden box from the table. If he refused to cooperate, there was no need to keep him around.
For the dominance of Spirit Hall, those who could not be used must be eliminated.
A cold glint flickered in her eyes as the killing intent settled in her heart. But for now, she held back.
She turned to leave, but before she could take her first step, an overwhelming surge of soul power descended upon her like a tidal wave.
Bibi Dong's expression shifted as she cast a cold glance at Chen Xiaoming. In an instant, her soul power, at the towering level of Rank 98, erupted from within her.
With sheer force, she shattered his casual suppression of her soul power.
"Oh? It seems everyone has underestimated you. You actually possess Rank 98 soul power."
Feeling the immense energy surging from Bibi Dong, Chen Xiaoming was slightly taken aback.
Rank 98?
Even with such power, she had chosen to endure humiliation when facing Tang Hao? The level of patience and restraint she possessed… was terrifying.
"Still, this isn't enough."
With a single step forward, Rank 99 soul power erupted from Chen Xiaoming's body.
Nine blood-red, hundred-thousand-year soul rings emerged, floating silently at different positions around him, completely enveloping his form.
The sheer magnitude of his soul power crashed down upon Bibi Dong like an ocean, and in an instant, she felt as though she were carrying the weight of a colossal mountain on her shoulders.
Her eyes filled with shock. This kind of overwhelming power—it was the same vast disparity she had once felt from Qian Daoliu.
Another Limit Douluo? A God's Inheritor?
"So? Do you still want to fight?"
Chen Xiaoming's voice was casual, but his words sent a chill down Bibi Dong's spine.
"I wouldn't mind letting Spirit Hall find a new Pope."
Her expression darkened further. She cast him a resentful glare—who had truly started this conflict? Did he not know?
Chen Xiaoming, unfazed, met her gaze with a smirk. Who didn't have a "tree" in their heart? He had more "trees" than anyone else on this continent!
"Shameless!"
Bibi Dong let out a furious snarl. She had never met someone so brazen!
"Hmph."
Chen Xiaoming merely let out a dismissive scoff. He didn't care.
As his third soul ring lit up, several wooden tendrils shot toward Bibi Dong.
"Swish!"
Her soul power flared as she activated her Martial Soul True Body, swiftly retreating backward.
With her formidable Rank 98 soul power, sheer suppression wouldn't be enough to restrain her.
However, in the next second, Chen Xiaoming's figure flickered—almost as if teleporting—and appeared directly in front of her.
Before she could react, he vanished again, reappearing at his original position.
"Tap."
Bibi Dong stared in shock. It was as if he had never moved.
But when she glanced at his hands, her expression turned icy.
The wooden box… was gone.
"My appearance fees are quite high, you know."
Chen Xiaoming opened the box, casually taking out a Torso Bone and storing it away.
"I'll be keeping this soul bone. Consider it Spirit Hall's compensation for my troubles."
"Of course, if Spirit Hall insists on showing me more 'care,' I won't refuse. But next time, it won't just be a soul bone on the line."
Having secured the final piece for his set, Chen Xiaoming nonchalantly tossed the empty wooden box back.
What use did he have for extra soul bones? His own soul bone set was already complete.
"Well then, it's getting late. Time to head back."
With a light step, his figure drifted away like a passing breeze.
Bibi Dong watched in silence. Her tightly clenched fists slowly relaxed, her immense soul power dissipating.
She wasn't confident. The power Chen Xiaoming displayed—even greater than Qian Daoliu's—made her hesitate.
Casting a final glance at the fallen black-robed Soul Douluo not far away, Bibi Dong's lips curled into a sinister smile.
"Chen Xiaoming, Qian Daoliu... you two can weaken each other first."
...
Later that night.
"Finally, a full set!"
Holding the Torso Bone in his hands, Chen Xiaoming immediately pulled up his system interface and began upgrading.
Though this soul bone was only around ten thousand years old, he didn't care.
Spending nearly 900 million experience points, he directly evolved it into a hundred-thousand-year soul bone.
With the final piece in place, he wasted no time.
Sitting cross-legged, he activated his soul power, allowing the crystal-clear soul bone to merge into his body.
A silver aura spread outward, tinged with faint streaks of red, undulating gently around him.
A surge of immense power erupted from his torso, his body attributes skyrocketing. The previously absorbed soul bones also began resonating, their glow intensifying as a vast energy tide flooded his meridians, muscles, blood, and bones.
As the Torso Bone synchronized with his body, an unexpected event occurred.
A faint silver glow flickered—
A second surge of energy erupted!
An uncontrollable silver energy storm flooded his body.
His skeleton groaned under the immense pressure, and all his hundred-thousand-year soul bones trembled, reaching their very limits.
"This… is bloodline power?!"
Chen Xiaoming instantly realized what was happening.
As the silver radiance flowed through him, an even greater surge of energy awakened within him.
His soul bones, now streaked with silver veins, exuded an unparalleled aura of power.
From shock to exhilaration, he quickly focused, guiding the chaotic energy throughout his body.
Gradually, the entire room was bathed in a shimmering silver glow.
As the first rays of dawn appeared on the horizon, Chen Xiaoming's eyes snapped open.
A single movement sent a brilliant silver energy wave exploding outward, causing the very air around him to distort.
"Hah… finally… it's complete."
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