Word Count: 2,560 Words
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When killing a 100,000-year spirit beast, if a Spirit Master hadn't yet acquired all six standard spirit bones, the spirit beast would typically produce a bone for whichever slot remained empty. The sole exception to this rule was External Spirit Bones.
Ling Bai knew his spiritual power was an area that required enhancement. The most direct approach would be to absorb a skull spirit bone, but the External Spirit Bone was an unexpected windfall.
First the ring, then the bone. Ling Bai picked the Demon Eye Evil Tree clean. An evil spirit beast stood no chance in his hands. Even after the Evil Tree had used its 'Golden Cicada Sheds Its Shell' trick, exhausting its power to disguise itself as an ordinary branch, the Seraphim had still detected the evil aura sealed within.
Sorry, this falls squarely within my expertise!
As dawn's first light crept through the window, powerful spiritual fluctuations surged through the room like tidal waves. Five spirit rings rippled around Ling Bai's body, radiating dazzling, vibrant colors.
Gray, Red, Red, Red, Red!
Ling Bai's eyes snapped open. His golden pupils flashed with an ominous black-red light for a moment. The External Spirit Bone, Demon Eye, had successfully fused with him. Beyond the massive spiritual power boost from a 200,000-year spiritual-attribute External Spirit Bone, he had gained two standard spirit skills.
The Demon Eye's first skill was Evil Spirit Curse, a single-target weakening ability. Though such skills were relatively common, its effects far surpassed any ordinary counterpart.
The second skill was Spiritual Annihilation, the same technique the Demon Eye Evil Tree had used before. It bypassed spirit power defenses to strike directly at an opponent's Spiritual Sea.
Spiritual Annihilation was an evil spirit beast's Innate Spirit Skill; it was nothing like Skydream's gentle Spiritual Interference or Spiritual Shock. With a large enough gap in spiritual power, Spiritual Annihilation could destroy a Spiritual Sea in a single strike, and the luckiest outcome for its victim would be to become a drooling idiot.
The boost to his spiritual power left Ling Bai's mind crystal clear. He effortlessly captured every environmental detail; not even floating motes of dust escaped his notice.
He pushed open the door and headed for the dining room. Ning Fengyu, Ning Tian, Wu Feng, and Ye Guyi had already taken their seats. The Golden Tortoise lounged nearby, contentedly munching on specially formulated turtle feed.
"Good morning, Bai-ge."
Ning Tian's beautiful eyes curved into crescents as she proactively pulled out the chair between herself and Wu Feng.
"Good morning."
Ling Bai sat, his hand casually patting Wu Feng's rounded thigh as he settled in. She ground her teeth in response, silently vowing to leave a few marks of her own on him tonight!
Breakfast was simple, no lavish displays, just basic dishes paired with a hearty soup. After tasting the soup, Ling Bai let out a soft sound of surprise:
"This doesn't taste like Linglong Pavilion's cooking. Did you change chefs, Aunt Yu?"
His gaze turned to Ning Fengyu, who was focused intently on her meal. She looked up, her smile full of amusement:
"No change of chef, but you're right. This soup wasn't made by Linglong Pavilion's kitchen staff. Care to guess who prepared it?"
"Then it must have been one of you."
Ling Bai knew Ning Fengyu's ways and immediately picked up on her hint. He looked down at the bowl in his hands and inhaled the sweet aroma wafting up.
The lingering sweetness on his tongue told him that while the soup's flavor couldn't match that of Linglong Pavilion's highly paid chefs, it had clearly been made by someone with actual cooking experience. Ning Fengyu, Ning Tian, and Wu Feng were all from the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Clan, pampered since birth. That left only one possibility!
Golden eyes met turquoise. Ye Guyi seemed momentarily surprised by his quick deduction, but her excellent emotional control allowed her to immediately suppress it. She asked calmly:
"How is it? Does it suit your taste?"
"It's delicious."
Ling Bai answered with a smile. When a girl cooked something with her own hands, regardless of how it turned out, praise was the only acceptable response.
"I'm glad. When you return, I'll make it for you again."
Ye Guyi breathed a soft sigh of relief. Evil Spirit Masters had slaughtered her family, and she had learned to rely only on herself. Now that Ling Bai had brought her to Linglong Pavilion, where all her food, clothing, housing, and transportation were provided for, she had been uncomfortable simply accepting such generosity and wanted to contribute something in return.
At these words, Ning Tian's gaze quietly sharpened, while Wu Feng's fingertips pressed down so hard they nearly snapped the innocent spoon in her grip.
Both turned their attention to Ye Guyi's pure, saintly features. This Miss Holy Angel had always maintained a lukewarm attitude toward Ling Bai, which had caused them to lower their guard. Now she had suddenly played her trump card, trying to win him through his stomach.
The two women's eyes darkened. The Golden Tortoise sensed the shift in atmosphere and scooted its massive body to the side, muttering:
"Something's off... I sense killing intent..."
Ning Fengyu looked on with the relish of someone watching a good show. She was one to fear the world not being in chaos. Back when Shrek's pack of wolves had circled Ning Fengya, she had been the one fanning the flames. Seeing Ling Bai in a similar situation brought back fond memories, and she considered resuming her old hobby.
However, Ling Bai noticed her preparing to stir trouble and preemptively cut her off:
"Aunt Yu, have there been any changes in Mingdu's underworld recently?"
"Nothing major."
Ning Fengyu knew he was changing the subject but didn't expose him. She answered lazily, "The Common Alliance was destroyed. The Duskwater Alliance and Alto Chamber of Commerce are each blaming the other.
However, the underground world generally believes the Duskwater Alliance is responsible. No matter how well they hide, they can't help but reveal themselves. They're an Evil Spirit Master organization, after all."
"The Duskwater Alliance..."
Hatred flashed through Ye Guyi's eyes. All Evil Spirit Masters were her enemies.
Ning Fengyu continued, "Our Linglong Pavilion has been quietly making a fortune and has broken into Mingdu's top three in one leap. Many underground forces have pledged allegiance to us, and even Sun Moon Empire nobles have extended olive branches."
She paused, then added casually, "But Mingdu's underworld hasn't been peaceful lately. The Duskwater Alliance has deployed nearly all their pieces, frantically searching for someone."
"Who?" everyone asked in unison.
"Death Abyss Douluo."
Ning Fengyu emphasized. "The one who defeated Shrek's current Sea God Pavilion Master, Taotie Douluo, killed a Body Sect Titled Elder, and broke into Illustrious Virtue Hall to steal core secrets. The Evil Spirit Master among Evil Spirit Masters. A demon of his generation."
Ling Bai froze as Ning Fengyu recounted his glorious deeds. Without realizing it, he had accomplished so many earth-shaking feats. He unconsciously straightened in his seat:
"What does the Duskwater Alliance want with Death Abyss Douluo?"
"Did you grow all looks and no brains, kid?"
Ning Fengyu giggled. "Death Abyss Douluo is acknowledged as the continent's premier Evil Spirit Master. Of course the Duskwater Alliance wants to recruit him!"
BOOM!!!
Ling Bai's CPU brain practically smoked for an instant.
He = Seraphim
He = Death Abyss Douluo
Seraphim = Death Abyss Douluo
Therefore, the Duskwater Alliance inviting Death Abyss Douluo = inviting the Seraphim.
Ling Bai smacked his lips. The Seraphim entering the Evil Spirit Masters' headquarters… good, good, good, this world had finally gone completely mad!
"Death Abyss Douluo is bringing chaos to the world and must be stopped!"
Ye Guyi's voice rang with conviction, her burning gaze fixed on Ling Bai. "Death Abyss Douluo is history's first Evil Spirit Master with an ultimate attribute. Only the Seraphim can deal with him!
The Seraphim's birth must have been for this purpose—to vanquish that demon. Ling Bai, I believe in you!"
Ling Bai sighed and set down his spoon. He tilted his head back at a forty-five-degree angle, his face suffused with righteous light:
"Evil cannot triumph over good. Death Abyss Douluo shall face the angel's judgment!"
"I will forever be your subordinate angel, guarding your back!"
Ye Guyi's eyes sparkled with little stars as she gazed at Ling Bai like he was the Angel God she worshipped.
So what if he was a Super Evil Douluo? So what if he possessed Ultimate Death? Facing difficulties head-on without fear was the true spirit of an angel descendant!
...
"Ooh, 'I'll forever be your subordinate angel~'"
After breakfast, Ling Bai, Ning Tian, and Wu Feng returned to the Sun Moon Imperial Academy. Wu Feng mimicked Ye Guyi's manner, deliberately drawing out her words. Clearly, her vinegar jar had been overturned.
Ling Bai nodded as if in agreement. "The Seraphim inherited the Angel God's bloodline. The Holy Angel should naturally be the Seraphim's subordinate angel. She's not wrong, and I do plan to accept her protection."
"What did you say?!"
Wu Feng immediately dropped the act, glaring at Ling Bai with wide, angry eyes.
Ning Tian's sapphire-blue eyes suddenly contracted. She sensed something unusual in Ling Bai's joking words. Compatibility between Martial Spirits naturally drew Spirit Masters together.
The Hell White Tiger, famous for ten thousand years, was a prime example. Since the White Tiger family founded the Star Luo Empire, every generation's White Tiger and Hell Spirit Cat who possessed the Spirit Fusion Skill had become husband and wife.
Ye Guyi was a Holy Angel, the person whose Martial Spirit most resembled Ling Bai's in the entire world. His overnight rush to Corona City two months ago to save her seemed to carry a certain implication.
While other women approaching Ling Bai didn't make Ning Tian panic, Ye Guyi's arrival and gradually revealing brilliance made her uncharacteristically nervous.
"Xiao Feng, I've had a new inspiration lately. I'll stay at Illustrious Virtue Hall every night to maintain my train of thought. Don't wait up for me." Ning Tian's words carried deeper meaning.
"Mhm, mhm! Just don't overwork yourself, 'kay? I'd be worried sick!" Wu Feng replied with a silly grin.
Tonight I'll get to replenish my nutrients again!
Ling Bai escorted them to Illustrious Virtue Hall's entrance. Jing Hongchen had only granted him access to the academy grounds, not permission to enter Illustrious Virtue Hall's core areas.
Before they parted, Wu Feng muttered beside him, "They tell you not to enter and you just obey!
When I tell you not to come in, you never listen!"
"Mind your words!"
Ling Bai didn't know whether to laugh or cry. How could those situations possibly be the same!
After watching the two graceful figures disappear from view, Ling Bai turned to leave, planning to find Ji Juechen for sword practice. Then he suddenly stopped. A woman in Illustrious Virtue Hall's black teacher uniform was watching him from a distance.
Ling Bai frowned slightly. He recognized this woman as the referee from the friendly competition and Ning Tian and Wu Feng's supervising teacher, the Class 8 Spirit Guidance Master, Lin Jiaran.
According to the girls, Lin Jiaran was the Sun Moon Imperial Academy's second-seat researcher—knowledgeable, efficient, and skilled at creating various high-powered Spirit Guidance Devices, earning her the nickname 'Human Powder Keg.'
When Ling Bai stopped, Lin Jiaran seemed to make some kind of decision and strode quickly toward him. The sharp clicks of her high heels on the ground carried a sense of brisk indifference.
"Hello, Teacher Lin."
Since she was nominally Ning Tian and Wu Feng's teacher, Ling Bai greeted her politely.
"Do you have time?"
Lin Jiaran got straight to the point. "Come with me."
Ling Bai studied the woman before him. They had never interacted before; this invitation was rather abrupt.
"To discuss cooperation."
Lin Jiaran dropped those three words and turned to lead the way. Ling Bai hesitated briefly before following.
With his strength, a mere Class 8 Spirit Guidance Master posed no threat. Besides, he was curious about what cooperation she had in mind and why she hadn't discussed it with Ning Tian, but had sought him out instead.
Lin Jiaran led him into the academy's teacher residential area. As Illustrious Virtue Hall's second-seat researcher, she had been allocated a detached house with a courtyard.
Passing through layers of security devices she had installed herself, they arrived at the residence's underground chamber.
Looking at the dim surroundings, Ling Bai was momentarily speechless. Good grief, are secret chambers the destiny of the Angel lineage?!
"Teacher Lin, just say what you need to say."
"Good, I also prefer getting straight to the point."
Lin Jiaran said coolly. "But first, let me confirm something.
Ling Bai, should I address you by this name, or should I call you...
Death Abyss Douluo?"
The instant the word 'Death' left her lips, a burning sense of danger flooded Lin Jiaran's mind. A pitch-black gate rose without warning in the chamber. A pale dragon claw burst through, crushing three triggered Class 8 Spirit Guidance shields in one swipe before dragging her forcefully through the gate!
BANG!
The Death Abyss Bone Dragon slammed Lin Jiaran heavily to the ground. Her organs shook, and she coughed up a mist of blood. Still, she got up without fuss, even taking a moment to survey the Spectral Demiplane and comment:
"This would be an excellent place to test high-powered Spirit Guidance Devices."
"You're remarkably calm."
Ling Bai revealed himself, slowly approaching her step by step. With every footfall, the spectral creatures let out deafening roars, as if to build momentum for their emperor.
"About Death Abyss Douluo—are you the only one who knows, or have you told someone else?"
Even with victory assured, Lin Jiaran noticed Ling Bai's eyes still held an intense, consuming killing intent!
It was the cruelest murderous desire. She shuddered at the sight, yet his lips curved into a horrifying arc. Meeting his gaze for only an instant felt like a sharp scorpion's sting. She asked with great interest:
"If I had told others, what would you do?"
"People who know secrets rarely live long. You would have gotten them killed."
Ling Bai said flatly. "I'll give you one chance to tell the truth. Don't try to deceive me. My spectral subordinates and I have ten thousand ways to pry open your Spiritual Sea and excavate the truth from your soul."
"How shocking. The awakener of the continent's greatest holy Martial Spirit, the Seraphim, is actually this brutal by nature."
Lin Jiaran remained composed. "I haven't told anyone, nor do I want others to know this secret. Otherwise, I wouldn't have invited you alone to an underground chamber."
"That is precisely why you are still standing here talking to me," Ling Bai said.
Lin Jiaran rubbed her chest. "I didn't expect you to attack immediately. I actually just wanted to discuss cooperation.
There are too many restrictions at the Sun Moon Imperial Academy. I'm tired of it and preparing to change allegiances.
My ideal employer must be powerful, wealthy, generous, full of potential, and desperately in need of high-level Spirit Guidance Masters—somewhere I can immediately become Chief Spirit Guidance Master upon joining. I believe you and the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Clan fit my requirements perfectly."