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"A fair duel?"
"Precisely," Hu Liena nodded, her expression solemn as she began to explain. "If our two nations go to war, the only ones who will truly suffer are the common people. Therefore, Her Majesty the Empress wishes to invite you to a fair, two-on-two duel."
"On the side of the Spirit Empire," Hu Liena continued, her gaze fixed intently on Davis, "Her Majesty the Empress and my Teacher will personally take the field. They have specifically called out Lord Seagod and Crown Prince Davis to face them!"
She paused for a moment to let the weight of the challenge sink in. "It will be two Gods—or rather, a God and a Peerless Douluo on each side. It is perfectly balanced. The location for this duel shall be the Jincheng Mountains. For the sake of all life under heaven, I assume you will not decline?"
"I see..." Davis let out a faint, knowing smile. "And what are the stakes of this duel? If you win, what must we surrender? And if we emerge victorious, what price is the Spirit Empire prepared to pay?"
Hu Liena took a deep breath, her voice clear and firm as she spoke each word with deliberation. "The stakes are simple: If we win, the Star Luo Empire shall submit to the Spirit Empire and become part of our sovereign territory. If you win, then the Spirit Empire will surrender and fold into the Star Luo Empire."
"The first battle shall be the final battle; one fight to decide the fate of the world! This is a personal letter from my Teacher. You may read it for yourselves to verify the terms."
As she spoke, Hu Liena produced a sealed letter written by Bibi Dong and handed it to Davis. Davis swept his Divine Sense over the parchment, confirming that the contents matched her words perfectly. He nodded slowly. "Very well. We accept. I only hope that when the time comes, your Spirit Empire is capable of honoring its word."
"Excellent. The duel will take place in three days."
"No problem," Davis replied coolly. "In three days, we will be there to fulfill the appointment."
"In that case, I shall take my leave!" Having completed her mission, Hu Liena gave a respectful bow to Dai Pojun and turned to depart.
Once Hu Liena was out of earshot, Dai Pojun stepped forward, his face etched with worry. "Davis, you were too impulsive! Bibi Dong is a woman of unfathomable schemes and deep calculation. Inviting you and Nana to a duel like this is almost certainly a trap!"
"I know, Father," Davis nodded calmly. "In fact, I suspect that Bibi Dong has likely already broken through the rank one hundred barrier and ascended to Godhood herself."
"Then why would you still—"
"Haha, Father, do not forget that I have also surpassed rank one hundred and become the Tiger Howl God! Moreover, my soul power has already reached Rank 102. Even if Bibi Dong has just achieved divinity, she likely hasn't surpassed Rank 101. Even if she and Qian Renxue join forces, they are no match for me!"
Davis's eyes flashed with a predatory light. "Since she is arrogant enough to challenge us and even put the entire Spirit Empire on the line, why should we refuse? This is the perfect opportunity to unify the Douluo Continent once and for all."
"I see... put that way, it does make sense." Dai Pojun nodded slowly, his anxiety easing as he realized the sheer gap in power Davis now possessed.
Three days passed in the blink of an eye. During this time, Davis and Anna devoted every waking moment to cultivation, honing their states to their absolute peaks. While they didn't achieve a full breakthrough in such a short window, Davis reached the absolute pinnacle of Rank 102, and Anna arrived at the very edge of Rank 101, standing just half a step away from the next level of divinity.
When the third day dawned, the two set off toward the Jincheng Mountains. Initially, Zhu Zhuyun and Zhu Zhuqing had intended to accompany them to guard against any treachery from Bibi Dong, but Davis declined. If Bibi Dong wanted a "fair" fight, he would give her one—and he would crush her on those terms.
Even if there were an ambush waiting in the mountains, with his and Anna's speed, they could retreat in an instant. There was truly nothing to fear.
Before long, the familiar peaks of the Jincheng Mountains came into view. Davis remembered this place well; eight years ago, during the Continental Advanced Spirit Master Academy Elite Tournament, they had been ambushed in the valley between these very peaks by Ghost Douluo, Chrysanthemum Douluo, and their cohorts.
As they reached the outskirts of the mountain range, Davis glanced at Anna. She understood immediately, activating the Vast Sea Barrier skill. Their forms vanished into thin air, entering a state of perfect invisibility.
Simultaneously, Davis opened his Icefire Evil Eyes, spreading his mental detection across the entire region. He searched for any hidden armies or concealed experts Bibi Dong might have planted. However, the feedback he received suggested otherwise: there were only two powerful auras present—Bibi Dong and Qian Renxue.
Aside from them, there was only Hu Liena. As a Spirit Saint, she was irrelevant to the outcome of the battle. From her positioning, it seemed she had been sent merely to receive them.
"It seems that after becoming the Rakshasa God, Bibi Dong has grown quite confident in her own strength," Davis remarked with a thin smirk. He and Anna stepped out from the protection of the Vast Sea Barrier and manifested before Hu Liena.
"Miss Hu Liena, we meet again. Lead us to Bibi Dong." Davis smiled, his tone dripping with casual confidence. "I can hardly wait to take possession of your Spirit Empire."
Hu Liena's face frosted over at his words, a flicker of suppressed rage dancing in her eyes. She managed a cold, stiff smile. "Hmph, it seems you are quite full of yourselves. But Davis, don't be too arrogant. My Teacher is far more powerful than you can imagine!"
"Heh, she is nothing more than a defeated opponent," Davis laughed wantonly. The power he gained after ascending to Godhood gave him immense confidence. He wasn't being reckless, but in front of Bibi Dong, he felt he had earned the right to be a little overbearing.
"An enemy I have already defeated is never again viewed as a true rival. I will give her time to try and surpass me, until she is left staring at my back from a distance she can never close. Bibi Dong's final end will be beneath my claws!"
"Hmph! If it ever comes to that, I will protect my Teacher with my life!"
"With your strength?" Davis looked Hu Liena up and down, shaking his head dismissively. "Miss Hu Liena, I'm afraid you simply don't have the capability."
"So what? Teacher is like a mother to me. Even if I have to sacrifice my very soul, I will stand before her!" Hu Liena's gaze was resolute, burning with a fierce loyalty that suggested she truly would lay down her life for Bibi Dong without a second thought.
Davis didn't bother arguing further. They had arrived. Bibi Dong and Qian Renxue were standing right before them.
Hu Liena bowed deeply. "Teacher, Her Majesty the Empress—I have brought Davis and the Seagod."
"Very well, Nana. You may withdraw," Bibi Dong said. A rare touch of tenderness softened her features as she looked at her disciple. "Stay far back. Do not let the shockwaves of our battle reach you."
Hu Liena nodded and retreated to a mountain peak over a thousand meters away, clearly intending to witness the battle from a safe distance.
Davis watched her go but didn't pay her much mind. A single Spirit Saint could not sway the tides of this war. Shifting his gaze back to Bibi Dong, he let out a cold sneer.
"Your Holiness, we meet again. As someone who has already lost to me once, I'm amazed you have the courage to challenge me again—especially with the entire Spirit Empire as your wager. I am truly curious... where exactly does this confidence of yours come from?"
"You must realize that if I defeat you quickly and join forces with Nana, even your daughter won't be able to stand against us!"
"My confidence? Heh... heh heh... Hahaha!"
Suddenly, Bibi Dong erupted into a haunting, melodic laughter. Her voice sounded like the roar of a demon, and with every breath, a bone-chilling, malevolent divine power surged from her body.
If Qian Renxue's Seraphim power was the ultimate expression of holiness, the aura now erupting from Bibi Dong was the ultimate expression of pure, unadulterated evil!
(End of Chapter)