"Not bad."
Looking at the youth before her, whose very presence was as clear and pure as a lotus—
Bibi Dong lightly clapped her hands, unable to hide her amazement.
"As expected of a peerless genius never seen before in history. You truly managed to comprehend this sword of 'Purity.'"
She had indeed helped him—
But she had only intended to assist his body in reaching the realm of a flawless vessel. That alone would've been perfection.
Who would have thought—
This youth could truly, from decay and rebirth—
Glimpse that thread of "Purity."
"In countless cycles of decay and rebirth, not only has your spiritual power advanced—"
"But what is even more astonishing is your bodily transformation."
"Feel it for yourself."
Li Zhexian raised his right hand.
In the dim sky above, his fair skin shimmered with a faint luster.
He brought two fingers together like a sword and slashed down.
"Clang!"
A crisp sound like metal striking stone rang out.
Not a single mark remained on his arm.
"The strength of your flesh has already stepped into the Titled Douluo realm."
"More than that."
Bibi Dong smiled softly, sighing with emotion.
"The stainless, flawless body is a realm of physique that even the pure-blood Dragon Clan of legend may reach."
"The benefits within… you will understand in the future."
She gracefully sat at the stone table, dimples faintly appearing at her lips.
"She wanted to use your hand to perfect her eighth Rakshasa Trial."
"But now…"
"Even if she succeeds—"
"what she gains may not surpass what you have obtained today."
Li Zhexian put away the Qinglian Sword, turned his hand, and summoned the Wine Martial Soul, filling Bibi Dong's empty cup with fine liquor.
Never had he imagined—
That one day he would personally pour wine for Bibi Dong.
But the fortune he gained today
would have been impossible without her aid.
This cup, to honor her good side—was well deserved.
Bibi Dong drained the cup in one swallow.
A gentle blush rose on her beautiful cheeks.
"Zhexian…"
"May I call you that?"
"You have already comprehended the sword.
After you erase me, leave the secret realm."
Li Zhexian drank silently, saying nothing.
Bibi Dong smiled.
"I have no physical form; I am just a phantom created by a wisp of good will."
"As I said before, even if you don't act, she will eventually erase me."
"And if you act, you can also gain a drop of the Blood of a God."
Li Zhexian naturally understood that the good will Bibi Dong's words were reasonable. But he... seemed to have another method.
"Senior, what do you think of my wine?"
Hearing the youth address her as "Senior," Bibi Dong's eyes brightened further.
"This wine belongs only in the heavens."
"In that case… would senior be willing to enter my wine gourd?"
"…Hmm?"
A subtle light flashed in Bibi Dong's eyes.
"What do you mean by that?"
Li Zhexian pondered for a moment, then said:
"I once obtained a brewing method…"
"To use the purest benevolent intent in the world as the main ingredient,
aided by several cleansing and nurturing spirit herbs—
and one can brew an unparalleled divine wine."
"It is called Compassionate Boat Dew."
Bibi Dong swirled the last trace of wine in her cup,
glancing at the white-robed youth across from her.
"You intend to use me… to brew wine?"
"Exactly."
Li Zhexian met her gaze without fear.
His eyes were clear, his bearing pure—an open heart shining through.
"My Wine Martial Soul is extremely special."
He lifted the Clear Spring Wine Gourd.
He showed her the patterns carved into its surface.
"For every type of wine I brew,
a matching symbol naturally appears on the gourd."
"For example, this little serpent—
it represents the first wine I ever brewed: Serpent's Venom Rice Spirit."
With that—
a glazed radiance gathered at his fingertips.
He infused it into the tiny serpent pattern.
Under Bibi Dong's astonished gaze,
the serpent actually wriggled as if alive.
Li Zhexian poured her another cup.
This time, the wine was crystal clear—
pure Serpent's Venom Rice Spirit.
—This was the new ability born
after the Clear Spring Gourd fused six Immortal Wines.
Bibi Dong sipped lightly and sighed:
"Your talent is even more terrifying than I imagined."
"If nothing goes wrong, you will certainly become a god."
Li Zhexian only smiled lightly at her words.
He continued:
"If Senior is willing to enter my wine gourd… you may leave a mark upon it."
"Whether life may return from that mark in the future, I cannot say."
"But it is better than vanishing completely."
"What does Senior think?"
Bibi Dong smiled sweetly, without the slightest hesitation.
"Thank you, Zhexian, for planning so thoroughly for me."
The moon rose and fell.
Li Zhexian quietly counted the time.
"There is only one day left before I must leave the secret realm."
"Fortunately, my brewing technique now surpasses what it once was—otherwise, time would truly be insufficient."
He sat cross-legged in the center of the courtyard.
A dozen spiritual herbs hovered before him, glowing, together with the e Clear Spring Wine Gourd.
"The more I think about it…"
"The more I realize that the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well is one of the greatest fortunes in the Douluo world."
These spiritual herbs were all gifts from Dugu Bo.
Every time Li Zhexian returned to Heaven Dou City—
Dugu Bo generously offered him many spiritual plants.
He selected only those needed for brewing.
As for the rest—
After explaining their medicinal effects, he would return them.
His vast spiritual power surged.
The spiritual herbs shattered instantly, turning into misty essence.
Under the control of Li Zhexian's Seven Aperture Exquisite Heart—
The liquid essence divided into dozens of portions.
Each drop measured to perfect precision as it fell into the gourd.
When the final drop disappeared into the gourd—
An intoxicating fragrance diffused through the air.
"Senior!"
"Compassionate Boat Dew will be completed now!"
Standing to the side, Bibi Dong did not hesitate.
Her figure turned into a soft, silvery light
and dove straight toward the gourd opening.
But just as she was about to enter the gourd—
a ring flew toward Li Zhexian.
"I owe Xue'er too much."
"I know…"
"This debt cannot be repaid in this lifetime."
"I am not running away—I simply lack the face to face her."
"All these years, for every one of her birthdays, I prepared a gift."
"Zhexian, please handle them in my place."
"Perhaps not giving them to her…"
"is what's best…"
With her final sorrowful words—
Her figure melted fully into the liquid.
BOOM—!
A gentle yet vast aura erupted from the gourd.
A soft, compassionate fragrance flooded the courtyard,
like a vessel of mercy drifting across a pure lake.
On the surface of the Clear Spring Wine Gourd—
among the old markings of stars, serpents, wind, lightning, and more—
a new silhouette appeared:
A gentle, elegant woman's profile, lifelike upon the gourd.
She seemed to lightly flick her sleeve—
and from the gourd mouth,
a single drop of pure blood of a god floated out,
suspended before Li Zhexian.
Whoosh—
Whoosh—
As Bibi Dong's good will dissipated,
the last untouched sanctuary of the Rakshasa secret realm began to collapse.
Pebbles decayed, beams molded, blossoms fell to ash.
Bang——!
Qian Renxue cut her way inside.
Seeing Li Zhexian standing safe and unharmed, she finally exhaled.
But when she looked around at the ruined surroundings,
her golden eyes flickered with confusion and helplessness.
...
Outside the secret realm—
the twelve jade ornaments before Bibi Dong swayed without wind.
Her lips, red as bloodshed, slowly curved into a sickly, seductive smile.
"The perfect Rakshasa Eighth Trial!"
"Li Zhexian! You truly did not disappoint this Pope!"
Most Spirit Masters failed to notice—
But Chen Xin, Dugu Bo, and the others suddenly felt their hearts clench, danger flaring.
They looked toward the throne…
Bibi Dong sat motionless—
Yet an aura that chilled the soul spilled outward.
Cold prickled down their backs; horror filled their eyes.
"This woman…"
"Why… has she suddenly become so terrifying?!"