Word Count: 2,971 Words
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The holy energy of the Angel God Position had already ravaged the evil origin of the Blood Red Nine-Headed Bat King. This Rakshasa guardian beast had little time left. For nearly a hundred years, it had searched desperately for a way to cling to life for another hundred thousand years. Its original plan had been brutal and simple: lead the blood bat clan in a suicidal assault on Bibi Dong. Either their blood would paint Jialing Pass crimson, or they would seize the Rakshasa God Position and soar to the heavens in a single stroke.
Ling Bai's appearance, however, offered the Blood Red Nine-Headed Bat King a new choice.
Possession! Seize everything Ling Bai had and inherit two God Positions at once!
Ten thousand years ago, it had used its spiritual gifts to control Clear Sky Douluo Tang Chen. Today, it dared once again to harbor malicious intent and set its sights on possessing the God Position inheritor, Ling Bai!
On the surface, the Blood Red Nine-Headed Bat King appeared utterly sincere. In truth, tension coiled through every fiber of its being as it watched him. Evil spirit beasts were naturally suppressed by the Seraphim, and that terrifying Bone Dragon King still lurked at his side. Forcible possession was out of the question. It knew perfectly well that trickery was its only path forward.
The tearful apology was theater. Offering up the Angel God Position was bait to earn his trust. The voluntary sacrifice was where it would finally bare its fangs.
The Blood Red Nine-Headed Bat King sensed that Ling Bai's spirit power stood at Rank 89. It guessed that beyond reclaiming the Angel God Position, his other reason for breaking into Slaughter City's ruins was to kill it and claim his ninth spirit ring.
A sacrifice meant a spirit beast willingly offering its spirit ring. The benefits far outstripped those of a normal kill and absorption.
The stronger a Spirit Master, the greater their greed. The Blood Red Nine-Headed Bat King refused to believe Ling Bai could bear to turn down such an offer.
"Inheritor, are you willing to accept me?"
The Blood Red Nine-Headed Bat King tested the waters with utmost care. Blood surged faster through its body. The temperature of the Bloodsea climbed by slow degrees.
"A prodigal son who returns is worth more than gold. Even an evil spirit beast has the right to abandon wickedness and turn toward good. Not even the Angel God can strip that away!"
Ling Bai's smile blazed bright as the sun, the very picture of a Seraphim descending to save all beings from suffering.
In the Spiritual Sea, the Snow Empress cocked her head in bewilderment. This old lady must be hearing things. Who was the one who kept saying 'once evil, always evil'?!
"Thank you for your divine mercy!"
The Blood Red Nine-Headed Bat King fell to its knees in apparent heartfelt submission. Inside, it grinned wide enough to show every fang. How could some snot-nosed human brat outplay an old rogue that's lived for hundreds of thousands of years?
Everything you have will soon be mine!
"We're all family under the Rakshasa. Blood Emperor, please rise."
Ling Bai extended a strand of spirit power and hauled the Blood Red Nine-Headed Bat King upright. His smile never touched his eyes.
Rotten oranges stayed rotten no matter how you sliced them. Evil Spirit Masters and evil spirit beasts could never be trusted. Every word dripping from the Blood Red Nine-Headed Bat King's mouths was pure garbage. Ling Bai doubted even the punctuation marks!
Controlling Tang Chen had convinced the Blood Red Nine-Headed Bat King that its spiritual talent was peerless under heaven. What it didn't know was that there were always beasts beyond beasts, skies beyond skies. Ling Bai's Spiritual Sea had already prepared a lovely surprise for it.
At the same time, he was calculating against this evil spirit beast in turn.
He needed a Torso Spirit Bone that matched the Death Abyss Spider Emperor's attributes. Killing the Blood Red Nine-Headed Bat King outright meant a fifty-percent gamble between a Torso Bone and a Skull Bone. Sacrifice was different. The Blood Red Nine-Headed Bat King had full control over which bone it became and could willingly transform into a Torso Spirit Bone.
"Let us begin!" The Blood Red Nine-Headed Bat King could hardly contain its eagerness.
"Don't rush." Ling Bai stopped it with a raised hand. "Blood Emperor, I condensed my first spirit core ahead of schedule. Before my spirit power breaks through Rank 90, I must condense a Yin-Yang Complement second spirit core.
Our sequence will be spirit bone, spirit core, then spirit ring. A Torso Spirit Bone is ideal, and it showcases your strengths to their fullest."
"No problem whatsoever!" The Blood Red Nine-Headed Bat King agreed without hesitation. After all, every bit of Ling Bai's painstaking planning was just paving a road for it to walk.
Blood flames ignited across its colossal body as it initiated the spirit beast sacrifice. Thick waves of blood-colored energy rolled outward. The scent wasn't foul or fishy. Instead, it carried a faint, dangerously enticing sweetness. The addictive poison in Bloody Mary came precisely from this fellow.
Vicious and cunning as its mind might be, even the Blood Red Nine-Headed Bat King could not escape the agony of spirit beast sacrifice. That sky-blotting body trembled violently, and nine giant mouths unleashed roars in nine different registers.
Blood flames leapt from the Blood Red Nine-Headed Bat King and wrapped around Ling Bai. Filaments of crimson fire crawled across his spine, sternum, and ribs. The flames grew stronger and brighter with each passing moment, eventually outlining the complete skeleton of his torso.
The Blood Red Nine-Headed Bat King was exceptionally unique. Its spiritual power and evil attribute were both incredibly potent, yet neither was its true origin attribute. Its real ability was called Ultimate Blood: control over blood flow, mastery of countless blood poisons, terrifying assimilative and corrosive strength, recovery power unmatched under heaven, and even the ability to be reborn from a single drop of blood.
Once Ling Bai fused with the Blood Red Nine-Headed Bat King's Torso Spirit Bone, his body seemed to undergo yet another metamorphosis. Muscles, meridians, fascia, blood vessels, and internal organs all became even tougher. His skin took on a translucent, jade-white sheen.
The Blood Red Nine-Headed Bat King's form faded away, dissolving into wisps of blood mist that burrowed into Ling Bai's body. Suddenly, it sensed something and cried out in surprise:
"The Bloodsea Heart! I searched for it for thousands of years, and it was with you all along. It seems my Torso Spirit Bone is about to evolve again."
"Is that so?"
The Blood Red Nine-Headed Bat King explained eagerly, "The Bloodsea Heart was the core the Asura God King used when establishing Slaughter City. The Rakshasa God later eroded it in secret.
When the second-generation Asura God challenged the Hell Road, he threw a medicinal herb into the Bloodsea. That made it surge wildly and burst up from underground, swallowing Slaughter City whole and even affecting the surface continent. The Bloodsea Heart was lost at that moment.
You never fully activated the Bloodsea Heart before. Watch me!"
Before possession, no one wanted Ling Bai stronger than the Blood Red Nine-Headed Bat King did. The Torso Spirit Bone extended countless threads that wrapped around the Bloodsea Heart. The Bloodsea Heart seemed to awaken. Its pounding echoed like war drums. Bloodsea energy nourished the Blood Red Nine-Headed Bat King's Torso Spirit Bone, and its aura climbed steadily higher.
"Impressive."
Ling Bai's praise was entirely genuine. The Blood Red Nine-Headed Bat King preened with pride:
"Ultimate Blood and the Bloodsea Heart are a perfect match. The two have already become one. The two spirit bone skills I provide will contain all the Bloodsea Heart's abilities."
Ling Bai gave it a thumbs up. Before an enemy showed its true colors, they really could be reliable to a ridiculous degree!
"After the spirit bone comes the spirit core."
"Excellent!"
The Blood Red Nine-Headed Bat King brimmed with enthusiasm. Its spiritual form followed Ling Bai into the Spiritual Sea, where it encountered the Snow Empress and Electrolux waiting in full battle readiness.
"Snow Empress, Necromancer Elder Yi." Ling Bai made introductions.
Nine pairs of beast eyes widened slightly. It didn't recognize Electrolux, but the Snow Empress's name thundered across the continent. Although she wasn't known for spiritual prowess, she was still the continent's Third Great Beast. Possession might not be foolproof after all!
"Snow Empress, you control the Angel Spirit Core at my brow. Elder Yi, Blood Emperor, and I will head to my chest to condense the second Death Abyss Spirit Core."
The Snow Empress's delicate brows drew together. "I'll come with you."
"Hey, what's this about? Looking down on a Guardian Beast of the Rakshasa God?" Ling Bai shot her a glare.
"...You really have no bottom line." The Snow Empress was struck speechless.
Herself, Huo Yuhao, Zhongli Wu... every life Ling Bai set his sights on had failed to escape his grasp. Now came the turn of the 'brilliantly clever' Blood Red Nine-Headed Bat King.
"Elder Yi, I'm counting on you."
"A small matter. This old man will naturally keep you safe."
Electrolux summoned his necromancer's staff. The Snow Empress's spirit ring was the Seraphim's Avatar, so Ling Bai assigned her to control the Angel Spirit Core. The gray spirit ring was the Death Abyss Spider Emperor's first ring. Electrolux's job was to separate the death, evil, and poison attribute spirit power and condense it into a spirit core.
"Blood Emperor, let's go."
Ling Bai crooked his finger at the Blood Red Nine-Headed Bat King.
Little bat, come into the bowl!
…
Upon the boundless Bloodsea, atop the Bone Dragon King's skull, Ling Bai settled cross-legged and closed his eyes. He switched his Martial Spirit to the Death Abyss Spider Emperor. Spirit power circulated slowly. At his brow, the First Angel Spirit Core rotated steadily, holy spirit power spiraling around it.
Humans could open a spirit core in three locations. Between the brows, at the chest, and in the dantian, with difficulty descending in that same order. If the second spirit core was placed at the dantian, then opening a third in the chest, sandwiched between two Yin-Yang Complement cores, would be a fool's dream.
That path would require severing the connection between the two existing cores first. Ling Bai would simply blow himself up on the spot. There was no other choice. The Death Abyss Spirit Core had to open in his chest, leaving the dantian free for the third spirit core.
The Snow Empress concentrated fully on controlling the Angel Spirit Core. She couldn't help feeling deeply moved. Humanity truly was blessed by the heavens. The long road she had walked for seven hundred thousand years, Ling Bai had covered in a mere twelve. And now she found herself drawing experience from watching him condense Yin-Yang Complement Twin Spirit Cores.
"Hm?"
An enormous surge of spirit power suddenly flowed from Ling Bai toward the Angel Spirit Core. The Snow Empress realized something was wrong. His chest hungered for massive amounts of spirit power to open the Yin-Yang Complement Twin Spirit Cores. Why was he sending it to his brow instead?!
She hurriedly controlled the spirit power. Utterly baffled, she heard the Blood Red Nine-Headed Bat King's incredulous shriek.
"Wait, you haven't saved up enough spirit power? This is nowhere near enough for Yin-Yang Complement Twin Spirit Cores!"
Ling Bai's face 'drained of color.' "I... I thought it would be enough once you sacrificed yourself!"
Disaster. What a colossal mistake!
The Blood Red Nine-Headed Bat King choked on ten thousand curses. It had already sacrificed itself. The spirit bone was inside Ling Bai's body. There was absolutely no chance to back out now!
"Blood Emperor, do you have a solution?
We're grasshoppers tied to the same string now. If condensing the second spirit core fails, I can't break through Rank 90. If I can't absorb your spirit ring, you'll die..."
Ling Bai put on a show of utter helplessness and began to probe the Blood Red Nine-Headed Bat King's reserves.
Panic seized the Blood Red Nine-Headed Bat King instantly. It ran in frantic circles like an ant on a hot pan. Its nine heads argued with one another. Finally, it gritted its teeth and shot out of Ling Bai's body. Its spiritual power resonated across the entire Bloodsea.
"Blood bat clan, blood sacrifice!"
Across the Bloodsea, countless blood bats and Dark Gold Three-Headed Bat Kings streaked toward Ling Bai. Following the Blood Red Nine-Headed Bat King's command, they threw themselves into suicidal blood sacrifice without the slightest hesitation. Massive surges of blood-colored spirit power poured into his chest. The Death Abyss Spirit Core gained an irregular outline, yet still lacked sufficient spirit power to irrigate and refine it.
"It's still not fucking enough!"
The Blood Red Nine-Headed Bat King raged helplessly. Among the Ten Great Beasts, only Di Tian and the Evileye Tyrant Emperor had pulled this off. In another timeline, Huo Yuhao had needed the aid of six great Spirit Souls, the Manifold Mysterious Ice Essence, the Dragon Pill, and even Elder Mu's soul to barely succeed.
Now the blood bat clan had been wiped out to the last creature, yet still hadn't made up for Ling Bai's 'mistake.' That alone proved how impossibly difficult Yin-Yang Complement Twin Spirit Cores truly were.
Once Ling Bai confirmed this fellow had truly exhausted every trick, he thought for a moment and spoke:
"Blood Emperor, don't panic yet. Can you blood-sacrifice other spirit beasts?"
"Yes, yes, absolutely yes!"
The Blood Red Nine-Headed Bat King seized on this like a drowning creature grasping a lifeline. Its voice shook with urgency. "The first Rakshasa God once taught me a technique called Soul-Melting Blood Art. Through blood and soul, I can devour an enemy's spirit power and attributes. It's just that I spent most of my time in the Bloodsea and never had a chance to use this secret technique."
"Then you're saved."
Ling Bai tossed out the ice-sealed Deep Sea Nether Dragon Emperor. The Blood Red Nine-Headed Bat King's eyes lit up. Its nine massive mouths opened wide and devoured the dragon's soul along with the Destruction Blood belonging to the Purple Brilliant Heaven Destroying Dragon bloodline. The Deep Sea Nether Dragon Emperor's body deflated like a punctured balloon.
The Blood Red Nine-Headed Bat King threw everything it had into devouring the Deep Sea Nether Dragon Emperor, feeding the energy back to Ling Bai to condense the second spirit core.
Around the Death Abyss Spirit Core's embryonic form, evil spirit power circled like a river of blood. The Angel Spirit Core had always rotated clockwise. The Death Abyss Spirit Core, by contrast, spun counterclockwise.
"It's stabilizing..."
Cracks riddled the Blood Red Nine-Headed Bat King's soul. Without a physical body, forcibly devouring the Deep Sea Nether Dragon Emperor placed enormous pressure on its spiritual form. Any longer and its soul might scatter completely.
Between the man and the beast, eight hundred schemes tangled together. The Blood Red Nine-Headed Bat King schemed to possess Ling Bai and reap the rewards. Ling Bai played along, squeezing out every last drop of blood!
"Blood Emperor, I owe you everything.
Once I become a God in the future, I swear I'll help you restore the blood bat clan to its former glory!"
The Snow Empress rolled her eyes elegantly. This boy even feeds empty promises to evil spirit beasts!
Such abysmal character!
He'd been dangling that Manifold Mysterious Ice Essence in front of her for ages and still hadn't delivered. He kept her on the hook every single day!
The Blood Red Nine-Headed Bat King panted heavily. "It's fine... Sacrificing themselves for you is their honor...
Hurry, hurry and condense the second spirit core, then absorb my spirit ring. My soul can't hold on much longer."
"All right. Come help me control the spirit core to absorb energy," Ling Bai said.
The Blood Red Nine-Headed Bat King looked utterly horrified. I'm in this state and you're still bullying me?
That old man surnamed Yi over there is already dozing off!
"Fine... I'll do it!"
A Great Beast knew when to bend. A brilliant future beckoned!
The Blood Red Nine-Headed Bat King clenched its teeth and controlled the tidal waves of spirit power, guiding each thread and strand into the Death Abyss Spirit Core to make it slowly expand.
Ling Bai noticed the Blood Red Nine-Headed Bat King still had energy to spare. His own efficiency dropped ever so sneakily, and the pressure snapped right back onto the Blood Red Nine-Headed Bat King once again.
"Don't rely on me for everything! Move! Cooperate with me!"
The Blood Red Nine-Headed Bat King finally snapped and roared at Ling Bai.
Ling Bai shot right back without mercy. "Excuse me, what do you mean I'm not moving? I've been condensing spirit power nonstop this entire time, thank you very much. Don't go spouting nonsense with nine big eyes wide open!
Yin-Yang Complement Twin Spirit Cores are extremely difficult. Look for the problem in yourself first. Why haven't you finished yet? That must be because you didn't work hard enough!"
Damn it!
The Blood Red Nine-Headed Bat King seethed like a pepper about to combust. It sucked in a deep breath. The grand undertaking was not yet complete. Now was far from the moment to turn hostile. It could only endure the injury to its soul and keep working. This was a Seraphim! What kind of good Angel pressured evil spirit beasts like this?!
Ling the Slavedriver urged it on:
"Get moving, Blood Emperor! Work harder! You don't want everything to fall apart at the last second, do you!"