"Congratulations, my lord, on successfully obtaining a hundred-thousand-year soul ring and a hundred-thousand-year soul bone."
Dugu Bo stepped forward and bowed respectfully.
His gaze swept over the place where the Soft-Bone Rabbit had vanished. A complicated emotion flickered in his eyes before he quickly composed himself.
"Hahaha… Old Poisoner, you won't regret following me."
Bai Mu smiled and patted his shoulder. After a brief pause, his voice carried an unprecedented confidence.
"Once I reach Rank Seven, any Titled Douluo will be easy prey."
Dugu Bo's pupils shrank slightly.
If anyone else had said such words, he would have dismissed them as arrogance. But coming from Bai Mu… he believed it.
After all, Bai Mu had defeated him back when he was only Rank Four.
Now at Rank Six and beyond—and soon Rank Seven—
Dugu Bo glanced subconsciously at the black-and-white serpent.
He didn't dare imagine how terrifying Bai Mu would become once his Martial Soul True Body was unleashed.
"On the level of Bibi Dong, Tang Hao, and Qian Daoliu," Bai Mu said calmly, a sharp glint in his eyes.
"When that time comes, I may not be unable to fight them—or even defeat them."
He didn't voice the rest of his thoughts.
Dugu Bo neither understood nor needed to.
"By the way, Old Poisoner."
Bai Mu suddenly turned to him. "I'm planning to establish an organization."
Dugu Bo froze. "What kind? A nation? A sect? An academy?"
"Something like Spirit Hall," Bai Mu replied lightly. "For now, a sect."
"Has my lord decided on a name?"
"Let's call it the Holy Spirit Cult for the time being."
A deep light flickered in Bai Mu's eyes.
"For now, just set up the framework. When I become a Soul Saint, I'll use the name that truly belongs to it."
The Holy Spirit Cult—
a name that would become infamous ten thousand years later.
But Bai Mu didn't care.
He already knew the path he intended to walk.
What he lacked now was only the strength to support it.
And for the moment, the name itself sounded righteous enough.
"Yes!"
Dugu Bo bowed deeply. "Your subordinate will handle it immediately."
"Oh, and the Dragon and Snake couple are also part of us. Bring them in."
"Yes!"
After Dugu Bo departed, Bai Mu didn't remain idle.
"Sister Xiao Wu," he murmured softly, "let me test what you left behind."
He spread his arms and activated the newly obtained soul skill.
"Little Softie, Stone Attack—on me."
At his call, Xiao Ruan immediately responded. Countless stone blades burst from the ground, streaking toward Bai Mu.
"Void."
In an instant, Bai Mu's figure became illusory, as though half-stepped into another dimension.
Whoosh!
The stone blades pierced straight through him—
Yet caused no harm at all.
"That's it," Bai Mu said, reappearing unharmed. "Absolutely broken."
"Complete immunity to physical attacks, and energy damage reduced by half… This survival ability is terrifying."
Satisfied, he disengaged Void and activated another ability.
"Teleport."
A flash of light erupted from his left arm bone. Bai Mu vanished and reappeared dozens of meters away.
Swish—swish—swish!
His figure flickered repeatedly within a hundred-meter radius.
"Spatial abilities truly are divine life-saving tools."
Teleportation was fast, flexible, and consumed minimal soul power.
Its only flaw was range—but even that was more than enough in battle.
"Little Softie, Core Punisher—fire."
Zygarde roared as terrifying energy condensed.
The next moment, a Z-shaped beam of green light tore through the air.
"Invincible Golden Body!"
Golden light enveloped Bai Mu, radiating an indestructible aura.
Boom!
The Core Punisher detonated—but Bai Mu stood unharmed at the center.
"Three seconds of absolute invulnerability…" Bai Mu murmured. "Enough to turn the tide."
He tried to activate it again—and frowned.
The soul bone lit up, but the invincibility didn't return.
"…It was negated?"
Bai Mu's eyes widened.
"So Core Punisher can even suppress soul bone effects?"
Zygarde turned its head away innocently.
"…Fine. Even better."
Bai Mu chuckled.
After all, Bibi Dong also possessed a similar ability.
When the time came, he'd see just how invincible she truly was.
"Void, teleportation, invincible golden body, substitute, jungle healing…"
Bai Mu exhaled slowly.
His survival kit had reached a frightening level.
Even without Zygarde, killing him would be an enormous task for a Titled Douluo.
"There's still one soul skill left."
His smile faded, replaced by a rare solemnity.
A girl had sacrificed herself for him.
Stubborn, mischievous, unreasonable—
and yet, sincere to the end.
The one she loved was not him.
But in the final moment, she entrusted everything to him.
"This time… there was no protection."
"Xiao Wu couldn't even preserve her infant form."
"She disappeared completely."
Bai Mu clenched his fists.
"Little Wu… you didn't deserve such an end."
"But you won't die in vain."
His gaze sharpened.
"As long as the soul remains… resurrection is possible."
This first chance—
He would give it to her.
"Rise again."
The sixth crimson soul ring beneath his feet flared to life.
Prayer of Resurrection — Activate.
Crimson light filled the valley.
Under the guidance of the soul ring, the lingering soul fragments and life imprints left behind by Xiao Wu converged.
Light gathered.
Life re-knit.
Vitality slowly returned.
When the radiance finally faded, a fragile figure lay quietly before him—alive once more, yet terribly weak.
Xiao Wu's eyelashes trembled.
Her eyes slowly opened, filled with confusion, exhaustion… and disbelief.
She had returned from death's threshold.