Chapter 704
Ren Xue
Dai Chengfeng's words abruptly pulled Bibi Dong from her brief moment of warmth. Divine inheritance? This wasn't an unfamiliar term. Qian Daoliu had spent her entire life pursuing the position of the Angel God, and she herself had long been chosen by the Rakshasa God, though that inheritance was filled with distortion and malice. But for multiple gods to simultaneously leave traces across the continent was far from ordinary.
"Are you sure the information is reliable?" Bibi Dong sat up straight, her eyes deep. Her fingertips unconsciously caressed the Tear of the Wind God; beneath the cool gem, there seemed to be a very faint pulse of air, like breathing.
“Multiple sources confirm that the probability is extremely high.” Dai Chengfeng abandoned his languid demeanor, his slender fingers lightly tapping on the table. “The news from the far north comes from several surviving adventurer teams. Their descriptions are consistent, mentioning an unprecedented energy eruption and illusion in the core area of the permafrost, which seems to match the ancient legend of the Ice God. The strange phenomena on Seagod Island have been widely witnessed by coastal fishermen and merchant ships. They say that the perpetual fog outside the island briefly dissipated, and golden pillars of light shot into the sky, accompanied by magnificent phantoms. There are also some scattered, unconfirmed rumors that abnormal energy fluctuations of different attributes have been detected by keen-sense Soul Masters in the depths of the Star Dou Great Forest, on the outskirts of the Slaughter City, and even in the ruins of some long-vanished ancient kingdoms.”
Bibi Dong fell into deep thought. The divine realm, high above, usually wouldn't interfere in the mortal world so frequently. Unless… something had happened to the divine realm itself, or a far-reaching selection and arrangement had already begun. The occasional agitation of the Rakshasa God's cold and sinister divine thoughts seemed to corroborate this.
"This is both an opportunity and a risk for us," Bibi Dong said slowly, her voice regaining the calm and decisiveness befitting a pope. "If we can obtain more detailed information about the inheritances of other deities, we might be able to find a way to counterbalance or even... transform them. But at the same time, if Tang San, the Clear Sky Sect, or even the Star Luo Empire gain the favor of a certain deity first, the situation will become even more complicated."
"You want to take the initiative to intervene?" Dai Chengfeng looked at the glint in her eyes, a complex expression that mixed ambition, vigilance, and sharpness.
"Intelligence is the priority," Bibi Dong said decisively. "Elders Gui Bao and Ling Yuan are skilled in infiltration and reconnaissance. Send them with elite troops to the far north and the outskirts of Seagod Island respectively to gather information. They must not act rashly. Also, order the various branches of the Spirit Hall to closely monitor any abnormal energy reports, unusual movements of ancient ruins, or unusual gatherings of Spirit Masters within their jurisdictions, especially those related to keywords such as 'god,' 'inheritance,' and 'trial.'"
“Alright, I’ll arrange it.” Dai Chengfeng nodded. “Also, the Tear of the Wind God… have you had any special sensations while wearing it recently?”
Bibi paused slightly, stroking the necklace: "It seems more... 'active' than before. Especially when I use my soul power or when my emotions fluctuate, I can feel a faint flow of energy responding. But it's very vague."
Dai Chengfeng grasped her hand and slowly infused the necklace with an extremely pure and gentle wisp of wind-attribute divine power. Within the gemstone, a dormant nebula seemed to be illuminated, emanating a hazy azure halo, more pronounced than ever before. An invisible, calming breeze swept through, dispelling the stagnant atmosphere within the hall, and even subtly suppressing some of the chilling divine power belonging to the Rakshasa God within Bibi Dong's body.
“The connection between you and it is deepening.” Dai Chengfeng’s eyes held a mixture of relief and curiosity. “The Tear of the Wind God is no ordinary artifact. It was once part of the Wind God’s authority and possesses sentience. This ‘activity’ may be related to the changes in the ‘macro-environment’ manifested by the inheritance of deities in the outside world. Try to communicate with it more, using your spiritual power rather than your soul power.”
Bibi Dong attempted to wrap a wisp of spiritual energy around the gemstone. At first, it seemed to sink without a trace, but after a moment, an extremely subtle sensation, like listening to the distant wind, returned. It wasn't language, but rather a transmission of emotions and sentiments: vastness, freedom, protection, and a hint of... barely perceptible desolation and expectation.
"I think... I can sense it a little," she said uncertainly.
Dai Chengfeng's smile deepened: "Very good. This is a beginning." He paused, his tone slightly somber, "However, Dong'er, matters of the gods are unpredictable. The Tears of the Wind God can protect you, but the Rakshasa inheritance may harm you. Before we fully understand the movements of the divine realm, we must be even more cautious in our reliance on the Rakshasa divine power." Bibi Dong understood, of course. The Rakshasa divine power was a double-edged sword, granting her strength and a shortcut to rapid advancement, but it also constantly eroded her mind, amplifying the darkness and prejudice within her. The appearance of the Tears of the Wind God was like a sturdy dam, temporarily blocking the corrupt tide, but behind the dam, darkness still surged.
“I know.” She squeezed his hand back, drawing in that reassuring warmth and support.
Just then, a respectful announcement came from outside the hall: "Your Holiness, Saint Hulena requests an audience."
Bibi Dong and Dai Chengfeng exchanged a glance. Dai Chengfeng's figure quietly disappeared behind the curtain of the side hall, his aura perfectly concealed. Bibi Dong tidied her appearance, sat upright on the papal throne, and her face regained its usual majesty and coldness: "Enter."
Hu Liena entered gracefully, her white, gold-trimmed saintly robe accentuating her slender figure. Her naturally beautiful face carried just the right amount of respect and a hint of barely perceptible worry. She bowed and greeted her: "Teacher."
"What is it?" Bibi Dong's gaze swept over her disciple. Hu Liena possessed exceptional talent and temperament, and was her carefully cultivated successor. However, lately, a faint sorrow had always lingered between the child's brows.
“Teacher, about Tang San…” Hu Liena began, her voice tinged with complexity, “Our people reported that he left Tiandou City yesterday, seemingly heading towards the Star Dou Great Forest. Accompanying him were Xiao Wu, Dai Mubai, Oscar, and Ma Hongjun from the Shrek Seven Devils, as well as Grandmaster Yu Xiaogang and Liu Erlong.”
Star Dou Great Forest? Bibi Dong's fingers tightened slightly. Could Tang San's goal also be related to those rumors of "divine inheritance"? The depths of the Star Dou Great Forest are indeed one of the most mysterious areas on the continent, possibly hiding ancient secrets.
"Do you know the specific purpose?" Bibi Dong asked.
Hu Liena shook her head: "Their movements are very secretive. Our people dare not follow too closely for fear of being discovered. We only learned that before they set off, they seemed to have a secret meeting with Ning Fengzhi of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School. In addition..." She hesitated for a moment, "Tang San's soul power improvement speed is indeed astonishing. According to the latest assessment, he may have approached the peak of Soul Emperor, or even... touched the threshold of Soul Saint. His combat ability is probably far superior to his peers."
A cold glint flashed in Bibi Dong's eyes. Peak Soul Emperor? How long has it been! The advantage of twin martial souls, coupled with that woman's 100,000-year soul ring and soul bone, and the secret support of the Clear Sky Sect… this boy's growth cannot be described simply as "extraordinary talent"; he's practically a darling of fate! The thought of his face resembling that woman's, and Yu Xiaogang's presence beside him at this moment, caused the suppressed violence and hatred in Bibi Dong's heart to surge uncontrollably. (End of Chapter)