What entered her sight was endless white radiance. In a daze, Bibi Dong felt as if she had lost something, yet no matter how she tried, she could not remember.
She did not know how much time had passed. When Bibi Dong regained consciousness, she found herself seated on the Pope's throne in the council chamber of the Pope's Hall.
Ten meters before her, a tall, peerlessly beautiful blonde woman glared at her in fury.
What is this…
A trace of confusion flashed in Bibi Dong's eyes, but then memories surged like a tide.
Yes. Not long ago, the first half of the Soul-Hunting Operation had failed. That transformed hundred-thousand-year Human-Faced Demon Spider was not captured. It was instead sacrificed to Tang Hao's son, Tang San.
But the latter half of the Soul-Hunting Operation was considered a success.
Of the Three Sects on the continent, aside from the Clear Sky Sect that had gone into seclusion, the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan had been destroyed, with only a few small fry escaping.
The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect had not been exterminated, but most of its members were dead or injured. Its mainstay, Chen Xin, lost an arm, and even their lair was taken. The losses were disastrous. To recover would take decades at least.
Unfortunately, due to overconfidence, the plan to usurp the throne in the Heaven Dou Empire failed.
Looking at Qian Renxue, who had returned in failure, twenty years of effort ruined before her eyes, a very complicated light flashed in Bibi Dong's gaze. She sighed and said, "A failure is a failure. We can start over. In the grand scheme, we still hold an absolute advantage."
At this, Qian Renxue said coldly, "I did not lose to Tang San. I lost to you. If you hadn't been impatient, why would I have risked moving ahead of time? Sis...ter..."
Qian Renxue deliberately drew out the word, full of mockery.
"Sister?"
A spark of anger flashed in Bibi Dong's eyes. "Good. Remember it. Call me that from now on."
Qian Renxue snorted. "No. I will still call you Your Holiness.
"In this world I have only one family member, my grandfather. From now on we go our own ways. You manage your Spirit Hall. I will manage the Elders Hall and the Douluo Hall. You have no authority to deploy any elders of the Elders Hall."
"What did you say?"
Bibi Dong's gaze instantly turned razor-sharp. Her powerful aura condensed into a pressure that felt tangible, forcing Qian Renxue to retreat several steps before she could steady herself.
Under Bibi Dong's oppressive momentum, a thread of blood seeped from the corner of Qian Renxue's mouth, yet the cold smile on her face did not lessen in the slightest.
Seeing the blood at Qian Renxue's lips, Bibi Dong froze. Her fierce aura paused, then slowly receded.
"Go. See your grandfather. If he agrees with you, I have no objection."
In that moment, Bibi Dong seemed to age ten years.
Qian Renxue shot her a cold glance, then walked out without looking back.
Boom.
The council hall doors crashed with a thunderous bang, as if sealing the two of them into separate worlds.
At that moment, Bibi Dong seemed to lose all strength. She collapsed into the chair, tears flowing uncontrollably down her face.
On this day, the Spirit Empire was founded.
Based on the kingdoms and principalities under the two great empires, then annexing two provinces from the two empires, the Spirit Empire became the third empire on the continent.
In sheer strength, the Spirit Empire could crush the Heaven Dou and Star Luo Empires.
Three years later, Bibi Dong led a team to the Star Dou Great Forest to hunt two hundred-thousand-year soul beasts: one hundred-thousand-year Hell Demon Dragon and one hundred-thousand-year Black Dragon.
Unfortunately, that soul-hunting expedition failed again.
Tang San, bearer of twin martial souls and wielding a blue-gold divine trident, not only ambushed and instantly killed Ghost Douluo who accompanied them, but the two hundred-thousand-year giant dragons, already grievously wounded by Bibi Dong and beyond saving, each sacrificed their soul rings and soul bones to Tang San out of gratitude for his rescue, making him a nine-ring Titled Douluo in his early twenties.
Time flew. In the blink of an eye, Qian Renxue became the Angel God. To Bibi Dong's shock, Tang San also completed the Sea God Trials and attained the position of Sea God.
When they clashed, Qian Renxue, though an Angel God, was no match and was hunted down by Tang San.
Fortunately, Bibi Dong also attained the Rakshasa God position and saved Qian Renxue.
Afterward, mother and daughter joined forces. At the cost of both being gravely injured, they cut down Tang San, the Sea God.
In consideration that her "white moonlight," Yu Xiaogang, was the Heaven Dou Empire's national teacher, and because the two needed time to heal and mend their divine souls, Bibi Dong granted the Heaven Dou Empire three days to surrender.
But three days later, just when she thought victory was secure, Tang San the Sea God resurrected and returned. He used the Clear Sky Hammer martial soul to bear the Asura God position, and unleashed his self god-soul fusion skill: Dual Gods Coexist.
"Asura, Judgment!"
Six streaks of red light blossomed like flowers. Bibi Dong felt the blood-colored radiance invading her body like countless blades, as if to carve her to pieces. The pain was unbearable.
"Tang San, I'll fight you to the end!"
Seeing Bibi Dong struggling miserably beneath the red glow of the Asura Demon Sword, knowing the defeat was sealed, Qian Renxue's heart twisted with pain. She burned her divine soul and life, and at the cost of shattering the Angel God position, erupted with an attack far beyond her own power.
Puff.
Staring at the Asura Demon Sword that had pierced the Rakshasa Divine Raiment and her own chest, Bibi Dong looked back at the hysterical Qian Renxue and smiled.
At the moment she saw Qian Renxue shatter her god position to save her, Bibi Dong awakened.
In that moment, Bibi Dong understood what it meant for blood to be thicker than water, what mother-daughter affection was, and how to be a mother.
It was a pity she awakened too late.
With the demon sword through her chest, Bibi Dong fell into Qian Renxue's arms and said haltingly, "Xue'er... may I... call you... that? I am about... to go. Promise me... you and... Nana must both live well. My death... is... what I deserve. Do not... think of avenging me. As long as... you can live in peace... I will be... satisfied."
"Mom!"
At that moment, Qian Renxue finally cried out that word, threw herself onto Bibi Dong's chest, and wept aloud.
"Good... good..."
With only a final wisp of life left within her, Bibi Dong smiled. Hearing Qian Renxue's call, her eyes were full of contentment and gentleness. She slowly raised her arm, as if to stroke her daughter's head.
Suddenly, the world seemed to freeze. Everything around them fell into absolute stillness. Bibi Dong saw a figure shrouded in gray mist, its aura utterly evil and its face indistinct, walk out of the void and stop before her.