Bibi Dong forced her muscles to unlock, the spiritual residue of the breakthrough still tingling like a million tiny needles beneath her skin. The exhaustion was overwhelming, not just physical from the trauma of accommodating the 100,000-year soul ring, but profoundly mental.
Her Spiritual Sea had been stretched, pounded, and reformed, now holding the vast, dark wisdom of the Abyssal Dark Panther, alongside her own resurrected memories and the sheer volume of power from her new cultivation.
The sheer processing load of the Panther's life essence had left her psyche frayed and desperately craving stillness. She rose slowly from the cavern floor, the silence of the den now absolute.
The massive, beautiful corpse of the Panther lay nearby, the color drained from its coat, a testament to the magnitude of its sacrifice and the immensity of her gain. Bibi Dong paused, offering a final, silent moment of respect to the creature that had gifted her destiny.
Stepping out of the cavern's mouth and back into the late afternoon sunlight felt like emerging into a different world. The light, though filtered by the forest canopy, felt bright and strangely soothing after the obsidian darkness of the cave.
The four soul beasts stood ready, their immense, powerful forms softened by a cautious relief.
Da Ming was the first to speak, his voice a powerful, rumbling bass. "You are successful, Bibi Dong. The process is complete." He lowered his great head slightly. "We congratulate you on officially becoming a Titled Douluo. Your aura is now vastly stronger; a heavy shadow rests upon your spirit."
Er Ming nodded in solemn agreement. "The power is clean. The Panther's essence integrated without malice. This is better for you, and perhaps, better for our kind. We can perceive the depth of the increase. It is both good, for our shared purpose, and potentially dangerous, for the sheer scale of the strength you now command."
Ah Rou stepped forward, her worry replaced by a strategic determination. Her eyes were fixed not on the new crimson ring hovering above Bibi Dong, but on the fatigue shadowing the woman's features.
"We observe the pact, Bibi Dong, and we are glad for your success," Ah Rou said, her voice gentle but firm. "This new strength will be critical in the days ahead. But to fight a war, you must first rest. We know the strain of accommodating such power."
She gestured back towards the direction they had come. "Please, allow me to honor my word. My hut is nearby, and I wish for you to rest there. I will prepare food for you. You are exhausted. We must build trust, and a shared meal and simple courtesy are far more powerful than any political oath."
Bibi Dong listened to the words, her mind, though sluggish, analyzing the subtext. Ah Rou was being genuine, but also smart.
Rejecting the invitation now would be seen as an act of cold arrogance or, worse, suspicion—a failure to reciprocate the forest's immense gift. Building a fragile alliance based on personal interaction was far stronger than one based purely on mutual threats.
Bibi Dong nodded slowly, managing a faint, appreciative smile. "I accept your offer and thanks for it, Ah Rou. You are correct; the spiritual strain is significant. It is still the afternoon, and I have time before I return to Spirit Hall. I am honored to for this hospitality."
Xiao Wu, who had been peering at the crimson glow around Bibi Dong with wide, curious eyes, jumped up and down. "Yay! Mommy is the best cook! You'll like it!"
With the acceptance secured, the somber atmosphere lifted slightly. Da Ming and Er Ming took their final farewells, their massive eyes conveying a heavy responsibility.
"Go and rest, Bibi Dong," Da Ming rumbled. "We must return to patrol the central sector and ensure the forest remains undisturbed. Our eyes, and the eyes of the Panther, will be watching your future actions."
"We trust the oath," Er Ming added. "Do not give us cause to regret this day."
Bibi Dong gave a deep, respectful nod. "You have my word. The fate of her lineage is now part of my strategic plan."
The two immense Soul Beast Kings turned and lumbered silently away, vanishing into the deep forest shadows with a speed that belied their size, leaving Bibi Dong, Ah Rou, and the little Xiao Wu to make the short trip back to the lakeside.
The hut stood nestled beside the tranquil lake, surrounded by a natural clearing. Ah Rou led the way, pushing aside the woven vines that served as a door.
Bibi Dong stepped inside and paused, genuinely surprised. The interior was far from the crude, animalistic shelter she might have expected. It was spacious, clean, and organized.
The main room was circular, with a rough-hewn timber ceiling supported by smooth, thick bamboo poles. Light filtered softly through small, high openings covered with translucent animal skins, providing a warm, golden glow.
There was indeed a large, comfortable-looking bed made of woven reeds and soft furs piled high against one wall, and across from it, a thick, plush sofa woven intricately from plant fiber and moss, perfect for lounging. There was also a simple, sturdy wooden table in the center.
This is extraordinary, Bibi Dong thought, her sharp eyes taking in the details. The organization, the division of space, the deliberate comfort… it is the work of a being planning for a long, civilian life, not just survival.
She immediately noticed the domestic functionality: "a simple main room, beside a kitchen and toilet." She realized her transmigrator's bias had expected a nest, but Ah Rou had built a home.
"This is truly remarkable, Ah Rou," Bibi Dong remarked, genuine admiration in her tone. "The structure, the comfort, the use of space—it mimics the efficient designs favored by us humans. I am quite surprised."
Ah Rou, shedding her protective reserve for a moment of genuine pride, smiled faintly. "It took me years, Bibi Dong. I have spent time observing in the outer cities, especially the common villages near the forest borders. I learned what humans valued in comfort and utility. I made this home myself, piece by piece, to ensure my Xiao Wu would have a place that felt safe and proper for her future life."
Bibi Dong, despite her deep cynicism toward humanity, felt a pang of respect for this ancient creature's dedication. "You are truly skilled. To build such a complex structure by hand, outside of the limits of Soul Master tools—it speaks volumes about your patience and ingenuity."
Before they could continue, Xiao Wu, tired from the day's excitement and the long vigil, immediately spotted the largest piece of furniture. She let out a happy squeal and made a flying leap, burying herself in the soft furs of the large bed.
"I'm sleeping first!" Xiao Wu declared, already burrowing in.
Ah Rou instantly turned, her maternal instincts overriding her hospitality. "Xiao Wu! Get down right now! We have a guest! That bed is for our honored guest, Bibi Dong, who has just suffered a great ordeal! You will sleep on the sofa."
Xiao Wu froze, her small face crumpling into an indignant frown. She scrambled down reluctantly, her cheeks puffing out in an inward, childish fury at the injustice. She stomped over to the sofa, crossing her arms stubbornly.
Bibi Dong watched the entire exchange, and a faint, amused chuckle escaped her lips. The simplicity of this domestic squabble between the soul beasts was wonderfully absurd and comforting.
Bibi Dong walked over to the sofa, sinking into the surprisingly comfortable fiber weave. She looked at the sulking Xiao Wu beside the bed, who refused to meet her gaze.
"The sofa looks is good for relaxing, little one," Bibi Dong said gently, her voice soft and soothing. "The bed is quite big. I can sleep and rest there right beside you also afterwards if I need to rest there. Don't be shy later."
Xiao Wu's eyes widened again, her earlier pout forgotten. She ran toward the large, inviting bed. "Okay! But don't you dare wake me up when you come!" she warned, before immediately climbing back under the furs.
Bibi Dong, resting her hand on the sofa's edge, then reached out slowly, intending to gently stroke Xiao Wu's head one last time before the little rabbit drifted off. But her hand froze in mid-air, the movement halting just inches from the soft hair.
The soft-boned rabbit. A Soul Ring for my power.
A split second of searing memory flashed behind Bibi Dong's eyes: the chaotic, apocalyptic final battle where this small rabbit, now grown, fought alongside Tang San as a beacon of opposition, their combined might proving to be a great enemy that threatened Bibi Dong's final ascension.
She recalled the immense, bone-deep frustration of that future confrontation; the countless times she had unleashed her terrifying Death God Scythe attacks, specifically aiming to eliminate Xiao Wu, only to have the rabbit slip away or be shielded.
She had desperately tried to kill her, yet failed every single time, a failure that had cost her dearly in the final moments of the future war. She forcibly cleared the horrific image from her mind, her expression hardening momentarily before smoothing over.
That was the enemy of the past, this is now. She looked at the small, innocent face already relaxing against the furs. The timelines diverge here, and this little one is just a child, an innocent party to the covenant. Let's see what the future truly holds for her.
Reasserting her present self, Bibi Dong lowered her hand, gently stroking the soft hair on Xiao Wu's head. The texture was unexpectedly smooth and comforting against her palm.
Ah Rou, watching from the doorway of the small kitchen, saw the entire silent exchange: the flicker of pain or hesitation on Bibi Dong's face, followed by the deliberate choice to offer a gentle, motherly touch.
Ah Rou let out a subtle, relieved sigh and allowed a small, satisfied smile to grace her lips. The sight of her daughter resting peacefully beside the newly crowned Titled Douluo was the best assurance of the pact she could ask for.
Ah Rou returned her focus to the stove.
"Ah Rou," Bibi Dong called out, settling into a comfortable position on the sofa. "I may be tired, but I'm certainly not helpless. Would you allow me to assist you in the kitchen? Perhaps prepare the ingredients?"
Ah Rou's voice, though warm, was firm in its refusal. "No, Bibi Dong. You are a guest. Sit still, and let the chaos of the kitchen remain mine alone. Your priority right now is recovery."
Bibi Dong nodded, accepting the decline gracefully. She listened to the gentle sounds of the cooking and the soft breathing of the sleeping Xiao Wu. A few minutes of quiet chatting with the little rabbit confirmed Xiao Wu was already deep in sleep.
Bibi Dong closed her own eyes, savoring the tranquility. The silence, broken only by the soft sounds of Ah Rou moving pots in the kitchen and the distant rustle of the lakeside reeds, is form of peace she can experience here.
This… this is what I am fighting for, she mused internally, the dark, crimson power in her ninth ring settling down, becoming a quiet, terrifying reservoir.
Not the screams of vengeance, but the quiet moment of rest, the feeling of a small life trusting me, and the chance to build a true alliance.
Her mind was still a whirl of strategic plans—how to deploy Shadow Merging, how to use Shadow Binding against the Spirit Hall elders—but for this fleeting moment, the warrior was still, the strategist was quiet, and Bibi Dong simply rested, waiting for her meal and some chats with her new ally.
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Author's Note:
Ah, stay tuned and wait for upcoming future chapters which u will enjoy for sure. This is a long journey with many thrill and dramas coming also. How is this quiet scene for u?
Giving this chapter as earlier bonus for 130k. Enjoy!!!