Gods and Monsters
"Four trials?" Wrapped in loose black robes that cover her face, too, a young Bibi Dong silently stands in front of a shrine. Only her red eyes fueled by slaughter intent can be seen through the dark shroud. Like many survivors of the Slaughter City, the intent of slaughter infects and poisons her killing intent but after 100 wins and surviving the final trial that formed her second domain— Deathgod Domain, she should have left the city's space altogether yet here she is.
The temple is a small one with a unique charm to it. Purple tiles cover the roof and within the small wooden shrine within an unknown space, she silently observed the purple scythe.
But in between this scythe and her stands a woman.
Calling her a woman is slightly wrong, too.
She is a construct and the material she chooses to be formed from is none other than pure white slaughter intent but her phantom holds a sense of chaos and poison. The same kind that infects her own killing intent.
"Four trials. Each has a time limit of ten years," the ravishing woman smirks and points at the scythe, "From mortal to a god. You desire it, don't you?"
The killing intent in Bibi Dong's eyes grows as she silently views the figure.
"But you will only be rewarded for the final award," The woman continues, "I lost it all before setting a proper inheritance and this was just... last hope. But heavens clearly favor me—"
"I refuse," Bibi Dong snarls.
"Fine."
Bibi Dong did not expect such a quick reply but the woman continues, "Have fun staying here forever after surviving such troublesome trials for a mere domain. What I offer you is a chance at gaining a TRUE domain where you are the God!"
Bibi Dong falters and looks around only to find nothing but white space. It all feels like a fever dream but before approaching the temple, Bibi Dong had already tried many things including the use of her skull bone to see if this is an illusion or not.
Snorting under her breath, Bibi Dong unleashes her Deathgod Domain but the figure made of white, chaotic slaughter intent seemed unimpressed. The sharp keen from the scythe suddenly created such pressure that Bibi Dong almost fell over but the woman snaps her finger and stops the scythe.
"Deathgod Domain. This nameless domain formed when a mortal successfully slaughtered a god. A mortal..." Her gaze flickers, "My mortal enemy. A hypocrite steeped in death and blood but eventually throwing it all away for peace! This domain should have been created by me!"
Snarling softly, the white eyes of the woman glint in purple, and Bibi Dong finds herself in an illusion of a chaotic sea of blood and purple storm brewing all around her! A pair of large purple eyes view her from high heavens as a voice so sharp it could cut steel mocks her, "What do you know about Domain? You haven't even made it yours with more understanding much less understanding its essence! A Domain is not an attack! A Domain is not something to be fueled by spirit energy alone!
It's—"
With her voice getting increasingly louder, the figure screeches, "— Expression of might!"
As if this did not happen and a switch has been flicked, the world turns plain white and Bibi Dong finds herself standing in front of the woman once again.
But this time her grey robe sticks to her body covered by cold sweat.
"Apologies... I can be temperamental," the woman smiles, "But don't use that domain as long as the last of my divine intent exists."
Bibi Dong gulps while the woman continues, "And unless I activate my inheritance and ease you into it, not only will I persist in existing but even keep you in this space."
After hours of silence, Bibi Dong finally questions in a hoarse tone, "What are you?"
"My name is lost in history," the woman grins wickedly, "But my enemies and victims alike call me... Rakshasa, Goddess of Negativity."
Bibi Dong frowns while Rakshasa continues, "Choose this path and your memories of me will be altered. You will believe that the scythe chose you because of your Soul Devouring Spider Emperor."
"Why?"
"To not attract more divine attention, of course."
"... Why are choosing me?"
"Because of your Death Spider Emperor martial soul AND Soul Devouring Spider Emperor, a combination so perfect that I smell conspiracy~!"
---
"Four trials... Absorb the soul of a rank 99 spirit master. Reach Rank 99. Complete my set of spirit bones. Master the Rakshasa Scythe, and accept the powers of Rakshasa."
Bibi Dong whispers.
At this moment, she looks far from her noble self. Her once soft bubblegum blonde hair scatters behind her and whips about. Her smooth skin is slightly dry and quite a bit pale as if she has no blood flowing in her body while she feels the repercussions of her actions.
Her second martial spirit— The Soul Devouring Spider Emperor is evil. Not in the sense that it's evil and thus morally bad, no.
It's an evil attributed martial spirit and knowing the truth about evil attributes from Ja Sun, Bibi Dong understands the reason for it.
Her martial soul can devour the souls of others and use them to increase one's own strength and cultivation. But she needs to have an appropriate strength placed in this martial soul. For instance, without any spirit ring equipped with her second martial soul, she can only devour the soul of a beast or humans under ten years or without a spirit ring respectively. With one ring, she can devour the souls of other spirit students and 100-year-old beasts, and so on.
This is the kind of martial soul that did not form naturally and is a product of otherworldly entities.
And even if risky, Bibi Dong formed the plan with Golden Crocodile as the end goal the moment she woke up to assist the group since Ja Sun never woke for some reason.
Never the one to wait for an opportunity but create one if possible, Bibi Dong desired for Golden Crocodile to advance even if it meant using many immortal herbs. After all, in this plan, she can recover all the spirit bones from his corpse but not the immortal herbs used to quicken the process.
There is another loss...
*Cough*
Spitting a mouthful of blood, Bibi Dong endures the pain coursing through her body. Her eyes are bloodshot but she chooses to see a brighter side, 'Thank god I'm not pregnant at the moment.'
Needless to say, she shouldn't be capable of absorbing the soul of rank 99 and even if she somehow forces herself, the results would be catastrophic.
And now she also understands why her memories were tampered with.
"Rakshasa... the goddess of negativity. Bitch is a poison whose very memory would eventually infect the minds of the weaker ones. A goddess that can turn anything and everything into a vile poison..."
Bibi Dong smirks and then spits another mouthful of black blood as she feels the scythe in her hand eventually drain the last bits of Golden Crocodile's soul from her body.
'Poison and the ability to devour the soul of her victims. I really AM the perfect fit for this inheritance but...'
But then she sighs deeply. She is weakened, yes. But the scythe in her hand is more powerful and even if she would suffer consequences for wielding it since she has not gained the submission of the weapon, she needs to do what she must.
"Keep a close look and be ready to wake up Sun the moment something goes wrong," Bibi Dong bends down to caress a small blade of the blue-silver goddess when Violet calls out.
"Look! Over the sky!"
Bibi Dong and others look up blood seem to seep into this world somehow and form into words— 15 Seconds.
Looking over to Violet and Ja Yin, Bibi Dong coughs and smiles, "Don't worry. Send me out."
"But—" Violet frowns when Bibi Dong narrows her eyes.
"Worry is appreciated in the right moments, which isn't now."
Shutting up, Violet and Ja Yin work together to send Bibi Dong out.
"I feel a bit bad saying she doesn't care about us..." Ja Yin mumbles.
"You think?" Ah Yin's mockery certainly isn't appreciated.
---
"I believe this is yours."
Bibi Dong is greeted by a soothing voice that welcomes her warmly but the unimaginably large domain of blood says otherwise. Instead of wasting her strength and using her external spirit bone to fly, Bibi Dong chooses to stand atop the sapphire spatial artifact that is pulled to the sea by Qian Xunji but not broken through. It takes some balance to pull this off but she would rather do this.
Looking up, she notes Qian Xunji in his divine albeit skimpy attire with a broke barrel in his hands.
"This was educational," Qian Xunji admits, "It has broadened my horizons."
Choosing not to be her man and inserting an inappropriate joke here, she instead nods, "My husband has that effect. And I appreciate the courtesy of not breaking the artifact we occupy. These things are expensive and even with his wealth... he would get annoyed and nobody wants to see that, right?"
Qian Xunji's smile widens when a roar breaks the peace between them, "Where is my master?!"
Not far from them are the last members of the expedition from the Spirit Empire floating through Qian Xunji's divine assistance.
Yu Xiaogang glares through the group and clenches his fist.
"Golden Crocodile... Huang Jin Tong is dead. Like your father and brother. You are looking at the person who caused all of it," Bibi Dong smiles sincerely but her current appearance makes her look hauntingly dangerous.
Yu Xiaogang and others feel Qian Xunji's pressure stunning them out of consciousness. Not even Titled Douluos are spared.
"Now that distractions are out of the way, why don't we have a civilized chat? I am a God and you aspire to be one since you already have an inheritance. I believe I can be of some help. It does fall into my duties as your master."
"Master, eh?" Bibi Dong smiles coldly, "It seems appropriate. Nobody else does have the qualification to raise a monster other than a monster himself."
"I prefer the term God," Qian Xunji gives an equally cold smile.
"I still fail to see the difference."
The Divine Scythe lets out a sharp keen as it blocks off the moment of divine intent from Qian Xunji trying to sneak around her.
Chuckling at this, Qian Xunji sighs, "I believe an honest conversation would be simpler at the time."
"Are you sure you wouldn't want to have a more fruitful conversation with Ja Sun?" Bibi Dong questions.
"I am your mentor, not his."
Bibi Dong nods calmly.
***
Alternate Title: Bibi Dong Be Like— Time to Get My Oscar; Oscar Trophy— "You mean Oscar the Spirit Master, right?"; Bibi Dong— *smiles*