Qualitative Breakthrough (1)

Unlike spirit rings, spirit souls only checked against the raw mental fortitude of the individual and even if Ja Sun removed a spirit soul's consciousness, that requirement isn't fully removed but only slightly lowered. Enough for Bibi Dong to start her breakthrough not long after she accepted the tiny spider-shaped spirit soul.

The first thing to shift about Bibi Dong was her physical strength. Threads of purplish spirit energy began to wrap around Bibi Dong and soon encased her in a cocoon of silk-like spirit energy, eliciting a sigh from Ja Sun.

"Well... this is just the beginning. Good thing we didn't actually kill the damn beast or the act would have been discovered regardless," He mused. Once a 100000-year-old spirit beast is killed, its body would let out an explosion of spirit energy that forms an energy field repelling everyone, including the killer if he or she is farther away. This wasn't the case this time. The Soul Origin of the Spirit beast was never converted into a spirit ring thus the situation didn't have a chance to appear.

Still, Ja Sun shrugged and brought out a small tent before entering it and pumping his fist, getting a core as his reward.

Once this task was complete, Ja Sun gave his own situation a thought.

After Bibi Dong, Ah Yin wanted to settle her own breakthrough, too. She was simply going to get one of the oldest spirit beasts because Yin-Yang Petals surely seemed quite old despite her childish and innocent nature. With that, Ah Yin and Bibi Dong would be strong... and Ja Sun didn't know by how. He himself didn't have any 100000-year-old spirit soul so he didn't know the changes from a black to a crimson spirit ring.

Still, Ah Yin was luckier. Qian Daoliu's reward to her for clearing the tournament as a winner was an opportunity in the form of a 100000-year-old spirit bone. Again, it was merely an opportunity for the spirit bone only due to special circumstances that only made Ah Yin sure that Yin-Yang Petals was the way to go for her own development.

Once the two would be done, Ja Sun planned an exploration. At least, he wanted to try and see if he could benefit from the group of 100000-year-old spirit beasts in another core point of the forest where the Titan Giant Ape was situated. Ja Sun still remembered the sight of the three spirit beasts and a spirit beast probably turning into a human. Ja Sun had desired to view that particular process, too.

But there were more pressing concerns at the moment.

Bibi Dong knew that breaking through with a 100000-year-old spirit ring in a matter of hours was a pipe dream so there was an implicit responsibility on Ja Sun to not only protect her but also keep the situation stable with the two Titled Douluos without exposing too much. After all, the two Titled Douluos were direct subordinates of Qian Xunji and until Bibi Dong confronts him and sorts out their situation, she wouldn't feel comfortable being exposed to him regarding her strength.

And, Bibi Dong wasn't a fool to confront the crimes of forcing someone not because it was morally wrong. Bibi Dong would be a hypocrite to let such thoughts cloud her judgment. This was only because Qian Xunji was the one who reformed many rules for Spirit Hall, of which the most pressing was the act of non-consenting sexual interactions between the members of the spirit hall. Qian Xunji had executed many masters in regards to this rule, too.

Should Bibi Dong accuse Qian Xunji of this very act without appropriate strength, chances were she would be brushed off. And even her future as the Supreme Pontiff might be ruined. Of course, Qian Xunji was her master so the worst could be avoided but Bibi Dong had no delusions. Enough strength was needed to avoid many bad things.

Of the time given by Qian Xunji before his return, there was still more than a year left. Even then, Bibi Dong wasn't sure if Qian Xunji would return directly after three years of absence. If she was lucky, she could even reach the level of Spirit Douluo before his return.

Until then, no one from the Spirit Hall was to be trusted with their secrets. Qian Daoliu was an exception since he was simply aware of many things.

Ja Sun already had a plan with which he can divert the attention of the two Titled Douluos.

It was quite simple actually and could be executed with his strength.

Spreading out his divine sense, Ja Sun maintained Bibi Dong's illusion now that she was here and observed the situation of the campsite. Many were injured but the timely retreat meant that the poison wasn't lasting and with the provisions already present with each member, they would recover after a short rest.

Now Ja Sun couldn't have that, right?

"Might as well screw with the guys for a while." Ja Sun let out a comforting groan while stretching out his arm.

---

"This is getting serious," Yue Guan moaned pitifully, "Let's just return."

"You're out of your mind," Gui Mei snorted, still gazing far off in the direction of the beast's nest grudgingly.

"We'll get it next time. Just think for a moment how humiliated we would be if even two Titled Douluos can't handle a 100000-year-old spirit beast," Gui Mei growled.

"Two Titled Douluos cannot handle that kind of a beast!" Yue Guan retorted, "There is a reason why the two of us settled for a lower ring when it came to our ninth one! You think it's easy dealing with them?"

"We came here for a reason," Gui Mei narrowed his eyes, "Besides, we didn't go all out. If we can stall the spirit beast, others can kill it."

"You mean our fusion technique," Yue Guan hummed in response, "Maybe. But right now, we need more fodder from the City. Do you think they will send reinforcements?"

"Let's have Bibi Dong ask for more men. In the end, she needs to bear the cost for her demands," Yue Guan stated when the two of them suddenly lost their consciousness and fell on the ground.

"Man... how easy has it gotten to sneak attack two Titled Douluos... but in return, I've had to push my mental energy again." Ja Sun frowned. Strands of blue silver vines suddenly wrapped around the two Douluos, indicating that Ah Yin was in on the plan.

Now finally, Ja Sun formed the Yin-Yang True Illusion of a giant Illusive Wasp that would give credibility to the story— the sudden disappearance of two Titled Douluos.

---

Bibi Dong felt comfortable. She was distinctively aware of her surroundings. A figure sat right next to her and even if she felt constricted slightly, it was more like a situation where a cat desperately wished to fill into a tighter space. Even without moving, Bibi Dong felt her body being massaged in every corner of her body as if multiple hands worked on her at the same time.

Her body was getting better. The poison within her body was growing significantly in quality and it promoted the heightened sense of emotional control she had after the absorption of the Bloody Swan Kiss.

However, the enhancement of her body was simply the prerequisite to holding the strength she would gain from the spirit soul.

Bibi Dong's consciousness was pulled within herself once the requirements of her body were met by refinement of her body. It was time for the enhancement of spirit energy and the formation of her seventh spirit ring.

'What is this?' Bibi Dong instantly noted the strangest thing.

The entirety of her spirit energy was being forced in a singular point. Not only from her body but the gigantic Death Spider Emperor spirit soul, which she could view now, too.

But Bibi Dong wasn't the least bit afraid. She had discussed this with Ja Sun already and he admitted the only reason he talked about it was the chance of this situation occurring on its own. And even if it didn't occur on its own, he made sure to explain that she needed to form this.

A point.

A core.

A whirlpool of energy was soon formed in Bibi Dong's sea of spirit energy close to her abdomen as her body and spirit soul instinctively poured an extravagant amount of energy into this particular point.

The purplish streams of spirit energy soon solidified into a tiny chunk of core and soon began to collect even more. This caused Bibi Dong to frown.

Ja Sun's explanation included hints that he had already formed a core but the situation revealed to Bibi Dong that the energy required to form such a conceptual treasure was outstanding and she now had experience in it because she was forming her first core. This begged the question.

How did Ja Sun find such a level of energy even before becoming a spirit sage?

If he couldn't do this by himself then was there someone else assisting him?

The current situation gave Bibi Dong a chance to reevaluate the man she already knew little about in terms of personal strength and hidden trump cards. If it wasn't for the fact that despite being ill-spoken, Ja Sun had no malicious intentions against her, she would have never even gotten attracted to him.

But this wasn't a situation worth pondering over now.

How, and why Ja Sun formed a core was not something Bibi Dong mulled over for long either. The fact that she could have someone else's experience was enough for the matter and move on.

Slowly and steadily, the energy expelled from the Spirit Soul went into the core instead of raising her rank further beyond.

Bibi Dong silently observed everything, not missing out at all since Ja Sun was clear that while overwhelming energy can trigger the natural response, it would do her well to measure the process and sensation of forming a spirit core since she might not be this lucky next time and would have to do things manually.

Her body, too, passively grew stronger. She was already physically stronger than an average Spirit Sage but by now, she was reaching the level of a Titled Douluo in the physique in one shot!

*Weng*

The moment her core was formed in the shape and color of a dark purple sphere with light pink stripes, it began to spin right where it was formed and the remaining energy was quickly absorbed by the core at an astonishing speed. But what surprised Bibi Dong was the fact that the core wasn't devouring the spirit energy. It was refining it and feeding it to her sea of spirit— increasing her cultivation in return at a breathtaking pace.

Rank 71...

72...

73...

74!

Bibi Dong's cultivation directly leaped upto rank 74.

The cocoon around her body dissolved and Bibi Dong's eyes shot open with spirit rings appearing around her body.

Yellow.

Yellow.

Purple.

Purple.

Black.

Black.

Crimson!

A menacing crimson spirit ring appeared around her body that overshadowed the brilliance of her first six spirit rings while the pressure from the ring itself was no joke.

Ja Sun admired it fully.

Not the ring, of course. He barely felt a thing.

There was this thing about breakthroughs that Ja Sun liked if timed correctly. Many times, during a qualitative breakthrough, an individual's outfit is destroyed in many ways and it was the same this time around.

Bibi Dong's bubblegum-blonde hair cascaded down to her smooth shoulders. Her skin was flawless, the same as the Death Spider Emperor's human form. Her body had been thoroughly reformed due to the difference in level and she simply looked ravishing and even if the crimson ring only added to her dignity, the sight of Bibi Dong did almost incentivize Ja Sun to take that dignity for himself.

"Here," Ja Sun tossed Bibi Dong her blood-bound spirit ring back and she caught it. Not the least bit ashamed now that she knew no one aside from Ja Sun was around.

Taking out a loose robe, Bibi Dong silently covered her body and then tied her hair into a ponytail.

"Hmm, so the core increases cultivation of spirit energy?" Bibi Dong inquired as Ja Sun shrugged.

"I wouldn't know."

"What do you mean?"

"I mean, I still haven't formed my spirit core... but I have other variations of it. Anyway... your seventh spirit ring is a crimson one. It should provide another skill aside from Spirit Avatar, right?"

Ja Sun walked around her. His gaze measured every aspect of her causing Bibi Dong to scoff softly and proudly straighten her back.

"I can manipulate the size of my True Spirit Avatar," she claimed and then smiled, "That removes the weak point you found regarding the larger size of the spirit avatar."

"It does," Ja Sun nodded, "But what's with the tattoo on your forehead?"

"Hmm?" Bibi Dong frowned and took out a mirror.

Just as Ja Sun pointed out, there was a flickering mark on her forehead— a purple spiderweb. Seeing this Bibi Dong frowned but Ja Sun still held her hand and pushed his other hand on her forehead, "Just bear with your curiosity for a little while. I need to give your Spider Soul a consciousness."

Bibi Dong didn't refute and only hummed in response.

Minutes went by as Ja Sun continued to feed the bottomless pit with life mental energy and Bibi Dong soon spoke up.

"We could... sit down while doing this," Bibi Dong coughed as Ja Sun nodded, "Sure, whatever makes you feel comfortable."

The two sat under the canopy of a giant tree, something that is quite a normal sight within the Star Dou Great Forest.

"Hey, what about the spirit bones?" Bibi Dong inquired while Ja Sun rolled his eyes, "Guess."

He was still a little weirded out by the situation. Bibi Dong, meanwhile, hopefully, looked at Ja Sun, "Please tell me it isn't a torso spirit bone."

If truth be told, Bibi Dong's greed was somewhat elicited by knowing that her biological father dropped a chest spirit bone that was in the possession of Qian Xunji. So, of course, Bibi Dong wanted another spirit bone so that once she got the chest spirit bone, it can be utilized. Just this greed made her stand as an opponent to her master.

"Arm spirit bones," Ja Sun smiled.

"Spirit... bones?" Bibi Dong inquired, a little unsure.

In response, Ja Sun took out two sickle-like left and right arm purple spirit bones, and Bibi Dong was left staring in awe as she felt the pressure from the spirit bones.

"Amazing..." she whispered and then she shook her head, "Wait, why would there be two spirit bones?"

"An exception, probably," Ja Sun mused. He had no way of confirming either.

Bibi Dong frowned, a little unsatisfied with such an answer but she put it out of her mind. She purposely didn't want to delve into too many things for a specific reason.

She had absorbed the poison of the Death Spider Emperor, at least, from the spiritual side and she wanted to test something.

Her emotion-enhancing poison escaped her body silently. It was without any odor if she wished it to be and without any visible clue, too.

Ja Sun silently worked on the Spider Spirit Soul without a change in expression.

Bibi Dong continued to release her pheromones silently, too.

She soon felt a connection forming in her mind as it marked the end of Ja Sun's task. Huffing out a pleased grin, he finally leaned against the trunk of the tree.

"So? I see that you're not curious about your breakthrough at the moment... and you don't want to explore your strengths. Do you want to celebrate now?" Bibi Dong finally blushed while hearing his candid words.

"I... just feel that my body is a bit different after reaching the quality of a Titled Douluo."

"Oh, yeah, we can consume everything and digest it completely so the rumors regarding Titled Douluos not wanting to use the bathroom... is real for the most part."

"You knew?" Bibi Dong gasped in surprise.

"Well... I haven't gone to the toilet for more than a year now."

"But," Ja Sun continued, "Why change the subject the moment you realized I knew about you secreting your poison?"

Pursing her lips, Bibi Dong felt a little aggrieved. She continued to glare at Ja Sun as his smile widened, "You can say it. This is a safe space~!"

"Like I would believe the words of a crook," Bibi Dong scoffed.

"Hmm, I guess you're right. Let's go then," Ja Sun coughed and prepared to stand when Bibi Dong coldly remarked, "If you move from this location even once, I'll cut you in a manner you can't even imagine!"

Ja Sun smirked, "See? You can talk naughty!"

"That wasn't— I—" Bibi Dong struggled against her boyfriend's tendencies when he took her in his arms and wrapped her up in a warm hug.

"Congratulations," Ja Sun whispered softly.

All of Bibi Dong's defenses melted since she wanted it to. To get comforted and spoiled every now and then and Ja Sun did do that in his own way quite often, too.

Of course, the poor lass didn't know that the hug was a ploy to feel her up.

'Mission Mounting Spider Emperor underway,' Ja Sun thought silently with conviction in his heart.

He meant every word when he said he would definitely want more than just sugar from Bibi Dong this time around.