Standing in the sky above the sea, more than ten miles from the Sea God Island, a figure loomed.
Clad from head to toe in a resplendent golden pope robe, a nine-curled purple-gold crown adorned her head, radiating a dazzling light.
A formidable aura, suffocating in its intensity, emanated unchecked from her body.
The azure sky stretched endlessly, without a cloud in sight, and the sea below remained calm.
It seemed as though the entire space was firmly suppressed by her presence.
This person naturally was Bibi Dong.
As for the ordinary members of the Bright Cult, they hadn't gathered at this moment. Some were scattered across the various islands surrounding the Sea God Island, while the rest converged in hundreds of ships surrounding the Sea God Island.
As her aura was released, it didn't take long for another powerful aura to swiftly approach from the direction of the Sea God Island, descending not far from Bibi Dong.
The person she was waiting for had arrived.
Looking at the High Priest of the Sea God Island, who was renowned across the sea, Bibi Dong couldn't help but feel surprised and slightly furrowed her brow.
Compared to her, the figure before her was slightly taller, enveloped in a crimson robe from head to toe, with long sea-blue hair cascading down to her waist.
Her delicate features appeared to be in her twenties, exuding a noble and elegant demeanor, while also emanating a gentle and warm aura.
In her right hand, she held a three-meter-long golden scepter, engraved with magical runes throughout its length. At the head of the scepter was a diamond-shaped protrusion resembling a spearhead, looking extremely sharp.
This scepter seemed somewhat similar to the Pope's scepter of the Martial Soul Temple, but unlike that, this spear-like scepter seemed capable of serving as a weapon rather than just a symbol of authority.
Bo Saixi's appearance was equally outstanding, not inferior to Bibi Dong in the slightest. The unique color of her blue eyes and hair added a touch of exotic charm.
This was not surprising.
In this world, anyone with outstanding talent rarely had ordinary looks; martial souls were indeed a reflection of genetics.
But what made Bibi Dong feel somewhat unusual was the light in the other's eyes.
That was not the gaze one would expect from someone of her age.
Originally, she had assumed that the other party, being in the same era as Qian Dao Liu, would be very similar to him in temperament and character.
As Su Cheng's teacher, naturally, she should have appeared as calm and kind as her own Senior Head.
But Bo Saixi was not like that.
Her eyes were clear and bright, exuding the confidence of a mature woman as well as the innocence and agility of a young person, but she lacked the weathered look of Qian Dao Liu.
"Who are you?" Bo Saixi scrutinized the woman before her, her expression slightly serious.
The other party obviously meant no good, otherwise, she wouldn't have announced her presence in such a provocative manner.
Suppressing the strange feeling in her heart, Bibi Dong calmly replied, "I am Bibi Dong, the current Pope of the Martial Soul Temple. I have heard of the great name of Senior Sea God Douluo and have come to learn from you."
"The Pope of the Martial Soul Temple?" Bo Saixi furrowed her brow at the words.
She wasn't stupid; the reasons given by the other party were obviously just excuses, far from being as simple as "learning."
The situation around her was within her senses, with countless ordinary people and low-level soul masters almost blending into one, filled with faint hostility.
Most importantly, these people were originally the children of the Sea God, so why were they mingling with the Pope of the mainland Martial Soul Temple?
Moreover, among the tens of thousands of scattered people, there were many familiar faces that she remembered.
Those people were among the core members of the Bright Church and had some contact with her.
The implications were worth pondering.
Was this related to Qian Dao Liu, or to her disciple?
"Why is there any involvement between you and the Bright Church?" Bo Saixi scrutinized Bibi Dong, her tone becoming colder. "And what's the matter with those people? Where is Su Cheng? Ask him to come out and talk to me."
"Su Cheng?" Bibi Dong's heart twitched slightly, momentarily not realizing who Bo Saixi was referring to.
But she didn't care.
Whatever the other party said or thought didn't matter; right now, she only needed to fight, and everything else was irrelevant to her.
In theory, Bo Saixi was an elder, and her relationship with Su Cheng was close, so Bibi Dong originally had to consider it to some extent.
However, compared to that, since she had already discussed it with Su Cheng himself before, there was naturally no need to hold back.
Furthermore, now that the two were confronting each other, she could already feel the extremely formidable strength of the other party, bringing a strong sense of threat. The battlefield here was more advantageous to Bo Saixi, making her not dare to be careless.
Forget about considering holding back; even if she went all out, she might not gain any benefits.
With no intention of continuing the idle talk, shadows appeared behind her, and the second martial soul, the Devouring Spider Queen, was directly summoned.
Then, the seventh soul ring lit up under her feet, and a dark green spider web pattern appeared on her forehead, spreading a crystal-clear dark green light.
The seventh soul skill of the second martial soul, the true body of the Devouring Spider Queen.
Unlike the grotesque and ugly appearance of the true body of the Death Spider Queen, when Bibi Dong used the martial soul of the Devouring Spider Queen, her lower body did not change but was enveloped in a layer of light.
Six sharp spider spears protruded from her back, and both forearms also turned into similar dark green spears, covered in dark green armor.
Although the true body of her second martial soul gave off a strong sense of sinister and terrifying, it had nothing to do with ugliness. Instead, it displayed a kind of brutal and ruthless alternative aesthetics.
With an extremely evil aura emanating from her body, even Bo Saixi couldn't help but furrow her brow.
But what shocked her even more was the exaggerated soul ring configuration hovering under Bibi Dong's feet.
Nine hundred-thousand-year soul rings!
"How is this possible?!" Bo Saixi's eyes widened slightly.
As the Guardian of the Gods and the High Priest of the Sea God Island, she had received divine blessings and obtained divine soul rings, but she had never thought that anyone could achieve this.
It was not surprising that she was astonished.
So far, Bibi Dong is the only soul master who has successfully cultivated a second martial soul.
As for the unlucky soul master who practiced twin martial souls and ended up exploding, regardless of whether Bo Saixi knows this information or not, even if she does, she wouldn't immediately connect the dots.
Bibi Dong, however, paid no attention to Bo Saixi's surprised expression.
Her fighting style had always been to use all means available, seizing every opportunity without paying much heed to martial ethics.
In an instant, a dark green light spread rapidly from Bibi Dong, with her at the center, as the Devouring Soul Domain quickly expanded, seizing the initiative in a race against time.
This domain not only enhanced her own state but also disrupted the opponent's emotions and will, converting various negative emotions to her advantage, making it extremely difficult to defend against and terrifying.
With the appearance of the strong domain fluctuations, Bo Saixi immediately snapped back to reality.
She was not a novice, possessing rich combat experience.
Her surprise was fleeting, and she quickly adjusted her mindset.
A golden light rose from under Bo Saixi's feet, with eight black and one red nine soul rings circling around her.
Unlike Bibi Dong, although there was only one hundred-thousand-year soul ring among the soul rings under her feet, including the first eight black soul rings, all emitted a faint golden light.
That was the power from the Sea God!
Although they were only ninety-ninth level, Bo Saixi, at this moment, had obviously stepped half a foot into the God level, thanks to the natural advantage of being a Guardian of the Gods.
Her sea-blue long hair moved without wind, and a huge golden shadow gradually emerged from behind her. While the person's features were unclear, their magnificent golden armor was clearly visible.
Bibi Dong's eyes narrowed as she recognized this humanoid martial soul of Bo Saixi's, which she had seen once in the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Eyes.
Not only were the appearances similar, but the crucial aspect was the unique aura of looking down on all beings.
The Sea God!
But in the next moment, Bo Saixi's expression changed.
She felt rejection.
In the past, whenever she used the Sea God's martial soul as the Grand Priestess of the Sea God Island, she would feel that she merged with the entire sea, able to fully utilize the power of the vast sea, and her soul power was almost inexhaustible.
As long as she was on the sea, she was invincible.
However, now she felt a strong sense of disconnection between herself and the sea below.
Although the power used by the Sea God was the power of the vast sea, the foundation of his godhood was actually the belief power of the creatures living on the sea.
These creatures not only included humans but also many sea soul beasts living on the sea.
However, humans were the most spiritual of all beings, and their emotions were the richest. Compared to the belief power provided by humans, the existence of those sea soul beasts was actually optional.
And at this moment, Bo Saixi suddenly discovered that the belief of the sea was rejecting the power fluctuations of the Sea God!
A tremendous chill surged from the depths of her heart, bringing waves of suffocation, as if a mountain was pressing on her chest.
Her face turned pale in an instant, and her lips trembled uncontrollably.
Bo Saixi was reserved by nature and rarely showed her emotions outwardly. Obviously, the current situation was serious enough to make it difficult for her to conceal her emotional fluctuations.
"Why?!"
Bo Saixi looked around in confusion.
The scattered members of the Bright Church in the distance, emitting a faint hostility, were evidently the key factors contributing to the current situation.
Her hand holding the golden scepter loosened and tightened, struggling internally for a moment.
If this were in the past, she might have been reluctant but wouldn't have hesitated. With just a gentle move, she could easily eliminate most of these rebellious sea people with weak combat power. Necessary sacrifices were inevitable to protect the belief in the Sea God.
But now, could she still bring herself to do it?
In these years, Bo Saixi had lived and adventured with them for nearly half of her time.
She knew the kindness and simplicity in these people's hearts, their passionate resilience, and the various efforts the sea people had made just to survive.
Killing these people would be a piece of cake for her.
With Bo Saixi's formidable strength, just a few range soul skills would be enough to wipe out most of the rebels.
But these people were originally the children of the sea, enduring countless hardships in life just to survive.
Should she bury them in her hands today? Die at the hands of her, the Grand Priestess of the Sea God Island, who considered herself a protector of the sea?
She couldn't bring herself to do it.
Moreover, regardless of what these people thought, they hadn't actually attacked her yet.
Bo Saixi's mind was filled with mixed thoughts, and her fight with Bibi Dong also became somewhat distracted.
Bibi Dong naturally welcomed this.
She had already noticed that under normal circumstances, her ninety-eighth level alone might not be a match for this High Priestess of the Sea God Island.
But for some reason, Bo Saixi's power seemed unable to fully exert itself.
Although both were on the sea, and the opponent also boasted the title of Sea God Douluo, she rarely utilized the power of the sea in battle.
Moreover, judging from her expression, this situation seemed to have taken Bo Saixi herself by surprise.
If that's the case, then let's make it a protracted battle.
Her task was not to defeat Bo Saixi but to restrain her.
With twin martial souls and a large number of soul rings, Bibi Dong also had considerable soul power accumulation.
Bo Saixi also realized Bibi Dong's fighting intentions, becoming increasingly uneasy, with numerous questions flooding her mind.
What was the relationship between this woman, who claimed to be the Pope of the Martial Soul Temple, and Su Cheng?
What was the purpose of her delaying tactics at this moment?
And where was Su Cheng now?
What did today's actions by the Bright Church mean?
In the next moment, Bo Saixi suddenly turned her gaze towards the direction of the Sea God Island.
The Seven Holy Pillars of the Sea God Island had been destroyed.
...
On the other hand, as soon as Bibi Dong voluntarily revealed her presence, attracting Bo Saixi's attention, Su Cheng had already independently landed on the Sea God Island from another direction.
Once the two started fighting, he didn't hesitate any longer and headed straight for the location of the Seven Holy Pillars.