"Trial One is complete. Reward: 500 years increase in the age of each spirit ring, 5% affinity with the God Of Evil's Power."
When he opened his eyes again, his black-and-white pupils seemed to contain the purest and most untainted essence of the world. His eyes and soul had been heavily tainted by various evil thoughts and the memories contained within them, making him appear as if he was on the verge of death. But now that he had fully comprehended everything, the pollution on his soul was completely cleansed, returning him to a vigorous and lively state, full of vitality like a young man.
Gu Yi shuddered, unable to control the aura emanating from his body, causing his spirit rings to automatically manifest. Six spirit rings appeared from bottom to top, floating around Gu Yi. As a mysterious power descended, his originally deep-yellow spirit ring began to change, gradually evolving into purple.
This transformation meant that Gu Yi's first spirit ring had completely become a thousand-year spirit ring. Although it was still far from ten thousand years, it still had already surpassed most people in this era.
Before Gu Yi could fully absorb the changes within himself, he heard another voice in his mind.
"Trial Two: Obtain two 100,000-year spirit rings within five years."
Even in the Divine Realm, the God Of Evil hadn't anticipated that Gu Yi's comprehension would be deeper than expected. Truly, he was a genius of the highest order.
"If he weren't your chosen successor, just for comprehending that the essence of evil is light, I would have considered bestowing my godhood upon him," the Goddess Of Kindness remarked, surprised by the brilliance of his chosen successor.
"I wouldn't mind that either, but one person can only inherit one godhood. Otherwise, I'd be happy to share this successor with you," the God Of Evil replied, who didn't want to travel the stars alone. Having been friends for so many years, they were reluctant to part ways. Their mutual admiration was evident.
"Don't worry, by the time your successor ascends to the Divine Realm, I'll have found mine," the Goddess Of Kindness had already made up her mind. If she truly couldn't find a suitable successor in time, she'd just pick someone decent to pass on her godhood. After all, when the time came to leave, they would go together.
The God Of Evil could easily see through his long-time friend's thoughts.
They had been trapped in the Divine Realm for too long—so long that even he himself couldn't recall how long it had been. They had lived through the Dragon God's rebellion and the desolate era of the Divine Realm when many gods were vacant. Many people had come and gone, but only a few God Kings remained.
Although named the God Of Evil, he lacked excessive desires and was, in fact, quite peaceful. The world's understanding of evil was still too shallow.
Take the Rakshasa God, for example. Although they followed the same path, one was merely an ordinary first-level god, while the other was one of the highest-ranking God Kings, ruling the Divine Realm.
Effort determines the lower limit, talent determines the upper limit, but only vision can break the limits of rank.
Gu Yi was such a person.
In reality, everyone was wrong. While Gu Yi's talent and comprehension were indeed impressive, his vision was not innate but forged through countless experiences and worldviews in his previous life. Even the highest-ranking God Kings couldn't compare to him in this regard. Some things cannot be achieved by strength alone.
...
In the Spirit Hall, the Elder Hall.
Qian Daoliu looked enviously at Gu Yi, whose spirit rings were evolving. He knew he had no chance of ascending to godhood in this lifetime, but seeing the object of his lifelong pursuit right before his eyes, how could he not be envious?
However, as the only sane person in the Angel family, Qian Daoliu's state of mind had reached an unprecedented level.
Naturally, he wouldn't do anything to snuff out a genius. Otherwise, he would have already killed Tang Hao. Even if Tang Hao detonated nine rings simultaneously, so what? He could suppress him with sheer force.
The saying "Invincible in the sky" was not just empty words.
"Thank you, senior, for your support," Gu Yi turned to look at Qian Daoliu, recognizing the elder's worthiness of respect.
"This is merely your own opportunity. I only brought you here, nothing more," Qian Daoliu said modestly.
"However, I suspect you'll soon be in trouble." Qian Daoliu had already sensed an approaching presence.
Gu Yi's spiritual power was at least on par with Qian Daoliu's, if not greater, so he naturally felt it too.
"She knows about Yu Xiaogang now. You should leave. I don't want this retirement place of mine destroyed," Qian Daoliu kindly reminded Gu Yi before he left.
Gu Yi had just thought of Qian Daoliu as a serious elder, only to find out he had a mischievous side as well.
As Gu Yi exited the Elder Hall, he saw Bibi Dong approaching, followed by both Ghost and Chrysanthemum Douluo.
"When an Elder comes to the Spirit Hall, it would be polite to send someone to inform me so that I may host a banquet in your honor," Bibi Dong spoke with her usual nobility, like an unrivaled empress above all others.
"A banquet won't be necessary. I still have some matters left to attend to in Heaven Dou City," Gu Yi really didn't want to deal with Bibi Dong right now, mainly because this woman was too volatile, and since he had crippled Yu Xiaogang's cultivation, it would be troublesome if a fight broke out.
"In any case, please stay for a meal, so I may fulfill my duties as a host," Bibi Dong said with narrowed eyes as Ghost and Chrysanthemum Douluo moved to block his path.
It was clear that if he didn't stay, he wouldn't be allowed to leave.
Gu Yi felt a headache coming on. Given his current strength and mastery of the Evil Domain, Bibi Dong might not be his match. After all, she was still affected by the Rakshasa God's power, unable to exert her full strength.
"Your hospitality is hard to refuse," Gu Yi finally agreed.
Bibi Dong smiled with satisfaction. No matter how talented you are, in the Spirit Hall, you still have to play by my rules.
The group arrived at the Pope's Palace, where Bibi Dong dismissed Ghost and Chrysanthemum Douluo, and then sat back on her exclusive pope's throne.
At this moment, only Gu Yi and Bibi Dong remained in the grand hall.
"Elder Gu, do you remember what you've done?" Bibi Dong asked, her voice tinged with powerful authority as she sat on the throne. Her years as the Pope had honed her sense of command to its peak.
Especially since her subordinates were all powerful spirit masters, something neither the Star Luo nor Heaven Dou Empires could compare to.
No matter how strong an ordinary person was, in a war, their only role was to serve as cannon fodder, depleting the enemy's low-level spirit masters' spirit power.
In a world of the extraordinary, the idea of commoners overwhelming powerful spirit masters with sheer numbers was impossible. One oppressive aura would be enough to make them incapable of standing.
This had made Bibi Dong the most powerful woman on the Douluo Continent. A peerless queen, akin to Wu Zetian.
"Pope, please be clear," Gu Yi remained unaffected, the Pope's aura was nothing to him.
(End Of Chapter)