Seeing the content of the Eighth Rakshasa Trial, Bibi Dong's expression turned noticeably solemn.
With her current relationship with Little Xue, she wasn't willing to erase Qian Renxue's existence just to complete the Eighth Rakshasa Trial.
She felt that she needed to discuss this matter with Su Ming, Qian Renxue, and Qian Daoliu.
Why would the Rakshasa Trials include such a test?
What Bibi Dong didn't know was that this was due to the remnants of the Rakshasa God's spirit, which, in a sense, was acting out of kindness.
Because returning Bibi Dong to the past was no easy feat, the Rakshasa God's remnant spirit was prepared to sacrifice itself, using special methods within the Rakshasa domain to temporarily return Bibi Dong to the past in a spiritual form.
She wasn't even sure why she felt compelled to do this.
Initially, seeing Bibi Dong overtaken by this so-called malevolent will, she had thought of making her a pawn to disgust the Asura God.
After all, Bibi Dong also possessed the Killing God Domain, and the Rakshasa God had intercepted her in the Slaughter City.
This was also why the Rakshasa Scythe wasn't granted to Bibi Dong during her divine trials — the Rakshasa God hadn't expected her to make it to the end.
A nine-stage Rakshasa trial, and it took her so long!
Bibi Dong: ???
Moreover, her divine status counterbalanced that of the Asura God, so upon discovering that Bibi Dong and others wanted to kill the Asura God's successor, she couldn't sit still.
She felt resentful.
Why was the Asura God one of the three law-enforcing deities of the God Realm, ranked among the five Great God Kings, while she was merely a lowly first-rank god?
How could a mere first-rank god be expected to counterbalance the Asura God?
Both their powers leaned towards darkness, one ruling over malevolent thoughts, the other over slaughter.
In her heart, she believed that malevolence was no weaker than slaughter.
But in reality, she was indeed inferior to the Asura God.
A few days later.
With a heavy heart, Bibi Dong returned to the Spirit Hall and immediately sought out Su Ming and Qian Renxue.
Seated in the Pope's chair, Bibi Dong gazed intently at Qian Renxue.
"Mother, why are you staring at me like that?" Qian Renxue felt uneasy under Bibi Dong's gaze.
She knew why Bibi Dong was looking at her this way — it was because she had gotten close to Su Ming without telling her.
Was that really such a big deal?
Bibi Dong: Yes, it was!
At that moment, Qian Daoliu suddenly appeared in the Pope's hall.
"Bibi Dong, you summoned me as soon as you returned. Is something going on?"
Bibi Dong nodded slightly. "It's about my Eighth Rakshasa Trial. I need to discuss it with all of you."
Her face showed hesitation.
Qian Daoliu looked puzzled and asked, "Why? Is there something particularly difficult about your Eighth Rakshasa Trial?"
Qian Daoliu knew Bibi Dong well; unless it was something she couldn't handle, she wouldn't seek their help.
Bibi Dong then carefully explained the subsequent details of her Eighth Rakshasa Trial, plunging Su Ming and the others into a brief silence.
Su Ming was astonished. The Rakshasa God actually possessed the ability to briefly take Bibi Dong's spirit back to the past?
Was the Rakshasa God truly willing to go that far?
After all, the Rakshasa God wasn't a deity of time. Returning Bibi Dong to the past would likely require a significant sacrifice, especially as the Rakshasa God was now merely a remnant soul.
Qian Renxue felt a mix of emotions.
If Bibi Dong could return to the past, she might be able to revive her father, but it would likely erase Qian Renxue's existence.
She now understood why Bibi Dong had called them together to discuss this.
Bibi Dong herself likely didn't know what to do.
Amidst the heavy atmosphere, Su Ming spoke.
"Actually, my Fifth Life Trial is to assist the teacher in completing the Eighth Rakshasa Trial and to cleanse the hidden Sea God's power within the Spirit Hall."
"What! You mean, there's Sea God's power secretly spying on us within the Spirit Hall?"
The others were shocked; they had lived in the Spirit Hall for so many years without noticing anything strange.
How could the Sea God's power have remained hidden here so discreetly?
Su Ming shook his head and addressed the others. "According to the Spirit Hall's records, I learned that the previous Pope, Qian Xunji, lived an ordinary life, with the sole exception of going to extreme measures to keep the teacher within the Spirit Hall, away from Yu Xiaogang."
"Now, with the reminder from the Goddess of Life, our previous suspicions are confirmed — the Spirit Hall indeed bears the influence of the Sea God!"
"In those days, the teacher and Qian Xunji had a master-disciple relationship. In this world, one can only have one teacher, and this bond is highly respected. If Qian Xunji wanted to keep the teacher in the Spirit Hall, he wouldn't need to go to such extreme lengths."
"Wasn't he afraid that the teacher would gain power later and find an opportunity to kill him? In fact, the teacher did just that."
Su Ming spoke openly, as the matter was well understood by everyone present.
He was only speaking out loud for the sake of a better analysis.
Qian Renxue clenched her teeth, "That despicable Sea God! He's supposed to be a deity symbolizing the sea, yet he stooped to such vile methods!"
"So, what should we do now? If we send Bibi Dong back to the past, Little Xue might…"
Qian Daoliu expressed his concern.
As for Qian Renxue, Su Ming had long harbored a theory, kept deep within.
"Don't you think Little Xue resembles the Angelic Martial Spirit?"
"Huh?"
The three looked puzzled, unsure of Su Ming's point.
Su Ming continued, "Actually, I suspect Little Xue might be the reincarnation of the Angel God! Therefore, if Qian Xunji were to have relations with someone else at the same point in time, it could result in Little Xue's birth. That's my theory."
"What!"
The three were stunned. What kind of reasoning was this?
Was something like this even possible?
Qian Renxue instinctively released her Angelic Martial Spirit, wanting to see just how much resemblance there was!
A holy angelic aura emerged behind Qian Renxue, and the three examined her carefully, realizing that, indeed, there was a resemblance — at least seven or eight tenths!
"Su Ming, what made you think of this? Have you considered that if you're wrong, there's a high chance that Little Xue will disappear? We won't have a second chance."
Qian Daoliu frowned, clearly unwilling to take such a risk.