**********
—Night—
Bibi Dong's Room,
After spending the entire day dealing with Spirit Hall's affairs and arranging the reconstruction of the damaged palace, Bibi Dong finally had some time to herself.
She sat quietly in front of a large mirror, slowly combing her long purple hair.
It was something she hadn't done herself in a very long time.
Normally, such things were handled by her attendants, leaving her little reason to bother with them personally. Yet tonight, for some reason, she had found herself wanting to do it.
"Sigh..."
Bibi Dong quietly sighed.
'My condition must really be terrible.'
She couldn't help but think that everything that had happened yesterday and this morning had affected her more than she wanted to admit.
She had already experienced countless things throughout her life and had long since passed the age where she would be easily distracted by matters like this.
Yet whenever her thoughts wandered back to Lev, her concentration immediately disappeared.
'That brat...'
Bibi Dong frowned.
Just as she was about to finish combing her hair, a sudden gust of wind swept through the room.
Her eyes widened.
In the reflection of the mirror, she saw a familiar figure standing behind her.
Lev.
Without hesitation, Bibi Dong immediately swung her hand, using the comb like a dagger and striking toward him.
"Just what are you doing?"
Lev effortlessly caught her wrist before the comb could reach him.
He calmly took the comb from her hand and placed it aside.
Then, as if nothing had happened, he gently guided Bibi Dong back into her chair.
"Sit."
Bibi Dong stared at him through the mirror.
Lev simply picked up the comb again.
"If you're still angry about what happened this morning, there's really nothing we can do about it."
He paused before continuing.
"You've probably realized it yourself by now, but the God you're following might have had something to do with what happened."
As he spoke, Lev began carefully combing Bibi Dong's long purple hair.
His movements were surprisingly gentle.
Bibi Dong remained silent.
She simply stared at Lev through the mirror.
Although her expression remained calm, her mind was anything but.
'How strong is this man...'
She had just attacked him without warning.
Yet Lev had effortlessly stopped her, taken away her weapon, and even forced her back into the chair without giving her any opportunity to resist.
It was as though her strength meant nothing in front of him.
Bibi Dong couldn't help but feel conflicted.
What surprised her even more was the fact that she wasn't truly angry about what he was doing.
The room gradually fell into silence.
Only the soft sound of the comb passing through her hair could be heard.
It was almost impossible to believe that the two people sitting together had tried to annihilate each other only a day ago.
Now, they simply sat together as though nothing had happened.
Time quietly passed.
Half an hour later, Lev finally finished.
He looked at Bibi Dong's reflection and smiled faintly.
"Done."
Bibi Dong looked at herself in the mirror.
Her hair had been neatly arranged, making her already beautiful appearance look even more elegant.
Lev placed the comb down before standing behind her.
"My proposition is still open."
Bibi Dong's eyes narrowed slightly.
"Think about it carefully. I won't leave this city without accomplishing my goal."
He smiled at her through the mirror.
"See you later."
Before Bibi Dong could respond, Lev's figure disappeared.
He had taken the comb with him.
'I'll probably need this again.'
That thought briefly crossed his mind before he returned to his palace.
Bibi Dong remained alone in the room.
She continued staring at herself in the mirror.
Normally, she had never paid much attention to her own appearance. She already knew that she possessed a beauty that countless women could only envy.
But tonight felt different.
For some reason, she began looking at herself more carefully.
Her expression.
Her hair.
Her eyes.
Everything.
'I'm... actually quite beautiful.'
A strange thought suddenly appeared in her mind.
Then her imagination began running wild.
Before she knew it, the reflection in the mirror had changed.
She imagined herself wearing an elegant white wedding dress.
A veil rested over her long purple hair.
And standing behind her was—
"!"
Bibi Dong's face immediately turned red.
BOOM!
Her fist smashed directly through the mirror.
Fragments of glass scattered across the floor.
Bibi Dong stared at the broken mirror for several seconds before slowly lowering her hand.
A deep blush remained on her cheeks.
She covered her face with one hand.
"I may have gone crazy."
She sighed deeply.
Yet despite saying those words, the image she had imagined earlier stubbornly remained in her mind.
**********
—One month later—
Supreme Pontiff's Palace Hall,
After a month of renovation, the Supreme Pontiff's Palace had finally returned to its former grandeur. However, one thing had changed completely.
A shocking rumor had begun spreading throughout Spirit Hall—one so absurd that most people initially refused to believe it.
The rumor was that Emperor Lev of the Eternal Divine Empire and the Supreme Pontiff, Bibi Dong, had developed a romantic relationship.
At this very moment, Lev could be found sitting in the middle of the palace hall, meditating. Large beads of sweat covered his body as he endured an intense and painful process.
What was even more surprising was that he was doing something this important inside the headquarters of his former enemy.
Not far away, Bibi Dong stood silently, watching him with a serious expression.
Although she wanted to approach him, she found herself instinctively stopping whenever she got close. A terrifying aura continuously radiated from Lev, making even her instincts warn her not to approach carelessly.
Yet after spending an entire month with him, Bibi Dong's first impression of Lev had completely changed.
The man she had once regarded as an arrogant enemy who needed to be eliminated had somehow become someone she no longer had the slightest intention of harming.
In fact, she had even found herself staying nearby, protecting him while he meditated.
'Just when... and how did I fall for this brat?'
Bibi Dong sighed inwardly.
She couldn't help but remember everything that had happened during the past month—the constant teasing in the mornings, the tenderness he showed her when they were alone, and the strange sense of comfort she had gradually developed whenever he was around.
She hadn't even realized when her feelings had begun changing.
But now, she could no longer deny them.
The rumor spreading throughout Spirit Hall wasn't completely false.
She had truly fallen for Lev.
Several hours passed.
Lev remained completely motionless as he continued the process.
What he was doing was extremely important.
He was fusing the final Dragon God soul bone into his body after fortunately obtaining it through his weekly sign-in.
Although the soul bone was an extraordinary treasure, fusing it was neither simple nor painless. The tremendous power contained within it was constantly assaulting his body, forcing him to endure the process with absolute concentration.
Another hour passed.
Then—
[Right Leg Soul Bone: Dragon God has been successfully fused.]
The notification echoed inside Lev's mind.
At that instant, everything became quiet.
Lev slowly opened his eyes.
A terrifying pressure suddenly erupted from his body.
For a brief moment, it spread throughout the entire palace before continuing outward, causing spirit beasts and spirit masters across the continent to instinctively tremble.
Even powerful existences could not help but feel their hair stand on end.
Then, just as suddenly as it appeared, Lev withdrew his aura.
"Finally."
Lev released a long sigh of relief.
He could clearly feel the tremendous power coursing through every part of his body.
After completing the final piece, the Dragon God soul-bone set was finally complete.
He clenched his fist lightly, feeling the overwhelming strength contained within his body.
This was a completely different sensation from before.
When Lev finally looked toward Bibi Dong, he was surprised to see her kneeling on the floor.
Her eyes were wide open as she stared at him in disbelief.
"Dong'er."
Lev called softly.
Looking at the woman who had once tried to kill him several times, a smile naturally appeared on his face.
Somewhere along the way, his own feelings had changed as well.
At first, his interest in Bibi Dong had been mixed with curiosity and the desire to stop the war.
But now, it is different.
He genuinely liked her.
He wanted her by his side not because of politics, power, or the unification of the continent.
He simply wanted her.
Hearing Lev's voice, Bibi Dong finally snapped out of her daze.
She looked at him with complicated emotions.
For only a brief moment, she had felt an overwhelming impulse deep within her soul—a strange sensation that made her feel as though the person standing before her was someone she should revere.
It was unlike anything she had ever experienced.
"Well..."
Lev suddenly scratched his head awkwardly.
"C-can I use the bathroom?"
He looked down at himself.
His clothes were completely soaked with sweat after hours of enduring the soul-bone fusion.
Besides cleaning himself up, he also wanted some time alone to examine the abilities granted by his final soul bone and check his current status.
Bibi Dong's face immediately flushed when she noticed his appearance.
The two had already acknowledged their feelings for each other, but their relationship had not yet progressed to the point where Lev casually used her private quarters.
Still, after a brief hesitation, she subconsciously nodded.
"Come with me."
She turned around and began walking toward her room.
Lev followed behind her with a faint smile.
Neither of them noticed the subtle change in their relationship.
The former enemies had already become something far more complicated.
And neither of them seemed willing to turn back anymore.
*****
Bathroom,
Inside the large and luxurious bathroom, Lev could be found relaxing in the hot spring-like bath. He had already examined the ability of his final soul bone and couldn't help but feel amazed by how overwhelmingly powerful it was.
Getting it through the weekly sign-in made him feel like he was stuck with an incredible stroke of luck.
With his current strength, he was now confident that he could easily overwhelm an ordinary First-Class God. This brought him one step closer to his ultimate goal.
For a while, he simply enjoyed the peaceful bath.
Then, his gaze suddenly shifted toward the entrance.
The bathroom door opened.
Bibi Dong slowly entered, her body covered by a towel as she walked toward the bath. A faint blush could be seen across her beautiful face, making her normally dignified appearance look unexpectedly adorable.
"Today really is a lucky day."
Lev couldn't help but mutter under his breath.
Bibi Dong pretended not to hear him as she quietly sat beside him.
Silence immediately filled the bathroom.
Neither of them spoke.
Bibi Dong seemed unusually shy and embarrassed, while Lev was silently trying to maintain his composure. Even without touching her, he could already feel his self-control being tested.
After remaining silent for a while, Bibi Dong finally broke the silence.
"Lev..."
She looked toward him with a complicated expression.
"I could give up Spirit Hall for you now, but there might still be someone who refuses to accept it."
Lev raised an eyebrow.
"I thought you would still refuse to let it go. What's changed?"
His tone carried a hint of teasing, although he was genuinely pleased by her words.
Bibi Dong's face immediately turned red.
"You... You're still asking me that?!"
Her voice carried a mixture of embarrassment and anger.
She had already decided to follow Lev, yet he still had the audacity to question her decision.
Spirit Hall had once been everything to her.
But now, she has begun to see it differently.
Perhaps it had already become nothing more than an obstacle standing between her and the life she wanted with Lev.
Still, there was one person who would never willingly accept such a decision.
Thinking about that person, Bibi Dong's expression became complicated.
"Tsk."
She clicked her tongue while looking away.
Lev couldn't help but smile.
He already knew exactly who she was referring to.
Suddenly, a faint trace of dark aura began radiating from Bibi Dong's body.
Lev's expression immediately became serious.
'Again?'
He had already experienced something similar before. Rather than allowing her emotions to spiral out of control, Lev immediately moved closer.
Without saying another word, he gently kissed her.
Bibi Dong's anger instantly disappeared.
Her eyes widened for a moment before slowly closing as she relaxed in his embrace.
The complicated emotions that had been troubling her gradually faded away, replaced by a sense of warmth and tranquility.
Although this wasn't their first kiss, the feeling was still unfamiliar and sweet to both of them.
When they finally separated, Bibi Dong looked at Lev with a complicated expression, her cheeks still flushed.
Neither said anything.
They simply remained close to one another, enjoying the quiet atmosphere of the bathroom.
For Lev, this moment felt strangely peaceful.
For Bibi Dong, it was another realization that the man she had once considered her greatest enemy had somehow become the person she wanted beside her the most.
They remained together for some time before Lev finally pulled away.
He still wanted Bibi Dong's first truly intimate experience to be something special—something that happened because they were both ready, rather than because emotions had momentarily overwhelmed them.
For now, simply being together was enough.
**********
—Night—
Eternal Divine Palace Hall,
Unlike the tranquil atmosphere that normally surrounded the palace, Lev's return should have brought a lively atmosphere to the place.
Instead, the moment he entered with Bibi Dong, the entire room became strangely tense.
Bibi Dong stood silently while Tsunade, Zhu Zhuqing, Dugu Yan, and Xiao Wu stared at her.
No one seemed willing to speak first.
The tension had reached this point because Bibi Dong had suddenly asked Lev if she could return to his palace with him. She wanted to meet the women who were already by his side.
Seeing everyone staring at each other, Lev finally broke the silence.
"You probably have no idea who she is, so let me introduce her. This is Bibi Dong, the Supreme Pontiff of Spirit Hall."
The moment those words left his mouth, Tsunade, Zhu Zhuqing, and Dugu Yan were completely stunned.
They had obviously heard of Bibi Dong.
She was the supreme leader of Spirit Hall and one of the most influential figures on the entire continent.
Yet none of them had expected to see her standing inside their palace.
Xiao Wu's reaction, however, was completely different.
Her entire body trembled.
Her hands slowly clenched into fists as she stared at Bibi Dong.
The moment she heard that name, memories she had buried deep within herself came rushing back.
Lev immediately noticed her reaction.
He could already guess exactly what was going through her mind.
"Xiao Wu."
Lev called her name softly.
Xiao Wu looked at him.
The hatred and anger she had been suppressing suddenly overflowed, and tears began falling from her eyes.
She immediately rushed toward Lev and threw herself into his arms.
"Lev..."
Her voice trembled.
She wanted Bibi Dong to leave.
A part of her even wanted Lev to kill her.
But she knew that Lev had brought Bibi Dong here for a reason. More importantly, seeing how close the two had become, Xiao Wu already had a general idea of what was happening.
Tsunade, Zhu Zhuqing, and Dugu Yan were confused by Xiao Wu's reaction.
They exchanged glances before turning toward Lev.
"What happened between them?" Tsunade finally asked.
Lev sighed before slowly explaining everything.
He told them about Xiao Wu's mother, the circumstances surrounding her death, and Bibi Dong's role in what had happened.
As the story unfolded, the atmosphere inside the room became heavier.
Tsunade, Zhu Zhuqing, and Dugu Yan slowly turned their eyes toward Bibi Dong.
Their expressions became serious.
There was even a hint of hostility in their gazes.
Bibi Dong noticed it immediately.
Her hands clenched into fists.
If these had been anyone else, she would have already made them pay for looking at her that way.
But these weren't ordinary people.
They were Lev's women.
And because of that, Bibi Dong could only suppress her anger.
She had already discussed this matter with Lev before coming here.
Still, seeing Xiao Wu's pain firsthand made everything feel different.
Bibi Dong took a deep breath.
Then, to everyone's surprise, she lowered her head.
"Xiao Wu..."
Her voice was quiet.
"I'm sorry."
The room became completely silent.
Xiao Wu's eyes widened.
Even Lev was surprised.
He had been prepared to explain everything himself and had never expected Bibi Dong to lower her pride and apologize directly.
Bibi Dong continued.
"I cannot undo what happened in the past. No matter what I say, it won't change what you lost."
She clenched her hands.
"But I am still sorry for what happened."
Xiao Wu remained silent.
Bibi Dong looked at her before adding,
"I don't expect you to forgive me."
For someone like Bibi Dong, those words were already an enormous concession.
She had always been proud and commanding.
Yet now, she was willingly lowering herself before someone who had every reason to hate her.
She did it because she didn't want Lev to look at her differently.
She also couldn't bear the thought of losing him.
Lev watched the scene quietly before a faint smile appeared on his face.
He reached out and gently caressed Bibi Dong's head.
"Thank you, Dong'er."
Bibi Dong glanced at him but said nothing.
Lev then turned toward Xiao Wu.
"Hear me out, Xiao Wu."
Xiao Wu wiped her tears and looked at him.
"I have a way to bring your mother back."
"What?"
Xiao Wu froze.
Tsunade, Zhu Zhuqing, and Dugu Yan were equally shocked.
Even Bibi Dong looked toward Lev in surprise.
"Are you serious?"
Xiao Wu's voice trembled.
Lev nodded.
"There is a way."
Hope immediately appeared in Xiao Wu's eyes.
However, Lev's expression became serious.
"But there's is a condition."
Everyone became quiet.
Lev then explained the method.
In order to revive Xiao Wu's mother, Bibi Dong would need to remove the spirit ring and spirit bone that originated from her.
The moment those words were spoken, everyone's expression changed.
Bibi Dong instinctively frowned.
Removing a spirit ring and spirit bone would inevitably affect her cultivation. After everything she had endured to reach her current realm, sacrificing them was not something she could casually accept.
For a moment, hesitation appeared in her eyes.
She had finally obtained the strength she possessed today through countless years of effort.
Losing part of that cultivation would be an enormous price.
Lev immediately noticed her hesitation.
"Dong'er."
Bibi Dong looked at him.
"I won't let you lose everything for this."
Lev stepped closer.
"I'll help you rebuild your cultivation afterward. Whatever resources you need, I'll provide them. If something needs to be replaced, I'll replace it."
His voice was firm.
"I have the resources to do it."
Bibi Dong stared at him for several seconds.
She knew that Lev wasn't making an empty promise.
If anyone on the continent possessed the resources and ability to help her recover, it was probably him.
Finally, Bibi Dong closed her eyes.
When she opened them again, the hesitation was gone.
"I trust you."
Those three words carried more weight than anything else she could have said.
Lev smiled.
"Then let's do it."
Bibi Dong nodded.
She began following Lev's instructions while everyone else remained completely focused on the process.
Xiao Wu stood quietly nearby, her hands clenched tightly.
For the first time in many years, she could see a possibility that she had long believed was impossible.
Her mother might actually return.
And the person who had given her that hope was the same person she had once hated.
The room fell silent as the process began.
Everyone waited.
No one dared to look away.
**********
—Two hours later—
Training Hall,
The process of stripping the Spirit Ring and Soul Bone had taken much longer than expected.
Two entire hours had passed before the procedure was finally completed.
Bibi Dong was now leaning weakly against Lev's chest, her body covered in sweat as she breathed heavily. Her face was pale, and even standing on her own seemed difficult after enduring such a painful process.
"Master, what happened to Bibi Dong?" Tsunade asked worriedly.
Zhu Zhuqing and Dugu Yan were also looking at Bibi Dong with concern. They had witnessed the entire process and had never expected removing a Spirit Ring and Soul Bone to leave someone this vulnerable.
"It's completely normal to feel weak after stripping a Spirit Ring and Soul Bone," Lev explained calmly. "Don't worry. She just needs some rest, and she'll recover."
After saying that, Lev carefully contained the Spirit Ring and Soul Bone that had been removed from Bibi Dong.
He then opened the system store.
A moment later, a stack of Magic Beans appeared in his inventory.
Lev looked at them curiously.
He had bought them specifically for this situation, but this was his first time actually using one.
"Dong'er, eat this."
Lev summoned a Magic Bean and gently placed it into Bibi Dong's mouth.
Bibi Dong looked at him for a moment before swallowing it without hesitation.
She didn't even ask what it was.
She simply trusted him.
The effect was almost instantaneous.
A warm energy surged through her body.
The weakness that had overwhelmed her moments earlier rapidly disappeared. Her pale complexion returned to normal, her exhaustion vanished, and even the damage caused by the painful procedure was completely restored.
Bibi Dong's eyes widened.
She could clearly feel that her body had returned to its natural peak.
However, her cultivation had indeed decreased.
"Lev... What was that bean?"
Bibi Dong looked at him in astonishment.
"How could my body recover so quickly? It's as if nothing happened."
"It's called a Magic Bean."
Lev smiled.
"As for where I got it, don't worry about that. You'll eventually learn about it."
He was just as surprised by the result.
Although he had expected the Magic Bean to be useful, seeing it completely restore Bibi Dong's physical condition after such a severe procedure still exceeded his expectations.
'This thing is even more useful than I expected.'
Lev silently made a mental note to investigate its limits later.
After everything was settled, Lev turned toward Xiao Wu.
He could still see the complicated emotions in her eyes.
Although she was hopeful, some hatred toward Bibi Dong still remained.
Lev understood.
That hatred had existed for far too long to disappear simply because Bibi Dong had apologized.
He walked toward Xiao Wu and gently reassured her.
"Don't worry. You'll see your mother again."
Xiao Wu's eyes trembled.
She nodded silently.
The rest of the day passed peacefully.
Rather than immediately returning to their usual routines, everyone stayed together and talked.
They discussed their pasts, their experiences, and their thoughts about the future.
For the first time, the women surrounding Lev were able to properly get to know Bibi Dong.
Although there were still some awkward moments, the hostility gradually disappeared.
Bibi Dong ultimately decided to stay for the night.
**********
—One month later—
As Lev had promised, Bibi Dong was essentially reborn.
During the following month, Lev helped her rebuild her cultivation. He also assisted her in finding a compatible Spirit Beast so that she could obtain a new Spirit Ring and promised to provide her with a powerful Soul Bone that would greatly aid her future growth.
Bibi Dong's strength was steadily recovering.
More importantly, her relationship with Lev had already become public.
The news spread throughout Spirit Hall like wildfire.
Emperor Lev and the Supreme Pontiff, Bibi Dong, were officially together.
The revelation shocked the entire continent.
Many people couldn't believe that the former enemies had somehow become partners.
Several high-ranking members of Spirit Hall even protested against the decision.
However, after witnessing Lev's overwhelming strength firsthand, their objections quickly disappeared.
They could only reluctantly accept reality.
Spirit Hall was no longer standing against Lev.
It was becoming part of his growing empire.
*****
Elder's Palace,
As the final obstacle standing in the way of his plans, Lev could now be seen casually walking through Spirit Hall.
No one stopped him.
Even the guards stationed at the entrance of the Elder's Palace simply stepped aside and allowed him to pass as though he already belonged there.
Lev entered without hesitation.
Not long afterward, he arrived inside the main hall.
Two elderly men were waiting for him.
Lev immediately recognized them.
One was Qian Daoliu, the Extreme Douluo and former Grand Elder of Spirit Hall.
Beside him stood Golden Crocodile Douluo, one of the strongest powerhouses in Spirit Hall.
Lev looked at the two of them calmly.
"I believe this is our first time meeting."
He smiled faintly.
"Extreme Douluo Qian Daoliu and Golden Crocodile Douluo."
The two elderly men looked at Lev carefully.
They had lived for many years and had witnessed countless geniuses throughout their lives.
Yet neither of them had ever encountered someone like Lev.
From his appearance to his demeanor, everything about him seemed extraordinary.
More importantly, the pressure they could faintly sense from him was enough to make even their instincts warn them against provoking him.
Qian Daoliu finally smiled.
"It's nice to meet you as well, Emperor Lev."
He paused before continuing.
"I already know why you've come."
Lev raised an eyebrow.
"We originally intended to test your strength before making our decision."
Qian Daoliu shook his head.
"But after seeing you in person, I no longer think such a test is necessary."
Golden Crocodile Douluo, who had remained silent until now, slowly nodded in agreement.
Lev was slightly surprised.
He had expected at least a brief confrontation.
Perhaps a battle between himself and the two strongest elders of Spirit Hall.
Instead, they had already made their decision before anything happened.
Lev couldn't help but sigh in relief.
He then smiled.
"Don't worry."
His voice was calm and confident.
"The continent will be safe and prosperous under my rule."
Qian Daoliu stared at him for several seconds before a faint smile appeared on his old face.
For the first time, the future of Spirit Hall no longer seemed uncertain.
Perhaps this wasn't the end of Spirit Hall.
Perhaps it was simply the beginning of a new era.