Chapter 191: 210. The Freshly Dropped Soul Bone Was Taken
Minute by minute, the tense silence dragged on. Bibi Dong made no move, and Tang San finally passed the most dangerous phase of his absorption. The soul ring's glow stabilized, settling upon him smoothly.
The Dragon Duke stroked his chin thoughtfully. "To absorb an over-limit third ring… this boy is no ordinary talent. He's destined for greatness."
Zhao Wuji wiped the sweat from his brow in relief. He was now certain Tang San had survived the worst. At last, his own life was safe—for now.
Oscar, the shrewdest among the three reborn, forced a nervous laugh. "Your Holiness the Pope, it seems Tang San has passed the critical point. You must be very busy, I—you see—perhaps we shouldn't continue to trouble you?"
"No rush," Bibi Dong replied with a faint smile. "I still want to see what makes this boy capable of absorbing beyond his limit."
Oblivious to the danger around him, Tang San focused entirely on the fusion of power within him. When the process ended, a rush of exhilaration swept through his body.
Then came the familiar surge—rising from deep inside, crawling up his spine.
It was here—the Eight Spider Spears! His soon-to-be Sea God Wings!
Excited, Tang San felt eight lumps form across his back. In the next instant, eight black, gleaming spider legs erupted outward, tearing his clothes apart. Drawing from his past-life experience, he quickly gained control. The spears retracted neatly into his body, and he exhaled in triumph.
Then, as he looked toward his companions, his heart froze.
The Dragon and Snake couple were still there—and so was Bibi Dong.
Bibi Dong?!
How? Wasn't she supposed to be at Spirit Hall, fighting for dominance with the Elders? Why was she here?
His heart pounded. A bead of cold sweat slid down his temple.
The Dragon Duke widened his eyes, stunned. "An external spirit bone…"
Greed flickered in his gaze. The temptation to take such a treasure was strong, but one glance at the Pope extinguished it. Too bad, he thought. The boy's fate is sealed. That bone won't stay with him—it'll fall to Bibi Dong.
Bibi Dong regarded Tang San curiously, recalling what Qian Renxue had said—this child was touched by fate. Truly, heaven's chosen.
"You are quite fortunate," she said finally. "To obtain an external spirit bone with only your third ring… Such treasures are second only to hundred-thousand-year spirit rings. In some ways, even rarer."
Her tone shifted, soft and dangerous. "However, it seems I'm the more fortunate one. Never imagined I'd meet a boy who just obtained one. Consider it payment—for my protection."
Before anyone could react, Bibi Dong's gaze flicked toward Zhao Wuji, her meaning crystal clear. Zhao Wuji's soul nearly fled his body in despair.
If he had known—if he had known Tang San would survive this absorption, if he had known the boy would explode an external bone—he would never have begged Bibi Dong to stay.
Because now, Tang San's loss… would be his responsibility.
Within his mind, he could already hear Tang Hao roaring, smashing his skull, peeling the skin off his back.
Tang San's panic exploded as he realized her intent. Instantly, the Eight Spider Spears shot out again, their sharp legs stabbing into the ground as he bolted.
No way! These are my Sea God Wings—my symbol of pride! She can't take them!
Bibi Dong laughed coldly. "Trying to play spider tricks in front of me? You're far too green."
Her aura exploded—the pressure of a titled Douluo.
Yellow, purple, purple, black, black, black, red, red, red.
The Shrek trio stared, horrified. Wait—that's different. In the last life, she wasn't this strong. How could her spirit rings—?!
They never got to finish the thought. Threads of web shot from all directions, binding Tang San's arms, legs, and the Eight Spider Spears, hoisting him helplessly into the air.
Bibi Dong walked forward with calm grace, step by step.
Tang San thrashed in terror. He couldn't let her take it—couldn't lose it! Desperately, his mind raced—then a grim idea struck him.
"Wait! Bibi Dong—I'm Yu Xiaogang's disciple!" he shouted. "To him, I'm practically his son! If you take my spirit bone, you'll destroy me—and he'll despise you forever. Is that what you want? To lose him completely?"
That was Yu Xiaogang's greatest use after all—to restrain her with the lingering sentiment of their tragic past.
Sure enough, her steps halted.
"You… know about me and him?" she asked coldly, her tone unreadable.
Tang San nodded quickly, weaving lies with practiced smoothness. "I've been his student for six years. Many nights, he dreamed of you—he always spoke your name."
Disgust twisted Bibi Dong's lips. Yu Xiaogang's manipulative shadow still lingered over her life. To think he'd even used this boy to mock her.
But then she remembered Qian Renxue's larger plan. Killing him now would serve no purpose. So she breathed deeply, forcing down her rage.
"Very well," she said. "It seems you know more than you should."
Tang San sighed inwardly in relief. It worked. Yu Xiaogang's name still protects me.
Looks like the Eight Spider Spears are safe after all. You've earned it, 'Teacher.' After this, I'll consider granting you a Nine-Petal Purple Immortal Herb—to see if you ever break past level twenty-nine.
But his triumph was short-lived.
Without warning, one of Bibi Dong's sharp arachnid limbs stabbed forward, impaling his back.
She smiled coldly. "But sentiment alone isn't reason enough to let go of something so precious."
"Uhh—AAAHHHHHHHHHH!"
Tang San's scream tore through the forest—raw, pitiful, and grotesque.
The spider lances unfurled like a blossoming flower of pain. With expert precision, Bibi Dong extracted the external spirit bone from his back.
Tang San collapsed, writhing, blood spilling across the forest floor. A mocking whisper echoed in his ears, almost hallucination: "Freshly dropped soul bone… freshly dropped soul bone… taken away…"
Bibi Dong's flawless, pale hand held the blood-streaked bone aloft. She looked down at Tang San's trembling form and said quietly, "But for his sake, I'll spare your life."
Then she turned and walked away.
Tang San's vision began to blur. Reaching out weakly, he croaked, "Give… give it back… my soul bone…"
Only when Bibi Dong's figure disappeared into the forest did the Shrek students dare to approach. They rushed forward, lifting Tang San's broken body and carrying him away.
Far behind them, the Dragon Duke sighed with regret, shaking his head as he watched Bibi Dong's retreating silhouette.
"What a pity," he murmured. "Such a gifted child, ruined… The Spirit Hall truly hasn't changed—a brute force that destroys brilliance for the sake of greed."
(END CHAPTER)
Thank you for the support, friends. If you want to read more chapters in advance, go to my Patreon.
Read 30 Chapters In Advance: patreon.com/LightKira10