Zhu Ziyang and Qian Lingyi became traveling companions.
"Let's go," Zhu Ziyang said. "Since you've decided to come with me, you'll have to follow my instructions from now on. No problem, right?"
"I can, as long as it doesn't go against my rules and bottom line, I can listen to you," Qian Lingyi said without hesitation.
"Don't worry, I'm not that kind of person." Zhu Ziyang smiled and said, "Let's go, I still have three targets to clear."
"Three targets? Are they all Evil Soul Masters?" Qian Lingyi asked curiously.
"Mm!" Zhu Ziyang nodded and walked straight north, with Qian Lingyi following closely behind.
"Zhu Ziyang, your Spirit should also be Light Attribute, right? How does it compare to my Sacred Angel Spirit?" On the way, Qian Lingyi was quite excited and asked curiously.
"You seem very confident in your Spirit?" Zhu Ziyang said.
"Of course! I have the Sacred Angel Spirit, a top-tier Spirit second only to the Six-Winged Angel Martial Soul among Angel Spirits!" Qian Lingyi said proudly, her pretty face full of confidence.
"That's true." Zhu Ziyang nodded in agreement and said, "The Sacred Angel Spirit possesses Light Attribute and Sacred Attribute, it is indeed a very powerful top-tier Spirit. If one can reach the Spirit Saint or Titled Douluo realm and grow four or six wings, they would indeed have few rivals at the same level."
"Right!" Qian Lingyi was very surprised and pleased to hear Zhu Ziyang's words. She said, "As expected of a Shrek Academy disciple, you know so many secrets about Angel Spirits. So, between your Spirit and my Sacred Angel Spirit, which is stronger?"
"Why do you want to know that?" Zhu Ziyang looked at her helplessly and asked.
"Curiosity! In some of the big cities I've passed through, the taverns were all talking about how amazing you are. So, I just wanted to know, if my Spirit is stronger than yours, does that mean I'm stronger than you?" Qian Lingyi's tone was excited, but her words were a bit naive.
"Ah, this!" Zhu Ziyang didn't know how to retort, so he just smiled and said, "Do you really think that a Spirit represents everything? If a Spirit is powerful, is the Spirit Master powerful? If a Spirit is weak, is the Spirit Master necessarily weak?"
"Otherwise?" Qian Lingyi retorted, "Powerful Spirits have more powerful combat strength and Spirit Abilities, isn't that common knowledge?"
"But, there's more than just the Spirit that determines a Spirit Master's strength, isn't spirit power realm the key?" Zhu Ziyang tried to correct Qian Lingyi's mistaken notion of strength.
"Is that so? Then why couldn't that Evil Soul Master just now, who was a Spirit Emperor, defeat me? And I've encountered many Evil Soul Masters before, and many of them were Spirit Emperors, but I executed all of them. Doesn't that mean that spirit power level isn't the decisive factor in a Spirit Master's strength?"
"You also said that those were all Evil Soul Masters. The Angel Spirit has a strong suppressive effect on Evil Soul Masters, you wouldn't not know that, right?" Zhu Ziyang said, "If you encountered a normal Spirit Emperor, do you think you could defeat him?"
"No problem!" Qian Lingyi said with great confidence.
"What about a Spirit Saint?" Zhu Ziyang continued to ask.
"Uh~ a little difficult." Qian Lingyi hesitated for a moment but still said.
"…" Zhu Ziyang was suddenly speechless, a strange expression on his face, and he said, "I feel like we've been talking a bunch of nonsense."
"Mm-hmm! I feel that way too!" Qian Lingyi nodded in agreement and said, "And you started this topic! If you had just told me what your Spirit is, we wouldn't have needed to talk so much nonsense!"
"Uh, heh heh~" Zhu Ziyang gave an awkward smile and said, "Alright, couldn't you have just said you were interested in my Spirit? Why did you have to talk about comparing our Spirits' strengths?"
"So, tell me, is your Spirit really a scythe with the Ultimate Light Attribute, as rumored?" Qian Lingyi asked, her eyes full of curiosity.
"Yes!" Zhu Ziyang nodded and admitted, "My Pacifying Life-Reaping Scythe is indeed Ultimate Light."
"Oh my! It's actually true!" Qian Lingyi couldn't help but exclaim, "Then, do you really have a hundred-thousand-year spirit ring?"
"Uh-huh!" Zhu Ziyang replied.
"Didn't you just say you didn't?" Qian Lingyi said, a little annoyed.
"Did I say the words 'did not'?" Zhu Ziyang countered.
"Uh~" Qian Lingyi thought back, and a sheepish smile immediately appeared on her face, saying, "It seems you really didn't!"
"Then there you have it?" Zhu Ziyang waved his hand and said.
"Then, could you let me see your hundred-thousand-year spirit ring?" Qian Lingyi showed a hint of longing and curiosity, saying.
"There will be plenty of opportunities later, let's keep moving for now!" Zhu Ziyang refused and quickened his pace.
"Ah! How could you!" Qian Lingyi wailed unwillingly, then followed Zhu Ziyang's steps.
"By the way, where did you hear all these rumors? There are even legends about me being Ultimate Light."
"Lingxi City, you wouldn't not know, would you? The headquarters of the mercenary alliance on the continent is located in Lingxi City, it's where the most complete information on the entire continent is!"
"Is that so? Then I must visit sometime if I get the chance."
The two chatted and traveled together, quickly becoming familiar with each other, upgrading from mere acquaintances to close friends who could drink and talk freely.
In a small town on the eastern coast of the Douling Empire, Zhu Ziyang and Qian Lingyi found Zhu Ziyang's second target: a Spirit Saint-level Evil Soul Master, who undoubtedly also met the requirements of Zhu Ziyang's Death God Fourth Trial.
Thus, battle was imminent.
This Spirit Saint-level Evil Soul Master was known as the Eight-Armed Demon Lord. His Spirit was an octopus with Water Attribute, Dark Attribute, and Death Attribute, named the Dead Sea Demon Octopus. He was extremely powerful in sea combat, having once used terrain advantage at the Spirit King realm to counter-kill two Spirit Emperors, making him a very tricky opponent.
After Zhu Ziyang and Qian Lingyi discovered him, they immediately attacked without hesitation.
Zhu Ziyang released his Pacifying Life-Reaping Scythe, and its five black and one red spirit ring configuration made Qian Lingyi's eyes widen, making her forget to release her Spirit. However, after being reminded by Zhu Ziyang, she immediately released her Spirit as well, with angel wings appearing on her back. The girl flew directly into the air, looking down at the Eight-Armed Demon Lord from above.
The Pacifying Life-Reaping Scythe transformed into a golden scepter, and the second Spirit Ability, Jingshi Holy Incantation, was instantly activated. Dazzling light shot towards the Eight-Armed Demon Lord and also fell upon Qian Lingyi. Qian Lingyi immediately felt her entire body's strength double. Amidst her surprise and joy, she immediately summoned her Sword of Light, and her second spirit ring shone brightly. She let out a soft cry and swooped down towards the Eight-Armed Demon Lord.
"You two brats, you're just courting Death!" The Eight-Armed Demon Lord roared, and eight octopus tentacles emitting thick black smoke emerged from his body. Seven spirit rings, two yellow, two purple, and three black, rose around him.
A dark water curtain rose in front of him, devouring the light of the Jingshi Holy Incantation. Qian Lingyi's Sacred Spirit Slash landed on the water curtain but was actually repelled.
This greatly surprised Zhu Ziyang, who then noticed the flashing fifth spirit ring behind the Eight-Armed Demon Lord. He understood. His third spirit ring flew out, and the Pacifying Life-Reaping Scythe, transformed into a golden scepter in his hand, was raised high. A golden beam of light shot into the sky, and in the sky, golden clouds began to gather.
"Yi Yi, retreat!" Zhu Ziyang shouted. Qian Lingyi heard him and retreated without any hesitation. After Qian Lingyi retreated, a huge meteor burning with golden flames fell from the high sky, heavily smashing onto the Eight-Armed Demon Lord's fifth Spirit Ability's water curtain. Instantly, half of the water curtain evaporated.
"This…" The Eight-Armed Demon Lord's expression changed slightly, but before he could react to what was happening, another meteor fell, completely extinguishing his water curtain.
Following that, a third meteor, a fourth meteor, a fifth meteor… finally, a total of fifty-four meteors fell, engulfing the Eight-Armed Demon Lord. After each meteor fell, there was a sizzling burning sound, followed by a wail. After countless wails, the Eight-Armed Demon Lord's movements completely ceased.
Qian Lingyi witnessed this scene, her face filled with deep shock and disbelief. She even felt a bit of sympathy for the Eight-Armed Demon Lord, who was actually smashed to Death by meteors. Such a Death was perhaps a bit too pathetic!
"Alright, let's go!" Zhu Ziyang felt the feedback of light, a smile appearing on his face, and he said to Qian Lingyi.