I, Bibi Dong, the Pope of the Spirit Hall—if someone saw you tickling my ribs, do you think I'd have any dignity left?
"Get off me. Keep fooling around, and I won't help you hunt that spirit beast."
Bibi Dong angrily shoved Lin Fan away, her voice sharp with warning.
Damn Lin Fan. How does he even know I'm ticklish? She fumed inwardly.
"You should've said so earlier." Lin Fan knew when to stop. He set aside his teasing; after all, while they had once shared skin-to-skin contact, that had been under… special circumstances.
If he pushed her too far now, she might truly turn hostile.
"Let's get to business." Bibi Dong sat back on the sofa, smoothing her slightly tousled hair.
"You want my help to hunt a spirit beast. Judging by your strength and the fact that this is for your second spirit ring, it's not an ordinary beast. You must be after a hundred-thousand-year one."
Her eyes narrowed. "Don't tell me—it's that rabbit spirit beast Tang Hao rescued?"
As she said it, pieces began falling into place. Lin Fan had gone through the trouble of staying at Shrek Academy for so long… Could it be that from the very start, he'd been aiming for that rabbit? And only Tang Hao's interference had kept him from making a move?
"What, you want her ring too?" Lin Fan asked with a faint smile.
"You make it sound like anyone in the world could refuse a hundred-thousand-year spirit beast." Bibi Dong rolled her eyes. "My Death Spider Emperor still lacks its eighth and ninth rings. Even if I didn't need them, who would turn down a hundred-thousand-year spirit bone?"
Lin Fan lowered his head in thought.
Compared to Xiao Wu, the Titan Giant Ape and the Azure Bull Python are better choices. And later, the system's missions might even reward me with a no-attribute, growth-type ring… That would fit my martial spirit far better than hers. But to enter the Slaughter City, I'll need the strength to guarantee my survival. Those two beasts, plus their bones, should be enough to push me to at least rank 97, even if not 98.
"Lin Fan," Bibi Dong interrupted his thoughts, "you know about the other hundred-thousand-year beasts in the Star Dou Great Forest, don't you?"
Lin Fan chuckled and admitted, "Ha… I won't hide it. I knew Xiao Wu's identity two years ago—that's why I stayed at Shrek Academy."
"But Tang Hao was always lurking in the shadows, getting in my way. My original plan was to make my move right after the tournament, once I left Spirit City. But you caught me, and then kept me here, so the chance slipped by again."
"Still, she can't escape forever. Even if Tang Hao rescued her, he can't keep her by his side at all times. Right now, she can only return to the depths of the Star Dou Great Forest."
Bibi Dong gave a half-mocking laugh. "So you don't get up early without a profit. No wonder you were willing to throw away your dignity as a Titled Douluo and mix in with those kids."
"But if it's just her, you don't need my help."
Lin Fan only smiled in response.
Bibi Dong thought for a moment, then guessed, "Let me see… You're worried Tang Hao will interfere again. Or… there's more than one hundred-thousand-year beast. That's why you need me."
Lin Fan grinned. "Worthy of being the most outstanding Pope in Spirit Hall's history. Compared to twenty years ago, you've grown far more perceptive."
"That's right—the Star Dou Great Forest has more than Xiao Wu. There are two strength-type beasts there: the Azure Bull Python and the Titan Giant Ape."
"I can give you Xiao Wu's ring, but those two are perfect for my Killing Sword martial spirit. This time, I need a flawless hunt. My time is short, and I still have to go to the Slaughter City."
Bibi Dong's eyes widened. "The Azure Bull Python and the Titan Giant Ape!"
"In the archives of Spirit Hall, there's an account from many years ago," she recalled. "A Titled Douluo once entered the forest and saw a Titan Giant Ape, as big as a mountain, drinking from a lake. Just as he was about to strike, a massive bull's head emerged from the water, with a python body hundreds of meters long. In front of it, the Titan Giant Ape was like a child."
"I never thought they were real…"
She had searched for them before but had only found Xiao Wu's mother, who became the seventh ring for her Death Spider Emperor.
"They're very real," Lin Fan said calmly. "But their combat power surpasses that of most beasts—each is stronger than a rank-96 Titled Douluo. Taking their rings will not be easy."
Bibi Dong frowned. "But you said your time is short. Those two aren't easy to find—unless you've seen them yourself. And why exactly must you go to the Slaughter City? You already have the Killing God Domain. It shouldn't be of much use to you anymore."
Lin Fan smiled wryly. "Have you forgotten what the Rakshasa God said to me in the Rakshasa Secret Realm last night? You can't think the Slaughter City is just some den of evil, right?"
"And remember, you also met the Rakshasa's divine thought in the Slaughter City."
Bibi Dong's body stiffened. "You mean… there's another god's inheritance there?"
Lin Fan nodded. "Yes. A dark-type god of slaughter, equal in power to the Rakshasa God. The Slaughter City became what it is because of their struggle."
He didn't reveal the Shura God's name or true identity—only that this god was no weaker than the Rakshasa.
Bibi Dong sighed. "No wonder… Now I understand. You went to such lengths to disguise yourself as 'Lin Xuan', not just for a hundred-thousand-year ring, but for a god's inheritance. And because you feared your strength was lacking, you've been planning this for years."
"Lin Fan, you're terrifying. Is there anything in this world you don't know?"
Lin Fan smiled faintly. "Don't overthink it. I'm exactly who you see now. We're both simply striving for godhood."
"I told you before—if we don't become gods, we're nothing more than names in history."
"That's why we should leave for the Star Dou Great Forest immediately. If Xiao Wu settles down or hides deep inside, it'll take much longer to find them. Right now is the perfect moment—when she returns, the Azure Bull Python and Titan Giant Ape will surely appear to greet her."
Bibi Dong nodded. Alright. Do you want me to bring a few other Titled Douluo?