Quest Maker: 388

Title: A Prophecy Realized (2)

Bo Saixi pays no heed to the battle occurring around her. Slimy tentacles clad with the effects of various spirit rings aim at the unnamed silver-haired woman, for whom, by the way, Saixi feels a weaker connection with her Martial Soul. The origin of her martial soul is as dubious as it can be: From a Sea Nymph to Poseidon, and now this. She looks at her fur-clad limbs. The soles of her feet are wide and morphed into feline silver claws that feel positively disgusted at the slimy sensation of the surface she is standing on. Her fingers are no better, as they seem to be a mix of claws and human digits. The fur stops growing beyond her shoulder underneath her thin dress, but the silver-green crystal sticks out from the center of her chest nonetheless.

‘What am I even doing?’ She questions internally again as she grits her teeth and sits cross-legged on the surface of the purple slime. It’s undoubtedly poisonous, but not a shred of venom affects her.

‘We all die, if he dies.’ She affirms the notion in her heart and closes her eyes calmly. Her silver eyelashes quiver ever so slightly as a yellow spirit ring appears behind her. She has already confirmed that she may need to start her cultivation again, but her spirit rings are still there, waiting to be roused as her cultivation progresses.

Faith, prayer… it’s all a form of energy. A form of energy that is so potent that gods quarrel over it, just like how spirit masters confront each other for spiritual treasures. Even a weak woman like her can make a difference in this battle without a single spirit skill if she prays in the right direction. But unlike others who boast fickle faith only rooted in the strength of the target, say, as God, Bo Saixi has learned the true nature of faith over the years.

Faith is absolute trust. Trust in one notion.

She trusted Poseidon’s legacy to bear fruit—The Birth of a New God. That is what kept her going. Shifting that trust would be monumental labor if Poseidon was still around, his legacy survived, and there wasn’t another candidate at the brink of Godhood.

Unfortunately, all three conditions were met in the last tribulation.

‘All because of him.’

She opens her eyes briefly, finding it hard to concentrate for various reasons. She may have stepped up to help resolve the situation, but she can never force herself to trust a man like Ja Sun, no matter how humored he feels by the circumstances.

Poseidon gave them up in sound mind, and Ja Sun shields them despite an unsound mind.

On the surface, it feels clear-cut.

But Bo Saixi could not let such simplicity force her into doing Ja Sun’s bidding.

Poseidon is a God who ruled the vast sea, including the deepest trenches, after years of work. That man was honorable in what he did, and when that honor is hurt, the Sea and Oceans rage! Poseidon exemplifies the wrathful waters as nothing can quell his pride until he conquers his foe.

Bo Saixi does not claim to understand Poseidon. He is born from times not known to her.

Similarly, she cannot understand Ja Sun, who only protects them out of greed.

Why couldn’t they let go of their pride and greed?

Poseidon could still be keeping them secured if he let go. Ja Sun would still have his mind if he let go.

But they don’t.

Yet, Bo Saixi cannot help but envy such drive. Maybe it’s this drive that sets apart the Divine from their Priests.

She let go once. She let go of not an immortal opportunity but a mortal one. She could have prayed for two men instead of one—One with faith and the other one with affection.

Ice materializes around her again as Ja Sun blocks yet another attack from the silver-haired spear-wielding menace.

Bo Saixi’s claws touch the crystal jutting out of her chest as she falls silent.

Was this another opportunity? Or is her affection only based on opportunities? Letting go again will be simple. She let go of Tang Chen, and now she has a chance to let go of Poseidon. It will be so simple—

“I can’t do it,” Bo Saixi grits her teeth and mutters to herself. The slime beneath her stirs as she loses her focus for a second when it shifts around her.

‘This it, I suppose. At least, I die as a woman who does not jump ships the second the disaster strikes.’

She would be risking everything she holds dear, but be it her dignity, envy, or principles, she does not want to let things go because circumstances feel right.

“Hah!” The brilliant silver-haired woman laughs suddenly, and her attacks stop momentarily as Bo Saixi comes to be.

The slime under her continues to move, slowly dragging her back to the surface of the island as she stares at the icy dome with a dazed expression.

She’s being dragged back to safety as she questions involuntarily, “You understood me? Can you understand me? Did you recover your mind?”

“He did not,” A sharp voice replies as a pale hand suddenly tries to reach her from the side followed by a bloody vortex before a wall of slime shoots accompanied by the materialization of a butterfly-shaped barrier that breaks down and returns the energy of the attack back to the assaulter.

Not minding his attempt being blocked, Qian Xunji flickers out of existence before reappearing far from the Silver Dragon King. His voice, however, travels to Saixi as the slime under her feet begins to squirm anxiously as if facing a terrifying threat.

“You can say it's an obsession forming its own mind, temporarily, I hope. After all, that woman is notably stronger than this clone of mine, but his real body has a worse reaction when recognizing me.” Xunji smiles gently, “I suppose I should take this as a compliment.”

Before Qian Xunji could get another word in, his eyes go wide as his body balloons up from within before exploding in chunks of flesh that transform into splashes of blood, further converging together to form another him.

“And you.” The clone’s blood-red eyes fall on the peerless silver figure with a look of caution. “Even if this body is merely a clone, it cannot be destroyed with what you consider traditional means. You ARE from the King’s Lair, yes? Something suggests that you were the force who disrupted my entry into that pocket space.”

“I suppose I should take that as a compliment as well.” Silver Dragon King narrows her eyes and smiles serenely.

“I would not,” Qian Xunji replies with a cold expression before clapping his hand. He has observed the battle long enough to understand what made Ja Sun tick, and he is happy to muddy the waters so the two opponents kill each other.

His domain expands tens of kilometers as the slime under Bo Saixi’s feet shifts and vibrates more anxiously. She can feel the mindless body under her begin forming a response when something strange occurs.

“Whoops!” A body shoots out of a silver gate that appears in one spot over the sea of purple, instantly attracting everyone’s attention. Qian Xunji’s expression changes a bit as he closes his domain quickly while blinking away to protect the figure before he could be skewered by the unforgiving tentacles.

“I hope I’m not interrupting,” the grey-haired man issues a carefree chuckle as Xunji catches him in his arm. Instead of regarding Xunji, the man sets his blood-red eyes on Bo Saixi’s green ones.

“And you have changed quite a bit. I see you hung scales for fur. Just as well, I hear from my other disciple that Ja Sun’s fluff is quite soft and comfortable. And…” He looks around. His eyes briefly settle on the Silver Dragon King before focusing on the slime underneath them.

“How about we talk, dear son?” Daoliu smiles, “If you’re free, of course.”

Xunji stares at his father as twelve blood wings continue beating gently, keeping them in the same position.

“Nothing you say can end this conflict,” Xunji whispers gently. “I’m sorry.”

“I’m well aware. You two will do what you must,” Daoliu’s smile recedes as he sighs sadly, “That is why I wish to talk with you. And later, Ja Sun. As long as you two are still alive, that is. The victorious one will have what’s left of the other—Treasures, land, pride, and people. And as I am now, even if free of the shackles of my origin, I am bound by my weakness.”

Xunji closes his eyes and shakes his head quietly.

“Will you willingly return with me?” He questions while flying higher, where Ja Slime will not register him as a threat.

“I never had any issues with staying with you.”

Xunji frowns before exhaling a long sigh. “Forgive me. I forgot you were unconscious all this time. Besides, you have been kind to me since my birth. As an infant, I was born weak. But you did not let this weakness be a reason for my mistreatment. As you are now, weakness will not be your shackle when it comes to your stay of desire. Stay here or with me. I know you better than to fear you being a spy, and I hope Ja Sun accepts your choices all the same.”

“He will,” Daoliu smiles.

“You can fly, can’t you?” Xunji questions as Daoliu rouses his martial soul.

A bloody scent coupled with a haze of blood oozes from his pores as two fleshy red wings jut out of his back and flap powerfully. The gust of wind clears the red haze as Daoliu’s blood-red hair sways about him, his canines sharper than usual and his completely red.

“What would you like to name this Martial Soul?” Daoliu questions as Xunji shakes his head while tapping his father’s forehead to send a droplet of his blood which temporarily fills Daoliu with wild spiritual energy.

“You cannot stay here even as a spectator. But if you do, this protection will aid your survival.”

“Dong’er told me what happened. About Crocodile…”

Xunji stills and nods, “Then you have accepted circumstances stand to worsen.”

Daoliu issues a drawn sigh as he turns around and flies in the direction of the icy dome to watch things play out.

Xunji purses his lips together as he returns his gaze downwards, where things have changed quite a lot as he finally feels the fitting burst of killing intent long locked on him, only staving off to keep Daoliu from the brunt of it.

Bibi Dong’s skin is unnaturally pale, her modest pink pupils now giving a crimson glow brimming with bloodlust as she locks her eyes with Xunji. Her devilish purple scythe lets out chilling and sharp noises tainted with joy, but the woman is in her right mind as she slices off one of Ja Sun’s slimy appendages and protects Yin, Zi Ji, Bi Ji, Lan Ruo, and Snow. Ja Sun’s other wife regards the eerily moving slimy tentacles with a hint of fascination in her sapphire blue eyes. A somewhat misplaced and seductive smile touches Yin’s lips as she cares little for her surroundings, mentioning, “How we never tried this behind closed doors is a surprise, don’t you think so, Sister Dong?”

“Not the time,” Bibi replies in a raspy voice that matches her ghastly form.

“You did not just say that,” Zi Ji goggles at the Blue Silver Goddess before scoffing and turning to look at the mighty Silver Dragon King. The silver-haired woman’s mere presence shackles Zi Ji. The Abyss Dragon can do nothing against her, that is clear, but Bibi Dong did not demand her out to attack the Silver Dragon King.

“Our true bodies cannot be exposed to Ja Sun. It will only make us bigger targets. I hope you know what you’re doing,” Lan Ruo emits her voice to Bibi Dong, who brushes the whale’s concern and raises an eyebrow calmly.

“You are here to devour him,” Bibi Dong regards the Silver Dragon King without actually looking at her. Rakshasa’s Successor assumes Xunji is the real threat rather than a woman with inconsistent ideals and confused motives. Bibi Dong doesn’t personally know if she’s on the mark, but her initial impression is backed by her guts and instincts.

“I am.” The woman holds her spear and stares at the cruel scythe in Bibi Dong’s hand that lets out a slash of purplish energy, which cleaves through the hundreds of tentacles aimed at them.

“And you are here to make Ja Sun more responsive until he and this spirit beast injure each other to the point of no return.” Bibi Dong shifts the conversation to Xunji, who smiles with mild interest.

“A simple plan, yes. But I don’t believe Ja Sun deserves the luxury of a complicated plan.”

Bibi Dong nods before growling softly.

“Do it.”

Her words are not meant to threaten Xunji and the Silver Dragon.

Instead, Zi Ji licks her lips, opens her mouth wide as a ball of dense purple spiritual energy condenses between her lips, and looks down at Ja Sun’s ‘blobous’ body before activating her most powerful attack weakened in her human state.

Massive devouring force tears chunks of Ja Sun’s slimy body as the poisonous blob is crushed into pure energy and devoured by Zi Ji. Ja Sun offed her quickly the last time she used the attack in an attempt to devour him, but now? Zi Ji devours the very same energy Ja Sun has been scrambling to store reflexively to heal himself.

This is something even Xunji and Silver Dragon did not do.

For someone who lost his mind and still shielded a strange island out of obsessive greed to have his very energy stolen, something that he needs for his recovery…

Threat: Maximum.

“What the hell are you doing?” Bo Saixi shouts as a cage of slime guards her out of nowhere. Bibi Dong quietly regards the woman, her voice traveling, “Ja Sun did not kill you. Why?”

“We share similar soul origin and Martial Soul. In fact, he bestowed me this martial soul in means beyond my understanding, but it loosely connects me with him the same way it connected me with Poseidon.”

Bibi Dong gives the priestess a narrow-eyed stare before questioning, “And? Can you help him?”

“I refuse to.”

The irrational killing intent that seeks wanton massacre fails to intimidate Bo Saixi’s soul, but her mind and body are different. The proud priestess quivers under her gaze when the slime bars around Saixi thicken and blocks off the mental intent.

“Amusing.” Bibi Dong’s lips curl slightly as she brandishes her scythe and looks at Lan Ruo and Snow.

“Keep their backs safe.” She issues a simple order before ascending using the strength from the scythe. Meanwhile, Bi Ji creates a cape of emerald feathers for others to stay afloat.

Xunji takes one look at the churning body of slime as if creating a typhoon before looking at Bibi Dong.

“Whatever it is you’re planning, it will not work. Only Divine entities can survive the attacks Ja Sun and me received at the end of the tribulation.”

“The only reason I let Grandmaster out is to make him realize one thing,” Bibi Dong mutters with a fiendish smile.

“And that is?” Xunji raises a brow.

“Ja Sun is not the one who will kill you. Or you,” Bibi Dong looks at Silver Dragon. “I will give my all to end threats now. And even if you’re a clone, it will hurt your true body all the same.”

The web-shaped mark in the middle of Bibi Dong’s brows begins to fluctuate rapidly.

But Xunji and Silver Dragon are not the kinds to give their enemies a chance of completing their moves.

A rain of blood is unleashed on Bibi by Xunji while Silver Dragon materializes beside Bibi Dong to stab her spear straight at the woman’s neck.

Yet, time seems to slow down impossibly as the mark on her forehead stills between purple AND green!

An eerie and gentle force radiates from the scythe in response. But this energy is far from warm and gentle. Silver Dragon’s expression shifts as she disappears in a second’s fraction while the rain of blood is vaporized and corrupted in a mass of purple energy full of negativity.

“I reckon I’ll be a lot stronger if I devour the souls of the divine, right?”

Xunji and Silver Dragon blink in surprise as the purplish-green cover of the bright web they did not see cover Bibi Dong cracks apart to reveal the devil within.

---

“It can’t be!” The former Dragon Prince shoots to his feet as he stares in amazement. Yes, Bibi Dong’s cultivation and techniques are exceptional, especially her latest feat. It’s not something the divine sees even in tens of thousands of years! Yet, the Dragon Prince has seen this achievement once or twice. He vanquished one such foe in his early years.

No, what captivates him is the evil aura mingling with spatial laws around the vortex Ja Sun’s body has constructed!

“That’s impossible! Asura must have sealed the exit of this world… no, he could not. Not with her around. He only tore the River of Time. It would make much sense how this soul traveled in if the crack in our Spatial Cave was never mended.”

The Dragon Prince goggles before laughing out loud!

“I’ve got to prepare! Hell! She always likes veiling her true intentions with mystery! What a prophecy! Of course, the Sage will complete me! If he has such an ability, no doubt I’ll throw myself at him!”

***

Alternate Title: Saixi’s Envy; Ill-Timed Resolve; Daoliu Appears; Xunji and Ja Sun Have Shared Custody on Daoliu; A Weak Man’s Compromise; Zi Ji Loves Pushing the Wrong Buttons; Zi Ji’s Punishment Will be Long, Hard, and Slimey; Bibi Dong’s Revenous Temper; A Simple Plan for a Simple Enemy; Men and Women Throw Themselves at Ja Sun; A Prophecy not of End, But Peace