(NSFW Warning: The initial part of this chapter contains explicit content!)
Word Count: 3,093 Words
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The next morning.
Wu Feng awoke as if surfacing from a dream woven of molten desire. Her crimson eyes fluttered open, still glazed with the honeyed haze of satisfaction from a night when words finally gave way to teeth and nails and the desperate union of bodies circling each other for far too long.
Morning light filtered through the curtains, painting golden streaks across her sweat-dampened skin and the tangled sheets that clung to her curves. The air hung thick with the musk of their shared passion and the faint floral scent that always seemed to linger in the morning.
She turned to gaze at the familiar handsome face beside her. Her expression twisted through a complex mix of emotions: the sharp ache of years spent overlooked, the tearing sensation of inner conflict, the shyness that followed last night's emotional dam bursting, and, last but not least, a deep, abiding love.
Though guilt over Ning Tian still gnawed at her conscience, she couldn't help riding the crest of euphoria. That discord between heart and body had nearly set her hormones ablaze.
Memories of the previous night crashed over her in waves. The way his hands had gripped her hips with bruising force. The slick, obscene sounds of their bodies joining. The arch of her back as pleasure crested. The taste of him on her tongue as he'd spent himself between her lips—
Wu Feng's face flushed. Glancing down, she noticed five pink circular marks blooming across the swell of her breasts.
Ling Bai had gained a bite mark on his chest; she had gained five rings.
"This is all your fault!!!"
Wu Feng hissed the accusation before burying her burning face in the sheets. After some writhing beneath the covers, Ling Bai dragged her back out with a laugh, his arm hooking around her neck to pull her into a searing kiss.
"So passionate first thing in the morning. Aren't you going to class?"
Ling Bai murmured against her lips as his hands roamed her soft, enticing body. One palm cupped her breast, thumb circling the peak until it stiffened, while his other hand slid down to grip her thigh.
Wu Feng gasped when his fingers traced along her inner leg, her breath catching as they brushed against the slick heat between her thighs.
"Nngh—! You—!"
A wicked smirk crossed Ling Bai's face as he pressed a finger inside, curling it just right to draw a choked moan from her lips.
As a first-hand participant, he had been delighted to discover that beneath the blazing Red Dragon surface, Wu Feng was all flowing water. Her talents in that particular area matched Ma Xiaotao's, though her endurance proved even greater.
"Hah... haah... You're the worst!"
Wu Feng panted, her cheeks flushed an enticing pink as passion burned bright in her eyes. "All I do at Illustrious Virtue Hall is forge metal. I—ah!—can't learn anything else. The rare metals I refine in one day are enough for Ning Tian to inscribe core arrays for a week. Missing a day here and there doesn't matter..."
Her legs wrapped around his waist, pulling him closer as her hips rolled upward in a slow, demanding rhythm.
The day's foundation was laid in the morning, and when a beauty extended such an invitation, Ling Bai naturally gave it his complete and enthusiastic attention.
Wave after wave of pleasure crashed over them both. With each crest, Wu Feng seemed to shed another layer of inhibition, growing bolder and more uninhibited.
Ling Bai found himself in excellent spirits. Some women were beautiful yet failed to spark even the slightest interest—like Specter Na Na, whom he could not be bothered with even if she threw herself at him. But his desire for Wu Feng, his sharp-tongued yet tender-hearted childhood friend, burned like wildfire impossible to extinguish.
After reaching their blissful conclusion, they lay tangled together, savoring each other's warmth. Wu Feng traced idle circles on his chest with her fingertips. Suddenly, she propped herself up on one elbow, her crimson eyes glinting:
"Hey, was last night your first time?"
"Shh, don't ask." Ling Bai smiled mysteriously.
"As everyone knows, first times reset at dawn."
"Pah!"
Wu Feng spat lightly. Dodging the question was an answer in itself. Just from how practiced his movements had been, she could guess a thing or two.
They settled back into comfortable silence. Wu Feng pressed her face against his chest, listening to his heartbeat as a distant look entered her eyes:
"You know, our generation of the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Clan had many young geniuses. Before our Martial Spirits awakened, Dad used to joke that Ning Tian would marry one of them when she grew up.
I got so angry! Ning Tian was my favorite person. She had to be with the most amazing person in the world. So I thought—if I could surpass everyone else, wouldn't she belong to me?
That's why I always saw my peers as targets to overcome, and I succeeded against most of them. Until that day I met you in the clan's Spirit Dueling Arena. You were too outrageous!"
She puffed out her cheeks indignantly. "Innate Rank 20, Angel Sword, Angelic Domain, Ultimate Holy... You were so strong it made people despair. After losing to you day after day, I secretly developed an idea. Can you guess what it was?"
This was their first truly heart-to-heart conversation. Ling Bai's lips curved upward as he played along: "I can't guess. Why don't you whisper it to me?"
Wu Feng snorted haughtily and rolled over to straddle him. Her crimson hair cascaded around them like a curtain of liquid fire.
"I decided that if I could never beat you, I'd marry you before Ning Tian did. Then I'd pin you down in bed every single day!
Feed myself to the tiger at night to keep you satisfied, then protect Ning Tian during the day. I was so moved by my own dedication and spirit of sacrifice!"
Ling Bai burst out laughing. The more he laughed, the more embarrassed Wu Feng became, until she resorted to pummeling his chest with her fists.
When his laughter finally subsided, he teased, "Haven't you already succeeded? You're pinning me down right now."
"That's right! You're my man, and Ning Tian is my woman!
Mine, mine—you're both mine!"
Wu Feng declared domineeringly as she leaned over him. Her voluptuous body pressed against his as she offered herself completely, but her eyes held deadly seriousness. She knew her feelings were not quite normal; she had strong feelings for both Ling Bai and Ning Tian.
If she succeeded in having one on each arm in the future, she could not imagine what a cheerful little girl she would become!
"You can't have both fish and bear's paw."
Ling Bai gazed at Wu Feng with meaningful eyes. She understood his meaning instantly and rolled her eyes at him with feigned annoyance before shifting position. Her crimson hair spilled across his thighs as she lowered her head, lush lips parting in anticipation. The first touch of her tongue was electric—a slow, deliberate sweep as if savoring the finest vanilla ice cream. She worked with focused precision, alternating between teasing flicks and deep, pulling suction. Her cheeks hollowed as she took him deeper into the wet heat of her mouth.
Schlurp… Gluck…
The obscenely wet sounds filled the room, punctuated by Wu Feng's soft hums of concentration. Her fingers kneaded his thighs, nails occasionally digging in as she lost herself in the rhythm.
Ling Bai groaned, his head falling back against the pillows as he surrendered to the sensation. "Are you really that afraid of getting pregnant?"
On their previous two encounters, Wu Feng had held firm to her boundaries, forcing him to find release against the plump curve of her rear or between her lips.
"Anything else is fine, but Ning Tian must get pregnant first!" Wu Feng pulled back just enough to declare firmly, lips glistening, before diving back to her task.
"The stronger the Martial Spirit, the harder conception becomes."
Ling Bai said, running his fingers through her hair. "The Seraphim has practically been passed down through a single line for generations. It would be very difficult for you to get pregnant, even if you wanted to."
Wu Feng understood he was attacking her defenses, but she refused to take the bait. Instead, she redoubled her efforts with single-minded determination. Her hands joined her mouth, working in tandem as she took him deeper. The vibrations of her muffled moans sent jolts of pleasure racing up his spine.
Schlorp~
Time blurred into a haze of sensation. When Ling Bai finally reached his peak, Wu Feng's jaw ached and her lips felt swollen and sensitive.
"Mmph—!"
She swallowed reflexively, throat working as warmth flooded her mouth. When she finally pulled away, her pink tongue darted out to catch the last traces. A curious expression crossed her face:
"Mmm~ it's not as weird as the married sisters in the clan said. It's actually sweet."
Her pale throat bobbed as she swallowed completely, the gesture unconsciously sensual. A warm sensation spread through her belly as she collapsed beside him with a satisfied sigh.
Ling Bai closed his eyes contentedly. "My Seraphim possesses Ultimate Fire. What you consumed was essentially Ultimate Fire essence.
Red Dragon, Scarlet Armored Dragon, Scorching Sun Fire Dragon—they're all fire dragon descendants. Your Scarlet Armored Dragon spirit ring and Scorching Sun Fire Dragon spirit bone are causing your Red Dragon bloodline to show signs of reversion, gradually approaching the bloodline of the Fire Dragon King, one of the Nine Great Dragon Kings.
Of course, becoming the Fire Dragon King is impossible for you. But if you consume this essence eight or nine hundred more times, your Red Dragon might actually evolve into a true Fire Dragon."
"You're not lying?"
Wu Feng eyed him suspiciously.
Eight or nine hundred times!
Once a day would take over two years!
She had every reason to suspect Ling Bai was just trying to trick her into—
"When have I ever lied to you?"
Ling Bai adopted an expression of wounded innocence before coughing lightly. "Fire Dragon means Ultimate Fire, you know~"
In the ten thousand year history of Douluo Continent, only three Spirit Masters besides Ling Bai, Huo Yuhao, and Ma Xiaotao had ever possessed an ultimate attribute. The allure of Ultimate Fire to Wu Feng was beyond imagination. For the sake of that powerful ultimate attribute, she rubbed her sore cheeks as determination crystallized in her heart!
"Then... then I'll eat it! As many times as it takes!"
...
Deep underground in the Evildemon Forest, at the Holy Spirit Cult headquarters.
Except for Dragon Emperor Douluo Long Xiaoyao and Death God Douluo Ye Xishui, all the Holy Spirit Cult's Titled Douluo had assembled. The evil aura within the headquarters had nearly condensed into physical form, and faint agonized soul wails echoed through the air.
"Cult Leader, why have you summoned us?"
Scorpion Tiger Douluo Zhang Peng looked toward the head seat where Cult Leader Zhongli Wu sat rubbing his temples, taking the initiative to broach the topic.
The Holy Spirit Cult's powerhouses were divided into two branches: Elders and Worships. The Elders were all Evil Spirit Masters without exception, personally cultivated by Zhongli Wu, the cult's most loyal core members.
The Worships were more of a mixed bag. Not all were Evil Spirit Masters; many were outside experts the cult had invited to join, like the lovestruck Long Xiaoyao or the unlucky Zhang Peng who got beaten just for drinking spirit beast blood.
Compared to Elders, Worships were stronger but less restricted. They usually stayed away from the cult, only coming when Zhongli Wu summoned them.
Zhongli Wu swept his gaze across the assembled powerhouses and sighed deeply. "Everyone, the Seraphim's sudden emergence has plunged our Holy Cult into an unprecedented crisis.
Especially now that the Seraphim has matured. First, he killed Eighth Elder Malevolent Douluo. Then Worships Gu Mo, Si Qi, and Wang Qi ambushed him together but never returned.
Days ago, the Seraphim brazenly destroyed our Mingdu branch. Wronged Soul Douluo has also lost contact. All evidence points to the three Worships having failed and perished."
"What..."
"Gu Mo actually died..."
"He was a Rank 96 Super Douluo..."
The Evil Douluo erupted in nervous whispers. Among the cult's twenty-plus Titled Douluo, Ancient Demon Douluo's strength ranked just below the two Limit Douluo and the Leader and Deputy—solidly fifth place.
Who could have imagined his ambush of the Seraphim with Death Knight Douluo and Undead Knight Douluo would turn into delivering themselves on a platter!
Such a devastating outcome left the Evil Douluo deeply shaken. Regular Titled Douluo feared becoming cannon fodder, while even Super Douluo felt apprehensive. Everyone exchanged glances, and for a moment the vast meeting hall fell completely silent.
"Cult Leader, what's the Seraphim's actual strength? Has he broken through to Super Douluo?"
A long-secluded Worship inquired.
"No, he's only a Spirit Saint."
Zhongli Wu shook his head. "When the three Worships departed, the Seraphim didn't even have his Martial Spirit Avatar yet."
"Then how on earth did Gu Mo die? I know the Seraphim counters Evil Spirit Masters, but surely he couldn't lose to a Spirit Emperor..."
Someone asked the question that was on everyone's mind. Zhongli Wu was equally baffled.
Having a Martial Spirit Avatar or not represented two completely different realms. They could rack their brains and never imagine that Ling Bai could bring his own seventh spirit ring, and a terrifying 700,000-year Great Beast spirit ring at that.
The massive information gap had led to Ancient Demon Douluo's tragic end.
"What's done is done. Debating Worship Gu Mo's cause of death serves little purpose. The key is killing the Seraphim before he becomes truly unstoppable." Zhang Peng frowned, dragging the conversation back on track.
"Cult Leader, this subordinate has a plan!"
Second Elder Heavenly Centipede Douluo Nangong Wan cupped his hands.
"Second Elder has a plan? Let's hear it quickly."
Nangong Wan spoke gravely: "In this subordinate's view, the Seraphim possesses a talent for growing stronger by killing Evil Spirit Masters. We cannot rashly send more assassins only to feed him. We must ensure a killing blow!
Currently, the only ones in our cult who could reliably kill the Seraphim are the Supreme Leader and Grand Worship Dragon Emperor. Perhaps Cult Leader could request their assistance?"
"The Supreme Leader is busy completing the final components of the Death God Pagoda, with Dragon Emperor Worship constantly by her side. I cannot reach them."
Zhongli Wu looked at Nangong Wan with disappointment. Ye Xishui was focused on the Class 10 Spirit Guidance Device while Long Xiaoyao followed her around like a lapdog all day. If those two Limit Douluo were available, would he even be worrying?!
"Forget it. For now, the Holy Cult will avoid direct confrontation with the Seraphim." Zhongli Wu waved his hand.
Currently, the only ones in the Holy Spirit Cult with higher spirit power than Ancient Demon Douluo were himself and Evil Phoenix Douluo Feng Ling. Zhongli Wu neither wanted to nor dared face the Seraphim who had once swept through all the Evil Spirit Masters on Douluo Continent.
Besides, the Seraphim spent his days hiding at the Sun Moon Imperial Academy. Jing Hongchen would never allow the Seraphim to die on his territory, and having the Holy Spirit Cult's Leader and Deputy Leader camp outside day and night seemed rather beneath their dignity.
"There's another matter."
Zhongli Wu changed topics. "Regarding the Super Evil Douluo who's been making waves across the continent lately—Death Abyss Douluo."
Faces changed at the mention of that name. Seventh Elder Masquerade Douluo clicked his tongue: "Death Abyss Douluo—the evil fiend with kill orders from both Body Sect and Shrek!"
Abomination Douluo added in his booming voice: "Not just that—all three empires have posted bounties too. Ten thousand gold and a marquisate for whoever kills Death Abyss Douluo! Now that our cult has gone into hiding, he acts like he's the number one Evil Spirit Master in the world!"
At the mention of Death Abyss Douluo, the Evil Douluo couldn't help revealing a hint of admiration and yearning. Shrek Academy, Body Sect, the three great empires!
Death Abyss Douluo had managed to offend every major power on the original Douluo Continent!
Truly the evilest of evils, a role model for all Evil Spirit Masters!
"Enough! I didn't summon you here to praise him!"
Zhongli Wu snapped irritably. "Crown Prince Xu Tianran contacted me. He says Death Abyss Douluo most likely stole a treasure from Illustrious Virtue Hall. Hall Master Jing Hongchen is demanding to know if he's one of ours."
"What?! Death Abyss Douluo offended Illustrious Virtue Hall too?!"
The Evil Spirit Masters' focus was surprisingly off-target as they collectively gasped in awe.
Adding Illustrious Virtue Hall and the Sun Moon Empire, Death Abyss Douluo had achieved the complete set!
Achievement Unlocked: Enemy of the Entire World!
"Cult Leader, this subordinate has another plan!"
Nangong Wan's eyes spun cleverly as his intelligent mind reclaimed the high ground.
"Let's hear it."
Dog-headed strategist Nangong Wan spoke confidently: "Death Abyss Douluo was certified as Ultimate Death by both Taotie Douluo Elder Xuan and Body Douluo Du Busi. An ultimate attribute Super Douluo is practically invincible below Limit Douluo.
This subordinate believes you should invite him to become a Worship and strengthen our cult's foundation!"
"There's merit to that suggestion."
Zhongli Wu nodded approvingly before turning to his wife who had remained silent throughout—Rank 97 Evil Phoenix Douluo Feng Ling—and asked gently:
"Feng'er, what do you think?"
Feng Ling considered for a moment before speaking slowly: "The Holy Cult has suffered heavy losses. Malevolent, Gu Mo, Si Qi, Wang Qi, Wronged Soul—we've lost a full quarter of the Eight Great Elders and Twelve Worships. Recruiting a Super Evil Douluo would indeed be beneficial.
The Bone Dragon King you refined still has flaws. That's the key obstacle preventing your breakthrough to Limit Douluo. I've heard Death Abyss Douluo's Martial Spirit happens to be a bone dragon. Perhaps he can solve your problem."
"Good. In that case... Second Elder!"
Zhongli Wu made his decision and barked.
"This subordinate is here!"
Nangong Wan stepped forward.
"Now is the time for the Duskwater Alliance to prove its worth. Search every corner of the world—no matter what it takes, find Death Abyss Douluo!
Remember, regardless of what methods you use, you must invite him to headquarters as a guest!
The Holy Spirit Cult welcomes him!"