In a small, picturesque courtyard.
Ning Rongrong sat cross-legged, her hands folded in front of her, with the radiant Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda resting quietly on her palms.
The originally dazzling Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda now emitted faint wisps of gray-black gas, clashing starkly with its usual sacred and serene glow.
Ning Rongrong's aura reached a balance with the energy diffusing from the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda, standing out oddly against the gentle breeze of the surroundings. Upon closer inspection, everything seemed to harmonize with the aura emanating from the pagoda.
At this moment, Ning Rongrong was in a state similar to when she had confronted the remnant soul of the Evil Spirit Orca King her spiritual form had entered the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda.
"Dark Devilgod Tiger, do you truly refuse to acknowledge me as your master?"
Inside the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda, Ning Rongrong, wielding a manifested sword engraved with ice and fire patterns, gazed coldly at the black orb restrained before her. Her brown hair fluttered lightly as she spoke.
"Human, who do you think I am?" The Dark Devilgod Tiger roared angrily. "I am the messenger of the Evil God, the Dark Devilgod Tiger destined to become a god! How could I ever submit to a mere human? This is impossible! I have my pride!"
"Even if I die even if I perish within this strange pagoda, even if my soul ring is absorbed I will never bow to you!"
The Dark Devilgod Tiger's tone was resolute. Ning Rongrong sighed silently.
If not for the potential of the Dark Devilgod Pearl to enhance Grandpa Bone's strength, she would have already destroyed it.
"Dark Devilgod Tiger, you will never become a god," Ning Rongrong said calmly. "In the Douluo Continent, no spirit beast can ascend to godhood not even you."
"This is the restriction placed upon all spirit beasts by the Dragon God before his death, enforced by the five God Kings."
"Don't try to deceive me, you little human brat!" The Dark Devilgod Pearl transformed back into the form of the Dark Devilgod Tiger, though now it was a miniature version, resembling a small black cat. "I've lived far longer than you. Did you really think such words could sway me?"
"I never intended to sway you." Ning Rongrong twirled her sword lightly.
In an instant, the temperature within the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda plummeted.
A crescent-shaped blade of ice shot forth, slashing directly toward the Dark Devilgod Tiger.
The Dark Devilgod Tiger was shocked.
This brat has no honor! Attacking mid-conversation!
It leaped aside to dodge, opening its maw to release a beam of black energy.
"Useless." Watching the corrosive beam that blotted out the sky, Ning Rongrong slashed forward.
Scorching flames erupted, forming a sea of fire that devoured the Dark Devilgod Tiger's attack with overwhelming energy.
Seeing the flames encircling her like a fiery dragon, the Dark Devilgod Tiger activated her spatial ability, instantly appearing behind Ning Rongrong.
A massive disk materialized at the base of her tail, ready to drag her opponent into the Death Battle Arena once more.
"This time, I will succeed."
Last time, for some unknown reason, her own power had weakened when she pulled the human into the arena. Otherwise, killing this age-reversed brat at full strength would have been effortless.
"A pointless attack."
In the Dark Devilgod Tiger's eyes, Ning Rongrong's figure vanished completely, her presence undetectable.
"Ssshhhk!"
The disk meant to ensnare her was split apart by a blade.
Ning Rongrong kicked the Dark Devilgod Tiger squarely in the waist.
"Boom!"
The Dark Devilgod Tiger's face twisted in pain as she was sent flying at incredible speed.
"Traceless."
In the next moment, Ning Rongrong matched the Dark Devilgod Tiger's flight speed, appearing behind her. Her sword gleamed with intertwined ice and fire.
"Human, don't underestimate me!"
The Dark Devilgod Tiger roared, and blue-purple spheres of lightning condensed around her.
"Die, brat!"
Her furious howl echoed through the space.
"Fine. If you refuse to submit, I won't force you."
Ning Rongrong's sword radiated ice and fire, dispersing the lightning spheres into pure soul power before thrusting forward with a slight exertion of her palm.
"What?!" The Dark Devilgod Tiger's expression changed drastically. She hadn't expected Ning Rongrong's speed to increase yet again.
The sword, blazing with ice and fire, grazed the tip of her nose.
Cold sweat drenched the Dark Devilgod Tiger's fur.
She barely dodged, using spatial power to escape the attack range. But before she could even sigh in relief
"Ssshhhk!"
The Dark Devilgod Tiger's eyes widened in disbelief.
She turned her head with difficulty, staring at the noble-clad girl whose strikes were as ruthless as they were elegant.
"You… you're just a support-type Soul Master!"
"Impossible!"
The "king" character on the Dark Devilgod Tiger's forehead was pierced mercilessly by the sword, her pained expression distorting the mark.
"I gave you chances. Even Buddha's patience runs out after three times."
"Little tiger, I was interested in the source of your power, but that doesn't mean you could act recklessly forever."
"A spirit beast fused with the Evil God's remnant power is still just a spirit beast at its core."
"Disappear."
Frost capable of eroding souls seeped slowly from the blade, spreading from the Dark Devilgod Tiger's forehead and encasing her in ice.
"No! NO!"
The Dark Devilgod Tiger screamed in agony. "Human, I curse you! I curse you to die a wretched death!"
In mere seconds, her soul was frozen into a transparent block of ice, her lifelike expression preserved within.
Then, Ning Rongrong's sword shifted from ice to fire. In an instant, flames surged forth, reducing the Dark Devilgod Tiger to nothingness.
"Clang!"
A dark black pearl fell to the ground.
Unlike before, the Dark Devilgod Pearl now emitted a gentler energy, devoid of its previous malevolence.
"As I thought. My hypothesis was correct."
"Within the domain forged by my cultivation technique, opposing forces merge into one, encompassing all creation."
Even the power of a god could be decomposed and analyzed.
The Dark Devilgod Pearl trembled slightly before floating into Ning Rongrong's palm.
Though her primary consciousness was inside the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda, her cultivation at the half-step Xiantian peak, supreme and perfected, allowed her to sense someone approaching from the outside.
"Time to return. This trip wasn't without gains."
The Dark Devilgod Pearl in her hand rose gently as misty energy swirled around it. With a soft whoosh, the pearl vanished, seemingly absorbed into the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda.
Ning Rongrong took a deep breath. The ancient sword in her hand and her own form dissolved into motes of light, scattering across the ground.
Her consciousness fully returned to her body.