Bibi Dong took a deep breath, her gaze fixed on Song Qing. "Alright, Qing'er," she said, her voice calm despite the unusual request. "If this is what you need for your plan, then I will do it." She closed her eyes for a moment, gathering her resolve. This was a significant sacrifice, but her trust in her disciple was absolute.
After a few moments, she opened her eyes, a newfound determination shining within them. She reached out and gently held the God-bestowed Soul Ring in her left hand, its golden surface gleaming faintly. With her right hand, she focused her soul power, and the air around her shimmered as the seventh soul ring of her Soul Devouring Spider Emperor spirit materialized above her head. It was a deep red, pulsating with a powerful energy that spoke of its age and potency.
"Are you ready, Qing'er?" Bibi Dong asked, her gaze steady.
Song Qing nodded, his own excitement and nervousness warring within him. "Yes, Teacher. Thank you." He focused his mental energy, and the Crimson Soul Emperor's Crown on his head glowed with an intense crimson light. He extended his right hand towards Bibi Dong's seventh soul ring, his eyes locked onto his target.
"Soul Seize!" Song Qing commanded, and a beam of crimson energy shot forth from the crown, directly striking the red soul ring.
The moment the energy made contact, Song Qing felt a strange connection to the soul ring. Within its confines, he could sense a faint, lingering consciousness – a soul filled with a deep, almost unbearable sadness and longing. 'This must be A'Rou,' he thought, a pang of sympathy hitting him.
He channeled all his soul power, which had now reached a respectable level of 54 after the complete digestion of the medicinal energies from the immortal herbs, into the Crimson Soul Emperor's Crown. He focused on severing the connection between the soul ring and Bibi Dong, while simultaneously pulling the soul within towards his crown. It was a delicate process, requiring immense concentration and control.
The red soul ring flickered violently, and a faint, ethereal figure began to emerge, drawn by the crimson light emanating from Song Qing's crown. Even A'Rou, trapped within the confines of the soul ring for so long, perceived a sudden, brilliant light in her dark prison. Hope flickered within her as she instinctively followed the beckoning light.
In what felt like an instant, the ethereal figure of A'Rou, the Soft Boned Rabbit, was pulled free from the soul ring and instantly entrapped within the crimson gem of Song Qing's Crimson Soul Emperor's Crown. The sensation was disorienting for her. One moment she was in a dark, silent void, unable to perceive anything, and the next she was surrounded by a warm, crimson light, able to see the world around her through the gem. She could also feel a strange connection forming, her mental energy intertwining with that of a young man.
Through this newfound mental link, Song Qing carefully sent a limited stream of information to A'Rou, enough for her to understand her immediate situation without overwhelming her. 'Madam A'Rou,' he mentally projected, keeping his thoughts respectful.
'I have pulled you from the soul ring of my teacher. You are now within my external spirit bone. It is a much better place than where you were, I assure you. I promise to help you create a new body, one just like you had before, and I will also help you reunite with your daughter, Xiao Wu. However, you must obey my instructions and follow my words without question. Do you understand?'
A'Rou was flabbergasted. The sudden influx of information, the realization that she was no longer trapped in that dark abyss, and the promise of seeing her daughter again… it was almost too much to comprehend.
Yet, the mental voice felt sincere, and the prospect of seeing Xiao Wu again was too enticing to ignore. With a mental sigh, acknowledging her lack of any real alternative, she sent back a hesitant affirmation. 'I… I understand. I will obey.'
Meanwhile, as soon as A'Rou's soul had been extracted, Bibi Dong swiftly acted. She held the God-bestowed Soul Ring towards her Soul Devouring Spider Emperor spirit.
The golden ring glowed brightly for a moment before merging seamlessly with her spirit, settling into the seventh position, replacing the now-empty red soul ring.
A powerful surge of energy coursed through Bibi Dong as the new soul ring integrated itself. Its color was a deep, rich red, even more vibrant than A'Rou's had been, and the sheer power radiating from it was immense.
It was clear that this soul ring possessed an age far exceeding one hundred thousand years, significantly greater than A'Rou's original ring.
A small, satisfied smile touched Bibi Dong's lips. In a strange twist of fate, she had actually benefited from this exchange.
"Are you alright, Teacher?" Song Qing asked, his gaze concerned.
Bibi Dong nodded, a thoughtful expression on her face. "Yes, Qing'er. I feel… stronger, actually. That God-bestowed Soul Ring was truly extraordinary." She looked at the Crimson Soul Emperor's Crown on his head, a mixture of curiosity and understanding in her eyes. "So, you have the soul of the Soft Bone Rabbit now. What exactly do you plan to do with it?"
Song Qing smiled mysteriously. "You'll see, Teacher. All in good time. This is just the next step in my plan to make Tang Hao pay."
He glanced at the crown, feeling the presence of A'Rou within. He could sense her relief at being freed, mixed with a healthy dose of curiosity and apprehension.
He sent her a mental reassurance. 'Rest now, Madam A'Rou. We will talk more later.'
A'Rou, feeling the comforting mental presence, sent back a grateful thought. 'Thank you… young man.'
Bibi Dong watched her disciple, her mind filled with questions, but she decided to trust him. Whatever his plan was, she had a feeling it was going to be significant. "Alright, Qing'er. I trust you. Just let me know what you need next."
Song Qing nodded, his eyes filled with a determined light. "I will, Teacher. Thank you again for your trust and your sacrifice." He knew he had asked a lot of her, but this was a crucial step in his long-term plan for revenge. The pieces were slowly falling into place.
~~
With a renewed sense of purpose, Song Qing made his way back to the herbal garden. The morning sun cast long shadows across the rows of meticulously planted herbs, their leaves glistening with dew. He walked slowly, his gaze sweeping over his botanical treasures, his mind already formulating plans for the coming months.
'Now that Madam A'Rou is safe,' he thought, a sense of satisfaction settling within him, 'I need to focus on strengthening her soul and preparing for the journey to the Extreme North.'
He stopped before a patch of young saplings, their leaves a vibrant crimson. 'The Yearning Heartbroken Red is growing nicely,' he mused. 'Its essence should be excellent for nourishing spiritual energy.' He moved on, his eyes landing on a cluster of delicate, silk-like flowers. 'And the Beautiful Silk Tulip… its calming aura will be beneficial for A'Rou as well.'
His thoughts continued to catalogue the various herbs, each one holding a specific purpose in his grand design. 'The Aromatic Silk Beauty… its fragrance alone can soothe a troubled soul. The Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass… its cold energy, when properly refined, could be useful in the future. The Infernal Delicate Apricot… its fiery essence might be needed for creating a physical body.'
He paused by a plant with a single, magnificent bloom, its petals a deep, velvety purple. 'The Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum… its ability to enhance mental clarity will be invaluable for both A'Rou and myself.' He continued his circuit of the garden, his mind a whirlwind of botanical knowledge and strategic planning. 'Full Moon Wearing Autumn Dew, Eight Petal Immortal Orchid, Cockscomb Phoenix Sunflower, Nine Treasure Purple Zoysia, Daffodil Jade Flesh Bone…' He mentally listed them, each one a piece in the intricate puzzle he was trying to solve.
'There was one particular herb…' he thought, his brow furrowing in concentration as he tried to recall the specific information from the Primordial Life Tree Spirit. 'Ah, yes! The Soul Consolidation Orchid. I planted a few seedlings, but they are still quite young. I need to focus on rapidly maturing them.'
He located the patch of Soul Consolidation Orchids, their leaves a pale, ethereal white. 'These are the key to strengthening Madam A'Rou's soul,' he thought, a determined glint in his eyes. He knelt down, placing his hands gently above the plants, and activated his Verdant Embrace. A wave of pure life energy flowed from him, enveloping the delicate orchids, accelerating their growth at an astonishing rate.
'Once her soul is strong enough,' he pondered, moving on to another section of the garden, 'the next step is creating a body for her. The Yin-Yang Extreme Reversal Herb… that's the most direct way, but the dangers of the Extreme North are not to be underestimated.'
He vividly recalled the information about the herb – its ability to reverse the very essence of life and death, the treacherous journey to its location in the frigid north, and the spectral guardians that protected it.
'I need to be patient,' he told himself, a sigh escaping his lips. 'Rushing into the Extreme North in my current state would be suicide. Tang Hao… his power was immense. And the Great Fierce Beasts there are likely even more formidable.'
The memory of Tang Hao's attack, the sheer force of his spirit power, the overwhelming pressure… it was still fresh in his mind. He had survived, but it had been a close call, and he knew he couldn't afford to be reckless again.
'Soul Douluo… Titled Douluo… that's the level of power I need before I can even think about facing the dangers of the Extreme North,' he resolved, his gaze hardening with determination.
Later that evening, as the stars began to pepper the night sky, Song Qing once again reached out mentally to A'Rou, her presence a faint but comforting warmth within his Crimson Soul Emperor's Crown.
'Madam A'Rou?' he projected gently, his thoughts filled with respect and consideration.
A soft, mental voice responded, tinged with a gentle curiosity. 'Yes, young man? Is everything alright?'
'Yes, everything is fine,' Song Qing reassured her mentally. 'I was just thinking about you and making plans for the future.'
'Oh?' A'Rou's mental voice held a note of anticipation. 'What kind of plans?'
Song Qing mentally shared with her his intentions to cultivate the Soul Consolidation Orchid to strengthen her soul and his knowledge of the Yin-Yang Extreme Reversal Herb and his eventual goal of retrieving it to create a new body for her. He also explained the dangers of the Extreme North and his need to become much stronger before undertaking such a perilous journey.
A'Rou listened intently, her mental presence radiating a gentle understanding and gratitude. 'You are truly kind, young man,' she projected, her mental voice filled with warmth. 'Thank you for thinking of me so much and for genuinely wanting to help me. I am eternally grateful.'
A hint of longing then entered her mental tone. 'Young man… if I may ask… when do you think you might be able to take me to see my daughter? Xiao Wu… I long to see how she is doing.'
Song Qing felt a pang of sympathy for the mother's yearning. He knew how much Xiao Wu meant to her. 'About that, Madam A'Rou,' he projected gently, 'I think it would be best to wait for around eight months or so. By then, I will be much stronger, and it will be safer for both of us when we eventually reveal your presence to Xiao Wu.' He had his own reasons for the delay, reasons tied to his plans for Tang Hao, but he didn't elaborate on those.
A'Rou's mental presence flickered slightly, a hint of reluctance in her response. 'Eight months… that is a long time.' But then, she sighed mentally, accepting his decision. 'Very well, young man. I understand. You know best.' Her mental presence then receded, fading back into the depths of the Crimson Soul Emperor's Crown, leaving Song Qing alone with his thoughts and the silent company of his growing immortal herbs.