"Clap, clap, clap!"
Ying Yanyang suddenly applauded Wang Zhong, a move that puzzled many in the audience.
"Good, good, good!"
"Wang Zhong, I finally see a bit of growth in you, beyond talent and strength, that satisfies me the most!"
"Although still a bit raw, you've already shown glimpses of brilliance. This is something I never imagined before I took the stage."
"As a reward for your growth, teacher agrees to your request!"
"Four years from now, we'll settle it with one battle!"
Ying Yanyang's tone was fervent, his words decisive.
The original challenge of five battles in five years had transformed into a five-year pact!
This change was not only unexpected by Ying Yanyang but also by Bibi Dong. If it were according to her original plan, she would never allow such a thing to happen.
However, the progression of her relationship with Wang Zhong had also exceeded her expectations, especially the embrace and the reply from three days ago. Their bond had reached a level even Bibi Dong hadn't anticipated.
Teacher and disciple! Mother and son!
The former relationship should have taken precedence, with the latter deepening. Yet, the reality had shifted too quickly, leaving no room for her to ponder or strategize. Before the teacher-disciple relationship was officially established, the mother-son relationship had already made rapid progress.
"Mother!"
"I'm here!"
A single question and a single answer, and their relationship was set.
Recalling the scene above the forest, Bibi Dong felt a profound sense of complexity. Reaching that point was the culmination of her plan; by rights, she should be happy.
Yet, even now, her heart was filled not with joy but with heaviness, oppression, pain, and confusion. This mother-son affection, born of calculation, gave her a sense of helpless panic. Whenever she thought of this fact, Bibi Dong's mind went blank.
She repeatedly told herself it was fake, that it was an illusion. But when she responded above the forest, the surge in her heart was uncontrollable, causing her to blurt out "I'm here," which echoed in her heart, as if questioning again and again, Is it real? Is it truly fake?
Bibi Dong couldn't distinguish, couldn't understand, and was truly lost in confusion.
Her wine-red eyes closed, concealing the bewilderment within. Bibi Dong said softly, "Ghost Douluo, escort me away."
"Yes, Your Eminence!"
Though surprised by Bibi Dong's departure at this moment, Ghost Douluo still bowed in response.
Black mist swirled, enveloping Bibi Dong on her throne. When the black mist dissipated, her figure had vanished without a trace.
Below the stage, many noticed the Pope's departure, their expressions filled with complexity.
Twice now, the Pope had left quietly after Wang Zhong's matches. Such an obvious action clearly told everyone for whom she had come and whom she was watching.
Their eyes filled with deep envy, many cast their gaze towards the young figure standing on the stage. They were consumed by jealousy, yet also paralyzed by inferiority.
His talent was unprecedented, unique in the world!
Ying Yanyang smiled and walked off the stage, while Wang Zhong and the other two also followed him, walking slowly.
"The arena is destroyed! The annual competition is postponed!"
Ghost Douluo announced hoarsely from the high platform. The crowd responded in unison, "Yes! We obey the elder's orders!"
Since Wang Zhong, the Spirit Hall Academy had experienced two postponements of major competitions, both due to the arena being destroyed, and both caused by the same person. This outcome was both comical and strangely enviable.
He was truly radiant!
Half a month later, after the completion of the competition, Wang Zhong, Hu Liena, Xie Yue, and Yan all applied to advance to the second grade. This caused quite a stir.
There was no need to elaborate on Wang Zhong; he was a prodigy. But Hu Liena, Xie Yue, and Yan were also only eight years old this year. Advancing to the second grade at this age was simply a rare monster.
Especially Hu Liena, who had already reached an astonishing strength of level twenty-nine, just a step away from becoming a Soul Elder. Such incredible news led people to exclaim, no wonder they could play with Wang Zhong; they were all monsters!
In a small wooden house in the forest, by the river, Wang Zhong sat cross-legged on a smooth stone, his hands supporting his face as he gazed intently ahead.
Before him lay a celestial herb as white as a swan, and a bead that was entirely emerald green, within which a swirling mist churned.
The celestial herb was named "Swan's Kiss in Snow," the very one Wang Zhong had told Dugu Bo could magnify the efficacy of poisons a thousandfold.
The emerald bead was obtained by Wang Zhong from Dugu Bo. It was a poison bead condensed with the maximum amount of poison Dugu Bo could gather and compress under a full-powered strike. It was given to Wang Zhong for self-defense.
However, Wang Zhong now had other ideas for it.
"Alas, it's the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, and it's also the downfall."
"At the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, my Eight Extremes Heaven improved greatly. Although not reaching perfection, it was certainly well-initiated."
"But this progress was merely superficial. The internal organs did not strengthen much!"
Recalling the damage caused by the combined attack of Si Qianyi and the five others—no, including Wang Zhong's own unrestrained Mountain Shaker strike—the six of them combined had caused such damage to his internal organs that Wang Zhong's head ached.
"As expected, Eight Extremes Heaven, like the Eight Inner Gates, requires steady progress, step by step. There can be no shortcuts or self-created soul skills obtained through trickery!"
"I am now reaping the consequences of my actions!"
Scratching his head with both hands, Wang Zhong was filled with regret.
Had he known such consequences would arise, Wang Zhong would have proceeded bit by bit, not so aggressively, relying on medicinal power and the body's recovery speed to forcibly enhance his physical fitness.
After scratching his head for a good while, Wang Zhong clasped his arms and looked up at the sky, unconsciously thinking, "My rapid progress in physical fitness back then was due to the powerful cold and flame forces of the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well causing bodily trauma, which was then forcibly repaired by medicinal power as a foundation."
"One destruction, one repair, this is what brought my body to its current strength."
"But at that time, it was too superficial, and the two forces did not penetrate the body's interior, leaving the internal organs at their previous strength."
"If only I had drunk some of the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well water back then, and let it flow into my body, it should have been effective!"
Involuntarily, Wang Zhong had such an absurd thought.
And the more he thought about it, the more likely it seemed!
"Alas! What a pity, I didn't think of it then," Wang Zhong sighed heavily, feeling deeply disappointed.
"If I go to the Sunset Forest now, without the Pope's direct order, I can't get out or find my way."
"However, even without the spring water from the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, the poison bead given by Senior Dugu Bo, combined with Swan's Kiss in Snow, should be able to temper my internal organs."
"It's just that I'm not sure now. If my internal organs suffer such severe damage, can they still be repaired by medicinal herbs to provide restorative power? If not, I'll be in danger."
Tilting his head, Wang Zhong stared at the white clouds drifting in the blue sky, his brow furrowed.
But soon, he remembered that when he absorbed the Eight-petaled Mysterious Ice Grass, the Tree Spirit had used some mysterious ability to extract the medicinal power and form wisps of medicinal mist that hovered around.
"If my body can't do it, let the Tree Spirit give it a try."
With that, Wang Zhong took out a purple Ganoderma from his soul tool, about the size of an adult's palm, and simultaneously revealed his Tree Spirit behind him.
The nine-grade purple Ganoderma was the most potent among the celestial herbs he still possessed.
Bringing the nine-grade purple Ganoderma close to the Tree Spirit, as before, streams of purple energy were continuously extracted, transforming into a purple mist dragon that roamed around the Tree Spirit.
"It's feasible!"
Wang Zhong nodded heavily. With this ability of the Tree Spirit, he could proceed with his idea without any worries.
Grasping the poison bead and swallowing it, Wang Zhong took a deep breath, then swallowed the entire Swan's Kiss in Snow. At that moment, he used his soul power to fiercely collide with the poison bead suspended in his stomach.
The poison bead shattered instantly, and a ferocious, terrifying poison erupted within Wang Zhong's body. Coupled with the enhancing effect of Swan's Kiss in Snow, the already bone-corroding, soul-eroding poison was amplified to its extreme.
Under the destruction of such potent poison, Wang Zhong's body violently convulsed, and streams of black blood poured out from his orifices.
As Wang Zhong was doing all this, he didn't notice Bibi Dong's figure approaching him from not far away, a gentle smile on her face.