Chapter 13: The 900-Year Phantom Ghost Bird
"Have you found out anything about Luo Ling's background?" Bibi Dong asked, her gaze fixed on Luo Ling and Hu Liena walking side by side in the distance.
Ghost Douluo shook his head. "Forgive me, Your Holiness. The only lead I found was that someone spotted him in Notting City six days ago. Beyond that, there's no record of him anywhere."
Could it be true, then—that Luo Ling really had lived his life deep in the mountains, secluded with that so-called reclusive grandfather?
Bibi Dong frowned slightly. Given Luo Ling's striking appearance, someone that eye-catching living long in one place would have drawn attention. It didn't add up.
Up ahead, Luo Ling watched everything unfold through the eyes of a crow perched on a nearby treetop.
A faint smirk curved his lips. He could easily guess what Bibi Dong had asked Ghost Douluo to do. But no matter how much that ghostly elder investigated, he'd never discover that Luo Ling's altered appearance was due to his martial soul's second awakening.
"Forget it—if you can't find anything, then drop it," Bibi Dong finally said, waving her hand. His background didn't concern her much. He was just a seven-year-old child—what could he possibly stir up?
With that thought, she quickened her pace and joined Luo Ling and Hu Liena.
"Little Ling, it's dark already," Hu Liena whispered, looping her arm around his neck. "Don't worry, big sister will protect you!"
Luo Ling's face darkened. He didn't know whether to laugh or sigh at the future Saintess of Spirit Hall.
Such pure innocence—it wasn't hard to see why Tang San would toy with her so easily in the future.
A gentle cough interrupted them.
Bibi Dong approached, giving Hu Liena a stern glance before turning toward a dark, shadowy figure standing nearby.
"Luo Ling, allow me to introduce Elder Ghost of Spirit Hall," she said. "He's a Title Douluo."
"Greetings, Elder Ghost," Luo Ling bowed respectfully.
"Elder Ghost specializes in darkness," Bibi Dong explained. "The Phantom Ghost Bird you're seeking is a dark and spiritual dual-attribute soul beast. With his abilities, no Phantom Ghost Bird within this forest can escape."
"Then I must trouble Elder Ghost," Luo Ling replied with a hint of excitement. He had been worried about finding such a creature—now it would be far easier.
Ghost Douluo said nothing, simply nodded, and vanished into the darkness.
…
A quarter-hour later, he returned.
"Any findings?" Bibi Dong asked.
Ghost Douluo hesitated, glancing at Luo Ling. "There are Phantom Ghost Birds here," he said. "But the youngest one I found is already nine hundred years old."
"Nine hundred years?" Bibi Dong frowned. According to the Ten Core Theories of Martial Souls, the maximum age for a first soul ring was 423 years—this was more than double that limit.
"No lower-aged ones?"
"This forest isn't large," Ghost Douluo replied. "There are only three Phantom Ghost Birds total—one around four thousand years, another around two thousand, and the last one nine hundred."
Bibi Dong shook her head slightly. Nine hundred years was too high.
"Luo Ling," she said softly, "you heard him. It's too dangerous."
"Teacher, could Elder Ghost at least take me to see it?" Luo Ling asked calmly.
"You intend to absorb a nine-hundred-year soul ring? The maximum for a first ring is 423 years—you'd be pushing the limits disastrously!" Bibi Dong's tone grew stern.
"The Ten Core Theories are Yu Xiaogang's, not immutable truth," Luo Ling said firmly, shaking his head.
Having read both the original Douluo Continent and its sequels, he knew that it wasn't absolute. Beyond the ten-thousand-year barrier—when spirit impact came into play—the only true requirement was physical resilience. As long as his body could endure it, even nine hundred years was manageable.
And after his martial soul's second awakening, Luo Ling was confident in his strength.
"I can't allow it," Bibi Dong insisted. "It's too dangerous. If not here, we can go to the Star Dou Forest. There's no need to rush."
"Teacher, believe in me." Luo Ling met her eyes without flinching. "I have twin martial souls—my body is far hardier than that of an ordinary Soul Master. And if I feel I can't withstand it, I won't push myself."
The steady determination in his expression left her silent.
After a long pause, Bibi Dong finally nodded. "Take him there."
…
Ten minutes later, the group arrived at a dark, secluded part of the forest.
Ghost Douluo's figure flickered as he shot up into the treetops.
Moments later, a haunting cry pierced the night. A massive bird cloaked in shimmering blue descended, its emerald-green eyes glinting dangerously.
The Phantom Ghost Bird.
The creature, startled from its rest, glared down at the intruders—but when its gaze fell upon Bibi Dong and the two Title Douluo beside her, its expression changed instantly.
Even a beast could sense overwhelming death when faced with three apex predators.
It let out a pitiful shriek and launched a volley of dark spikes from its feathers.
Ghost Douluo lifted a hand lazily. Shadowy energy rippled forth, reducing the deadly spikes to dust in an instant.
Panic flickered in the soul beast's eyes. It released its trump card—the ability to shift between corporeal and spirit form.
In that ghostly state, it became intangible to physical attacks and gained incredible speed.
But before a powerhouse like Ghost Douluo, such abilities were meaningless.
A flick of his hand sent a ghostly apparition soaring skyward. The powerful blast struck the Phantom Ghost Bird mid-flight, smashing it to the ground.
Its spectral state shattered, and after twitching a few times upon impact, it lay still.
"Finish it," Bibi Dong said quietly, still uneasy about Luo Ling's decision to absorb such a high-level ring.
Luo Ling nodded. Taking the dagger she had given him earlier, he walked forward and plunged it into the bird's skull.
A deep yellow soul ring began to form above the corpse—its hue faintly edged with purple.
"This one is nearly a thousand years old," Bibi Dong warned softly. "Are you sure you want it?"
As Luo Ling reached out, the Soul of Desire within him stirred, emanating a faint pulse of hunger.
"Don't worry, Teacher," he said with a faint smile. "I value my life too much to gamble with it."
"Good." Bibi Dong sighed. "I don't want my new disciple turning into a corpse already."
She glared at him lightly, though there was curious warmth in her tone. She didn't understand it herself—but somehow, this boy already felt strangely close to her.
She didn't realize then that the Soul of Desire naturally made others subconsciously drawn to and trusting of him.
Smiling helplessly, Luo Ling turned his focus inward.
Sitting cross-legged, he released his second martial soul. The Phantom Ghost Bird's soul ring drifted toward him, glowing brightly.
His eyes turned scarlet as the energy coursed into him.
At that moment, his first martial soul—the Raven Shadow Puppet—manifested as well.
It should have been impossible. The ring meant for a second martial soul was binding to the first.
Everyone froze, eyes widening.
The Raven Shadow Puppet's lone soul ring pulsed wildly while the Phantom Ghost Bird's ring slid gracefully into place.
Slowly, unbelievably, the two rings began to merge.
The Raven Shadow Puppet's shadowy form wavered—and then sank into Luo Ling's body once more.
(END CHAPTER)
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