Chapter 39: Icefire Body Refinement
"Teacher, I'll only take what I need. Uncle Ju can send the rest back to Spirit City," Ruo Ling said, already unable to hide his excitement.
"This is your discovery, so you have full authority to distribute it," Bibi Dong replied with a pleased nod.
Ruo Ling wasted no time. Following what he remembered from the records, he gathered the Star Anise Mysterious Ice Grass, Blazing Apricot of Inferno, Autumn Water Dew, and a dark-attribute immortal herb called Shadow Night Vine.
Finally, he stopped before the Lovesick Heartbroken Red, and for some reason, the image of a certain little rabbit surfaced in his mind. After a moment of thought, he picked that one as well.
"Only these?" Bibi Dong asked in mild surprise.
Ruo Ling had only taken five plants, a tiny fraction of what was available near the Icefire Yin Yang Well.
"Teacher, this is plenty," Ruo Ling answered with a calm smile. "Immortal herbs are powerful beyond measure. Even one is enough for most people."
"As a dual-origin martial spirit user, I need a bit more."
Bibi Dong nodded slightly. She still didn't fully understand immortal herbs, but she trusted his judgment. Then she pointed toward the Golden Threaded Amber Tulip beside her.
"You truly mean to give that one to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan? It can evolve martial spirits."
"I don't need it," Ruo Ling said, shaking his head.
While that herb could enhance incomplete martial spirits, his had already undergone two awakenings.
With Crow Shadow Puppet and Desire Soul, his spirits were already too strong. He doubted the tulip would have any effect on them at all.
"Teacher can handle it as you see fit," he added. "I'm sure you'll find a way to exchange it for something valuable."
Bibi Dong didn't read too deeply into his intentions. She only thought him thoughtful and mature, which softened her expression even more.
"Xiao Ling, you can take your herbs here. I'll protect you while you refine them," she said, stepping closer.
"Teacher, the Star Anise Mysterious Ice Grass and Blazing Apricot of Inferno must be taken together and refined inside the spring." He pointed toward the twin-hued pool of blazing red and freezing blue.
The energy radiating from it was enough to make even Bibi Dong's expression turn grim.
"You… you have to go into that?" she asked. "Xiao Ling, this isn't a joke, is it?"
The aura of extreme heat and cold intertwined within that water was terrifying. Even she, as a Titled Douluo, wouldn't easily step into it.
"Teacher, I wouldn't joke about something like this," Ruo Ling said seriously.
Her eyes lingered on him for a long moment, full of worry before she finally sighed.
"Very well. But the moment something goes wrong, I'll pull you out immediately."
Ruo Ling nodded, nervous but determined.
If Tang San could do it, so could he.
He clenched his teeth, pressed both herbs together, and swallowed them whole.
Immediately, searing agony consumed him—half his body seemed aflame, the other turning to ice. Red and blue light surged from his skin as pain struck like lightning.
He gritted his teeth against it, stripped off his clothes, shut his eyes, and leapt straight into the spring.
A loud splash—and he vanished beneath the surface.
Bibi Dong nearly rushed forward on instinct but forced herself still.
Nearby, Dugu Bo, noticing the commotion, turned in alarm.
"Is that boy insane?!" he hollered, hurrying toward her.
But before he could come closer, Bibi Dong's icy gaze met his.
"If Xiao Ling dies, you'll follow him," she said coldly, eyes gleaming with deadly light.
The threat carried the full weight of her authority as Pope.
For that brief moment, the suppressed malice of the Rakshasa God's influence began to resurface in her eyes.
Ruo Ling had no idea how much he meant to her—or how close she was to losing control.
Dugu Bo froze on the spot, unable to move under the crushing pressure.
Even Chrysanthemum Douluo stood trembling; it had been years since he'd seen Bibi Dong this furious. It felt as though the old Pope, the merciless ruler of Spirit Hall, had fully returned.
Xiao Ling, you better come out alive, Chrysanthemum Douluo thought silently. Or Her Holiness will truly lose her mind.
...
Three days passed.
The Icefire Yin Yang Well remained perfectly still.
Bibi Dong's face had grown dark enough to rival the storm clouds, her killing intent condensing into something tangible above the spring.
Chrysanthemum Douluo and Dugu Bo could only silently curse their luck.
Three more days passed.
By now, Dugu Bo was sure he'd die just from the silence.
Then—at last—the lake rippled.
A head broke through the surface.
Ruo Ling emerged with a radiant smile, his body gleaming faintly red and blue. The refinement was complete.
His soul power hadn't climbed higher, but his physical body had strengthened immensely—more than doubled, in fact.
Even the extremes of heat and cold could no longer harm him; the Icefire Spring now felt to him like a warm bath.
As he marveled at the transformation, the three figures on the shore erupted in excitement.
Without hesitation, Bibi Dong swept him out of the water with her power and pulled him tightly into her arms. Her eyes shimmered with moisture—tears from the woman who never wept.
The Pope of Spirit Hall was crying.
Ruo Ling froze, uncertain what to do, feeling the softness of her embrace and the faint scent that surrounded her. Emotions he couldn't define welled up inside him.
All this time, his goals had been simple—revenge against Yu Xiaogang and the pursuit of godhood. His allegiance to Spirit Hall was only a means to that end.
But now…
The sincerity in Bibi Dong's tears moved him.
Even a fool could see how deeply she cared.
"Teacher," Ruo Ling whispered, gently setting his hand on her shoulder.
She looked up with reddened eyes, glaring at him even through her relief. "Do you still have any respect for your teacher left?"
"Of course I do," he replied quickly.
"Then never do something that reckless again!"
"I'll obey, Teacher," he said softly.
Biting her lip, Bibi Dong stared at him for a long moment before finally letting go.
Moved, Ruo Ling hesitated—then hugged her briefly in return before stepping back.
Seeing her slightly disheveled appearance and the residual killing intent lingering in the air, he immediately activated his martial spirit fusion.
Before their stunned eyes, his four soul rings fused pairwise into two deep purple rings.
Then the first ring glowed. His spiritual sight opened, and he saw Bibi Dong's Soul Threads again—more black energy entwined around them than before.
Ruo Ling guided his Soul Threads to intertwine with hers once more. Warmth flooded through her soul, and slowly, the hatred and madness in her melted away.
When she opened her eyes again, the cold had vanished from them. The Pope of Spirit Hall had returned to her calm, regal poise.
"What… what just happened?" Dugu Bo stammered, looking completely dumbfounded.
"Less talking," Chrysanthemum Douluo said dryly. "If it's not your business, don't ask." He glanced sideways at Dugu Bo. "Be glad—you just survived this day."
Dugu Bo managed a shaky chuckle, finally relaxing as the suffocating tension faded from the air.
(END CHAPTER)
🔥 Get 30% off on my Patreon and enjoy early access to new chapters.
You can also purchase the next 100 chapters of the novel directly from my Patreon page.
⏰ Hurry up! The promotion ends on January 10, 2026.
Read 20 Chapters In Advance: patreon.com/Bankai10