SoulLand:Ascending to Godhood through Science

Faced with Bibi Dong's furious interrogation, Yue Guan (Chrysanthemum Douluo) could only respond with an awkward smile.

Among the ten elders of the Elder Hall, Bibi Dong truly controlled only Yue Guan and Gui Mei (Ghost Douluo). This fact was well-known among the upper echelons of Spirit Hall.

The three elders who agreed to join the hunt for the Masked Assassin weren't motivated by loyalty to Bibi Dong but by a sense of duty to uphold the reputation of Spirit Hall.

Of course, not every elder shared this sense of responsibility.

"What's the point of becoming a Titled Douluo if I can't enjoy life? Why should I tire myself out for someone else's cause?" Such thoughts were common among independent Titled Douluo.

As some of the most powerful individuals on the continent, independent Titled Douluo operated with considerable freedom. Their overwhelming strength made them virtually untouchable, and most major factions avoided provoking them.

The "Heaven-level Assassin," as the Masked Assassin was now considered, had essentially ascended to the status of an independent Douluo. This was why even the Star Luo Emperor had been so willing to show him respect.

Bibi Dong realized moments after her outburst that she had said something foolish.

Emotionally, she wanted nothing more than to kill these disloyal elders to vent her rage. Rationally, however, she understood that such actions would contradict her ultimate goal—the sole reason she was still alive.

So, she suppressed her violent impulses. But everyone knew that the more a spring is compressed, the more forceful its eventual rebound.

The tighter Bibi Dong restrained her nature, the closer she teetered toward madness. It was like walking a tightrope, with no one knowing when the tension would snap.

Her eyes, momentarily clouded with a flicker of insanity, locked onto Yue Guan. The elder felt a chill run down his spine as he swallowed nervously.

Finally, Bibi Dong spoke, her voice icy:

"Relay this to all the elders: Whoever captures the Masked Assassin will be allowed to select a spirit bone from Spirit Hall's treasury. Of course..."

Her gaze shifted to Yue Guan and Gui Mei.

"This applies to you two as well."

Since emotional appeals had failed, she resorted to material incentives.

---

From an outsider's perspective, deducing Bibi Dong's reasoning seemed straightforward. But understanding one's own actions and their broader consequences is often far more difficult.

This was true for You Chen as well.

No one, not even the most meticulous strategist, could account for all variables in a world as complex as this.

Initially, You Chen had expected that the involvement of either a Super Douluo from the Worship Hall or Bibi Dong herself would force him to retreat temporarily.

Yet, after six months of assassinations, his most formidable pursuers remained ordinary Titled Douluo.

No Super Douluo had appeared.

While Yue Guan and Gui Mei working together could muster the combat strength of a Super Douluo, their efforts were hampered by their need to split up and cover more ground.

Moreover, their most powerful technique, the martial spirit fusion ability Polar Domain, was something You Chen had already prepared for.

The key to their fusion technique was Yue Guan's leadership, whose speed was inferior to Gui Mei's. During one ambush, You Chen decisively used his Soul Fright Technique on Yue Guan, briefly stunning him and widening the distance between them. Gui Mei could still pursue him, but without Yue Guan, the fusion ability was nullified.

As long as no actual Super Douluo joined the hunt, You Chen remained unthreatened.

Yet doubts lingered in his mind. Was Spirit Hall intentionally withholding its strongest combatants? Were they lying in wait to ambush him with overwhelming force?

These thoughts weighed on him as he considered his next move:

Should he halt his campaign or continue his game of cat and mouse with Spirit Hall?

You Chen quickly made his decision:

"There's no need to overthink this. It's entirely possible that Spirit Hall has internal issues, likely related to Bibi Dong's divine trials."

From the original story, You Chen knew little about the trials Bibi Dong underwent, only that she spent decades completing them before initiating her plans for world domination.

"It's worth investigating," he decided, setting his sights on gathering intelligence within Spirit City itself.

---

You Chen's method was simple but effective:

He incapacitated a traveler entering the city, stole their identification, and disguised himself to match their appearance.

This method was surprisingly foolproof because he had never used it before. Over the past six months, his approach had always been to infiltrate the city directly using his Concealment Technique.

This created a subconscious assumption among Spirit Hall's patrols: the Masked Assassin would never use conventional methods.

---

Once inside the city, You Chen quickly noticed something unusual.

Despite his half-year rampage, the populace seemed calm and unaffected.

"This makes no sense. People are dying every few days, yet everyone is acting like it's business as usual?"

Confused but determined, You Chen began eavesdropping on conversations.

At a nearby tavern, a conversation caught his attention:

"Hey, who do you think will die next?"

"Shh! Are you insane? Don't talk about that out loud!"

"Hah, what's there to be afraid of? The guards are too busy to care about us. Come on, drink!"

"You're going to get yourself killed…"

"Say, don't you think it's embarrassing for the Pope? After all this time, they still haven't caught the Masked Assassin!"

Hearing this, You Chen's eyes widened.

"Are they... turning my assassinations into entertainment? What is this, a Douluo version of bloodthirsty spectators?"

As he listened further, You Chen realized the truth.

The mutual restraint between him and Spirit Hall—his aversion to collateral damage and their focus on avoiding civilian casualties—had inadvertently created an unspoken agreement.

The result? The city's residents felt no personal danger, viewing his actions as distant spectacles rather than immediate threats.

"No wonder the populace is so calm..."

This revelation brought clarity to You Chen's broader situation.

---

By now, You Chen had a new objective: to humiliate Bibi Dong in a way that would create ripples across the entire continent.

Half a month later, his patience paid off.

On the very day Bibi Dong emerged from seclusion, a new task appeared:

---

[Mission: Humiliate Bibi Dong]

"The once-proud saintess of Spirit Hall views you as a fraud who has tarnished her beloved's legacy. She has publicly denounced your theories in academic circles. As the foremost theoretical master in history, how can you tolerate this insult? Retaliate and humiliate her tenfold!"

Mission Stages:

Humiliation Progress 1: Make Bibi Dong lose face. Complete for basic rewards and unlock Progress 2.

Humiliation Progress 2: The entire city mocks Bibi Dong. Complete for additional rewards and unlock Progress 3.

Humiliation Progress 3: Turn Bibi Dong into a laughingstock across the continent. Complete for ultimate rewards.

Rewards:

Basic Rewards: Ten instances of Epiphany, five instances of Marrow Cleansing, three instances of Truth Revelation, various top-tier and specialty pills.

Additional Rewards: Spirit Bone Age Doubling Card, Spirit Ring Age Doubling Card, Temporary Spirit Evolution Card.

Ultimate Rewards: Spirit Bone Age Doubling Card, Spirit Ring Age Doubling Card, Ultimate Spirit Evolution Card (Temporary), 100 Drops of Pure Divine Power.

Special Notes: The Spirit Ring Age Doubling Card allows for an incr

ease in a spirit ring's age beyond normal limits with no side effects.

---

"It's time to make my move." You Chen's eyes gleamed with determination.