"Yveltal!"
As Yveltal finished absorbing the spirit ring, an overwhelming aura burst forth from its body.
Its black-and-crimson feathers deepened in color, radiating a chilling pressure.
"This aura…" Bai Mu narrowed his eyes slightly. "Its strength has increased by at least fifty percent?"
So the spirit power that should have flowed back to him had instead been fully absorbed by Yveltal to reinforce itself.
"…Fine. At least you're finally useful."
Bai Mu glanced at the blood-red spirit ring beneath Yveltal's feet and let out a quiet sigh.
Judging from its performance earlier against the Titan Giant Ape, he had almost regretted 'wasting' seven levels of spirit power on it.
"Yveltal~"
Yveltal flapped its wings unhappily, clearly displeased by Bai Mu's tone.
It was the Death Bird—the embodiment of destruction. How could its strength be underestimated?
Next time there was an enemy, it wanted to handle everything itself!
"…Get over yourself."
Bai Mu rolled his eyes.
"With your current level, you can bully ordinary Titled Douluo at best. Against a true Hundred-Thousand-Year Spirit Beast, I still have to rely on Zygarde."
"Yveltal~!"
The bird tossed its head stubbornly, clearly determined to prove its worth next time.
"I'll be watching."
Bai Mu replied casually, then focused inward, sensing the new abilities Yveltal had gained.
[Spirit Ability 1 — Death Sluggishness Domain: Spread wings to deploy a domain that drastically slows opponents' movement, spirit power circulation, and mental reactions, as though time itself has been delayed.]
[Spirit Ability 2 — Death Azure Dragon Soul: Condense death energy to form an Azure Dragon soul that launches a devastating attack.]
"Not bad."
Bai Mu nodded in satisfaction.
Putting raw strength aside, Death Sluggishness Domain combined with his Eye of Time Drilling was practically an unbeatable control setup.
"Yveltal~"
Yveltal let out a proud cry.
The Bird of Death would never fade into obscurity!
"Let's go. I'll let you show off next time."
Bai Mu patted its wing and turned toward Xiao Wu, who was still crying as she clutched the small black monkey in her arms.
"Sister Xiao Wu, why are you still holding that thing?" he asked in surprise.
"Don't tell me you want to take it back for a barbecue?"
"That works too. A Hundred-Thousand-Year Spirit Beast sacrifice barbecue—I've never tried that before. Want to taste it together?"
"No! Don't eat it!"
Xiao Wu trembled violently and threw the small monkey away as if it had burned her.
"What a waste."
Bai Mu clicked his tongue and bent down to pick it up, genuinely curious about how a Titan Giant Ape might taste.
"No! Please!"
Xiao Wu rushed forward and hugged his leg tightly, her expression pitiful.
"…Fine."
Bai Mu paused, then leaned down and gently stroked her head.
"Then you'll be obedient from now on—and loyal only to me."
"I… I'll try my best to like you…"
Xiao Wu forced out a stiff smile.
"In that case," Bai Mu continued lightly, "how about I take you to see Tang San someday? Let you reunite with him properly."
The corners of his mouth curved upward.
"…Okay."
Xiao Wu seemed to lose all strength at once.
In that moment of surrender, something deep in her heart was quietly stained by Bai Mu's presence.
"As expected of my favorite Sister Xiao Wu."
Bai Mu laughed softly, already looking forward to the future reunion.
Satisfied, he lifted his foot and stomped lightly.
"Bury it. Let it rest."
Earth Power responded instantly. The ground split open soundlessly, swallowing Er Ming's remains and sealing them beneath the soil.
"Let's go. Time to head home."
"I want to see what shape your so-called love takes."
Bai Mu waved his hand. Zygarde was summoned, Xiao Wu was picked up without resistance, and they landed atop Yveltal's back.
With a low cry, Yveltal spread its wings and flew toward the outskirts of the Star Dou Great Forest, leaving behind only devastation.
"This trip really wasn't a loss."
High in the air, Bai Mu reviewed his gains.
The Titan Giant Ape's Hundred-Thousand-Year spirit ring and Spirit Bone had greatly enhanced his strength. Yveltal had finally become useful, and he had also obtained a Hundred-Thousand-Year Sky Azure Bull Python Spirit Bone.
As he pondered his next move—
Less than twenty kilometers into the flight, a terrifying aura suddenly appeared.
Bai Mu looked down.
A streak of pitch-black light tore through the forest below, ignoring trees and terrain alike as it charged straight toward the battlefield they had just left.
Its speed was extreme.
"This is…?"
Bai Mu focused his gaze.
The shadow seemed to sense something and briefly glanced up at Yveltal. Judging the bird troublesome, it turned away and continued forward.
Only then did Bai Mu see it clearly—
A black tiger with massive wings and a hooked tail.
"Dark Demonic Evil God Tiger?!"
His expression turned grave.
A mutated White Tiger empowered by Evil God energy—one of the most infamous Spirit Beasts of the Douluo era.
Its racial strength rivaled that of Divine Beasts, but what truly made it terrifying was its unique ability: Life and Death Arena.
Once activated, opponents would be regressed to a six-year-old state, while it remained at peak power.
Among all beings on the Douluo Continent, this was the one Bai Mu feared the most.
That ability was practically his natural counter.
However—
"Since I've run into you," Bai Mu's eyes sharpened, "then you can just die here."
This time, though, he had no intention of fighting it head-on.
"Come forth, Zygarde!"
Two flashes of white light appeared.
Two Dragon Hounds—one black, one white—materialized atop Yveltal's back.
"Trainer, why are we summoned in this form?" Little Soft asked, puzzled.
"Even as Z-Snake forms, we can still fly…"
"Use Soul Dance: Raging Sound Burst at maximum output," Bai Mu ordered coldly.
"Boost all stats to the limit—and don't alert it."
The two Dragon Hounds exchanged a glance.
Though they didn't understand why the Trainer was wary of that tiger, they immediately obeyed.
Hidden atop Yveltal's wings, they began reinforcing themselves. Their auras rose steadily, step by step.
Soon, the final reinforcement was complete.
"…This is strange."
Xiao Wu watched in shock.
This was the first time she had ever seen Bai Mu act so cautious.
Was there really an existence even he feared?
Bai Mu ignored her.
Once the reinforcement was complete, he spoke decisively:
"Spirit Avatar. True Body—Body Integration!"
His seventh spirit ring flared.
Countless green lights poured into the Dragon Hounds, transforming them into Z-Snakes. Through Power Construct, they rapidly combined into a fifteen-meter-tall Complete Form, radiating overwhelming draconic might.
That pressure alone terrified countless Spirit Beasts into collapse.
Naturally, it also caught the attention of the Dark Demonic Evil God Tiger.
"Roar?"
The tiger stared at Zygarde, utterly confused.
What kind of Spirit Beast was that…?
And why was it staring straight at him?