Third Divine God Ring

When Gu Xingyun emerged from the nearby evergreen trees, his eyes were back to their usual color. He saw four Tyrants surrounding Ru Shenqi who was holding Ming Yong, and deep jealousy flared in his heart. But then, he heard her sobs. Bai Shanxin happened to look up, saw him, and sped over.

His eyebrows furrowed in confusion. "Shanxin? What happened?"

"You don't remember anything?"

"Remember what?"

She bit her lip and looked away. "Stay here for a moment."

"Why? Why's Xiao Shen crying?"

He started to walk forward, but she stopped him. "Don't. Don't go over there. Just don't."

"But- Xiao Shen..."

"If you go over there now, Xiao Shen will lose it. Just, just stay here."

Bai Shanxin flew back over to the others and whispered in Shu Jiaxiang's ear, "Xingyun's awake. But Xiao Shen..."

"Her heinous spirit is almost uncontrollable right now," Shu Jiaxiang whispered back. "Don't let her lay eyes on him. If she does... she really might kill him."

Fang Youyou looked worriedly and added, "We have to try and calm her down."

Liao Suyin murmured, "Yong is dead. Xiao Shen is a God. We have no chance at all of stopping her."

Suddenly, they felt the atmosphere constrict around them. Seeing all of the free flowing spirit power in Icebound Forest take form, each and every one of their eyes widened. It condensed around Ru Shenqi. Sweat beaded on her forehead.

"What's she doing?" Fang Youyou gasped.

All of a sudden, Bai Shanxin remembered something Tang San had once said. She breathed, "Divine God Rings do not come from spirit beasts, but one's cultivation. If one can cultivate the power of the world, they can increase the number of their Divine God Rings."

"Is she forcing her cultivation to get a new Divine God Ring then?" Liao Suyin cried.

"Maybe," Bai Shanxin replied.

Meanwhile, Ru Shenqi chanted in her mind: Please let me save Yong. Please let me save Yong. Please let me save Yong.

Her whole body felt the strain from forcing the creation of a new Divine God Ring. She quivered and began to bleed from her nose. A mouthful of blood burst from her lips as her eyebrows scrunched. Before everyone's eyes, the spirit power condensed into a new silver-white spirit ring. Jaws dropped simultaneously. Finally, pure energy burst from her, sending her friends stumbling back a few steps. Her ten previous spirit rings appeared, and all eleven danced brilliantly around her.

When Ru Shenqi's Clear Crystal Eyes flashed open, her eleventh spirit ring glowed even brighter. She immediately bit down on her finger, drawing blood. "Third Divine Skill, Eightfold Samsara."

Her blood floated from her finger to Ming Yong's chest before sinking in towards his heart. Her eyelids fluttered, and she swayed. Shu Jiaxiang knelt down to support her.

Minutes passed.

A worried look crossed Ru Shenqi's face. Did it not work?

An hour passed.

Finally, after half a day had gone by, a pointy octagon shape of silver-white power blossomed over Ming Yong's body. Moments later, his chest rose and fell before his eyes slowly opened. Bai Shanxin, Fang Youyou, Liao Suyin, and Shu Jiaxiang gaped. He turned his head to look at Ru Shenqi.

"Xiao Shen..."

She choked out a relieved sob and wrapped her arms around him. "Thank the Gods. Thank the Gods. Thank the Gods."

His eyebrows furrowed. "What do you mean?"

Fang Youyou squatted down and explained, "Xiao Shen risked her life to force the attainment of a third Divine God Ring. I can't bring people back from the dead. And we don't have Seniors Oscar and Ning Rongrong here to use their spirit fusion skill. So the only chance of bringing you back was this one far-fetched shot. And by a miracle... it worked."

"Xiao Shen, y- you didn't have to do that."

"It's my fault you died. How could I not risk everything to bring you back?"

Just then, Ming Yong laid eyes on an approaching Gu Xingyun. He swallowed and started to stand. Seeing this, Ru Shenqi rushed to help him.

"Careful. You should be fully healed as well, but your body might still be a little sore."

He nodded. "I actually feel great. Stronger."

"Xiao Shen, what's going on?"

Her face soured in an instant. She turned around, taking a deep breath as she did so. A calm expression fell over her features.

"Xingyun."

Her curt response caught him off-guard. He frowned. "Xiao Shen, what's wrong?"

Ming Yong rested a hand on her shoulder, murmuring, "It's not his fault, and you know it. Don't be too harsh on him."

She frowned. "But if he's being recruited by who I think... then I fear we have a much greater enemy than Spirit Empire."

"Which God is luring him in?"

"The Rakshasa God. The same one who chose Bibi Dong to succeed him. With her dead, he needs a new Rakshasa God."

He stared at her in disbelief. Gu Xingyun looked between them and eyed the hand on his beloved shoulder coldly. Clearing his throat, Ming Yong dropped his hand. He faced his Vice-Captain.

"Xingyun, what do you remember since you left yesterday?"

"Well, I wandered around the forest and came to a cliffside. I sat down to take a break and fell asleep. Then, I was in this purple vortex land. Someone told me that he could make me a God. I don't remember anything after that."

An I knew it look crossed Ru Shenqi's face as she closed her eyes and her lips drew thin. She took a deep breath and opened her eyes.

"And did you accept his offer?"

"I'm considering it."

"Don't."

Gu Xingyun frowned. "How come you told Yong he could accept a God's Inheritance but you're telling me not to?"

"That's because... there's no issue with the God of Music Inheritance. Do you not know who offered to make you a God?"

He shook his head. "Who?"

"Rakshasa God."

His eyes widened. "You're not lying, are you?"

A hurt look crossed her face. "I can't believe you asked me that."

Ming Yong moved Ru Shenqi behind him slightly. His eyes narrowed. "Xiao Shen just has your best interests in mind. After everything you two have been through, are you really going to doubt her now?"

Gu Xingyun snarled. His nine rings appeared along with his spirit. Ming Yong raised an eyebrow. He released his own nine rings, ready to fight again. Just then, his eyes widened. He whipped around to look at the Little God behind him.

"Xiao Shen, what exactly does your Third Divine Skill do?"

She smirked. "Why?"

"Oh, you know exactly what it does, don't you?"

"Tell me, what spirit rank are you at now then?"

The other Tyrants leaned in to hear. Ming Yong replied, "I'm a rank ninety nine Limit Douluo."

"Xiao Shen, are you sure you're not biased?! Tell me, who is the one you actually have in your heart?"

"That's not fair," she replied.

"You're always helping him now!" Gu Xingyun cried as he pointed towards Ming Yong. "Helping him become a Limit Douluo and becoming a God!"

"It's not what you think!" Liao Suyin cut in quickly.

"It's really not," Bai Shanxin added. "Xiao Shen was just repaying a favor."

"Shanxin, enough," Ru Shenqi warned.

"What favor?"

"It's nothing, really," Ming Yong deflected quickly.

"What favor?" Gu Xingyun demanded.

Just then, Shu Jiaxiang stepped in between both sides. "Stop. All of you. Xiao Shen, Yong, it's obviously your choice whether or not to say anything. Xingyun, you've heard the stories of Bibi Dong's tyranny as the Rakshasa God. Are you sure you want to sacrifice your morals and righteousness just to become a God?"

"I won't become Bibi Dong. I'll use the power of Rakshasa God to help eradicate Spirit Empire from Douluo Continent once and for all."

"How can you be sure you won't be corrupted?" Ru Shenqi asked, softly.

"Now who's the one doubting?"

Just then, a voice rang in Ming Yong's head. Second Trial, Enhance the Spirit, passed. Reward is Melody and Harmony Domain.

His eyes widened. He released his spirit and saw the silver-white wisps floating around his seven strings. "Xiao Shen, m- my spirit enhanced. I- I passed my Second Trial!"

She smiled. "Of course. Eightfold Samsara has two gifts. The gift of life and the gift of power. If I use it, the grantee has a chance of getting an increase in their cultivation. That's how your spirit was able to enhance and you were able to become a Limit Douluo."

"Xiao Shen, you're too much!"

Gu Xingyun lunged. Ru Shenqi blinked before saying, "Third spirit skill, secondary ability, Clear Crystal Wall."

He bounced off the wall and gaped at her incredulously. "You're even protecting him now?!"

"You're mistaken, Xingyun. The one I love is still you. But when someone saves my life, I must repay them as much as I can."

He caught her words and frowned. "Save your life? Who tried to kill you? I'll beat him up!"

The other six Tyrants coughed nervously.

"What?"

Ru Shenqi slowly met his eye. "You did."

"What? That's absurd. Why would I try to hurt you?"

"The Rakshasa God had control over you for a while. You ran me through with an icicle. All six others can confirm that. You also used Electric Heavenly Lion when my back was turned. The only reason why I'm alive now is because Yong blocked the attack for me."

"B- but Electric Heavenly Lion incinerates everything in its path," Gu Xingyun sputtered.

"I used my Divine Amber Seagull left arm bone to block most of the attack," Ming Yong explained.

Bai Shanxin added softly, "And it cost Yong his life. Xingyun, you don't understand. You were still unconscious. But do you know how heart-wrenching it was to watch one of us die right before our eyes? Xiao Shen... was the most upset because he died to save her from you and the Rakshasa God."

Liao Suyin said, "That's why she risked her own life to force the attainment of a third Divine God Ring. Because she's the only one of us who is a God. She's the only one who could create such a miracle."

Gu Xingyun shook his head fervently. "I don't believe you. I don't believe you. You're all set against me, aren't you?!"

Ru Shenqi suddenly grabbed his wrist and closed her eyes. She showed him the scene of them leaving their camp. She showed him when he stabbed her with an icicle. She showed him when Ming Yong died, and her Divine Aura exploded and her heinous spirit surged. When everything had ended, she let go of him and opened her eyes.

"Do you believe it now?"

He stared at her chest, where he impaled her. Then, his gaze slid over to Ming Yong. He lowered his head in acknowledgement and shame.

"Thank you for saving Xiao Shen. And... I'm sorry. I was wrong."

Ming Yong clapped him on the shoulder. "It's alright. I just figured that you'd never forgive yourself if you had seriously injured or killed Xiao Shen."

"You're right. But I also can't forgive myself for having killed you. As much as I'm jealous of you, you're still my friend. We're all the Shrek Seven Tyrants; we shouldn't fight amongst one another. I'm so sorry, Yong."

"Just thank Xiao Shen that she forced her third Divine God Ring."

Gu Xingyun nodded. "Xiao Shen, I'm sorry to have made you go through the trouble."

She shook her head. "Not at all. It's a tyrannical skill that can bring the dead back to life. It's also made me a one hundred and ninth ranked Third Class God. The only downfall is that the price is much higher because I did force it."

"What do you mean?" Shu Jiaxiang asked.

"I have to use my own blood in order to bring a person who died under a day before back to life, and I also cannot use any divine skills for a month afterwards."

She suddenly gagged before vomiting blood. The one thing the Shrek Seven Tyrants noticed was that her blood had changed. Silver speckles stood out against her vibrant red blood. A realization came to all of them.

Ru Shenqi had gained her full divine body. Now, she truly was a God and no longer a human.