Douluo: Martial Soul White Tiger, I am the White Emperor of Heaven

The corridor seemed endless, and the attacks became increasingly complex and diverse. From simple wind blades to invisible wind pressure traps, mind-altering auditory illusions, and soul-piercing storm breaths… each wave of attacks tested different aspects of the trial participants. Bibi Dong's clothes were torn in several places by the invisible wind blades, and several bloody marks appeared on her body. Her mental energy was also greatly depleted, but her eyes remained bright and sharp, and her understanding of the laws of wind improved rapidly in actual combat. She even began to try to actively manipulate some of the wind elements in the corridor to form simple shields or counterattacks. Although it was still clumsy, it represented a shift from passive response to active control.

She walked for an unknown amount of time, defeating countless waves of attacks. Suddenly, the wind barrier ahead parted to the sides, revealing a circular exit through which soft light streamed in. Bibi Dong took a deep breath, suppressing her surging blood and soul power, and stepped out of the Wind Corridor.

Suddenly, everything opened up before her, and she found herself standing in a void. Above, below, left, and right were all emptiness; there was no sky, no earth, only an endless, clear, mirror-like blue space. Her own reflection was mirrored there, and countless "Bibi Dongs" looked at her from various angles, each with a different gaze and expression. This was the second trial, "The Mirror Realm of Emptiness."

There was no physical attack, but Bibi Dong immediately sensed a deeper crisis. This space seemed to absorb, reflect, and amplify all the fluctuations in her heart. She tried to remain calm, but the "she" in the mirror sometimes showed a mocking smile, sometimes had a venomous look in her eyes, sometimes looked terrified, and sometimes was full of ambition... The dark side brought by the Rakshasa God's power, the traumatic memories of her childhood and youth, the desire for power, the hatred and scheming towards certain people, the responsibility and loneliness she bore in her high position, the fragility and confusion deep in her heart that she herself might not have clearly realized... All the hidden emotions, thoughts, and inner demons were reflected and materialized without reservation by this "Mirror of Emptiness," and began to backfire on her spirit.

A "Bibi Dong" from the mirror stepped out, shrouded in a dark Rakshasa aura, her eyes crazed: "Power! Only absolute power can control everything! Destroy all obstacles, ascend to godhood, and make all living beings bow down!" She roared as she pounced, her attacks fierce, aimed directly at the weakest point in Bibi Dong's mental defenses—the point where fear and desire for power intertwined.

In another mirror, "Bibi Dong" is covered in tears, curled up on the ground, looking helpless as she did in her childhood: "Why...why did you abandon me...why do you all hurt me..." Sadness and despair surged like a tide, trying to drag Bibi Dong into the abyss of self-pity.

Another image appeared in the mirror, that of the Pope, high above, her eyes coldly looking down upon all living beings, but her back view was incredibly lonely: "Is it worth it to be all alone? What will be left on this path in the end?" Doubt and a sense of emptiness quietly crept in.

More reflections appeared, representing her pride, her schemes, her anger, her desires, her hidden love and tenderness… all the contradictory, opposing, and unified aspects of her personality were separated, amplified, and attacked each other, as well as her true self. Bibi Dong felt a splitting headache, her sea of ​​consciousness trembled, and her mental defenses were on the verge of collapse. This was more dangerous than any physical attack; it was a direct interrogation and tearing at her Dao heart and the essence of her soul.

She sat cross-legged, closed her eyes, and refused to look at the chaotic reflections. But she couldn't shut out the turmoil stirring within her. The Tear of the Wind God emitted a cool aura, attempting to calm her. However, in this second trial, the Tear of the Wind God couldn't directly intervene much; it was more like a witness. Bibi Dong knew that avoidance or suppression were not solutions; she had to face it head-on and integrate it.

She began to reminisce, recalling her entire life. Painful, warm, dark, and bright. She remembered why she was so obsessed with power—not just for revenge and control, but perhaps initially simply for self-preservation, to escape being bullied. She remembered her struggles in the City of Slaughter, the torment and transformation during the Rakshasa God Trial. She remembered the ideals she held when establishing the Martial Soul Empire (even though they were later distorted by power and hatred). She remembered her complex teacher-student relationship with Hu Liena. She remembered the trust and support she shared with Dai Chengfeng that transcended calculation and self-interest… Her heart was never simply darkness or light, but a complex mixture, containing both mud and glimmer of light.

“I am Bibi Dong.” From the deepest recesses of her heart, she spoke with unwavering conviction. “I bear sins, I crave power, I scheme against people's hearts, and I also have people and things I want to protect. My past has shaped me, but it is not enough to define me entirely. I choose my own path, and I create my own future. Whether it is the darkness of the Rakshasa or the freedom of the wind, they are all part of me. I accept myself completely, including my vulnerability, my darkness, my desires, and also those undying yearnings for a higher realm and the emotions I cherish for certain people.”

This wasn't simple self-persuasion, but a soul-searching and integration under extreme pressure. When she truly began to accept all aspects of herself, neither denying nor escaping, but attempting to understand and integrate them, the attacks from her mirror images began to slow. Their extreme emotional intensity began to fade. Gradually, they stopped attacking, standing quietly, and then, one by one, like a flowing river, approached Bibi Dong's seated form, merging into her body. With each merge, Bibi Dong's spirit solidified a little, certain torn parts of her soul healed a little, and her self-awareness became clearer. Her aura didn't become stronger, but it became more harmonious, stable, and profound. The chilling power of the Rakshasa God and the lightness of the Wind God's Tears formed a delicate, temporary balance within her. Although far from merging, at least they were no longer in fierce conflict.

As the last mirror image merged into the void, the entire "Mirror Realm of Emptiness" began to ripple. Those mirror-like spaces rippled like water, then contracted inward, finally transforming into a point of azure light that disappeared into Bibi Dong's brow. She felt as if her soul had been cleansed; though weary, she felt an unprecedented clarity and resolve. Second trial passed.

The environment shifted again, and she found herself inside a massive cyan sphere of light. At the center of the sphere floated a constantly shifting cyan ball of light, radiating an indescribable aura of majesty and antiquity. Within that ball of light seemed to contain the origin of the wind, the rhythm of the sky, and the will of freedom. Simply gazing upon it sent shivers down Bibi Dong's spine. There was both an overwhelming attraction and an instinctive fear. This was the "divine soul" left behind by the Wind God, or rather, an aggregation of the shattered core of the Wind God's divine position and a portion of its primordial laws. (End of Chapter)