Bibi Dong's Shock

The violent energy currents within the room gradually subsided, leaving only a newborn, powerful yet restrained aura slowly spreading.

In contrast, Chen Li's body seemed instantly wrapped in an invisible membrane, forcibly containing all the outward raging energy and chaotic soul power fluctuations.

His rapid, pained gasping ceased abruptly, replaced by a deep, even breath that seemed to sync with some grand rhythm.

His face, previously twisted in agony, gradually relaxed, leaving only closed eyes and a faint, stern trace between his brows.

Then, the last deep purple light of the floating Thousand-year Soul Ring, like a hundred rivers returning to the sea, completely sank into the top of Chen Li's head.

The light did not scatter within his body but, following some mysterious path, precisely merged into the lightning origin phantom behind him, which seemed to possess a life of its own!

Hum—

A faint resonance, as if from the soul level, sounded.

At the center of that jumping blue-white lightning phantom, a clear purple ring materialized from nothing, slowly emerged, stabilized, and finally, like the most loyal satellite, began to revolve and pulse around the lightning core. The purple and lightning lights intertwined, emitting a dignified aura that was integrated, far more restrained and profound than a mere Thousand-year Soul Ring.

First soul ring, successfully attached?

Yue Guan's peach blossom eyes, always carrying a hint of laziness and playfulness, were now wide open, filled with undisguised shock and astonishment.

Success? Not only did he survive the violent impact of absorbing beyond his level, but he truly perfectly attached this Thousand-year Soul Ring to his exceptionally picky Martial Soul!

This wasn't just breaking common sense; it was surpassing the iron law passed down through countless generations in the soul master world!

In an instant, Yue Guan's gaze turned razor-sharp.

Without any hesitation, his soul power erupted violently!

Yellow, yellow, purple, purple, black, black, black, black, black!

Nine soul rings rose like nine dazzling suns. The terrifying pressure of a ninety-fifth-level Titled Douluo was no longer the probing, controlled release from before but, like an invisible tsunami, exploded outward with him at the center!

But this pressure wasn't for attack; it formed an exquisitely precise, inverted bowl-shaped invisible force field, completely enveloping and isolating the small building where Chen Li was and the surrounding tens of meters! Within the force field, the air stagnated, sound was cut off, and even light seemed blurred and twisted, completely separated from the outside.

A ninety-fifth-level Titled Douluo, even if not known for pure attack power, possessed an unbelievable level of control and manipulation of the world's natural energy.

At this moment, Yue Guan, like the most vigilant guard, blocked all factors that might disturb or spy on this place.

Thoughts raced through his mind: First ring, thousand-year...

Such talent is unprecedented! This child's potential is no longer describable as remarkable; it's heaven-defying!

Originally just a pawn brought back on a whim to annoy Star Luo, its weight in his heart instantly soared to an unprecedented level.

Regardless of Chen Li's past identity, just this thousand-year first ring alone was enough for Martial Soul Hall to spare no expense in incorporating him into the core training sequence, possibly even attracting the attention of those old monsters in the Hall of Elders!

I brought him back. This opportunity and karmic connection should naturally be led and claimed by me.

A glint flashed in Yue Guan's eyes. Within Martial Soul Hall, factions and closeness existed. If Chen Li rose, as his guide, both his reputation and practical benefits would yield huge returns.

Protecting Chen Li now, isolating all prying eyes, was both protection and a silent declaration and investment.

The moment his soul power force field expanded, several soul power perceptions of varying strengths, all containing powerful wills, probed like invisible tentacles from various parts of Martial Soul Hall, trying to penetrate or bypass this barrier.

The owners of these perceptions were at least Soul Douluo level, and a few had obscure, deep auras, clearly fellow Titled Douluo elders or worshippers.

"What is Yue Guan doing?"

"Such violent soul power... a change?"

"That direction... the Core Disciple residential area?"

Streams of consciousness intersected and probed at the edge of the force field, full of doubt and inquiry.

Meanwhile, deep within the Palace of the Pope.

Bibi Dong, who was reviewing archives, paused the jeweled feather pen in her hand. She raised her pale purple eyes, looking toward Yue Guan's direction. Her beautiful face showed no expression, but the space around her seemed to freeze for an instant.

"Yue Guan?" she murmured to herself, her voice icy. "Bursting out soul power to form a domain blockade so blatantly within the core of the station... you'd better have a sufficient reason."

The next second, her seat on the Pope's Throne was empty.

A blurry purple-gold figure seemed to merge directly into space, and when it reappeared, it stood silently beside Yue Guan—it was Bibi Dong herself.

She didn't even cause a violent fluctuation in Yue Guan's soul power force field, displaying astonishing control over spatial power.

"Yue Guan," Bibi Dong said, her voice calm and flat but carrying undeniable authority, "I need an explanation. You should know what acting like this within the city without permission means."

Yue Guan was not surprised by Bibi Dong's appearance. He didn't even withdraw his soul power force field, only slightly turning, his face resuming its signature, somewhat demonically charming smile, but his eyes were exceptionally serious.

"Your Majesty the Pope, please calm your anger. Please look at the situation inside the house. Such a sight is worth my actions and worth Your Majesty's personal inspection."

Bibi Dong's gaze followed Yue Guan's direction, piercing through the broken doorframe, landing on Chen Li sitting cross-legged inside.

The first thing that caught her eye was Chen Li's miserable, blood-soaked state, but with Bibi Dong's keen eyesight, she instantly saw it was only superficial injuries from energy impact, and his life force was surging, rapidly recovering.

Her gaze then fixed on the phantom behind Chen Li—the pure, violent Lightning Martial Soul she had seen only yesterday.

But unlike yesterday, when it was empty, now, at the core periphery of that lightning phantom, a solid, deep purple ring was clearly visible, slowly pulsing!

Success? He actually solved the problem of being unable to absorb soul rings?

Just as this thought arose, Bibi Dong's pupils sharply contracted!

Purple?! A Thousand-year Soul Ring?!

Even with her status as Pope, the talent of twin top-tier Martial Souls, and the insight of a Rakshasa God Trial inheritor, a storm raged in her heart!

She naturally knew Yu Xiaogang's Ten Core Competitiveness Theory, which she secretly followed and privately admitted had its rigor, especially the part about the limits of soul ring absorption.