Bibi Dong's Soul Power spread out from her body as she unleashed the full strength of a Soul King. The Death Spider Emperor Martial Soul emerged behind her.
Two yellow, two purple, and one black Soul Ring rose from beneath her feet.
As her Martial Soul possessed her, purple-black Spider Emperor markings began spreading across Bibi Dong's skin.
Six gleaming Spider Spears appeared behind her, and her entire body transformed into the form of the Spider Empress.
"Third Soul Skill, Death Spider Web Bind."
Bibi Dong flung out a venomous spiderweb, which expanded on its own in midair.
A red glow flashed in Medusa's snake eyes.
Time slowed. Even the spiderweb attacking through the air moved sluggishly, at barely a fraction of its normal speed.
"Holy crap, Time Freeze!"
"Teacher, look out!"
Bibi Dong's Soul Power had already slowed. Before she could react, Medusa was rushing toward her. In the blink of an eye, she was right in front of Bibi Dong. Within this domain, Medusa was completely unaffected—if anything, she was even faster.
"Courting death!"
Just then, a figure landed steadily on a tree branch. It was Broken Sword Douluo, who had been following them in secret.
Two yellow, two purple, and five black Soul Rings revolved around him, nine dazzling rings in all.
"Sword, come!"
Broken Sword Douluo wore white robes.
With a single cry of "Sword, come!" he looked every bit the immortal.
A chipped, rust-covered broken sword appeared before him.
Though old and battered, the sword radiated waves of killing intent.
The next instant, it multiplied into dozens.
"Sword, go!"
Broken Sword Douluo swept his hand, and dozens of broken swords hurtled toward Medusa.
Medusa's eyes flickered as she unleashed all her Soul Power.
She merely glanced at them, and one sword after another turned to stone, dropping all around her.
Broken Sword Douluo's expression shifted slightly as the Eighth Soul Ring on his body began to turn.
"On the day the broken sword is reforged..."
"All worldly shackles will be shattered."
"With one sword, I'll sweep aside ten thousand foes."
"Sword, come!"
Buzz!
The dozens of swords broke free of their petrification and returned to the air, merging into one enormous broken sword.
The chips and cracks across the blade visibly healed, while the rust gradually vanished. Sword intent surged outward, sending ripples through the air.
"Cut!"
Broken Sword Douluo formed a hand seal, and the sword intent followed his movements as it slashed toward Medusa.
Medusa unleashed "Medusa's Gaze" again, but this time it had no effect at all. The sword remained completely unpetrified.
The sword intent struck Medusa and sent her flying, its terrifying force tearing savagely at her body.
Medusa let out a wail. Her body slammed into four or five trees before crashing heavily to the ground.
Before she could get back up, Broken Sword Douluo was already beside her. One strike knocked the gravely wounded Medusa unconscious.
A thoughtful look filled his eyes. "Your Highness, this Medusa has a rare bloodline. Perhaps you should keep her and kill her when you need her Soul Ring..."
Bibi Dong nodded slightly. She was a little tempted by this Soul Beast.
As her Soul Ring, it would likely grant her a powerful control Soul Skill.
Unfortunately, she couldn't absorb it for now. The same went for Xiao Chen; otherwise, it would suit him very well too.
But that didn't matter. Spirit Hall had a place specifically for keeping Soul Rings, where they could be stored for the time being.
Su Chen watched quietly.
He knew this Soul Beast would also drop a Soul Bone.
That had originally belonged to Dugu Bo.
If things went this way, Dugu Bo's reputation as the weakest Titled Douluo seemed well deserved.
Suddenly, Broken Sword Douluo looked in a certain direction.
Without a word, he casually swept a fierce streak of sword light that way.
"Rumble!"
The vines and piled-up rubble at the cave entrance exploded apart.
The cave mouth was exposed.
There, in the deepest part of the cave, a purple figure cowered timidly.
A flash of astonishment crossed Su Chen's eyes.
There was another Medusa.
This one was smaller.
Her scales were paler, and the Soul Power swirling around her was nowhere near as strong as the larger Medusa's.
He guessed the two Medusas were mother and daughter.
Su Chen remembered that she never appeared later in Douluo Continent.
She had probably been killed alongside her mother by Dugu Bo, or perhaps, without her mother's protection, she had been hunted down by another Soul Master.
Bibi Dong was also slightly surprised, but quickly recovered. She hurried forward and, in hardly any time at all, restrained the little Medusa with her Spider Spears.
She turned to look at Su Wen behind her and said, "Xiao Chen, come over. This Soul Beast's cultivation is just right for your Martial Soul. Kill her and absorb her as your Second Soul Ring."
Broken Sword Douluo's expression changed. This Soul Beast had at least two thousand years of cultivation. Even for a Third Soul Ring, that was pushing it.
He thought he must be getting old and had misheard. But when he saw that Su Wen truly looked ready to act, he stopped doubting his ears.
Broken Sword Douluo opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but then hesitated.
He knew the Saintess would never do something so foolish.
Back in that valley...
She must have obtained some kind of fortuitous opportunity.
Broken Sword Douluo said nothing and asked nothing. He grabbed the larger Medusa and vanished from the spot.
After dealing with Medusa, Su Chen felt little in the way of emotion.
In a world where the strong preyed on the weak, if he fell into the hands of Soul Beasts, his fate wouldn't be any better.
Even if he didn't absorb her, someone else would come along to take her Soul Ring.
Besides, they had attacked first. Was he supposed to play the saint and let them go?!
Watching the purple Soul Ring floating in the air, Su Chen sat down to absorb it, his heart full of anticipation.
With the experience of absorbing a Soul Ring once already, the process went exceptionally smoothly this time. The power was a little violent at first, but after that, the absorption was almost painless. Even so, it took a full hour.
One yellow and one purple!
Two special Soul Rings revolved beneath Su Chen's feet.
"Phew!"
Su Chen looked at his Soul Ring Configuration, delight plain in his eyes.
"Not bad, not bad. It went even more smoothly than I'd imagined."
"A thousand-year purple Soul Ring. That makes him the first in our Spirit Hall."
Bibi Dong was extremely pleased and immediately asked him about his Soul Skill.
Su Chen sensed the Soul Ring's energy before answering, "My Soul Skill is called Love Thread Entanglement. I can fling blood-red threads from my hands to bind and restrain my enemies, drain their life force and Soul Power, and petrify them, as well as stop time."
"To trigger the reversal of time, I need to spread the threads across the entire area. This whole stretch of space will remain still for ten minutes. How powerful an enemy I can restrain still needs to be tested in actual combat."
Su Chen was sure the ability had a limit. As for where that limit lay, he would only find out after putting it to the test.
Bibi Dong was a little astonished. This control ability was even more powerful than she'd imagined.
It could drain, bind, petrify, and stop time—all from just a Second Soul Skill, not an Eighth or Ninth.
"Not bad, not bad. This thousand-year Soul Ring is more special than I imagined, and this Soul Beast was more powerful than I thought."