Bibi Dong handed him an exquisite dagger.
"One is nearly five hundred years old, and the other is a little over six hundred. The five-hundred-year-old one is just right for you."
"Teacher, I want to try the one that's over six hundred years old. I have a feeling I can do it."
"Heh, you're certainly confident. Unfortunately, no."
Bibi Dong rejected him without a moment's thought. "I've never heard of anyone on the entire continent absorbing a First Soul Ring over six hundred years old. Even my own teacher couldn't do it."
"Teacher, according to the Martial Soul Theory I've read, a Soul Master's physique and mental strength are crucial to how many years a Soul Ring they can absorb. An auxiliary Soul Master might not be able to manage it, but a Battle Soul Master's physical strength could let them absorb one with a higher age. My Red-Robed Ghost Emperor Martial Soul specializes in suppressing evil and spirits, and it can exert some control over any dead creature. That's why I feel I can try."
Su Chen sensed his Martial Soul stirring inside him.
Somehow, his Martial Soul seemed to favor the female spider.
Bibi Dong was a little surprised by how much her disciple knew.
The last thing he said astounded her even more: he could suppress dead beings.
After a moment's hesitation, Bibi Dong relented. "All right, give it a try. If you can't manage it, I'll have Elder Chrysanthemum stop you midway."
At her words, Su Chen thrust the dagger into the female spider. With a wet squelch—
The moment the Dream Shadow Spider died, Soul Power gathered overhead, quickly forming a yellow Soul Ring that floated in the air.
"Once you begin absorbing a Soul Ring, interrupting the process will cause injuries that can't be healed. At the very least, you'll need to lie down for a long time before you can return to normal cultivation."
Bibi Dong gave him one final warning.
"Teacher, I trust my Martial Soul not to lie to me."
Su Chen sat cross-legged.
He took a deep breath and closed his eyes, using the method Bibi Dong had taught him to draw the Soul Ring toward him with his Soul Power.
The power of the Soul Ring, over six hundred years old, began to batter his body with wild force.
A sharp pain surged through him as his meridians were ravaged again and again.
Su Chen couldn't help groaning in pain, his face twisting with agony.
Bibi Dong grew nervous. She had just taken a disciple, and now he was going to get himself killed.
A disciple with Innate Full Soul Power, no less.
Bibi Dong would surely become a famous figure on the Douluo Continent someday.
Her fists clenched unconsciously.
Fortunately, as time passed, Su Chen's expression eased, and the violent Soul Power around him gradually settled.
A yellow Soul Ring was taking shape before their eyes.
"Phew~"
Su Chen took a deep breath and opened his eyes, his brow already covered in sweat.
There was no exhaustion on his face, only excitement.
"Teacher, I think I succeeded!"
"My body feels all swollen, and I suddenly have the ridiculous feeling that I could fight you and not lose."
The tension vanished from Bibi Dong's face, and she breathed a sigh of relief. Hearing his words, she gave a soft snort. "You can try!"
"But you really are the first person in Spirit Hall's history to obtain a First Soul Ring over six hundred years old. Once we get back, you'll probably be recorded in the Library Pavilion."
"What Soul Skill did you get? I imagine it must be pretty good."
Su Chen carefully felt the power of the Soul Ring. "Dream of Millet!"
Bibi Dong: "???"
"This Soul Skill is rather special. The moment I use it, my Martial Soul can pull an enemy into a dream. It ignores the other person's Soul Power Level and all defenses, forcibly sending them into a dream where everything feels real, so they can't tell reality from the dream..."
"Time passes differently in the dream and the outside world. A hundred years might pass in the dream while only an instant—or even less—passes in reality."
"But there's one condition for activating it: the other person must not be using Soul Power."
"In other words, I can't use it when the other person is fighting."
Su Chen didn't know whether to call this Soul Skill powerful or not.
It ignored the rules, yet he couldn't use it in the middle of a fierce battle.
Bibi Dong was surprised, too.
It ignored Soul Power Levels, which meant even a Titled Douluo could be pulled into a dream.
That was simply heaven-defying. Still, she thought the limitation made sense.
Otherwise, even a Titled Douluo would become a lamb waiting to be slaughtered.
"Not bad. It's a unique trick. Now I'm curious what kind of dream I'd have."
Bibi Dong took out a handkerchief and said, "Wipe your face. You're covered in sweat."
"Thank you, Teacher."
Su Chen took the handkerchief and instinctively sniffed it. A light, fresh fragrance lingered at the tip of his nose: chrysanthemum.
"All right, let's head back first."
"As for this five-hundred-year-old Soul Beast, let it go. That's the second lesson your teacher has to teach you: if you don't need a Soul Ring, don't hurt a Soul Beast."
Back at the Saintess Hall, Bibi Dong relaxed and raised both hands to her slender waist.
She had just started to undo her belt, ready to take a nice bath, when she paused.
She glanced back. The little devil was still following her.
Bibi Dong quietly lowered her hands. She had suddenly gained another person to look after.
She wasn't used to it yet.
She cleared her throat.
"Go on ahead and stabilize your Soul Power."
Su Chen nodded. "Teacher, then I'll head back to the Orphanage!"
"Hm?"
"Wait."
Bibi Dong remembered that she hadn't arranged a place for him to stay. Hearing him mention the Orphanage gave her a sense of shared hardship.
She had come from there herself.
"How can a disciple of mine live in an Orphanage?"
"Go clean up the Side Hall. From now on, you'll live there."
"If you have any questions, you can come ask me anytime."
"I can also put you to work whenever I want."
Su Chen didn't refuse. "All right, Teacher."
"Wait a moment. Let me check your Soul Power."
Bibi Dong stopped Su Chen as he was about to leave, took out a crystal ball for testing Soul Power, and motioned for him to place his hand on it.
Su Chen channeled Soul Power into the crystal ball. It suddenly lit up, displaying his Soul Power Level.
Bibi Dong narrowed her eyes slightly. "Just as I thought. Absorbing a Soul Ring beyond your limit has raised your Soul Power by two levels."
"This is the meditation method I use to cultivate. Don't sleep tonight; use this instead."
Bibi Dong pulled a booklet out of her Soul Tool and handed it to Su Chen.
"Also, write five hundred words about absorbing the Soul Ring and encountering Soul Beasts in the Star Dou Great Forest. I want to read it tomorrow."
The corner of Su Chen's mouth finally twitched. Losing sleep to cultivation was one thing, but now he had to write an essay, too.
"Go on!"
Bibi Dong fought back a smile. Qian Xunji had taught her all this.
Now she was getting to experience the joy of being a teacher herself.
But she kept up the dignity and poise expected of a teacher.
Only after watching Su Chen leave with a look of utter despair did the corners of her mouth finally lift.
"Phew!"
"Having a disciple really is exhausting."
Bibi Dong undid her belt and took off her outer garment, revealing her graceful curves.
She stroked her dress, then paused.
She felt the damp stains on it, now dried.
Her pretty face flushed red.
She thought of the sight of those two spiders battling today.
Bibi Dong pressed her thin lips together.
Her long legs began to sway slightly.