Time Stop, Abyss Changes!

"Did you really manage to absorb a wisp of the time attribute from the Dark Night Raven?"

Mu Ye and Han Tianyi paused upon hearing this, exchanging a glance that revealed the astonishment in each other's eyes.

Although it was rumored that the Dark Night Raven possessed the ability to traverse time, no one had ever witnessed it in reality. For Jiang Xiu to be able to extract that time attribute and refine it into a soul skill, his luck was truly off the charts.

However, only Jiang Xiu knew that this time-attribute soul skill was not a result of a simple soul spirit fusion; it was a bloodline soul skill that the Dark Night Raven had voluntarily bestowed upon him after completely submitting to his will.

"My precious disciple, let your master see what this time-attribute soul skill looks like, so I can tailor a cultivation plan for your future."

Mu Ye rubbed his hands together with a smile, gesturing for him to proceed.

"Very well."

Jiang Xiu nodded. While soul skills were typically a soul master's secret and rarely revealed outside of combat, there was no need to hide anything from his master and grand-uncle.

"Screech!"

As Jiang Xiu raised his left hand, the towering figure of the Shadow Monarch appeared behind him, and a century-old soul ring rose into the air.

The soul ring pulsed, and the Dark Night Raven, shimmering with dark light, flew out from within. It folded its wings and landed on Jiang Xiu's right shoulder, rubbing against him affectionately, no longer showing a trace of its former defiance.

"Raven, Time Stop!"

A ripple passed through Jiang Xiu's blood-red eyes. As he clenched his left hand in the void, his century-old soul ring burst into light. The Dark Night Raven's affectionate demeanor instantly shifted to a combat stance; its blood-red eyes transformed as two dark red circular clock faces emerged, their hands coming to an abrupt halt.

"Hum!"

In an instant, a pale blood-colored ripple expanded outward, flickering with a silver sheen. Wherever it passed, light ceased to refract, the air stopped flowing, sound was extinguished, and everything fell into a state of absolute stillness.

Mu Ye and Han Tianyi, standing beside Jiang Xiu, were also enveloped in the effect, their bodies coated in a faint red glow as they froze in place.

Mu Ye did not use his soul power to resist, choosing instead to carefully sense the effects of Jiang Xiu's Time Stop, as did Han Tianyi.

"Crack!"

A second later, a sound like shattering glass echoed through the room, and everything returned to normal.

Warm sunlight spilled through the glass, a bubble rose in the nearby fish tank, and footsteps could be heard faintly from outside the office.

"Phew, that nearly drained me dry."

Jiang Xiu let out a long breath, his lips slightly pale. Over half of the soul power in his body had been consumed, and the Dark Night Raven on his shoulder lowered its head, looking exhausted.

"Time Stop, time manipulation... everything within a five-meter radius was brought to a standstill. Excellent, simply excellent!"

Mu Ye stood with his hands behind his back, though his clenched fists trembled slightly.

"Not only that, nephew, did you not feel that momentary lapse in your senses just now?"

Han Tianyi's eyes shimmered with a silver-white light as he stroked his chin, his tone implying something deeper.

Although neither of them had resisted the effect, under the perception of his formidable spiritual power, he had indeed felt his vision blur for a fleeting instant.

"Grand-uncle, are you saying that Xiao Xiu's Time Stop soul skill is an absolute effect? Just like the mutated Star Wheel Ice Staff of the Xu family?"

Prompted by his grand-uncle, Mu Ye seemed to realize something, and the wonder in his eyes as he looked at Jiang Xiu deepened.

"Why not just ask Xiao Xiu?"

Han Tianyi looked at Jiang Xiu with a gentle expression.

"Grand-uncle, the Time Stop does indeed have an absolute effect. Although the duration of the stasis decreases as the gap in strength widens, it will at least freeze an opponent for a split second, during which I can move freely."

Jiang Xiu nodded slightly, his tone firm.

Xu Xiaoyan's Star Wheel Ice Staff could pin enemies using starlight with absolute certainty, and his Time Stop possessed the same quality. The only drawback was the massive consumption; just one second had nearly drained him completely.

However, this drawback would diminish as he grew stronger.

"Will the duration of the Time Stop increase as your strength grows, Xiao Xiu?"

Han Tianyi's eyes flickered as he asked the most critical question.

"Yes. Based on the current situation, the effect will increase by one second for every major rank I ascend," Jiang Xiu said after a moment of consideration.

"Then by the time you reach the Title Douluo realm, you will have nine seconds against opponents of the same level! Once I teach you the combat techniques of our Body Sect, nine seconds will be more than enough to kill the enemy nine times over—nine times!"

Mu Ye's emotions surged at the thought. In a battle between experts, even a single breath of error could lead to death, let alone nine seconds.

"Enough, don't get ahead of yourself. Keeping your feet on the ground is what matters most. Don't forget that Xiao Xiu is only a level thirteen soul master; he nearly bottomed out his soul power after using it just once."

"Therefore, this must be treated as a trump card and not used recklessly."

Han Tianyi glared at Mu Ye and said in a deep voice.

"Your grand-uncle is right. Xiao Xiu, you must never become arrogant because of this. A true master always maintains the mindset of an apprentice."

"To become a true powerhouse, you must possess diligence, perseverance, and humility. You cannot lack any of these to reach the pinnacle."

Mu Ye retracted his smile and spoke to Jiang Xiu with great seriousness.

"Disciple will keep this in mind."

Jiang Xiu replied with a solemn expression.

A mere Time Stop would not make him get ahead of himself, for his future opponents were at the God-rank, or even the God King level.

Furthermore, there was not much time left for him to grow, at most a dozen years or so.

"Alright, Xiao Xiu, you may head out now. Let Xiao Ling take you down to rest. You still have to go to the Spirit Ascension Platform tomorrow to increase the age of your soul rings; the soul beasts in there are quite ferocious."

Han Tianyi waved his hand, and the uniformed woman from before walked into the office to lead Jiang Xiu away to rest.

After Jiang Xiu left, Mu Ye and Han Tianyi, the only ones remaining in the room, exchanged glances. They could no longer suppress the corners of their mouths, and after three seconds of silence, a burst of uproarious laughter erupted instantly.

They told Jiang Xiu not to be arrogant, but they certainly could be.

To possess such a genius who was also so incredibly lucky—if they could hold back their laughter, they could safely be diagnosed with depression.

"Uncle-Master, this is not a drill. Our Body Sect is truly going to be revived."

"Indeed, it is going to be revived. I only hope I can live long enough to see it with my own eyes."

Han Tianyi sighed with emotion; the reason he had joined the Spirit Pagoda back then was due to his own unspeakable difficulties.

After all, if one's own sect were powerful, who would be willing to come to another sect and bow and scrape?

Inside a spacious, clean, and tidy room.

Jiang Xiu sat cross-legged on the bed, silently absorbing soul power. The moment his soul power was restored, he slowly opened his eyes, his purple pupils faintly radiating an air of nobility.

"When I broke through to become a Soul Master, my shadow left behind in the Abyss also sent a strange tremor. Let me see what is going on."

After gathering his strength and making preparations, Jiang Xiu's consciousness slowly sank into the Shadow Monarch, instantly entering another plane.