Medusa, Skull

No sooner had the words fallen than a piercing hiss suddenly rang out from atop the mountain.

The hiss instantly drew the attention of Golden Crocodile Douluo, Yue Guan, and Gui Mei. Looking up, they saw a massive shadow winding its way down the cliff face.

Before long, the enormous shadow revealed its true form—it was a gigantic emerald-green serpent. Even its pupils were green, cold and lifeless. Its body gave off a foul, fishy stench, along with the oppressive aura of a Ten Thousand Year Soul Beast.

This Soul Beast...

Ling Jing, who had studied plenty of theoretical knowledge, furrowed his brow before suddenly recalling, "Medusa?"

"That's right. Judging by its length, this should be a Medusa with roughly seventy to eighty thousand years of cultivation. It is the king among serpent Soul Beasts."

A Medusa with seventy to eighty thousand years of cultivation?

Ling Jing's expression immediately turned rather strange.

Could this Medusa be Dugu Bo's ninth Soul Ring?

Poison Douluo Dugu Bo was not among the Titled Douluo currently registered by Spirit Hall, so he had not yet broken through Rank 90. Naturally, this Medusa was still alive...

Ling Jing roughly pieced it together in his mind.

Dugu Bo must have discovered the Icefire Yin Yang Well by accident. After entering this place, his cultivation improved until he finally broke through Rank 90. Then, he happened upon this Medusa and killed it, turning it into his ninth Soul Ring.

Come to think of it... this Medusa seemed capable of dropping a Skull as well.

"It is full of hostility... It seems this Medusa has regarded this place as its territory, which is why it bears such hostility toward us."

Golden Crocodile Douluo snorted coldly as the pressure of a Rank 98 Peak Douluo suddenly burst forth.

Amid a flash of golden light, the Golden Crocodile King Martial Soul possessed him. Two yellow, two purple, four black, and one red Soul Rings slowly rose from beneath Golden Crocodile Douluo's feet.

When the final blood-red Soul Ring appeared, clarity instantly returned to Medusa's eyes.

Without the slightest hesitation, it turned around and attempted to flee. However, Golden Crocodile Douluo was clearly faster. The instant Medusa moved, his figure flashed, and he appeared directly before it.

Then, he reached out and seized Medusa by the vital point seven inches below its head.

The entire process was exceedingly simple. He did not even use a Soul Skill, yet no matter how Medusa struggled, it could not break free in the slightest.

"Little Jing, if you encounter a Soul Beast like Medusa while hunting Soul Beasts in the future, you must beware of its eyes. Its eyes can shoot out light that petrifies its enemies."

As he spoke, Golden Crocodile Douluo suddenly tightened his grip, instantly crushing Medusa's body and forcing it to let out a pained hiss.

The next instant, Medusa abruptly turned its head. A dark green gleam surged from its emerald vertical pupils and shot toward Golden Crocodile Douluo.

"Humph! If not for letting Little Jing witness this petrification ability with his own eyes, do you think you would still be alive?"

Golden Crocodile Douluo snorted and vast Soul Power instantly shielded his entire body, allowing the green radiance to strike him.

"Unless your strength far surpasses Medusa's, never let that radiance land on your body. Once you are petrified, it is all over."

While explaining this to Ling Jing, Golden Crocodile Douluo suddenly exerted force, yanked Medusa down, and viciously smashed it into the ground.

As a worshipper of Spirit Hall, Golden Crocodile Douluo naturally knew that unnecessary killing of Soul Beasts should be avoided. However, this beast had clearly already claimed this place as its territory. If he let it go, it might cause trouble in the future.

Thus, Golden Crocodile Douluo did not hesitate. He directly stepped on Medusa's body.

"Wuu—"

Amid a mournful cry, the Medusa with seventy to eighty thousand years of cultivation completely lost all signs of life. A black Soul Ring slowly condensed and floated into the air.

"Eh?"

Golden Crocodile Douluo gave a soft exclamation and nudged Medusa's corpse with his foot.

A green glow rose from beneath Medusa's corpse. The source of that green light was a Soul Bone—an extremely important Skull!

Seeing this, a trace of understanding appeared in Ling Jing's eyes.

Sure enough, it had dropped a Skull...

"A Skull? And one from a Soul Beast with seventy to eighty thousand years of cultivation?"

Golden Crocodile Douluo immediately revealed a surprised expression. "This Skull is indeed extremely precious. If someone absorbs it, they may even gain Medusa's petrification ability."

However...

Golden Crocodile Douluo looked at Bibi Dong and Ling Jing, then subconsciously shook his head.

Bibi Dong possessed Twin Martial Souls. Her second Martial Soul might even be fitted entirely with Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Rings in the future; at worst, they would come from Soul Beasts with eighty or ninety thousand years of cultivation. And Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beasts were guaranteed to produce Soul Bones. In other words, Bibi Dong might obtain a Hundred-Thousand-Year Skull someday, so absorbing this Soul Bone would be somewhat wasteful.

As for Little Jing...

First, this Skull was not compatible with Little Jing. Second... in Golden Crocodile Douluo's heart, Ling Jing's status even surpassed Bibi Dong's. This incompatible Skull... was somewhat unworthy of Little Jing's standing.

Just as Golden Crocodile Douluo was hesitating, Yue Guan and Gui Mei at the side had already revealed covetous looks.

As Titled Douluo, the two of them only possessed one Soul Bone between them, much less a Skull dropped by a Soul Beast with tens of thousands of years of cultivation.

"This Soul Bone..."

Golden Crocodile Douluo glanced at Yue Guan and Gui Mei. Noticing the expressions on their faces, he considered his words before saying, "For now, this old man will keep it. Among you, only Dong'er is truly compatible with this Skull. If Dong'er does not obtain a more suitable Skull in the future, she may consider absorbing this one."

"As for Yue Guan, you discovered this treasure land, can identify these Immortal Herbs, and may even cultivate them in the future. That is a great merit. Once this old man returns, I will petition for credit on your behalf and find a Soul Bone suitable for you."

As soon as those words fell, Yue Guan, whose eyes had held a touch of desolation, immediately brightened with delight. "Thank you, Second Worship!"

"Grandpa Golden Crocodile."

Ling Jing's call caused Golden Crocodile Douluo to pause slightly. He looked over with some confusion.

He had thought Ling Jing wanted to absorb the Ten Thousand Year Skull after seeing it and was just about to earnestly explain the pros and cons when he heard Ling Jing say softly:

"Grandpa Golden Crocodile, this Immortal Herb seems very suitable for you."

"Hmm?"

An Immortal Herb suitable for me?

Golden Crocodile Douluo froze slightly, then took several quick strides to Ling Jing's side. Before him was a winding vine, bearing a fist-sized fruit that was entirely golden.