Dugu Bo's Eighth Soul Ring! First encounter with Chrysanthemum Ghost Douluo!

The grass beside the pond suddenly parted to both sides.

A huge snake head slowly emerged, its dark green scales covered with silver-white rings, and its pair of emerald vertical pupils coldly stared at the three people on the shore.

It didn't pounce immediately, but its thick, long body coiled around the rock, protecting the cave entrance behind it.

Dugu Bo stopped in his tracks.

The mere sight of those eyes caused his Jade Phosphorous Serpent Martial Soul to stir noticeably.

"Teacher, this Soul Beast..."

"Jade-Scaled Time-Congealing Python, approximately 80,000 years old." Li Qingshan concentrated and sensed it for a moment, his eyes showing interest. He said, "You step back first; let me see its abilities."

As soon as he finished speaking, the Passionate Sword appeared in his palm, and a silver-white sword aura swept across the water's surface.

The giant python suddenly raised its head, and the silver-white rings on its body lit up one after another, followed by a circle of emerald light spreading outwards.

The sword energy suddenly stopped in mid-air!

The splashing water droplets, the falling leaves, and even the ripples on the surface of the pool all froze at this moment.

But the giant python was still able to move. It suddenly swung its tail, bypassed the stagnant sword energy, and swept towards the shore!

Li Qingshan was prepared; he raised his hand and led his two disciples to retreat to a distance.

The snake's tail crashed down with a deafening roar, sending shards of rock flying.

At the same time, the circle of emerald light quickly dimmed, the suspended water droplets fell again, and the sword energy continued forward, carving a deep gash in the rock wall behind them.

Dugu Bo's pupils contracted slightly, and he said with some surprise, "It can make everything around it freeze?"

"Indeed, even energy attacks are affected." Li Qingshan looked at the gradually darkening patterns on the giant python's body and said slowly, "However, this ability consumes a lot of resources and cannot be maintained indefinitely."

Dugu Bo's breathing quickened slightly.

He is skilled in using poison, but if his opponent is too fast, he often won't have a chance to use it effectively. If he can immobilize the opponent first...

Li Qingshan saw through his thoughts and smiled slightly:

"If you could obtain a similar Soul Skill, it would complement your existing attack methods. I think you should choose it as your Eighth Soul Ring."

The giant python missed its attack, its belly scales swiftly scraping against the rocks, and it lunged at the three of them with its mouth open.

"You all stand further back."

Seeing this, Li Qingshan shielded his two disciples behind him, and with a flash, he arrived above the giant python.

The silver-white longsword slashed down!

The Jade-Scaled Time-Congealing Python sensed danger, and the silver markings on its body lit up again.

However, before the emerald light could fully unfold, a dark Dragon Shadow shot out from in front of Li Qingshan's forehead and crashed straight into his brow!

"Nightmare Soul Devour!"

The giant python's massive body trembled violently, and the light that had just risen flickered.

Li Qingshan gave it no chance to recover. His level 95 Soul Power crashed down, and his sword energy slashed through the gaps in its scales, slamming its high-flying body back to the ground!

Dust billowed, and silvery Threads of Emotion followed closely, tightly binding its head, neck, and torso.

The giant python struggled violently, its tail carving deep furrows in the ground, but it could not break free of its restraints. After a moment, the silver stripes on its body completely faded, and its struggles gradually weakened.

Li Qingshan stopped his sword, turned around and shouted:

"Come here quickly."

Dugu Bo suppressed the shock in his heart and quickly walked to the side of the giant python.

Following Li Qingshan's instructions, he avoided the still-movable snake tail, concentrated his Soul Power in his palm, and suddenly stabbed into the vital spot on the scales that had already been torn open!

The giant python's body stiffened, then slowly slumped down, and a dense circle of black light gradually rose from above the corpse.

Eighty Thousand Year Soul Ring!

Dugu Bo at the circle of black light, his clenched hands growing warm.

Li Qingshan did not urge him, but let him adjust his breathing first, and then cleared a flat area nearby.

"This Soul Ring contains considerable power, and you will also have to withstand a mental shock when you absorb it. Remember to keep your mind calm and don't just focus on refining the Soul Power."

"Disciple understands." Upon hearing this, Dugu Bo nodded, then sat down cross-legged, and the phantom of the Jade Phosphorous Serpent appeared, with seven Soul Ring slowly unfolding.

Guided by his Soul Power, the pitch-black Soul Ring finally fell towards him.

The next instant, he shuddered violently!

A surge of immense power coursed through his meridians, and beads of sweat instantly appeared on his forehead. The snake shadow behind him also began to writhe violently.

Li Qingshan stood beside him, his Spiritual Power constantly monitoring his changes.

Yu Xiaogang hugged Sanpao tightly, even softening his breathing. He had just experienced the absorption of Soul Ring and naturally knew that he shouldn't disturb him at this time.

The Poison Pill within Dugu Bo's body slowly rotated, gathering back the toxins that had surged with his Soul Power. However, the lingering ferocity of the giant python repeatedly assaulted his mind.

He gritted his teeth, not rushing to swallow all the power, but following his teacher's instructions, first stabilizing his meridians, and then gradually guiding the circulation of his Soul Power.

The sky gradually darkened, then slowly brightened again.

A whole day passed, Dugu Bo still hadn't opened his eyes.

His initially rapid breathing had calmed down, but his robes were already soaked with sweat. The black Soul Ring continued to shrink, and its power was gradually merging with his Martial Soul.

Li Qingshan noticed the changes within his body and finally felt a little relieved. The most dangerous stage had passed, and all that remained was to complete the final fusion.

Yu Xiaogang asked in a low voice, "Teacher, is my junior brother close to success?"

"It'll be soon, don't disturb him." Li Qingshan had barely finished speaking when his gaze suddenly turned towards the outside of the woods.

The treetops in the distance swayed slightly.

Immediately afterwards, a Golden Petals fell with the wind, but before it touched the ground, it was intercepted by a silver light.

"Now that you're here, why hide?"

The woods were quiet for a moment, then a laughing voice rang out.

"Your senses are quite sharp. We searched all the way from Coconut Grove City; it took us quite a bit of effort."

The next second, a man slowly emerged from behind the tree.

Her long, golden-orange hair was tied up high, her face was young and beautiful, and her white robe was lined with pale purple. The Golden Petals decorations on her shoulders and neck swayed gently with her steps.

He raised his hand and picked up another petal, smiling as he looked Li Qingshan up and down.

On the other side, a dark figure emerged from the shade of the trees.

Beneath his black hood, a white mask covered with purple arc patterns stood out, with gray and white skull ornaments strung along his shoulders and collar, and a hideous ghostly figure vaguely floating behind him.

Li Qingshan's gaze narrowed slightly, and he thought to himself:

"Chrysanthemum Ghost Douluo."

The aura emanating from both of them clearly indicated that they had both reached the level of Titled Douluo.

"Qian Xunji sent someone."

Li Qingshan glanced behind him. At this moment, Dugu Bo's eighth Soul Ring was gradually becoming clear, but the final fusion was not yet complete.

If the latter were to be disturbed, all the hard work of the previous day might be completely wasted. Fortunately, he had already made preparations to deal with the people from the Spirit Hall.

Yue Guan's gaze passed over Li Qingshan and landed on Dugu Bo, who was absorbing Soul Ring. His smile paused slightly, and he said with a smile, "Oh, we've come at a good time."

The Gui Mei turned its mask around, observed for a moment, and whispered, "His Eighth Soul Ring should be almost fully absorbed."

Yu Xiaogang's expression changed, and he subconsciously looked at Li Qingshan.

Li Qingshan raised his hand, gesturing for him to step back to Dugu Bo's side, while he himself took a step forward, blocking their view.

"What brings you two here?"

Yue Guan withdrew his gaze, the Golden Petals between his fingers slowly dissipating. "By His Holiness the Pope, you are requested to go to Spirit City."

He still had a smile on his face, but his tone left no room for refusal.

Come with us.

Upon hearing this, Li Qingshan did not move his body, but the Passionate Sword in his hand slowly solidified.

"My disciple hasn't successfully absorbed his Soul Ring yet. Let's talk about it when he wakes up."

P. S.: My new book, "Douluo: My Martial Soul is Bibi Dong and Qian Renxue," welcomes all my godfathers to visit and offer their guidance!