"What's the Difference?"
Although the ribbon's surface now had richer detail—with traces of fine weaving—its appearance remained smooth overall. To Su Yuntao's eye, there was no visible difference.
Even Si Si herself would not have noticed anything by sight alone. The traces were simply too small.
But she could feel it. The ribbon was her martial soul—her soul.
Ma Xiunuo, wearing a pair of reading glasses, was the second to notice:
"Your soul is different now," she observed. "It has weaving patterns—more like a real ribbon."
"It's this change," Si Si explained. "I can feel it—my ribbon is more flexible now, harder to tear."
Then she turned to Su Yuntao with a teasing look in her eyes.
"Let's compete. How about it? Let's see how much stronger I've become."
"Alright," Su Yuntao said, eager to test her progress, but still confident. "Let's see how much stronger you are with your second soul skill. I'll go easy on you."
After all, his soul power had already reached Level 24.
Si Si, having just obtained her second soul ring, couldn't be higher than Level 21.
In theory, control-type soul masters restrained assault types—but his soul power was three levels higher. He could fight above his level, while Si Si couldn't control him effectively.
Plus, she was a woman. Naturally, her physical strength was lower than his.
If he didn't let her win a little, he might have to spend the rest of the day coaxing her back into a good mood.
The two didn't announce their names and levels like formal soul duels. They were lovers, familiar with each other, and this wasn't an official arena.
As a gentleman, Su Yuntao naturally wouldn't strike first.
Besides, if he tried to win too seriously, he might lose his spot in Si Si's bed tonight.
"Hehe, then I'll go first."
A cunning gleam flashed in Si Si's eyes as she activated her first soul skill—Entangle.
The white ribbon shot toward Su Yuntao like a living serpent.
He was very familiar with this skill and began dodging—but quickly noticed a difference. Si Si's Entangle was now far more flexible. It moved like a twisting white snake, difficult to predict or read.
The softness of the ribbon made it even harder to judge where it would turn or wrap around next.
Deciding not to let it drag out, Su Yuntao reached out with his wolf claws, attempting to grab and tear it. After all, Si Si's ribbon had never been as tough as a chain or rope.
But the moment he grasped it, he was shocked.
Previously, he needed only minimal effort to tear the ribbon. Now, he had to inject soul power—and even then, it took more than 30% of his total to do so.
He quickly did the math.
Si Si's ribbon soul consumed very little soul power. With her current level, she could probably use her first soul skill around ten times.
If every entanglement cost him 30% to escape, she'd only need four tries to drain him completely.
Still, Su Yuntao reassured himself—he was going easy on her.
In a real fight, he wouldn't give her the chance to activate her skill at all. He'd rush in and take her down in a single blow.
Against an enemy, there's no mercy.
Victory with one move is always better than risking a second.
"Si Si, let me see your second soul skill, alright?"
Having torn through her first soul skill with effort, he brushed back his bangs with feigned ease.
"In that case…"
A smile tugged at Si Si's lips. "Let me show you my second soul skill—Silkworm Cocoon Transformation!"
In an instant, ten ribbons burst from her hands and shot toward Su Yuntao.
"Second soul skill: Adamantine Wolf Claw!"
With nearly 30% of his power gone from the first round, Su Yuntao dared not be careless. He activated his second soul skill immediately.
But this time, the invincible Adamantine Wolf Claw hit only air.
It was as if the ribbons didn't exist. His claws passed right through.
Yet when they brushed his skin, he felt them—smooth, flexible, unmistakably real.
"Sure enough… Sister Si Si's ribbon has evolved under the banyan silkworm's influence," Tang San observed from the side. "It's become lighter, smoother—just like the silkworm's silk."
"Brother Tao's Adamantine Wolf Claws are incredibly sharp, but they can't cut air—and her ribbon now floats like air."
"This may be another form of soft overcoming hard…"
Tang San smiled, genuinely happy for Si Si's soul skill development. But then his gaze landed on the ribbon fragments on the ground.
They were remnants of her first soul skill—torn earlier by Su Yuntao.
In theory, soul skills aren't material. Once disrupted, they vanish.
Yet Si Si's ribbon fragments remained scattered across the battlefield.
Now, Su Yuntao was once again entangled—ten ribbons wrapping him up, just like the banyan silkworm had done earlier.
Only this time, his Adamantine Wolf Claws couldn't cut him free.
"No, I need to use soul power!"
Realizing he was stuck, Su Yuntao channeled energy into his claws.
Hiss!
The ribbons shattered—finally.
But the effort cost him dearly in soul power.
"Huuh… Si Si, your second soul skill is seriously impressive," Su Yuntao panted, giving her a thumbs-up. "It really does inherit the banyan silkworm's stickiness."
"My second soul skill isn't over yet," Si Si warned with a sly smile. She raised her hand and pointed.
"Get up for me!"
Instantly, the scattered ribbon fragments lifted into the air.
They reconnected—twisting into a tornado-like cocoon, spiraling toward Su Yuntao.
Having nearly exhausted his soul power, Su Yuntao had no resistance left.
He was cocooned—wrapped up like a dumpling.
Or as Si Si called it: "A proper cocoon."
"Si Si, your second soul skill is that good?" Ma Xiunuo exclaimed. "You can reuse fragments and restrain the enemy? Does the range increase with more soul power?"
"I think so," Si Si answered, rubbing her temples. "But I used almost half my soul power just now. The more fragments there are, the harder it is to control. I feel a little dizzy."
As she withdrew her martial soul, the ribbons vanished, and Su Yuntao was freed.
But his expression was helpless.
"Well, now I'm not your match anymore," he said dramatically. "Si Si, don't abandon me because I lost. I'm already yours."
"Children are present," Si Si scolded, blushing slightly.
Cough cough!
Tang San coughed twice, pretending not to understand.
"Brother Tao, don't worry. Sister Si Si won't abandon you. And anyway, are you going to claim you didn't let her win a little? In a real fight to the death, she probably wouldn't get a chance to use her soul skill."
He paused.
"But honestly, if Sister Si Si had higher soul power, even if you could still win, it would be a tough fight. Her ribbon is incredibly soft. If she continues to refine it, you may not be able to cut it at all."
"Little San is right," Ma Xiunuo added. "Every martial soul has its own characteristics. When soul masters leverage their strengths, they become truly powerful."
"In the future, the two of you should work together. Si Si for control, you for attack. If you cooperate well, even a Soul Ancestor might have trouble against you."
He wasn't just encouraging them. He was also matchmaking a little.
Their souls were compatible. Together, they could create more powerful techniques.
And when he retired or got transferred, they could become the face of the Nuoding City Soul Hall.
Su Yuntao laughed: "Haha! Well, I still have the stronger attack power!"
"Hmph! Without my control, you'd probably miss half your attacks in a real fight!" Si Si pouted.
The next task was helping Tang San hunt the plant-type soul beast he needed—Thousand Root Banyan.
Tang San removed the sack from his back and opened one of the lead boxes inside—once used to contain the 100,000-year-old Blue Silver Emperor's right leg bone.
Now, it held tools.
He opened the lid. Inside were four large saws.
"…Are we seriously becoming lumberjacks now?" Su Yuntao's eyes widened. His eyelids twitched.
"There's no other way," Tang San replied. "Thousand Root Banyan is a tree. To get the soul ring, we have to cut it down."
He handed saws to Ma Xiunuo, Su Yuntao, and Si Si.
"I think you overlooked something," Su Yuntao said, clearly scheming to slack off. "Only the person who kills the soul beast can absorb its ring. If we cut it down together and a ring pops out, who gets it? Isn't that a waste?"
"Thousand Root Banyan is special," Tang San replied calmly. "Only when all exposed roots are cut will the ring appear."
"So Brother Tao, don't get any ideas. Just leave the last root for me."
Su Yuntao had no comeback.
"And by the way, the banyan's wood is valuable—great for carving. Most artists can't access the Soul Hunting Forest. When we sell it, we'll split the money."