One second.
Two seconds.
Three seconds.
With a sharp crack, the Nine-Solar Binding Chains shattered, and the flames beneath Bibi Dong's feet dissipated as well.
"Elder Sister."
Su Linfeng chuckled as he withdrew his soul power, then raised his hands in a gesture of surrender.
"I admit defeat."
…
Bibi Dong had actually been planning to continue, but she hadn't expected this little brat to concede first. She couldn't help feeling stifled.
From beginning to end, she hadn't even managed to touch him. Instead, she'd repeatedly been forced back. Worse yet, it was as though he had calculated her every move. Even when she sealed off her spiritual perception, he still controlled the pace of the fight with flawless precision.
And this was when he was only a Soul Sect.
Facing her was a Title Douluo.
Such terrifying control… could this truly be within the ability of a child?
And his fourth skill, Nine-Solar Binding Chains, was simply monstrous. If even she had been forcibly restrained for three seconds, then what about an ordinary soul master?
At the same rank, they might not even be able to break free at all.
Though shocked, Bibi Dong also felt a flicker of pride.
"Not bad. You've got explosive offense, but also meticulous control. You're even stronger than I imagined."
"Impressive, right?"
Su Linfeng grinned slyly.
"Want to try an even stronger Elder Sister?"
"Hm?" Bibi Dong's brows knitted together.
"Don't misunderstand."
Sensing her gaze turn dangerous, Su Linfeng hurriedly backtracked.
"I meant helping Elder Sister refine away the evil thoughts. Didn't I say before that I could deal with them within ten to fifteen years? Now, I'm confident I can shorten that by at least a third."
Bibi Dong opened her mouth but found no words.
This brat… reacts fast!
Just then, Su Linfeng turned toward Dugu Bo, who had been sleeping for a very long time.
He bent down, sending a surge of soul power into his body.
The Demon Emperor Dijun—with just a single glance—had imprisoned a Title Douluo's spirit, keeping Dugu Bo unconscious for days.
As he woke him, Su Linfeng couldn't help but sigh.
If only Ancestor Dijun's lingering will were still here… With that, even Qian Daoliu wouldn't scare me. But alas, it vanished after helping me awaken my bloodline.
"I'm not dead!"
Dugu Bo jolted awake with a shout. The moment he saw Su Linfeng up close, fear flickered in his eyes.
"What a terrifying spiritual world… Who exactly are you?"
No matter how foul his temper or how stubborn his pride, Dugu Bo truly feared death.
In truth, even before Bibi Dong made a move, Su Linfeng's words had already shaken him. The backlash of the Jade Phosphor Serpent Venom had always been the fatal flaw of his family line—especially for his granddaughter, Dugu Yan, who had just awakened her martial spirit and was already suffering from venomous counterattack.
He himself didn't care so much—but for his granddaughter, he did.
His wife and son had both died from the same venom. There was no way he would allow his granddaughter to follow that path.
And this boy hadn't only seen through the venom's attack on his heart but had also known that the toxin would be inherited.
Maybe he truly had a way to save Yan.
If so…
Forget letting him pick a few herbs—he'd gladly hand over the entire Icefire Yin-Yang Well!
But before he could speak, that terrifying woman had defeated him, and then the boy's mutated martial spirit dragged him into a spiritual illusion. Utter humiliation.
Now fully awake, he forced down his pride, turned to Su Linfeng, and asked:
"You… you have a way to purge the poison from my body?"
"No." Su Linfeng answered honestly.
"You—!"
Murderous light flared in Dugu Bo's eyes. For a heartbeat, he nearly crushed the boy with a palm strike.
But glancing at the vigilant Bibi Dong at his side—and recalling the illusion that had trapped him—he forced himself to swallow his rage.
Mainly… because he couldn't win!
"I truly don't have a method to cure your serpent venom," Su Linfeng said with a shrug. "But that doesn't mean my Elder Sister can't."
As he spoke, he shot a meaningful look toward Bibi Dong.
Indeed—
He himself knew nothing of poison, nor was he a healer. Naturally, he couldn't cure toxins.
But Bibi Dong?
The Jade Phosphor Serpent Venom was nothing compared to her Death Spider Emperor Poison and Soul-Eating Spider Emperor Poison. If such venom had never affected her in the slightest, then surely she had a solution.
And she wasn't the only precedent.
Even now, far away in Heaven Dou Palace, Porcupinefish Douluo guarded Qian Renxue. His poison was stronger than Dugu Bo's, yet he had survived just fine. In fact, he could even absorb toxins into his martial spirit's quills, then fire them back through soul skills for added damage.
Though Su Linfeng didn't know Bibi Dong's exact method, he was certain she had one.
Truth be told, it was the first time he'd ever heard of a venomous serpent being poisoned to death by its own venom.
Perhaps Dugu Bo was simply too foolish, unable to properly control the Jade Phosphor Serpent Venom within him.
"You've got a clever tongue. But why should I help him?"
Bibi Dong shot Su Linfeng a frosty glare.
"He isn't from Spirit Hall. If he becomes our enemy one day, wouldn't I just be making trouble for myself?"
She wasn't exaggerating.
Now that she had succeeded to the position of Pope, she needed to solidify her rule. Her next step was to reveal her twin martial spirits, shocking the entire continent.
At the same time, she would use Qian Xunji's death as leverage to purge every strong soul master and faction unwilling to submit to Spirit Hall.
A rogue Title Douluo like Dugu Bo was one of the first targets.
If not for Su Linfeng's presence, given Dugu Bo's arrogance just now, he would already be a dead snake.
As her words fell, a flicker of hope lit Dugu Bo's eyes, his earlier killing intent gradually fading.
Su Linfeng only gave him a helpless look, as though saying: Nothing I can do. A child has no face here.
Dugu Bo's lips twitched.
He didn't trust this boy, no. But he had to trust this woman. In front of her poisons, his Jade Phosphor Serpent Venom was worthless. And judging by her tone, she truly did have a way to help.
"What if we never become enemies?"
He looked straight at Bibi Dong, his voice softening.
"As long as you can fix my family's marital spirit flaw, you will be my benefactor."
"Oh?"
Bibi Dong arched her brows, surprised.
Just moments ago, this old man had been as stubborn and proud as could be. She hadn't expected him to make such a promise.
But she had underestimated the determination of someone who had already watched his wife and son die helplessly—and who now clung desperately to the hope of saving his granddaughter.
Bibi Dong's tone cooled again.
"Why should I believe you?"
"I can swear on my soul master's honor!"
Dugu Bo declared firmly.
But only if you truly solve the flaw of my clan's martial spirit!