Chen Feng spat out a mouthful of black blood—laced with freezing energy—and landed against a tree. Instantly, a layer of frost spread across the bark.
"Where do you think you're going!?"
The purple-robed bishop with the Mystic Ice Turtle martial spirit gave a thunderous order:
"Forget about Yu Tianlong! He's not important! Everyone, focus on capturing that young one!"
At his command, the dozen Spirit Hall soul masters abandoned Yu Tianlong and surged toward Chen Feng in hot pursuit.
The bishop himself activated a soul bone ability—his right leg shimmering with icy-blue light.
Chen Feng's pupils contracted. Without hesitation, he deployed his Eight Spider Lances. Though only four remained unbroken, they still provided enough power to launch him through the dense forest, gliding between trees like a massive arachnid.
Despite the terrain's complexity, the Eight Spider Lances allowed him to move as if on flat ground. Trees blurred past in his vision.
The purple-robed bishop, though aided by his leg bone's skill, found the forest to be an obstacle course. Every tree blocked his stride. No matter how fast he went, he couldn't close the distance.
Nor could Chen Feng fully shake him off.
Before long, the two had left the other Spirit Hall pursuers far behind.
The bishop hesitated for a moment. This boy is far too slippery. Even as a Soul Ancestor, his combat ability rivaled a Soul King. If he got careless, it could cost him dearly.
But just then, Chen Feng's figure suddenly faltered. His four Spider Lances retracted all at once, and he tumbled from the treetops to the forest floor.
"Got him!" the bishop exclaimed in surprise.
"My Mystic Ice Turtle's fourth soul skill delivers an intense freezing force. Most soul masters would become paralyzed within a minute. I nearly thought this brat resisted it completely... but it worked after all!"
He closed in quickly, activating his second soul skill—Mystic Ice Armor—just to be safe.
As a defensive-type martial spirit, the Mystic Ice Turtle already has exceptional durability. With this skill, icy armor coated his entire body—he was leaving nothing to chance.
He approached Chen Feng, who was slumped against a tree, pale and wheezing as if in excruciating pain.
The remaining Spider Lances dangled weakly behind him, dripping dark blood. The freezing aura had crystallized the blood, releasing a faint white mist.
The bishop sneered as he stopped three meters away, looking down at his prey like a hunter savoring the moment before the kill.
Especially when he looked at the Spider Lances—his gaze burned with greed.
"Boy, lucky for you, the higher-ups want you alive because of your unusual soul rings."
"But... you really shouldn't have killed that purple-robed bishop. He was my comrade for over a decade. I can't just let you off easy for that."
"And if I'm not mistaken, those spider legs of yours must be from a soul bone, yes? Heh heh…"
Chen Feng narrowed his eyes, feigning weakness while analyzing the man's movements.
The freezing attack had indeed affected him, but not nearly as severely as he let on.
His body, refined by several celestial herbs, was far from fragile. If he couldn't resist this, those herbs wouldn't be worthy of their name.
His disheveled, bleeding state? All part of the act.
But the bishop was cautious, never closing the distance beyond a few meters. He kept his second soul skill active, clearly waiting for backup rather than rushing in.
That won't do, Chen Feng thought. Time wasn't on his side. He had no reinforcements.
Only one choice remained: Finish this fast!
Suddenly, Chen Feng leapt from the ground, all four Spider Lances shooting forward like spears.
"I knew it! You were faking!" the bishop roared.
"But I've been guarding against you. Don't forget—I'm a defensive battle soul master!"
He crossed his arms in front of him, bracing himself.
CLANG!
Though the Eight Spider Lances could pierce granite, they were stopped cold by the Mystic Ice Armor.
The sharp lances dug in an inch—but no farther. No matter how hard Chen Feng pushed, they wouldn't penetrate.
The bishop smirked.
"Did you think my martial spirit was that easy to break? Watch this—First Soul Skill: Ice Seal!"
With a hiss, white mist surged forth, instantly encasing the lances and armor in ice. Chen Feng's limbs froze in place.
"Second Soul Bone Skill—Icy Blade of the Wind Leg!"
Zing—!
But Chen Feng didn't hesitate—he drew his Seven Kill Sword and severed his own Spider Lances.
He unleashed his movement skill—Nine-Shadow Dragon Form—and barely dodged the soul bone attack.
The second and third soul rings ignited simultaneously.
"Second Soul Skill: Armor Break!"
"Third Soul Skill: Swift Sword Like the Wind!"
Double boost—activated.
"If the Spider Lances can't break your armor, let's try the sword instead!"
His sword shot out like a bolt of lightning.
His second soul ring had come from a pangolin-type beast, granting him the Armor Break ability—perfect against defensive opponents.
The bishop was momentarily stunned.
He never imagined the boy would cut off his soul bone to escape.
That moment of hesitation cost him.
He barely had time to react and reflexively activated Mystic Ice Armor again.
Too late.
The Seven Kill Sword pierced through the ice armor, slicing open his abdomen. Blood sprayed wildly. He staggered back in time to avoid being disemboweled completely.
Chen Feng, drenched in blood, let go of his sword, which had been frozen in place.
He calmly retrieved a tiny shard of the Spider Lances—no larger than a fingernail.
He flicked it with precision.
The shard slipped through the open wound and grazed the bishop's skin.
The bishop froze.
He felt a chill in his gut and looked down in horror as inky black venom spread rapidly from the wound outward.
"Poison!"
He gasped, stumbling back.
In just two breaths' time, his lower abdomen turned a ghastly purple-black. Numbness set in, and his soul power began to drain rapidly.
Chen Feng yanked free the Seven Kill Sword, panting, soaked in blood—but grinning coldly.
"Weren't you known for your defense?"
"Good. Let's see if that shell of yours can withstand the venom of the Man-Faced Demon Spider!