Medusa's petrification trial, the queen's submission.

The second trial ground on the back mountain of the Nishen Hall was a desert shrouded in golden petrification power. Nine God-Slaying Stone Statues, each a hundred zhang tall, stood in the center. These statues were crafted from ore left behind by the God Realm and contained violent laws of petrification. Medusa's trial required her to master the statues' petrification power and transform it into her own God-Defying Power without being consumed by the statues' malevolent energy.

Medusa stood in the center of the trial ground, golden scales covering her body as her snake tail lightly swept across the ground, kicking up clouds of yellow sand. Her petrification Spirit Ability was originally a top-tier ability in the Douluo Continent, but it seemed exceptionally powerless when facing the God-Slaying Stone Statues—just now, she had tried to control the first statue with her petrification power, only to be jolted by the rebounding force until blood seeped from the corner of her mouth and fine cracks appeared on her golden scales.

"The petrification laws of these statues are even more overbearing than the divine light of the God Realm." A trace of unwillingness flashed in Medusa's serpentine eyes. She was the Queen of the Snake-People Tribe and had never suffered such a great setback in the field she excelled in most.

Su Chen leaned against a runic stone pillar of the trial ground and spoke slowly, "Medusa, you have always considered yourself a queen, believing that petrification power is a weapon for you to control others, but you've forgotten that the true essence of power is 'symbiosis.' You are unwilling to bow your head to anyone, and even towards me, you hide a hint of a queen's pride."

His words struck a chord in Medusa's heart. From the Snake-People Tribe to the Nishen Camp, she had always maintained the pride of a queen. Even though she felt affection for Su Chen, she had never truly lowered her guard. She remembered on the Petrification Altar when Su Chen blocked the divine light of the God Realm Enforcers for her. At that time, what welled up in her heart was not just gratitude, but also a kind of softness, a "desire to be protected by him."

Medusa closed her eyes and stopped trying to forcibly control the statue. Instead, she slowly released her own petrification power, connecting it with the energy of the first statue. Golden energy flowed between her and the statue, and the violent malevolence on the statue seemed to find an outlet, surging into her body along the energy flow. Normally, she would have immediately cut the connection, but at this moment, she thought of the "symbiosis" Su Chen mentioned. She gritted her teeth and endured the wash of malevolence while using the Nishen Mark to soothe the violent energy.

"A queen's pride is not about being solitary and self-admiring, but about standing side-by-side with those she cares about." Su Chen's voice came again, and black God-Defying Soul Power quietly seeped into the trial ground, forming a barrier at Medusa's dantian to help her withstand the most violent impact of the malevolence.

Medusa felt a warmth in her heart. Her snake tail slammed onto the ground, and her golden petrification power surged, completely merging with the energy of the nine statues. Cracks began to spread across the statues, which then slowly crumbled, turning into countless golden specks of light that surged into Medusa's body. Her body suddenly grew taller, and a pair of golden snake wings unfolded from her back. Her scales changed from pure gold to a black-and-white dual color, and black light of the God-Defying Power flickered in her serpentine eyes—the God-Defying Petrification Queen Form unlocked! Her petrification power could not only instantly freeze a Divinity but also turn petrified enemies into her puppets. Even the petrification laws of the God Realm were now completely under her control.

Medusa walked up to Su Chen and knelt on one knee, her snake tail gently coiling around his calf. Her golden serpentine eyes were full of submission and affection: "My King, from now on, Medusa's petrification power will only be used for you."

Su Chen helped her up, his fingertips brushing over her scales: "You will always be my queen. It's just that your throne will stand side-by-side with mine."

Their interaction fell into the eyes of Qian Renxue in the distance. Her angel god armor shimmered with a faint golden light, and a shallow smile played at the corners of her mouth. Since completely defecting to the Nishen Camp, she had watched the bonds between Su Chen and each of the Heroines, becoming increasingly certain that this was the "freedom" she wanted—not as the Angel God of the God Realm, but as the Angel Hall Master of the Nishen Hall.

Meanwhile, in a ruined temple in Cangyun Town, Xiao Ling was curled up in a corner, gnawing on a hard, dry bun he had scavenged. He had been fired by the foreman today because he had dropped and shattered a crate of ore due to physical exhaustion. Not only did he not receive his wages, but he was also beaten until he was covered in bruises. Looking at his hands, covered in calluses and scars, he remembered the way he used to hold the Blue Silver Grass and the Clear Sky Hammer. Tears welled up in his eyes, but he quickly wiped them away. He didn't dare to cry out loud, fearing he would be bullied by the other beggars in the temple.

At that moment, a beggar snatched away the half-bun in his hand. Xiao Ling lunged forward like a madman to fight for it, but was knocked to the ground by a single punch. "A cripple dares to steal things?" The beggar's insults caused Xiao Ling to completely break down. He lay on the ground, letting the other person kick and punch him, murmuring, "I am Tang Little San, I am a Douluo genius... I am not a cripple..."

But the only response he received was the beggar's mockery and the cold wind outside the temple. His pride, his talent, and everything he had had vanished under Su Chen's God-Defying Power. Now, he was just a bottom-of-the-barrel beggar who couldn't even protect a bun.

Back at the trial ground, Su Chen watched Medusa's unlocked God-Defying Form and said to Hinata beside him, "Continue monitoring the movements of the God Realm, and at the same time, speed up the trial progress of the other Heroines. The God Realm Enforcers won't give us much time."

Hinata nodded, and her God-Defying Byakugan opened once more, recording every fluctuation outside the spatial barrier. Black nishen markings flowed in her eyes, signaling that a storm concerning the fate of the Douluo Continent was quietly brewing.