Dreadclaw Bear

A tremendous roar came from the forest ahead, deep and powerful, with remarkable penetrating force.

Dugu Bo, who was walking in front, stopped and shielded Dugu Chen and the other two behind him. With the trees blocking the view, Dugu Chen could not see what was happening.

"Teacher, could you tell what kind of Soul Beast that was?" Dugu Chen asked, looking at Dugu Bo before him.

Dugu Bo frowned, pondered for a moment, then shook his head.

"I cannot determine what kind of Soul Beast it is either. But my Spiritual Power did not detect it, which means it is not close to us. Yet its roar reached this place—it should be a ten-thousand-year Soul Beast."

"Then what should we do?" At a time like this, it was safer to let Dugu Bo make the decision.

"Let's go take a look. There is actually a ten-thousand-year Soul Beast in Sunset Forest that even I do not know about." Confident in his strength, Dugu Bo was bold because of his skill. Even against a ten-thousand-year Soul Beast, he was certain he could bring the three of them away safely.

Dugu Chen nodded and reminded Oscar and Dugu Yan beside him, "Stay close to me later, in case anything happens."

Dugu Yan and Oscar nodded solemnly. One could never be too careful.

The group ran roughly three kilometers toward the source of the roar.

A shocking flash streaked through the air. Wherever the terrifying dark-golden sharpness passed, every plant was shredded in an instant. The razor-sharp aura even carved five black trails through the air—clear signs that the air itself had been torn apart.

The eruption point of that dark-golden claw shadow was still some distance away from them, so they were not caught in its wake.

"This is..." Dugu Yan and Oscar stared at the sight before them in shock.

Countless towering trees ahead had been reduced to dust, and an enormous bear with a muscular body, over seven meters tall, appeared in everyone's sight.

Its golden fur and those enormous claws, enough to make one shudder at a glance, gleamed coldly beneath the sunlight.

Dugu Bo was already tense to the extreme. Even he sensed a trace of danger from that dark-golden claw shadow.

Dugu Chen looked at the giant bear before him and cried out in alarm.

"Dark Gold Dreadclaw Bear!"

His expression changing slightly, Dugu Chen grabbed Dugu Yan and Oscar and flashed into the distance. "Teacher, while it hasn't noticed us, let's hide first."

Dugu Bo stared at the giant bear in surprise. It was actually a legendary Soul Beast.

The four of them hid behind a massive boulder. Fortunately, the Dark Gold Dreadclaw Bear had not noticed them.

"Junior brother, what kind of Soul Beast is a Dark Gold Dreadclaw Bear? Why have I never heard of it?"

Dugu Yan raised her question at just the right moment, while Oscar also cast him a puzzled look.

"The Dark Gold Dreadclaw Bear is a legendary Soul Beast. It is said that even one with merely ten thousand years of cultivation can contend with an ordinary hundred-thousand-year Soul Beast."

"Hiss—"

Dugu Yan and Oscar both sucked in a cold breath.

As Dugu Chen watched the giant bear ahead, he became more and more puzzled. This color isn't right compared to what I know! Do Soul Beasts offer fur dyeing services too?

Suddenly, Dugu Chen thought of another type of Soul Beast. "This should not be a Dark Gold Dreadclaw Bear. It is a lower-tier Dreadclaw Bear."

The Dark Gold Dreadclaw Bear stood at the pinnacle of bear-type Soul Beasts. There were several lower-tier variants, among which the Dreadclaw Bear and Dark Gold Bear respectively inherited the Dark Gold Dreadclaw Bear's attack and defense.

After confirming that the Soul Beast before them was a Dreadclaw Bear, Dugu Chen's eyes burned with eagerness. Even if it was not a Dark Gold Dreadclaw Bear, it was still a top-tier Soul Beast.

Dugu Bo saw the fire in his disciple's eyes and stepped forward, patting Dugu Chen on the shoulder.

"Leave this Soul Beast to your teacher. I'll capture it and bring it back for your fourth Soul Ring."

"Teacher, capturing a ten-thousand-year Soul Beast alive is too dangerous, and—"

Dugu Bo interrupted him. "Soul Beasts like this are rare encounters. With its immense life force, I am confident I can leave it completely unable to resist for three months. The question is whether you can break through Rank Forty within those three months."

Seeing how thoroughly Dugu Bo had considered things for him, Dugu Chen no longer tried to dissuade him and promised in a deep voice, "Disciple will definitely break through within three months."

"Hahaha, good. Cultivation requires this kind of drive."

Nine Soul Rings circled Dugu Bo's body. His seventh Soul Ring lit up, transforming him into a fifty-meter Jade Phosphorous Serpent Emperor that charged toward the Dreadclaw Bear.

The distant Dreadclaw Bear watched the giant serpent rushing toward it. The ferocity in its scarlet bear eyes intensified as it let out a low roar.

"Roar—"

It raised its massive foreclaw, and five enormous golden streaks of sharpness shot directly at Dugu Bo. Every plant along their path was instantly shredded, while the razor-sharp aura carved five black trails through the air.

Facing the claw streaks that radiated sharpness, the green giant python Dugu Bo had transformed into lit up its fifth black Soul Ring. A thin membrane covered its body—this was the only defensive skill among Dugu Bo's nine Soul Rings.

"Bang—"

The moment they collided, Dugu Bo felt his shield being torn apart, and the serpent body dimmed considerably.

What terrifying attack power. I cannot meet it head-on.

Dugu Bo's first four Soul Rings lit up. A Poison Gas Cage enveloped the Dreadclaw Bear, while purple and red poisonous mist appeared around it.

"Roar!"

The Dreadclaw Bear's agonized howls came from within the formation, while golden claw shadows flew wildly in every direction.

Striking while the iron was hot, Dugu Bo lit up his eighth Soul Ring. Time Condensation turned the space around the Dreadclaw Bear black and white, freezing everything in place.

The Jade Phosphorous Serpent Emperor that Dugu Bo had become turned and bit into the Dreadclaw Bear. Its sharp fangs easily pierced the Dreadclaw Bear's defenses, injecting the Jade Phosphorous Serpent Emperor's innate venom into its body.

Dugu Bo dispelled his Martial Soul Avatar and hovered in the air, quietly watching the Dreadclaw Bear roar on the ground.

It took a full ten minutes before the Dreadclaw Bear finally collapsed to the ground without moving. The life force of a top-tier Soul Beast truly was extraordinary.

Dugu Bo came to the Dreadclaw Bear's side and injected more venom into its body.

Once everything had been handled, Dugu Bo waved toward the three behind him.

Seeing this, Dugu Chen led Dugu Yan and Oscar to the Dreadclaw Bear. Even though it lay there motionlessly, the three of them felt the hairs on their bodies stand on end. It was the feeling of facing a deadly threat.

"Teacher, you didn't poison it to death, did you?"

"What nonsense are you saying? I administered the poison myself—would I not know? With this foolish bear's cultivation, lasting three months will not be a problem. Chen'er, the rest is up to you." Dugu Bo looked at Dugu Chen seriously.

Dugu Chen nodded. If the meat already at his mouth flew away, then would he not have activated his cheat for nothing? What else would he use to pursue a God Position and become the strongest on the continent?

Afterward, Dugu Bo carried the Dreadclaw Bear through the air, while Dugu Chen and the other two ran along the ground, heading straight for the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Eye.

Ice and Fire Yin Yang Eye.

Beside the spring that had remained unchanged for ten thousand years, Dugu Chen sat cross-legged in the place richest in dragon energy, quietly reflecting on what he had gained from half a year of Soul Combat.

The Twin Swords he had condensed during his Soul Combat with Yang Ming had given him some ideas. Qian Renxue possessed this kind of weapon-type soul skill.

This kind of weapon-type soul skill was exceptionally powerful. Using such a soul skill together with any other soul skill was equivalent to stacking and releasing two soul skills at once.

Of course, the conditions for producing this type of soul skill were extremely demanding. It required the source power of a top-tier Martial Soul to sustain it.

As far as he knew, only Qian Renxue possessed this type of soul skill. She had a God Tier Martial Soul, after all, which showed just how rare it was.

At the time, Dugu Chen had only crudely condensed two Light Swords. Had he not relied on Ultimate Earth's defensive power, he probably could not have blocked the Soul Breaking Spear's attack.

That experience made him want to possess this type of soul skill. After being strengthened many times, his Kirin Martial Soul was probably only slightly inferior to Qian Renxue's Angel Martial Soul, and the difference was not great.

Whenever Dugu Chen encountered Qian Renxue, his Martial Soul became active. This was the resonance between top-tier Martial Souls.

His Martial Soul possessed the two attributes of Ultimate Fire and earth, but his control was still somewhat crude. He wanted to fuse the two attributes and raise them to a higher level, but he could not yet accomplish that. Therefore, he wanted to try his luck with this type of soul skill.

Casting aside distracting thoughts, it was still too early to think about such things. Besides, they were only some of his ideas. He needed to hurry and cultivate, reaching Rank Forty as soon as possible. Otherwise, if that Dreadclaw Bear could not hold on and died, he would lose a top-tier Soul Ring.

Dugu Chen cultivated day and night beside the Nine-Rank Dragon Ganoderma, and even Dugu Bo was somewhat worried by his diligence.

As the sun rose and the moon set, three months passed in the blink of an eye.

Oscar looked at Dugu Chen, who was still meditating, and spoke to Dugu Yan beside him.

"Boss Lady, do you think Brother Chen can make it in time? There are only half a day left before Senior Dugu's deadline. I went to see that bear two days ago, and I'm really worried it might suddenly give out."

After hearing him, Dugu Yan shot Oscar an irritated glare.

"Oscar, if you cannot speak properly, then do not speak. Junior brother will definitely make it." As she spoke, her beautiful eyes remained fixed on the figure cultivating ahead.

Oscar shrank his neck and muttered, "I'm just worried. Of course I believe in Brother Chen."

Just then, Dugu Chen's voice rang out. "Oh? Since Oscar has so much confidence in me, I cannot disappoint you all!"

A burst of energy swept out from Dugu Chen's direction. Shortly afterward, Dugu Chen appeared beside Dugu Yan.

Dugu Yan's eyes lit up, and a bright smile spread across her face. She stepped forward and wrapped her arm around Dugu Chen's.

"Junior brother, I knew you could do it."

"Boss, congratulations on breaking through to Soul Ancestor. Now I'm the only one still stuck at Soul Elder." Oscar congratulated Dugu Chen first, then spoke with some disappointment.

Feeling the softness against his arm, Dugu Chen said to Oscar, "In two years, you will be the same as us. There is no need to rush. I'll absorb the Soul Ring first, in case that Dreadclaw Bear dies."

Hearing Dugu Chen's words, Dugu Yan and Oscar hurriedly led him to where the Dreadclaw Bear was being kept.

The Dreadclaw Bear that had been imposing and ferocious some time ago had become little more than skin and bones. The golden fur on its body had fallen out completely, and its once-fierce eyes were now hollow and devoid of light.

Looking at the Dreadclaw Bear, which no longer resembled a bear, Dugu Chen sighed. "Teacher's poison really is terrifying."

Walking up before the Dreadclaw Bear's eyes, he said, "The strong prey on the weak. If you must blame someone, blame this damned world."

A flash of light passed through the Dreadclaw Bear's eyes. Dugu Chen extended a Dragon Claw and ended its last trace of life.

A faint black glow began to rise from the Dreadclaw Bear's body, gathering above him.