Dreadclaw Bear

A tremendous roar came from the forest ahead, deep and powerful, with astonishing penetration.

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

"Teacher, can you tell what kind of Soul Beast it is?" Dugu Chen asked, looking at Dugu Bo in front of him.

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

"I cannot identify what kind of Soul Beast it is either. But my Spiritual Power has not detected it, which means it is not close to us. Yet its roar reached all the way here—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 I do not know about." Confident in his strength and emboldened by his skill, Dugu Bo was certain that even if they faced a ten-thousand-year Soul Beast, he could still bring the three of them away safely.

Dugu Chen nodded, then cautioned 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 heaven-shaking flash streaked through the air. Wherever the terrifying dark-gold radiance passed, every plant was instantly torn apart. Its sharp aura even carved five pitch-black marks through the air—clear evidence that the air itself had been ripped open.

The dark-gold claw shadow had erupted some distance away from them, sparing them from being caught in its aftermath.

"What is that..." Dugu Yan and Oscar stared at the scene before them in shock.

Countless towering trees ahead had been reduced to dust, and a massive bear with a burly body standing over seven meters tall appeared in their sight.

Its fur was golden, while its enormous claws sent chills down one's spine, gleaming coldly beneath the sunlight.

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

Staring at the giant bear before him, Dugu Chen cried out in alarm.

"Dark Gold Dreadclaw Bear!"

His expression shifted slightly. Dugu Chen grabbed Dugu Yan and Oscar, flashing away to hide in the distance as he said to Dugu Bo, "Teacher, hide first while it hasn't noticed us."

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

The four of them hid behind a huge 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?"

At that moment, Dugu Yan voiced her question, while Oscar also looked over with confusion.

"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 ordinary hundred-thousand-year Soul Beasts."

"Hiss—"

Dugu Yan and Oscar both sucked in a sharp breath.

Dugu Chen stared at the giant bear ahead, growing more puzzled the longer he looked. This color was different from what he knew! Could Soul Beasts get their fur dyed too?

Then Dugu Chen suddenly recalled a type of Soul Beast and said, "This probably isn't a Dark Gold Dreadclaw Bear. It's the lower-tier Dreadclaw Bear."

The Dark Gold Dreadclaw Bear stood at the pinnacle of bear-type Soul Beasts. Several types existed beneath it, among which the Dreadclaw Bear and the Dark Gold Bear respectively inherited the Dark Gold Dreadclaw Bear's offense and defense.

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

Seeing the excitement in his disciple's eyes, Dugu Bo stepped forward and patted Dugu Chen on the shoulder.

"Leave this Soul Beast to me. 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. "A Soul Beast like this is something that can only be encountered by chance. With its immense vitality, I am confident I can leave it completely unable to resist within three months. The only question is whether you can break through to rank forty within those three months."

Seeing how thoroughly Dugu Bo had considered matters 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! This is the kind of spirit one needs for cultivation."

Nine soul rings circled Dugu Bo. His seventh soul ring lit up, and he transformed 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 crimson bear eyes surged as it released a low roar.

"Roar—"

It raised its massive forepaw, sending five enormous golden streaks hurtling toward Dugu Bo. Every plant along their path was instantly torn apart, while their sharp aura carved five pitch-black marks through the air.

Facing the claw streaks radiating sharp intent, the fifth black soul ring of the green giant python Dugu Bo had transformed into lit up. A thin membrane enveloped 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 can't confront it head-on.

Dugu Bo's first four soul rings lit up, and a poisonous gas prison enveloped the Dreadclaw Bear. Purple and red poisonous mist also appeared around it.

"Roar!"

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

Dugu Bo pressed the advantage, lighting up his eighth soul ring. Time Condensation. The space occupied by the Dreadclaw Bear turned black and white, and everything around it became completely motionless.

The Jade Phosphorous Serpent Emperor that Dugu Bo had become turned its head and bit into the Dreadclaw Bear. Its sharp fangs easily penetrated 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 midair, quietly watching the Dreadclaw Bear roaring on the ground.

It took a full ten minutes before the Dreadclaw Bear finally collapsed to the ground, completely motionless. The vitality of a top-tier Soul Beast truly was extraordinary.

Dugu Bo walked over to the Dreadclaw Bear and injected more venom into its body.

Once everything had been settled, Dugu Bo beckoned to the three behind him.

Seeing this, Dugu Chen led Dugu Yan and Oscar over to the Dreadclaw Bear. Even lying there quietly without moving, it made the hairs on their bodies stand on end. It was the sensation of a lethal threat.

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

"What nonsense are you spouting? I administered the poison myself—wouldn't I know? With this stupid bear's cultivation, it won't have a problem holding on for three months. 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 wouldn't all his advantages have been for nothing? How else would he pursue a God Position? How would he become the number one on the continent?

Afterward, Dugu Bo carried the Dreadclaw Bear through the air while Dugu Chen and the other two ran across 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 spot where dragon energy was strongest, quietly reflecting on the gains he had made from half a year of Soul Combat.

The Twin Swords he had condensed while fighting Yang Ming in Soul Combat gave him some ideas. Qian Renxue possessed this sort of weapon-type soul skill.

Such weapon-type soul skills were exceptionally powerful. When using one of them alongside any other soul skill, it was equivalent to releasing two soul skills stacked together.

Of course, the conditions required to produce this type of soul skill were incredibly harsh. It needed the power of the very highest-grade Martial Soul origin to sustain its use.

As far as he knew, only Qian Renxue possessed such a soul skill. One had to remember that she had a God Tier Martial Soul, which showed just how rare it was.

At the time, Dugu Chen had only crudely condensed two Light Swords. If not for the defensive power of Ultimate Earth, he likely would not have been able to block the Soul Breaking Spear's attack.

This experience made him want to acquire this kind of soul skill. After being strengthened by him so many times, his Kirin Martial Soul was probably only a notch below 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 use of them was still somewhat crude. He wanted to fuse the two attributes and elevate them to a higher level, but he could not yet accomplish that. Thus, he wanted to try his luck with this type of soul skill.

He cast aside his stray thoughts. It was still too early to think about such things, and these were only some of his ideas anyway. He should focus on cultivating and reach 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.

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

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

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

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

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

"Oscar, if you can't speak properly, then don't speak. Junior Brother will definitely make it." As she spoke, her beautiful eyes remained fixed on the figure cultivating ahead of them.

Oscar shrank his neck and said softly, "I'm just worried, that's all. 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 can't let you down either!"

A surge of energy erupted from Dugu Chen's direction. A moment later, Dugu Chen appeared beside Dugu Yan.

Dugu Yan's eyes lit up, and a bright smile blossomed on her face as 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 dejection.

Feeling the softness against his arm, Dugu Chen said to Oscar, "In another two years, you'll be like us too. Don't rush it. 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, once mighty and ferocious, had already turned into little more than a sack of skin. The golden fur on its body had fallen out completely, and its once savage eyes were filled with emptiness, having lost all their light.

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

He walked before the Dreadclaw Bear's eyes. "The strong prey on the weak. If you want to blame someone, blame this damned world."

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

Faint black light began to rise from the Dreadclaw Bear's body, gathering above it.