Hundred-Year Soul Beast

Just then, an enormous bear with fur that gleamed with a metallic luster burst out of the forest. It roared repeatedly at Bibi Dong's group, its huge paws slamming against the ground with booming thuds.

"This is a Mystic Armored Bear, a soul beast with extremely high defense. It is roughly five hundred years old. Its meat is also delicious—whether roasted or made into soup, it is an excellent choice."

"Zihan, Nana, if the two of you can take down this Mystic Armored Bear, we can have roasted meat. If you cannot, then the two of you can only have dry rations and water." Bibi Dong's voice was calm and unhurried.

But secretly, she transmitted her voice: "Zihan, do not use your Fallen Angel Martial Soul, but you may use the Rakshasa Demon Scythe."

Can't use the Fallen Angel Martial Soul? Then there's no need to use the Rakshasa Demon Scythe either. This is a good chance to see exactly what level my strength is at. Bi Zihan thought to himself. A dagger appeared in his hand without warning, and he charged straight toward the Mystic Armored Bear.

When Hu Liena saw Bi Zihan rush out, she was slightly stunned. A five-hundred-year soul beast, and he had charged in without even discussing a strategy? Bibi Dong's meaning was obvious—she would not make a move. And before she gave the order, Yue Guan and Ghostly Charm certainly would not step in to help either.

This Mystic Armored Bear had been meant to temper Bi Zihan and Hu Liena's combat experience. Yet Bi Zihan had suddenly rushed out on his own, leaving Hu Liena somewhat dazed.

However, Hu Liena reacted quickly as well. She instantly released her Martial Soul: the Demonic Fox. After Martial Soul Possession, a pair of fox ears appeared atop her head, and a long fox tail emerged from behind her. Without the slightest hesitation, she too rushed toward the Mystic Armored Bear.

Watching the bear paw sweep toward him, Bi Zihan did not slow down. Instead, he accelerated even further, his gaze continuously sweeping over the Mystic Armored Bear's body as though selecting where to strike.

Just as the bear paw was about to hit him, Bi Zihan bent backward in an unbelievable motion. Using the gap between the Mystic Armored Bear's paw and the ground, he dodged its attack, while his body continued sliding toward it from inertia.

When he slid in front of the Mystic Armored Bear, Bi Zihan suddenly sprang up and drove the dagger in his hand directly into one of its eyes. Accompanied by the bear's furious roar, crimson blood streamed continuously from its eye.

Unparalleled fury and madness appeared in the Mystic Armored Bear's remaining eye. As if it had lost all reason, it brought its paw straight down toward Bi Zihan.

Bi Zihan exerted a little force with his hand, trying to pull the dagger from the Mystic Armored Bear's eye. However, it seemed to have gotten stuck in bone, and he could not pull it free. After dodging several attacks from the bear, the Mystic Armored Bear suddenly stood upright, dragging Bi Zihan, who was still gripping the dagger, into the air.

Bi Zihan suddenly tightened his grip on the dagger and nimbly launched himself into the air. He performed a backflip midair and smoothly drew another dagger from his long boot. As his body landed atop the Mystic Armored Bear, he viciously stabbed the dagger into its other eye.

With both eyes blinded, the Mystic Armored Bear roared continuously and fell back onto all fours, seemingly trying to shake Bi Zihan off its body.

One of Bi Zihan's hands gripped the Mystic Armored Bear's ear tightly, while his other hand removed a hairpin from his hair. Using his fingernail, he flicked the hairpin's outer casing away from a seam. Without its casing, the hairpin turned into a round awl, its tip gleaming with cold light.

He fiercely drove its pointed end toward the Mystic Armored Bear's head, but the sensation of piercing flesh never came. Instead, there was a faint crack, as if the awl had struck refined iron. It could not pierce through at all.

This surprised Bi Zihan, and that momentary distraction sent him flying from the Mystic Armored Bear's immense strength. He crashed directly into an ancient tree.

Freed from the restraint of the hairpin, Bi Zihan's neatly combed long black hair fell loose. Yet even after crashing into the ancient tree, he only felt a slight pain and nothing else.

"Zihan, I'll help restrain it. You can find an opportunity to kill it. What do you think?" Hu Liena glanced at the Mystic Armored Bear, which was roaring and charging about wildly, then helped Bi Zihan to his feet.

"Not a good idea. I think the greatest help you can give me is to stay here, don't move around, and don't get in the way." Bi Zihan kept his eyes on the Mystic Armored Bear, searching for its weak point.

Hu Liena felt her mind go blank. Bi Zihan's words had stunned her for a moment. What did he mean, staying still and not getting in the way was the greatest help? Was he saying she was dead weight? Bibi Dong, meanwhile, raised a hand to her forehead, helplessness appearing on her face. They were not far from Bi Zihan and Hu Liena, and Bi Zihan had not lowered his voice at all, so they heard everything clearly.

"Yue Guan, Ghostly Charm, what do you think of Zihan's combat experience and talent in battle?" Watching Bi Zihan's movements and the Mystic Armored Bear's condition, Bibi Dong could not help smiling.

If it had been another soul beast, Bi Zihan's earlier strike would have basically ended the fight. But the Mystic Armored Bear's fur was extraordinarily tough, and ordinary blades could not inflict much damage on it at all.

"Your Holiness, from the moment the young master attacked, it was clear that he possesses abundant combat experience. His actions were clean and decisive, without the slightest hesitation. However, the young master may be somewhat lacking in the way he handles people and affairs." There was a trace of admiration in Yue Guan's eyes, admiration for Bi Zihan's decisiveness.

"Your Holiness, I also believe the young master is somewhat lacking in the way he handles people and affairs. Perhaps this is related to Your Holiness's upbringing from an early age. Coupled with the young master's naturally solitary temperament, that may be why he is the way he is now." Ghostly Charm also watched Bi Zihan, his gaze calm.

Hearing this, Bibi Dong merely smiled and did not speak again. She knew very well whether Bi Zihan's current personality had anything to do with her upbringing. But there had been no other choice. Back then, Spirit Hall had been searching the entire continent for Bi Zihan. To protect him, she could only let him go out rarely and have little contact with outsiders.