Eighty Thousand Year Dark Gold Dreadclaw Bear!

At the outskirts of the Star Dou Great Forest, Jiang Mian stopped the carriage and carefully stepped inside.

It was nearing dawn, the time when all things should be stirring with life, yet the outskirts of the Star Dou Great Forest were devoid of birds and beasts, barren of vitality, as if some terrifying presence had manifested.

"The Star Dou Great Forest is the most vast soul beast forest on land, home to tens of millions of soul beasts. So why can't I see even the lowest-ranked one right now?" Jiang Mian crouched down to hide, muttering to himself.

"Little brother, what are you waiting for?" A puff of black mist flickered behind Jiang Mian, and a middle-aged man with a narrow face and a hideous scar over his left eye slowly stepped out. His expression was mocking as he said coldly, "What a pity—this Innate Full Spirit Power is about to be snuffed out by my hand."

"You're an offering of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect!" Jiang Mian's face filled with shock. He had spent six years in the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect—how could he not recognize this soul master before him?

The upper-level offering of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, an eighty-seventh-level Battle Soul Douluo, Nether Bear Martial Soul—Xiong Qing.

This guy was no slouch in the soul master world. His Nether Bear Martial Soul combined killing power, agility, and defense; even ordinary Titled Douluo wouldn't dare underestimate him.

"Did the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect send you to kill me?" Jiang Mian's eyes revealed despair. "I didn't think they'd really let someone with Innate Full Spirit Power just walk away."

"Little brother, I actually think highly of you." Xiong Qing crossed his arms and said, "Why make things hard on yourself? The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect is one of the Upper Three Sects, with endless resources. Even if you were jilted, you're still one of their people, aren't you?"

"I lived in the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect for six years, treated like a dog." Jiang Mian said coldly. "And in the end, they wanted me to grow strong and serve them—do they really take me for a dog?"

"Tch, talking more is pointless." Xiong Qing raised his hand and said coldly, "I'm in this position, so I do my duty. Since you refuse to return to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, I can't let a menace like you run loose."

Jiang Mian closed his eyes. A tenth-level soul master trying to fight an eighty-seventh-level Soul Douluo was a pipe dream. He hadn't expected to face life and death so soon after transmigrating.

He wasn't willing to accept it!

Suddenly, a deafening bear roar echoed from the horizon. Leaves rustled from the surrounding trees, and those closest were snapped clean off—clearly, whatever was coming meant trouble.

"What the hell is that?" Xiong Qing shuddered. He could clearly feel his martial soul being suppressed. It was like a cub trembling instinctively before a full-grown beast.

A massive bear covered in dark golden fur charged toward Xiong Qing with unstoppable force. Its arms were abnormally thick, its shoulders as broad as city walls, and as it swung its dark golden claws, even the air hissed from the sheer speed.

"Dark Gold Dreadclaw Bear!" Jiang Mian's pupils contracted. Legend had it that the Dark Gold Dreadclaw Bear possessed a trace of Behemoth bloodline, and the strongest among them could even hold their own against Giant Dragons.

This Dark Gold Dreadclaw Bear's attack and defense were both top-tier. Among bear-type soul beasts, they were absolute overlords.

In comparison, Xiong Qing's Nether Bear seemed like a pale imitation.

"An eighty-thousand-year Dark Gold Dreadclaw Bear?" Xiong Qing's legs trembled involuntarily. His voice hoarse with shock, he cried, "How could something this terrifying be on the outskirts of the Star Dou Great Forest!"

"Thirty-six strategies—best to run." Jiang Mian wiped the sweat from his brow, planning to slip away while he could.

Even though this Dark Gold Dreadclaw Bear was only eighty thousand years old, its raw strength was enough to give even a Titled Douluo a hard time, let alone a mere Soul Douluo like Xiong Qing.

"Eighth Soul Skill, Nether Strike!"

Xiong Qing released his martial soul and went straight for his most powerful skill. Facing such a formidable enemy, no one would dare hold back.

A pitch-black giant bear phantom materialized behind Xiong Qing, condensing into rolling ink that gathered in his right hand. In an instant, he shot forward like an arrow loosed from a bow, crashing into the mountain-sized Dark Gold Dreadclaw Bear.

Dust scattered as a powerful shockwave erupted, flattening the surrounding forest. Jiang Mian was sent flying over ten meters by the blast, crashing to the ground and unable to move.

"This is insane." Jiang Mian coughed up a mouthful of blood. He staggered to his feet, hid behind a massive boulder, and only then dared to peek at the battlefield.

That strike from Xiong Qing had only ruffled the Dark Gold Dreadclaw Bear's fur, failing to deal any real damage.

The Dark Gold Dreadclaw Bear lashed out with a claw. Even with his Martial Soul Avatar activated, Xiong Qing was still smashed into the ground, spitting blood and gravely injured.

"Looks like I'll have to risk my life to get away from this beast today." Xiong Qing wiped the blood from his face haphazardly. He leaped into the air with a whoosh, his hands flickering with wind as he hurled spheres of black mist at the Dark Gold Dreadclaw Bear like a Gatling gun.

"Fifth Soul Skill, Nether Fire Beads!"

The Dark Gold Dreadclaw Bear shielded its face with both claws, weathering Xiong Qing's Fifth Soul Skill. Seizing the opportunity, it swung a claw—the very space before it seemed to tear open.

Xiong Qing couldn't withstand it. A claw ripped open his chest, and he slammed into the ground like a bullet, clearly gravely wounded and on the verge of death.

The signature move of the Dark Gold Dreadclaw Bear clan—Sky Rend Claw!

Legend had it that the Dark Gold Dreadclaw Bear deep in the Star Dou Great Forest, ranked sixth among the Ten Great Ferocious Beasts, had once used this skill to wound the Black Dragon King Di Tian.

And Di Tian—what a terrifying existence that was. The Black Dragon King, the leader of all soul beasts under heaven. No soul beast dared defy his command.

But at this moment, most of the Ten Great Ferocious Beasts were slumbering in the Lake of Life, which was why the Titan Giant Ape and the Sky Azure Bull Python had taken over the core of the Star Dou Great Forest.

Otherwise, with the meager strength of the Titan Giant Ape and the Sky Azure Bull Python, they wouldn't be worthy of even touching the core circle.

"Why is an eighty-thousand-year Dark Gold Dreadclaw Bear appearing on the outskirts of the Star Dou Great Forest?" Jiang Mian hid behind the rock, cold sweat pouring down his back.

Still, it was a good thing this Dark Gold Dreadclaw Bear had shown up when it did, or he'd have died at Xiong Qing's hands.

Just as Jiang Mian was counting his blessings, the battle was nearing its end. Xiong Qing had no strength left to fight; the Dark Gold Dreadclaw Bear was now holding him up like a toy.

Xiong Qing's face showed grim resolve. He hadn't expected to fall here after a lifetime of glory.

In a fury, he laughed instead. Suddenly, he released his Nether Bear Martial Soul, wrapping it tightly around the Dark Gold Dreadclaw Bear. "You beast! If you want to kill me, I won't let you off easy either!"

"He's going to self-destruct!" Jiang Mian's heart sank. Before he could run any farther, an overwhelming shockwave slammed into his back.

With a thunderous boom, blood rained down like a shower, mixed with fragments of Xiong Qing. The Dark Gold Dreadclaw Bear was also badly wounded by his desperate counterattack.

Its massive body was already stained red with blood. It staggered unsteadily, as if searching for something.

"This Dark Gold Dreadclaw Bear must be at its last gasp too!" Jiang Mian frowned deeply. He didn't dare make a move, afraid the beast would set its sights on him.

The Dark Gold Dreadclaw Bear looked around, even lifting its head to sniff the air. Before long, it locked onto Jiang Mian's hiding spot.

"Crap, it's coming for me."

Jiang Mian's heart skipped a beat. He knew he wouldn't make it even if he ran, so he might as well fight to the death. With that thought, a red-and-white Spirit Ball suddenly appeared in his hand.

"Go!"

Jiang Mian hurled the Spirit Ball with all his might. The moment it was about to touch the Dark Gold Dreadclaw Bear, a soul beast radiating dazzling golden light suddenly darted out.

As it turned out, the Spirit Ball struck that soul beast squarely without any deviation!

"Damn it..."

At the core of the Star Dou Great Forest, the waters of the Lake of Life began to surge outward. Deep at the lake's bottom, a pair of golden eyes slowly opened!