An Eighty-Thousand-Year Dark Gold Dreadclaw Bear!

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

It was nearly dawn, when all things should have been bursting into life. Yet the outskirts of the Star Dou Great Forest were deserted, with birds and beasts scattered and not a trace of life in sight, as if some terrifying presence had appeared.

"The Star Dou Great Forest is the most vast soul beast forest on the continent, home to tens of millions of soul beasts. So why can't I see even the lowest-level soul beast right now?" Jiang Mian crouched down and hid himself as he muttered to himself.

"Little brother, what are you waiting for?" A cloud of black mist flashed behind Jiang Mian, and a middle-aged man with a long, narrow face and a horrifying scar over his left eye slowly emerged. His expression was mocking as he said coldly, "What a pity. Such Innate Full Spirit Power is going to end in my hands."

"You're... an enshrined elder of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect!" Jiang Mian's expression changed drastically. He had spent six years in the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect; how could he not recognize the soul master before him?

Xiong Qing, a high-ranking enshrined elder of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, an eighty-seventh-level Battle Soul Douluo with the Nether Bear Martial Soul.

This man was considered a formidable figure in the soul master world. His Nether Bear Martial Soul possessed killing power, agility, and defense alike. Even ordinary Titled Douluo did not dare underestimate him.

"The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect sent you to kill me?" Despair showed in Jiang Mian's eyes. "I never thought they truly wouldn't let someone with Innate Full Spirit Power leave."

"Little brother, I actually think highly of you." Xiong Qing folded his arms and said, "Why make things difficult for yourself? The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect is one of the Upper Three Sects, with resources beyond count. So what if your engagement was called off? Aren't you still a member of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect?"

"I lived in the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect for six years and was treated like a dog." Jiang Mian said coldly, "In the end, they still wanted me to grow up and serve them. Did they really think I was a dog?"

"Ah, there's no point saying more." Xiong Qing raised a hand and said coldly, "One must fulfill one's duty. Since you refuse to return to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, I cannot allow a menace like you to remain at large."

Jiang Mian closed his eyes. A level-ten soul master resisting an eighty-seventh-level Soul Douluo was simply a fantasy. He had just transmigrated, yet he was already facing the line between life and death.

He was unwilling to accept this!

A deafening bear roar suddenly rang out from the horizon. Leaves rustled down from the surrounding trees, while several nearby trees were directly snapped apart. Whoever was coming clearly meant trouble.

"What was that?" Xiong Qing shuddered all over. He could clearly feel his martial soul being suppressed. The sensation was like a cub encountering a fully grown beast, instinctively trembling in fear.

A giant bear covered in dark golden fur charged before Xiong Qing with unstoppable force. Its arms were exceptionally thick, its shoulders as broad as city walls. When its dark golden claws swept through the air, they even produced a hissing sound as they tore through the wind.

"A Dark Gold Dreadclaw Bear!" Jiang Mian's pupils shook. It was said that Dark Gold Dreadclaw Bears possessed a portion of the Behemoth Bloodline. The strongest among them could even battle Giant Dragons without falling behind.

Dark Gold Dreadclaw Bears possessed top-tier attack and defense among soul beasts. Among bear-type soul beasts, they absolutely stood at the apex.

Compared to it, Xiong Qing's Nether Bear seemed utterly insignificant.

"An eighty-thousand-year Dark Gold Dreadclaw Bear?" Xiong Qing's legs began trembling uncontrollably. His voice was hoarse as he cried in horror, "How could such a terrifying creature appear in the outskirts of the Star Dou Great Forest?!"

"Of the thirty-six stratagems, retreating is best." Jiang Mian wiped the sweat from his forehead and prepared to slip away.

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, much less Xiong Qing, who was merely a Soul Douluo.

"Eighth Soul Skill, Nether Strike!"

Xiong Qing released his martial soul and immediately used his strongest soul skill. Faced with such a powerful enemy, no one would dare hold back.

A giant pitch-black bear phantom emerged behind Xiong Qing. It transformed into rolling ink-dark mist and gathered in his right hand. Xiong Qing instantly shot toward the Dark Gold Dreadclaw Bear, whose body was like a small mountain, like an arrow released from a bowstring.

Dust and smoke scattered in all directions as a powerful shockwave erupted, flattening the surrounding forest. Jiang Mian was blasted more than ten meters away by the shockwave, crashing to the ground and unable to move.

"This is too terrifying." Jiang Mian spat out a mouthful of blood. He staggered to his feet and hid behind a huge boulder before daring to secretly look toward the battlefield.

Xiong Qing's attack had only ruffled the Dark Gold Dreadclaw Bear's fur. It had not even dealt any meaningful damage.

The Dark Gold Dreadclaw Bear swiped a claw. Even though Xiong Qing activated his Martial Soul Avatar, he was still smashed into the ground, vomiting blood and suffering grievous injuries.

"It seems that unless I prepare to risk my life, I won't be able to retreat from this beast today." Xiong Qing roughly wiped the blood from his face, then shot into the air. Wind swirled around his hands as he hurled spheres condensed from 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 and withstood Xiong Qing's Fifth Soul Skill. Seizing the opportunity, it swung a claw, seemingly tearing open the space before it.

Xiong Qing could not withstand it. His chest was ripped open by the claw, and he crashed to the ground like a cannonball. He was clearly critically wounded and on the brink of death.

The famed technique of the Dark Gold Dreadclaw Bear clan, Sky Rend Claw!

It was said that the Dark Gold Dreadclaw Bear ranked sixth among the Ten Great Ferocious Beasts deep within the Star Dou Great Forest had once used this technique to injure Black Dragon King Di Tian.

One had to know what kind of terrifying existence Di Tian was. He was the Black Dragon King, the supreme ruler of all soul beasts. No soul beast dared disobey Di Tian's commands.

However, the few beings among the Ten Great Ferocious Beasts were currently slumbering within the Lake of Life. That was why the Titan Giant Ape and Sky Azure Bull Python occupied the core region of the Star Dou Great Forest.

Otherwise, with the Titan Giant Ape's and Sky Azure Bull Python's meager strength, they were fundamentally unworthy of touching the core region of the Star Dou Great Forest.

"Why would an eighty-thousand-year Dark Gold Dreadclaw Bear appear in the outskirts of the Star Dou Great Forest?" Jiang Mian hid behind the boulder, cold sweat pouring down his body.

Still, it was fortunate that this Dark Gold Dreadclaw Bear had appeared in time. Otherwise, he would definitely have died at Xiong Qing's hands.

While Jiang Mian was counting his blessings, the battle over there was also nearing its end. Xiong Qing had already lost the ability to fight and was being held up by the Dark Gold Dreadclaw Bear like a toy.

A resolute look appeared on Xiong Qing's face. He had never expected that, after a lifetime as a hero, he would stumble here.

His fury drove him to laughter. He suddenly released his Nether Bear Martial Soul and tightly embraced the Dark Gold Dreadclaw Bear. "Beast, if you want to kill me, I won't let you have it easy either!"

"He wants to self-destruct!" Jiang Mian inwardly cried out in alarm. Before he could run any farther, he felt an incomparably powerful shockwave suddenly erupt behind him.

With a boom, blood rained down from the sky, mixed with fragments of Xiong Qing's body. The Dark Gold Dreadclaw Bear had also been severely injured by Xiong Qing's desperate counterattack.

Its enormous body was already dyed red with blood. It trembled as it searched for something.

"This Dark Gold Dreadclaw Bear is also at the end of its rope now, right?" Jiang Mian frowned deeply. He did not dare act rashly, afraid that the Dark Gold Dreadclaw Bear would set its sights on him again.

The Dark Gold Dreadclaw Bear looked around, even raising its head to sniff the surrounding scents. Before long, it locked onto Jiang Mian's location.

"Damn it, it's coming for me."

Jiang Mian's heart sank. He knew that even if he ran, he would not make it in time. 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 threw the Spirit Ball with all his strength. Just as it was about to strike the Dark Gold Dreadclaw Bear, a soul beast radiating brilliant golden light suddenly darted out.

The Spirit Ball struck that soul beast dead on!

"Damn it..."

In the core region of the Star Dou Great Forest, the waters of the Lake of Life began surging outward. Deep beneath the lakebed, a pair of golden eyes slowly opened!