Slaying

A massive roar erupted from the Ice Prison. Along with it, streaks of dark golden light shot through the prison. With a bang, the Dark Gold Dreadclaw Bear sliced the Ice Prison into shards with its enormous claws.

Seeing the two human brats who had provoked it, the Dark Gold Dreadclaw Bear roared again and sprang toward them with a push of its hind legs. Before it even landed, its massive bear claws carved streaks of dark golden light through the air. The interweaving light and shadows slashed across An Ping and Gu Yuena, yet passed straight through them.

Light and Shadow Interweave was a spell that altered light and shadow through the light element to affect vision. The instant the Dark Gold Dreadclaw Bear broke free of the prison, An Ping had completed the spell.

As a Thousand Year Soul Beast, the Dark Gold Dreadclaw Bear was already highly intelligent. Sensing that its claws had cut through empty air, it looked left and right the moment it landed. When it looked to the left, a burst of intense light flashed before it—it was Gu Yuena's Strong Light Technique, formed by manipulating the light element.

While the Dark Gold Dreadclaw Bear had temporarily lost its vision, an invisible ripple shot from An Ping's raised right hand toward it. The moment it came into contact with the ripple, the Dark Gold Dreadclaw Bear's steps became unsteady, and its claws began flailing wildly through the air. The surrounding flowers, rocks, grass, and trees suffered as a result, with wood chips and fragments of dirt and stone flying everywhere.

This was a spiritual-type spell: Fear Technique. It could draw out the deepest fears within a creature's soul. Although the Dark Gold Dreadclaw Bear was a king among Soul Beasts, the one before them was merely formed with a Soul Bone as its foundation, a soul as its core, and energy as its body. Spiritual-type spells might not harm the soul as directly as soul-type spells, but they were highly effective against soul bodies without physical forms.

Fortunately, most of their methods of attack were long-ranged. Otherwise, dealing with a frenzied Dark Gold Dreadclaw Bear would have been truly troublesome.

What followed was the pair's time to shine. Though the Dark Gold Dreadclaw Bear had thick hide and tough flesh, An Ping's repeated Cutting Techniques and Gu Yuena's various Elemental Fusion attacks still left wound after wound on its body.

"Roar—" With an enraged bellow, the Dark Gold Dreadclaw Bear finally broke free from the effects of the Fear Technique. It kicked off with its hind legs and lunged at them. An Ping had not expected it to break free of the Fear Technique so quickly.

The two dodged its attack. An Ping's mind raced. The same ability definitely would not be as effective a second time. "Gu Yuena, five seconds."

Hearing An Ping's voice, Gu Yuena summoned the various elements in the air, forming Ice Cones and fireballs that shot toward the bear to draw its attention. Ice Walls and Earth Walls rose one after another to hinder the Dark Gold Dreadclaw Bear's movements, while her figure flickered between the trees. Though they were all small-scale skills, they consumed Soul Power at no slow rate.

An Ping shouted, "Hold it!"

Hearing An Ping's voice, Gu Yuena stopped flickering. Staring at the Dark Gold Dreadclaw Bear as it neared her, icy blue light flashed continuously around her body. Her hands swept through the air, stirring waves of Ice Element. Ice Pillars rose one after another, some vertical and some slanted, locking the Dark Gold Dreadclaw Bear in place.

But in the blink of an eye, cracks appeared across the Ice Pillars under the Dark Gold Dreadclaw Bear's immense strength. Cracking sounds rang out continuously. Just as it was about to shatter the Ice Pillars, An Ping's spell, which had consumed more than half his Magic Power, was finally complete.

Nearly transparent chains appeared out of thin air and passed through the Dark Gold Dreadclaw Bear's body. Though shaped like chains, they pinned it to the spot like spears.

The Dark Gold Dreadclaw Bear, bound in place, let out an angry roar, but no matter how it struggled, it could not break free. Gu Yuena, whose Soul Power was nearly exhausted, let out a light breath and leaned against the tree behind her. An Ping quickly ran over, supported Gu Yuena, and retreated into the distance.

Watching An Ping help her retreat, Gu Yuena asked, "Aren't we going to fight anymore?"

An Ping shook his head. "It's already over."

As he spoke, An Ping detonated the transparent chains passing through the Dark Gold Dreadclaw Bear. Amid a wave of spatial fluctuations, the chains shattered into pieces—and so did the Dark Gold Dreadclaw Bear's body.

No spiritual energy poured from the Dark Gold Dreadclaw Bear's shattered body. Instead, it turned into specks of dark golden light and dissipated. With a slap, a bone flashing with dark golden light fell to the ground. It was the Dark Gold Dreadclaw Bear's Soul Bone.

The two walked over and picked it up. Gu Yuena looked at the Soul Bone in her hand, and an imperceptible trace of sorrow flashed through her eyes before vanishing. Then she handed it to An Ping.

At the same time, the people watching this scene were filled with shock. That was the legendary king of Soul Beasts, the Dark Gold Dreadclaw Bear. Had it really been slain just like that?

Along with their shock came a trace of confusion. Tang Wulin was the first to speak. "What was that thing that dropped at the end? Why didn't we see it when we killed Soul Beasts before?"

Wu Changkong looked at the Spirit Receiver beside him. Though it was phrased as a question, there was certainty in his voice. "A Soul Bone?"

The Spirit Receiver nodded. "It is indeed a Soul Bone."

Tang Wulin looked at the Spirit Receiver in confusion. "That's a Soul Bone? But wasn't the Spirit Ascension Platform supposed to be a virtual world? How could there be a Soul Bone?"

The others also turned their gazes toward the Spirit Receiver, wanting an answer.

The Spirit Receiver shook his head. "The Spirit Ascension Platform is not an absolutely virtual world. Otherwise, how do you think you can absorb the spiritual energy within it? The appearance of a Soul Bone means they just killed a Guardian of the Primary Spirit Ascension Platform. Only Guardians of the Spirit Ascension Platform are created with Soul Beast Soul Bones as their cores. They usually possess tremendous strength. I never expected them to actually succeed."

Then he looked at Wu Changkong. "Teacher Wu, I hope they can join the Spirit Pagoda. We will also document and report this matter."

Wu Changkong said blandly, "I've said it before. I am only their teacher and cannot make decisions for them. If they truly wish to join the Spirit Pagoda, I will not stop them."

Seeing An Ping accept the Soul Bone, Gu Yuena urged, "Hurry up and absorb it."

An Ping nodded, sat cross-legged, pressed his right hand against the Soul Bone, and drew his Soul Power over it. As the Soul Power merged into the Soul Bone, it gradually emitted a dark golden glow and connected with An Ping's palm.

Suddenly, the Sky of Truth appeared before him. An eerie ripple spread across it, severing the connection between the Soul Bone and his Soul Power. An Ping's thoughts raced. I can't absorb it?

He entered his Consciousness Space, connected his soul and body, then drew upon a thread of Spiritual Power and the space element to establish a connection with the Storage Soul Tool and store it in his storage space.

Sensing An Ping's little movement, Gu Yuena asked, "What's wrong?"

An Ping shook his head. "We'll talk about it after we get back. Let's leave first."

The two pressed their Rescue Buttons in succession and exited the Spirit Ascension Platform. As they emerged from the equipment, they were met by the crowd's strange gazes—some envious, some admiring.

The Spirit Receiver looked at them and said, "Although killing the Guardian Beast of the Spirit Ascension Platform did not violate any rules, you two need to come with me and make a record."

Then he looked at Wu Changkong. "No problem, Teacher Wu?"

Wu Changkong said nothing, merely nodding.