Ten Thousand Year Dark Gold Dreadclaw Bear

Deep within the Star Dou Great Forest, eleven-year-old Lu Chen was fleeing with Xiao Wu.

A Dark Gold Giant Bear, already gone berserk, was hot on their heels!

The Dark Gold Giant Bear stood over four meters tall, its eyes brimming with murderous intent. Its arms were especially thick, ending in a pair of razor-sharp Dark Gold Giant Claws!

The boulders and trees in its path were smashed to pieces by those claws.

From its surging Blood Qi, Soul Power fluctuations, and distinctive features, Lu Chen could tell that this Giant Bear was, in fact, a Ten Thousand Year Dark Gold Dreadclaw Bear!

Xiao Wu glanced back at the pursuing bear and cried indignantly, "It ate our Soul Rings, and now it's chasing us too? That's going too far!"

Lu Chen and Xiao Wu had returned to the Star Dou Great Forest in search of a Ten Thousand Year Bloodthirsty Demonic Wolf. This Soul Beast grew stronger entirely through slaughter, and its blood could drive other Soul Beasts into a frenzy!

But by the time Lu Chen and Xiao Wu found the Bloodthirsty Demonic Wolf, the Dark Gold Dreadclaw Bear had already eaten it.

That's right. It had eaten the wolf! All that remained was half a corpse!

The Dark Gold Dreadclaw Bear had also gone berserk from the Bloodthirsty Demonic Wolf's blood. It had slaughtered countless Soul Beasts along the way, and now a layer of blood mist completely veiled its dark golden eyes. It had become a vicious beast that knew nothing but slaughter!

Lu Chen turned to look at Xiao Wu. Her clothes were already soaked through with sweat, and she had almost no stamina or Soul Power left.

Without hesitation, Lu Chen swept Xiao Wu into his arms. His Third Soul Ring lit up, and a flash of blood-red light left only a fading afterimage where they had stood.

Almost at the same instant, the Dark Gold Dreadclaw Bear's enormous paw swelled to three times its size in midair. Its terrifying claws glinted dark gold as they slammed down on the spot where the afterimage stood.

The surrounding trees and rocks shattered instantly, and several deep furrows were gouged into the ground.

Watching from a distance, Lu Chen and Xiao Wu felt a chill run down their backs. Forget them—even a dragon of the same age might not be a match for this frenzied Dark Gold Dreadclaw Bear!

Lu Chen didn't hesitate. His Third Soul Ring lit up again and again, and in the blink of an eye, he had put more than a hundred and fifty meters between them and the Dark Gold Dreadclaw Bear!

Lu Chen landed on a large tree and took out a pitch-black metal case.

[Hell-Rending Dragon Roar Cannon]: Seventh-Rank fixed Soul Tool, a single-target, high-powered, single-use weapon with both armor-piercing and high-burst properties. Requires two Soul Masters to operate: one to provide Soul Power, the other to calibrate and aim. The weapon is completely ruined after one use. Effective range: five hundred meters!

Soul Power surged from Lu Chen like a tide. With a series of clacking sounds, the metal case in his hands transformed into a cannon as tall as he was!

Dragon-scale patterns covered the Hell-Rending Dragon Roar Cannon's surface, and dragon-wing reliefs were engraved on both sides. A dragon-head conduit sat at the front. Seven Thunder Pattern Crystal Rings encircled it, its emitter was shaped like a triangular prism, and a detection device sat on top. Dark red conduits ran the length of the cannon.

"Xiao Wu! Aim!"

Lu Chen continued pouring Soul Power into the Hell-Rending Dragon Roar Cannon. The dragon-scale patterns on its surface glowed red, and the seven Thunder Pattern Crystal Rings lit up one after another!

Xiao Wu stared at the translucent Crystal Screen on top and locked the muzzle onto the Dark Gold Dreadclaw Bear's chest.

The Hell-Rending Dragon Roar Cannon's detection device suddenly flashed blue in rapid bursts. The instant it locked onto the Dark Gold Dreadclaw Bear's chest—

The runes on the grip flared. Soul Power surged through the Dragon Ridge Conductor toward the Energy Gathering Core, and the Thunder Pattern Crystal Rings spun faster and faster. Purple-gold arcs crackled as a deep Dragon Roar rumbled from the cannon.

Three seconds later, the Energy Gathering Core blazed with dazzling light, and a terrifying surge of energy shot through the Triangular Prism Emitter!

A Crimson Gold Tail Trace tore through the air. The instant it struck the Dark Gold Dreadclaw Bear, a thunder-and-fire storm eight meters across erupted with blistering heat!

Purple lightning whipped through the air, shredding the Dark Gold Dreadclaw Bear's outer coat of fur. Flames raged, gnawing at its flesh, while the shock wave made its bones crack.

The terrifying recoil hurled Lu Chen and Xiao Wu into the air. Lu Chen pulled Xiao Wu tightly against his chest as they were swept along by the violent force and slammed into a giant tree. A dull thud rang out, sending leaves rustling down around them.

When the storm passed, the surrounding dozens of meters had been reduced to scorched earth. Broken branches lay charred and blackened, and the air reeked of burnt flesh. Most of the Dark Gold Dreadclaw Bear's huge body had been blown apart. Its remaining dark golden fur was singed and curled, and dark red blood gushed from its wounds, pooling on the ground.

Most terrifying of all, the Dark Gold Dreadclaw Bear was still alive. Its one remaining eye fixed on Lu Chen and Xiao Wu, still brimming with ferocious killing intent.

Lu Chen brushed broken leaves and dust off himself, inwardly relieved. Good thing I'm physically tough. If Xiao Wu had taken that hit, she might have been seriously injured—or worse!

Xiao Wu stared blankly at the horrific destruction wrought by the Hell-Rending Dragon Roar Cannon, her pink eyes wide. The Soul Tool's devastating power had clearly frightened her.

Lu Chen rubbed the "Little White Rabbit's" head and said gently, "Don't be scared."

Not far away, the Hell-Rending Dragon Roar Cannon was covered in cracks. The glow of its Dragon Ridge Conductor had gone out completely, and a wisp of Green Smoke drifted from the cooling vents, like a dragon breathing its last.

Lu Chen went over and put it away. After all, it was a Seventh-Rank Soul Tool, and its materials were quite valuable.

Lu Chen reached down and helped Xiao Wu to her feet. "Are you all right, Xiao Wu?"

Xiao Wu nodded woodenly. Her gaze fell on the barely breathing Dark Gold Dreadclaw Bear, and deep wariness still lingered in her eyes.

Xiao Wu suddenly came to her senses. She noticed the torn front of Lu Chen's clothes and hurriedly grabbed his arm. "What about you? You took the brunt of the impact for me. Are you hurt?"

"No."

Only after Xiao Wu had carefully checked him over did she finally relax.

Lu Chen looked at the dying Dark Gold Dreadclaw Bear. The Asura Demon Sword appeared in his hand, with two purple Soul Rings and one Black Soul Ring slowly circling its blade, wreathed in a faint red glow.

"Blood-Green Swift Edge!"

His Second Soul Ring lit up. Lu Chen swung his sword, sending a streak of green-and-blood-red light precisely into the Dark Gold Dreadclaw Bear's wound.

Five minutes later, a pitch-black Black Soul Ring appeared as the Dark Gold Dreadclaw Bear died.

After a brief examination, Lu Chen exclaimed with delight, "About ten thousand years of cultivation. Just right for me!"

Lu Chen sat cross-legged and immediately began absorbing the Dark Gold Dreadclaw Bear's Soul Ring.

The Black Soul Ring turned into a streak of light and merged into the Asura Demon Sword. A faint black glow immediately spread across the blade.

Inside the Mental Space, Lu Chen stared coldly at the Dark Gold Dreadclaw Bear, which had taken shape opposite him from condensed Blood Qi.

The Dark Gold Dreadclaw Bear let out a roar, and an overwhelming wave of spiritual pressure surged toward Lu Chen.

Lu Chen shouted coldly. The Asura Demon Sword rose into the air above the Dark Gold Dreadclaw Bear, then plunged straight into its head with a sharp whistle.

Thin strands of Blood Qi streamed along the blade into the sword, which immediately blazed with an eerie crimson light.