Within the canyon.
The Dark Gold Terrorclaw Bear trudged forward with heavy steps, heading toward the cave.
Ye Linyuan's gaze narrowed slightly.
Of all the soul beasts that had left the deepest impression on him in the original story, the Dark Gold Terrorclaw Bear was undoubtedly one of them.
This thing was absolutely T0 among bear-type soul beasts.
Even throughout the entire Star Dou Great Forest, it was a dominant soul beast.
A ten-thousand-year Dark Gold Terrorclaw Bear could rival an ordinary Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast in actual combat.
Especially those indestructible terrorclaws of its—they were a priceless treasure coveted by all close-combat soul masters!
There was no doubting its formidable strength.
Du Busi said in surprise, "Dark Gold Terrorclaw Bears are extremely powerful. They generally live near the core region of the Star Dou Great Forest."
"I didn't expect to find one here."
After carefully sensing the Dark Gold Terrorclaw Bear's Soul Power fluctuations, Du Busi continued, "Judging by its size and fur color, its cultivation should be around six thousand years."
"This fellow has taken that Golden Earth Dragon as prey."
"In terms of bloodline and strength, the Golden Earth Dragon is not much inferior to the Dark Gold Terrorclaw Bear. It is one of the few top-tier soul beasts capable of fighting it."
"But this Golden Earth Dragon only has four thousand years of cultivation, far less than the Dark Gold Terrorclaw Bear."
"If they fight, the Golden Earth Dragon will most likely lose."
The moment Du Busi finished speaking.
"Roar—!"
A wary roar suddenly rang out from the cave.
The Golden Earth Dragon had clearly sensed the Dark Gold Terrorclaw Bear's presence as well and charged out of the cave.
It was a colossal beast over seven meters long.
Its entire body was covered in golden scales that gleamed brilliantly beneath the sunlight.
It resembled an enlarged lizard, with thick, powerful limbs and a long, sturdy tail.
Two short dragon horns protruded from its head, while its vertical pupils radiated savagery and icy menace.
Though a trace of the Golden Dragon's pure bloodline flowed through it, its aura was clearly weaker before the Dark Gold Terrorclaw Bear.
This was not suppression from the level of its bloodline, but rather the difference in their years of cultivation.
The Dark Gold Terrorclaw Bear stared at the Golden Earth Dragon, bloodthirsty light flickering in its eyes as it let out a low growl.
In its eyes, this Golden Earth Dragon was a top-tier feast.
At that moment, Ye Linyuan suddenly asked, "Teacher, the Dark Gold Terrorclaw Bear is also a top-tier soul beast that excels in strength. Does it have any strength-enhancement Soul Skills?"
Du Busi shook his head. "No."
"As a dominant soul beast, the Dark Gold Terrorclaw Bear's own strength and defense are already formidable."
"With those terrorclaws of its, even without the support of enhancement-type Soul Skills, its offensive power is already terrifying."
"Among soul beasts of the same level, very few can contend with it. It has no need for enhancement."
Ye Linyuan nodded thoughtfully.
No enhancement Soul Skill?
Then it really isn't suitable to become my Soul Ring.
What he wanted now was a skill that could comprehensively magnify his own advantages.
However...
Ye Linyuan's gaze fell upon the Dark Gold Terrorclaw Bear's terrifying giant paws, and a burning glint flashed through his eyes.
Although the Dark Gold Terrorclaw Bear had no enhancement Soul Skill, its terrorclaws were enhancement in another sense—an utterly terrifying ability that raised attack power to the extreme!
While the two spoke quietly, the battle below had already erupted.
"Awoooar—!"
Sensing a life-or-death threat, the Golden Earth Dragon immediately unleashed its ultimate move.
The golden scales covering its body abruptly lit up with dazzling golden light, as though it had donned armor made of light.
Its already burly body swelled another size, muscles bulging high as veins stood out across its body.
Its eyes instantly turned crimson, filled with frenzied fighting intent as it stared fixedly at the Dark Gold Terrorclaw Bear.
Du Busi's eyes lit up as he said in a low voice, "That is the Golden Earth Dragon's innate Soul Skill, Dragon's Fury."
"After Dragon's Fury is unleashed, its attack, strength, and defense all double. The enhancement effect is astonishing."
"The reason I chose the Golden Earth Dragon as the target for your second Soul Ring was precisely because this innate Soul Skill perfectly meets your needs."
Ye Linyuan's eyes gleamed as he stared intently below.
Attack, defense, and strength all doubled?
As expected of a top-tier existence with the Golden Dragon's pure bloodline. Truly overbearing!
After activating its skill, the Golden Earth Dragon's aura surged dramatically.
The Dark Gold Terrorclaw Bear clearly had not expected that this Earth Dragon, which it had initially regarded as prey, could instantly raise its combat strength to such a terrifying degree.
But the Dark Gold Terrorclaw Bear was, after all, a dominant soul beast.
After its brief surprise, the ferocity in its eyes intensified, carrying even a trace of excitement.
It seemed that only prey like this was worthy of its serious attention.
"Boom!"
The two massive beasts slammed into each other.
The Dark Gold Terrorclaw Bear swung its terrifying giant paws. Every strike carried a shriek that tore through the air, leaving deep claw marks across the Golden Earth Dragon's golden scales.
The Golden Earth Dragon, now in its Dragon's Fury state, was not to be outdone. Its thick tail lashed out like a massive iron whip, smashing hard into the Dark Gold Terrorclaw Bear and sending it staggering.
For a time, the entire canyon trembled.
Rocks shattered, and dust flew everywhere.
Blood burst wildly amid the roars.
The battle between the two top-tier soul beasts made Ye Linyuan's blood surge.
Du Busi added from the side, "Although the Golden Earth Dragon's innate Soul Skill is powerful, it does not come without a price."
"After unleashing Dragon's Fury, it enters a berserk state, losing its reason and retaining only its battle instincts."
"That Dark Gold Terrorclaw Bear has two thousand more years of cultivation than it does, enough to withstand the Golden Earth Dragon's attacks in its berserk state."
"Once the Golden Earth Dragon's berserk duration ends, the final victory will still belong to it."
At this point, Du Busi paused slightly before saying, "Speaking of which, the Dark Gold Terrorclaw Bear is also a top-tier soul beast that excels in strength, except it controls strength and the metal attribute."
"It would not be impossible to choose it as your second Soul Ring."
"Because the Dark Gold Terrorclaw Bear's innate Soul Skill, Dark Gold Terrorclaw, is exceptionally powerful. If you can obtain that Soul Skill, it will be no worse than the Golden Earth Dragon's enhancement Soul Skill."
Du Busi shook his head regretfully. "It is simply that this Dark Gold Terrorclaw Bear has a higher cultivation, a full six thousand years."
"With your current physical constitution, fusing with the four-thousand-year Golden Earth Dragon Soul Ring is already an extreme challenge."
"If the cultivation is raised to six thousand years, the risk will be far too great. It may even endanger your life."
Ye Linyuan stared fixedly at the colossal beast battling the Golden Earth Dragon and suddenly said, "I do want the Dark Gold Terrorclaw Soul Skill, but I will not give up the Golden Earth Dragon's enhancement ability either."
A strange curve lifted at the corner of Ye Linyuan's lips. "Besides fusing with a Soul Ring, there is another way to obtain a Soul Skill."
Du Busi was first stunned, then immediately understood.
"You mean... a Soul Bone?"
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