Five Thousand Year Dark Gold Terrorclaw Bear

At the same time, it twisted its thick, long body and lunged toward Feng Piaoling to tear him apart.

The light barrier emitted by the scabbard of the Thunder Tribulation Sword was designed by Feng Piaoling based on the protective aura he had envisioned for the Green Lotus Sword Art.

Beyond possessing excellent defensive capabilities, it was also capable of completely isolating poisonous gases.

"Courting death." Ignoring the Datura Snake's poisonous mist entirely, Feng Piaoling channeled his soul power into the Thunder Tribulation Sword. Using the eighth form of the Nine Gale Swords, Wind Leaves No Trace, as a lead, he struck back with a flick of his wrist.

The Thunder Tribulation Sword caught the dappled sunlight filtering through the forest, reflecting a cyan sword light that felt like a ghostly breeze in an empty valley—continuous and unending.

He sliced clean through the Datura Snake's head and followed through, severing its thick, long body.

The formidable thousand-year soul beast Datura Snake, which in the original story Tang Ya and Bei Bei had only managed to kill with Huo Yuhao's assistance, hadn't even lasted two moves against Feng Piaoling before it lay on the ground in two pieces, clearly not long for this world.

Tang Ya was stunned, Huo Yuhao was stunned, and Bei Bei was stunned as well.

The Sky Dream Ice Silkworm, residing within Huo Yuhao's spiritual sea, felt his mouth twitch violently at the sight.

Previously, this was exactly how he had almost been sliced up by this cunning brat.

Had it not been for his formidable spiritual power and his ability to dodge in advance, he would have been dead long ago.

"This Datura Snake is not suitable for me."

Sheathing his sword, Feng Piaoling ignored the reactions of the trio and spoke indifferently before leaning against a nearby tree with his sword in his arms.

Tang Ya froze for a moment before exclaiming in a hushed voice, "So... so powerful."

Bei Bei hurriedly took out a short blade and handed it to her. "Xiao Ya, since Brother Feng doesn't want this Datura Snake, you should go ahead and absorb it. This soul ring is a perfect fit for you."

"Mm." Knowing the Datura Snake wouldn't last much longer, Tang Ya took the blade and, without delay, plunged it into the snake's eye.

The Datura Snake let out a painful whimper and lost all signs of life, after which a purple soul ring floated above its corpse.

"Tha... thank you." Tang Ya's cherry lips parted slightly, and her gaze toward Feng Piaoling held a hint of shame.

After all, it wasn't long ago that she and Bei Bei had stood up for Huo Yuhao and ostracized Feng Piaoling.

Seeing Feng Piaoling help his beloved secure a suitable soul ring, Bei Bei's gaze toward him also softened with a touch of apology.

As for Huo Yuhao, seeing Feng Piaoling slay a thousand-year Datura Snake with two strikes, he couldn't help but recall his own ten-year Wind Baboon first soul ring. The more he thought about it, the more aggrieved he felt.

He began to resent Feng Piaoling in his heart—why, why hadn't he told him sooner?

If he had known Feng Piaoling possessed such strength, he wouldn't have gone to absorb that damned ten-year Wind Baboon first soul ring.

Perhaps, he might have even received a sacrifice from Brother Sky Dream for his first soul ring.

At this moment, Huo Yuhao was once again gripped by the fear of being dominated by a ten-year Wind Baboon.

Feng Piaoling paid no mind to their internal states, his heart already beginning to anticipate what kind of third soul ring Huo Yuhao's luck might provide him.

Regardless of whether the Datura Snake was suitable for a Blue Silver Grass martial soul, it was certainly suitable for Tang Ya, given that her first two soul rings had already followed the poison attribute. It was too late for her to switch to a life attribute now.

As for himself, he estimated his third soul ring would be between five thousand and ten thousand years.

He wondered what kind of soul beast it would be.

Time ticked by second by second as the soul ring was absorbed.

Tang Ya's figure seemed to become more slender, her aura grew stronger at an astonishing rate, and her skin took on a new luster.

An hour later, Tang Ya finished absorbing the soul ring.

"Hoo..." She let out a long breath and slowly opened her eyes. Her captivating, autumn-water eyes shone with brilliance, and her entire spirit and energy had improved significantly.

At this moment, her soul power had reached level thirty-one.

"I succeeded." Tang Ya leaped up from the ground in excitement. As she channeled her soul power, two yellow and one purple soul ring rose from beneath her feet.

Before she could share the joy of breaking through to a Soul Elder, Feng Piaoling, who had been keeping watch, spoke up, "Since you've finished absorbing it, it's time to find a soul ring for me."

"Okay." Having just had the Datura Snake killed for her by Feng Piaoling, Tang Ya agreed without a second thought.

With Tang Ya's agreement, Bei Bei naturally had no objections, and as for Huo Yuhao, he remained in his cold, aloof state.

Before receiving the sacrifice of the Sky Dream Ice Silkworm, he had found Feng Piaoling to be a source of security.

Now, however, he found him increasingly unpleasant to look at.

Unknowingly, the ten-year Wind Baboon soul ring had gradually become a nightmare that Huo Yuhao could never shake off.

The four of them continued to venture deeper into the Star Dou Great Forest.

The formation remained the same: Tang Ya took the lead, Huo Yuhao and Bei Bei followed a step behind, and Feng Piaoling trailed two steps behind them.

They shifted from their previous rapid pace to a steady walk.

The deeper they went into the Star Dou Great Forest, the more dangerous it became; they could no longer charge ahead blindly and had to be cautious.

Originally, Tang Ya had wanted Feng Piaoling to take the lead.

After all, his strength was likely the greatest among the four.

But Feng Piaoling refused, citing his habit of never turning his back to others.

Two and a half hours later, the silhouette of a giant bear lying on the ground came into their view.

This giant bear was over five meters long and incredibly robust, its black fur reflecting a faint metallic sheen.

It was clearly suffering from severe injuries, its body drenched in blood; it appeared to have just finished a battle with some powerful Soul Beast not long ago.

Seeing Feng Piaoling and his group of four arrive, it merely let out a weak roar without attempting to stand.

It was evident that it had already lost the ability to move.

Witnessing this scene, the corners of Feng Piaoling's mouth twitched slightly; judging by its size, this was undoubtedly a Dark Gold Terrorclaw Bear.

In the original story, even a two-thousand-year-old Dark Gold Terrorclaw Bear could defeat ten-thousand-year Soul Beasts, and this one was at least over five thousand years old.

Before leaving the Sun Moon Empire, Xu Tianran had bestowed upon him an eighth-grade Soul Tool greatsword.

Under normal circumstances, Feng Piaoling would only be confident in slaying a Dark Gold Terrorclaw Bear if he utilized that greatsword.

After all, the creature's defense was simply too terrifying; ordinary methods could not break through its hide at all.

Now, however, this Dark Gold Terrorclaw Bear was heavily wounded and immobile, becoming a lamb waiting to be slaughtered.

One had to admit, was this truly the power of a Child of Destiny?

By following him, even such a stroke of good fortune could be encountered.

At the same time, Bei Bei also recognized this Dark Gold Terrorclaw Bear.

"It's actually a Dark Gold Terrorclaw Bear, and one at least over five thousand years old at that. How could such a powerful Soul Beast appear in the outer perimeter of the Star Dou Great Forest?"

Seeing this giant bear, Bei Bei instantly gasped in shock.

Upon hearing that it was a Dark Gold Terrorclaw Bear, Tang Ya was also frightened, her complexion turning somewhat pale.

It was fortunate that this Dark Gold Terrorclaw Bear was injured; otherwise, the four of them would likely all die here today.

Seeing how much this Soul Beast terrified Bei Bei and Tang Ya, Huo Yuhao realized just how fearsome it truly was.

It was at this moment that the voice of the Sky Dream Ice Silkworm rang out in his mind:

"Damn it, damn it, it's infuriating! This Dark Gold Terrorclaw Bear carries the lingering aura of a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast that once hunted me down. It must have been attracted by the massive energy fluctuations caused by my sacrifice, and after failing to find me, it just casually crippled this Dark Gold Terrorclaw Bear. Now, it's all going to benefit that cunning brat Feng Piaoling. It's infuriating! It's infuriating!"