Millennium Red-Gold Lion

Just as their fruitless search was nearly wearing away their patience.

"Roar—!"

A sudden roar exploded through the relatively silent forest like a bolt from the blue!

"It's a lion's roar! And definitely not from an ordinary bloodline!"

A sharp gleam burst from Yan Shaozhe's eyes, and his face was instantly filled with delight.

He grabbed Xia Ming and shot toward the source of the roar like lightning.

Within a few breaths, the two had silently reached the edge of a forest clearing.

In the middle of the clearing stood an exceptionally powerful and majestic giant lion.

It had pinned a sizable deer-type soul beast beneath its claws and was lowering its head to feast on its prey.

The lion beast was over five meters long and more than two meters tall at the shoulder, its entire body covered in a thick crimson-gold mane.

The aura it radiated was even more formidable than that of many ten-thousand-year soul beasts!

"Red-Gold Lion! Judging by its size, its cultivation is between thirteen hundred and fifteen hundred years! It perfectly matches the limit of your first Soul Ring!"

Yan Shaozhe's voice rose slightly with excitement.

He stared intently at the male lion as though admiring an unparalleled treasure.

"Red-Gold Lion?" Xia Ming was briefly stunned upon hearing that.

Then overwhelming joy surged into his heart like a tide!

In the original story, there was such a soul beast as the Red-Gold Lion.

Zhongli's brother possessed a thirty-thousand-year Red-Gold Lion beast soul, which had faced the full-force Dark-Gold Terrorclaw of a ten-thousand-year Dark-Gold Terrorclaw Bear head-on without being defeated!

What did that mean? Among soul beasts of the same level, the Red-Gold Lion's bloodline strength was enough to stand alongside top-tier soul beasts such as the Dark-Gold Terrorclaw Bear!

Perhaps it was slightly inferior in pure offensive power, but its strength and defense unquestionably stood at the top of the soul beast pyramid!

More importantly, it was a lion-type soul beast and a powerful offshoot of the golden bloodline!

Its attributes were practically a match made in heaven with Xia Ming's Golden-Haired Lion Mastiff Martial Soul!

It could even be said that at his current cultivation stage, even if someone offered him a Dark-Gold Terrorclaw Bear of the same age in exchange.

For Xia Ming, its compatibility and potential benefits might not necessarily surpass this Red-Gold Lion!

This is practically a first Soul Ring tailored specifically for me! Xia Ming shouted inwardly.

Of course, his mind remained perfectly clear.

With his current strength, challenging a millennium Red-Gold Lion would be no different from throwing an egg at a rock.

A soul beast of this level possessed real combat strength at least comparable to a human Soul Emperor and could even contend with a Soul Saint.

But who was standing beside him?

Without hesitation, Xia Ming turned toward Yan Shaozhe. His gaze blazed as he declared resolutely, "Senior Brother, I want it!"

"Good!" Yan Shaozhe's answer was equally brief and forceful, carrying an unquestionable decisiveness.

He understood the value and compatibility of this Red-Gold Lion even better than Xia Ming did. This was absolutely a rare opportunity that could only be encountered by chance!

"This time, I'll make the move and capture it for you!"

Before his words had even faded, Yan Shaozhe vanished from where he stood.

The next instant, he appeared like a ghost several yards directly in front of the Red-Gold Lion that was still feeding.

"Cry—!"

A clear, impassioned phoenix cry that pierced the heavens suddenly rang out!

Dazzling golden radiance surged skyward from behind Yan Shaozhe, swiftly condensing into the phantom image of a Radiant Phoenix!

A sacred, scorching, majestic aura swept outward, instantly dispelling the gloom and stench of blood in the forest.

Yellow, yellow, purple, purple, black, black, black, black, black!

A full nine Soul Rings—two yellow, two purple, and five black—glimmered with dazzling light.

Like the most magnificent staircase, they rose one by one from beneath Yan Shaozhe's feet, slowly pulsing.

When the ninth Soul Ring, black tinged with red, appeared, even the air throughout the entire space seemed to freeze!

The terrifying pressure of a Super Douluo was unleashed without reservation!

"Whimper..."

The Red-Gold Lion had been enjoying its meal, but the instant that crushing pressure descended like heavenly might, every hair in its mane stood on end!

It only had time to let out a whimper filled with terror and despair.

Then, its body—which had originally been enough to make a Soul Emperor tremble—was instantly crushed as if beneath an invisible mountain. Its limbs gave way, and with a bang, it collapsed to the ground!

Threads of blood seeped from its mouth, nose, eyes, and ears simultaneously. It had already suffered grave injuries and completely lost its ability to resist!

Before the absolute strength of a level-ninety-five Super Douluo, even a millennium soul beast with such a powerful bloodline was fundamentally no different from an ant.

"Junior Brother, come quickly and deliver the final blow!"

Yan Shaozhe's calm voice carried over as he controlled his pressure, ensuring that the Red-Gold Lion was on the verge of death but had not yet drawn its last breath.

Xia Ming did not dare delay. His Martial Soul instantly possessed him, and he rushed forward.

Facing the Red-Gold Lion, which had been so imposing moments ago but was now barely clinging to life.

He gathered all his Soul Power into his right fist. Pale golden light wrapped around it, carrying his boundless anticipation for his first Soul Ring.

Then he drove a fierce punch into the vital point on its forehead!

"Bang!"

With a dull thud, the Red-Gold Lion's massive body shuddered violently, and its final trace of life was extinguished.

The crimson-gold light in its eyes slowly faded, yet they still retained a hint of the unyielding spirit belonging to a top-tier soul beast.

Then, a crystal-clear purple Soul Ring slowly rose from its corpse.

The purple was deep and pure, with faint crimson-gold streams of light seemingly flowing within it, radiating powerful and alluring energy fluctuations.

"Sit cross-legged, focus on your Martial Soul, and guide the Soul Ring!" Yan Shaozhe shouted beside him.

Xia Ming immediately did as instructed. He sat cross-legged where he was, held his breath, focused his mind, and fully activated his Golden-Haired Lion Mastiff Martial Soul.

A unique pull radiated from within him, drawing the purple Soul Ring over until it finally hovered above his head.

The instant the Soul Ring's energy began pouring into him.

"Boom!"

Xia Ming felt as though a burning volcano had erupted atop his head!

An endless, scorching, razor-sharp torrent forced its way into every part of his body with tyrannical force!

This was not gentle energy, but a violent impact carrying the Red-Gold Lion's remaining will and bloodline essence!

"Argh—!"

The excruciating pain made his body tremble violently beyond his control.

His skin instantly turned bright red, and fine beads of blood seeped from his pores.

His meridians felt as though they were about to burst apart, while his bones gave off faint groans under unbearable strain.

"Stay conscious! Circulate your Soul Power, guide it, and fuse with it!"

Yan Shaozhe's reminder rang like an alarm bell through Xia Ming's consciousness, which was nearly drowning in pain.

Xia Ming clenched his teeth tightly, even tasting the metallic sweetness of blood on his tongue.

Relying on sheer willpower, he forcefully steadied his mind and struggled to guide the scorching torrent rampaging through his body.

He attempted to slowly fuse it with his own Soul Power and the essence of his Golden-Haired Lion Mastiff Martial Soul.

It was a painful and prolonged tug-of-war, every second an ultimate test of his willpower.

Time slowly passed amid indescribable pain and perseverance.

Who knew how long had passed? It felt as though an entire century had gone by.

At last, the violent, scorching torrent within Xia Ming's body gradually settled.

It transformed into a warm yet majestic new power, deeply imprinted within his Martial Soul.

The hovering purple Soul Ring also completely dissipated, its essence having been fully absorbed by him.