Sure enough, in the split second when the Dark-Gold Terrorclaw Bear launched its sneak attack and was intercepted by Elder Song,
Yan Shaozhe had already finished preparing his killing move.
The Dark-Gold Terrorclaw Bear's attention had already been divided, and its two all-out bursts, along with the devastating Phoenix flames, had left it full of openings.
"It's over." Yan Shaozhe's voice was icy as his seventh Soul Ring suddenly flared with dazzling light!
"Seventh Soul Skill, Martial Soul Avatar!"
"Screech—!"
An even more soaring, impassioned phoenix cry resounded through the heavens!
Yan Shaozhe seemed to transform into a white sun, unleashing an endless torrent of light and flame.
The Radiant Phoenix phantom behind him instantly swelled, becoming a solid Radiant Phoenix with a wingspan of over twenty meters, as though forged from platinum!
A sacred, blazing aura filled heaven and earth, thoroughly cleansing the gloom and ferocity from this forest.
Immediately afterward, his second and third Soul Rings lit up simultaneously.
Empowered by the Martial Soul Avatar, the Phoenix flames transformed into a vast platinum sea of fire that instantly engulfed the entire area where the Dark-Gold Terrorclaw Bear stood!
Within the sea of flames, every wisp of fire contained the ultimate power of incineration.
At the same time, the true form of the Radiant Phoenix beat its wings.
Countless phoenix feathers burning with platinum flames shot down like a torrential rain, merging into the firestorm and setting off an unending chain of violent explosions!
"Roar... whimper..."
The Dark-Gold Terrorclaw Bear's roars were swiftly drowned out by the explosions and crackling flames.
It struggled frantically within the inferno, dark-gold light flashing desperately as it tried to resist.
Yet before the full-force bombardment of a Super Douluo's Martial Soul Avatar and combined Soul Skills, all resistance was futile.
The flames and explosions continued for more than a dozen breaths.
When Yan Shaozhe withdrew his Soul Power, the Radiant Phoenix Avatar slowly faded, and the flames filling the sky gradually died out, the clearing had already become a scorched wasteland.
At the center of the charred ground, the once-unrivaled ten-thousand-year Dark-Gold Terrorclaw Bear lay with its immense body burned black. Only the faintest rise and fall of its chest proved that it still retained a trace of Life.
Its dark-gold claws, which had once torn through everything, rested limply before it, their radiance completely gone.
It was at death's door and had lost all ability to resist.
Yan Shaozhe slowly descended, his face somewhat pale. Repeatedly using Soul Skills, especially maintaining his Martial Soul Avatar, had consumed an enormous amount of energy.
But his eyes burned brightly as he looked at Xia Ming.
"Junior Brother, go ahead. This ten-thousand-year Dark-Gold Terrorclaw Bear's Soul Ring is yours. Absorb it carefully. We'll guard you."
Xia Ming nodded and walked to the giant bear's head.
His right fist slowly clenched. He did not use any flashy Soul Skill, merely gathering pure Soul Power and his formidable strength at the point of his fist.
"Pfft."
A dull thud sounded.
The force of his punch penetrated the Dark-Gold Terrorclaw Bear's skull with perfect precision, instantly shattering its final trace of Life.
The Dark-Gold Terrorclaw Bear's massive body gave one last twitch before falling completely still.
A deep black Soul Ring slowly rose from its body.
Without the slightest hesitation, Xia Ming sat cross-legged beneath the Soul Ring.
He took a deep breath and adjusted himself to peak condition. Then, using his own Soul Power as a guide, he slowly connected with the floating black Soul Ring.
"Buzz—"
Drawn by his power, the Soul Ring trembled slightly.
It then turned into a solid streak of black light, dropping swiftly and settling steadily around Xia Ming as it began to rotate slowly.
Surging, razor-sharp Soul Power began flooding into Xia Ming's body like a tide.
In the distance, Yan Shaozhe and the two elders stood guard in a triangular formation, their spiritual power highly focused as they closely monitored Xia Ming's condition.
"Xia Ming's physical constitution is far stronger than those of power-attack Soul Kings, and his spiritual power is equally refined and stable.
Absorbing this ten-thousand-year Dark-Gold Terrorclaw Bear Soul Ring may involve some impact, but there is absolutely no chance of failure."
Watching the steady fluctuations of Soul Power around Xia Ming, Yan Shaozhe gave his assessment with certainty.
The two elders nodded slightly, clearly in complete agreement.
While Xia Ming focused on absorbing the Soul Ring, Yan Shaozhe did not remain idle.
His gaze fell upon the Dark-Gold Terrorclaw Bear's enormous claws, which still emitted a faint chill even in death.
He walked to the giant bear's left forelimb, crouched down, and extended his right hand.
A layer of gentle Radiant Soul Power covered his palm as he slowly brushed over the thick arm bone, finally stopping at the left palm bone.
As his Soul Power probed deeper, the calm on Yan Shaozhe's face was gradually replaced by an irrepressible hint of delight.
"Just as the rumors said!" he murmured, a brilliant light flashing in his eyes.
The next instant, he pressed his fingers together like a blade, and a thin platinum light edge, as fine as cicada wings, covered his hand.
With a flick of his hand, he cut down in a movement as swift as lightning and yet incomparably precise, slicing in along a specific seam.
"Hiss—"
A soft sound rang out.
The Dark-Gold Terrorclaw Bear's left forelimb was cleanly severed.
Yan Shaozhe did not pause, dissecting it in just a few quick motions.
At last, a strange bone appeared in his hand.
It was a left palm bone, roughly the size of an ordinary human palm. Its texture was crystalline like jade, yet it bore a dark-gold metallic sheen.
Five long, narrow claws shaped like curved blades extended from the front of the bone!
These claws were identical in form to the Dark-Gold Terrorclaw Bear's Dark-Gold Terrorclaw from when it was alive, only reduced in scale, like a naturally forged divine weapon.
"Dark-Gold Terrorclaw Left Palm Bone!" Elder Zhuang approached, and upon seeing it clearly, could not help crying out in a low voice. His face was full of shock and envy.
"This is formed from the Dark-Gold Terrorclaw Bear's most refined offensive component! Its value may even surpass ordinary Soul Bones produced by some Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beasts!"
Yan Shaozhe carefully held the Dark-Gold Terrorclaw Left Palm Bone in his hand, feeling the untamed energy contained within. The smile on his face grew ever more pronounced.
This was simply the greatest unexpected windfall of their trip, even more thrilling than obtaining the top-tier ten-thousand-year Soul Ring they had anticipated.
About an hour later.
The violently fluctuating Soul Power around Xia Ming gradually calmed, and the deep black Soul Ring had completely vanished, fully merging into his body and Martial Soul.
"How is your Soul Power?" Yan Shaozhe asked with a smile.
"It has risen significantly, to roughly the middle of level thirty-eight." Xia Ming reported after carefully sensing it.
"Very good." Yan Shaozhe nodded in satisfaction.
Then his expression turned serious as he held out the Dark-Gold Terrorclaw Left Palm Bone to Xia Ming. "Take a look at this."
"This came from its body?" Xia Ming immediately understood.
"That's right." Yan Shaozhe said solemnly.
"The Dark-Gold Terrorclaw Bear Left Palm Bone is unquestionably a top-tier offensive Soul Bone.
More importantly, it is an External Soul Bone. It does not occupy a conventional Soul Bone slot, and it possesses growth potential."
"You have just absorbed a Soul Ring from the same source, so your body and Martial Soul have already begun adapting to and bearing the Dark-Gold Terrorclaw Bear's power," Yan Shaozhe continued explaining.
"Absorbing this Soul Bone from the same source now will result in the highest possible compatibility, and the process should go relatively smoothly.
The powers of the Soul Bone and Soul Ring can also merge and resonate to the greatest extent, producing an effect where one plus one is greater than two."
"Moreover, the Dark-Gold Terrorclaw Bear's palm bone is highly compatible with you as well."
Elder Song added, "The Dark-Gold Terrorclaw is the ultimate force of destruction.
If you successfully absorb this Soul Bone, your left hand will possess terrifying tearing power comparable to, or even surpassing, that of the Dark-Gold Terrorclaw Bear itself.
It will be more than enough to become one of your strongest trump cards in the future."
Elder Zhuang smiled encouragingly. "Don't worry. With the three of us guarding you, just focus on fusing with it in peace."
Before you continue