Hunt, Dark Gold Terrorclaw Bear!

Although the Sunset Forest is smaller and less diverse than the Star Dou Great Forest, it still harbors many rare and top-tier soul beasts. For instance, the ten-thousand-year head soul bone Dugu Bo possesses was obtained by hunting an eighty-thousand-year Medusa in the Sunset Forest!

Soul beasts like the Earth King, Pink Lady, Scale Armor Beast, Man Faced Demon Spider, and Ghost Leopard can also be found within the Sunset Forest.

Li Jingzhe carefully scrutinized the soul beast markings on the map.

A three-thousand-year Crypt Demon Spider?

That won't do... He isn't studying to be like Tu Xingsun, so the soul skill this thing produces wouldn't be of much use to him. Furthermore, his martial soul isn't a rope or vine, so the chances of it producing a crowd-control soul skill like "Blue Silver Prison" are slim.

A six-thousand-three-hundred-year Ghost Leopard?

That could be considered—hiss, no, that won't work either. The age is too low. He is primarily obtaining soul rings to force the Scripture Depository to produce top-tier cultivation techniques and martial arts. Given his current physical strength, enduring a ten or twenty-thousand-year soul ring wouldn't be an issue at all.

However, considering the current abnormal congestion of his soul power, there is no need for a higher-age soul ring; after all, absorbing a soul ring also increases one's soul power!

It would be disastrous to accidentally upset the balance of soul power within his body.

Therefore, his first soul ring should be the best of the best within his capacity, rather than blindly pursuing a high age.

Five-thousand-seven-hundred-year Dark Gold Terrorclaw Bear... eight-thousand-year Evergreen Vine... fourteen-thousand-three-hundred-year Soldering Iron Poison Python... Hmm?

Wait!

Li Jingzhe's gaze snapped back!

"Dark Gold Terrorclaw Bear?"

"There's one of these in the Sunset Forest?"

He had almost skipped over it because of the low age, but now, looking again, Li Jingzhe felt a surge of fiery excitement in his heart!

A Dark Gold Terrorclaw Bear!

A top-tier soul beast possessing a trace of Behemoth bloodline, where strength and ferocity coexist!

On one hand, this creature is rare and formidable; it can contend with ten-thousand-year soul beasts at only a thousand years of age, and dares to challenge Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast at ten thousand years. A hundred-thousand-year Soft Bone Rabbit might not even withstand a single swipe from a ten-thousand-year Dark Gold Terrorclaw Bear. The cultivation techniques and martial arts produced by absorbing its soul ring would certainly be of high grade.

On the other hand, this creature has balanced abilities, explosive power, robust vitality, and strong muscles and bones. The soul skill it produces would definitely be excellent, providing a massive boost to a soul master, not to mention the chance of dropping a top-tier External Soul Bone: Dark Gold Terrorclaw!

Most importantly, the Dark Gold Terrorclaw Bear marked on the map is only five-thousand-seven-hundred years old, belonging to a juvenile of the species. Not only is it well within his capacity, but the quality of its soul ring is comparable to a ten-thousand-year one. Judging by the activity range on the map, it appears to be a lone bear, without any bear parents around!

"A heaven-sent opportunity... it's decided!"

Li Jingzhe stood up immediately and checked the map to determine his direction... Well, the creature isn't far from his current location; if he travels at full speed, he can reach it in just over an hour.

One hour later!

"From here on, I should be entering the activity range of the Dark Gold Terrorclaw Bear!"

Li Jingzhe took out the map to verify, confirmed he was in the right place, and plucked a leaf to test the wind direction, finding the windward side... The activity range of soul beasts is quite large, especially for top-tier predators like the Dark Gold Terrorclaw Bear.

Searching slowly on its turf?

That is the most foolish method.

Making this beast come to him is the optimal solution!

As for how to make it come voluntarily?

A flash of light emanated from the Soul Tool on Li Jingzhe's finger, and the carcasses of some rabbits and foxes dropped out, along with a Wolf and a deer. To avoid alerting the enemy, he had suppressed his aura from the start; after all, his soul power is currently at level fifty-nine and a half. If he didn't suppress his aura, this five-thousand-seven-hundred-year Dark Gold Terrorclaw Bear might not show itself.

Never underestimate the instinctual perception of danger in non-human creatures!

However, as he suppressed his aura, ignorant soul beasts kept showing up. This Wolf, with about three thousand years of cultivation, and this deer, with about five thousand years—without exception, neither could withstand a casual punch from him.

Li Jingzhe first threw out the rabbit and fox carcasses, letting the scent of blood disperse with the wind, then lit a campfire on the spot and began roasting the wolf and deer meat, not bothering to skin or process them since he wasn't going to eat them anyway.

The goal was to spread his human scent and the smell of the meat!

In this way, whether out of territorial consciousness or hunting instinct, this Dark Gold Terrorclaw Bear would eventually come to investigate!

After finishing these preparations, Li Jingzhe simply leaned against a tree and began to doze off.

His eyes were half-closed, remaining vigilant at all times!

One minute...

Ten minutes...

Half an hour...

Li Jingzhe, who was dozing, suddenly jolted, his heart filled with joy.

"It's here!"

As a martial artist, his perception of danger is no less than that of a soul beast; this is a physical instinct. The only thing in this area capable of threatening him could only be that Dark Gold Terrorclaw Bear.

In his perception, a large creature was slowly approaching. It moved cautiously, testing the waters from time to time.

Li Jingzhe silently sensed their positions and the distance... five hundred meters... four hundred meters... one hundred meters... forty meters...

Whoosh—

Li Jingzhe's eyes snapped open. He channeled the Dragon-Elephant Prajna Technique, his blood surging like a torrent, carrying the force of Thousand Jun. Bang! He stomped on the ground, causing it to crack layer by layer, and launched himself forward like a cannonball.

Although his meridians were congested and his soul power was difficult to circulate, his physical body was formidable!

Along the way, even five-thousand-year soul beasts couldn't withstand a casual strike from him; every movement he made was as heavy and powerful as a mountain!

As his blood and qi surged, the Perfect Seven Injuries Fist Intent began to circulate, silently gathering power.

As he drew closer, he could see the beast's mountain-like stature and its coat of dark gold fur. Its forelimbs were slightly longer, and those dark gold claws were even longer... It was indeed a Dark Gold Terrorclaw Bear!

Judging by its size, it hadn't exceeded ten thousand years; it had to be the one marked on the map!

Seeing that Li Jingzhe, a human with such weak aura, didn't flee upon seeing it but instead dared to charge toward it, the Dark Gold Terrorclaw Bear—which had originally only come to inspect its territory—instantly felt provoked!

ROAR—

It let out an angry roar, slammed all four paws onto the ground, and charged forward with a movement that shook the earth. Despite its massive size, it was as fast as rolling thunder, like a straight line of dark gold lightning.

The distance between the two was no more than forty meters; they closed it in the blink of an eye!

ROAR—

It raised its bear paw, its long, blade-like dark gold claws shimmering with a metallic luster in the sunlight. Like a biting cold saber, it slashed down directly at Li Jingzhe's head.

But how could Li Jingzhe possibly be hit by a clumsy bear?

Lingbo Microsteps—

With just a simple dodge and shift, he completed a change in position, moving from the front of the Dark Gold Terrorclaw Bear to its side.

The Perfect Seven Injuries Fist Intent, which had been gathering power for a long time, blasted out in a straight line!

"BANG!"

A punch landed squarely on flesh!

The Dark Gold Terrorclaw Bear let out a pained howl, lost its balance, and went spinning sideways, plowing a trail into the ground like a drifting tire.

Li Jingzhe frowned... Damn, missed!

His meridians were blocked and his soul power was difficult to circulate, which ultimately affected him. His punch had been a fraction of a second slow, so while he had aimed for the flank, he had struck the hind leg instead...

And this was precisely why Li Jingzhe chose not to clash head-on with the Dark Gold Terrorclaw Bear; he wasn't at full strength, so no amount of caution was excessive.

But even hitting just the hind leg was enough to make this Dark Gold Terrorclaw Bear suffer.