Grabbing the Destiny of the Auspicious Beast by the Scruff of its Neck

Jiang Nannan stood where she was, watching Chen Doudou's effortless back, a secret sense of frustration gnawing at her heart.

If only I were that strong too.

Doudou was only six, yet he could already protect them, while she, the older sister, still needed him to shield her.

A feeling of defeat, known as "the gap," quietly spread within her.

Not far away, Xiao Yuanshan and his wife watched with bated breath.

Chen Wenwen covered her mouth, whispering in admiration, "This child's strength is truly peerless among his peers. So many century and millennium-level Lightning Rabbit are like toys in his hands."

"Indeed..."

Xiao Yuanshan sighed softly, watching his daughter's infatuated expression. "Xiao Xiao's eyes are practically glowing. This little ungrateful girl, her father has never been that important to her."

Chen Wenwen was amused by his jealousy over their daughter and gave him a light pinch. "You're a grown man, why are you bickering with a child? Try putting yourself in her shoes—if you had met such an impressive brother at that age, wouldn't you admire him too?"

"That's true."

Xiao Yuanshan rubbed his nose with a bitter smile, forced to admit, "If I'd had such a powerful companion back in the day, I'd probably brag about it for a lifetime."

Just then, Bibi Dong moved.

Her figure flickered, appearing above the rabbit pack like a teleportation. With a wave of her fair hand, she precisely snatched the largest Lightning Rabbit, the one with the clearest lightning patterns, from the group hanging in the air.

The rabbit didn't even have the strength to struggle in her grip, shivering uncontrollably.

"This one is the perfect age, three thousand years. It's suitable for Nannan."

Bibi Dong evaluated calmly, then tossed the rabbit to the ground and handed Jiang Nannan a sharp dagger. "Nannan, go ahead. This is your first soul ring."

"Three? Three thousand years?!"

Xiao Yuanshan and his wife gasped, nearly losing their footing.

Who in their right mind would dare absorb a three-thousand-year soul ring as their second soul ring?

That was practically suicide!

But seeing the accustomed expressions of Bibi Dong, Chen Doudou, and Jiang Nannan, the couple couldn't say a word, forced to suppress their shock and watch in silence.

Jiang Nannan took the dagger, her palms sweating.

She took a deep breath and looked at Bibi Dong.

Bibi Dong nodded, encouraging her softly, "Don't be afraid. You have absorbed two soul bones; your body can withstand it."

"Mm!"

Jiang Nannan gritted her teeth and plunged the dagger into the Lightning Rabbit's throat.

Fresh blood gushed out, and that warm life force surged into her body instantly.

At the same time, a purple soul ring rose from the rabbit's corpse, slowly merging into her body.

Off to the side, Zeus couldn't bear to watch and turned away, kicking at stones with his hooves, unwilling to witness this cruel scene.

He turned his head to look at Chen Doudou, who was guarding Jiang Nannan, his eyes complex.

His master would never hunt soul beasts, yet his master's companions could not avoid it, which left him feeling lost...

Chen Doudou seemed to sense the Pegasus's mood, reaching out to pat his mane gently. His voice was soft, yet filled with determination:

"Believe in me, Zeus. One day in the future, I will change all of this. I will find a way for soul masters to grow strong without the need for slaughter."

Zeus's body shuddered. He turned his head, and something seemed to flicker in those deep, equine eyes.

He nudged Chen Doudou's hand gently, as if responding to this grand vow.

Just as Jiang Nannan reached the critical moment of absorbing the three-thousand-year soul ring.

In a dark corner of the forest, a pair of golden pupils were quietly watching them.

The golden figure lurked in the bushes, letting out two howls toward a creature beside it.

A moment later.

A massive soul beast, covered in black fur with sharp claws glinting with cold light, charged out from the forest.

"ROAR!!!"

It was a century-level Terrorclaw Bear, known for its sheer offensive power!

It roared as it charged toward Jiang Nannan, who was still absorbing the soul ring.

"Watch out!"

Xiao Yuanshan prepared to intervene.

However, Bibi Dong didn't even turn her head.

She merely raised her hand casually and swiped through the air.

"SLAP!"

A crisp sound echoed through the forest.

The aggressive Terrorclaw Bear was struck as if hit by a speeding soul-guided train, sent flying instantly. It crashed through two large trees and collapsed into the grass, unconscious and motionless.

Bibi Dong frowned and walked over to the bear's carcass, kicking it with disdain as she muttered, "Strange. Logically, a soul beast like this shouldn't appear in the outer perimeter, and this bear looks as if it were forcibly driven here."

The brutal scene left Xiao Xiao trembling, her small face deathly pale.

Even Xiao Yuanshan and his wife were secretly terrified; this was a Terrorclaw Bear, after all.

One had to know that the Terrorclaw Bear was a lesser variant of the Dark Gold Terrorclaw Bear. Even a hundred-year-old one could contend with ordinary thousand-year-old soul beasts, and with their thick hides, how could it have been knocked unconscious by a single slap without the use of a martial soul?

Just what terrifying level of strength had this senior reached?

"Don't be afraid, Xiao Xiao."

Chen Doudou comforted the little girl, "Here, this bear is about four hundred years old, which is perfect for your Three-Life Soul-Suppressing Cauldron. Come on, kill it; it'll serve perfectly as your first soul ring."

"Ah? M-me?"

Xiao Xiao looked at the bear, which was taller than she was, and shrank back in fear.

Chen Doudou shoved a dagger into her hand, "Don't worry, it's already knocked out cold and won't fight back. You just need to plunge the dagger in."

Encouraged by Chen Doudou, Xiao Xiao's hands trembled as she closed her eyes and drove the dagger into the bear's heart.

As the soul ring was absorbed, the little girl's complexion gradually returned to a healthy glow.

Just as the two were absorbing their soul rings and the situation had temporarily stabilized, Bibi Dong rose to her feet.

She had been resting with her eyes closed, but she suddenly opened them, a cold glint flashing through her purple eyes.

The next second, her figure vanished from where she stood, reappearing beneath a large tree in the forest.

She extended two slender fingers, precisely pinching the scruff of a certain golden creature that had been peeking, and hoisted it into the air.

"I was wondering why a Terrorclaw Bear would show up out of nowhere. So, it was you little thing causing trouble."

Bibi Dong stared coldly at the creature struggling desperately in her grasp.

"Roar!"

The golden creature thrashed wildly, its four paws kicking at the air.

However, when Bibi Dong brought it before them, everyone finally saw its appearance clearly.

It was a creature covered in golden fur that looked neither quite like a lion nor a dragon, roughly three meters in length, its golden eyes filled with panic.

"Let me go! Let me go right now!"

Unexpectedly, this golden soul beast spoke with a crisp, clear voice—it was the voice of a young girl.

It waved its small paws, clawing and scratching at Bibi Dong, "Despicable human, do you have any idea who I am?! Release me at once!"