Douluo: One Man Returns, the Heaven-Defying Seal Smashes Tang San to Death — Part 8

And its cultivation was at least beyond that of a two-thousand-year soul beast!

But when Lu Yu saw the soul beast clearly, his face filled with shock, and his earlier guess was overturned.

No!

It was not a thousand-year soul beast!

With this soul beast's powerful bloodline, if it had cultivated for a thousand years, it could definitely rival an ordinary ten-thousand-year soul beast. That blow just now would have crippled his right arm even if it had not killed him!

This soul beast was not large, only about one and a half meters long, but its head was enormous, making it look somewhat disproportionate.

Its head resembled a lion's, while its body was like that of a hyena. On its oversized head was a terrifying ghostly face!

Calling it a ghostly face was not entirely accurate. It was actually formed by the patterns of its fur.

Its body was covered in golden fur, while its head was covered in black fur.

"This is..."

Lu Yu's gaze grew fiery, and he could not help swallowing, as though he had stumbled upon some peerless treasure!

"Roar!!"

As Lu Yu examined the soul beast, the lion-dog-like creature let out an angry roar. A ring of golden light suddenly lit up beneath its feet.

A golden ring roughly two meters in diameter spread outward from the soul beast, black runes flickering within the golden halo.

"It really is!"

Lu Yu's eyes were filled with excitement. He suddenly laughed aloud, golden light flashing violently across his body before he shot forward!

He took the initiative to attack!

Lu Yu had recognized this soul beast!

Although he did not know much about soul beasts, in the forums about Douluo Continent from his previous previous life, this soul beast had been rather famous.

Most importantly, its appearance was easy to identify.

Lion-like yet dog-like, small in size, with golden fur on its body, an oversized head, and black fur on its head.

Along with that ghostly face, and...

The domain beneath its feet at this moment!

Domination Domain!

On Douluo Continent, domains were extremely rare. Soul Masters and soul beasts possessing domains were even rarer.

Anyone who possessed a domain was either monstrously talented, a powerful expert, or someone with a special opportunity!

Yet the soul beast before him had been born with a domain!

Golden Mane Lion-Mastiff!

An incredibly ancient soul beast!

Whether in terms of bloodline rank or innate abilities, it was among the very best of all soul beasts!

Lu Yu had never expected to encounter a Golden Mane Lion-Mastiff in the Soul Hunting Forest!

It must have been captured while still a cub, which was why no one had discovered its extraordinary nature...

After all, this Golden Mane Lion-Mastiff still appeared to be in its infancy.

A soul beast's year count did not refer to how many years it had lived, but merely served as a measure of its strength.

Like the Golden Mane Lion-Mastiff before him, Lu Yu could conclude that it had only been born recently.

Yet even so, it possessed the cultivation of a high-level hundred-year soul beast.

Golden Mane Lion-Mastiffs were renowned for their strength. With a hundred years of cultivation, they could hunt thousand-year soul beasts; with a thousand years of cultivation, they could rival ten-thousand-year soul beasts!

That was also why Lu Yu judged that this Golden Mane Lion-Mastiff possessed only a hundred years of cultivation.

If it had possessed a thousand years of cultivation, he would already have been seriously injured in that first exchange.

Lu Yu could describe this Golden Mane Lion-Mastiff with just two words...

Perfect!

The perfect first soul ring!

Golden Mane Lion-Mastiffs were naturally battle-hungry. Even when facing a powerful enemy, they would fight to the death.

Seeing Lu Yu take the initiative, it naturally charged forward without hesitation.

"Bang! Bang! Bang!"

Man and beast collided repeatedly. Lu Yu kept retreating, but the excitement in his eyes only intensified.

Compared to their first clash, the Golden Mane Lion-Mastiff had now activated its Domination Domain, greatly increasing its strength. Lu Yu could no longer gain any advantage against it.

But the stronger the Golden Mane Lion-Mastiff was, the stronger the skill its soul ring would grant him!

"Bang!"

After another clash, Lu Yu staggered back more than ten steps. The golden light enveloping his right arm dissipated, and his palm trembled slightly.

With the Golden Light Spell enhancing it, my physical strength should barely be able to contend with a Soul Elder. This Golden Mane Lion-Mastiff is clearly far stronger than a Soul Elder!

Lu Yu gained a deeper understanding of his own strength. He stopped confronting it head-on and began weaving through the forest, dodging the Golden Mane Lion-Mastiff's attacks while continuously forming and firing talismans.

Flames flickered through the forest at times, lightning burst forth at others, and the temperature would suddenly plummet.

These attacks found it difficult to inflict serious harm on the Golden Mane Lion-Mastiff, but Lu Yu's attacks came from extremely tricky angles, always targeting its eyes and lower abdomen. The Golden Mane Lion-Mastiff grew increasingly irritated and violent.

While dodging and shifting, Lu Yu fired a Ding Fire Talisman. Flames swept toward the Golden Mane Lion-Mastiff with overwhelming force.

Watching the Golden Mane Lion-Mastiff charge out of the flames with only slightly scorched fur, Lu Yu frowned and thought, Without Soul Power enhancement, ordinary attack talismans cannot harm the Golden Mane Lion-Mastiff even if they strike its vital points...

A gleam flashed in Lu Yu's eyes. A talisman formed beside him, then shot toward the Golden Mane Lion-Mastiff!

"Crackle... Boom!"

Dazzling lightning instantly illuminated the forest. A bolt of lightning as thick as an arm struck the Golden Mane Lion-Mastiff!

Five Thunder Talisman!

"Roar!!"

The Golden Mane Lion-Mastiff roared furiously. The Domination Domain beneath its feet trembled as black runes merged into its body.

The lightning faded, leaving behind a large crater in the ground.

Seeing that the Golden Mane Lion-Mastiff had only scorched fur and no fatal injuries, and that its ferocity had instead been stirred as it charged at him valiantly, Lu Yu narrowed his eyes and pondered while evading its attacks.

Damn it! Without that freakish domain, it would definitely have been seriously injured!

Lu Yu cursed inwardly. Using Soul Power to activate the Five Thunder Talisman had cost him greatly just now. He had to end this quickly!

With that thought, Lu Yu waved his hand, and three Heavenly Gang Talismans formed, instantly landing on his body!

The next moment, Lu Yu's aura rose steadily, the golden light around him becoming even more brilliant and nearly solid.

"Come on!"

Lu Yu let out a long cry. Rather than dodge, he charged straight at the Golden Mane Lion-Mastiff!

"Bang!"

Fist met claw!

Lu Yu took half a step back, while the Golden Mane Lion-Mastiff staggered backward repeatedly.

As Lu Yu unleashed his full strength, the situation reversed in an instant!

Another talisman formed and landed on Lu Yu, instantly restoring the qi he had nearly exhausted.

The fatigue from the continuous battle and the soreness in his muscles vanished completely.

Heaven and Earth Divine Talisman!

The Heaven and Earth Divine Talisman could instantly restore one's physical condition, heal minor injuries, and alleviate severe injuries. Its effects were simply absurd.

However, forming the Heaven and Earth Divine Talisman also consumed an enormous amount of mental power. Even with mental power comparable to that of a Soul Sage, Lu Yu could not form them consecutively.

"Bang! Bang! Bang..."

The two sides clashed once more, frightening the weaker soul beasts in the area into scattering in all directions.

"Crackle..."

A thick bolt of lightning descended. Taking advantage of the Golden Mane Lion-Mastiff being blasted back by the Five Thunder Talisman, Lu Yu closed in and punched it squarely on the head.

"Bang!"

The Golden Mane Lion-Mastiff's head smashed directly into the ground. Lu Yu pressed his advantage without mercy. A Five Warrior Talisman formed and landed on him, causing his strength to surge once more as he rained down punch after punch.

Although the Five Thunder Talisman had failed to inflict a fatal wound on the Golden Mane Lion-Mastiff, it had paralyzed its entire body for an instant. Naturally, Lu Yu would not let such an opportunity pass.

"Roar!!!"

The Golden Mane Lion-Mastiff roared in fury. The domain beneath its feet rapidly contracted and actually merged into its body.