Looking at the Darkgold Dreadclaw Bear before him, which was practically a corpse already, Yun Chen's mouth twitched. He truly didn't know what words could describe how he felt right now.
He even began to wonder whether this Darkgold Dreadclaw Bear was fake.
How the hell was it this weak?
"Ahem. First, this Darkgold Dreadclaw Bear is still young. Second, I caught it off guard and severely wounded it with one strike. Of course, killing it head-on would still be quite difficult, but knocking it out is much easier."
She Long's explanation was rather far-fetched, but what Yun Chen didn't know was that the spear She Long had thrown just now was his strongest attack without using a soul skill.
Even then, he had nearly messed up. He had almost allowed the Darkgold Dreadclaw Bear to use its Dark Gold Terrorclaw, or She Long would have embarrassed himself today.
Although this Darkgold Dreadclaw Bear was only four hundred years old, according to the original setting, a thousand-year-old Darkgold Dreadclaw Bear could fight a ten-thousand-year soul beast.
This four-hundred-year-old Darkgold Dreadclaw Bear should at least have been able to contend with an eight- or nine-thousand-year soul beast. There was no way an ordinary Soul Saint could instantly defeat a super soul beast of this level.
Yun Chen merely stared at him calmly, as if saying, Keep pretending. If you're really a Soul Saint, I'll eat it.
Facing Yun Chen's suspicious gaze, She Long felt somewhat uncomfortable as well and awkwardly changed the subject.
"Ahem. Take out your dagger, aim for its eye socket, and stab it straight in."
Only then did Yun Chen reluctantly let She Long off the hook and shift his gaze to the unconscious Darkgold Dreadclaw Bear.
Yun Chen moved his feet and slowly walked over to the Darkgold Dreadclaw Bear's head.
He bent down, pulled the dagger from his waist, aimed at the Darkgold Dreadclaw Bear's vulnerable eye socket, took a deep breath, and suddenly drove his arm down in a vicious stab.
Along with the sound of spraying blood, the unconscious Darkgold Dreadclaw Bear let out an unwilling roar. The enormous soundwave nearly sent Yun Chen flying.
Fortunately, there was a mighty "Soul Saint" present who could solo a century-old Darkgold Dreadclaw Bear. She Long used Soul Power to shield Yun Chen, or Yun Chen would have lost his life.
Yun Chen stood before the corpse, still shaken. Then, above the Darkgold Dreadclaw Bear's body, a crystalline yellow soul ring slowly floated into view.
The yellow color was deep and pure, with what seemed like streams of dark gold light flowing within it. It looked extraordinary.
In particular, that soul ring seemed to contain powerful yet alluring energy fluctuations, clearly unique to the Darkgold Dreadclaw Bear.
"Sit cross-legged. Focus your mind on your dantian, guide the soul ring, and circulate your Soul Power."
She Long turned serious as he stood nearby and began guiding Yun Chen in absorbing the soul ring.
Yun Chen immediately did as instructed. He sat cross-legged on the ground, calmed his breathing, and summoned the Golden-Haired Lion Mastiff martial soul behind him. Like an ancient king, it stood majestic and imposing, looking down upon all living things.
Following the Soul Power circulation method She Long had taught him, Yun Chen began circulating his Soul Power. The unique attraction emanating from his body drew the yellow soul ring over, and it floated quietly above his head.
The power of the soul ring instantly flooded Yun Chen's body. He felt as though countless streams of lava were flowing inside him.
"Ah!... Urgh! Ah!!"
The violent Soul Power unique to the Darkgold Dreadclaw Bear battered Yun Chen's entire body with utterly unreasonable force, rampaging freely through his meridians.
Perhaps because of the Darkgold Dreadclaw Bear's rage, the soul ring's power became even more violent, sharp and scorching.
She Long anxiously paced back and forth around Yun Chen, terror filling his eyes. Regretfully, he punched the trunk of a nearby tree.
Damn it, this is a Darkgold Dreadclaw Bear! And it's four hundred years old! That's enough for an ordinary soul master's third soul ring.
"What should I do?"
The intense pain had already made Yun Chen's body tremble uncontrollably. Fine beads of sweat seeped from his forehead, and even more terrifyingly, specks of blood had appeared across his body.
They were droplets of blood seeping from his pores.
Fuck, am I really going to die here today? It feels like my meridians are about to snap! Damn it, my whole body hurts!
"You must stay conscious! Try circulating your Soul Power to suppress it and whittle it down piece by piece!"
Yun Chen clenched his teeth tightly. His mouth was filled with a metallic taste—the taste of blood. It was foul and pungent.
Yun Chen circulated his Soul Power according to the method She Long had suggested. At first, it achieved some effect, but after the Darkgold Dreadclaw Bear's lingering will was counterattacked by Yun Chen, it surged even more fiercely.
Damn you, Darkgold Dreadclaw Bear! This is my body, so recognize who's in charge!
Sensing the Darkgold Dreadclaw Bear's resistance, Yun Chen became even more furious. Like a madman, he mobilized every last bit of Soul Power in his body.
He crazily clashed with the Darkgold Dreadclaw Bear within his own body. At the same time, an enraged roar echoed through Yun Chen's spiritual sea. Perhaps frightened by Yun Chen's suicidal fighting style, or perhaps intimidated by that roar, the Darkgold Dreadclaw Bear's remaining power slowed by several degrees.
That brief sluggishness was instantly surrounded, divided, and devoured by Yun Chen's Soul Power.
Within his body, Yun Chen had not gained an overwhelming victory, but he now held roughly a six-to-four advantage over the Darkgold Dreadclaw Bear.
At last, Yun Chen's condition stabilized. Although he was still in extreme pain, blood was no longer seeping from his body. Of course, Yun Chen now looked more like a blood-soaked man.
What followed was a painful and prolonged tug-of-war, the ultimate test of Yun Chen's willpower.
Yun Chen felt as though time was passing as slowly as an entire century. It was even more painful than going to school in his previous life. This was what it truly meant to feel as though every day lasted a year.
Finally, the violent current of energy within Yun Chen's body gradually calmed.
It had now transformed into a vast, gentle stream of pure energy, slowly flowing through his meridians and merging with his Soul Power.
The yellow soul ring also slowly dispersed and fused into Yun Chen's body.
"It's finally over..."
When She Long spoke those words, he felt as if a tremendous weight had been lifted. His voice was hoarse now. While Yun Chen had been absorbing the soul ring, he had thought of many things—his deceased parents, Ci Xue, and many others.
Now, he finally no longer had to think.
Yun Chen's eyelashes trembled slightly, and his tightly shut eyes suddenly snapped open.
Those dazzling Golden Eyes shone once more, gazing down upon the world and all living beings.
With a thought, the Golden-Haired Lion Mastiff appeared behind Yun Chen again and let out a thunderous roar toward the sky.
"Roar!"
The forest trembled, and all beasts fled.
The instant the Golden-Haired Lion Mastiff possessed him, the filthy blood and sweat clinging to Yun Chen's body were vaporized by violent power and vanished without a trace.
A terrifying sense of strength spread through every limb and bone in Yun Chen's body. He lightly clenched his fists and felt the overflowing power within him.
Looking at Yun Chen before him, She Long was filled with even deeper emotion.
He has only just obtained his first soul ring, yet he already possesses such imposing might. What about the future? It's truly unimaginable.
"Uncle She, this soul ring suits me perfectly. Thank you."
She Long raised his left hand and waved it dismissively. His right hand rubbed over his chest as he spoke helplessly.
"Don't mention it. Absorbing one soul ring nearly scared me to death."
"Haha... There was nothing I could do about it. The Darkgold Dreadclaw Bear's soul ring was simply too high-quality."
Yun Chen chuckled. He also understood that when his life had been in danger just now, She Long must have been panicking. After all, if something happened to Yun Chen, She Long would bear the primary responsibility.
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