Taking Xiao Xiao to Get Her Third Soul Ring, a Ten-Thousand-Year Dark Gold Terrorclaw Bear!

At dawn the next morning, while the sky was only just beginning to brighten, Xiao Xiao was already waiting at the academy gates.

She had changed into a neat, dark green martial outfit. Her long dark green hair was braided into two tidy plaits that hung over her chest, their ends curling slightly. A pair of exquisite silver phoenix-patterned hair ornaments adorned the tips, gleaming softly in the morning light.

Her face was a delicate oval, with a trace of baby fat not yet completely gone, adding a girlish innocence to her gentle temperament.

Her pale green almond-shaped eyes were narrow and bright. At that moment, they were fixed intently on the mist-shrouded road, a faint anticipation glimmering within them.

When she saw Huo Chen emerge from the morning mist, her eyes brightened slightly. She hurried forward to greet him. "Good morning, Teacher Huo."

"Morning." Huo Chen gave her a once-over, his gaze lingering briefly on her exquisite silver phoenix-patterned hair ornaments. He smiled. "You look very spirited today."

Xiao Xiao's cheeks reddened slightly. Lowering her head, she unconsciously touched the ornament at the end of her braid. "Thank you, Teacher Huo."

"Are you ready?"

"I'm ready."

"Then let's go."

Huo Chen stepped to her side, wrapped one arm around her waist, and gently drew her into his embrace.

Xiao Xiao's body instantly tensed. Her pale green almond-shaped eyes widened round, and the blush on her cheeks spread all the way to her ears. "T-Teacher Huo...?"

"Hold on tight." Huo Chen offered no further explanation. With the fingertips of his other hand, he lightly drew a line through the air.

A pitch-black spatial rift silently opened before him, golden light flowing along its edges like a torn curtain.

Holding Xiao Xiao, he stepped into the rift.

Xiao Xiao only felt her vision go dark. The howling of chaotic spatial currents rang in her ears, while her body seemed to be enveloped by an invisible force and propelled rapidly forward.

She instinctively clutched Huo Chen's lapels, closing her eyes as her heart pounded like a drum.

It was not fear.

Rather, his arm was firmly around her waist, and the warmth passing through their clothes left her mind utterly blank.

Only a few breaths later, the ground beneath her feet became solid once more.

"We're here."

Xiao Xiao opened her eyes and found herself standing within a dense primeval forest.

Towering ancient trees blocked out the sky and sun, their overlapping canopies slicing the sunlight into countless scattered flecks that fell across the ground.

The air was thick with the scent of damp earth and a faint smell of humus. Several deep beastly roars echoed through the woods in the distance.

"This is the outer edge of the Star Dou Great Forest's core region."

Huo Chen released her waist, his tone returning to its usual calmness. "Our target is deeper in. Let's go."

Xiao Xiao took a deep breath, suppressing the flutter in her heart as she quickly followed his pace.

The two traveled through the forest for roughly the time it took to burn two sticks of incense. Huo Chen's pace was neither fast nor slow, every step falling along the safest route.

Xiao Xiao followed closely behind him, her steps light. Her two dark green braids swayed gently as she ran, and the silver ornaments at their ends occasionally knocked together with soft, crisp chimes.

Suddenly, Huo Chen stopped. He listened closely for several breaths, the corners of his lips lifting slightly. "Found it."

He parted a thick patch of bushes ahead, revealing a clearing in the woods.

At the center of the clearing, a massive soul beast lay dozing beside a huge boulder.

When standing upright, the soul beast was a full four meters tall. Its entire body was covered in dark golden fur that gleamed with a metallic luster beneath the sunlight.

Its arms were disproportionately thick, ending in five claws like enormous curved blades. Even in its sleep, those claws unconsciously carved several deep furrows into the boulder.

A Dark Gold Terrorclaw Bear. Ten thousand years old.

Xiao Xiao's breath caught slightly.

She had read records of this soul beast in ancient texts. The Dark Gold Terrorclaw Bear was one of the Star Dou Great Forest's most formidable soul beasts, renowned for its terrifying attack and defense.

Even a relatively weaker Titled Douluo would not dare let their guard down when facing a ten-thousand-year Dark Gold Terrorclaw Bear.

"Teacher Huo, it..." Her voice unconsciously lowered.

"Ten thousand years." Huo Chen's tone remained calm, as if he were discussing something utterly trivial. "Wait here. Come over only when I call you."

Without waiting for Xiao Xiao's response, he took a step forward.

His figure appeared before the Dark Gold Terrorclaw Bear like a ghost.

The bear's eyes snapped open in alarm. Seeing a human so close by, it let out an earth-shaking roar and violently swung its claws. Wrapped in dark golden soul power, they tore through the air as they slashed down.

Huo Chen did not dodge. He did not even raise a hand to block.

He merely extended his right hand, spread his fingers, and pressed down lightly.

An invisible pressure descended from the heavens, as though the weight of an entire mountain had suddenly fallen upon the Dark Gold Terrorclaw Bear.

The massive creature's movement abruptly stalled, its half-swung claws freezing in midair. Then, as if pressed down by an invisible giant hand, its huge body crashed to the ground. Its limbs bent beneath it, and it could not even lift its head.

The Dark Gold Terrorclaw Bear released an angry, unwilling roar and struggled to rise. Dark golden soul power surged wildly over its body as its claws gouged deep trenches into the ground, sending dirt and shattered stones flying everywhere.

But before that absolute pressure, its struggle was meaningless. Like a beetle pinned by its shell, no matter how hard it strained, it could not break free from that invisible hand.

Huo Chen raised his other hand, and a thin, elongated streak of golden light condensed at his fingertips.

With a casual sweep of his hand, the golden light cut across the Dark Gold Terrorclaw Bear's limb joints like a blade, precisely severing its tendons.

The Dark Gold Terrorclaw Bear let out an earth-shaking howl of agony. Its limbs gave out completely, and it collapsed limply to the ground.

"Alright." Huo Chen withdrew his hand and turned to Xiao Xiao. His tone was as calm as if he were commenting on the pleasant weather. "Come over and finish it off."

Xiao Xiao stood some distance away, staring in utter disbelief.

A ten-thousand-year Dark Gold Terrorclaw Bear—an existence capable of rivaling a weaker Titled Douluo—had not even lasted a single exchange before him. It had been beaten into complete helplessness.

She took a deep breath, suppressing the shock in her heart. Gripping the dagger in her hand, she quickly walked forward.

The Dark Gold Terrorclaw Bear lay sprawled on the ground, gasping heavily. Dark golden blood gushed from the wounds on its limbs, staining the earth red.

Its eyes remained wide open, fixed on the approaching Xiao Xiao. A low, threatening growl rumbled in its throat, but it no longer had the strength to put up any meaningful resistance.

Xiao Xiao crouched beside its head and met those dark yellow eyes for a moment.

Within them, she saw rage, unwillingness, and a trace of despair at the edge of death. She fell silent for a breath, then softly said, "I'm sorry."

The dagger fell, plunging precisely into the narrow gap in the fur beneath the Dark Gold Terrorclaw Bear's neck—the weakest point in its defenses.

The Dark Gold Terrorclaw Bear's body convulsed violently once before going completely slack. The dark yellow eyes gradually lost their focus.

Xiao Xiao pulled back her dagger and was silent for a moment. Then she crouched down and pressed her palm against its forehead. Closing her eyes, she guided her soul power to establish a connection with the soul beast's corpse.

A deep black soul ring slowly rose from the Dark Gold Terrorclaw Bear's body.

Although it had only just crossed into the ten-thousand-year threshold, its profound black color carried a shadowy gleam beneath the sunlight, radiating a heavy, oppressive aura.

Xiao Xiao guided the black soul ring into her body, linking it with the Three-Lives Soul-Calming Cauldron.

The lingering remnant of the Dark Gold Terrorclaw Bear's soul surged toward her like a tidal wave—violent, bloodthirsty, and filled with the desire for destruction.

The impact was far fiercer than she had expected, like a savage beast rampaging through her mind, trying to destroy her consciousness.

Xiao Xiao's brows knitted tightly together. Fine beads of sweat seeped from her forehead, and her breathing became rapid.

Just then, a warm palm gently pressed against the center of her back.

The power of reincarnation flowed slowly into her body like a gentle river.

The instant that violent remnant soul encountered the power of reincarnation, it was like snow meeting the blazing sun. It rapidly melted and broke apart, transforming into the purest spiritual energy for her to absorb.

Xiao Xiao's brows relaxed, and her breathing gradually steadied once more.

She stabilized her mind and guided the black ten-thousand-year soul ring into the Three-Lives Soul-Calming Cauldron.

The cauldron trembled softly. The patterns on its surface became deeper and more intricate, while a heavy aura radiated from its body.

With the enhancement of the ten-thousand-year soul ring, the Three-Lives Soul-Calming Cauldron's defensive power and soul-calming effect underwent a qualitative leap.

At the same time, the soul power within Xiao Xiao's body began to surge wildly.

Level thirty, level thirty-one, level thirty-two—in just a few breaths, her soul power broke through level thirty-five and continued to rise.

The medicinal power of the Eight-Petal Immortal Orchid slowly released within her body, merging with her newly gained soul power and further solidifying her foundation.

Level thirty-six, level thirty-seven, level thirty-eight.

In the end, her soul power stabilized firmly at level thirty-eight.

She had advanced eight levels in succession.

Xiao Xiao slowly opened her eyes and looked down at her hands.

She could feel power several times more vast than before surging through her body. The Three-Lives Soul-Calming Cauldron slowly revolved within her dantian, giving off a steady, weighty aura. She had succeeded.

She raised her head and looked at the man withdrawing his hand. Her pale green almond-shaped eyes were filled with gratitude, admiration, and affection.

She opened her mouth, wanting to say something, only to find that every word seemed pale and powerless at this moment.

In the end, she merely said softly, "Teacher Huo, thank you."

Huo Chen crouched down, his gaze sweeping over the Dark Gold Terrorclaw Bear's corpse before suddenly pausing.

He reached out and parted the fur on the bear's right arm, revealing a piece of bone hidden beneath the flesh. It was entirely dark gold, shaped like a miniature bear claw, and it gave off a faint glow.

An external soul bone.

"Not bad luck." Huo Chen removed the dark golden external soul bone, weighed it in his hand, and then handed it to Xiao Xiao.

"Take it. The Dark Gold Terrorclaw Bear's right-arm external soul bone can grant you a pair of Dark Gold Terrorclaws, greatly boosting your close-range attack power. It may not be your main focus, but it's always good to have another trump card."

Xiao Xiao looked at the soul bone gleaming with dark golden light, then raised her head to look at Huo Chen. Her eyes reddened slightly.

She accepted the soul bone and held it in her palm, feeling its warmth. Lowering her head, she remained silent for a moment before whispering, "Teacher Huo, you're too good to me."

"You're my student. Who else should I be good to?" Huo Chen stood up and patted the dirt from his hands. "Let's go. It's time to head back."

Holding the warm soul bone, Xiao Xiao rose to her feet.

Morning light filtered through the gaps in the leaves and fell across her face, casting a soft halo over her dark green braid. The silver phoenix-patterned hair ornament at its tip swayed gently in the shifting light, reflecting scattered glimmers.

She looked at Huo Chen's back, then suddenly hurried after him. Walking at his side, she softly called, "Teacher Huo."

"Hmm?"

"After we get back, can you pat my head again?"

Huo Chen's steps paused, and he turned back to look at her.

Xiao Xiao stood in the morning light, her cheeks slightly flushed. A trace of earnest expectation shone in her light green almond-shaped eyes, and her baby-fat cheeks looked especially soft beneath the dawn.

He smiled and reached out, gently ruffling her hair.

Dark green strands slipped through his fingers, soft and silky to the touch, while the silver ornament at the end of her braid gave off a faint, delicate chime.

"Let's go."

Xiao Xiao's lips curved into a broad smile. She nodded vigorously and hurried after him.

Morning light filtered through the gaps between the leaves, casting mottled patches of light and shadow across the forest path.

The two figures walked side by side, gradually vanishing into the depths of the dense woods.