The Dark Gold Dreadclaw Bear flew into a complete rage. Its right paw swung madly, sending countless black claw shadows crisscrossing through the air. Rocks shattered and trees were severed at the waist wherever they passed.
But the gap between it and a Titled Douluo was like an impassable chasm.
She Long moved like a ghost, his spear taking unconventional angles as he continuously wore down its strength. Avoiding the Dark Gold Dreadclaw Bear's vital points, he targeted only its joints, waist, and abdomen. Each thrust of his spear left another wound on the Dark Gold Dreadclaw Bear's body.
More and more wounds appeared on the Dark Gold Dreadclaw Bear. Its dark gold fur was dyed red with blood, and its movements gradually slowed.
After the time it took to burn an incense stick, a wet tearing sound rang out.
Snake Lance's spear precisely pierced through the Dark Gold Dreadclaw Bear's right shoulder. Violent lightning power surged in instantly, numbing half its body.
The Dark Gold Dreadclaw Bear let out an unwilling roar and struggled to rise, but it was already covered in wounds, with blood flowing across the ground. Excessive blood loss left it unable to support its massive body any longer.
"Xiaofei!" She Long barked. "Now!"
Zhang Fei had been waiting for this moment.
"First Soul Skill, Golden Armor Body!"
A deep yellow Soul Ring suddenly lit up. Golden dragon scales covered his entire body, instantly doubling his strength and defense.
At the same time, his right hand clenched in the air, and a pitch-black Eight-Foot Serpent Spear materialized in his palm, arcs of electricity crackling along its shaft.
This was a trick Zhang Fei had figured out over the past two years.
Unlike Bibi Dong and Tang San, whose Twin Martial Souls were both beast-type or both weapon-type Martial Souls, his could not normally be used at the same time.
Therefore, through constant practice, Zhang Fei had learned to use Martial Soul Possession for his beast Martial Soul while wielding his weapon Martial Soul at the same time.
He took a deep breath, drove off with both legs, and shot forward like an arrow leaving the bowstring.
Though the Dark Gold Dreadclaw Bear had fallen, its ferocity had not diminished. Its remaining left eye stared fixedly at Zhang Fei as it let out a threatening growl.
Zhang Fei did not hesitate. Gripping the spear in both hands, he aimed at the Dark Gold Dreadclaw Bear's left eye socket and thrust down with all his strength!
"Puchi!"
The spear tip pierced precisely through its pupil, penetrated its skull, and plunged deep into its brain.
The Dark Gold Dreadclaw Bear's enormous body suddenly stiffened. Its limbs twitched a few times before it fell completely silent.
A deep purple Soul Ring slowly rose from the corpse, radiating dense and domineering Soul Power fluctuations.
Zhang Fei pulled out the Serpent Spear and smiled. "Done."
She Long walked over and patted his shoulder. "Not bad. Hurry and absorb it. I'll stand guard."
Zhang Fei nodded, withdrew his Eight-Foot Serpent Spear Martial Soul, and left only his Golden Dragon Martial Soul active as he sat down cross-legged.
He guided it with his mind. The deep purple Soul Ring slowly drifted over, circled once above his head, then abruptly sank into his body.
In an instant, energy several times more violent than when he had absorbed the Golden-armored Dragon Lizard's Soul Ring exploded within him!
The Dark Gold Dreadclaw Bear's Soul Power was incomparably tyrannical, carrying a savage will capable of destroying heaven and earth as it rampaged through Zhang Fei's meridians.
Zhang Fei's entire body shook violently. Veins bulged at his temples, and his teeth ground together with a creak.
But this time, Zhang Fei was far more experienced than when he had absorbed his first Soul Ring.
The meridians tempered by ice and fire, combined with the foundation forged over two years, allowed him to steadily withstand that impact.
He circulated the advanced meditation method with all his strength, cycling his Soul Power again and again as he gradually tamed, absorbed, and integrated that violent energy into himself.
Time passed second by second.
One hour, two hours...
It was not until the sun set and golden afterglow filtered through the treetops that Zhang Fei's aura finally stabilized.
When the last trace of violent Soul Power had been completely refined, one yellow and one purple Soul Ring slowly pulsed beneath his feet, reflecting each other.
Zhang Fei had just been about to open his eyes when—
"Ah!!!"
A tearing pain surged from his right palm, as though something was about to burst out of his body!
"What's going on?!"
He looked down and saw his right palm deforming at a visible speed, his bones giving off sharp cracking sounds.
Then, five incomparably sharp claws suddenly sprang from his fingertips!
Each claw was half a foot long, curved in a streamlined shape, its edge glinting with chilling cold light.
"Is that... an External Soul Bone?!" She Long's eyes widened, and even his voice changed pitch.
Zhang Fei stared at the changes in his right palm. He was stunned at first, before wild delight surged into his heart.
An External Soul Bone! It was actually an External Soul Bone!
Among Soul Bones, External Soul Bones were the rarest, because they could evolve along with a Soul Master's growth. Their value even surpassed that of a Hundred Thousand Year Soul Bone!
Could I be a child of destiny too?
"HAHAHAHA!" Zhang Fei could not help laughing. "The Dark Gold Dreadclaw Bear really didn't disappoint me!"
He stood up and casually swung his right palm. The five claws swept through the air, leaving behind several dark streaks.
A boulder half a man tall beside him was grazed by the claw wind and instantly split into several pieces, its cuts smooth as mirrors.
"What terrifying penetration..." Zhang Fei sucked in a breath.
She Long also stepped closer, his eyes filled with shock. "How effective is it?"
Zhang Fei sensed it for a moment, then said excitedly, "A fifty percent increase in attack power and a twenty percent increase in penetration. It can also grow as my Soul Power increases! At its maximum, it can grant a hundred percent increase in attack power and a fifty percent increase in penetration!"
She Long sucked in a breath, then burst into laughter. "Good! Good boy! Your luck is simply heaven-defying!"
A hundred percent increase in attack power, along with fifty percent more penetration, meant that when Zhang Fei struck with a claw in the future, the defenses of Soul Masters at the same level would be like paper before him!
And if his right palm could undergo Dragon Transformation in the future, then stack the enhancement from this External Soul Bone on top of it, its power and penetration would be capable of tearing heaven and earth apart.
Zhang Fei looked at the dark gold bone in his right palm and liked it more the longer he looked.
"Since it came from the Dark Gold Dreadclaw Bear and can tear apart heaven and earth, I'll call it the Heaven-Rending Claw!"
"Heaven-Rending Claw..." She Long repeated it and nodded. "It's certainly an imposing name."
Zhang Fei used his mind to withdraw the Heaven-Rending Claw. His right palm returned to normal, though faint dark gold patterns could still be seen beneath his skin.
She Long handed him a crystal ball. "Come on, test your Soul Power."
Zhang Fei placed his hand on the crystal ball and poured in Soul Power. The crystal ball instantly shone with dazzling light.
"Level twenty-two!" She Long nodded in satisfaction. "You jumped two levels in a row. Not bad. What's your second Soul Skill?"
Hearing that, Zhang Fei gave a low shout. "Second Soul Skill, Dark Gold Dragon Claw Hand!"
The purple Soul Ring abruptly lit up. Zhang Fei's arms were instantly covered in fine golden dragon scales, and his ten fingers transformed into sharp dragon claws.
Meanwhile, the Heaven-Rending Claw on his right hand fused perfectly with the dragon claw, turning it into the form of a Dark Gold Dragon Claw that radiated an indestructible, tyrannical aura.
He casually swung at another huge boulder nearby.
"Boom!"
The boulder was directly crushed by the claw, sending shattered stones flying everywhere!
Zhang Fei looked at his right hand, his face full of delight. "Dark Gold Dragon Claw Hand turns both hands into dragon claws for attack. It grants a two hundred percent increase in power and has an extremely strong penetration effect! Combined with the Heaven-Rending Claw, its might rises another level."
She Long's eyelids twitched as he watched from the side. After a long silence, he raised his hand and slapped Zhang Fei on the head again.
"Ow! Grandpa, why did you hit me again?!" Zhang Fei howled, clutching his head.
"You brat have such absurdly good luck that even I'm jealous. What's wrong with letting me hit you once?" She Long scolded with a gratified smile.
Zhang Fei chuckled foolishly, rubbing his head and not daring to respond.
She Long looked up at the sky. "All right, it's getting late. We're heading back to Heaven Dou City now."
"Alright!"
The two shot into the air, becoming two streaks of light as they sped toward Heaven Dou City, quickly disappearing into the twilight.
Before you continue