A Thousand-Year Darkgolden Terrorclaw Bear / Right Palm Bone of the Darkgolden Terrorclaw Bear

Ning Tian was stunned and hurriedly asked.

Bai Chen smiled faintly.

"Take a guess?"

"Is this the effect of your Martial Soul?"

"No."

"Elder Hua helped you cheat!"

"No."

"Th-this..."

Ning Tian wore an utterly baffled expression, clearly unable to figure out how Bai Chen had done it.

Bai Chen looked at her with satisfaction.

That was more like it. Innocent, lively, and intensely curious about everything around her—that was how a child should be.

Bai Chen did not oppose children maturing a little earlier, but neither did he want them to lose their childlike innocence too soon.

Childhood was one of the most important stages of a person's life, and the most carefree one. Once it was gone, it would never return. Bai Chen did not want this prematurely mature girl to lose the joys of childhood. He hoped that whenever she looked back on her life, she would consider her childhood a happy one.

Bai Chen asked with a chuckle,

"So? Are you still scared now?"

"...!"

At his words, Ning Tian's body trembled.

Clever as she was, she seemed to quickly understand what Bai Chen meant. Pouting, she said somewhat sulkily,

"Didn't I just say it? I wasn't scared at all!"

"Yes, yes. Then, Young Mistress, shall I perform another magic trick for you?"

"I want to see it!"

Watching the two bicker, Ning Jingchen and Hua Tianyu exchanged a glance and could not help laughing.

With their cultivation, how could they possibly fail to see through Bai Chen's little trick just now?

But since Bai Chen did not want to reveal the mechanism behind the magic trick to Ning Tian, naturally they would not spoil the fun by exposing him.

They had both seen Ning Tian's earlier stiffness and nervousness. Yet after Bai Chen made such a fuss, those emotions had silently vanished without a trace.

Along with them, the invisible barrier between her and Bai Chen had disappeared as well.

And so, the rest of the journey passed amid Ning Tian and Bai Chen's laughter.

The Millennium Dark-Gold Terrorclaw Bear

By the time they arrived at the Star Dou Great Forest, the relationship between Bai Chen and Ning Tian had become quite harmonious.

However, after getting down from the carriage and seeing the vast forest before them, Ning Tian's expression still involuntarily tightened.

Whether from instinct or something else, she subconsciously felt that the forest before her was extremely dangerous.

Bai Chen, meanwhile, looked rather nostalgic.

Before he had even left the Star Dou Great Forest in the Douluo I Era, he had come back again in the Douluo II Era.

Last time, he had been carried inside in the jaws of the Three-Eyed Golden Lion. This time, at least he had a Title Douluo-level bodyguard.

With Ning Jingchen's support added in, even if Hua Tianyu truly encountered a Ferocious Beast, he might not necessarily lose.

Besides, they had only come this time to hunt a Millennium Soul Ring.

To hunt a Millennium Soul Beast, they only needed to search the outer region or the Mixed Zone of the Star Dou Great Forest.

After a brief rest, the four entered the Star Dou Great Forest together.

They had not walked for long before encountering their first group of Soul Beasts.

It was a wolf pack made up of several dozen Wind Wolves. They emerged from behind the trees, their eyes gleaming greedily as they stared at the four.

Since Bai Chen and the others had not ventured very deeply into the Star Dou Great Forest, these Wind Wolves were clearly not very old. Most were merely Ten-Year Soul Beasts, with only three Century Soul Beasts among them.

Against opponents of this level, even without Hua Tianyu and Ning Jingchen protecting him, Bai Chen could have fought them himself.

"Hmph."

Seeing this, Hua Tianyu snorted disdainfully, stepped forward, and said coldly,

"Get lost!"

As soon as he spoke, the aura of a Title Douluo erupted. The Wind Wolves instantly whimpered under the pressure and fled in panic.

For ordinary soul masters, this was not actually the right choice.

The Star Dou Great Forest operated on the law of the jungle. Soul Beasts would not remember a soul master's kindness. If a soul master let one go, they would not receive gratitude—instead, they might invite serious trouble.

In the original novel, when Huo Yuhao, Wang Dong, and Xiao Xiao went to the Star Dou Great Forest to hunt Soul Rings, they spared a Millennium Soul Beast out of kindness, only to be attacked by a Ten-Thousand-Year Soul Beast not long afterward.

Fortunately, the ones who encountered that situation were the protagonist group. Had they been weaker people, they likely would have died in the jaws of that Ten-Thousand-Year Soul Beast.

But such an ironclad rule meant little to Bai Chen's group. If merely scaring off a pack of Ten-Year Soul Beasts could draw a Ferocious Beast-level opponent, then they could only consider themselves unlucky.

As long as their own safety could be ensured, it was better to kill fewer Soul Beasts.

The four continued onward, but before long, they encountered an unexpected opponent.

"Th-this is..."

Looking at the enormous pitch-black bear before them, Ning Jingchen turned to Hua Tianyu with excitement.

"Elder Hua, is that a Dark-Gold Terrorclaw Bear?"

"Yes!"

Hua Tianyu was clearly extremely excited as well.

"And it's around two thousand years old. Bai Chen can absorb it perfectly!"

"..."

No way, right?

Listening to their conversation, a thought abruptly arose in Bai Chen's mind.

A Dark-Gold Terrorclaw Bear around two thousand years old... There seemed to have been one in the original Douluo II story as well...

It was that Dark-Gold Terrorclaw Bear that had produced the incomparably precious Dark Gold Dreadclaw Bear Right Palm Bone.

If the Dark-Gold Terrorclaw Bear before him truly was the one from the original story, then Bai Chen's luck was truly indescribable.

Hua Tianyu and Ning Jingchen had clearly thought the same. Hua Tianyu turned and handed Bai Chen a small knife.

"Kid, get ready. Be prepared to take its life at any time. I'm afraid no Soul Beast could be more suitable for you than this one!"

Without waiting for Bai Chen's reply, Hua Tianyu charged straight at the Dark-Gold Terrorclaw Bear.

As two yellow, two purple, and five black Soul Rings lit up around him, the Millennium Dark-Gold Terrorclaw Bear's previously swaggering movements gained a trace of hesitation.

It roared twice in warning. Seeing that Hua Tianyu showed no sign of stopping, it hurriedly raised its bear claw as dark-golden light seeped from within its body.

It had to be said that the Dark-Gold Terrorclaw Bear truly was formidable. Though it only possessed millennium-level cultivation, the strength it displayed was beyond what ordinary Ten-Thousand-Year Soul Beasts could match.

Unfortunately, it was facing a level ninety-four Title Douluo. Even a Ten-Thousand-Year Dark-Gold Terrorclaw Bear could not have been Hua Tianyu's opponent, much less this millennium-level one.

A green and a blue light suddenly appeared beside Hua Tianyu. The blue light descended upon the Dark-Gold Terrorclaw Bear, instantly turning into azure crystals that trapped it in place, leaving it unable to move.

The green light, meanwhile, transformed into several emerald blades that instantly pierced multiple parts of the Dark-Gold Terrorclaw Bear's body, firmly pinning it to the ground.

"Bai Chen, come!"

Hearing Hua Tianyu's call, Bai Chen did not hesitate. He rushed forward, grabbed the small knife in his hand, and thrust it straight into the Dark-Gold Terrorclaw Bear's throat.

This Dark-Gold Terrorclaw Bear was truly terrifying. Even with Bai Chen's strength, it took considerable effort to pierce its throat.

As the Dark-Gold Terrorclaw Bear breathed its last, a purple Soul Ring slowly rose, gleaming with crystalline light and appearing exceptionally dazzling.

"Kid, you can begin absorbing it. Remember to activate your domain while doing so."

Although this Dark-Gold Terrorclaw Bear's Soul Ring was only two thousand years old, its difficulty of absorption was likely no less than that of a three-thousand-year Soul Ring.

Fortunately, Bai Chen's endurance after activating his domain was already close to that of a Four-Ring Soul Ancestor, so absorbing this Soul Ring would not be a problem.

Bai Chen sat down where he was. His black-golden Domination Domain unfolded as he began absorbing the Soul Ring.

The Dark-Gold Terrorclaw Bear's energy was incomparably scorching and violent. The instant it entered his body, it began rampaging wildly, as if it wanted to tear his body to pieces.

At that moment, even Bai Chen had not expected that, when faced with the provocation of the Dark-Gold Terrorclaw Bear's bloodline aura, the Domination Domain would act on its own.

Rings of golden light withdrew into his body, and a fierce aura surged forth, instantly suppressing the Dark-Gold Terrorclaw Bear's bloodline aura until it could not move.

The Golden-Haired Lion Mastiff was a being capable of ignoring even the Golden Dragon King's bloodline suppression. For a mere Dark-Gold Terrorclaw Bear to challenge it was simply laughable.

As a result, Bai Chen's pressure suddenly eased, and he barely felt much pain during the absorption process that followed.

This was clearly not solely due to his physical strength. The Domination Domain's suppression of Soul Beast bloodlines had played the key role.

Bai Chen immediately breathed a sigh of relief.

Originally, he had worried that he would be unable to smoothly absorb the Dark Gold Dreadclaw Bear Right Palm Bone and had planned to wait until he grew stronger before absorbing it.

But now, it seemed he had worried for nothing. The effects of the Domination Domain went far beyond strengthening his physique. Its oppressive force against Soul Beast bloodline auras was remarkable as well.

The Dark Gold Dreadclaw Bear Right Palm Bone

Before long, Bai Chen opened his eyes. As a purple Soul Ring rose beneath his feet, his aura began climbing steadily.

When absorbing a Soul Ring, part of its energy formed a Soul Skill for the soul master's use, while the other part was used to increase the soul master's cultivation.

Generally speaking, a Soul Ring at the theoretical age limit could raise a soul master's Soul Power by one level.

But the Soul Ring Bai Chen had absorbed was not at the theoretical age limit. It was a two-thousand-year Dark-Gold Terrorclaw Bear Soul Ring.

Naturally, the increase in Soul Power it brought him was more than a single level.

His Soul Power continued rising, only gradually stopping after reaching level fourteen.

Just as expected, seeing that he had awakened, Hua Tianyu excitedly gave Bai Chen the good news he had long anticipated.

They had discovered the presence of a right palm bone on the corpse of the Millennium Dark-Gold Terrorclaw Bear.

As one of the top-tier Soul Beasts, the Dark-Gold Terrorclaw Bear, like a dragon, could be considered valuable from head to toe.

Its fur could be used to make sturdy armor, its sharp claws could be used to forge keen weapons, and its Soul Bones made every soul master drool with desire.

Among all the Dark-Gold Terrorclaw Bear's Soul Bones, its right palm bone was undoubtedly the most precious.

The Dark-Gold Terrorclaw Bear possessed a unique trait: only its two arm bones could possibly inherit its Terrorclaw Soul Skill.

Yet even the Terrorclaw Soul Skill inherited by its two arm bones was completely different in power from that possessed by the Dark-Gold Terrorclaw Bear itself.

Many years ago, a soul master had obtained a Dark-Gold Terrorclaw Bear Left Palm Bone. Only then did he learn that only the Dark-Gold Terrorclaw Bear's palm bones could perfectly inherit the Darkgolden Terrorclaw Soul Skill.

Relying on that powerful Soul Bone skill, he quickly made a name for himself across the continent and became the renowned Black Left Douluo.

The "Left" in his title referred to the left hand fused with the Dark-Gold Terrorclaw Bear Left Palm Bone.

The Dark-Gold Terrorclaw Bear had another trait: the power of its right claw was far greater than that of its left claw.

In other words, the Dark Gold Dreadclaw Bear Right Palm Bone was very likely far stronger than the left palm bone as well.

If Bai Chen could successfully absorb this Soul Bone, his strength would undoubtedly undergo a qualitative leap.

Hua Tianyu, however, had no interest in this Dark Gold Dreadclaw Bear Right Palm Bone.

Not only because he believed Bai Chen was better suited for it, but also because he already possessed a right arm bone.

In a sense, the Dark Gold Dreadclaw Bear Right Palm Bone could be considered an External Soul Bone. If the right arm bone was compatible, it would not actually interfere with absorption.

Unfortunately, Hua Tianyu's right arm bone conflicted with the right palm bone. Absorbing it rashly would instead cause the Soul Bones to clash, negatively affecting him.

Rather than that, it was better to give the right palm bone to Bai Chen from the start. He had just absorbed this Dark-Gold Terrorclaw Bear's Soul Ring, and no one was more suited to absorb this right palm bone than him.

Ning Jingchen had no objections either.

In his heart, he already regarded Bai Chen as family. Ning Tian clearly could not absorb this Soul Bone, so giving it to Bai Chen was the best choice.

Bai Chen did not decline. He bowed to Hua Tianyu, accepted the precious External Soul Bone, and began absorbing it.

The moment he began, the massive energy he had just experienced once again surged into Bai Chen's body.