External Soul Bone, Darkgolden Terrorclaw!

Lin Ming understood its gaze, and a cold smile curled across his lips.

"Not convinced?"

He slowly raised his right hand. Silver light flickered, and the Sky-Piercing Spear appeared in his grasp.

At the sight of the silver spear, the Dark-Gold Dreadclaw Bear's pupils contracted slightly. It instinctively sensed that the spear was no ordinary weapon, yet it still did not take Lin Ming seriously.

Lin Ming wasted no more words.

He gripped the shaft tightly as the Soul Power within him surged wildly into the Sky-Piercing Spear like floodwaters bursting through a dam. The silver-white spear began to glow, growing brighter and more dazzling, like a blazing sun blooming in his hand!

The purple soul ring beneath his feet lit up, radiating a brilliant glow.

"First Soul Skill—"

Lin Ming's gaze turned incomparably sharp, and his aura rose to its peak.

He slammed his feet against the ground and shot forward like an arrow released from a bow. The Sky-Piercing Spear in his hand became a streak of incandescent light, tearing through the air as it stabbed straight toward the Dark-Gold Dreadclaw Bear's chest!

"Shatter the Sky!"

The spear shot forth like a dragon!

This strike was stronger, faster, and fiercer than it had been half a month ago!

The contempt in the Dark-Gold Dreadclaw Bear's eyes instantly turned to terror. It felt that horrifying edge, that ultimate piercing force capable of tearing through everything!

It wanted to dodge, but its body was sealed by Sword Douluo, leaving it utterly unable to move.

It could only watch helplessly as the silver spear drew nearer and nearer.

"Splat!"

The Sky-Piercing Spear pierced through the Dark-Gold Dreadclaw Bear's tough hide without resistance, punched through its thick muscles, and bored straight through its heart!

The Dark-Gold Dreadclaw Bear's body stiffened abruptly, and the light in its eyes rapidly faded. Until its death, it could not believe that it, a majestic Dark-Gold Dreadclaw Bear, a king among top-tier soul beasts, had died at the hands of a mere level-twenty human.

A purple soul ring slowly rose from the Dark-Gold Dreadclaw Bear's corpse, giving off a gentle glow.

Lin Ming withdrew his spear and stood there, gasping heavily. That strike had nearly consumed half his Soul Power, but his eyes were filled with excitement.

Success!

Sword Douluo looked at the purple soul ring, his eyes full of gratification.

"Good boy. You truly didn't disappoint this old man."

The Dark-Gold Dreadclaw Bear's corpse lay on the ground, its blood staining the surrounding grass red. The purple soul ring slowly rose and hovered in midair, emitting a soft, mysterious radiance.

Yet Lin Ming did not begin absorbing the soul ring at once. His gaze was fixed tightly on the Dark-Gold Dreadclaw Bear's right forelimb.

There, a faint golden glow flickered in and out of view.

"Wait... this is..." Lin Ming quickly stepped forward, crouching down to inspect it carefully.

At the Dark-Gold Dreadclaw Bear's right paw bone, a palm-sized golden bone gave off a faint glow. The entire bone was dark gold, shaped like a miniature bear paw. A muted metallic sheen flowed across its surface, and it emanated a savage aura.

A Soul Bone!

And it was the Dark-Gold Dreadclaw Bear's right paw bone!

Lin Ming's heart thudded hard. The odds of this Dark-Gold Dreadclaw Bear dropping a Soul Bone were absurdly high.

And it was even an External Soul Bone!

External Soul Bones were the most special and rarest kind of Soul Bone. Unlike ordinary Soul Bones, which were fixed to a specific body part, they could evolve alongside a Soul Master's growth.

If ordinary Soul Bones were fixed equipment, then External Soul Bones were divine artifacts that could continually level up!

"This is... an External Soul Bone?" Sword Douluo came over as well, surprise flashing in his eyes. "The Dark-Gold Dreadclaw Bear's right paw bone? Good boy, your luck is simply too good!"

Ning Rongrong also ran over, curiously studying the golden bone. "So this is an External Soul Bone? This is my first time seeing one in person!"

Lin Ming grinned, delight swelling in his heart. This luck was simply heaven-defying!

Sword Douluo sighed. "External Soul Bones are exceedingly rare. There are only a few on the entire continent. You found one as soon as you came out—if word got out, those old fellows would be green with envy. This old man has lived for so many years and has never even seen one."

He paused, then urged, "Absorb it quickly, before anything unexpected happens. This old man will stand guard for you."

Lin Ming nodded and sat down cross-legged, first drawing the Dark-Gold Dreadclaw Bear's purple soul ring toward himself.

The instant the soul ring entered his body, a violent energy surged into him like floodwaters bursting through a dam. The Dark-Gold Dreadclaw Bear truly was one of the most ferocious soul beasts. Even in death, the will lingering within its soul ring remained full of savagery and killing intent.

Cold sweat immediately beaded on Lin Ming's forehead.

That energy rampaged through his meridians as if it wanted to tear his body apart. He could feel his muscles twitching, his bones groaning, and his internal organs enduring tremendous pressure.

"Hold on!" Sword Douluo's voice rang out beside him. "The Dark-Gold Dreadclaw Bear's soul ring is inherently tyrannical. Guard your mind and don't let its will erode you!"

Lin Ming gritted his teeth, enduring the agonizing pain as he guided the violent energy along the circulation route of his cultivation technique.

The large amount of Whale Rubber he had absorbed earlier now showed its effects. Gentle energy flowed out from every part of his body, nourishing his meridians and helping him dissolve the Dark-Gold Dreadclaw Bear's violent aura.

Time passed second by second.

Lin Ming's clothes were already soaked through with sweat, and he looked as though he had just been pulled from the water. Yet his aura steadily rose, growing stronger and stronger.

After an unknown amount of time, he finally completely tamed that violent energy.

The purple soul ring settled securely around the Sky-Piercing Spear, complementing the first soul ring.

Lin Ming opened his eyes and let out a long breath of stale air. The breath lingered in the air without dispersing, like a sharp sword that shot a thumb-thick hole into the ground.

"Success!" Ning Rongrong cheered, rushing over to hug him. "Lin Ming, you're amazing!"

Lin Ming smiled as he felt the surging strength inside him. His Soul Power had risen from level twenty to level twenty-two, and his second soul ring had granted him an exceptionally powerful soul skill.

"What is your second soul skill?" Sword Douluo asked.

Lin Ming raised his hand. The purple second soul ring lit up, and an immense battle intent erupted from his body.

"Second Soul Skill—Heaven-Piercing Battle Intent!"

As his voice fell, an invisible field spread outward from him. A faint golden glow appeared in his eyes, his muscles swelled slightly, and his entire aura surged dramatically.

"It's a strengthening-type soul skill," Lin Ming explained. "Once activated, it can more than double my speed and strength for a short time. It also comes with a berserk effect and grants immunity to fifty percent of control skills."

After hearing that, Sword Douluo's eyes flashed with approval. "What a tyrannical strengthening soul skill! Double the speed and strength, plus control immunity—if used on a battlefield, it would be nothing less than a killing machine!"