The mixed zone of the Star Dou Great Forest was far more chaotic than its outer zone.
At least, after Tian Chen and Tian E entered, they had already heard no fewer than three bouts of furious roars from Soul Beasts fighting one another.
Judging solely by the Soul Power fluctuations radiating from the battles, each involved at least two Soul Beasts with over five thousand years of cultivation.
Of course, to the Level 98 Tian E, these Soul Beasts posed no threat to either of them.
Tian E protected Tian Chen while using his formidable spiritual power to sense the surrounding Soul Beasts.
With his eyes closed as he searched for Soul Beasts with his spiritual power, Tian E suddenly opened his eyes, a sharp gleam flashing within them. His expression shifted slightly, and he pulled Tian Chen to him, instantly releasing his Martial Soul.
A formidable wave of Soul Power pressure immediately swept through most of the mixed zone. The Soul Beasts that had been fighting whined toward Tian E from afar, no longer sparing a thought for their territorial disputes as they swiftly fled the area.
By now, Tian E's body had also undergone a dramatic transformation. A layer of fine golden scales covered his entire body, his white hair instantly became thick keratin, and his hands turned into sharp claws. Behind him trailed an enormous tail covered in scales and spikes.
Compared with Tian Chen's, Tian E's Martial Soul Possession was clearly more complete, which also showed that his control over his own Martial Soul had already reached a profound level.
Had the Golden Crocodile King Martial Soul not been slightly inferior in quality to the Six-Winged Angel, he might have been able to touch the realm of a Level 99 Limit Douluo.
Two yellow, two purple, four black, and one red-nine Soul Rings pulsed rhythmically beneath his feet. The Martial Soul phantom behind him unleashed a roar that seemed to come from the primordial wilderness, and a savage presence surged forth.
Yet Tian Chen felt no pressure. Instead, he felt a deep sense of kinship from the depths of his bloodline.
This was Tian Chen's first time seeing his grandfather in this form, and he could not help asking in confusion.
"Grandpa, what happened?"
But Tian E did not answer him. Instead, he stared ahead solemnly, the Soul Power within him circulating rapidly as brilliant golden light radiated from his body. He seemed ready to strike.
Following his grandfather's gaze and seeing the appearance of the three Soul Beasts, Tian Chen's breath caught as well.
They were three bear-type Soul Beasts. They were not particularly fast and actually seemed somewhat clumsy. Strangely, the fur of these three enormous bears was a rare dark gold.
Even more striking were the two enormous claws hanging in front of each bear-type Soul Beast, completely out of proportion to its body. Hanging naturally, they already touched the ground, carving huge furrows through it.
"Dark Gold Terrorclaw Bears?!"
Tian Chen recognized the species of these three Soul Beasts at a glance: Dark Gold Terrorclaw Bears, known as Earth Rippers.
At ten thousand years, they could rival ordinary Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beasts.
Unfortunately, the leading Dark Gold Terrorclaw Bear stood over eight meters tall, undoubtedly displaying its ten-thousand-year cultivation. Judging by its size, its cultivation had even reached thirty thousand years!
It was no wonder Tian E had reacted this way. With his strength, he would have feared nothing even if he faced Xiong Jun, one of the ten great Ferocious Beasts and the ancestor of the Dark Gold Terrorclaw Bears.
This time, however, he was not alone.
For his grandson's safety, he had no choice but to be cautious.
As for the other two Dark Gold Terrorclaw Bears, they were much smaller than the leader. The two little bears were following behind their mother, tearing into the carcass of an unknown Soul Beast on the ground while staring at Tian Chen and Tian E with drool dripping from their mouths.
To Soul Beasts, the flesh and blood of Soul Masters were likewise greatly nourishing, and the Dark Gold Terrorclaw Bears, known as Earth Rippers, were hardly gentle-tempered Soul Beasts.
Their ancestors, the Behemoths, had fed on the Dragon Clan-their ferocity was easy to imagine.
The Dark Gold Terrorclaw Bears wanted to devour Tian Chen's flesh and blood, and Tian Chen likewise wanted their Soul Rings.
Tian Chen could not absorb the Soul Ring of the ten-thousand-year Dark Gold Terrorclaw Bear, but he could try the two immature Dark Gold Terrorclaw Bears.
Judging by the sizes of the two immature Dark Gold Terrorclaw Bears, one had roughly three thousand years of cultivation, while the other had only just passed one thousand years.
For Tian Chen, they were undoubtedly the best choice.
Whether it was the Dark Gold Terrorclaw Bear's ultimate offensive power or its top-tier defense, both suited him extremely well.
Faced with such superb Soul Rings, Tian Chen would not let them slip away. He hurriedly shouted to his grandfather in excitement.
"Grandpa! Cripple them all! Just leave them breathing!"
"Hmm?"
Tian E, who had already been planning to leave with Tian Chen, was puzzled when he heard his grandson's words.
To be honest, he did not want to provoke this ten-thousand-year Dark Gold Terrorclaw Bear.
But not wanting to provoke it did not mean he feared it.
Although he did not know exactly what his grandson wanted to do, what did three Soul Beasts amount to if it meant making his grandson happy?
Of course, it had also occurred to him that his grandson might want to absorb the thousand-year Dark Gold Terrorclaw Bear's Soul Ring.
But that had little effect on his decision. At worst, he could cripple them first and take his time persuading his grandson afterward.
Without the slightest hesitation, Tian E nodded to Tian Chen. However, to prevent them from accidentally injuring Tian Chen, he immediately activated his Seventh Soul Skill-Martial Soul Avatar.
He instantly transformed into a giant crocodile over thirty meters long, floating in midair. Sharply angular golden scales densely covered his body, and behind him stretched a crocodile tail over ten meters long, bristling with bone spikes.
As a flash of bewitching red light swept past, the giant crocodile Tian E had become opened his ferocious maw, filled with sharp teeth, and tore into the ten-thousand-year Dark Gold Terrorclaw Bear with unstoppable momentum.