Xu Zhengyang stared fixedly at the Nether Flame Demon Tiger. Although its entire body was pitch-black, faint markings still showed across it. Those markings were actually golden, and black flames even flickered faintly from its body.
Judging by those markings, this Nether Flame Demon Tiger was over six thousand years old, but its combat strength was certainly no weaker than that of an ordinary ten-thousand-year Soul Beast.
The Nether Flame Demon Tiger could be considered the cream of the crop among tiger-type Soul Beasts. Ten thousand years ago, the Martial Soul Fusion Skill of the Star Luo Empire's Dai Clan and Zhu Clan had been the Netherworld White Tiger. Netherworld White Tigers were exceedingly rare throughout the Douluo Continent; legends even claimed they had long since gone extinct.
Legend held that Nether Flame Demon Tigers were descendants of Netherworld White Tigers, only their bloodline had mutated. They were a notch below Netherworld White Tigers in strength, but even so, Nether Flame Demon Tigers were still renowned for their terrifying combat prowess.
Moreover, compared with other tiger-type Soul Beasts, Nether Flame Demon Tigers preferred moving at night, when they were faster and their attacks swifter and fiercer. Compared with the Netherworld White Tiger's sheer might, the Nether Flame Demon Tiger seemed to lean more toward the Hell Civet. It also commanded a special kind of flame, making it an overlord of the night.
Xu Zhengyang looked again at the giant bear fighting the Nether Flame Demon Tiger, and surprise filled his eyes. The giant bear's dark golden fur was rather distinctive, each hair like a steel needle. It might not match the Nether Flame Demon Tiger in agility, but through their repeated exchanges, it actually held a slight advantage.
A six-thousand-year Nether Flame Demon Tiger was already no weaker than a ten-thousand-year Soul Beast, yet the giant bear before him showed no fear whatsoever. Instead, it was exceptionally ferocious, its enormous claws leaving several wounds on the Nether Flame Demon Tiger.
Xu Zhengyang's expression changed. "Surely it can't be such a coincidence. Could this be a Darkgolden Terrorclaw Bear?"
Darkgolden Terrorclaw Bears and Nether Flame Demon Tigers were both exceptionally rare and exceptionally powerful Soul Beasts. In terms of bloodline and physical strength, the Darkgolden Terrorclaw Bear surpassed even the Nether Flame Demon Tiger. It was a creature said to be capable of tearing giant dragons apart with its bare paws.
The Darkgolden Terrorclaw Bear before him was only around two thousand years old, yet it could fight a six-thousand-year Nether Flame Demon Tiger to this extent. That alone showed the might of its bloodline, and how both its offense and defense had reached the pinnacle among Soul Beasts.
"Strange. Why would two such top-tier Soul Beasts be fighting for their lives in the outer region of the Star Dou Great Forest? Could there be some other reason?"
With that thought, Xu Zhengyang examined the Nether Flame Demon Tiger more closely. It was indeed slightly inferior to a Netherworld White Tiger. Logically, a six-thousand-year Nether Flame Demon Tiger should have been able to defeat a two-thousand-year Darkgolden Terrorclaw Bear, but he kept feeling that its movements were much slower than he had imagined.
Only then did Xu Zhengyang notice something wrong with the Nether Flame Demon Tiger's abdomen. The area around its nipples was somewhat swollen, restricting its movements and preventing it from displaying its true strength.
"This is a female Nether Flame Demon Tiger, and she's just given birth to a cub. Her strength is restricted. No wonder she's at a slight disadvantage."
Xu Zhengyang understood at once. The Darkgolden Terrorclaw Bear had probably injured the little Nether Flame Demon Tiger, provoking the mother's attack. Otherwise, given the Nether Flame Demon Tiger's speed, the Darkgolden Terrorclaw Bear probably could not have caught up with her.
Xu Zhengyang instantly activated the Devil Tiger's Eye and carefully surveyed the surroundings for several hundred meters. Sure enough, he spotted a tiger's den a hundred meters away. Inside lay a little Nether Flame Demon Tiger around half a meter long.
Looking at the little Nether Flame Demon Tiger's body in particular, he saw two wounds deep enough to expose bone. Its injuries looked serious. No wonder the female Nether Flame Demon Tiger was so furious and attacking the Darkgolden Terrorclaw Bear with all her strength.
Xu Zhengyang stared fixedly at the two powerful Soul Beasts locked in battle. Both could be considered the cream of the crop, especially the Nether Flame Demon Tiger, which would be an excellent fit for his Soul Ring.
But he also discovered something deeply disheartening. Judging by her combat strength, he probably could not defeat this Nether Flame Demon Tiger at all. Her speed, strength, and even defense were all greater than he had imagined, to say nothing of the Darkgolden Terrorclaw Bear watching hungrily nearby.
Xu Zhengyang kept his eyes fixed on the two battling Soul Beasts. The Nether Flame Demon Tiger was now exceptionally furious and had already left several wounds on the Darkgolden Terrorclaw Bear. But in terms of severity, the Darkgolden Terrorclaw Bear's injuries were clearly lighter than hers.
If things continued like this, the Nether Flame Demon Tiger would probably be defeated and flee in the end. Then he would have no chance at all.
At that thought, a cold glint appeared in Xu Zhengyang's eyes, as though he had made some kind of decision.
"I'll take the gamble. I'm getting this Nether Flame Demon Tiger's Soul Ring, and this Darkgolden Terrorclaw Bear can forget about escaping too."
With that thought, Xu Zhengyang crept through the shadows, doing his best not to make a sound and even concealing every trace of his presence.
Only a short while later, Xu Zhengyang silently reached the vicinity of the tiger's den. While the two great Soul Beasts were not paying attention, he grabbed the Nether Flame Demon Tiger cub. In an instant, he placed it inside a Soul Tool capable of storing living things.
Xu Zhengyang had loved studying all kinds of medicines since childhood. His father had gone to great lengths to find this Soul Tool capable of storing living things, and it held the various spirit herbs Xu Zhengyang had obtained from Soul Beast forests.
After seizing the Nether Flame Demon Tiger cub, Xu Zhengyang immediately hid and continued watching the battle between the bear and tiger from the shadows.
Sure enough, just as Xu Zhengyang had expected, after the two great Soul Beasts fought fiercely through exchange after exchange, the Nether Flame Demon Tiger gradually fell into a disadvantage, seemingly because of her physical discomfort.
The Nether Flame Demon Tiger let out a roar, then turned into a black shadow and returned straight to her den, clearly intending to pick up her cub in her mouth and flee.
But when she returned, the entire den was already empty. There was no trace of her cub's scent nearby. The Nether Flame Demon Tiger let out a piercing, mournful roar, her eyes filled with hatred.
The Darkgolden Terrorclaw Bear seemed unwilling to let the Nether Flame Demon Tiger go either. Instead, it charged toward the den, making the ground tremble.
But just then, the Nether Flame Demon Tiger roared again, turned, and pounced at the Darkgolden Terrorclaw Bear. At that very instant, her form seemed to shift abruptly, and her enormous body vanished. When she reappeared, she was already beside the Darkgolden Terrorclaw Bear, her enormous jaws in particular striking straight at its neck with all her strength.
No matter how quickly the Darkgolden Terrorclaw Bear reacted, charging as it was, it only barely evaded the strike by exerting all its strength. But the Nether Flame Demon Tiger sank her teeth into its shoulder. Despite its formidable defense, a large chunk of flesh was torn from its shoulder in that instant, and blood streamed freely.
The Darkgolden Terrorclaw Bear let out a savage roar, desperately swiping its sharp claws at the Nether Flame Demon Tiger. They clashed repeatedly with her tiger claws. At this moment, both looked utterly ready to fight to the death.
Watching the battle from the shadows, Xu Zhengyang was startled as well. He had not expected the Nether Flame Demon Tiger to display such combat strength when utterly enraged. In particular, at that instant just now, she seemed to have used the Nether Flame Demon Tiger's legendary innate skill: Teleportation. But to awaken such a skill, in theory, only a ten-thousand-year Soul Beast could perform it.