On the other side, Tang Wulin and Ling Luochen ventured deep into the area, having traveled an unknown distance.
The forest grew increasingly gloomy; the surrounding trees became thick and ancient, their canopies blotting out the sky and allowing almost no sunlight to penetrate.
Ling Luochen walked behind Tang Wulin, her gaze alertly scanning the surroundings.
For some reason, she felt something was off. This area was too quiet.
"Tang Wulin." She lowered her voice. "Don't you think..."
Before she could finish, Tang Wulin abruptly stopped, raising his hand to signal her to be silent.
Ling Luochen's heart tightened as she followed his gaze—
About fifty meters ahead, at the base of a giant tree, lay a massive figure.
It was a giant bear. Its body was over five meters long, with a shoulder height exceeding two meters. Covered in dark gold fur that glinted with a metallic coldness in the dim forest, its forelimbs were exceptionally thick. Its sharp claws were over a foot long, also dark gold, like five curved blades deeply embedded into the ground.
A Dark Gold Terrorclaw Bear.
Ling Luochen's pupils suddenly contracted. She naturally knew what kind of Spirit Beast this was.
The Dark Gold Dreadclaw Bear was a top-tier predator in the Spirit Beast world. Legend has it that a hundred-year Dark Gold Dreadclaw Bear is enough to make ordinary ten-thousand-year Spirit Beasts flee in terror, while a thousand-year level Dark Gold Dreadclaw Bear can even tear apart ordinary ten-thousand-year Spirit Beasts with its bare hands.
This type of Spirit Beast was famous for its terrifying strength and defense, being a perfect fusion of offense and defense.
Judging by its size, the one before them was at least five thousand years old!
Ling Luochen's breathing became a few degrees lighter.
"Tang Wulin..." She lowered her voice, looking at the boy beside her. "Fight, or flee?"
Her tone was calm, yet carried a hint of inquiry. In terms of efficiency, although the Dark Gold Dreadclaw Bear's cultivation wasn't low, it was only five thousand years. Even if they killed it and split the energy, each would only get one-seventh of two thousand five hundred years.
Moreover, given the combat power of a Dark Gold Dreadclaw Bear, killing it would definitely be a struggle; they might even fall at its hands.
It would be better to hunt weaker thousand-year Spirit Beasts; it would be faster, more efficient, and safer.
That was the rational choice.
However, as Tang Wulin looked at the dark gold giant bear, a light flashed in his eyes.
"Let's fight." He spoke with a tone full of eagerness. "It would be a pity not to test my skills against such a good opponent."
Ling Luochen was slightly taken aback, then nodded. "Alright."
She had no reason to refuse.
She had increased her Spirit Ring years in the Spirit Ascension Platform, and her combat power had skyrocketed; she also needed a tough battle to test her strength.
The two exchanged a glance and moved simultaneously.
Ling Luochen took half a step back, Ice Staff in hand as Spirit Power surged around her. Her First Spirit Ring lit up as the Ice Staff condensed in her palm, followed immediately by her second Spirit Ring, covering her body in protective ice armor.
At the same time, Tang Wulin had already charged out.
His speed was startlingly fast. As he pushed off, he left a shallow pit in the ground. He thrust out his right hand, his five fingers instantly covered in a layer of golden scales. His Golden Dragon Claw, accompanied by a sharp whistling sound, aimed straight for the Dark Gold Dreadclaw Bear's head!
Roar—!!
The Dark Gold Dreadclaw Bear let out an earth-shaking roar, filled with fury and ferocity, causing the surrounding leaves to rustle and fall.
It raised its massive forepaw, its dark gold claws slamming down to meet Tang Wulin's Golden Dragon Claw!
Boom!!
Claw met claw, resulting in a dull, heavy explosion.
Tang Wulin was knocked back several steps, while the Dark Gold Dreadclaw Bear's body only swayed before steadying itself.
Ling Luochen's pupils shrank—mostly out of shock that Tang Wulin could actually match the strength of such a ferocious Spirit Beast.
Tang Wulin also felt a flash of surprise, but it was mostly excitement. "Again!"
He charged again, his Golden Dragon Claw clashing with the bear's claws repeatedly, each time producing a heavy boom.
Meanwhile, Ling Luochen's Spirit Ability arrived.
She waved her Ice Staff, and a beam of ice-blue light shot out, transforming into countless fine ice crystals that enveloped the Dark Gold Dreadclaw Bear. As the crystals landed, they quickly froze into a thin layer of frost, slowing its movements.
Next, her third Spirit Ring lit up.
Ice Prison!
An ice-blue light bloomed above the Dark Gold Dreadclaw Bear's head, turning into numerous ice pillars that fell from the sky, trapping it within!
Boom!
The Dark Gold Dreadclaw Bear shattered the Ice Prison with a single swipe and broke free.
But in that brief delay, Tang Wulin's Golden Dragon Claw had already arrived.
Puchi—
The golden claws left three deep bloody gashes on the Dark Gold Dreadclaw Bear's shoulder.
Roar!!
Stung by the pain, the Dark Gold Dreadclaw Bear went into a frenzy. Its crimson eyes locked onto Tang Wulin, and its massive body lunged forward, dark gold claws sweeping out!
Tang Wulin's figure flashed as he barely avoided it. The claws grazed his side and slammed into a nearby giant tree; the tree, thick enough for two people to hug, was actually sliced in half!
Ling Luochen's heart went cold; what terrifying destructive power.
She didn't dare be careless, pushing her Spirit Power to the limit as she unleashed ice-type Spirit Abilities one after another—slowing, trapping, and weakening—to support Tang Wulin with all her might.
But the Dark Gold Dreadclaw Bear's defense was simply too strong.
The frost that could freeze ordinary Spirit Beasts only left a thin layer on it before being shaken off. The Ice Prisons that could trap thousand-year Spirit Beasts were shattered by a single swipe of its paw.
Although Tang Wulin's attacks could break its defense, the wounds weren't deep and were far from fatal.
Roar!!
The Dark Gold Dreadclaw Bear stopped ignoring Tang Wulin's attacks and suddenly turned, lunging toward Ling Luochen!
Its crimson eyes were filled with a frenzied killing intent.
Ling Luochen's pupils shrank.
Too fast!
The Dark Gold Dreadclaw Bear's speed was more than a level faster than before!
She wanted to dodge, but it was too late. The dark gold claws, carrying a momentum that could tear through anything, had already filled her vision—
It's over.
The thought flashed through Ling Luochen's mind.
However—
Boom!!!
A golden figure stood in front of her.
Tang Wulin!
"Golden Dragon Tyrant Body!"
He spread his arms, shielding Ling Luochen, and took the bear's claw strike directly on his back!
Seeing this, Ling Luochen hurriedly used her second Spirit Ability to add ice armor to Tang Wulin.
Puff—
Even with Golden Dragon Tyrant Body and the ice armor, three deep bloody gashes were torn into his back. His body stumbled forward from the massive impact, but luckily, this strike didn't eliminate him immediately.
"Tang Wulin!!" Ling Luochen cried out in shock.
Tang Wulin didn't look back; he just reached for his waist. The next moment, a golden long spear appeared in his hand.
The spear was entirely golden, with a slender shaft and a sharp tip that radiated a brilliant light. Dragon patterns faintly flowed along the spear's body.
This was the Golden Dragon Spear, a divine tool Tang Wulin had obtained after the sixth seal was broken.
Tang Wulin gripped the spear, and his aura suddenly surged!
"My turn." He whispered, and with a flash, he charged!
The Golden Dragon Spear turned into a golden streak of light, carrying an apocalyptic momentum as it thrust toward the Dark Gold Dreadclaw Bear!
The Dark Gold Dreadclaw Bear roared and raised its claws to block—
Puchi!
The golden spear tip pierced through that massive dark gold claw!
Blood sprayed!
The Dark Gold Dreadclaw Bear let out a shrill cry of pain, its massive body stumbling back.
Tang Wulin gave it no room to breathe. The Golden Dragon Spear became a series of golden light streaks in his hands, every thrust lethal, every move taking a life!
Ling Luochen stood not far away, watching the golden figure, completely stunned.
That figure, despite the blood still flowing from his back and the severity of his wounds, was now fighting like a God of War, suppressing that terrifying Dark Gold Dreadclaw Bear.
Ling Luochen also directly used her Spirit Abilities to slow the Dark Gold Dreadclaw Bear's movement.
One strike, two strikes, three strikes...
Every thrust left a deep wound on the Dark Gold Dreadclaw Bear.
Finally, after Tang Wulin's twelfth strike, the five-thousand-year Dark Gold Dreadclaw Bear let out an unwilling mournful cry and its massive body crashed to the ground.
The battle was over.
Tang Wulin put away the Golden Dragon Spear and turned to look at Ling Luochen with a faint smile on his face. "Sister Luochen, are you alright?"
Ling Luochen looked at him, her mouth opening, but she didn't know what to say. She looked down at his back; the three bloody gashes were shocking, and blood was still seeping out.
"You... your injuries..."
"It's fine, the injuries will be gone once we leave." Tang Wulin waved his hand dismissively. "That Dark Gold Dreadclaw Bear was really strong."
He looked down at the fallen giant bear with a hint of emotion in his eyes.
It was true that he would recover after leaving, but... this was the first time someone had stood in front of her to protect her. That figure from just now had left an impression in her heart.
"Thank you." Ling Luochen finally spoke to express her gratitude.
"Xie Xie? Huh? He's not here, is he?"
Tang Wulin looked around but didn't see Xie Xie's shadow.
Ling Luochen:...
"Since you had that weapon, why didn't you use it from the start?" Ling Luochen asked, looking at the Golden Dragon Spear in Tang Wulin's hand.
"Hehe, I was originally thinking of saving it for the New Student Grand Competition." Tang Wulin looked at her and suddenly smiled. "It would be great if I could team up with Sister Luochen for the New Student Grand Competition too."
"I wasn't much help."
Though she didn't want to admit it, she had to say that as a Five-Ring Soul King, she really hadn't been much help in the fight against the Dark Gold Dreadclaw Bear.
"No, Sister Luochen's ice armor was very useful. If it weren't for that layer of ice armor, I might have been eliminated directly."
It had to be said that Tang Wulin's words were quite comforting. Ling Luochen looked into Tang Wulin's clear eyes and then nodded gently.
Since Tang Wulin had put it that way, she couldn't continue to be overly sensitive or dwell on it.
"Mm."
The energy from the Dark Gold Dreadclaw Bear split into two portions and surged into their bodies.
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A/N:
5 Power Stones = 1 Extra Chapter
2 Reviews = 1 Extra Chapter
I hope all of you are enjoying this story so far. I would appreciate some Power Stones if you can spare any. Leave a review if you like the story. Thank you.