After releasing the Profound Sky Axe, Ling Xiao carried the axe toward the Dark Gold Terror Claw Bear, which lay there like a sheep or ox awaiting slaughter.
The beast was covered in wounds; its internal organs were heavily traumatized, and blood dripped steadily from the corners of its mouth. However, those dark-gold eyes remained fixed on him with a death stare that sent a shiver down his spine.
He paused for a moment.
In his previous life, he was merely an ordinary person who had never even killed a chicken.
Although he had just argued that this world was governed by the law of the jungle, when it actually came time to deliver the killing blow, Ling Xiao felt a flicker of reluctance. But in the next heartbeat, that reluctance was replaced by a cold resolve.
He had truly arrived in the Douluo Continent.
This was the first step of his soul master cultivation; he had to adapt to this world.
"All I can say is... I'm sorry."
Puchi!
The Profound Sky Axe was raised high before slamming down into the neck of the Dark Gold Terror Claw Bear. This soul beast was already severely injured with its soul power almost depleted; it had no strength left to resist.
Although the fur of a Dark Gold Terror Claw Bear provides incredible defense, this was still a cub, and the neck is the most vulnerable part of the body. Furthermore, the Profound Sky Axe was not only exceptionally heavy but its blade was also incomparably sharp.
In an instant, the bear's neck was mostly severed.
A spray of blood mixed with traces of faint gold erupted, staining the silver-white blade of the Profound Sky Axe a deep crimson.
Ling Xiao took a deep breath.
Before he could process the feeling of his first kill, he saw a vast amount of yellow light spots rapidly emerge from the bear's corpse. They eventually coalesced into a yellow light ring floating above its body.
Ling Xiao noticed that the soul ring produced by this Dark Gold Terror Claw Bear was exceptionally bright, radiating an intense aura of soul power.
He had seen yellow soul rings from other hundred-year soul beasts before—such as the Black-Horned Mountain Boar—and while they were all yellow, the light from those rings was much fainter and the soul power far less intense.
Even as a novice who had just begun his cultivation, he could feel that the energy within this Dark Gold Terror Claw Bear soul ring was extremely abundant, far surpassing ordinary soul rings.
Ling Xiao sat down cross-legged, holding the Profound Sky Axe level in his left hand.
A surge of black-red soul power radiated from his body and poured into the axe. As the soul power entered, the black-red glow on the axe became more pronounced, with streaks of black-red light swirling erratically across the weapon.
As if sensing the attraction of the martial soul, the yellow soul ring produced by the Dark Gold Terror Claw Bear began to drift slowly toward the Profound Sky Axe. Once it neared the axe, it seemed to be caught by a powerful suction.
The ring flipped slightly and slipped over the Profound Sky Axe, beginning to rotate slowly.
At that moment, Ling Xiao felt the Profound Sky Axe react as if stimulated.
The black-red glow on the axe head intensified, and the weapon seemed to become extremely excited. Standing beside Ling Xiao, Chrysanthemum Douluo watched this scene and nodded with satisfaction.
For a soul ring to cause such a tremor in the martial soul indicated that the characteristics of the ring and the martial soul were an excellent match, which is why the soul had such an unusual reaction.
Seeing Ling Xiao's confusion, Chrysanthemum Douluo spoke up: "Don't overthink it. Absorbing the soul ring is what matters. Focus your mind on your martial soul; do not be distracted."
Ling Xiao nodded slightly, focusing all his attention on the Profound Sky Axe in his hands.
The soul ring rotating on the axe spun faster and faster while simultaneously shrinking, until it finally merged completely into the Profound Sky Axe and vanished.
Simultaneously, Ling Xiao felt a violent surge of energy erupt from the axe, rushing through his hands and flooding into his body. This energy felt somewhat similar to soul power, but it wasn't exactly the same.
There was another force within it that caused his entire body to ache sharply, forcing a muffled groan from his lips.
Seeing that the most critical stage of absorption had begun, Chrysanthemum Douluo watched Ling Xiao closely and reminded him: "Remember, no matter how violent the power of this soul ring is, you must steady your mind and stay conscious."
Hearing Chrysanthemum Douluo's words, Ling Xiao gritted his teeth and simply closed his eyes, immersing himself entirely in the impact of the soul ring's power on his body.
Behind his closed eyelids, it should have been dark, but Ling Xiao found his vision suddenly brightened, filled with golden radiance. This radiance was like the torrent of energy flooding his body, surrounding him completely.
The sharp pain in his body continued.
The power of this Dark Gold Terror Claw Bear soul ring seemed far more violent than that of other soul rings. In this golden world, Ling Xiao felt as if a long time had passed, yet the pain brought by the energy filling his body had not diminished much.
Watching the sweat pouring down Ling Xiao's forehead as he endured the pain, Meng Yiran's gaze revealed a trace of worry.
Although she found this youth a bit annoying for always acting mature, seeing him in such agony made her realize his struggle was far more difficult than hers had been recently.
She had heard her grandfather say that if one cannot endure the pain when the soul ring's power enters the body and the will falters, failing to absorb the ring is a minor issue—at worst, it could be fatal.
Chrysanthemum Douluo's brow furrowed slightly.
He had still underestimated the bloodline power of the Dark Gold Terror Claw Bear. Although the cultivation of this bear was roughly over 400 years—possibly slightly exceeding the "standard limit" of 420 years for a first soul ring—it shouldn't be this difficult.
It was likely because the bloodline power of the species was too potent; the source power within the soul ring exceeded his expectations. Chrysanthemum Douluo raised his hand, circulating his soul power to intervene.
With the control of a Titled Douluo, he could inject a sliver of soul power to help Ling Xiao resist the pain. However, doing so would wear down some of the soul ring's power due to external interference, which would be a pity.
But Ling Xiao was one of only two Innate Full Soul Power holders in Spirit Hall's younger generation; there could be no accidents.
Just as he was about to move, Dragon Duke Meng Shu spoke: "Chrysanthemum Douluo, wait. This old man believes the child might be able to pull through on his own. Striking now ensures safety, but it would be a bit of a waste of this precious soul ring. Why not wait a moment longer?"
"Hmph. Ling Xiao's aptitude is among the best in our Spirit Hall. I must ensure no accidents befall him. While the soul ring is precious, for us, it isn't worth taking this risk."
Meng Shu's eyes flickered, and he said no more, thinking to himself, It seems Ling Xiao's status is indeed extraordinary; he is likely an extremely special existence within Spirit Hall.
Just as Chrysanthemum Douluo was about to act, the black-red light on the Profound Sky Axe suddenly surged in intensity.
A powerful, sharp aura radiated from the axe blade. Having just fought that terrifying adult Dark Gold Terror Claw Bear, Chrysanthemum Douluo immediately recognized that this sharpness was very similar to the aura of the bear.
"This... the soul ring's power is merging into the martial soul! The soul skill has formed; the absorption is nearly complete!" Chrysanthemum Douluo said with joy.
He glanced over and saw that Ling Xiao was no longer in as much pain as before.
He had succeeded.
Exhaling a breath of turbid air, Ling Xiao slowly opened his eyes.
Sensing the power aura on the Profound Sky Axe was even stronger than before and feeling the extra soul power within him, the corners of his mouth curled up. It was worth the desperate struggle to endure that pain.
This Dark Gold Terror Claw Bear soul ring was indeed not easy to absorb.
But it was all worth it.
His soul power had reached Rank 11, and he had obtained his first soul ring. Thinking of the soul skill granted by this ring, Ling Xiao couldn't help but feel elated; he truly couldn't wait to test it out.