"This is the honey of the Golden Jade Bee. No bear can resist its temptation,"
Ye Xuanji said calmly, holding up the massive beehive as if it weighed nothing. The hive vibrated in his grip, the buzzing of its tiny prisoners growing louder by the second. Yet, with a faint pulse of soul power from his fingers, the buzzing turned frantic, the bees inside sensing something unnatural.
"Boy, watch carefully—this is how you use Golden Jade Bee honey."
A slight ripple of energy spread through the hive. In the next moment, the honey's aroma intensified a hundredfold, bursting into the air like an irresistible lure.
The entire forest seemed to react at once. The subtle rustling of leaves, the distant movements of soul beasts—everything stilled, as if waiting. Ye Xuanji smirked and flicked his wrist, casually nailing the hive onto a tree trunk with a broken-off branch. The moment his energy dissipated, a golden storm erupted from within.
The bees, sensing imminent doom, abandoned their home and scattered into the sky.
Jun Ting, watching from the side, couldn't help but ask, "Master, why did the bees leave?"
Ye Xuanji glanced at him. "Once soul power stimulates the honey, its scent spreads far and wide. If the bees stay, they'll become part of a bear's meal along with their hive. They're not foolish creatures; they know when to run."
Before Jun Ting could process that, a deep, earth-shaking roar erupted from the distance. The sound was deafening, raw with primal fury. Birds took to the skies in panic, trees trembled as heavy, deliberate steps shook the ground. Jun Ting's grip tightened on his Seven Killing Sword, his heartbeat accelerating.
"Master… it's coming!"
With a resounding boom, a massive tree collapsed, and from the shadows of the forest, four towering figures emerged. The first two stood over five meters tall, their hulking forms covered in sleek black fur that gleamed with a dark metallic sheen. Their sheer size exuded an overwhelming pressure, but what truly made Jun Ting's breath hitch were their claws—massive, curved, and dark gold, glinting ominously under the dappled light. The other two were slightly smaller, no more than three meters tall, but their presence was no less terrifying.
"A whole family of them…!" Jun Ting muttered, his excitement laced with wariness.
Ye Xuanji exhaled slowly, an amused yet sharp glint in his eyes. "Well, looks like we got more than we bargained for. Instead of a regular Terrorclaw Bear, we lured in DarkGoldTerrorclawBears… and four of them at that."
The Dark Gold Terrorclaw Bear—one of the most fearsome soul beasts, known as the EarthTearer, a berserker feared throughout the soul master world. Even a thousand-year-old one was a nightmare to deal with, let alone two adult ones that had lived over ten thousand years.
Ye Xuanji glanced at Jun Ting. "You're in luck, boy. The older ones would rip you apart with a flick of their claws, but the two younger ones? They're around three hundred years old. Pick one—it'll make the perfect first soul ring for you."
Jun Ting's fists clenched in excitement. "Thank you, Master!"
"Stay back and don't move."
Ye Xuanji's voice was calm, but Jun Ting understood—this was not a battle he could interfere in. He took a deep breath, suppressing his eagerness as he watched his master take a single step forward. A chilling aura descended upon the clearing.
Then, Ye Xuanji vanished.
Before the young Dark Gold Terrorclaw Bear could even react, an overwhelming sword intent locked onto it, freezing its movements. A split second later, its massive body shuddered as if its very soul had been struck. Without so much as a roar, its consciousness slipped into darkness.
Ye Xuanji caught the unconscious bear with one hand, as if handling a mere sack of rice, and turned to retreat.
But the moment he moved, the two ten-thousand-year-old bears erupted in rage. A deafening roar shook the forest as they charged, their dark gold claws slashing through the air like falling stars. The ground cracked beneath their steps, their sheer speed defying their enormous size. One of them shielded the remaining cub behind its massive frame, while the other lunged forward, its claws expanding mid-swing, transforming into three-meter-long blades of destruction aimed straight at Ye Xuanji's skull.
Any other soul master would have been torn apart in an instant.
But Ye Xuanji's eyes remained indifferent.
The Star Saint Sword flickered in his grip, its edge glowing with a brilliance akin to the vast night sky. Then, with a single sweep, an enormous "Kill" character formed in midair—ten meters tall, radiating boundless, suffocating sword energy.
The leading bear's instincts screamed danger. Its fur bristled, a dark gold shimmer coating its body in a desperate attempt to defend against the strike. But the moment the sword intent made contact—
Slash!
Its dark gold fur, tougher than steel, was sliced apart like mere paper. Blood sprayed through the air as a deep gash tore across its chest. The beast howled in agony, staggering back. Its partner, enraged, raised its claws high, the tips gleaming menacingly before it brought them crashing down like a guillotine.
Yet, just before impact—
Ye Xuanji's second soul ring flared, and a protective barrier of starlight formed around him. The bear's devastating blow landed with a thunderous impact, but the barrier didn't even waver. The next moment, Ye Xuanji shot into the sky, his figure a mere blur, the unconscious bear still in his grip. In the blink of an eye, he landed several hundred meters away, standing calmly as the two elder bears bellowed in helpless fury.
With a heavy thud, he dropped the unconscious cub onto the ground. Jun Ting didn't need to be told twice. Summoning his Seven Killing Sword, he approached the beast, his heart steady. This was his moment.
With a precise thrust, the sword pierced the bear's neck. Its body convulsed once, then stilled. Almost immediately, a glowing yellow soul ring emerged, hovering above the fallen beast like a divine blessing.
Jun Ting sat cross-legged before it, his breathing measured. Ye Xuanji nodded in approval. "Focus on your martial spirit. No matter how much pain you feel, keep your mind clear. That is the key to absorbing a soul ring."
As soon as the soul ring descended, Jun Ting felt a wave of scorching energy flood his veins. His bones trembled, his muscles spasmed as raw power coursed through him. The unbearable pain threatened to shatter his concentration, but he clenched his jaw, gripping his Seven Killing Sword tighter. The blade hummed, resonating with him, its innate killing intent slowly subduing the rampaging energy.
Time passed, and finally, he opened his eyes. Power surged within him.
Ye Xuanji smirked. "How does it feel?"
Jun Ting stood, lifting his sword. He swung once—
A streak of sword energy shot forth, splitting a boulder clean in half.
"The first soul skill, LongSwordStrike. Sword energy enhancement, 50% attack boost," he murmured. Then, he hesitated. "Master, isn't 50% too low?"
Ye Xuanji laughed. "Foolish boy. Even the legendary Sword Douluo's first soul skill only increased attack by 30%. Yours is already superior."
Jun Ting's doubts vanished. Just as he was about to express his gratitude, Ye Xuanji casually tossed something his way. Jun Ting caught it—a severed dark gold bear claw.
"A soul bone," Ye Xuanji said, his tone light but meaningful. "And it's yours."
Jun Ting's heart pounded. This… was an external soul bone.
His master chuckled. "Boy, you're truly blessed with good fortune."
(End of chapter)
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This is the sixth one