Regarding Ma Hongjun's fourth spirit ring, he hadn't yet decided what spirit beast to hunt.
Undoubtedly, with Ma Hongjun's current physical strength, he could withstand a ten-thousand-year spirit ring without any problem.
However, spirit beasts older than ten thousand years weren't like hundred-year spirit beasts, which he could choose from.
Compared to hundred-year spirit beasts, there were certainly more, and even thousand-year spirit beasts were still somewhat selectable. But ten-thousand-year spirit beasts were extremely rare; forget about choosing, encountering one was generally a matter of fate.
Even in the nationally protected hunting forests, ten-thousand-year spirit beasts were practically nonexistent.
Only in very large wild spirit beast settlements was it possible to find spirit beasts older than ten thousand years.
In the Douluo Continent, besides the ocean, the three major wild spirit beast settlements had more ten-thousand-year spirit beasts.
The group searched continuously for three days in the outer circle but couldn't find a spirit beast suitable for Xiang Chengxian's fourth spirit ring. Either the age was too low, or the species was unsuitable.
Without lingering on the outer perimeter, as the area had been thoroughly searched, continuing the search along the outer ring would likely mean crossing beyond the Heaven Dou Empire and into the Star Luo Empire's territory.
Since finding Ma Hongjun's fourth spirit ring would require entering the inner ring anyway, Flander and the others decided to search there.
Having Dragon Duke and Snake Granny present made things much safer.
The inner and outer rings of the Star Dou Great Forest essentially marked the dividing line between ten-thousand-year-old spirit beasts.
Entering the inner ring meant certain death for even Spirit Saints, and even Spirit Douluos faced danger. Every year, at least ten reports of Spirit Emperor-level or higher spirit masters died in the Star Dou Great Forest.
If the outer ring was a training ground for Ma Hongjun and the others, then the inner ring was where everyone, including Dragon Duke and Flander, would be trained.
There wasn't a true dividing line between the inner and outer rings, but there was a buffer zone. This area was generally uninhabited by spirit beasts; only powerful, itinerant spirit beasts would occasionally pass through, making it a relatively quiet region.
Passing through this zone meant truly entering the inner ring.
The trees in the inner circle were no longer as dense, but they still gave the impression of being lush, with a single tree occupying an area of about a hundred meters in radius.
Their branches and leaves were so dense that they truly blocked out the sun, making it feel spacious to walk beneath them.
"Everyone be careful. Once we enter the inner circle, we can't underestimate any living creature, not even these seemingly immovable giant trees," Flander said cautiously. Now, all the younger generation, including Ma Hongjun, were walking in the middle.
"Most of the trees here are over a thousand years old, and some are even ten thousand. These evergreen trees are generally gentle and won't attack people, but don't provoke them. Otherwise, if a branch lashes out, you probably won't be able to withstand it," Long Gong solemnly echoed.
He hadn't stepped into the inner circle of the Star Dou Great Forest for a long time, but he still remembered how terrifying it was. Here, sometimes the plants were even more dangerous.
Walking in such a tense and cautious manner was actually very exhausting, but with Shao Xin, a food-type Soul Saint, around, everything was much easier.
The density of spirit beasts in the inner circle wasn't as high; the group walked for quite some time without encountering a single one, perhaps because they hadn't been discovered yet.
At the ten-thousand-year level, spirit beasts are extremely wary.
After all, those who live for ten thousand years have a wealth of survival experience; they all know how to seek advantage and avoid danger.
Further in, plant-type spirit beasts were the most numerous, but they weren't suitable as spirit rings for Ma Hongjun's Dragon Soul Spear.
Generally, powerful spirit beasts have their own territories. If an area is very quiet, it doesn't mean there are no spirit beasts living there; it might just mean you haven't encountered them yet.
Wild spirit beasts live in groups, so generally, once you enter the territory of a particular spirit beast group, you'll always see one, regardless of its level.
The fact that they hadn't encountered any non-plant spirit beasts after walking for so long meant that the spirit beasts in this area weren't a single species, but rather a beast king.
Finally, near noon, the group encountered the beast king of this territory.
"Roar~"
A deep roar resounded from opposite them.
It walked towards them like a complete accident. The moment it saw Ma Hongjun and his group, it seemed momentarily stunned, as if realizing this was its territory, before letting out a shooing roar.
This was a very imposing soul beast; its fur shimmered golden in the sunlight, displaying its nobility and extraordinary nature.
Unlike other ten-thousand-year soul beasts, it didn't possess a massive body, but you couldn't ignore it. Even its gait gave everyone the feeling of facing a Titan Ape.
This was a true king among beasts. Although its cultivation was less than a hundred thousand years, the powerful talents bestowed upon it by its race gave it strength comparable to a hundred-thousand-year soul beast.
It was
the Dark Gold Terrorclaw Bear!
A powerful race born to rule, known as the Earth Ripper, it was one of the ultimate powerful soul beasts, a war beast of the forest.
In human soul beast books, it was generally not called a soul beast, but rather
a ferocious beast.
The Dark Gold Terrorclaw Bear before him was about the same size as the two-thousand-year-old Explosive Bear with its second spirit ring that Ma Hongjun had hunted years ago. However, although both were bears, their appearances were vastly different.
A layer of dark gold light emanated from its fur. This light wasn't outwardly emitted, but rather contained within its fur. One could see that each of the dark gold hairs instantly stood on end, like steel needles.
This extraordinary and handsome appearance clearly demonstrated its dominant position among bear-type spirit beasts.
Its two forepaws rose, and long, sharp claws extended from between its paws.
The Dark Gold Terrorclaw Bear was enraged!
These ignorant humans dared to trespass into its territory; it couldn't even remember the last time humans had entered its territory.
It only remembered that the last group of people were torn to pieces by its claws, including the most powerful one among them, a creature with seven halos.
Seeing the Dark Gold Terrorclaw Bear extend its claws, faintly glowing with dark gold light, the old men, including Dragon Duke and Flander, were all on high alert, releasing their martial spirits.
How could they not know the prestige of the Dark Gold Terrorclaw Bear? This race was no less formidable than the Titan Giant Ape.
The Dark Gold Terrorclaw Bear was also a peculiar creature; like the Titan Giant Ape, it excelled in both attack and defense, a complete contradiction. Its dark gold fur possessed extremely strong defensive capabilities, while its pair of sharp claws possessed terrifying offensive power, even stronger than Titan Giant Apes of the same level.
Its strongest attacks are concentrated on its two giant claws, hence its name. These claws, also known as the Terror Claws, are unparalleled in their power and domineering nature; they can even withstand the sharpness of a dragon's claw. The
Dark Gold Terror Claw Bear is also intelligent.
At this moment, it is also sizing up the group. This group is clearly more difficult to deal with than those it has encountered before. Last time, although it killed the human with seven halos, it had expended a great deal of effort.
Now, this group has three with six halos, three with seven, and even one with eight.
Those with fewer halos are negligible.
This group seems quite formidable. The Dark Gold Terror Claw Bear is assessing the situation; it might not be able to defeat them. It brandishes its claws, wondering if it can scare them away.
However, seeing it move its claws, the group doesn't retreat; instead, they seem to be forming a battle formation.
"Attention everyone, prepare for battle! This is a Dark Gold Terrorclaw Bear. Judging from its fur's hidden golden sheen and the glint of black light between its claws, it's definitely a ten-thousand-year-old level beast." Long Gong's eyes were fixed on the Dark Gold Terrorclaw Bear, his voice slightly raised.
While the old men, including Flander, were summoning their spirit beasts, Ma Hongjun and the others had already summoned their own.
Looking at the old men's tense expressions, they showed none of the relaxed demeanor they displayed when hunting the Human-Faced Demon Spider and other spirit beasts.
Instead, they seemed more like they were facing a Titan Giant Ape. No
matter how Ma Hongjun looked at it, this Dark Gold Terrorclaw Bear wasn't as strong as the Titan Giant Ape. Although its golden coat looked impressive, it still gave him a cute feeling.
Perhaps it was the influence of the black and white creature from his previous life that caused Ma Hongjun to feel no fear towards bears in this world.
"Such good luck! A ten-thousand-year-old spirit beast! Brother, then it can be your fourth spirit ring!" Ning Rongrong exclaimed joyfully.
Ma Hongjun quickly covered Ning Rongrong's mouth and pulled her behind him. Then he whispered...
"Don't interrupt if you don't understand something! Look at everyone's expressions!"
Everyone was serious. Even Dai Mubai and a few others who didn't know about the Dark Gold Terrorclaw Bear could see the serious and tense expressions on Long Gong, Flander, and the others' faces.
"Hongjun, take them and retreat to the back.
This Dark Gold Terrorclaw Bear is indeed suitable as your fourth spirit ring, but I don't know if you can get it.
You can't get involved in this battle, so retreat to the side and protect yourselves!"
Flander said earnestly to Ma Hongjun.
Seeing that the group still hadn't retreated, the Dark Gold Terrorclaw Bear seemed to think its claws hadn't had a deterrent effect.
Whether it was angry or anxious, it let out another deep roar! " Oh~ Roar
~" (End of Chapter)