Although it was midday, a chilly wind still blew through the forest.
Flander, Zhao Wuji, Lu Qibin, Li Yusong, Shao Xin, Dragon Duke Meng Shu, and Snake Granny Chao Tianxiang. The seven were actually well-matched, each representing a different class. Lu Qibin's Star Chess provided control, Shao Xin provided support, Flander was an agile attacker, Zhao Wuji provided frontal defense, and Li Yusong, Dragon Duke, and Snake Granny were strong attackers. "Flander, our martial souls are the Dragon and Snake Cane, strong attackers. You'll command this battle," Dragon Duke said calmly. His combat experience was no less than Flander's, but this kind of temporary team battle required someone who understood everyone's martial souls and skills. He explained their martial souls and characteristics to Flander, giving him comprehensive control. Actually, at their level, little command was needed; everyone knew what to do, and their free positioning was already a well-prepared formation. Flander didn't stand on ceremony and replied with a "Yes," then turned to Ning Rongrong. "Ning Rongrong, stay at a distance, don't get close. Find an opportunity, and use your Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda to assist us, depending on the situation. Hongjun, Tang San, protect her!" Ning Rongrong possesses the strongest support spirit, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda, which can now increase attack and speed by 30%. It's equally effective for them, these Soul Saints and Soul Douluos. "A Soul Master with the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda, even if it's only two rings, is still a significant boost." Long Gong said with surprise. When she displayed her strength earlier, Ning Rongrong hadn't shown the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda, only her spirit rings. Their family has methods to hide spirits, which is why Long Gong is acting this way now. Ma Hongjun stood directly beside Ning Rongrong, and Tang San summoned his Blue Silver Grass, which was already tied around Ning Rongrong's waist. "Rongrong, to avoid not having a chance to assist in the battle later, use your first and second spirit skills on them now!" Ma Hongjun reminded her. Ning Rongrong immediately activated her first and second spirit rings, and streams of light flowed into the bodies of the six people in front of her. Shao Xin, standing at the back, had also activated his spirit rings, all seven flashing continuously, constantly creating candy beans. Shao Xin muttered a series of words: red candy beans, green candy beans, yellow candy beans, etc. Colorful candy beans appeared in his hand, which he then tossed to the group. "Red candy beans enhance attack power, green candy beans heal, yellow candy beans enhance spirit power ..." While Flander's side was preparing their formation, the Dark Gold Terrorclaw Bear had lost patience for the standoff; proud spirit beasts wouldn't allow themselves to retreat. A dark golden light shone, and after a dash, the Dark Gold Terrorclaw Bear leaped into the air, its massive blade unfurling in the air. The blade slashed down, condensing into five enormous claw-like shadows in the air. These hundred-foot-wide claw shadows completely covered the seven people. "Scatter!" Ma Hongjun pulled Ning Rongrong back quickly. Flander lifted Lu Qibin and Shao Xin with both hands and retreated rapidly. The other four also quickly retreated. Zhao Wuji, who was at the front, didn't have time and immediately activated his seventh spirit ring. Martial Soul True Form, Mighty Vajra Bear. Although both were bears, the Mighty Vajra Bear was considered a noble among bears, but it was still far inferior to the Dark Gold Terrorclaw Bear, the king of bears. Golden light erupted from Zhao Wuji's body as he took the Dark Gold Terrorclaw Bear's claw head-on. "Whoosh!" Five deep scratches appeared on the ground around Zhao Wuji, and a hideous bloody gash appeared on Zhao Wuji's chest, running from his right shoulder to his left abdomen. Fortunately, Zhao Wuji's defense was strong; if it had been anyone else, including Long Gong, they would probably have died from that claw. Lu Qibin made his move, immediately activating his sixth spirit ring. Star Luo Formation! One by one, chess pieces flew from his hand, hovering around the Dark Gold Terrorclaw Bear. The pieces were arranged in a regular pattern, connected by light, while the Dark Gold Terrorclaw Bear in the center seemed to be bound by a force. Taking advantage of this opportunity, Shao Xin sent a handful of green candies, guided by his soul power, to Zhao Wuji. Zhao Wuji ate them all in one gulp, and the bleeding from his chest wound immediately stopped. "This guy is ruthless. Even a regular 50,000-year-old soul beast couldn't hurt my Martial Soul True Body. I didn't expect its claws to be so powerful. It truly deserves the title of ferocious beast." Zhao Wuji warmed his sore chest and grinned as he spoke. "Be careful, don't get attacked by its claws, or you'll be dead." Zhao Wuji estimated that although this Dark Gold Terrorclaw Bear only had 10,000 years of cultivation, its attack power was roughly equivalent to that of an 80,000-90,000-year-old soul beast. It was already approaching the strength of a human Title Douluo. This is the advantage of race, just like human martial souls. Top-tier martial souls have innate advantages, like Ma Hongjun's Dragon Soul Spear and Tang San's Clear Sky Hammer. Against ordinary offensive weapon martial souls, they can basically fight against opponents one level higher. If the Dark Gold Terrorclaw Bear's attack had already surprised everyone, then its subsequent defense was even more unacceptable. Flander launched an attack from the air; the talismans of his cat-owl were just as sharp. Even when he used his martial soul true form, the talismans slashed down from the Dark Gold Terrorclaw Bear's head.
But its dark golden fur was harder than metal.
"Clang! Clang!"
Two sounds rang out. Flander, like a dragonfly skimming the water, swiftly passed over the Dark Golden Terrorclaw Bear's head, not daring to linger. Otherwise, a single swipe of the bear's claws could tear him to pieces. Cat-owls were extremely fragile, unlike the tough hide of the Mighty Vajra Bear.
His conjured cat-owl only managed to grab two tufts of bear fur, failing to break through the Dark Golden Terrorclaw Bear's defenses.
After Flander flew past, the others' skills arrived.
Dragon Lord's dragon-headed staff emitted a dragon's roar, and a dragon-shaped phantom crashed into the Dark Golden Terrorclaw Bear's body.
Snake Granny's snake staff and Li Yusong's dragon-patterned staff successively struck the Dark Golden Terrorclaw Bear.
"Roar!"
A furious roar erupted, and the Dark Golden Terrorclaw Bear burst forth with dark golden light.
The chess pieces surrounding it shattered, and it broke free of its restraints. The beams of light aimed at it were all blocked by its dark golden fur.
Its body swayed a few times. The series of attacks, though failing to break through its defenses, had inflicted some internal injuries.
Its defense was truly monstrous, difficult to penetrate from the outside. For example, Flander's claws were rather useless, not as effective as Li Yusong's Dragon Pattern Staff, which, due to the transmission of force, had a penetrating effect, capable of damaging its internal organs. The
Dark Gold Terrorclaw Bear swung its claws again. It was fortunate that this creature lacked speed; otherwise, it would have been invincible.
Learning from Zhao Wuji's experience, no one dared to engage the Dark Gold Terrorclaw Bear in a claw-to-claw duel. Maintaining distance and being careful allowed them to dodge its attacks.
However, even at a distance, attacking it was difficult. Not only were ranged soul skills generally weak, but the seven of them seemed to lack any ranged soul skills.
With a cry of an eagle, Flander launched another attack in the air, this time using a sonic attack.
Invisible sound waves entered the Dark Gold Terrorclaw Bear's ears, causing it to pound its head in place.
It seemed to be working!
Enraged, the Dark Gold Terrorclaw Bear stared at Flander in the air, its eyes turning even redder, and its body radiating dark golden light.
Its right paw extended again, its giant claw shimmering with dark golden light, stretching even further, and it swung it forcefully towards the sky.
The enormous claw shadow covered the sky, as if tearing the heavens apart.
Flander's eyes widened in terror, and he flapped his wings, quickly taking flight.
The Dark Gold Terrorclaw Bear's giant claw seemed to pierce through space, catching up with Flander in the blink of an eye, making it difficult to dodge.
At this moment, Long Gong's expression hardened, his seventh spirit ring lit up, and the dragon-headed staff flew from his hand, growing larger in the air and flying behind Flander, blocking the giant claw's attack for him.
Flander's wings were injured by the overflowing power of the giant claw; his spirit was injured, and his body was also wounded. He had to retract his spirit and quickly glide down from the sky.
"Little Three, catch your teacher!"
A blue silver grass shot out, wrapping around Flander in mid-air and pulling him back.
Similarly, the Dragon Duke's dragon-headed cane was left with deep claw marks from the Dark Gold Terrorclaw Bear's claws, a faint dark golden luster still shimmering on his martial soul.
The Dragon Duke also coughed up blood; his martial soul was damaged, its foundation was injured.
Although he saved Flander's life, he paid a heavy price.
"Old man, are you alright?" Chao Tianxiang asked with concern.
"I'm fine. I didn't expect this ten-thousand-year-old Dark Gold Terrorclaw Bear to be so monstrous. Its claws are truly terrifying; this attack is indeed comparable to a Title Douluo," the Dragon Duke exclaimed.
"Not only its attack, but its defense is also very strong. Flander's sonic skill had some effect just now, but now that Flander is injured, although the Dark Gold Terrorclaw Bear is also injured, we have no means to threaten it anymore," Chao Tianxiang said helplessly.
Even with the best spirit rings, the Dark Gold Terrorclaw Bear still requires considerable strength to defeat. But since it wasn't for their own people to obtain spirit rings, there was no need to risk everything. She was already considering retreating.
"No, we still have ways."
Dragon Lord seemed to be enraged by the Dark Gold Terrorclaw Bear; having already gone this far, he didn't care about putting in a little more effort.
"You mean..."
Chao Tianxiang stopped mid-sentence, looking at Dragon Lord with some excitement.
Dragon Lord said,
"Yes, old woman, we haven't used our Spirit Fusion Technique in a long time."
(End of Chapter)