Nearly two and a half years later, deep within the Star Dou Forest.
Qian Renxue, Lin Feng, and Ling Yuan were making their way through the dense woods.
The years of growth had made Qian Renxue even more striking.
Her experiences in the outside world had significantly changed her demeanor.
The youthful innocence on her face had faded, replaced by a mature and resolute expression. Her beauty was unparalleled, as if crafted by the heavens themselves.
Her deep blue eyes sparkled with a captivating light.
Her slender waist led to a pair of long, smooth legs, and her figure was both graceful and otherworldly.
Now, she could truly be said to surpass Ling Yuan in appearance.
Of course, Ling Yuan still possessed qualities that Qian Renxue couldn't match—the charm and gentleness that came with the passage of time.
This charm wasn't about looks but the warmth and tenderness that years of experience had bestowed upon her.
As for Lin Feng, he had grown to nearly 1.8 meters tall. His handsome features had fully matured, and his sturdy, upright frame exuded a confident and determined aura.
Their current goal was Lin Feng's fourth soul ring.
After careful consideration, Lin Feng had chosen the Dark Gold Terror Claw Bear as his target.
This soul beast, with its near-extreme metal attributes, not only possessed immense offensive power but also had incredibly strong defensive capabilities due to its dark golden fur.
The strongest Dark Gold Terror Claw Bears could even rival dragons with their terrifying claws.
These creatures were practically invincible within the Star Dou Forest. Even their ancestors, hidden in the Life Lake, faced no threats from other soul beasts.
Their strength was unmatched in both offense and defense. They were fearsome in close combat and had devastating long-range capabilities. Historical records even mentioned that a ten-thousand-year Dark Gold Terror Claw Bear could challenge a Title Douluo.
The trio arrived at a secluded lake, one of the Dark Gold Terror Claw Bear's territories.
As night fell, the forest grew quiet, leaving only the gentle lapping of the lake's water and the rustling of leaves.
"It's here."
Ling Yuan sent a mental message.
The three of them looked toward the lakeside, where a massive bear slowly approached.
It was a giant bear covered in dark golden fur, standing over three meters tall. Its eyes were cold and emotionless, filled with cruelty.
Its entire body was covered in dark golden fur, and its arms were exceptionally thick, with shoulders as broad as city walls.
At the ends of its powerful arms were sharp, dark golden claws, each over a meter long.
As the bear moved, its claws sliced through the air with a faint hissing sound.
The Dark Gold Terror Claw Bear sniffed the air, seemingly confirming that there was no threat, before approaching the lake to drink.
"Xiao Feng, is the age suitable?"
Lin Feng nodded slowly. This Dark Gold Terror Claw Bear was around 8,000 years old.
Ten-thousand-year Dark Gold Terror Claw Bears were rare and difficult to encounter.
Even this one had taken them two months to find.
Moreover, a ten-thousand-year Dark Gold Terror Claw Bear would be a formidable opponent even for a Title Douluo.
Lin Feng's soul vein cultivation method didn't require soul rings with excessively high ages.
As his soul veins fused with his body and grew over time, their quality would naturally improve.
By the time Lin Feng absorbed his third soul ring, his original 300-year first soul ring had already evolved into a thousand-year soul vein.
As long as Lin Feng continued to grow, the quality of his soul veins would improve, and the effects would become even more pronounced in the later stages.
Therefore, there was no need to obsess over a difference of two or three thousand years in soul ring age.
Given how rare Dark Gold Terror Claw Bears were, an 8,000-year-old one was already a perfect match for Lin Feng.
"Sister Ling Yuan, it's up to you."
"Got it."
Due to the Dark Gold Terror Claw Bear's unique strength among soul beasts—even more formidable than the infamous Titan Giant Ape, which could supposedly fight ten-thousand-year soul beasts at just a hundred years old—Qian Renxue and Lin Feng didn't need to intervene. Their current strength wasn't sufficient.
A hint of crimson flashed in Ling Yuan's eyes. After absorbing the Cockscomb Phoenix Sunflower, her potential had undergone a transformation.
The evolution of her martial soul had elevated her foundation, most notably increasing her cultivation speed and enhancing the power of her soul skills.
Originally at level 86 after absorbing a soul bone, Ling Yuan had now reached level 89.
The Cockscomb Phoenix Sunflower was still exerting its effects. Breaking through to level 90 and becoming a Title Douluo was a significant hurdle, but given Ling Yuan's current state, she would likely achieve it soon.
"Seventh Soul Skill, Martial Soul True Body!
Eighth Soul Skill, Boiling Blood!"
With a soft shout, crimson flames erupted around Ling Yuan as she transformed into a fiery phoenix.
She immediately engaged the Dark Gold Terror Claw Bear in a fierce battle.
"Roar!"
The Dark Gold Terror Claw Bear roared, its dark golden claws slashing through the air, creating shockwaves with each strike.
Under the night sky, the battle between Ling Yuan and the Dark Gold Terror Claw Bear was intense. Every dive was accompanied by scorching flames, attempting to burn through the bear's formidable defenses.
Meanwhile, the Dark Gold Terror Claw Bear swung its massive claws, each strike capable of tearing through the air and posing a deadly threat to Ling Yuan.
Lin Feng and Qian Renxue watched nervously from the sidelines. They knew that while Ling Yuan was powerful, facing a Dark Gold Terror Claw Bear of this caliber was no easy task.
In the heat of battle, Ling Yuan constantly shifted her tactics, alternating between high-altitude attacks and low swoops, each move brimming with power and precision.
The Dark Gold Terror Claw Bear, relying on its immense defense and offensive capabilities, fought back fiercely.
Finally, during a particularly intense exchange, Ling Yuan found an opening in the Dark Gold Terror Claw Bear's defenses. With a sharp cry, she unleashed a burst of flames, enveloping the bear in a fiery inferno.
"Fourth Soul Skill, Blazing Wildfire!"
"Soul Bone Skill, Meteor Flare!"
A massive fireball descended from the sky, carrying an overwhelming heat that instantly turned the surrounding trees to ash.
Ling Yuan reverted to her human form and landed between Lin Feng and Qian Renxue. The flames continued to swirl, trapping the now barely conscious Dark Gold Terror Claw Bear.
"The Dark Gold Terror Claw Bear is indeed a tough opponent. The rumors that a ten-thousand-year one can rival a Title Douluo seem to be true."
Ling Yuan was slightly out of breath. Lin Feng's Breath of Life skill gently enveloped her, restoring her stamina.
The Dark Gold Terror Claw Bear glared at Lin Feng as he approached, its eyes filled with resentment and resignation.
Lin Feng was momentarily taken aback. The bear's expression seemed almost human—like an employee reluctantly accepting an unwanted task, filled with frustration and helplessness.
As if accepting its fate, the bear lowered its head.
With a swing of his Flame Sword, Lin Feng ended the bear's life. A deep purple soul ring rose from its body, and Lin Feng began the process of absorbing it into his Innate Treasure Pearl.