Chapter 28: Dark Gold Fearclaw Bear? Run! Hurry up and Run!

The bones were as transparent as diamonds, sharply defined, with a rich soul power fluctuation lingering around them.

The bones were not large, and compared to the bear paw, they seemed quite petite. The shape of the finger bones was sharp and slender, emitting a colorful rainbow under the sunlight. The dazzling rainbow light seemed to flow and ripple like water on the palm bone.

"External soul bone!"

The corners of Cheng Xiao's mouth almost reached his ears.

He had said it before, Fearclaw Bears, being a top-tier species, naturally had a higher chance of producing soul bones than ordinary soul beasts. For a special mutated individual like the Crystal Bear not to have a soul bone would be quite unscientific!

Generally, soul beasts are unlikely to produce soul bones before condensing a soul nucleus. Only after reaching a hundred thousand years can they condense a soul nucleus, and upon death, the soul nucleus will transform into the most characteristic soul bone from its lifetime.

This is also the reason why a hundred-thousand-year soul beast is guaranteed to have a soul bone.

However, some soul beasts can break this rule! These are soul beasts with a high bloodline level that can produce soul bones before reaching a hundred thousand years. In the Dragon Valley, all dragon remains possess soul bones because the dragon bloodline level far exceeds that of ordinary soul beasts.

The Fearclaw Bear species has a bloodline comparable to that of the Mammoth Bloodline, and the Crystal Bear, being its mutated individual, isn't far behind.

Cheng Xiao strongly suspected that this creature chose to self-destruct not because it was unruly but more likely because it knew it would produce a soul bone. Hence, it chose to self-destruct to destroy both the soul ring and soul bone.

"By the way, can I publish a paper and show off to Yu Xiaogang?"

Amidst his wandering thoughts, Cheng Xiao suddenly thought that there was still no clear theory about soul bone explosion rates, and it wasn't thoroughly researched until thousands of years later during the Dragon King Legend era.

If he presented this theory now, it would be a direct challenge to Yu Xiaogang, the "theory master."

"Let's absorb the soul ring first!"

Shaking his head to clear his mind, Cheng Xiao pushed aside the idea of the paper. Even if he wanted to publish a paper, he needed to plan it properly. Otherwise, if no one applauded the paper, there was a risk of others modifying and claiming it as their own research. Cheng Xiao would be left crying without tears.

"Guard me!"

Ordering the Dark Shadow Soul Beasts to stand guard, Cheng Xiao sat cross-legged. After adjusting his breath a couple of times, he prepared to absorb the soul ring.

"Roar!"

Suddenly, a mournful roar of a bear echoed from a distance, and Cheng Xiao abruptly opened his eyes, his face changing dramatically.

In his perception, a shadow larger than the Crystal Bear entered the Shadow Domain, rushing towards his direction, crushing all the trees in its path with brute force.

The shadow was incredibly fast; from the moment Cheng Xiao opened his eyes to when he looked up, not much time had passed, but the owner of the black shadow had already burst into view! A massive bear-like soul beast with a low and mournful roar, entirely black with a body length far exceeding three meters. Its black fur reflected a faint dark golden luster, and its eyes shimmered with a pale green light.

What terrified Cheng Xiao the most was the exceptionally long claws on its bear paws. With a swing, it cut through giant rocks like tofu.

"Dark Gold Fearclaw Bear!?"

This giant bear was undoubtedly a Dark Gold Fearclaw Bear !

Cheng Xiao was certain this time; there was no room for error! His knowledge of soul beasts wasn't bad. He had mistaken the Crystal Bear earlier only because Dark Gold Fearclaw Bears were extremely rare, not to mention the Crystal Bear, a rare mutated species. Mixing them up was within reason.

But now, with the Crystal Bear as a reference, how could Cheng Xiao make the same mistake again?

The Crystal Bear had fur in shades of brown and yellow, and although its claws were sharp, they couldn't cut through mountains and rocks due to its crystalizing ability. In contrast, the giant bear in front of him was entirely black, almost as long as the Crystal Bear but noticeably more robust. Its forearms were almost as thick as the hind legs of the Crystal Bear, and its claws could cut through stone!

Could this be a Crystal Bear?

Even if Cheng Xiao's brain was caught in a door, he wouldn't mistake these two for the same species!

"Run! Run fast!"

Cheng Xiao's forehead was sweating, not stopping for a moment. He commanded fourteen soul beasts to intercept the Dark Gold Fearclaw Bear, while he ran away without looking back.

His current condition couldn't support a second major battle. He had almost exhausted his soul power fighting the Crystal Bear earlier, and now, at the time of soul power depletion, facing another Dark Gold Fearclaw Bear, how could he be a match?

He ran with all his might, his heart pounding. Looking back like before? There was no time for that!

Having witnessed the power of the Crystal Bear, Cheng Xiao didn't need to see the Dark Gold Fearclaw Bear; it was definitely an impossible opponent!

The soul ring of the Crystal Bear?

No way! He hadn't finished searching the seven bodies?

Ridiculous! Money is important, but life is even more so!

"Boom, boom, boom..."

In Cheng Xiao's perception, the fourteen soul beasts were torn apart in an instant, even faster than the Crystal Bear clearing the field!

In an instant, Cheng Xiao's scalp was about to explode!

Faster! Faster! Accelerate again!

Cheng Xiao wished he had two more legs!

If it weren't for the fact that flying on a flying soul beast made him too conspicuous, making it easy for other flying soul beasts to attack, Cheng Xiao would have wished to ride the Blazing Spirit Eagle and fly out of the Star Dou Forest directly!

"Howl..."

The bear's roar behind him was mournful, as if mourning for something.

No time to look back; Cheng Xiao sprinted, only stopping when he almost ran out of breath, lying on the ground panting.

"Damn! Almost lost my life..." Cheng Xiao lay on the ground, panting heavily.

After a long while, Cheng Xiao gradually calmed down, regretting the opportunity he had missed with the Crystal Beast whose soul ring matched his time limit.

The Crystal Beast, what a rare soul ring it could have been, wasted...

"Huff, good thing, huff, no harvest at all, hehehe..."

Cheng Xiao, looking at the tightly clenched Crystal Bear's left paw bone, despite having narrowly escaped death, couldn't suppress the ecstasy and excitement in his heart. The brush with death had intensified these emotions even more.

"One external soul bone, not bad! Haha, not bad!" Cheng Xiao laughed heartily.

When he finally settled down, Cheng Xiao sat up, found a secluded place, released the Shadow Domain, and ordered fourteen soul beasts to be vigilant. After adjusting his breath, he turned his gaze to the Crystal Bear's left paw bone.

"Let's start absorbing!"

After completely restoring the soul power in his body, Cheng Xiao looked at the Crystal Bear's left paw bone in his hand. Taking a deep breath, he wrapped his soul power around the bone.

"Hum!"

Under the traction of soul power, the transparent diamond-like shining paw bone turned into liquid and fused into Cheng Xiao's left hand...