"Roar!"
The Thunderstorm Demon Bear let out a deep growl as it watched Lin Ye land gracefully on the ground after flipping through the air. Silver-violet arcs of electricity began to crackle across its massive right paw—it was done playing around.
"I wonder if Nine Yang True Qi can withstand lightning..."
Seeing the bear finally unleash its elemental power, Lin Ye's expression grew serious. Elemental abilities were often the privilege of only the strongest soul beasts. While fire and wind were more common, lightning was by far the most formidable.
Lightning attacks didn't require preparation time, could be unleashed from any part of the body, and, in prolonged battles, could paralyze enemies—making it much harder to counter than fire or wind-based powers.
"Roar!"
With an enraged bellow, the Thunderstorm Demon Bear charged toward Lin Ye. Its hulking frame barreled through the forest, each footstep shaking the ground and creating a thunderous "boom, boom, boom."
As it closed in, the bear raised its massive right paw—after all, its left paw was still sticky with honey—and slammed it down with terrifying force.
Boom!
Lin Ye deftly sidestepped the blow, letting the bear's paw smash into a nearby tree, snapping it cleanly in two with a sharp crack. Taking advantage of the bear's overcommitment, Lin Ye retaliated with a powerful punch to its chest, sending the massive beast staggering backward.
Before the bear could recover, Lin Ye followed up with another punch aimed at the bear's electrified right paw. The silver-violet lightning danced across the bear's fur, but as it collided with the Nine Yang True Qi enveloping Lin Ye's fist, the lightning was instantly neutralized, dissipating harmlessly in the air.
"So, it can't break through my Nine Yang True Qi after all!"
Lin Ye's eyes brightened as he realized that the bear's lightning power was ineffective against his defensive technique. Wasting no time, he launched another heavy blow at the beast.
Boom!
Boom!
Boom!
In the thick of the forest, man and beast clashed repeatedly. Though the Thunderstorm Demon Bear had superior raw strength, Lin Ye's agility gave him the upper hand. He dodged when necessary, striking back with precision when opportunities presented themselves.
As the fight wore on, the once-serene forest was torn apart by their battle. Trees were uprooted or snapped in half, deep claw marks marred the ground and trunks alike, and the battlefield became a chaotic wasteland of destruction.
Afternoon soon gave way to dusk, and both combatants were visibly exhausted. Lin Ye's breaths came in heavy gasps, and even the Thunderstorm Demon Bear's massive chest heaved with the effort of each breath. At one point, the bear had even resorted to using its honey-coated left paw in an attack, only to splatter the honey everywhere in the process. That had sent the bear into a fit of rage—its precious honey, wasted!
Now, the bear was fully intent on killing Lin Ye to avenge the loss of its honey. But no matter how hard it tried, it couldn't land a decisive blow on the nimble human, leaving the beast seething with fury.
After nearly an hour of battle, Lin Ye's Nine Yang True Qi reserves were nearly depleted. Without time to recover using the Nine Spirits Divine Lotus, it was becoming clear that he couldn't drag the fight on much longer.
"Time to call it a day."
Seeing the bear's eyes turn bloodshot with rage, Lin Ye decided it was best to retreat for now. Tomorrow, he could return for another round. But before leaving, something caught his eye—the last chunk of Jade Honey still stuck to the bear's left paw.
A sly grin spread across Lin Ye's face.
"It'd be a waste to leave empty-handed…"
In one swift motion, Lin Ye dodged the bear's latest attack, drawing his iron sword as he moved.
Swish!
With a flash of silver, Lin Ye's sword sliced cleanly across the bear's left paw, severing the chunk of honey-laden fur from its body.
The bear stood still for a moment, staring at its now slightly shorter fur in confusion. It blinked, glancing down at its paw as if to ask, "Where did my honey go?"
Then it dawned on the beast. Its honey was gone—stolen right from under its nose!
"Roar!!!"
With a deafening bellow, the bear's violet-silver eyes turned crimson with fury. It glared at Lin Ye, shaking with unbridled rage.
But Lin Ye was already on the move. Activating his Phoenix Dance Six Illusions technique, he leaped into the air, landing gracefully atop a nearby tree. From there, he quickly bounded from branch to branch, putting distance between himself and the raging bear.
"Thanks for the entertainment, big guy! Consider the honey my compensation!" Lin Ye called out with a chuckle, disappearing into the forest's shadows.
Behind him, the Thunderstorm Demon Bear's roars echoed through the trees, but Lin Ye was already far gone.
---
Days passed, and Lin Ye had spent nearly a week in the depths of the Eternal Night Forest.
His routine was simple but fulfilling. Every morning, he would cultivate his Dragon Elephant Prajna, Phoenix Dance Six Illusions, and Dugu Nine Swords techniques. Afterward, he would seek out a strong opponent to spar with. In the evenings, he focused on refining his Nine Yang Divine Skill, strengthening both body and mind.
Apart from the Thunderstorm Demon Bear, Lin Ye had encountered several other formidable foes, including a thousand-year Wind Demon Wolf King, a Ghost Panther, and a Scarlet Flame Tiger.
He'd even given them nicknames—the Thunderstorm Demon Bear became "Thunder Bear King," the Wind Demon Wolf King was dubbed "Wolf King," the Ghost Panther became "Panther King," and the Scarlet Flame Tiger earned the title "Tiger King."
Life in the forest was rich with both challenges and rewards. With plenty of opponents to hone his skills against, Lin Ye never felt bored. He even found time to hunt for food and sample exotic fruits he had never seen before. Poisonous or not, he ate everything, knowing he could always use his Purification Light soul skill to neutralize any toxins.
The only downside was his dwindling supply of sulfur powder. In a forest teeming with venomous insects, the sulfur was crucial for keeping the pests at bay. Without it, nights in the forest would become unbearable, forcing Lin Ye to consider returning to Eternal Night City soon.
---
That evening, under the canopy of the darkened forest, Lin Ye sat beside a roaring campfire, roasting a freshly caught grey-furred wild rabbit. Despite being a low-level soul beast, the grey-furred rabbit was both large and flavorful, making it a common target during his hunts.
As Lin Ye relaxed by the fire, savoring the aroma of the roasting meat, a rustling sound from the nearby underbrush caught his attention. His sharp eyes, enhanced by his external soul bone, Heavy Eyes, focused on the disturbance.
In the distance, Lin Ye spotted a six-to-seven-meter-long Mandala Snake, its body a sinister shade of dark green, slithering swiftly through the forest. The snake's tongue flicked in and out, sensing its surroundings as it chased a swift-moving white figure darting ahead of it.
"Looks like things are about to get interesting…"
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