Once the Bloodthirsty Berserk Bear entered its berserk state, its power surged to a terrifying level, enough to pose a threat even to a Soul Emperor.
Such was the might of a spirit beast carrying Behemoth lineage—a mere thousand-year beast, yet already so fearsome.
But instead of fear, Nan Feihuang felt only excitement. After all, the stronger the spirit beast, the better its spirit ring.
As time passed, the bear's strength began to wane. The berserk state, though formidable, came at a massive cost to stamina—especially with Dugu Bo's toxins coursing through its body.
Nan Feihuang knew the time had come to strike.
"Now's your chance, Little Flying General. Go!" Dugu Bo urged.
Without hesitation, Nan Feihuang charged forward. "First Spirit Skill: Half-Moon Slash!"
A crescent-shaped blade of energy flew from his Fang Tian Halberd, slicing toward the Bloodthirsty Berserk Bear's neck.
Yet just as the attack was about to land, the bear suddenly turned its head. Its massive claw swung up to intercept the attack, shattering the crescent blade with sheer brute force.
The bear's power was truly monstrous.
Half-Moon Slash, renowned for its ability to deal true damage and bypass defenses, was neutralized—not through defense, but by an overwhelming counterattack. The bear had relied on instinct, not intellect, using its heightened senses in the berserk state to detect and neutralize the incoming threat.
The momentum of its claw strike created a powerful wind that slashed toward Nan Feihuang like invisible blades.
Undaunted, Nan Feihuang spun his halberd with one hand, creating a flawless defensive circle. His mastery of Single-Handed Eighteen Sweeps allowed him to deflect the bear's attacks, turning each blow aside with skill and precision.
"Well done!" Dugu Bo couldn't help but praise. "But no matter how refined your technique is, brute strength can crush finesse. You're still outmatched in raw power. Looks like I'll have to lend a hand."
With a steely gaze, Dugu Bo activated one of his most potent abilities. "Soul Bone Skill: Medusa's Gaze!"
A grayish-white glow shot from Dugu Bo's eyes, enveloping the Bloodthirsty Berserk Bear. Its limbs and part of its torso began to petrify, turning into solid stone. Only its head remained mobile, letting out defiant roars.
Dugu Bo had carefully restrained the power of his soul bone skill. After all, the bear's spirit ring was meant for Nan Feihuang, so he couldn't let it die prematurely.
"Now's your chance! First Spirit Skill: Half-Moon Slash!"
Nan Feihuang seized the moment. The crescent blade of his Half-Moon Slash gleamed with a deadly brilliance, arcing through the air to decapitate the immobilized bear.
No amount of defense could protect it from the attack. True damage bypassed all barriers, cutting cleanly through the bear's thick neck.
The beast's massive head hit the ground with a resounding thud. A deep purple ring rose from its lifeless body, shimmering with unrestrained power.
Nan Feihuang wasted no time, sitting cross-legged to guide the spirit ring into his body.
As the energy of the ring surged through him, an overwhelming wave of resentment and pain assaulted his senses.
The Bloodthirsty Berserk Bear had died a humiliating death—poisoned, restrained, and unable to fight back. Such disgrace was intolerable for a creature of its proud lineage.
Nan Feihuang grimaced as pain wracked his body, sharp and relentless like needles piercing every nerve.
After all, this spirit ring represented a leap of over four thousand years in cultivation, taken from an extraordinarily powerful beast. Absorbing it would never be easy.
But for Nan Feihuang, the pain was just that—pain. His Ghost God Body, tempered further by the Ice and Fire Immortal Herbs, made his physique nearly indomitable.
Seeing Nan Feihuang's furrowed brow but steady breathing, Dugu Bo relaxed. "He'll be fine," he thought. Sitting beside him, Dugu Bo began to keep watch.
An hour passed. The chaotic flow of Nan Feihuang's soul power gradually calmed. The first stage of spirit ring absorption was complete.
Now came the second stage, where the spirit ring would enhance Nan Feihuang's physical attributes and form a new spirit skill.
"The worst is over," Dugu Bo muttered, observing Nan Feihuang. "This kid… he's absorbing the ring faster than I expected. I thought a high-year spirit ring would take him at least half a day. With this kind of body, I'd wager he could handle a ten-thousand-year ring as his fourth spirit ring, as long as he has a way to resist the soul shock."
The greatest danger of absorbing a ten-thousand-year spirit ring wasn't the raw energy but the spiritual backlash from the beast's lingering consciousness. For a Spirit Elder, such an assault could easily obliterate their mind, leaving them brain-dead or insane.
What Dugu Bo didn't realize was that Nan Feihuang possessed an external soul bone near his brain and eyes—a mental-type soul bone that provided strong protection against such attacks. Combined with his naturally high mental fortitude, he could handle most soul shocks from ten-thousand-year beasts.
Another half-hour passed, and Nan Feihuang finally opened his eyes. Around him hovered three spirit rings: one yellow and two purple.
He had officially stepped into the realm of the Soul Elder, marking a new chapter in his journey to become the strongest soul master.
"Congratulations, Little Flying General! Your spirit ring looks extraordinary. What's your new skill?" Dugu Bo asked, his tone laced with curiosity.
Nan Feihuang stood, inspecting his newfound strength. "I'm at thirty-two and nearly halfway to thirty-three. The spirit ring alone boosted me by nearly three levels. As for the skill… it's a berserk-type augmentation ability. I'm calling it Berserker Golden Body. It has two modes. The first is a passive enhancement that increases my attack power by 20%."
"Only 20%?" Dugu Bo frowned. "That's rather underwhelming for a five-thousand-year spirit ring."
Nan Feihuang chuckled. "It's passive, Old Poison. It doesn't consume any soul power and is active as long as I'm in battle."
"A passive skill?" Dugu Bo's expression shifted to surprise. A permanent 20% boost to attack power was a decent advantage, especially for a skill that didn't drain resources. Still, he suspected the true value of the ability lay in its second mode.
"And the second mode?" he prompted.
Nan Feihuang's eyes gleamed with excitement. "The real Berserker Golden Body—a temporary state that massively boosts my attack and defense but at a cost. Let me show you..."