"Tang Ni, do you really want the soul ring of that Frost Giant Spirit Bear?"
Ye Lingling looked at Tang Ni with concern, then glanced at the Frost Giant Spirit Bear in the distance. Its body was still growing larger—it was definitely not an easy opponent.
According to the common sense of the Soul Master world, the stronger the soul beast, the harder its soul ring was to absorb. The more agitated a soul beast was before death, the stronger the spiritual backlash during absorption.
Not to mention, the Frost Giant Spirit Bear had already lived far beyond the age limit normally considered absorbable—by nearly double.
Even if Yu Xiaogang's "limit soul ring theory" had long been dismissed by most of the Soul Master world, no one dismissed it to that extent.
Even though Ye Lingling was willing to trust Tang Ni, wasn't there also a more suitable strength-type soul beast available right now—one slightly younger and therefore much safer?
"There's no need. I'll take this one."
Tang Ni was full of confidence. With such a powerful soul beast right in front of her, why should she settle for something weaker?
If she wanted to defeat Xiao Lin, how could she not push herself to the limit?
Seeing the unwavering determination in Tang Ni's eyes, Ye Lingling couldn't say anything more. She only shifted her gaze toward Xiao Lin, hoping he could dissuade her.
But Ye Lingling was bound to be disappointed. Xiao Lin didn't believe for a second that Tang Ni couldn't handle the Frost Giant Spirit Bear's soul ring.
In fact, he strongly agreed with her choice.
"Ahem… since Tang Ni has decided, then let's deal with the Frost Giant Spirit Bear."
With Xiao Lin's words, the matter was settled.
Their goal now was to separate the three soul beasts, then take down the Frost Giant Spirit Bear.
"I can handle it myself."
Tang Ni said confidently.
"Then we two brothers will deal with the Blue-Eyed Crocodile and the Xuanming Water Serpent. We'll draw their attacks, Lingling will heal us, and that will give Tang Ni the chance to finish off the Frost Giant Spirit Bear."
Shi Mo nodded, willingly taking responsibility for the other soul beasts.
"As for Captain Xiao Lin… I think it's best if you just adapt as needed."
Shi Mo spoke tactfully, deliberately avoiding asking Xiao Lin to help Tang Ni, who was intent on proving herself.
"No problem. That'll work."
Xiao Lin nodded, accepting the plan.
But in truth, he was more worried about the Shi brothers than about Tang Ni.
"Oh right—Shi Mo, Shi Mo. Do either of you want to absorb the Blue-Eyed Crocodile's or the Xuanming Water Serpent's soul ring? One has immense strength and defense, the other wields the mystical Xuanming Water. Both are well suited for you."
At Xiao Lin's suggestion, the Shi brothers immediately shook their heads.
They knew their own limits—there was no way they could handle a ten-thousand-year soul ring as their fourth. No matter how suitable the beasts were.
"…Fine then. Let's begin."
With that, Xiao Lin gave the order.
The moment his voice fell, the Shi brothers activated their third soul skill—Black Tortoise Absorption.
As its light spread out, locking onto the Blue-Eyed Crocodile and the Xuanming Water Serpent, both soul beasts were taunted for less than a second.
But that instant was enough.
The Frost Giant Spirit Bear seized the opportunity.
In the next moment, it erupted with shocking speed, slamming a paw at the Xuanming Water Serpent, the weaker of the two in defense.
Its paw, sharp as ice-blades, crushed one of the serpent's heads like smashing a watermelon.
As the bear raised its paw to strike again, the serpent—writhing in agony—shook off Shi Mo's control and bolted away in a flash.
"ROAR!"
The Frost Giant Spirit Bear bellowed, asserting its dominance.
Meanwhile, the Blue-Eyed Crocodile broke free of Shi Mo's control as well. With no ally left, it scuttled across the glacier and plunged into the Xuanming Ice Lake.
The battlefield shifted in an instant, leaving Xiao Lin and the others stunned.
None of them expected that the Frost Giant Spirit Bear, despite its severe injuries, would become even stronger—faster and fiercer than before.
Their entire strategy had collapsed before it even began.
But ironically, the situation was now even better than before:
It was five against one. The advantage was theirs.
Killing the Frost Giant Spirit Bear was no longer difficult.
At that moment, the beast locked its vicious gaze on Xiao Lin's group.
As a ten-thousand-year soul beast, it had intelligence no weaker than a human's. It had understood their earlier conversation.
"ROAR!!"
The thunderous roar rattled their eardrums painfully.
Ye Lingling instinctively hid behind the Shi brothers.
And the moment the roar ended, the seven-meter-tall beast charged straight at them like a moving mountain.
"Good! Come at me!"
Tang Ni's eyes blazed with heroic spirit.
She had bullied the cubs of Titan Giant Apes before—why should she fear one little Frost Giant Spirit Bear?
With a flash, she gripped her Golden Dragon Spear. Her Golden Dragon Martial Soul possessed her body, and she charged forward.
"Golden Dragon Body! Dragon's Strength! Golden Dragon Fist!"
Her figure stretched taller, golden dragon scales shimmered brilliantly, and the rings beneath her feet—one yellow, two purple—flashed and poured power into her body.
A golden dragon's phantom appeared on her spear, letting out a roar that echoed through the battlefield.
"ROAR!"
Her dragon's cry even overwhelmed the bear's roar.
The two charged at each other, the distance closing to less than half a meter.
At that instant, cunning gleamed in the Frost Giant Spirit Bear's eyes.
It suddenly opened its jaws, releasing an icy-blue beam of light that struck Tang Ni at point-blank range.
In a flash, she was frozen solid.
"ROAR!"
The beast howled triumphantly and raised its massive paw to smash her—sure to pulp her body as easily as it had crushed the serpent's skull.
But Tang Ni had endured a year of training in the Star Dou Great Forest.
She had faced countless soul beasts with tricks like poison, fire, lightning, and water.
This was nothing new.
Crack!
Before the paw could fall, Tang Ni shattered the ice with her sheer strength.
A sly smile touched her lips. She thrust her Golden Dragon Spear upward.
Swish!
The indestructible spear pierced clean through the bear's paw, leaving a gaping hole the size of a basketball.
"AWOO!"
The Frost Giant Spirit Bear howled in agony, its strength drained and its courage broken.
And in that moment of fear—Tang Ni drove her spear deep into its chest.
(End of Chapter)