Over a dozen five-thousand-year-old Dark Crows gathered together, flapping their wings in unison and stirring up gusts of chilling winds.
The rocks melted like wax under the force of the winds, eroded and reduced to nothingness.
However, the Ground Demon Bear stood firmly on the earth, drawing upon an endless supply of soul power. With a swing of its massive paw, dozens of irregular boulders floated into the air, and sharp rock spikes erupted from the ground.
Most of the Dark Crows were killed or injured. They let out two loud caws, seemingly calling for reinforcements. From afar, responding wingbeats grew louder as more crows approached.
The Shadow Frost Crow's claws were stained with blood, and patches of its belly feathers were scorched. One of its talons clutched Gao Baicai's storage soul-guiding device, which contained the soul bone of its mate.
The slaughter had only deepened the Shadow Frost Crow's hatred, amplifying its thirst for vengeance.
Hearing its kin's cries for help, it led its flock rushing back. As it dove down, a freezing wave swept across the land, and frost rained down like a torrential downpour.
The Ground Demon Bear's nostrils flared, and its bright yellow beastly pupils snapped open. The icy crystals invading its territory were spreading along the crystalline rock bed it cherished most.
"Roar—!"
A deafening roar surged upward, carrying waves of earth-yellow soul power. The entire forest trembled as the earth veins quaked.
Mo Wushuang, who had just regained his footing, was momentarily dazed by the sudden shaking, losing his balance. The ground beneath him cracked open like a spiderweb.
Three crystal-encrusted spikes erupted from the ground, impaling Mo Wushuang mid-air. His mouth opened in a final, defiant growl, but before the blood could even hit the ground, it was absorbed by the stone pillars.
In the distance—
Gu La bent down and pressed his palm against the ground. Crimson-red patterns spread up his arm. Under everyone's astonished gaze, the soil within a ten-zhang radius rippled like liquid.
"It's not an earthquake," his pupils contracted into a regal golden hue as he wielded his authority to stabilize the earth and counteract the shockwaves. "It's the Ground Demon Bear going berserk."
—Shwip!
A three-meter-long crystallized rock spike burst out of nowhere, narrowly missing the boy's throat by half an inch.
Gu La's expression remained calm as he shielded himself and blocked the crystallized spike.
"Earth vein eruption!" Yu Xiaogang shouted hoarsely. "Get off the ground quickly! These aren't ordinary rocks—they're the Crystal Bear's innate ability. They'll explode!"
Flender's eyebrows twitched. He grabbed everyone and flew them into the air.
As if in response to Yu Xiaogang's words, countless jagged stone spires erupted from the surface like bamboo shoots after rain. Many of the crystallized rocks rapidly heated up, their once-clear exteriors turning murky.
BANG! BANG! BANG!
Violent explosions rocked the earth, reducing countless rocks and trees to debris. Dust filled the sky, blotting out the sun.
A hundred meters away, a hill collapsed with a thunderous rumble. From the dust emerged a mountain-like shadow, its bright yellow eyes glowing ominously. At that moment, everyone's hair stood on end, shivers running down their spines.
"It's the Crystal Bear's Magma Crystal Explosion! That Ground Demon Bear doesn't just have Behemoth bloodline—it also has Crystal Bear bloodline!"
Yu Xiaogang's voice was nearly drowned out by the roaring explosions. "The Crystal Bear's spikes are indestructible. At the ten-thousand-year stage, they carry both petrification and explosion effects! Flender, you didn't mention it had Crystal Bear bloodline!"
Flender looked helpless. "It didn't use this soul skill the last time I encountered it. Maybe it underwent some kind of ancestral awakening recently…"
"Impossible!"
Yu Xiaogang sharply cut him off. "While the Crystal Bear is indeed powerful, it can't compare to the Behemoth bloodline. A Ground Demon Bear wouldn't undergo an ancestral awakening to gain a lesser bloodline after already awakening a superior one."
"You must not have pushed it hard enough to reveal its true abilities."
Gu La paid no heed to their argument. He had another theory forming in his mind.
Just moments ago, while on the ground, he had sensed that his stamina recovery rate had increased nearly twofold. This indicated that the surrounding earth was brimming with energy.
The mutation of the Ground Demon Bear might be related to anomalies in the nearby earth veins.
"Something akin to Ten-Thousand-Year Ice Essence?"
Gu La pondered thoughtfully, his resolve to claim the Ground Demon Bear firming in his heart.
The Ground Demon Bear continued to face off against the Shadow Frost Crow. The earlier wave of explosions had caught the flying crows off guard, and despite their aerial advantage, their fragile bodies were struck by flying debris. Most of the flock lay dead or dying.
The Shadow Frost Crow's blood-red eyes seemed to drip tears of rage. Its wings whipped up a freezing hurricane as it sought vengeance for its fallen kin.
The battle seemed to erupt out of nowhere, but this was simply how spirit beasts interacted. In the forest, each species viewed others as prey.
Crows could eat bears, and bears wouldn't hesitate to snack on crows. The natural food chain among ordinary animals was completely blurred in the world of spirit beasts.
The Shadow Frost Crow, older and with the advantage of flight, clashed fiercely with the two burly Ground Demon Bears, who watched each other's backs. For now, neither side could gain the upper hand.
Flender was about to leave when his sharp hawk-like eyes noticed something. He brought the group down to perch on a tree.
"Gentlemen, we've kept to ourselves thus far. Creeping around behind me like shadows—are you mistaking me, Flender the Four-Eyed Owl, for someone made of clay?!"
Underneath the tree, a shadow emerged from the shade—it was the Zhu Family Soul Sage. On another tree, Shui Qianqiu stood, wielding ice, facing him.
"So it's the Flying Corner of the Golden Iron Triangle—Flender the Four-Eyed Owl."
Both the Shui Family and the Zhu Family Soul Sage exchanged glances of realization. Their earlier suspicions dissipated upon learning Flender's identity, and they relaxed slightly.
Shui Qianqiu gave a slight bow. "Brother Flender, there's no need to be wary of us. You surely recognize our identities. Why don't we cooperate? Let's kill those three beasts and reclaim the soul bone."
Flender sneered disdainfully. "Heh! What a lovely joke. Even if we somehow manage to take down three ten-thousand-year spirit beasts, there's only one soul bone. How do you propose we divide it?"
The Zhu Family Soul Sage frowned. After retreating, they had clashed with the Shui Family. The seven of them were agility-type attackers, suppressed by Shui Qianqiu's control-type abilities. However, Shui Qianqiu also needed to protect his family members. After some probing exchanges, neither side could gain the upper hand.
But with the prospect of claiming the soul bone—and especially with Flender as a third party lingering nearby—they had no choice but to compromise.
"In the past, dividing the spoils would have been impossible. But now, Oak's method for splitting soul bones has been revealed. We can distribute the soul bone based on contributions during the battle."
Shui Qianqiu nodded in agreement. "Moreover, these spirit beasts boast extraordinary bloodlines. The chances of them dropping soul bones are extremely high. If we wait until they weaken each other, we may reap an even greater reward."
At this statement, Shui Qianqiu could barely conceal the fiery greed in his eyes. Compared to the risks involved, the sight of these spirit beasts battling each other was an enormous opportunity.
The Zhu Family Soul Sage's eyes burned with similar intensity. A thirty-thousand-year soul bone from a top-tier spirit beast—even if it didn't match the attributes of his Netherworld Spirit Cat martial soul—could easily be traded for a suitable soul bone.
Flender pretended to deliberate, secretly communicating with Yu Xiaogang and Gu La through telepathy.
"Should we agree to their terms? If we refuse, they probably won't let us leave without a fight."
After all, with the impending battle, no one would feel at ease with a seventy-eight-level agility-type soul master lurking nearby. Refusing might lead them to eliminate this unpredictable factor first.
After a brief discussion, Flender nodded before the Zhu Family Soul Sage grew impatient. "I agree. However, my friend needs the soul ring from the Ground Demon Bear. You'll need to ensure he gets the final blow."
"As compensation, I'll forgo a share of the spoils."
The Zhu Family Soul Sage and Shui Qianqiu initially wanted to refuse—killing the Ground Demon Bear was no easy task, especially while holding back—but hearing that Flender was willing to give up a share, they immediately agreed.
"Good, very straightforward!"
"Deal!"
The two glanced at the figures behind Flender. Unbeknownst to them, Gu La had purchased an illusion crystal, creating a mirage to deceive them.
And so, the alliance was formed.
------------------------------------------------------
40+ Chapters Ahead: patreon.com/EphemeralShadow
There's something for free patrons too! Free Patrons receive 1 chapter in advance :)