Xie Xie actually managed to intercept the Three-Eyed Golden Lion in mid-air!
As expected of a juvenile Three-Eyed Golden Lion. Although its defense remained formidable, it was not entirely unbeatable. It was fast and skilled in both mental and physical attacks, but since its two innate extreme attributes had not yet awakened, its overall strength was not too high.
"Xiaoyan, finish this quickly." While speaking, Tang Wulin's second soul ring flared brightly, and a vast amount of Blue Silver Grass surged from the ground, transforming into the Blue Silver Spike Array, enveloping the Three-Eyed Golden Lion.
They had to finish this battle quickly—no one could predict whether the adult Three-Eyed Golden Lion, which was fighting Gu Yue, would sense the juvenile's distress and rush back. If that happened, they wouldn't even have a chance to escape.
As the Blue Silver Spike Array closed in, the Three-Eyed Golden Lion once again emitted a golden halo from its body. The Blue Silver Grass withered before even touching it. The golden glow seemed exceptionally mysterious.
At that moment, a Starwheel silently appeared beneath the lion's feet. Its body instantly stiffened.
With a flash of golden light, Tang Wulin appeared right in front of it.
His Golden Dragon Claw slammed down, striking the Three-Eyed Golden Lion squarely on the head.
Screeeech!
The Three-Eyed Golden Lion let out a miserable cry, collapsing onto the ground. However, Tang Wulin's Golden Dragon Claw was strangely repelled upon impact—its Destruction Crush effect failed to activate, and it did not deliver a fatal blow.
The Three-Eyed Golden Lion lay sprawled on the ground, nearly unconscious from the heavy strike.
"Captain, don't damage its head—we need the skull!" Xie Xie urgently reminded him.
Tang Wulin withdrew his Golden Dragon Claw and refrained from attacking again. When he had struck the Three-Eyed Golden Lion just now, he had felt something peculiar—no matter what, the Destruction Crush effect of his Golden Dragon Claw simply would not activate. This was something linked to fate and fortune, and against the Emperor Auspice Beast, it seemed ineffective.
Gazing at the fallen Three-Eyed Golden Lion, they knew it was completely at their mercy. While its body was well-defended, with the power of Tang Wulin's Golden Dragon Claw, breaking through its defenses and killing it wouldn't be difficult.
Even though its skull had repelled the initial strike, its golden fur had already been torn, and golden blood seeped from the wound.
Tang Wulin looked at his teammates. "Now it's time to distribute the spoils. Xiaoyan, you're about to break through—you can take the soul ring. As for the soul bone…" Before he could finish, Old Tang's voice suddenly echoed in his mind.
"Wulin, this soul bone is extremely beneficial to you. The mysteries of fortune within it are profound—it can help you break through your next Golden Dragon King seal. Without using additional spiritual treasures, it will increase your survival rate by at least fifty percent per seal."
Tang Wulin froze for a moment. The Golden Dragon King's seal was a matter of life and death. Each time he broke through a seal, the risk was enormous. If this soul bone could truly help him, then… He swallowed back the words he was about to say, hesitating to give it up.
"I… I want to absorb this soul bone. It will be invaluable to my future." Tang Wulin's expression darkened.
Xie Xie looked longingly at the Three-Eyed Golden Lion's body, then sighed and took a step back, relaxing completely.
"I'll give it up. A real man makes his own way—I don't need to rely on a soul bone. Besides, this skull mainly enhances spiritual power, and I'm not a spiritual-type soul master. No matter how great it is, it wouldn't be the best fit for me." Although Xie Xie coveted the soul bone, deep down, he felt that taking it so easily would be undeserved. He was greedy, but he had his limits.
Gu Yue turned her back to them. "The Three-Eyed Golden Lion is an Emperor Auspice Beast—its soul bone grants luck. I rely on strength, not luck." Her voice was cold.
Tang Wulin stood still, lips pressed together. A thought suddenly surfaced in his mind—If you want to become stronger, you must be willing to do anything!
Even though this Three-Eyed Golden Lion was only a ten-year-old soul beast, its soul bone was known as the number one among all soul bones. Its value could not be measured by its age alone.
Xu Xiaoyan's eyes turned red. Gu Yue and Xie Xie had both declined the soul bone, so what was the point of her taking the soul ring? Besides, it was only a ten-year-old soul beast. Even if it had special properties, it wasn't truly suited for her. She also trusted Gu Yue—she would help her find something better, a soul beast more suitable for her attributes and age.
Xu Xiaoyan crouched down and looked at the little Three-Eyed Golden Lion.
For a moment, she felt pity for the creature.
She shook her head, then stood up and walked over to Tang Wulin. "I won't take the soul ring."
"You're giving it up?" Tang Wulin asked in surprise. "Why?"
This was a treasure that would make the entire soul master world jealous. He couldn't understand why Xu Xiaoyan would refuse. Was it just because Gu Yue and Xie Xie had declined it? Was it to preserve their friendship? Would she really give up on such a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity?
Xu Xiaoyan spoke each word clearly: "Tang Wulin! If it were any other soul ring, I would take it without hesitation. But this is a Three-Eyed Golden Lion's soul ring—it's too precious. If I took it for myself, I would feel guilty. And this little Three-Eyed Golden Lion is just a baby—it was only recently born. If its mother comes back and finds her child dead, can you imagine how heartbroken she would be?
"Yes, we've killed soul beasts before, but only because they attacked us first. We had to defend ourselves. But this Three-Eyed Golden Lion was just resting at home. If we kill it just like this, I can't bear it! I don't want it! Let's just leave it and go."
"Why?!" Tang Wulin suddenly shouted in anger. "You children who grew up in the city—what do you understand? What do you know? Do you know what it feels like to have only three innate soul power ranks? Do you know how helpless I felt when my mother was taken, and I couldn't do anything? I have to become stronger! I need this soul bone!"
Xu Xiaoyan was startled.
"Wulin, what's wrong with you…?" Xie Xie looked at him, dumbfounded.
Tang Wulin clenched his fists. "Say whatever you want about me—I don't care. I must absorb this soul bone. It determines my future. It determines my survival."
Turning away from them, he stepped toward the little Three-Eyed Golden Lion. His Golden Dragon Claw emerged once more, and without hesitation, he slashed down, his strike devoid of any emotion.
Slash!
Golden blood sprayed into the air. Xu Xiaoyan covered her eyes, unable to watch. Xie Xie clenched his fists tightly.
Gu Yue's expression turned ice cold. A tear slid down her cheek. She gazed at the helpless soul beast being slaughtered before her.
In that moment, she felt an overwhelming urge—to kill.
(End of Chapter)