"I know, I know!" Gu You released his martial soul and charged deeper into the forest.
With an Ultimate Douluo as his guardian, he might as well enjoy a massacre.
"This kid..." Leng Yaozhu shook her head helplessly. Too reckless, acting just like a child...
As he sprinted, Gu You leaped up, using his dragon claws to propel himself to the top of an ancient tree.
What lay before his eyes was an endless sea of green, rolling endlessly into the horizon. The sky was clear, the clouds light, and the greenery seemed to stretch infinitely. The massive tree canopies exuded an indescribable sense of vitality, as if this world held an infinite source of life.
It was too realistic—this virtual world technology was at least a thousand years ahead of his past life.
Observing carefully, Gu You spotted a dozen hundred-year Vajra Baboons playing on the treetops in the distance.
"I'll start with you guys." Gu You instantly dashed forward, his hands becoming fully covered in purple-gold dragon scales.
The Vajra Baboons noticed Gu You and roared at him in an attempt to scare him off.
But what greeted them was only a deep dragon roar filled with destruction and annihilation, followed by Gu You's relentless dragon claws.
One after another, the Vajra Baboons fell, their heads brutally shattered by Gu You's merciless attacks.
Above, Leng Yaozhu slightly furrowed her brows at the brutality of his methods. They were a bit excessive... but she liked it. Earlier, because of the Tyrannosaurus soul spirit incident, she had assumed this kid was overly kindhearted.
What she didn't know was that in Gu You's mind, he merely treated this as an incredibly realistic game. In reality, he would have acted much more restrained.
Moments later, the tree branches were soaked in the blood of the Vajra Baboons. Soon, their corpses and blood dissolved into specks of light, leaving behind only pure energy that could be absorbed.
But Gu You didn't lower his guard—he knew that in group-living soul beasts like the Vajra Baboon, there was always a stronger leader. The one leading these hundred-year Vajra Baboons had to be at least close to a thousand years old.
Here it comes!
Purple-Gold Annihilation Slash!
Gu You sneered coldly as he launched the attack toward the forest behind him. Immediately, an enraged roar echoed in response.
As the smoke from the impact cleared, a towering, white-furred Vajra Baboon, roughly two to three meters tall, emerged before Gu You.
Not quite a thousand-year beast, Gu You sighed in relief. But it was close—and it seemed to be mutated. He wasn't sure what kind of mutation it had.
Leng Yaozhu remained silent in the air. She wouldn't intervene unless it was absolutely necessary. After all, Gu You's mere presence in the Primary Ascension Platform was already bending the rules. Normally, only Soul Elders and below were allowed in. If she interfered now, it would cause an uproar.
But at the same time, she smirked slightly. She was curious to see how much combat power this unexpectedly talented disciple of hers could unleash in a real fight. She was certain that Gu You's talent was at least on par with young Yun Ming's—perhaps even stronger.
The battle between Gu You and the white-furred Vajra Baboon raged on. His purple-gold dragon claws clashed against the baboon's fists repeatedly.
Outside the Ascension Platform, the staff members watching nearly dropped their jaws.
Is this kid a humanoid beast?! No wonder Vice Pagoda Master Leng Yaozhu took him as a disciple—his talent was monstrous.
Meanwhile, Gu You was cursing internally. Leng Yaozhu, why the hell haven't you helped me yet? So she really was just here as decoration?
He was on the verge of exhaustion. That last Purple-Gold Annihilation Slash had nearly drained him.
Screw it—I'll gamble it all!
Gu You once again activated Purple-Gold Annihilation Slash with his left hand, his face turning pale from the energy drain. At the same time, he channeled his unique destruction and annihilation energy into his right hand.
One dragon shadow, one dragon claw—both attacked simultaneously.
ROAR—!
With a final, unwilling cry of rage, the white-furred Vajra Baboon collapsed, its form disintegrating into countless white specks of light.
Seeing the abundant energy left behind, Gu You grinned and immediately sat down to absorb it, ignoring Leng Yaozhu entirely.
As the pure energy surged into his soul ring, Gu You felt a wonderful sensation spreading through his body.
Soul rings greatly enhanced one's physical abilities, and the difference between a ten-year and a hundred-year soul ring was immense.
Just as he was about to fully recover, a deafening roar suddenly shook the Star Dou Forest.
Leng Yaozhu, stunned, looked down at the massive bear approaching.
"Impossible! A hundred-year Dark Gold Dreadclaw Bear?!"
Even though it was only a hundred-year beast, the Dark Gold Dreadclaw Bear's terrifying strength, razor-sharp claws, and near-impenetrable hide made it a match for thousand-year soul beasts.
"How did it get released?" Outside the Ascension Platform, a staff member was dumbfounded. This Dark Gold Dreadclaw Bear was formed from a piece of Dark Gold Dreadclaw Bear palm bone combined with special energy, making it a mini-boss. Defeating it would grant a soul bone as a reward.
Leng Yaozhu was now fully prepared to intervene.
Both she and Gu You wore red button-like rings on their arms. Pressing the button would allow them to immediately exit the Ascension Platform. However, against certain powerful soul beasts, the reaction speed of pressing a button couldn't match the speed of an attack.
Even though this special device reduced pain by 30%, the remaining 70% could still cause serious mental trauma. If the user couldn't endure it, they might even become a vegetable.
Everyone watching was shocked.
But no one was more shocked than Gu You—he had already turned and started running for his life.
However, the Dark Gold Dreadclaw Bear was rapidly closing in. Realizing he couldn't outrun it, Gu You clenched his teeth.
Fine! If I have to fight, I'll fight! At least I won't die for real.
Although he hadn't fully recovered his soul power, he still had just enough for one more Purple-Gold Annihilation Slash.
Activate Martial Soul!
Once again, his arms were covered in purple-gold dragon scales. A powerful dragon roar echoed through the Star Dou Forest.
The Dark Gold Dreadclaw Bear hesitated for a brief moment, a flicker of fear in its eyes, but it ultimately continued its charge, raising its razor-sharp claws.
Gu You dodged and struck its back with his dragon claw—BANG!
He was sent flying backward, clutching his arm in pain.
Too tanky! It even has built-in counterattack damage!
Its weak spot—its stomach—was too hard to reach. No matter what I do, I'm screwed.
Then, suddenly, an idea flashed through Gu You's mind.
He looked up and smiled toward the sky.
Leng Yaozhu's expression darkened. "What is this kid planning...?"
Gu You relaxed his entire body and went all-in, squeezing out every last ounce of his power. His dragon claws surged with destruction and annihilation energy, causing the air around him to tremble.
The Dark Gold Dreadclaw Bear didn't care—it roared and lunged at him, mouth open wide, claws raised.
Just as its massive paw was about to crush his skull, Leng Yaozhu prepared to intervene—
"PURPLE—GOLD—ANNIHILATION—STRIKE!"
A dragon shadow burst forth from Gu You's claws, directly into the bear's open mouth.
The reversal was too sudden—unstoppable power exploded from within the Dark Gold Dreadclaw Bear, shattering it from the inside out.
A black light shot skyward, drawing the attention of every soul master in the Ascension Platform.
A mini-boss had fallen.
The reward—a soul bone.
Gu You's hands trembled, blood dripping from the edges of his dragon scales. Yet, ignoring his pain, he reached toward the glowing Dark Gold Dreadclaw Bear Right Palm Bone.
(End of Chapter)