Ghost Douluo smiled with satisfaction after officially taking Zhu Zhuqing as his disciple. However, his dark facial markings gave his expression an eerie appearance, and Su Ming couldn't help but feel slightly uncomfortable.
Unable to resist his curiosity, Su Ming asked, "Ghost Elder, I've always been curious about the markings on your face. Were you born with them, or…?"
Ghost Douluo, helping Zhu Zhuqing up after the formal ceremony, paused and replied, "These black markings appeared when I first awakened my martial spirit. I've tried to remove them before but with no success. They seem to be tied to my spirit."
Contemplating the markings, Su Ming considered that his own life energy was inherently yang (positive), while Ghost Douluo's was likely yin (negative). Perhaps, if his life energy countered the yin energy, the markings might disappear.
"Ghost Elder, I'd like to try using my martial spirit's life energy to remove these markings. Are you willing to let me try?"
Though Ghost Douluo had little hope, he agreed. "Go ahead, Su Ming. I don't expect anything, but if you're willing, I'll let you try."
Excited, Su Ming activated Sage Mode, concentrating his life energy. A green aura enveloped Ghost Douluo's face, and gradually, the dark lines began dissolving.
Moments later, the markings vanished, revealing a strikingly handsome face beneath.
Su Ming nodded with satisfaction. In his previous life, he had always thought Ghost Douluo was rather good-looking, but his face had been overshadowed by the markings. Now, he looked every bit like a mysterious, alluring figure.
"Ghost Elder, take a look. You'll barely recognize yourself! Even Chrysanthemum Douluo might not recognize you when we return," Su Ming teased.
Zhu Zhuqing watched in amazement, marveling at Su Ming's abilities.
Seeing Su Ming and Zhu Zhuqing's reactions, Ghost Douluo found a small pool of water to catch his reflection, and the sight stunned him. His face, free from the markings, was both unfamiliar and familiar, evoking memories of his past self before he awakened his martial spirit.
For the first time in years, he felt a wave of emotion well up within him. Due to his previously fearsome appearance, only Yue Guan (Chrysanthemum Douluo) had never treated him differently, though he was well aware that others had silently distanced themselves.
"Su Ming, I don't know how to thank you. These markings have haunted me for years. I never imagined they could be erased today!" he exclaimed.
Su Ming waved it off, replying, "There's no need to thank me. Just pass on all your skills to Zhuqing—that's enough for me."
Ghost Douluo readily agreed, assuring Su Ming that he would teach Zhu Zhuqing everything he knew. Happy to fulfill his new role as her master, he then suggested they delve further into Death Valley, and Su Ming used his wood-based spirit techniques to restrain some troublesome spirit beasts along the way.
After some time, Zhu Zhuqing hesitated and said, "Su Ming, Ghost Elder, should we turn back? We've encountered a few decent spirit beasts like the Shadow Tiger and the Violent Gorilla, which might suit my fifth ring. And we've been out for nearly a day."
Su Ming shook his head, explaining, "While we've come across some good candidates, I have a feeling there's a more suitable one further in. I sensed a powerful aura ahead, possibly from a fierce bear-type spirit beast. It might be just what you need."
Trusting Su Ming's instincts, they pressed forward.
Soon, they came upon a scene of intense combat: a massive bear covered in dark-gold fur was engaged in a fierce battle with a draconic creature, likely fighting over territory.
Su Ming's eyes gleamed with excitement at the sight of the bear.
Zhu Zhuqing, puzzled, asked, "Su Ming, what kind of bear is that? I've never studied it before. It's overpowering that Thunder Dragon, known for its offensive strength."
Ghost Douluo, equally surprised, added, "Strange, I haven't encountered this species either. Judging by its size, it appears to be only around ten thousand years old, yet it's holding its own against a forty-thousand-year-old Thunder Dragon. It must be a rare breed."
Death Valley was a rarely explored area, even for Spirit Hall. The beasts here were notoriously aggressive, which kept most spirit masters away due to the high risk of injury or death.
Su Ming explained, restraining his excitement, "This bear is called a Dark Gold Dreadclaw Bear. Its clan resides deep within the Star Dou Forest. It's rare to see one here in Death Valley."
Ghost Douluo seemed skeptical. "I've been to the Star Dou Forest many times but have never seen one of these."
Su Ming chuckled, thinking to himself that if Ghost Douluo had met the Star Dou Forest's Dreadclaw Bear King, he'd probably not live to tell the tale. The Bear King, or "Bear Lord," was estimated to be around three hundred thousand years old and resided in the forest's core, near the Lake of Life. It was one of the Star Dou Forest's rulers and ranked sixth among the Ten Great Beasts. Despite its "youth" compared to other ancient beasts, it held formidable power.
"Ghost Elder, from what I know, the Dark Gold Dreadclaw Bears in the Star Dou Forest's core territory are led by one far stronger than a hundred-thousand-year-old spirit beast. You might not want to be too curious; if you ever encountered it…" Su Ming sighed, cautioning him.
Hearing this, Ghost Douluo's pupils contracted in surprise. "Stronger than a hundred-thousand-year-old beast?"
Seeing Ghost Douluo's skepticism, Su Ming explained further, "If you're still in doubt, why not try fighting this ten-thousand-year-old Dark Gold Dreadclaw Bear here? Even for a Title Douluo, breaking through its defenses would be challenging."
Su Ming examined the Dark Gold Dreadclaw Bear before them with satisfaction. Fortunately, it had only recently reached ten thousand years in cultivation—otherwise, Zhu Zhuqing wouldn't be able to absorb it. Even with its current strength, they'd likely face some difficulties.
"Su Ming, you're saying that even a ten-thousand-year-old bear is formidable enough to give a Title Douluo a tough time. With my current level, are you sure I can absorb its spirit ring?" Zhu Zhuqing asked, a bit anxious.
"Don't worry, Zhuqing. Just focus on absorbing the ring when the time comes. Leave the rest to me," Su Ming assured her.
Zhu Zhuqing recalled how much Su Ming had sacrificed to help her absorb her fourth spirit ring and hesitated. "You're not planning on doing what you did last time, are you?"
She instinctively wanted to refuse, valuing his well-being over any power gain. But Su Ming tapped her forehead, chuckling, "What are you thinking, Zhuqing? My strength has grown too. Trust me—I wouldn't suggest this if I wasn't certain."
Su Ming's confidence stemmed from his newly acquired sixth spirit ring: a 150,000 old ring focused on mental power. Its strength had elevated his spiritual capabilities tremendously.
Seeing Su Ming's confidence, Ghost Douluo felt a surge of competitiveness. "It's just a ten-thousand-year-old spirit beast! How powerful could it be?" He was aware that some high-level beasts, like the Titan Giant Ape, were strong enough to rival Title Douluos even at seventy to eighty thousand years of cultivation. But could the Dark Gold Dreadclaw Bear truly surpass that?
Unaware of the true power structure of the Star Dou Forest's core area, Ghost Douluo had no idea that the Dark Gold Dreadclaw Bear was a breed with the bloodline of the ancient Behemoth, its power second to none among bear species. Titan Giant Apes were no match for it.
Right then, the Dark Gold Dreadclaw Bear displayed its might, tearing the Thunder Dragon apart in a single strike with its innate soul skill, Dark Gold Dreadclaw.
Watching this, Ghost Douluo's confidence wavered. He gulped—could he withstand such an attack?
Su Ming's warning that Title Douluos should tread carefully now seemed more than reasonable. Still, he had to prove himself before Zhu Zhuqing. No matter the odds, he would face this beast head-on as her master.
Finished with the Thunder Dragon, the bear finally focused its hostile gaze on Su Ming and his group. It had sensed their presence from the start, but had prioritized dealing with the dragon. Now, it issued a challenge, roaring fiercely and slamming its chest in defiance.
"Ghost Elder, it's provoking us! This Dark Gold Dreadclaw Bear is all yours. I'll support you from the sidelines," Su Ming remarked with a casual smile, adding, "Good luck!"
Ghost Douluo bristled. "I don't need encouragement from a mere Spirit King!"
"Second Spirit Skill: Gate of Ghosts!" With a quick movement, Ghost Douluo positioned himself in front of the bear and activated his second spirit skill. Crimson, skull-adorned stone gates rose on all sides, creating a ghastly arena that augmented his power by thirty percent and prevented the bear from escaping.
This was Su Ming's first time witnessing Ghost Douluo fight in earnest. The skill, though eerie, was undeniably impressive—a solo combat mastery skill. The only way out for the bear was for Ghost Douluo himself to disable it or for it to be shattered from the outside.
"Seventh Spirit Skill: Ghostly True Form!"
"Fifth Spirit Skill: Ghost Shadow Grasp!"
Now fully engaged, Ghost Douluo wasted no time, activating his true form and launching his fifth spirit skill to restrain the bear. Yet, to his surprise, the Dark Gold Dreadclaw Bear shrugged off the binding with a swipe of its claws, breaking free from his grip with sheer brute strength.
Seeing this, Ghost Douluo knew he'd have to unleash his full power. To prevent accidentally killing the bear and making it unusable for Zhu Zhuqing, he would need to avoid lethal blows.
Unleashing his ultimate form—Black Hell Ghost Armor! This granted a fifteen-fold soul power boost, enhanced his attributes by ten times, allowed unlimited spirit skill usage, and combined his ghost king's spirit power with physical strength to make his attacks unavoidable and unblockable.
Watching the transformation, Su Ming and Zhu Zhuqing were in awe. Ghost Douluo's final form, cloaked in armor, was strikingly imposing, and his seventh skill seemed almost too powerful. With immunity to physical damage and unavoidable attacks, this Dark Gold Dreadclaw Bear was truly outmatched.
Notes-Read advanced chapters in patreon.com/Shadow_D_X, i have finished uploading the whole series in patreon, thanks for supporting me and special thanks to all the patrons for joining
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