The Golden Core Spirit Beast

The group froze.

Thud! Thud! Thud!

A colossal shadow emerged from the forest gloom, each earth-shaking step revealing a seven-meter-tall behemoth. Moonlight glinted off its matted fur as the ​Golden Core Spirit Bear King​ lumbered into view, its amber eyes glowing with primal fury.

"Spirit Bear Monarch?!" Huang Laodao paled, unconsciously retreating a step.

**[Spirit Bear Monarch]**​

Realm: Early Golden Core

Weakness: Slow mobility. Vulnerable ocular regions. Piercing both eyes will cripple defenses...

"A Golden Core spirit beast!" Zhang Yun's eyes gleamed like a treasure hunter spotting buried gold. This mountain of flesh wasn't just a threat—it was a walking fortune! The crystalline core alone could fetch thousands of spirit stones, not to mention the priceless hide.

Without hesitation, Zhang Yun abandoned the remaining Foundation Establishment bears and shot toward the monarch like a silver comet.

"My Lord—!" Huang Laodao's warning died in his throat as he watched the suicidal charge. Memories resurfaced—his own sword glancing harmlessly off such a beast's hide years prior, the desperate retreat that followed. Yet here was this madman, grinning as he assaulted certain death.

Squelch!

The bear's agonized roar split the night as Zhang Yun's blade sank hilt-deep into its left eye. The monarch crashed to its knees, tree-trunk arms flailing wildly.

"Impossible..." Huang Laodao whispered, witnessing history rewritten. The disciples stood transfixed—their master became a vengeful spirit dancing around the thrashing titan, sword flashing like lightning strikes.

Thrust!

Zhang Yun's final strike pierced the softened hide above the heart. Azure energy erupted within the chest cavity, reducing vital organs to pulp. The bear's death rattle shook the forest before its massive frame collapsed, shaking the earth one last time.

"Golden Core spirit beast slain: +50 points." The bracelet's notification glowed crimson.

Zhang Yun wiped gore from his blade, eyeing the fleeing Foundation Establishment bears with predator's glee. "Cleaning up the rest!"

Moments Later​

The clearing resembled a slaughterhouse painted in moonlight. Huang Laodao numbly collected bisected carcasses, stealing glances at the disciples perched on the monarch's corpse.

"Focus," Zhang Yun instructed as Xu Ming and Wu Xiaopang pressed palms against still-warm hide. "Your constitutions hold latent powers—let the beast's remnant qi draw them forth!"

The bear's corpse suddenly convulsed. A phantom roar erupted as residual spirit energy lashed out—a Golden Core beast's final defiance.

"Idiots!" Huang Laodao lunged forward, too late. The crushing pressure should've reduced the youths to drooling invalids...

Instead, twin phantoms emerged—a coiled golden dragon above Xu Ming, a conquering warlord silhouette enveloping Wu Xiaopang. The bear's residual will disintegrated like paper before flame.

"Dragonscale Constitution... Tyrant's Vessel..." The daoist stumbled back, comprehension dawning. These weren't disciples—they were nascent deities!

His earlier resentment evaporated. Serving divinity wasn't shameful—it was privilege!

Zhang Yun's dagger parted the bear king's thick hide with surgical precision. Milky light spilled through the incision—a crystalline core the size of a goose egg pulsed within, its surface swirling with condensed spiritual energy.

**[Golden Core Spirit Beast Nucleus]**​

Quality: Pristine

Description: Contains dense spiritual essence. Primary material for advanced formations, spirit tools, and puppetry. Direct absorption during cultivation possible but risky due to volatile energy.

"Master! Look at this!" Xu Ming's awed whisper drew attention. Golden scales had erupted across his forearms, their edges sharp enough to cast moonlight reflections. Beside him, Wu Xiaopang's normally rounded frame now rippled with corded muscle, his shadow stretching into a warlord's silhouette against the trees.

Huang Laodao's knees nearly buckled under the dual pressure. Dragon-touched and Tyrant-born... This madman collected walking natural disasters as disciples?!

Zhang Yun pried the nucleus free, its warmth bleeding through his gloves. "We'll need nine more of these," he mused, envisioning the Three-Core Amalgamation Technique from Zuo Qiubei's scroll. "The puppet framework in the underground vault..."

A twig snapped in the darkness beyond the clearing.

All four cultivators froze—the forest's nocturnal chorus had ceased. Even the wind held its breath.

"Master?" Wu Xiaopang's whisper trembled.

"Load the carcasses," Zhang Yun ordered, sliding the nucleus into a lead-lined preservation case. "We leave in twenty breaths."

As Huang Laodao hurried to comply, his earlier resentment had crystallized into terrified reverence. This wasn't a mere master-disciple relationship he'd entered—it was a front-row seat to legend-making.

The bear king's vacant eyes reflected moonlight like frosted glass as they departed, its spilled blood already attracting scavenger spirits. Deep in the forest's heart, something ancient stirred at the scent of dragon and conquest...