Chapter 68: Snow Empress — Take One More Step and We’ll Beat You Together

"I'll say it again—hand over the Ice Dragon King's soul bone!"

Bear Lord's voice was low and cold, laced with an unquestionable authority.

Xue Tianyu's lips curled into a faint, disdainful smile. "Then I'll say this again—let strength do the talking."

"You want the Ice Dragon King's soul bone? Then we'll see if you have what it takes to take it."

As he finished speaking, he clenched his right hand. The Ice God Spear appeared in his grip, gleaming with an icy light.

Bear Lord's face darkened, a flash of anger flickering in his eyes. He had never imagined someone would speak to him with such arrogance—it was an outright insult.

"Brat, no one's ever dared talk to me like that before," Bear Lord said, his voice growing deeper and laced with killing intent.

Xue Tianyu gave a calm smile. "Is that so? Then I'll be the first."

Bear Lord's expression turned even grimmer, the aura around him intensifying. The surrounding immortal herbs were crushed to the ground under the weight of his pressure.

The very air seemed frozen. Step by step, he approached Xue Tianyu. With each step, the earth cracked beneath his feet.

"Very well."

"Then you can be the first person I kill in Sunset Forest."

Bear Lord let out a sky-shaking roar.

The aura of a ferocious beast burst forth at that moment.

The gust of wind stirred by his roar made Xue Tianyu's clothes flutter wildly.

When Bear Lord was less than a meter from him, he abruptly halted, his eyes locked onto Xue Tianyu's.

Their gazes collided in mid-air, sparks flying in an instant.

"You can refuse to hand it over. I'll just take it myself."

With a cold laugh, Bear Lord suddenly swung both arms. Two massive bear paws slapped toward Xue Tianyu's forehead.

Xue Tianyu's figure blurred as he dodged the attack. At the same time, he swept the Ice God Spear, unleashing a wave of freezing air toward Bear Lord.

Bear Lord twisted his body to avoid the cold air, then launched another assault. His speed was incredible—his palms struck out again and again, each blow brimming with terrifying force.

Among ferocious beasts, Bear Lord's combat prowess was definitely among the top.

Xue Tianyu knew he couldn't allow him to keep fighting at close range.

At this stage, Bear Lord's attacks relied purely on overwhelming speed and strength.

Seeing that he couldn't avoid every strike in time, Xue Tianyu's eyes narrowed.

A faint light shone from the Water Dragon King's left leg bone.

Just as Bear Lord's massive paw was about to strike, Xue Tianyu suddenly shouted, "Soul bone skill—Water Fusion!"

In an instant, Xue Tianyu's body turned into a stream of water.

The two bear paws passed through harmlessly, dealing no damage at all.

In this state, Xue Tianyu was immune to all physical attacks.

And could even reduce spell damage by 50%.

Taking advantage of this window, he retreated swiftly with the Ice God Spear in hand.

"Elemental form?" Bear Lord sneered and quickly chased after him.

He'd seen this type of ability before. None of them could maintain it for long.

So he knew—he just had to keep pressing.

Now, Bear Lord's attacks were infused with soul power.

Each strike carried an overwhelming force.

His attacks grew fiercer and fiercer. Water Fusion's duration was nearing its end, and Xue Tianyu was still within Bear Lord's range.

Getting hit by one of those soul-power-charged paws would be lethal—someone like Dugu Bo might die instantly.

Xue Tianyu knew he couldn't take a direct hit.

He had to push Bear Lord back.

Seizing the final seconds of Water Fusion, Xue Tianyu let out a long roar, concentrating all his soul power.

His aura surged explosively!

Even Bear Lord couldn't help but pause. For a split second, he actually felt a trace of threat from this human youth.

The temperature around Xue Tianyu plummeted, and behind him, the illusory form of a massive ice dragon emerged.

At this moment, his presence reached its peak.

"Ice Dragon's Roar!"

"ROAR!"

A deafening roar erupted from Xue Tianyu's mouth. The ice dragon's projection behind him roared in unison.

The dragon's cry shook the heavens!

The ice-blue sound wave spiraled toward Bear Lord. As it passed, the surrounding water vapor froze instantly.

Bear Lord's eyes widened. He responded with a thunderous roar of his own.

But under the Ice Dragon's roar, his voice was overwhelmed—frozen in mid-air.

He could only coat his body in dense soul power, raising his paws to block.

The roaring vortex of dragon force couldn't freeze Bear Lord, thanks to the barrier of soul power, but it still blasted him over ten meters away.

Seeing Bear Lord's hands go numb from the shock, Xue Tianyu knew this was his chance.

As Bear Lord shook off the bone-chilling cold, Xue Tianyu thrust the Ice God Spear at his heart!

It was a divine weapon—if it pierced the heart, Bear Lord would be lucky to survive at all.

Sensing danger, Bear Lord hastily dodged to the side. But the Ice God Spear suddenly extended—piercing straight through his shoulder!

With a roar of pain, Bear Lord's body exploded with a shockwave of even stronger soul power.

"ROAR!!"

Injured, Bear Lord howled at Xue Tianyu, his aura skyrocketing. The air around him visibly distorted.

"You dare wound me!"

The force of his shout sent Xue Tianyu—now out of Water Fusion form—flying backward.

Having vented his fury, Bear Lord dropped to one knee, gasping heavily, one hand clutching his bleeding shoulder.

"Tianyu's already strong... he actually managed to hurt that ferocious beast."

Xue Di watched gently, a look of satisfaction on her face. The power she and Bing Di had taken eons to cultivate—Xue Tianyu had already approached it in just twenty years.

Such talent was enough to shake the world.

"That little injury probably doesn't mean much, though," Bing Di was less optimistic.

"That bear's aura is pretty close to ours. I doubt he's gone all out yet."

"Of course not."

Xue Di nodded.

So far, Bear Lord had only used his bear paws and roar.

Those were his most basic abilities.

His true power hadn't even been revealed.

"But it doesn't matter," Xue Di said calmly. "With the two of us here, can we let some bear bully Tianyu?"

"If he dares push further, we'll step in."

"Hehe." Bing Di giggled, covering her mouth. "Yeah, if this bear really dares to go overboard, then we'll just have to teach him a lesson."

At that moment, Dugu Bo—just sent flying by Bear Lord earlier—was left in complete shock after witnessing Xue Tianyu actually wound a being he himself stood no chance against.

'That's too strong…'

That bear clearly came targeting the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well. Dugu Bo knew, had he encountered Bear Lord alone, he'd be dead for sure.

Bear Lord's regeneration was formidable—his shoulder wound stopped bleeding within moments.

His eyes bulged wide, and hot vapor puffed from his bear mouth.

"ROAR!!!"

With a furious roar, Bear Lord's body expanded again. The ground beneath cracked and splintered. His immense pressure made soul beasts throughout Sunset Forest drop to the ground and tremble!