When the Bear Lord heard this, he lumbered over to Jiang Shengyu and asked,
"Human, what is it you want from me?"
Jiang Shengyu retrieved a humanoid suit of soul-guided armor from his storage device and said with a smile,
"Want to try this on? It's the latest soul-guided battle armor developed by Mingde Hall. It can enhance the wearer's strength attribute by at least twenty percent."
At this stage, soul-guided armor was still far from the sophisticated battle armor of later generations. It could not yet provide fully specialized attribute boosts—but it was already a remarkable beginning.
"Let me try it!" the Bear Lord said without hesitation.
The armor employed transformation technology that could adjust its dimensions to fit the wearer's physique. Even with the Bear Lord's massive frame, he was able to fit snugly into it.
The moment he put it on, the Bear Lord could feel the surge of power coursing through him.
He couldn't help but exclaim in awe,
"Incredible! Human soul-guided technology can even achieve something like this!"
Watching the overwhelming aura radiating from the Bear Lord clad in armor, even Di Tian felt a rare sense of emotion.
Humanity's strength was growing ever more formidable through soul-guided technology.
The enhancement was only twenty percent for now—but what about in ten years? In a hundred? As soul-guided technology continued to advance, the degree of amplification would only increase.
Di Tian understood then: the era of the soul beasts was truly nearing its end.
The Bear Lord's face was full of excitement. Instinctively, he looked toward Di Tian—but the latter's expression remained utterly calm, his golden eyes fixed upon him. Realizing the message in that silent gaze, the Bear Lord quickly looked away.
Even with a twenty percent boost in strength, he knew he still wasn't Di Tian's match.
In fact, with Jiang Shengyu and Jiang Qingtong's strange dual-soul-core yin–yang system, even the two of them together could probably give him quite a beating.
"Human! This armor—you're giving it to me?"
Admiring the gleaming plates upon his body, the Bear Lord turned to Jiang Shengyu.
Seeing how enamored he was, Jiang Shengyu thought privately, As expected, beastfolk are easy to win over. Outwardly, however, he smiled warmly and nodded.
"That's right—it's yours. Not only that, whenever Mingde Hall develops new armor, mecha, or similar equipment, you'll be the first to test it out. How about that?"
The Bear Lord's eyes lit up, but after a moment's pause, he narrowed them suspiciously.
"You sly brat—you just want me to be your test bear, don't you?"
"Is it useful or not?" Jiang Shengyu asked lightly.
"It's useful," the Bear Lord admitted.
"Do you like it?"
"I like it!"
"Then that settles it. What's there to worry about? With your identity as the Darkgold Terrorclaw Bear King, are you really afraid something will go wrong during testing?" Jiang Shengyu spread his hands and grinned.
Flattered by the praise, the Bear Lord chuckled proudly.
"Hmph! At least you have good taste, human. Fine—since you've brought so many weapons to aid the Star Dou Great Forest, I'll let this one slide!"
As they were speaking, the expressions of all the soul beasts—including Di Tian—suddenly changed.
A moment later, a thunderous roar echoed from the outer regions of the forest. Several overwhelming auras surged straight toward the core area.
"Damn it! It's those humans from Shrek Academy again!" the Bear Lord snarled, baring his fangs. "Di Tian, I'll go crush them!"
"Don't be rash," Di Tian said, raising a hand to stop him. "This time, the ones who've come are not simple."
At once, Jiang Shengyu ordered his soul engineers to conceal themselves along with their weapons. He and Jiang Qingtong used their simulation soul skills to mask their presence and hid to the side.
Before long, several figures appeared above the skies of the Star Dou Great Forest's core region.
Jiang Shengyu recognized them immediately—Da Ming, Xuan Zi, as well as Yan Shaozhe, Elder Song, and several of Shrek Academy's senior elders.
Standing among them was another man Jiang Shengyu and Jiang Qingtong did not know, but judging from his robes marked with the sigil of the Dou Ling Empire's temple, he could only be the empire's Sunlight Douluo.
Both Yan Shaozhe and Elder Song were clearly stronger than before.
Meanwhile, Xuan Zi and the Sunlight Douluo emanated unmistakable auras—those of Ultimate Douluo!
With Da Ming leading the group, this was a trio of Ultimate Douluo—an overwhelming force.
The oppressive pressure they exuded was terrifying beyond words.
Di Tian rose into the air, his voice cold and commanding.
"Humans, this is the core region of the Star Dou Great Forest. You have no right to set foot here. Leave at once!"
Da Ming met his gaze and replied icily,
"Di Tian, cease your resistance. This is the will of the gods."
Di Tian's eyes flicked toward him, filled with disdain and mockery.
"Once, you were nothing more than a mere hundred-thousand-year Sky Azure Bull Python. You happened to bask in the favor of that one and stayed in the God Realm for a time—and now you dare to speak to me this way?"
Sky Azure Bull Python?
The others—Xuan Zi and the rest—were visibly taken aback when Di Tian revealed Da Ming's true identity. Yet, none voiced objection. After all, Da Ming now acted as the vessel of divine will.
"As a fellow soul beast, I do not wish to see the Star Dou Great Forest drenched in blood," Da Ming said coldly, brows furrowed. "I have come only to seek your submission and oath of allegiance—nothing more."
"A true dragon does not bow to a bull python."
Black scales rippled up Di Tian's arm, and his clawed hand extended, pointing straight at Da Ming.
"Sky Azure Bull Python, would you raise your claws against your own kind—for the sake of humans and gods?"
Da Ming sighed and turned to the others.
"Do not kill any beasts in the core region. Disable them only—strip them of their power to resist."
"Understood, sir." Xuan Zi and the others bowed their heads slightly in acknowledgment.
The Bear Lord roared furiously and launched himself skyward.
"Then let me see what you humans have that can take away our will to fight!"
"Impudent beast! Allow this old man to teach you your place!"
Xuan Zi stepped forward to meet him, releasing his Ultimate Douluo aura in full. His twin soul cores resonated in harmony, unleashing a torrential wave of soul power that collided head-on with the Bear Lord's charge.
At once, they noticed the armor gleaming upon the Bear Lord's body—clearly not something a soul beast should possess.
Meanwhile, Yan Shaozhe and Elder Song turned their gazes downward, scanning the core region carefully. Sensing nothing unusual, they ascended to engage the other ferocious beasts—the Ten Thousand Demon King, Zi Ji, and the Scarlet King all took to the air to meet them in battle.
Above them, the two titans clashed—Di Tian and Da Ming.
Their power tore the very sky apart, the world around them fracturing into a kaleidoscope of light and shadow as countless spatial rifts flickered in and out of existence.
Empowered by Tang San's divine blessing, Da Ming held his own against Di Tian's fierce onslaught.
The two Ultimate Douluo—dragon and bull—fought as equals, blow for blow, neither yielding an inch.