Squeak!
Rustle!
A large, pure-white rabbit, previously contentedly munching on grass, suddenly froze. Its long ears twitched, recognizing an ominous sound. The white fur on its body bristled instantly as it whipped its head around.
It saw him. A golden-furred, slightly rotund piggy-bear, about the same size as itself, was walking toward it. The bear's face was twisted into a malicious smirk, and its little paws were rubbing together with clear, ill intent.
Hiss!
The rabbit, a thousand-year Soul Beast, adopted a fierce stance. Its ruby-red eyes glared at the approaching Zhu Hao, baring its teeth in a silent, savage warning: Do not come closer.
"Heh-heh!"
Zhu Hao's small, plump face shook with wicked laughter. He ignored the warning entirely.
"Activate: Law of Heaven and Earth!"
BOOM!
Zhu Hao's body violently expanded, shooting up to the height of a grown man. The shift was instantaneous; he became a massive, golden-furred bear radiating a shocking, powerful aura. The lesser Soul Beasts in the immediate vicinity screamed in terror and fled the scene in utter panic.
"Squeak!"
The white rabbit, sensing the terrifying power emanating from the monstrous form, let out a piercing shriek. A purple light—the clear mark of a $\text{1,000-year}$ Soul Ring—flashed around its body. It pushed off with its powerful hind legs, leaping several yards in a desperate attempt to escape.
"Where do you think you're going?"
Zhu Hao gathered his strength and gave chase. The force of his powerful stride made the earth tremble. Wherever he passed, the forest was reduced to ruin, countless bushes and trees flattened by his rapid advance.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
The rabbit sprinted ahead, a white blur of pure speed, with the colossal golden bear thundering directly behind it. The area they passed through was a wake of destruction.
"This little fellow has absolutely no rest in him!"
Ah Yin, watching the chase through the Blue Silver Grass network, shook her head and chuckled helplessly.
"You are surprisingly fast!"
Zhu Hao was secretly shocked. Even with the $\text{100x}$ boost from the Law of Heaven and Earth, he held no decisive advantage over this $\text{1,000-year}$-level speed demon. He couldn't close the gap immediately.
Furthermore, while the Law of Heaven and Earth granted him immense power, it also consumed a significant amount of Energy. He knew his enlarged form couldn't last forever.
"Straw Rope!"
Zhu Hao pointed a large bear claw, and a golden, rope-like entity instantly condensed, shooting out like a whip toward the fleeing rabbit.
"What in the hell is that? He's a mutant bear/pig, why does he have plant-type tricks?" The rabbit, seeing the flying rope, was thoroughly confused. That kind of skill should belong to a plant-type Soul Beast!
If Zhu Hao had known the rabbit's internal monologue, he would have proudly puffed out his chest and declared: "Lord Pig is simply all-powerful!"
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
The Straw Rope twisted and coiled, pursuing the rabbit at high speed. The rabbit leaped left and right, narrowly dodging the golden menace, occasionally kicking out with its strong hind legs to strike the rope.
However, under Zhu Hao's meticulous control, the Straw Rope behaved like a clever, golden viper, constantly probing for a weakness. It eventually found one, latching onto the rabbit's hind legs mid-stride.
Plop!
The rabbit was caught completely off guard. The sudden constriction of its powerful legs during its top-speed run caused it to tumble violently to the ground.
Boom!
Zhu Hao took a giant stride, landing squarely in front of his captive.
The rabbit looked up, utterly defeated. It saw a majestic, imposing giant gazing down at it, a colossal golden paw reaching out for it.
"Is this it? Am I going to die? Will I be food for this big brute?" Despair flooded the rabbit's heart as it struggled futilely against the ensnaring rope.
Bang!
Zhu Hao easily grabbed the rabbit by its two long ears, lifting it up and bringing the struggling creature to eye level.
"Little rabbit, do you submit?" Zhu Hao's massive form spoke, but the voice that came out was still his high-pitched, childish squeak.
"Huh?"
The rabbit was bewildered. This thing chased me for miles, beat me up, and now... it just wants to know if I submit?
"You dare to glare at me? Are you still rebellious?"
Zhu Hao raised his other bear paw, using one gigantic finger to poke the rabbit's soft, furry belly.
Hiss!
The rabbit was incandescent with rage and bared its teeth at Zhu Hao. But facing the sheer size of the enormous bear claw, it finally capitulated. It nodded its head repeatedly, communicating through the shared Soul Beast language: "I submit! I surrender, I surrender!"
"Experience +25, Magical Power: Kick."
"Very well, you are free to go!"
Zhu Hao nodded in satisfaction, looking at the precious Experience points that had just materialized. He tossed the rabbit unceremoniously to the ground, waved his colossal hand, and gave it a generous dismissal.
"You fat pig! You stupid bear! Just you wait!"
The rabbit, known as Xiao Liu, glared at Zhu Hao with fury-filled red eyes. But it wisely didn't linger. It gave a quick leap and bolted away.
"My Experience is now 103! Excellent! Lord Pig can level up again!"
Zhu Hao returned to his normal size, a huge grin spreading across his face as he reviewed his updated Pig God's Light. However, he decided against upgrading immediately. A look of cunning sparkled in his bright eyes.
First, I'll go find a few more powerful Soul Beasts to gain more experience and use up some more energy. Then, I'll make sure to pick up a few minor injuries before I head back to Sister Yin.
A triumphant, mischievous thought finished his calculation: That way, I'll definitely secure another massive, restorative wave of pure Energy!
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Zhu Hao, the little black bear, then happily embarked on his new journey of "disciplining" Soul Beasts.
Meanwhile, the heavily traumatized white rabbit, Xiao Liu, made her way to a beautiful, serene valley nestled between mountains, where a small wooden house stood.
In front of the cottage, an exceptionally cute, pink rabbit was leisurely holding a carrot, eating it with evident relish. The pink rabbit, Xiao Wu, possessed bright, ruby-like eyes and pink fur that shimmered with a jewel-like luster.
"Waaah! Waaah! Sister Xiao Wu, there was a little pig... no, a little bear! He bullied me, Waaah!"
Xiao Liu ran to the pink rabbit, rubbing her head affectionately against Xiao Wu's neck. Her large eyes were full of genuine grievance as she communicated in the ancient Soul Beast tongue.
"A piglet or a bear?" The pink rabbit, Xiao Wu, paused her meal and calmly looked at Xiao Liu. Seeing that her sister was physically unharmed, she asked slowly.
"Sister Xiao Wu, it was a creature that looked a bit like both a pig and a bear. It was our size, it could speak the human language, and it had a strange, baby-like voice. But it could also transform! It became a huge, golden bear, much bigger, stronger, and faster! It was like a terrifying giant!" Xiao Liu quickly explained, taking great care to be accurate.
"But its raw strength wasn't overwhelmingly powerful, just about that of a $\text{1,000-year}$ Soul Beast. It had a strange rope-like skill, and I only got caught because that rope snared me. Otherwise, he never would have stopped me! That damn thing even poked my stomach with his claws! Sister Xiao Wu, you have to avenge me! You have to beat him up!" The white rabbit grabbed Xiao Wu with her two forelegs and pleaded fiercely.
"Oh? A speaking Soul Beast that can transform, yet remains so weak? That is genuinely fascinating!"
Xiao Wu's eyes lit up with curiosity and interest. "Lead the way, then, Sister Xiao Wu will help you get your revenge!"
"Xiao Wu, where are you going? It's dangerous outside; don't wander off!"
A beautiful woman emerged from the cottage, calling out with a protective air.
"Don't worry, Mom. A mutant bear bullied Xiao Liu. I'm just going to help her seek revenge. It's nothing dangerous!" Xiao Wu replied to the woman.
"Xiao Liu is fine. Don't go around picking fights arbitrarily!" The beautiful woman, upon seeing that Xiao Liu was not seriously injured, deduced that the Soul Beast wasn't malicious, only mischievous, and issued a gentle warning.
"I know, Mom, don't worry!"
With that assurance, Xiao Wu followed Xiao Liu out of the protective confines of the valley. The little pig-bear's antics had just drawn the attention of a much, much higher-level predator.
Back in the thicket, Zhu Hao was still busy rounding up his remaining Experience.
"Little mouse, don't run!"
Zhu Hao yelled, and the Straw Rope shot out like a golden hunting snake.
A large, khaki-colored rat was so terrified that it began frantically digging with its paws, instantly burrowing a hole and vanishing into the earth.
Whoosh!
The Straw Rope quickly followed the rat down the hole.
"Retrieve!"
Zhu Hao commanded. The Straw Rope retracted, and at the end of the rope, which had extended impossibly deep into the earth, was the struggling rat, which Zhu Hao hoisted out.
"You still think you can outrun Lord Pig? Do you submit?"
Zhu Hao grabbed the rat by the tail, lifted it high, and poked its head with his little paw.
Chichichichi!
The rat nodded its small head frantically, clearly indicating its submission.
"Defeat the Earth Rat, Experience +5, Magical Power: Dig a Hole!"
"Get lost!"
The rope loosened. Zhu Hao waved his palm dismissively.
Squeak!
The Earth Rat put its little paws together in a gesture of frantic worship, then dove back into its burrow and disappeared.
Zhu Hao stood there, triumphant and rich in Experience and new Magical Powers. He was ready to return to his Empress, completely unaware that his path was about to intersect with the formidable 100,000-year soft-boned rabbit, Xiao Wu.