Before them, the bear-like soul beast reared up, its forelimbs lifted high. Along the outer side of its left arm, its fur lay pressed flat together—dense and gleaming like a solid metal shield.
Fan Yu, an eighth-rank soul engineer, had struck with the full force of his mechanical arm. Yet the creature had not even budged. Instead, it roared in fury and charged at them, its heavy footsteps shaking the ground.
Each thunderous step sent tremors through the earth; the soil beneath their feet cracked open, revealing cavernous hollows beneath.
"What's going on? Don't tell me this whole mountain is hollow!"
"Teacher Fan, its defense is extremely strong. Normal attacks won't break through. You have the highest cultivation here—Sister Ruoruo and I will create an opening for you. Try to strike where its armor is weakest!"
Fan Yu cast a quick glance toward Zhang Lexuan. Despite the oppressive aura of a beast that had clearly cultivated for seventy or eighty thousand years, the girl remained calm, analyzing the situation with clear precision.
As expected of the Martial Spirit Department's prodigy, he thought, and nodded firmly. "Good. Lexuan, you take command."
The moment he finished speaking, Zhang Lexuan's sixth spirit ring lit up. Rising into the sky, it cast a silver glow that dimmed the daylight for an instant. A round moon appeared overhead, its center darkening as a brilliant silver ring descended.
The beast, impervious even to Fan Yu's attacks, seemed unbothered at first. Its metallic fur absorbed the brunt of the power—but then its movement suddenly halted. The silver halo had bound it in place.
"Ruoruo!"
Han Ruoruo responded instantly, her golden whip lashing out to entangle the beast's arms.
Her face drained of color at once. "I can't hold it!"
It wasn't just that she couldn't hold it—it was that the beast broke free in the blink of an eye.
But Fan Yu had already understood Zhang Lexuan's plan. In that fleeting heartbeat, his sixth ring flared, and the mechanical arm on his right shoulder shot forward, plunging straight into the creature's open jaws.
"Wait—don't!"
A voice cried from afar, but it was too late.
The beast bit down with terrifying force. Metal screeched and snapped; the arm shattered, its severed half swallowed whole.
Instantly, its eyes glowed crimson.
With a single swing of its left arm, Fan Yu was hurled aside. Zhang Lexuan's technique shattered as she spat out a mouthful of blood.
"Roar—!"
A guttural howl tore through the air, red-brown light condensing within the creature's throat.
Zhang Lexuan barely had time to steady her soul power before something slammed into her side, sending her tumbling away just as the beam erupted.
When she looked up, she saw the fading glow of a soul-tool thruster behind Lin Xiao's back.
Fan Yu, hovering in midair, stared down in shock. "Brother Shen?"
Lin Xiao didn't have time for pleasantries. "Do you have any energy-type soul-tools left?"
"Energy-type?" Fan Yu echoed, momentarily confused.
"That thing is called a Gold-Devouring Beast. It feeds on ores and minerals, refining the power within metals to strengthen itself. Those steel-like hairs of its are the result."
In a few swift words, Lin Xiao explained enough for Fan Yu to understand. His earlier strike hadn't found a weak point at all—it had fed the creature exactly what it craved.
"I don't have any high-grade offensive soul-tools on me," Fan Yu admitted, frustration flickering across his face. "My focus is fixed soul-tools—they're not meant to be carried around."
Lin Xiao sighed softly, glancing at the ground beneath them. "Then our only option is retreat. This mountain was once a mineral vein—it's all been devoured by that beast. We won't defeat it."
Still… a spark of calculation flashed in his eyes.
He had arrived even earlier than they had. The Gold-Devouring Beast's body was a treasure trove of rare materials, but he alone couldn't handle an eighty-thousand-year-old beast. He'd thought Fan Yu's presence might be enough to injure it—but the Shrek team's ignorance had turned their advantage into disaster.
He couldn't blame them. The creature was native to the Sun and Moon Continent; it had likely migrated here, drawn by the local ore.
"Brother Shen, what do we do now?"
"Your plan to attack its weak spots was correct—but don't use those same soul-tools again," Lin Xiao replied quickly. "Lower-level tools can't pierce its hide, but they can distract it. Leave the attack to me."
"Understood."
Fan Yu nodded. The cannons mounted on both arms extended, over a dozen barrels glowing as they unleashed a volley of energy.
The blasts struck like thunder, forcing the Gold-Devouring Beast back step by step.
"Rooaaar—!"
Just as it opened its maw to roar, a piercing beam shot straight into its throat.
Lin Xiao's first spirit ring shone bright yellow as he steadied the fifth-rank soul-cannon braced along his arm. A stream of light connected cannon to target—woven with faint, blood-red threads of power that vanished almost as soon as they appeared.
His control was perfect. Even though he hadn't owned the weapon long, at this range he couldn't miss.
From the corner of his eye, Fan Yu caught a glimpse of the cannon on Lin Xiao's arm. Its power… exceeded even Shrek's own craftsmanship.
Above them, Zhang Lexuan recovered and summoned another wave of silvery moonlight, pressing the creature back. Under their combined assault, the Gold-Devouring Beast stumbled—its massive body slipping into the cavern below.
"Now—run!"
Zhang Lexuan had barely spoken before Lin Xiao's sharp command overrode her.
Fan Yu reacted instantly. Gathering soul power around them, he swept both girls into his barrier and soared away from the collapsing ground.
"Brother Shen, thank you for saving us," Fan Yu called over the rush of wind. "But… what are you doing out here?"
"Long story," Lin Xiao answered. "You must have heard the same rumor I did—something about rare minerals, right?"
Fan Yu fell silent. It took a long moment before he finally spoke again. "Yes. I was too greedy. I should've known better than to trust a stranger's word. What are the odds such a rich vein would just fall into our laps?"
He paused, then chuckled ruefully. "By the way, Brother Shen—where are you from? Would you consider joining our academy?"
Lin Xiao feigned curiosity. "And which academy would that be?"
Fan Yu smiled. "Ah—how rude of me to forget. We're from Shrek Academy."
(End of Chapter)