Snow Monster

The surface soil of the Extreme North is a mixture of gravel and ice shards; it is hard yet loose, often collapsing after being dug, forcing Bai Cai to use his stored clean drinking water to reinforce the shelter.

Ralts uses a shovel to dig out the shelter, precisely controlling a Psychic Shield to support the soil and snow above. Bai Cai takes out a water storage bucket, quickly opens it, and splashes the water onto the loose soil inside the shelter.

As the cold current sweeps through, the clean water soaking into the gaps between the gravel and soil freezes instantly, forming a unique type of concrete. After consuming over a dozen buckets of clean water, the loose soil has become as hard as iron, and the shelter is finally complete.

Wang Dong's Sea-Blue Bracelet has a storage space of several dozen cubic meters. Inside, aside from piles of Gold Soul Coins, it is filled with water buckets, dry rations, and cured meat. The clean water used to reinforce the shelter accounts for only one-third of all the water buckets.

Ralts uses her psychic power to smooth out the messy snow and seal the entrance of the shelter. Bai Cai takes out an iron pot and a heating Soul Tool, sets up a makeshift stove, and puts in the cured meat and clean water to stew.

Fuel is scarce in the Extreme North, and fresh vegetables and meat do not store well. The Sea-Blue Bracelet lacks a preservation function, so boiled dry rations and stewed cured meat are the best meals within Bai Cai's means.

In the long night, Bai Cai wraps himself in a thick quilt and falls into a sound sleep, with a thick cotton coat covering the curled-up Ralts.

At noon the next day, under the baking sun, the temperature rises slightly, and Bai Cai and Ralts leave the shelter.

Generally speaking, for a Soul Master who has awakened a beast Martial Soul, the state of Martial Soul Possession continuously consumes soul power.

However, the existence of Ralts not only does not consume the host's soul power but can even provide a feedback loop of soul power.

The Cold Pine Forest sways slightly, and the snow piled on the treetops suddenly slides down. Ralts controls her psychic power to form an invisible shield, blocking the falling snowdrifts.

The ground is not a safe zone. Bai Cai's mind shifts, and Ralts, sharing a telepathic connection, immediately controls her invisible psychic power to wrap around Bai Cai's entire body, forming a streamlined shield as the two slowly ascend into the air.

Judging by the physical characteristics of the Mirror Shadow Beast, the Ice-Sealed Forest is not its natural habitat.

The Ice-Sealed Forest belongs to the frigid zone and borders the Extreme North; its biomass is extremely scarce, and there are few medium-to-large soul beasts. A century-old Mirror Shadow Beast is over two meters long and has a large appetite, which contradicts the environment.

Few medium-to-large soul beasts, dense forest... it's a nursery for Mirror Shadow Beasts!

No, it is not just a nursery for Mirror Shadow Beasts. The natural predators of the Mirror Shadow Beast, other peculiar soul beasts of the same level, also head to the Ice-Sealed Forest to breed their offspring. That is why Dean Yan Shaozhe said the Ice-Sealed Forest is a hunting ground for high-level Soul Masters.

"This is troublesome."

Looking at the towering Snow Mountain in the distance, Bai Cai's gaze gradually firms.

The breeding year and season of the Mirror Shadow Beast are unknown; obtaining a Mirror Shadow Beast soul ring of a lower age within the Ice-Sealed Forest is extremely difficult.

Aside from the Ice-Sealed Forest, Mirror Shadow Beasts only appear in the Snow Mountain and ice field regions.

Dean Yan Shaozhe said that behind the Snow Mountain is an ice field. Clearly, to find a Mirror Shadow Beast of a suitable age, one must head to the Snow Mountain and ice field regions.

Ralts drives the streamlined psychic shield, and Bai Cai and Ralts sweep across the endless Ice-Sealed Forest. Before long, the towering Snow Mountain comes into view.

The natural environment of the Snow Mountain is treacherous. Thick snow covers the deep blue glaciers, and biting cold winds sweep across the foothills. Rough gravel mixed with fist-sized hailstones and sharp-edged ice shards slam heavily against the psychic shield.

Forced by necessity, Bai Cai and Ralts land on the slope of the Snow Mountain. With mountains of loose gravel, large chunks of broken ice visible everywhere, and dark gray rocks that look as if they were carved by knives and axes, climbing is extremely difficult.

After dozens of near-misses, Bai Cai finally reaches the mountainside. Looking back, the deep blue glacier is almost vertical to the mountain, like an impassable chasm, and the clouds seem within arm's reach.

"Ralts!"

Careful! Ralts says anxiously.

A giant rock slams into the psychic shield. Bai Cai raises his hands to brace himself, and Ralts tilts the psychic shield with all her might. The giant rock shifts its angle slightly, then crashes down the mountainside, sending gravel and broken ice flying everywhere.

"Huo hou!"

With a shrill cry, a monster dwelling in the deep snow above glares with scarlet eyes, dancing and pounding its chest, seemingly annoyed that it failed to kill Bai Cai in one blow.

The monster above resembles a giant ape, about three to four meters tall. Its entire body, including its face, is covered in long white fur, and its eyes are scarlet with eerily long, narrow corners.

A Snow Monster, a unique soul beast of the Extreme North, often dwells deep in the Snow Mountain. It possesses immense strength and loves to eat fresh flesh and blood.

The Snow Mountain is the Snow Monster's home turf, and their position is unfavorable. Bai Cai plans to retreat first and explore another day.

"Ralts, Ralts."

The glacial crevices above are complex; we can hide there temporarily. Ralts stares at the Snow Monster from afar, cautiously suggesting.

"If we return to the shelter, all our previous efforts will be wasted."

Bai Cai retreats slowly. "However, we don't need to risk moving forward. The natural environment of the Snow Mountain is harsh; if we are not careful, the Dean may not be able to save us in time..."

Before he can finish his sentence, a brilliant beam of light pierces the Snow Monster's chest, leaving the flesh charred.

Above the glacier, an old man in white robes retracts a cannon-shaped Soul Tool, coldly staring at the metal badge on Bai Cai's jacket. "A little brat from Shrek?"

The biting cold wind of the Snow Mountain is bone-chilling, and Bai Cai is almost in a desperate situation.

The powerhouses of the three great empires—Star Luo, Heavenly Soul, and Dou Ling—either graduated from Shrek Academy, are related to it, or are intimidated by its illustrious reputation, and would never use insulting language to address Shrek Academy students.

"Mingde Hall?"

A warm light shines on Bai Cai, dispelling the gloom and fear as Yan Shaozhe transforms into a Radiant Phoenix, blocking the white-robed old man's line of sight.

Yellow, yellow, purple, purple, black, black, black, black, red—nine soul rings, shocking to the soul, rotate and pulse around the Radiant Phoenix.

Yan Shaozhe's aura is so powerful that the white-robed old man's pupils constrict. "A Super Douluo! Who exactly are you?"

A Super Douluo, the pillar of the three great empires, a powerhouse at the level of a Shrek Academy elder, sneaking into the Extreme North alone—could it be for this little brat?

Yellow, yellow, purple, purple, purple, black, black, black, black—the nine soul rings shimmer, and the white-robed old man smiles cruelly. "A pity, a pity. If it weren't for a little brat from Shrek, this old man would have almost perished here."

A genius student protected personally by a Super Douluo, a future leader of Shrek—if he cannot escape, he might as well kill the little brat from Shrek.

A chilling murderous intent gradually permeates the surroundings. Yan Shaozhe's expression is grave as he transmits his voice secretly: "Student Bai Cai, do you remember yesterday?"

"At the moment of our parting, I sealed a burst of soul power within your body. Once triggered, it will be enough to instantly carry you out of the combat range."

"Remember, do not look back."

The seventh black soul ring lights up instantly, and the size of the Radiant Phoenix swells several times over. The scorching light melts the deep blue glacier, and the Radiant Phoenix True Body flashes in the white-robed old man's murky eyes for a split second.

A strange, warm soul power suddenly erupts, shielding Bai Cai's entire body. With a burst of brilliant light, a streak of radiance flashes across the azure sky.