Xiao Mu hefted a long, thick-barreled cannon onto his shoulder. It was the Thunder Cannon.
"Let's try this old thing. I modified it a long time ago and fitted it with a Soul Guidance Core, so it won't use up my Soul Power."
Soul Power stored in the core's reservoir poured continuously into the cannon. Patterns across its surface lit up one after another with pale purple lightning. The charging array crackled and vibrated, while tiny arcs of electricity danced around the muzzle.
The Crystal Bear, maddened by pain, charged wildly with its outer crystal shell still intact. Its massive paws smashed the surrounding tree trunks, sending crystal shards flying everywhere.
Gu Yue hurriedly used the wind element to tug at the giant bear and asked, "How long will it take to charge?"
"Just a moment. It's disposable anyway!"
Xiao Mu fixed his gaze on the bear's torso as Soul Power poured steadily into the cannon's core.
The lightning compressed to its limit at the muzzle, then erupted with a thunderous boom. A concentrated beam of lightning shot through the air and slammed into the hard crystal armor covering the Crystal Bear's chest and abdomen.
Layer upon layer of thick crystal shattered and was pierced through. The beam bored straight through the enormous body and exploded in a small patch of scorched earth behind the bear.
The Crystal Bear abruptly froze. A ghastly bloodied hole had been torn through its chest and abdomen, and blood mixed with broken crystal chunks kept streaming out.
Its massive body swayed twice before crashing heavily to the ground, unable to move again.
At that moment, the Spirit Transmitter outside the Spirit Ascension Platform was anything but calm. That was a high-level Soul Tool, and Xiao Mu had brought it inside! How could any Soul Beast in the Primary Spirit Ascension Platform possibly stop him?
Weren't these Soul Beasts just being sent to their deaths?
What Soul Beast under ten thousand years could withstand a shot like that?
Na'er walked forward with the Silver Dragon Spear in hand. "That Crystal Bear was so dumb, taking the hit head-on. It didn't even know to dodge."
Xiao Mu lowered the cannon and replied coolly, "As expected, firepower can solve most problems. If there are other problems, then the firepower definitely isn't enough."
Junwu circled in the sky, beating his wings. "Xiao Mu, if you think this is taking too long, I can just set everything on fire for you."
"Burning it all down is crazy fast. I've got experience. It won't take long, and it'll repair itself afterward."
The bird wasn't wrong. When dealing with anyone who wouldn't listen, he really did just set things on fire. Besides, this was the Spirit Ascension Platform; the Primary Spirit Ascension Platform could be repaired with ease.
Of course, that bird would dare set fire to the Intermediate Spirit Ascension Platform too.
Ordinary Soul Beasts simply couldn't catch up to him.
More accurately, no Soul Beast could outrun him.
"Forget it. We'll talk after we deal with the Spirit Ascension Platform Guardian."
Gu Yue stepped forward, a trace of confusion in her eyes. "What is the Spirit Ascension Platform Guardian?"
Xiao Mu looked into the depths of the forest and slowly explained, "We need to find the Spirit Ascension Platform Guardian. Every Spirit Ascension Platform, whether Primary, Intermediate, or Advanced, has a guardian. In truth, all the Spirit Ascension Platforms are one whole, divided into these three levels. Soul Masters enter by different means. To keep them separate and make it harder for Soul Masters to enter a higher-level Spirit Ascension Platform from a lower-level one, some force has to monitor and guard them. Inside the world of the Spirit Ascension Platform, only Soul Beasts take on that duty. And they're exceptionally powerful Soul Beasts."
Na'er tightened her grip on the Silver Dragon Spear and interjected softly, "So, deep in this forest, there's a Guardian Soul Beast far stronger than the Crystal Bear?"
Xiao Mu nodded. "That's right. Once we take down the guardian, we can go to the Intermediate Spirit Ascension Platform—and we'll be bringing our weapons with us."
"Because you can't bring any external items into the Intermediate Spirit Ascension Platform."
Junwu's cry rang out overhead. "It's only a Hundred-Year Soul Beast. I can kill it in an instant."
Na'er suddenly asked, "Brother, how many years of Soul Power do you still need to add?"
Xiao Mu estimated it. "About a hundred years. I'm at the second ring now. If I go alone, I figure two thousand-year Soul Beasts should do it."
"Inside the Intermediate Spirit Ascension Platform, we can kill as many as we want."
"Then I'll come with you," Gu Yue said, joining Xiao Mu's little group without hesitation.
"Aren't you going to look after the others?" Xiao Mu asked, puzzled. Wasn't Gu Yue going to look for Tang Wulin? Shouldn't she be trying to raise his affection for her?
"How could I possibly run into him by chance? I'll stick with you instead," Gu Yue said, making an excuse.
"Then let's go." Xiao Mu didn't refuse. At worst, he could use Gu Yue as cannon fodder.
Before long, the three of them ventured into the depths of the forest. A massive figure suddenly blocked their path: a Dark-Gold Dread-Claw Bear.
It stood over three meters tall, its body covered in thick dark-gold fur. Its pupils were cold and lifeless, brimming with undisguised savagery.
Its arms were extraordinarily muscular, and a pair of dark-gold claws stretched more than a foot long. It raised its arms slightly, its claw tips slicing through the air with a continuous hiss.
This Soul Beast excelled in attack, defense, and speed. In close combat, it crushed opponents of the same level, and its ranged charges were just as terrifying. Among the ranks of top-tier Soul Beasts, it stood near the very top; the mightiest individuals could even hold their own against true dragons.
Na'er tightened her fingers around the Silver Dragon Spear. "It's a Dark-Gold Dread-Claw Bear! Even at a hundred years, it can stand against ordinary ten-thousand-year Soul Beasts."
Elemental light shimmered around Gu Yue as she analyzed it quietly. "Its defense is extremely strong, and its claws can tear through anything. We can't take its head-on charge."
"I know. Then let's call it Big Bear." Xiao Mu's first Soul Ring suddenly lit up, and his first Soul Skill instantly spread into a domain.
The Dark-Gold Dread-Claw Bear dug in with all four limbs and charged. Its claws swept toward the three of them, wrapped in a gust of wind.
With a thought from Xiao Mu, the force field redirected the immense force of its charge. The massive body lurched sideways and crashed hard into a thick tree trunk, showering the ground with flakes of bark.
Gu Yue seized the moment to draw on the wind element and wrap it around the bear, restricting its movements. "I'll hold it back. Na'er, find an opening and attack."
Na'er stepped forward with her spear, its silver-white tip gathering a cold gleam. "Understood. Leave it to me."
The Dark-Gold Dread-Claw Bear, having suffered from the force field's redirection, swept its claws across in a fury. Razor-sharp claw energy slashed toward Xiao Mu's face.
Xiao Mu relied on his first Soul Skill alone, reversing the force of the claw strike. The impact left the giant bear's arm slightly numb and stalled its attack for a moment.
"This bear really is powerful, but its strength alone isn't enough to hurt him," Xiao Mu said, calmly assessing the situation.
Gu Yue formed wind blades at her fingertips and slashed repeatedly at the bear's thick fur. "My attacks aren't getting through."
"That's your problem," Xiao Mu said. He couldn't help calling her out. That act is so obvious. Don't think I can't see through it.
Na'er seized the opening and sprang forward, thrusting the Silver Dragon Spear at the soft joint in the bear's paw. Metal clashed against metal, scattering dazzling sparks.
The Dark-Gold Dread-Claw Bear roared in pain, turned, and charged again in a frenzy.
Xiao Mu redirected the entire force field into an invisible barrier and shouted, "Binding Way #81: Danku!"
The terrifying impact slammed into the barrier. Its claws scraped across it, throwing off golden sparks that lit up the dark forest.
"Brother, I'm barely scratching it," Na'er said. She knew she could wound the Dark-Gold Dread-Claw Bear, but she couldn't truly kill it in a short time.
Xiao Mu suddenly reached into his pocket and pinched a gleaming silver coin between his fingers. He raised his eyes to the raging Dark-Gold Dread-Claw Bear and said, "Looks like I've got no choice but to use that move!"
Gu Yue's eyes narrowed. "You have another Soul Tool?"
"I don't need a Soul Tool! You think all my strength comes from Soul Tools? How shallow. Truly shallow."