Brother Xiao's Pride, the Gold-Eating Beast That Picked the Three-Legged Golden Toad's Throat Clean-This Metal Had Some Muscle (4K)

The Five Spirit Kings of Ai Xiao consisted of three girls and two boys.

Lin Qing could understand girls idolizing Xiao Hongchen. He focused his attention on the two males, his gaze drifting past the short, scrawny youth and settling on the dark-skinned giant who stood over two meters twenty tall, surprise flickering in his eyes.

"...You're in Ai Xiao too?"

"The girl I like is in Ai Xiao."

The burly man jerked his chin toward the girls.

"Got it." Lin Qing nodded. "You've followed me all this way. What exactly are you planning to do for Xiao Hongchen?"

"Ai Xiao clears the field; Brother Xiao only needs to smile!"

The Five Spirit Kings shouted their slogan loud enough to shake the heavens. Their burning desire to protect their idol overwhelmed their fear of ultimate metal!

There were five of them, all at least Level 4 Soul Engineers, with complementary abilities and individual strengths. Working together, they could force even a Level 6 Soul Engineer to avoid their edge. They would rather die than believe ultimate metal could wipe them all out in one sweep!

"Ai Xiao, march!"

The moment the words fell, the Five Spirit Kings of Ai Xiao charged from five directions. Showing Lin Qing the utmost respect, every one of them unleashed their signature moves.

"Wooden Vine Entanglement!"

"Frost Ice Spikes!"

"Earth's Fury!"

"Heavenly Flamefall!"

As senior students of the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy, the five fully integrated their martial souls with their soul tools, creating a synergy greater than the sum of its parts. Their teamwork was equally seamless.

Dozens of vines darted out like nimble snakes, combining with sharp ice spikes that broke through the ground to deliver two layers of control. In striking contrast to his scrawny frame, the youth gripped an enormous metal hammer and swung it down hard against the ground. Visible shock waves spread outward, making the earth tremble incessantly.

The girl from the same class tossed a red-and-white metal sphere into the sky-a single-use soul tool. In an instant, it burst into a skyful of fiery rain, crimson tails blazing as the flames rained down in an all-encompassing barrage.

The Five Spirit Kings of Ai Xiao had done their homework. Part of the reason the machine element had forcibly seized Nine Radiances was that its advantage of sustained aerial bombardment had instead become a weakness. As long as they kept their soul tools in their hands, they need not fear the machine element's invasion!

Under those circumstances, if the machine element still chose to seize their soul tools, it would be little different from simply stabbing them to death. In fact, stabbing them would be less trouble.

Lin Qing stood at the center of the storm, an unbroken tidal wave of attacks filling his vision.

Whooom-

A silver storm descended with a thunderous roar. The machine element surged like a rampaging dragon bursting through its floodgates, the sharpness of ultimate metal shredding every obstacle in its path. Vines shattered, ice spikes exploded, and flaming meteors broke into scattered sparks that vanished into the vast night sky.

At the same time, a figure charged straight forward, ignoring the trembling ground, so fast that the Five Spirit Kings could barely make out a silver afterimage!

Bam, bam, bam, bam!

Four kicks in one second, all squarely in the lower abdomen!

The four bodies flew backward with their feet off the ground, as though a heavy truck had slammed into them head-on. After rolling twice, they curled up and glared at Lin Qing in sorrow and indignation, their accusations written plainly on their faces.

No skill involved whatsoever. His martial soul was basically a wheelchair carrying him to victory!

The towering brute's expression changed sharply. He was a Level 5 melee Soul Engineer and had never intended to fight ultimate metal at close quarters, but with his teammates collapsing at the first touch, he had no choice but to grit his teeth and step up.

Metal gauntlets encased his hands, amplifying his strength. The muscles in his arms bulged, and the soul-tool core arrays engraved inside his gauntlets blasted out two streams of scorching air. His fists tore through the air with piercing sonic booms. This punch gathered all the soul power of a five-ring Soul Engineer and the maximum output of a level-five soul tool!

Vajra Heavy-Breaking Fist!

Click.

At the crisp mechanical sound, the brute suddenly froze. The power of his Vajra Heavy-Breaking Fist faded, and both fists obediently dropped to his sides. Not daring to move a muscle, he stared in terror at the cannon muzzle inches away.

Dead before his campaign had even begun-the dragonlike soul cannon was already pressed against his head, its icy metallic touch extinguishing his fighting spirit in one stroke!

Lin Qing gazed at him calmly, his face radiating the idle nonchalance of someone merely passing through, then casually withdrew his Giant Spear Dragon Devourer.

Before the brute could breathe a sigh of relief, a powerful spinning kick crashed into the left side of his waist. It was hard to imagine an elemental Soul Master possessing such outrageous strength. His hundred-and-fifty-kilogram body curled like a cooked shrimp and traced a graceful downward arc.

Thud!

He suddenly struck an obstacle, bringing his ground-rolling game to an end. Dazed, the brute raised his head and saw a pair of finely crafted leather boots.

His gaze traveled up a pair of long legs to an expressionless, handsome face, whose blue and green eyes blazed with furious flames.

"B-Brother Xiao!?"

Their idol's appearance struck the Five Spirit Kings of Ai Xiao like a thunderbolt. Ignoring their aching bodies, they hurriedly scrambled up and gathered together, heads lowered, not daring to look Xiao Hongchen in the eye.

"Who gave you permission to attack Lin Qing?"

Xiao Hongchen's voice was level, but anyone could hear the fury he was forcibly suppressing.

"Brother Xiao, you looked so serious all day. We thought ultimate metal must have been putting pressure on you. We're your fans... We just wanted to help you smile again," the girl from his class murmured.

"You think this is helping me?" Xiao Hongchen said coldly. "I, Xiao Hongchen, act openly and honorably. Even if the road ahead is overgrown with thorns, I'll blast a path through with my soul cannons!

"If Ai Xiao's love means wantonly ruining my reputation, then it shouldn't exist!

"And you keep saying you love me, so why won't you believe in me?

"Always remember: Ai Xiao doesn't play dirty, and Brother Xiao doesn't lie to Ai Xiao.

"Ultimate metal is nothing to fear. Xiao Hongchen is invincible among his peers!"

"Brother Xiao!!!"

Tears immediately streamed down the five bruised and battered faces. They felt the crushing weight of their sins. Ai Xiao had actually failed to trust Xiao Hongchen-they deserved to have their fan memberships revoked!

"Apologize," Xiao Hongchen commanded in a low voice.

Receiving orders from their superior, the Five Spirit Kings of Ai Xiao quickly formed a line and approached Lin Qing, tearfully declaring, "We're sorry, Lin Qing. We acted rashly tonight. Please punish us however you like."

The towering brute strode forward and offered a steel whip with both hands. Then all five turned around and clasped their hands behind their heads, making it clear they would neither answer insults nor resist a beating.

Lin Qing's temples throbbed. This Ai Xiao organization was pretty sinister. How exactly did they train people...?

He tossed the steel whip back. He had lost any desire to whip them now. Those earlier kicks would leave the five tossing and turning in pain for a week. Given the Five Spirit Kings' sincere repentance, he would let the matter end tonight.

"Thank you for forgiving us. If you ever need anything, just say the word. Ai Xiao won't refuse."

The Five Spirit Kings pressed their palms together in thanks, then looked pleadingly at Xiao Hongchen. "Sorry for the trouble tonight, Brother Xiao. From now on, we'll keep all of Ai Xiao in line and become the best-behaved fan group in the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy."

"Excellent. Go back and get some rest, everyone."

Xiao Hongchen waved a hand, displaying all the qualities of an exemplary young idol.

The Five Spirit Kings hurried away, leaving only Lin Qing and Xiao Hongchen behind. The mighty dragon newly descended from the heavens and the local serpent entrenched for years began their first formal exchange.

"Being popular seems pretty troublesome too," Lin Qing remarked ruefully.

"I disagree," Xiao Hongchen countered. "An idol sets an example and guides his fans toward positive growth. That's an honor. Having them follow me is my good fortune!

"Allow me to introduce myself. I am Xiao Hongchen, the greatest genius of this generation at the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy, the foremost student outside Mingde Hall, and inheritor of the divine beast Three-Legged Golden Toad's bloodline!"

His proud, impassioned voice drifted on the wind, his distinctive arrogance carrying into the distance. "Everyone says ultimate martial souls are invincible. I refuse to accept it!

"Historical records state that Douluo's three ultimate Soul Masters never lived in the same era as someone with a divine beast bloodline. That means there's no record of a battle between them, and the Soul Master World cannot tell which is stronger. You and I are the first pair of twin stars in all of history!

"Lin Qing, on the pride of the Three-Legged Golden Toad, I challenge you. Dare you make a grand wager with me? At the All-Academy Selection Tournament three months from now, we'll fight with everything we have on an arena watched by thousands. The loser will publicly admit his talent is inferior!"

"Why add legs to a snake by making a public admission?"

Lin Qing looked at Xiao Hongchen strangely, as though he were a poor kid whose head had been scrambled by the fundamental laws of this wager-obsessed continent.

"Once the outcome is decided, doesn't the loser automatically forfeit his right to breathe? Why not wager something practical, like rare metals worth a million gold soul coins?"

"That does seem reasonable... Wait, how could we let filthy money stain our sacred battle at the summit!"

Xiao Hongchen quickly shook his head. "No wager. We'll let our skills do the talking!"

With that, Xiao Hongchen lifted his chin and puffed out his chest. The spirited young genius shone so brilliantly that more than half of Ai Xiao would have clutched their hearts and collapsed in bliss.

At that moment, the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy seemed like a pride of lions ruling the grasslands. There could only be one lion king governing its territory. The new king was stirring, and the old king had to sharpen his fangs and claws, fighting desperately to defend his throne!

After indulging in fantasies of his glorious reign at the summit, Xiao Hongchen concealed his melodramatic streak and said, "Since you're taking this road, you must be heading to Metal World to cultivate. We happen to be going the same way. I'll uphold the fine traditions of a senior student and introduce you to this world-renowned, legendary Mimicry Training Grounds."

"Sure."

Lin Qing chuckled. Aside from his arrogance, Xiao Hongchen had no malice in him whatsoever. In fact, his conduct was quite upright. Ai Xiao's unwavering devotion did not come from nowhere.

The Gold Element mimicry cultivation zone lay in a corner of the academy. From outside, Metal World resembled a dormant steel behemoth, with iron fencing enclosing a vast stretch of land.

A composite metal building rose from the ground, its stacked layers resembling a hill piled from iron blocks, projecting a cold, stern presence in the dim night.

Metal World had nine levels, with metal energy increasing in intensity as one ascended. Given Lin Qing's and Xiao Hongchen's talents, they naturally held the highest access privileges.

Among the thousands of students at the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy, only those two could withstand the direct impact of the energy on Metal World's highest level.

Humm-

The ninth-level door thundered open. Gold Element energy so dense it had become tangible rushed into their faces, instantly tinting both of them the colors of rare metals.

The intense stimulation struck, and their martial souls activated on their own. A mysterious silver tide of machine elements appeared behind Lin Qing, while a Three-Legged Golden Toad roaring at the sky manifested behind Xiao Hongchen.

Seeing it in person surpassed its reputation. Lin Qing basked in Metal World's inexhaustible nourishment of Gold Element energy.

The instant he stepped inside, he knew there was no superior Gold Element Mimicry Training Grounds anywhere in the world, including Shrek Academy. The Douluo Three Kingdoms possessed neither the enormous reserves of rare metals stored by the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy nor the Level-Nine Soul Tool Furnace deep beneath Metal World!

"The resources consumed by Metal World's highest level are enough to make the academy's finance department hurt so badly they can't breathe. But Grandfather has ordered that you may come here and absorb energy whenever you please, to help you through the cultivation bottleneck ultimate martial souls face before becoming a Seven-Ring Soul Sage," Xiao Hongchen said, his gaze burning.

"Lin Qing, the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy won't mistreat you. Since you've chosen to immigrate to the Sun Moon Empire, stay here forever. I'll lead you to the Soul Master Tournament championship."

"Our match is still undecided. Who will lead whom to the championship remains to be seen," Lin Qing replied with a smile.

"Then before our official battle, let's have a warm-up. Tonight, we'll compete in absorbing metal energy!"

The corners of Xiao Hongchen's mouth rose. He loved this fiery sense of competition. Before Lin Qing enrolled, he had been universally acknowledged as invincible among his peers at the academy. For years, his loneliness had been as boundless as snow. At last, he had a challenge.

Of course, Brother Xiao was certain he would win today's competition.

After all, he had cultivated on Metal World's highest level for years. He knew the Mimicry Training Grounds like the back of his hand and understood the circulation of its metal energy inside out.

The Three-Legged Golden Toad was already a top-tier metal-attribute martial soul, with unparalleled efficiency in absorbing metal energy. Even ultimate metal would need an adjustment period on its very first day, right?

It was fine. Even if Lin Qing lost, Xiao Hongchen would step forward and pat his shoulder in consolation. There was no shame in losing to a divine beast bloodline. Making ultimate metal number two would admittedly waste its talent, but number one-point-five would suit it perfectly.

The two sat cross-legged facing each other, their martial soul projections confronting one another. Xiao Hongchen declared eagerly:

"Come on!"

The Three-Legged Golden Toad opened its enormous mouth, so absurdly large that it occupied almost its entire upper body. Its ink-black throat seemed to conceal a bottomless pit, frantically pulling in metal energy.

Don't underestimate a divine beast bloodline! Watch Brother Xiao claim the first victory!

Xiao Hongchen roared silently inside!

Then a scene that shattered Young Master Xiao's worldview abruptly unfolded. The machine element became a silver vortex, sweeping through Metal World's ninth level like a tornado and plundering every scrap of metal energy in its path.

The Gold-Eating Beast even picked the energy out of the Three-Legged Golden Toad's throat, leaving not so much as a needle or a thread behind!

"Holy shit, a bandit!"

At the center of the storm, Lin Qing's body was wrapped in layer upon layer of metal energy, like a brilliant, silver-glowing figure.

The Three-Legged Golden Toad projection helplessly opened and closed its huge mouth. Even exhausting every ounce of its strength, it could not claim a single mouthful of leftovers-weak, pitiful, helpless, and fat.

Xiao Hongchen bristled on the spot, as though he had seen some prehistoric creature extinct for ten thousand years. He kept muttering that this guy would stop at nothing to win...

But seriously, wasn't he going to explode and die?

Quite the opposite. In the full five years since awakening his Machine Element martial soul, Lin Qing had never felt so refreshed!

Metal energy nourished every limb and bone, transforming into soul power bit by bit. Truly worthy of the Sun Moon Empire, the kingdom of metal! Truly worthy of the fabulously wealthy Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy!

That wondrous sensation was like floating above a paradise in the clouds, strolling through a world of bliss in supreme comfort. Lin Qing was not about to explode-he was already soaring with pleasure!

This metal had some muscle!