Chapter 85: Soloing the Crab King
"That's a Giant Pincer Overlord Crab!"
"This kind of soul beast is basically the overlord of all crab-type soul beasts. Its defense is terrifying, and the spikes on its body are not only razor-sharp but also highly venomous. Even sky predators don't dare target it easily."
Lin Beiya nodded slightly, then asked:
"What about its age? How do we judge that?"
He wasn't too concerned about how strong it was. No matter how powerful, it still couldn't withstand Yue Guan's attacks. What he cared about was whether its age was suitable to become his fourth soul ring.
Hearing this, Mo Xuan hurriedly focused on observing the Giant Pincer Overlord Crab. After a careful look, his face lit up with joy as he turned back.
"This one is a Giant Pincer Overlord Crab close to twelve thousand years old. It fits Lord Lin's requirements perfectly."
"Look at the scale armor around its leg joints. That's a trait only a ten-thousand-year Giant Pincer Overlord Crab has. Judging from the density of the scales, this one is just shy of twelve thousand years."
"Only when it reaches about fifty thousand years will those scales cover the entirety of its legs."
Lin Beiya silently rejoiced that they'd brought Mo Xuan along as a guide. Otherwise, even if they bumped into this Giant Pincer Overlord Crab, he wouldn't be able to estimate its age. After all, Spirit Hall's records on sea soul beasts were still far too limited.
Beside him, Yue Guan cracked his knuckles, a cruel smile surfacing on his face.
"Alright. Since the age and species are both suitable, leave the rest to this old man."
Just as Chrysanthemum Douluo was about to move in and deal with the soul beast for Lin Beiya, he was stopped.
"Uncle Ju, let me try taking it down myself."
"Hm? You'd better think this through. That's a ten-thousand-year soul beast. Its defense is insanely high."
Lin Beiya didn't continue arguing—he simply met Yue Guan's gaze with firm, unwavering eyes.
The cultivation of this Giant Pincer Overlord Crab was still some distance from the absolute limit of what he could withstand, so he didn't need to always maintain peak condition to absorb it.
As for the mental shock unique to ten-thousand-year soul beasts, it wasn't an issue for him at all. His Spiritual Sea contained a Cosmo, and compared to his peers, what truly stood out about Lin Beiya wasn't just his monstrous physique—it was the spiritual power that connected to the very "Cosmo" itself.
Looking at the stubborn youth, Yue Guan could only sigh softly after a moment.
"I understand. Go ahead and try. If things get dangerous, I'll step in."
"Alright. Thank you, Uncle Ju."
Turning toward the Giant Pincer Overlord Crab, which was still digging downward at the bottom of the pit, the Athena Statue had already appeared in Lin Beiya's hand. One yellow and two purple soul rings slowly rose at his feet, nearly making Mo Xuan's jaw hit the ground.
"T-This… what kind of soul ring configuration is that?"
"What's there to be so shocked about? In a while, there'll be another ten-thousand-year fourth ring added to the set."
"Huh?"
Being able to crush someone on a 'worldview' level was truly satisfying. Yue Guan was in a very good mood. Of course, that was also thanks to having spent so much time with Lin Beiya. If this had been his first time seeing such a configuration, he would definitely be wearing the same stunned expression as Mo Xuan right now.
Mo Xuan stiffly turned to look at Lin Beiya again, his heart filled with indescribable shock.
At first, he thought Lin Beiya was here to get his fifth soul ring. Who would've thought the other party was still only preparing for his fourth—still technically at the Qusi–Soul Ancestor stage.
"Elder Chrysanthemum, forgive my boldness, but… how old is Lord Lin, exactly?"
"Twelve. Still a few months shy of it."
"…'
Upon hearing Lin Beiya's actual age, Mo Xuan fell completely silent.
What was he doing at twelve? If he remembered correctly, he was still messing around at a primary soul master academy back then.
So this… is the difference between a genius and an ordinary person…
Ignoring their shock, Lin Beiya directly activated his first soul ring. Several stars in the sky connected to form the aries constellation, then transformed into a beam of light that shot straight to the ground.
Bathed in golden light, Lin Beiya completed his Saint Cloth Possession.
In any case, once the soul ring fusion was done, the Aries Gold Cloth would automatically return. He just needed to find another chance later to send it back to that little angel.
At twelve years old, Lin Beiya was already 1.7 meters tall. His Gold Cloth had officially transitioned into its adult form, giving off an impression of solemn divinity and steady majesty.
He lifted his right hand slightly, endless starlight flickering between his fingers. Staring at the Giant Pincer Overlord Crab still digging at the bottom of the pit, Lin Beiya unleashed his strongest attacking skill.
"Starlight Extinction!"
Holy radiance infused with destructive might shot straight toward the center of the pit. At that moment, the Giant Pincer Overlord Crab finally sensed danger and turned, wanting to see what kind of creature dared attack it—the Crab King.
But what greeted it was a terrifying beam of light that struck precisely between its eyes, hitting the armor plate on its forehead.
Crack!
The sound of something shattering echoed up from the pit. Yue Guan and Mo Xuan inwardly marveled at Lin Beiya's terrifying power. To think that a mere Soul Elder–level cultivation could produce an attack capable of injuring a ten-thousand-year Giant Pincer Overlord Crab.
A pained roar burst from the crab's maw. When the golden light dissipated, they saw that the armor plate on its forehead was now covered in a dense web of cracks.
Realizing it had been hurt, the Giant Pincer Overlord Crab flew into a rage. Its eyes flushed scarlet as its eight legs kicked up a storm of dust, scrambling up toward the rim of the pit. At the same time, it swung its pair of massive pincers, intent on tearing apart the human who dared provoke it.
"Crystal Wall."
As his strongest defensive skill, Lin Beiya also wanted to test whether his Crystal Wall could withstand the attacks of a ten-thousand-year soul beast.
The two giant pincers slammed into the light wall. The entire surface of the barrier rippled like waves hammered by a furious tide, but thankfully, the Giant Pincer Overlord Crab's attack hadn't exceeded the wall's limit.
After a violent tremor of golden light—
The ten-meter-long crab was thrown back down into the pit, crashing heavily into the ground below. Thick dust exploded outward, obscuring the trio's vision. It was unclear whether the Giant Pincer Overlord Crab still had the strength to stand.
Moments later, the dust was replaced by rising steam, and Mo Xuan's urgent reminder sounded in Lin Beiya's ears.
"Be careful, Lord Lin. That Crab King is going all out. This is its innate ability—its strength and speed will be greatly enhanced."
Lin Beiya nodded inwardly. He then closed his eyes, letting his sight go. Losing vision didn't affect his ability to track the crab's movements at all.
In his perception, the Giant Pincer Overlord Crab's previously dark red–green carapace had turned completely blood-red under the steaming heat, almost making Lin Beiya drool on instinct.
The Crab King finished gathering its power, then charged like a runaway train straight toward the humans at the edge of the pit.
Lin Beiya reacted in an instant. With a thought, activating telekinesis to Teleport himself twenty meters away.
A heartbeat later, the Giant Pincer Overlord Crab slammed into the spot where he'd just been standing, crashing into the edge of the pit.
Boom!
The terrifying impact made the entire ground tremble. Yue Guan and Mo Xuan both unconsciously stepped back a few paces, not wanting to be swallowed up by the flying dust.
Seeing the crab rampage wildly across the ground, searching for his presence, Lin Beiya decided there was no reason to drag things out further.
Activating Telekinesis Teleportation again, he appeared above its back.
He brought his hands together and spread them apart, summoning countless star fragments and pushing his power to its limit.
"Stardust Revolution!"
Lin Beiya's entire body shone with golden light, like a god descending to earth. A vast, swirling galaxy unfolded before him.
Rotating golden fragments transformed into meteorites, raining down ceaselessly on the Giant Pincer Overlord Crab below.
Miserable screeches echoed one after another. Only after several dozen seconds did the howls finally fade away.
When the lingering power dissipated, Yue Guan and Mo Xuan finally saw it clearly: scattered pieces of shattered crab shell, still smoking faintly with greenish steam—and floating above them, a single pitch-black soul ring.
—
End of Chapter