ABRIWMTHM Chapter 55

Fei Chu could see it, and naturally, Chi Yao, who arrived first, could see it too.

Before the star beast could break through the barrier with its body, it landed behind the barrier first, striking out a blow. The wind, shaped by mental power, transformed into sharp, transparent blades that surged toward the star beast in a frenzy.

The star beast had no choice but to defend itself.

In the confrontation, Chi Yao’s powerful mental power ultimately stopped its advance, forcing it to retreat.

The beast’s roar rose again.

A fierce mental power surged from behind Chi Yao, coming from the arriving Tan Yan.

When Tan Yan realized that the attack did not possess the ability to penetrate the mental sea, he confirmed Shi Xing’s safety and rushed to provide support.

The speed of this star beast was too fast; it couldn’t be allowed to take the initiative in its attack.

The combined effort of Chi Yao and Tan Yan was evidently effective. Tan Yan’s involvement made it increasingly challenging for the star beast to break through.

In just a moment, the Seventh Army had already reacted. Before the star beast could resist further and break through, the energy ‘cannon’ was immediately prepared.

The warships coordinated to set up barriers of spiritual power around, re-establishing movable barriers for engagement.

As they were at a standstill, another mental power ambushed the star beast from behind, accurately striking its vulnerable tail.

The star beast lost its tail.

In an instant, blood spilled everywhere, and the beast’s roar echoed to the sky.

The pain caused the star beast to erupt with a massive energy shockwave.

The established barriers came into play at this moment, intercepting this explosive attack layer by layer.

Tan Wen shouted, “Upper and lower barriers, keep up; use movable barriers to trap it.”

The mental power that just ambushed was indeed cast by Tan Wen.

“Upper barrier complete.”

“Lower barrier complete.”

“East, south, west, north barriers assembled.”

Just as the report was finished, the star beast attempted to perform space cutting to teleport away but collided with a specially assigned movable barrier.

The star beast changed direction to escape again but crashed into another movable barrier.

The movable barriers pieced together a massive mental power cage, trapping the star beast within a fixed area.

Due to the nature of their construction, they were not a complete mental power cage; at certain joints, they could be opened, making it easier for the officers to utilize mental powers to attack.

“Tan Mei, can you coordinate?” Tan Yan yelled loudly.

“I can!”

A strong response came from somewhere in the wind.

“Countdown: Three, two, one, go—!”

Tan Yan swung his long knife as a long ‘spear.’

At the same moment, another mental power knife was thrown from the opposite direction.

The two knives entered the barrier, heading straight for the star beast’s position.

…

Shi Xing was firmly protected by Fei Chu. Their warship was lifted by the shockwave and slid a considerable distance in the air before regaining stability.

“Shi Xing, are you okay?”

Fei Chu came back to his senses and immediately asked Shi Xing.

Shi Xing waved his hand, “I’m fine, just a bit dizzy. You… oh no, is everyone okay?”

Shi Xing was a bit disoriented and confused after being tossed around by the warship.

“No injuries. Don’t you need to retract your mental power barrier?”

Shi Xing was still in the maturity period and worried it was too much for him; Fei Chu meant for him to retract the mental barrier.

“Hmm? The barrier?”

Shi Xing dazedly paused, looking up into the sky. He saw a strange scene; his mental barrier was still firmly suspended in the air, but…

Shi Xing looked at his hands in disbelief, exclaiming, “It’s not me who’s supporting it.”

In fact, at the moment the barrier was completed, Shi Xing had severed the connection between himself and the barrier.

Fei Chu was stunned for a moment and then quickly understood what Shi Xing was saying.

He immediately shouted, accompanied by mental power spreading across the battlefield, “The barrier left by Shi Xing does not require mental power support!”

“That barrier only absorbs the star beast’s violent mental power; other mental powers can pass through it. Use it as you like!!”

Just as his voice fell, the two mental power knives in the air closed in on the injured star beast.

Tan Yan’s mental knife arrived first, struck in front of the star beast with a resounding crash, and collided with the star beast’s mental power.

The star beast, injured and with its tail severed, was looking to escape. Just as it retreated, the other mental knife thrown by Tan Mei came from the opposite direction.

The star beast had no choice but to counter the other blade head-on.

Buzz—

At the same time, the star beast was forced to resist two mental power knife attacks from two directions.

The star beast erupted with lightning flashes around itself.

Shi Xing exclaimed, “It has activated its violent mental power.”

This kind of mutated mental power was special, possessing characteristics similar to Blue Star humans’ mental power. It could enter the mental sea and not only that but could inflict heavy damage to the mental sea, effectively shattering the energy source of the Imperial soldiers through an assault on their mental sea.

If normal mental power confrontation were akin to fists against fists, then mutated violent mental power was like a poisoned fist—each hit caused damage, and the toxin could seep into the body from the point of contact, infiltrating the mental sea and attacking it.

Sure enough, as soon as Shi Xing finished speaking, the star beast’s lightning began to entwine with Tan Yan and Tan Mei’s mental power, attempting to recoil and destroy their mental seas along the force’s direction.

Shi Xing communicated this situation in real-time to Fei Chu.

Fei Chu spat.

“Damn, mutated star beasts are troublesome like this; their mental power has corrosive penetrating effects. When facing them, even if the levels are equal, we need to attack and defend simultaneously, and we have to be extra cautious. If we aren’t careful and get hit in the mental sea, the battle could be as good as over.”

However, Tan Yan and Tan Mei were more trained than Fei Chu and Shi Xing had realized.

At the moment of the lightning eruption, the two instantly severed their mental powers.

Each mental knife split into three, attacking the star beast from different directions.

The sudden change was too fast to defend against.

Apart from the two mental knives that were shattered, the other four switched to new positions for a surprise attack, immediately piercing deep into the star beast’s skin, promptly creating four more large wounds on the already severed star beast.

Alongside the beast’s pained howl, Fei Chu clenched his fist and shouted in exhilaration.

More warships rushed in from afar, and Tan Wen ordered, “Some warships hover in reserve; the remaining warships will re-establish movable barriers on the outer layer.”

They wanted to create an additional layer of movable barriers outside the existing ones for double insurance.

In case the inner barrier broke, the officers could still retreat while the outer movable barriers would trap the star beast for a time.

It had to be said that once the star beast’s movements were restricted, the Seventh Army’s teamwork would keep up, significantly increasing their chances of victory.

Fei Chu’s remarks made Shi Xing suddenly realize something he had overlooked, muttering, “So, killing the mutated star beast is challenging due to having to attack while also avoiding their mutated mental power attacks…”

Fei Chu: “Exactly.”

Shi Xing: “So… if we could have a safe output environment…”

Fei Chu: “?”

With these words, Shi Xing realized something and ordered Fei Chu, “Let’s go, quickly.”

Fei Chu hesitated for a moment but, as a soldier, obedience was ingrained in him. This small unit had already belonged to Shi Xing, and he should listen to Shi Xing’s commands.

That hesitation lasted only a second or two before Fei Chu ultimately complied, doing as Shi Xing instructed.

The warship accelerated toward the newly established movable barrier.

Fei Chu still truthfully relayed the situation, “The star beast is sensitive to your ability; going over there may provoke it. Are you…”

Before he could finish, Shi Xing interrupted, “I want to see if I can help.”

Shi Xing’s voice dropped, as if he were speaking to himself, “Perhaps I can create a combat area where the officers don’t have to worry about being attacked by the mutated mental power, allowing everyone to fight freely.”

Fei Chu didn’t understand how Shi Xing could achieve that.

But Fei Chu was deeply shocked.

If it were actually possible, then…

“Okay, let’s give it a try!”

Well aware of the discomfort that came from facing the star beast without the presence of mutated violent mental power, Fei Chu’s heartbeat quickened at the thought of this possibility. If so… it would be much easier for them to fight the mutated star beast later on…

When everyone could fight freely in close combat, the star beast would typically top out at SS or SSS rank; beyond that, monsters with mental power strength reaching the equivalent of his cousin Chi Yao were few and far between.

As they made this decision, Chi Yao was also studying the barrier left by Shi Xing.

The barrier was transparent, but the energy turbulence it carried highlighted its size and shape.

Chi Yao and Tan Yan were positioned behind the barrier. After battling for so long, the star beast had attacked a few times, yet behind this barrier, Chi Yao hadn’t felt any force capable of attacking the mental sea. Through this barrier, the most lethal and poisonous elements of the star beast’s attacks had been stripped away, simplifying battle back down to pure energy clashes.

“Is it thinner than before?” Chi Yao asked Tan Yan.

He brought this up, and Tan Yan’s transference ability shifted to the barrier, uncertainly replying, “It seems so.”

“When Shi Xing built it, it looked thicker from afar.”

Chi Yao: “But our attacks can penetrate this layer of barrier.”

Tan Yan confirmed, “Yes, without any resistance.”

The star beast’s pained energy remnants swept toward the two again. Chi Yao finally noticed the change, “It thinned out from resisting the mutated violent mental power.”

This meant that the barrier’s consumption entirely depended on the strength of the star beast’s mutated violent mental power.

If they launched several attacks aimed at it, it should break.

Normal attacks wouldn’t cause harm.

Tan Yan also realized that while knowing this barrier was a good thing, he greedily said, “If only it could move.”

If it could move, during their confrontation with the star beast, they wouldn’t have to worry about being attacked in the mental sea anymore while within the barrier’s protective range.

The star beast’s mental power strength was only at 3S level; apart from its most lethal portions, the others could withstand direct confrontation.

Chi Yao felt Shi Xing’s proximity, frowning momentarily but ultimately did not order them to retreat, saying, “It may not be impossible.”

Before Tan Yan could ask anything further, Fei Chu brought Shi Xing to Chi Yao and Tan Yan’s side. Shi Xing asked Tan Yan, “Major Tan, are you all okay? Did any of the support team get injured?”

Tan Yan replied, “We’re alright; if there are any, it’s just external injuries, the mental sea is fine!”

Shi Xing breathed a sigh of relief and turned to Chi Yao, calling, “Your Highness.”

Chi Yao nodded in reassurance, “I’m fine as well, and have not used my full strength yet. After blocking the star beast, the Seventh Army coordinated very quickly.”

With the cooperation of the Tan family and the officers of the Seventh Army, they instantly trapped the star beast again, restricting its range of movement.

Chi Yao looked into the moving barrier; after the star beast was struck by the mental power knives, it altered its battle strategy, constantly changing its location as if inside a mental power cage, avoiding subsequent energy ‘cannon’ attacks while recuperating itself.

Feeling something, Shi Xing raised his head as the sky darkened again.

“It wants to use the lightning pressure difference to shatter the barrier again,” Shi Xing said.

Tan Yan furrowed his brow, the second mental power knife circled behind him, clenching his teeth and saying, “We cannot let it have the chance to launch a second lightning strike.”

Chi Yao asked Shi Xing, “Can you establish this kind of barrier again?”

Shi Xing didn’t know how he had constructed the barrier before, but when Chi Yao asked, he tried using the feeling from then, realizing that he could, but…

“I have no more core energy for construction,” Shi Xing said truthfully.

This barrier was built with mental power paired with external energy; currently, his mental power was still abundant, but he couldn’t sense that external energy core anymore.

Everyone fell silent, somewhat disappointed; however, it was understandable given Shi Xing’s current maturity period status.

He was still in the growth stage.

But Shi Xing added, “Does it have to be an entirely new barrier?”

Chi Yao paused, “What do you mean?”

“Can this one be reused?”

Fei Chu asked, “Can you reuse it?”

Ordinarily, once a constructed barrier’s mental power is severed, it can no longer be controlled.

But… perhaps the Blue Star humans could be exceptions?

Shi Xing: “I think I can; let me try.”

Shi Xing extended his hands, once again feeling the energy, the Blue Star human’s mental power emanated and attracted the star beast’s attention, making it aware of Shi Xing’s potent existence, causing it to become agitated again.

Tan Chi seized an opportunity and took command, instructing Tan Wen and a high-ranking officer to use mental power to launch another coordinated attack; this time, the star beast bore several long wounds, and its flesh rolled out horrifically.

Brute force wouldn’t work; the star beast completely changed its strategy, starting to recuperate, using all mental power for self-healing.

“Not good, it has started evading the battle,” Tan Bai Shan’s voice came through the communicator.

Chi Yao made a decisive call, “We cannot let it rest any further.”

Tan Bai Shan listened to the command, starting to order the warships to shrink the movable barrier, compressing the star beast’s range of motion while increasing its chances of being exposed to energy ‘cannon’ attacks.

At first, it felt completely unfeeling, but Shi Xing always sensed something had clung to the end of his mental power, bit by bit, and then more.

At a certain moment, Shi Xing opened his hands; the barrier exploded with a strong energy glow.

Shi Xing had controlled the barrier and injected his mental power into it again.

“I can still control this barrier.”

Saying this, Shi Xing’s eyes brightened, quickly saying, “Your Highness, Major Tan, Major Fei, I have a combat idea.”

Fei Chu was taken aback.

Chi Yao placed his hands behind his back, “Go on.”

…

In less than a moment, Shi Xing’s idea spread throughout the Seventh Army. After confirmation from Tan Bai Shan and Tan Wen along with several deputy commanders, and after advising Chi Yao not to engage unless necessary, Shi Xing was brought closer to the movable barrier by Fei Chu.

The sky was filled with dark clouds, and the star beast was gathering a thunderstorm again with its mental power.

But it was still accumulating, and it could be interrupted.

Chi Yao had already dispersed the low-lying clouds twice using wind’s power.

In higher altitudes, while there was nothing he could do about thin air, he could still delay the thunderstorm’s formation time.

Tan Wen, Tan Yan, Tan Mei, and several high-ranking mental power officers were ready to go.

Shi Xing opened his hands, changing the shape of the barrier, slowly pushing this special barrier inside the movable barrier.

The star beast caught the scent of Blue Star humans’ mental powers, beginning to reveal its teeth on the other side.

Its wounds had already started to close up.

All its mental power was focused on rapid self-healing.

But Shi Xing wouldn’t let it heal completely.

Time trickled by, slowly extending in Shi Xing’s perception, but in everyone’s eyes, it was incredibly fast.

The special barrier rapidly changed shape around the star beast.

“I’m going to start,” Shi Xing announced.

“Received.”

“Received.”

“Received.”

Countless voices echoed in sync through the communicator.

Shi Xing’s hands opened again, pouring all usable mental power into the barrier; the star beast seemed to sense something, becoming excited.

Just as the star beast could no longer hold back and was about to move, Shi Xing used all his ability and clasped his hands.

“Three, two, one, collect!”

In the blink of an eye, the special barrier expanded into a spherical shape, connecting end to end, trapping the star beast within.

Shi Xing had done this before.

When treating Chi Yao, he used the barrier to encircle him; however, back then, he did it to ensure that Chi Yao’s leaking mental power wouldn’t affect others on the spaceship.

And now, although he could not completely encircle the star beast, at the very least, he could contain the “poison” carried within the mutated star beast’s mental power within his barrier, allowing the officers outside to engage in combat without the risk of “toxins” attacking their mental sea.

At the moment the spherical barrier formed, it constricted again, with the star beast at its center, shrinking into a small barrier with a radius of one hundred meters.

As the spherical barrier enveloping the star beast took shape, countless streams of mental power shot from all directions, attacking the star beast.

Leaving the star beast with no escape.

“Aroooo—”

Accompanied by the star beast’s long howl, the first wave of mental power collision erupted.

But it wasn’t over; after the first wave of attacks, the second wave followed.

Two waves of attacks.

The first wave was to restrict the star beast within Shi Xing’s barrier.

The second wave was the heavy artillery.

To injure the star beast severely!

Yet the star beast, amidst the dazzling white light formed by the gathering energy, still managed to teleport away.

It could still escape?!

The fighting power of this star beast was the strongest Shi Xing had ever witnessed.

However, just as it had leaped a distance away, it was struck back into Shi Xing’s special barrier by Tan Yan coming from the same direction.

The star beast bared its teeth in rage, releasing powerful mental power along with mutated violent mental power, delivering a fatal blow aimed at Tan Yan, trying to break through from where he was guarding.

However, Tan Yan was not like any Imperial soldier it had encountered before; he wouldn’t be overwhelmed by this blow to his mental sea.

The powerful energy attack capable of ruining the mental sea was all intercepted by Shi Xing’s barrier!!

Even if the impact on Tan Yan was fierce, it would only leave superficial wounds at most. It could not make him lose his combat ability!

“Arooo—”

As the star beast sensed something was off, it howled furiously.

While it focused on attacking Tan Yan, the other officers weren’t trivial either.

The star beast, having actively abandoned defense, was instantly hit from all sides by oncoming mental power.

In an instant, its flesh was torn apart, blood spraying everywhere.

Shi Xing felt as if the star beast had become a ripe fruit, instantly crushed and oozing juices, with the irradiating blood from the intense group attack splattering in all directions.

However, before they could pursue and press the advantage, the star beast began to use all of its mental power for defense.

The sky churned with dark clouds.

Chi Yao remarked, “Knowing that the previous attacks were ineffective, it’s changed its battle tactics.”

Its method was nothing more than to build a high protective barrier while rapidly gathering mental power for a second thunderstorm.

Multiple attacks were launched again.

The star beast stood still, no longer fleeing. But at the same time, its defensive capabilities were exceptionally high, making it impenetrable for anyone attempting to break through the barrier it had built with all its strength.

Tan Chi exclaimed, “No, the ranged mental attacks cannot break through.”

Tan Wen added, “We can’t let it go on like this. If the thunderstorm strikes again, our movable barriers won’t hold for long.”

Tan Yan suggested, “What if I go in…”

Before he could finish his words, everyone knew where he wanted to go. Tan Bai Shan immediately reprimanded, “You stay put and don’t act recklessly!”

Tan Chi added, “No, Shi Xing’s barrier can’t be retracted anymore. We need to maintain a certain range to firmly contain it within the barrier; if you go in, it can teleport out of Shi Xing’s barrier anytime.”

Shi Xing said, “It’s better not to; the barrier may not last much longer. I feel it; just took a powerful hit, and the beast has absorbed too much violent mental power—it’s about to collapse.”

In other words, in close combat, Shi Xing could not protect Tan Yan’s mental sea.

Tan Yan was frantic, “But if we don’t engage close, how are we suppose to break through its defenses?!”

“If our attacks won’t break through, do we just watch it trigger another thunderstorm?”

Fei Chu hesitated, “Unless we let Your Highness…”

Shi Xing immediately countered, “No!”

His rebuttal was too swift, catching everyone off guard, even Shi Xing himself was surprised.

In the silence of everyone around, Shi Xing avoided looking in Chi Yao’s direction, striving to remain calm, “Your Highness’s mental sea issues are accumulated over time. In previous battles, two attacks have already been used; another one may trigger chaos more quickly!”

As for whether he could manage to take control after it spiraled into chaos, he didn’t know.

Shi Xing shut his eyes in confusion, “Quiet, let me think.”

This outburst was rare, yet because of his transcendent status, it was the first time someone heard Shi Xing speak in such a commanding tone, and everyone surprisingly accepted it.

Tan Bai Shan Marshal cast a glance at Shi Xing from a distance, something different flickering in his gaze.

【If our attacks could also be like the star beast’s, possessing the ability to penetrate the mental sea…】

At the moment this thought was conceived, Shi Xing felt enlightened. Yes! Blue Star humans’ mental power was also the hardest to sense, having penetrating abilities!

Suddenly, Shi Xing asked everyone in the channel, “What is the defense level of the movable barrier?”

Chi Yao replied, “According to the star beast’s mental power today, the equipment assisted in establishing an SSS-level barrier.”

Hearing that familiar voice made Shi Xing’s heart tremble, and he forcibly suppressed all personal emotions.

Shi Xing: “Major Fei, can you attack the star beast and give it a try?”

Fei Chu, unhesitant as he was, gathered his mental power and launched an attack.

However, at the same time, Shi Xing placed his hand on Fei Chu’s shoulder, quietly merging his mental power into Fei Chu’s attack.

In the next moment, the mental power striking the star beast’s barrier collided, creating energy waves, and Shi Xing saw a thin crack appear.

It worked!

His mental power rank was now also 3S; although the Blue Star humans’ mental power lacked direct offensive capabilities, using their ability to pierce into different energies was optimal for breaking down defenses.

Just like when he treated, he had guided Yun Wu’s mental power deep into Tan Chi’s mental sea.

In this moment, he could also wrap a portion of his mental power around the officers, leading their energies; his task was to break the defense, while everyone else’s was to attack.

Understanding this, without waiting for Fei Chu to inquire further, thunder rolled down from the horizon.

It was about to take form.

Shi Xing didn’t have time to explain, shouting, “Who will command? One more attack!”

As his voice resounded, yet another mental power sphere formed in his hand.

Chi Yao, however, was sharper than anyone else, realizing Shi Xing aimed to merge his mental power with everyone’s assault, acting as the vanguard to split the star beast’s defense. He quickly rushed to Shi Xing’s side, placing his hand on his shoulder, “This amount of mental power is enough; I will handle the allocation from here.”

Their mental powers had a high affinity due to their connection.

Chi Yao could easily leverage wind’s strength to distribute Shi Xing’s mental power afterward.

Chi Yao took the mental power sphere from Shi Xing’s hands, and instantly, Shi Xing felt the pressure dissipate.

Boom—

Boom, boom—

Lightning surged like waves, rolling and flashing through the cloud-sea.

“Preparations complete.”

“Preparations complete.”

“Preparations complete.”

After numerous reports, Tan Wen swiftly declared, “Three, two, one, attack—”

The roaring thunderstorm and multiple mental power attacks were unleashed almost simultaneously.

At the same time, the mental power sphere in Chi Yao’s hand was broken into countless pieces, merging with all the officers’ power.

The thunderstorm descended, the forces of nature cascading upon human technology as if to haul mountains and seas.

Inside the double-layered moving barrier, the energies reversed; everyone’s attacking mental powers fused with the penetrative ‘poison’ of the Blue Star humans, charging towards the star beast all at once.

The encirclement of the converging assault came from all directions; at that moment, the combined mental power hit the star beast’s defenses.

One second, two seconds—

Crack, crack, crack—

Although it was inaudible, from Shi Xing’s perspective, he could see the star beast’s barrier cracking in the energy world.

His mental power was coming into effect.

He wasn’t seeing things wrong; the moment the cracks appeared, they rapidly penetrated the entire star beast’s barrier.

Boom—

In the next instant, as the barrier lost pressure during cracking, the thunderstorm struck the first layer of the moving barrier, and from an unknown point in the sky, it began to descend upon everyone.

Boom, boom, boom—

As the thunder struck, Shi Xing shut his eyes, and Chi Yao shielded him.

The second wave of mental power attacks charged; the star beast’s defenses shattered under the powerful energy shock, as all external attacks surged toward its body.

But this time, due to Shi Xing’s mental power being integrated, the attacks didn’t just skim the surface; something penetrated the star beast’s body, directly hitting its core.

One strike, two strikes, three strikes…

Countless waves of attacking mental power pierced through its outer skin and surged towards the beast core, then burst out from within.

The star beast’s howl was sharp, echoing through the air.

Shi Xing furrowed his brow, and Chi Yao raised a hand to cover his ears, gently embracing him, signaling reassurance.

The thunderstorm rampaged; the star beast suffered amidst the chaotic energy within the barrier. Everyone felt the energy impact from all directions…

In the chaos, an overwhelming excess of elements, sounds, and energy engulfed Shi Xing, rendering him entirely blind and deaf.

His senses drowned in a massive wave of stimulation.

At this moment, it felt like the only connection he had to this world was Chi Yao’s hand on his ear.

…

Eventually, Chi Yao finally withdrew his hand.

“Alright.”

With Chi Yao’s words, Shi Xing finally opened his eyes.

The world was clear, even the snow flurries had momentarily disappeared, and the harsh winds of the Northern Territory were surprisingly gentler, brushing softly against his face.

In the next moment, Shi Xing gazed at the motionless star beast floating in midair, his first talent awakening, and he saw…

“It’s beast core shattered?” Shi Xing was incredulous.

Chi Yao looked calmly at this scene, affirming, “Yes, the beast core is destroyed.”

“Your mental power level is very high; merging it into everyone’s attack enabled collaboration to target the star beast, directly penetrating its body and striking at the source—the beast core.”

As Chi Yao spoke, the massive form of the star beast finally couldn’t support itself anymore, crashing down from thousands of meters in the sky…