Chapter 148: A Misjudged Battle, A Bitter Escape
The terrifying aura of the Dark Gold Terrorclaw Bear weighed down like a mountain. Deputy Director Jia, who stood face-to-face with the beast, was already drenched in cold sweat.
Under normal circumstances, he wouldn't fear a 5,000-year-old Dark Gold Terrorclaw Bear. Even if he couldn't win, escape was always an option. A beast of that age was roughly equivalent to a 60,000–70,000-year-old soul beast—strong, yes, but not insurmountable. That was why Deputy Director Jia dared to challenge it.
Besides, Master Xuan was supposed to be backing them. With Master Xuan present, even a 10,000-year-old Dark Gold Terrorclaw Bear wouldn't be a threat—they could easily subdue it.
At least, that's what he believed.
But when he shouted skyward, begging Master Xuan to act, only silence greeted him. No figure descended. No powerful pressure swept through the air. Only the deep, guttural roar of the now-recovered Dark Gold Terrorclaw Bear answered him, its hot breath and spittle splashing across his face.
Deputy Director Jia, who had already exited his Martial Spirit True Body form and was waiting for Master Xuan to finish the beast, felt panic creep in.
He had released his Martial Spirit form because he believed Master Xuan could crush the beast instantly. Now, he was caught in a moment of extreme vulnerability. His soul power and stamina were already drained from the previous battle. As a Soul Saint, the Martial Spirit True Body wasn't something he could sustain as a default combat mode. To enter it again in such a depleted state would be dangerous. But if he didn't…
"Master Xuan! We really can't handle this 5,000-year-old Dark Gold Terrorclaw Bear! Please, stop hiding!"
But again, no answer came. What did come, however, was a brutal swipe of the beast's Dark Gold Claws.
Deputy Director Jia tried to defend himself with his fifth spirit ability—Brown Bear Iron Arm. But what he couldn't fully block even in his True Body state was now devastating in his current weakened form.
The bear's claws ripped into his flesh, deep wounds instantly opening across his body.
"Master Xuan! Hurry up! This isn't training anymore—if this bear goes into a frenzy, we'll all die!" Teacher Wang shouted toward the heavens. But the only reply was the rustling of leaves and the occasional echo of their own voices.
For a brief moment, they still held on to hope. But when the bear's claws severed two of Deputy Director Jia's fingers, that hope crumbled. There was no rescue coming. Asking for help now was nothing more than self-deception.
"Old Zhao! Old Wang! I'll hold him off—take the students and run!"
With blood streaming from his hand and no sign of Master Xuan, Deputy Director Jia gritted his teeth and made a decision. Forcing his depleted body, he re-entered his Martial Spirit True Body form, transforming once more into a powerful brown bear to block the Dark Gold Terrorclaw Bear's path.
"Deputy Director Jia!"
"Go! We made the wrong call this time! I take full responsibility! Get the students out of here!"
Without Master Xuan, their plan to challenge this soul beast was suicide. Worse, it had been built on overconfidence. Deputy Director Jia had deactivated his spirit body too early, confident in backup that never arrived. A chain of poor decisions had driven them to the edge of death.
If they'd encountered the Dark Gold Terrorclaw Bear under normal conditions, the situation might have been different. The beast, with its high intelligence, would have likely avoided conflict unless truly threatened. Had all three gone in with the intent to kill, the outcome could've gone either way.
But they had chosen to test it, to "compete," not to kill.
This half-hearted battle, which avoided fatal blows, left the beast still alive—wounded but dangerous. Now, they faced an enraged bear, a critically weakened Soul Saint, and two Soul Emperors who were only slightly injured.
Killing the bear now was impossible.
And with Master Xuan nowhere to be found, if they all fell here in the dangerous middle zone of the Star Dou Great Forest, what awaited them was not a question of life or death, but only death or no corpse.
The only cold, logical choice was to abandon the wounded and flee with those who could still be saved.
As much as it pained them, Teacher Wang and Teacher Zhao didn't argue further.
"Everyone, move! Full speed toward Shrek Academy! Old Wang and I will escort you!"
With the shadow of death looming behind them, and the beast still roaring in the forest, there was no time for grief. Escape was the only priority.
The students followed orders and sprinted forward. However, they soon realized the harsh reality—they had gone too deep into the mixed zone under Master Xuan's lead. Their pride and confidence had blinded them to the danger. Now, the way back was long, treacherous, and hopeless.
Teacher Wang and Teacher Zhao did their best to guide them, but both knew: ensuring the safe return of every student was no longer realistic.
As beasts began to close in, the grim decisions began.
At first, they abandoned students who had no names in the original academy records—fodder in the chaos. Then, even Zhou Sichen, who would later become a substitute member of Shrek Team 2, was left behind.
And soon after, it came time to abandon even the talented ones.
Xie Huanyue, who had yet to obtain his fourth soul ring, was the next to fall behind. His level 40 strength wasn't enough, and his weight and lack of efficiency made him a burden. Despite his talent, he became another casualty—Shrek's silent ghost.
Later, even Wu Feng, the one who possessed the rare True Dragon Martial Spirit, was abandoned when a minor beast tide cut off their path.
In the end, only a few were brought back: Ning Tian, who had support capabilities, and the Lan sisters, Lan Susu and Lan Luoluo, who possessed a Martial Soul Fusion skill that allowed them to fight like a five-ring Soul King.
Together, the group fled desperately toward the forest's outer edge.
But as they neared the outer zone, Teacher Wang—who had endured the most injuries—finally collapsed. Though only a step away from safety, that final step was one he could no longer take. He died there, in the forest's boundary, his body spent.
Several more days passed in flight and agony.
Finally, with a single breath left in him, Teacher Zhao managed to drag his remaining students—Ning Tian, Lan Susu, and Lan Luoluo—back to the outskirts of Shrek Academy.
They could barely breathe. They were ragged, filthy, exhausted, and haunted by the ghosts of those left behind.
And just as they allowed themselves a single breath of relief—
"What's wrong with you all? Why aren't you kneeling to apologize to Master Xuan?!"