Chapter 17: Frostmoon Rabbit, the Doll Warrior

Fanxing’s challenge continued.

Just as the students were arguing over who was stronger, Fanxing or Luo Wen, the indicator light for the 12th floor flickered to life.

"Yu Fanxing has cleared the 11th floor!" someone exclaimed.

But the real shock was yet to come. Not long after, the lights for the 13th and 14th floors illuminated in quick succession.

"Is this for real?" someone muttered to themselves, stunned.

"Too strong, absolutely insane! This Yu Fanxing doesn't seem like a newcomer at all," another added, voice trembling with excitement.

"Are all Evil Spirit types this powerful?" one student couldn't help but ask.

Another shoved him. "What are you thinking? If all Evil Spirit types were this strong, they would have become the most sought-after Spirit types long ago. It depends on the individual."

The person nodded. "Fair point."

As the crowd debated, they kept their eyes fixed on the tower, all eager to see how far she would go. Luo Wen had not left either; he and his companions remained to watch Fanxing’s ascent.

A student hovering near Luo Wen, seemingly trying to defend his pride, spoke with a look of indignation: "Who does this Yu Fanxing think she is? Just some hillbilly who appeared out of nowhere, daring to steal the spotlight from our Wen."

"Exactly! Our Wen is the strongest. That woman must have used some underhanded tricks. The levels after the 10th are so difficult—how could any newcomer clear so many in one go?"

Hearing this, Luo Wen’s brow furrowed deeply.

At that moment, Luo Wen’s best friend, Zhou Wu—who had teamed up with him during the practice match—noticed his friend’s annoyance and snapped, "What are you babbling about! Being strong is her own capability; what does it have to do with Wen? He never cares about such things!"

The group turned red, looking incredibly embarrassed under Zhou Wu’s rebuke. One person wanted to argue back, but was stopped by another. Zhou Wu was Luo Wen’s right-hand man; offending him meant offending Luo Wen.

Zhou Wu continued, "Get lost, all of you. Don't crowd Wen. It’s annoying, and you’re polluting the air; it’s hard for me to even breathe."

Seeing that Luo Wen made no move to stop his friend, the group sheepishly drifted away.

"What’s the big deal..." one of them muttered.

Zhou Wu overheard and shouted, "I am a big deal, so what? If you’re not convinced, let’s spar!"

The person scrambled away instantly; there was no way he could beat Zhou Wu. Though not as strong as Luo Wen, Zhou Wu was still a formidable opponent.

Once they were gone, Luo Wen’s expression finally softened. He looked at Zhou Wu and said, "Xiao Wu, thanks."

Zhou Wu threw an arm around his shoulder. "Don't be formal with me. I know you hate dealing with those people—they’re just a bunch of foul-mouthed idiots."

Fanxing was oblivious to the heated discussion regarding her abilities. She had already reached the 15th floor.

From the 10th to the 14th floors, the challenges had consisted of two Spirit types—usually a configuration of two F-rank attackers, or one F-rank attacker paired with an E-rank healer or support. By the 15th floor, however, Fanxing faced two E-rank Spirit types.

On the left was a petite rabbit, snow-white with a faint blue luster. It was beautiful and ethereal, with large, watery, ice-blue eyes that evoked sympathy. However, Teacher Hu had taught them never to let their guard down based on appearance—beautiful, cute-looking Spirits could be just as deadly.

Species: Frost Moon Rabbit
Classification: Beast Spirit Type
Attributes: Ice, Yin
Traits: Unawakened
Skills: Dash (Moves at extreme speed with a chance to increase speed), Moon Essence (Bathes in lunar energy to heal all allies)
Rank: E
Role: Support/Healer

The second Spirit was humanoid, wearing a silver uniform and a mask, resembling a warrior from a tokusatsu film, complete with a flowing red scarf.

Species: Doll Warrior
Classification: Construct Spirit Type
Attributes: Metal
Traits: Unawakened
Skills: Boost (Inspires self to increase morale and slightly boost attack), Beam Cannon (Concentrates energy to fire a beam at the opponent)
Rank: E
Role: Assault

The Doll Warrior was a toy-type spirit, much like the Flying Puppets in the Rare Treasures Garden.

After assessing their information, Fanxing and Yeto shared a glance and launched their assault. Fanxing moved with a blur, darting toward the Frost Moon Rabbit, while Yeto dissolved into a mist of black smoke, reappearing directly above the Doll Warrior.

As Fanxing lunged, the rabbit vanished—it had used Dash. Fanxing missed, but without hesitation, she flicked her hands, sending a flurry of razor-sharp, chilling throwing blades toward the rabbit. The rabbit used Dash again, disappearing and leaving the blades to strike empty air. Moreover, the skill had triggered a secondary effect, increasing its speed even further.

Back with the Doll Warrior, as Yeto prepared to strike, the puppet tilted its head up as if it had eyes in the back of its skull. It raised its right hand, a golden orb of light gathering in its palm, before firing a concentrated beam. Yeto, caught off guard, was blasted back, slamming hard into the wall. The Doll Warrior pressed the attack, firing another beam, but Yeto’s reflexes were sharp; it vanished just in time to dodge.

Fanxing realized she couldn't catch the rabbit, so she changed tactics, abandoning the pursuit and charging straight at the Doll Warrior. Yeto, sensing the shift, joined her.

Facing the pincer attack, the Doll Warrior seemed overwhelmed. It hesitated for a split second before focusing its fire on Fanxing, sensing that she posed the greater threat. It aimed both hands at her, firing a thick beam of golden light directly into her chest.

Fanxing didn't dodge. As the Doll Warrior watched in shock, the beam punched a hole straight through her. But within moments, the wound knitted itself back together, leaving only a hole in her clothing.

Seeing her continue to charge regardless, the Doll Warrior tried to dodge, but a tail lashed out from behind, binding its waist. It was Yeto. Fanxing didn't hesitate; her sharp claws tore through the puppet’s suit and slashed its throat. Simultaneously, Yeto’s claws pierced its chest from behind.

The Frost Moon Rabbit immediately activated Moon Essence. A silver crescent moon appeared above its head, bathing the Doll Warrior in a soft glow that acted like fireflies, merging into its wounds and causing them to heal rapidly. The Doll Warrior was a construct, not a living organism; what would be a fatal injury to a biological creature was not so for it.

Once healed, the Doll Warrior fired a sweeping beam to force them back. Yeto retreated, but Fanxing stood her ground, tanking the hit while activating her "Skinning" skill. Her right shoulder was shredded, blood spraying, but her claws tore deep into the puppet’s suit. This time, she didn't strike and retreat; she moved with fluid, terrifying precision, systematically stripping the outer layer off the Doll Warrior.

*Hmph! I’m a professional at skinning.*

The rabbit tried to use Moon Essence again, but Yeto lunged at it. Unable to use two skills at once, the rabbit chose survival, opting to use Dash to flee. Yeto chased it relentlessly, unable to catch it, but successfully keeping it occupied.

The Doll Warrior, its suit now largely stripped away, retreated in panic. But it was neither a speed-type nor did it have mobility skills; it couldn't escape the agile Fanxing. As she danced around it, more of its "skin" was peeled away. It desperately activated Boost and fired another beam, but Fanxing remained unfazed. Every hole blasted into her body by the light healed instantly, and even the blood that had splattered returned to her wounds.

That was the terrifying power of the "Undying" trait.

Finally, the suit was stripped away entirely, revealing a vague, indistinct figure inside. With a loud explosion, the figure shattered into dissipating spirit energy, leaving behind only the empty shell of the suit. Fanxing kicked it aside and joined Yeto in cornering the Frost Moon Rabbit, which was eventually hunted down and killed.

Outside the tower, when the crowd saw the 15th-floor light go out, they assumed she had failed. But then, the 16th-floor light flickered to life.

The crowd erupted.

"Holy crap, she actually cleared it?"

"Incredible! Is this Yu Fanxing really a newcomer?"

"It’s infuriating—some people are just born on another level!"

"Wake up, there’s no point in comparing ourselves to her."

"If her spirit wasn't an Evil Spirit type, I’d be her biggest fan. Maybe she could carry us to the top."

"Keep dreaming. Is being carried worth your life?"

"Fair point, but... I'm still so jealous."

...

Zhou Wu watched the 16th-floor light and muttered, "Fanxing is truly strong. It’s hard to believe she came from the Surface World."

Luo Wen replied blankly, "Background doesn't matter. If an excellent person seizes the opportunity, they will shine no matter where they are."

"True," Zhou Wu agreed. He thought for a moment and said, "Wen, isn't your dream to build your own squad? Do you want to approach her?"

Luo Wen shook his head. "We’re still newcomers. It’s too early for that. Besides, someone like her might not be willing to take orders from others."

Zhou Wu shrugged. "Fair enough."

"Let’s go collect our rewards," Luo Wen said, turning to leave.

After they left, someone nearby said in shock, "Damn, Luo Wen wants to build his own squad? Does he even understand what that means?"

In the history of the Longxia Kingdom, only twelve squads truly earned that title—those named after the Chinese Zodiac: Zi-Rat, Chou-Ox, Yin-Tiger, Mao-Rabbit, Chen-Dragon, Si-Snake, Wu-Horse, Wei-Sheep, Shen-Monkey, You-Rooster, Xu-Dog, and Hai-Pig. Ye Qing, whom Fanxing had met earlier, was a member of the Si-Snake squad.

Every member of these twelve squads was the elite of the elite, the kingdom’s strongest shield. They were the reason the country remained secure. Every captain of the twelve squads was an S-rank powerhouse.

"What an ambition! What an ambition!" the person sighed in admiration.

"If it’s Luo Wen, he might actually pull it off," his companion suggested.

The first person shook his head. "I doubt it. How many have tried to form a squad over the years? Who has ever succeeded?"

While they talked, Fanxing emerged from the tower. She had ultimately failed to clear the 16th floor. No one had expected a D-rank spirit to appear as a gatekeeper there. Combined with the energy depletion from the previous battles, she and Yeto simply couldn't sustain the fight, and they were defeated in the first exchange.

The tower had a safety mechanism; once a challenger was defeated, the gatekeepers were locked in place, unable to continue their assault.

Fan Honghong rushed over immediately. Seeing Fanxing’s tattered clothes, she asked with concern, "Xingxing, are you okay? Are you hurt? Let me heal you."

Fanxing waved her off. "I'm fine, just my clothes are ruined. I’m not hurt."

Fan Honghong breathed a sigh of relief, then said excitedly, "Xingxing, you were so cool! Watching from outside made my blood boil. You have to be the strongest in our class!"

"The strongest?" Fanxing said with a wry smile. "You're exaggerating."

Fan Honghong replied solemnly, "How is that an exaggeration? You don't know—some people had their jaws hitting the floor. It was hilarious!" She swept a contemptuous look around the crowd. The onlookers didn't dare meet her eyes, fearing she would goad Fanxing into beating them up, and hung their heads guiltily.

Fan Honghong snorted, then smiled brightly and linked her arm with Fanxing’s. "Come on, Xingxing, let’s go get your rewards. You climbed so high; the prize must be generous."

"Where do I collect them?" Fanxing asked.

Fan Honghong said triumphantly, "I already asked around for you. Just follow me."