Fierce Beasts Leap, Fierce Beasts Sleep

Star Dou Great Forest.

"Wh... what?!"

Back at their original location, Sirin's eyes widened. The place where they had first fallen, deep within that patch of woods, was completely empty.

Lu Xueling was gone.

Even the Honkai Crystals floating in her hand fell to the ground. The Queen of Honkai was starting to lose control of her emotions. "Human, wh... where did he go?!"

No, don't leave me alone again...

I can't... I can't lose you again!!

Sirin's heart clenched painfully, her eyes turning red. She picked up the Honkai Energy she had worked so hard to gather, then, after forcing herself to calm down for a few seconds, hurriedly closed her eyes halfway and began searching with the authority Lu Xueling had lent her before leaving.

"...At this distance... Damn it, don't let me find out who you are!!"

Sirin roared, riding Benares through the low skies as she chased toward the depths of the forest.

"Herrscher of the Void, who exactly is that human you mentioned?"

Deep within her consciousness, Qian Renxue could still see everything happening outside. Startled by Sirin's loss of control just now, she could not help asking.

"He is the one who saved my life, the greatest salvation in my life! He is also the only human in this world still willing to protect me!"

Sirin lowered her eyes, her long lashes concealing her expression. "Mother is already gone... Human, I will never allow anything to happen to you again!"

Deep within her consciousness, Qian Renxue fell silent at her words.

So that was it? They were both daughters without mothers, daughters no one loved...

Deep within the dense forest, this place was cut off from the outside world. No humans or weak beasts were welcome here, because this was the true core region of the Star Dou Great Forest.

"So this is the human the Auspicious Beast brought back?"

A crisp, gentle woman's voice rang out, echoing through the depths of the forest.

"Bi Ji, if you ask me, the Auspicious Beast is just young and brought this human back out of curiosity. Is that worth making such a fuss over? Haven't I eaten plenty of humans before?"

The voice was deep and powerful, carrying a trace of displeasure.

"Bear Lord... Di Tian hasn't even spoken yet. Why are you in such a hurry?"

"Tch, Myriad Monster King, if you keep your mouth shut, I won't take you for a mute!!"

There were four figures in total. At their head stood a tall, black-haired, golden-eyed "man." His pupils were inhuman vertical slits, and patches of golden scales covered his body.

Di Tian paid little attention to the quarrel behind him. His gaze remained fixed on the human lying atop the stone platform, as well as the Golden Little Cutie beside him.

The Golden Little Lion climbed onto the stone platform and even stretched out its tongue to lick the human lying there.

That human was none other than the still-unconscious Lu Xueling.

"Mm..."

Perhaps because of those "people" arguing, or perhaps because of the little golden lion's licking, his eyelashes trembled and his lips parted slightly.

"Sirin... Sirin..."

None of those present were ordinary beings, and all of them heard Lu Xueling's murmurs clearly.

"Talking in his sleep? Sounds like the name of a female human."

"Sirin? It sounds like that human girl is very important to him..."

Rumble—!!

A sudden explosion thundered through the sky. The entire mountain shook violently, as though it were about to collapse.

"Enemy attack?!!"

The few who had been arguing moments ago, even on the verge of confrontation, instantly became alert. Their bodies tensed, and unintelligible growls even rumbled from their throats.

A flicker of surprise crossed Di Tian's eyes. Who would dare attack the core region of the Star Dou Great Forest? Who could even find this place? Besides, Scarlet King was outside guarding—

Bang!!

A miserable howl interrupted Di Tian's thoughts. A Three-Headed Giant Beast flew inside—or rather, was thrown inside.

"Scarlet King?!" Bi Ji recognized the battered Three-Headed Giant Beast on the ground at once. One of its limbs had even been broken.

Tap, tap, tap.

Heavy footsteps sounded through the air. The four "people" looked toward the sound and saw a golden-haired, golden-eyed human woman approaching with a dark expression, carrying one of Scarlet King's severed limbs in her hand.

Di Tian frowned. He could not quite see through this human woman, but one thing was certain: she was at least a peak Douluo above Rank 98. Otherwise, she could never have broken Scarlet King's dog leg.

Sirin did not spare the four of them another glance. Her gaze locked onto Lu Xueling on the stone platform, killing intent blazing in her eyes as she spoke coldly, "Return him to me immediately, and I might still leave you with intact corpses!!"

"What an arrogant woman!!"

Beastly roars erupted together. In the blink of an eye, a Giant Bear, a Sky-Reaching Ancient Tree, and an Emerald Swan appeared in the dense forest.

Sirin's gaze paused briefly before turning disdainful. "So you're just a few animals. Then it doesn't matter whether I leave your corpses intact!"

"Roar—!!"

The Dark Gold Giant Bear roared, its claws, each as large as a carriage, gleaming with sharp cold light. "You're courting death! I'll tear you apart right now!!"

A purple vertical eye opened on the trunk of the dark green Sky-Reaching Ancient Tree as well. It said in a deep voice, "No matter who you are, once you enter the territory of us soul beasts, even a Titled Douluo has to lie down!!"

Bear Lord stomped violently against the ground, then leaped forward in a pouncing attack. At the same time, hundreds of thorny vines shot toward Sirin from the other side.

Yet she merely sneered and casually raised her hand. Two Subspace Spears flew out!

Splurt! Splurt!

The Giant Bear was sent flying backward, and the ancient tree was uprooted. A Subspace Spear was lodged in the bear's paw and another in the tree trunk.

The two Fierce Beasts had just leaped up, only to lie down and sleep again in the next instant.

Di Tian's pupils contracted instantly. His body rapidly transformed into its beast form, a pair of Dragon Horns appearing on his forehead while a pair of black Dragon Wings grew from his back. His Dragon Eyes were filled with gravity.

Even he could not possibly kill Bear Lord and Myriad Monster King at the same time with a casual strike unless he used Dragon God Claw!!

Yet this woman had done it. Then her origins...

"Were you sent by the God Realm?!"

Di Tian had already prepared for the worst.

Sirin's face remained cold as a purple sphere of light condensed in her hand. "I don't know anything about some God Realm or ghost realm. Return the human to me immediately!!"

Not someone from the God Realm?

Di Tian relaxed slightly, but then reconsidered. Since she was not from the God Realm, this woman was likely even more dangerous. She had reached the deepest part of Star Dou alone and without a sound, and her strength was so terrifying that he was not even fully confident he could defeat her.

But...

"Hmph!" Di Tian snorted coldly and pulled his dragon claw back slightly, pressing it against Lu Xueling's neck on the stone platform.

"You dare!!" The moment Sirin saw him resort to taking a hostage, her expression instantly turned icy.

"No matter who you are, you trespassed into the forbidden grounds of Star Dou and injured three of my Fierce Beast brethren. You must pay the price!"

Di Tian stared at her calmly, his spiritual power silently spreading toward the clear, shimmering spring behind him.

Sirin laughed in fury. "Fine, fine, fine! Then let's see whether your claw is faster, or my Subspace Spear is faster!!"

The atmosphere became tense once more. The surrounding space seemed on the verge of being crushed apart as visible shockwaves swept outward, and the gales they stirred blew several millennium-old giant trees crooked!

"Stop."

The voice was soft and beautiful, as melodious as an oriole emerging from a valley, yet it carried an authority that could not be defied.

Di Tian froze briefly, then obediently withdrew his dragon claw. He continued glaring at Sirin warily.

"Oh? I didn't expect you to have a superior." Sirin raised an eyebrow and looked toward the spring behind Di Tian.

The spring began bubbling. A seven-colored radiance flashed, and then a graceful figure in white appeared, hovering above the water. Her silver hair cascaded down to her ankles like a waterfall, and her amethyst-like eyes were likewise inhuman vertical slits. Her figure was flawless, and her exquisite features were beautiful enough to topple kingdoms and cities.

Even Sirin had to admit that this woman was incomparably beautiful, though her cold beauty carried a trace of pride.

Di Tian lowered his head and bowed. "My Lord."

"Hmph, you do have some looks." Sirin snorted coldly.

The woman in white glanced at her indifferently, then looked toward the unconscious Lu Xueling on the stone platform. She spoke softly, "I am the Soul Beast Co-lord, the Silver Dragon King."

Sirin was not impressed. "I don't care who you are. Return Xue Ling to me immediately!"

"Is he important to you?"

"If you don't return him to me, I'll kill you along with them today!!"

The Silver Dragon King did not lose her composure over Sirin's words. Her beautiful eyes closed and opened, and an invisible, immense spiritual fluctuation enveloped Sirin.

But soon, she frowned slightly. "You said just now that you are not from the God Realm. Then why do you carry the aura of the Asura God?"

At those words, Di Tian immediately summoned the phantom of his true form. Seven-colored light burst from his left claw, and his aura surged madly!

At a single command from his lord, he would fight to the death!

"Asura God?" Sirin tilted her head and thought for a moment. "You mean that insect dressed all in red, carrying a sword?"

The Silver Dragon King nodded, but the latter half of Sirin's words made the corner of her lips twitch. "An insect? Your tone is rather grand. And from the sound of it, have you fought the Asura God before?"

Sirin curled her lips, casually flipped her hand, and tossed one of her previous spoils—a crimson-gold sword fragment—to her. "Recognize it?"

The Silver Dragon King reached out and caught it. After only one glance, her expression changed drastically. The calmness in her eyes vanished entirely, replaced by shock as she looked at Sirin!

"A fragment of the Asura God Sword?!!" Di Tian recognized it as well. "My Lord, this..."

"Return the human to her." The Silver Dragon King made an immediate decision and ordered Di Tian to release him at once.

"Yes!"

Di Tian did not hesitate either, handing Lu Xueling back to Sirin.

Holding Lu Xueling again, the tension in Sirin's face finally eased somewhat. She checked him over from head to toe once more, only relaxing after confirming that he had no new wounds. Her eyes reddened slightly.

The Silver Dragon King watched every detail of Sirin's expression, seeming thoughtful. Only after a long while did she speak again.

"Do you have some new grudge against the Asura God—or perhaps the God Realm? You actually shattered his Divine Artifact."