Calamity and Reconciliation

Wang Nan's movements slowed, but his mind remained sharp. He could sense that the imposing aura emanating from this Tyrant Dragon was not some Soul Skill, but pressure produced by an ancient and powerful presence within its body.

It was like an ordinary person encountering a Soul Master, or a low-ranking Soul Master facing a high-ranking one. When confronted with an opponent far more powerful than oneself, it was inevitable to feel the pressure they brought. Only, the pressure Wang Nan faced came from the Golden Dragon King.

Wang Nan forced himself to calm down and tried to face that aura head-on. He knew that the owner of this presence was far stronger than himself, perhaps even stronger than this world itself. But the Tyrant Dragon before him was not the Golden Dragon King—merely a Soul Beast that had inherited its legacy.

Within Wang Nan's Spiritual Sea, the Luminous Orb seemed to sense his resolve and suddenly shone brilliantly.

In an instant, the golden patterns on the Coiling Dragon Staff in Wang Nan's right hand began to slowly move. Line after line, streak after streak, they merged together in a regular pattern, as though a Giant Dragon had truly coiled around the staff. Its dragon head lifted high, and a dragon's roar rang through the sky.

Wang Nan's right arm trembled slightly as immense Soul Power surged back through him. The Soul Tool Thrusters on his back, arms, and legs—five in all—lit up simultaneously. Wang Nan raised the Coiling Dragon Staff high and thrust one end into the Tyrant Dragon's mouth.

Spiritual Power and Soul Power fused as one, and the Coiling Dragon Collapse Style unfolded. Golden light flashed in Wang Nan's eyes, followed by a loud bang, as though something had been shattered by his strike.

Wang Nan landed on the ground once more. The pressure on him vanished completely. The Golden Dragon King's imposing aura had not weakened in the slightest, yet it no longer affected him.

A milky-white glow lit up on his chest. Soul Power from the Rechargeable Soul Tool continuously flowed into Wang Nan's body. He gripped the Coiling Dragon Staff with both hands, his gaze fixed on the Tyrant Dragon.

The second round had begun.

Blood trickled from the Tyrant Dragon's mouth. Even with the Golden Dragon King's bloodline, being struck internally by that staff had inevitably injured it.

With a roar, the Tyrant Dragon charged again. Its head and tail attacked without pause, slamming against the ground and producing wave after wave of thunderous noise.

With Dragon's Might rendered useless, the Tyrant Dragon was no longer as dangerous as before. Wang Nan maneuvered around it while launching attack after attack.

The battle continued until noon. More than half of Wang Nan's Soul Power had been depleted, while the Tyrant Dragon on the other side had also exhausted its strength. After staggering forward a few steps, it collapsed to the ground with a boom.

Only then did Wang Nan deactivate the Soul Tool Thrusters and let out a long breath.

"Nan'er!" Wang Xing hurried forward and excitedly grabbed Wang Nan's shoulders, checking his injuries.

Yan Huo, on the other hand, looked toward the Tyrant Dragon, a trace of pity appearing in her eyes.

"I'm fine, Dad," Wang Nan said, preparing to step forward and obtain the Soul Ring.

Suddenly, the fallen Tyrant Dragon opened its eyes, which were filled with resolve.

As a member of the dragon race, how could it simply become a human's Soul Ring?

Its pride as a dragon transformed its rage and unwillingness into a furious roar. Then, the little Soul Power remaining within its body gathered together, and its flesh exploded violently along with it.

"Watch out!"

Before Wang Xing's words had even faded, a dark-red figure charged in. Amid the deafening blast, three furious shrieks rang out at once, and crimson light enveloped the three of them.

When the light dispersed, a lion-like Soul Beast appeared before them. It possessed three identical heads, its terrifying fangs gleaming with a reddish-gold luster. Beneath its feet lay the barely breathing Tyrant Dragon, now reduced to only half a body.

"Don't be nervous." Yan Huo hurried to the Soul Beast's side. "This is the elder from my family."

Wang Xing's expression shifted uncertainly. After a moment, he suddenly smiled. "Thank you for saving us, Senior."

"It was nothing." The Soul Beast glanced at Yan Huo before replying helplessly.

Wang Nan said nothing, but he already knew exactly who this girl was.

But according to his memories, she was only supposed to be able to take human form in the future. Why did she already look like this now?

"Absorb the Soul Ring quickly while this Tyrant Dragon is not yet dead. Since the elder from my family has already acted, I will not accompany you two any farther."

After saying that, she gave Wang Nan a deep look and dipped slightly in a bow. Then she climbed onto the Soul Beast's back and headed toward the depths of the Star Dou Great Forest.

Wang Xing watched the direction Yan Huo had gone until her figure disappeared into the depths of the forest. Only then did he slowly say, "Miss Yan Huo should be a Soul Beast that has taken human form, shouldn't she?"

Hearing this, Wang Nan turned to look at Wang Xing.

"What? Your father may only be a Soul King, but I can still tell the difference between a Soul Beast and a Martial Soul Avatar. That Three-Headed Lion just now was a Soul Beast. Since Miss Yan Huo could ride on its back, her identity is obvious."

"Though I don't know why they chose not to attack us, now isn't the time to investigate. Bring that Tyrant Dragon with us. We'll retreat beyond the forest first."

It was indeed a Tyrant Dragon with the Golden Dragon King's bloodline. Even after self-destructing and being left with only half its body, its chest could still be seen rising and falling faintly. A trace of life remained.

Wang Nan and Wang Xing carried the half-body and headed out of the Star Dou Great Forest.

Star Dou Great Forest, core region.

A tall man stood there, his golden hair cascading down his back. His sturdy body stood more than three meters tall.

Soon, a dark-red figure arrived, carrying "Yan Huo" on its back.

"You're back?"

"Mm." Yan Huo's voice was somewhat weary. "I'm going to rest first."

"Go on."

After watching "Yan Huo" disappear, Scarlet King finally could not hold back any longer. "Di Tian, I don't understand. Helping drive away the Soul Beasts before was one thing, but this time, you actually helped that human obtain a Soul Ring by killing one of our own kind."

"You don't understand why I did this?"

"I don't."

"The so-called Auspicious Beast is a kind of Soul Beast born in response to fate. From the moment it is born, it already has one foot through the threshold of godhood. It receives the favor of Heaven and Earth Elemental Energy, and it itself absorbs vast amounts of Heaven and Earth Elemental Energy like one priceless treasure after another."

"Near it, every Soul Beast's cultivation speed will increase, and their chances of breaking through bottlenecks will also rise. Even fate itself will be changed because of it."

"As fate's favored child, it encounters no bottlenecks in cultivation. But likewise, because it possesses the power of fate, it is destined to face a calamity."

"In the near future, the Auspicious Beast's calamity will descend. It cannot be avoided, nor can it be escaped. Once it fails to overcome this calamity, everything it possesses will be taken by another." At this point, a fierce glint flashed through Di Tian's eyes.

"The human you saw is the reconciliation to this calamity."

"For the great plan of us Soul Beasts, let alone one Tyrant Dragon—even I can offer myself up."

"You must protect the Auspicious Beast from now on. I can tell you these things, but you cannot tell anyone else." As Di Tian spoke, he raised his head and glanced at the empty sky. "Otherwise, once words leave your mouth, calamity will surely follow."