The Star Dou Great Forest, under the veil of night, held a greater sense of mystery and depth than during the day.
The branches and leaves of ancient, towering trees intertwined, forming a dense, impenetrable canopy that sliced the bright moonlight into fragmented spots of light, sparsely scattering onto the ground covered in thick humus. The forest was filled with the damp scent of grass and wood, mixed with the sweet, earthy smell of the soil. Occasional flickers of fluorescence marked the trails left by nocturnal Soul Beasts or the natural luminescence of certain plants.
Most Soul Beasts had long since fallen asleep. Lower-level Soul Beasts curled up in tree hollows or bushes, their breathing even; higher-level Soul Beasts, however, occupied the depths of their territories, releasing faint pressure to warn others against approaching. The entire forest was so quiet that only the mournful sound of the wind whistling through the leaves and the occasional low beast roars from afar could be heard, emphasizing the vastness of the world.
However, this tranquility did not last long.
"Buzz—"
Several immensely powerful auras, like thunderbolts, tore through the sky from afar, carrying the unique, majestic Soul Power fluctuations of Titled Douluo. They ripped through the night sky and shook the entire forest. Fallen leaves on the ground were swept away by an invisible wave of energy, and the air in the forest seemed to ignite instantly, hot and oppressive.
"Roar—!"
The slumbering Soul Beasts were awakened by this sudden oppressive feeling. Lower-level Soul Beasts trembled, shrinking in place, afraid to move; higher-level Soul Beasts poked their heads out of their lairs, their eyes flashing with vigilance and anger, letting out low roars towards the sky. They could sense that this aura came from humans, carried a strong hostility, and was rapidly approaching the depths of the forest.
Several dark shadows streaked across the night sky like meteors, moving so fast that only afterimages remained. Shrek City and the Star Dou Great Forest were not far apart, and with Mu En and his party consisting of top-tier powerhouses at the Titled Douluo level, they reached the edge of the Star Dou Great Forest in the time it took for a single stick of incense to burn.
"This is it," Mu En stopped, his hoarse voice drifting in the night wind. His bloodshot eyes stared intently into the depths of the dark, dense forest ahead, the core area of the Star Dou Great Forest, in the direction of the Lake of Life.
The others stopped close behind, their surrounding Soul Power still surging like an erupting volcano. Their gazes were sharp as eagles, scanning the surrounding trees and shadows, not missing any slight movement.
Just as they passed through layers of ancient trees, only a few miles from the Lake of Life, a voice as gentle as a spring breeze brushing across a lake suddenly sounded in the forest. It was clear and pleasant, yet possessed an undeniable penetrating power:
"You visit the Star Dou Great Forest late at night with such a grand commotion. May I ask what brings you here?"
As the voice faded, a slender figure in emerald green appeared as if out of thin air, standing quietly on the open ground ahead.
The visitor was Bi Ji, ranked fourth among the Ten Great Ferocious Beasts of the Star Dou Great Forest.
She was undoubtedly peerless. Her thick, green hair cascaded down like a waterfall of the purest jade, falling smoothly to her waist, the tips curling slightly with a natural arc. Moonlight shone on her hair, reflecting a warm luster, as if every strand contained the breath of life.
A stunningly beautiful face appeared exceptionally clear in the night, her brows like distant mountains, her eyes like autumn water, carrying an innate gentleness and compassion that seemed to encompass all things in the world.
She wore a pale green dress, embroidered with intricate vine patterns on the hem, which swayed gently with her breath, like a water lily blooming in the dark night. Her tall, well-proportioned figure was perfectly outlined by the dress, neither appearing thin nor bulky. A rich life energy enveloped her, making the surrounding plants seem even more verdant and upright.
At this moment, Bi Ji tilted her head slightly, looking at Mu En and his party with eyes full of pure confusion, as if completely unable to understand why these human powerhouses had intruded into the forest with such heavy hostility. She was the kindest of the Ten Great Ferocious Beasts, never initiating conflict, and usually only responsible for guarding the life force of the forest. Facing the murderous group, her face showed only bewilderment, not the slightest fear.
"We demand an explanation from the Star Dou Great Forest!"
Yan Shaozhe stepped forward, his gaze fixed on Bi Ji like a torch, his voice icy as he questioned, "Did your Ferocious Beasts kill a young man who entered the forest not long ago?"
Bi Ji froze for a moment, a flicker of confusion in her gentle eyes. "A young man? What young man?"
She recalled for a moment before slowly speaking, her voice still soft, "Not long ago, a young woman did indeed perish near the edge of the forest. I don't know who she was specifically, only that her soul was shattered, and she died very suddenly. But the young man you speak of... I have never seen him."
"A young woman?" Mu En's heart skipped a beat, his hoarse voice trembling slightly, "And the young man who was with the young woman? Where is he?"
He was almost certain that the young woman Bi Ji spoke of was Tang Ya, which meant Beibei must be nearby!
Bi Ji shook her head, her emerald hair swaying gently. "I don't know. When I found the young woman's body, there was no one else with her, nor did I sense any other human presence."
She spoke frankly, her eyes showing no evasion. As the matriarch of the Jade Swan clan, with a cultivation of nearly 600,000 years, she was extremely sensitive to changes in the forest's aura. If a young man had been nearby at the time, she would not have failed to notice.
It was just that she truly couldn't understand why this young man, who was clearly very important to these humans, was completely unfamiliar to her.
"Hmph, who knows if you're telling the truth!"
One of the elders stepped forward, his Soul Power surging, his voice as cold as a knife. "Bi Ji, you are one of the Ten Great Ferocious Beasts; you can definitely contact Di Tian and the others. In my opinion, why don't we capture you first and make them obediently hand over the person, otherwise..."
He left the rest unspoken, but the threat was self-evident.
A fierce glint flashed in Mu En's eyes, and he nodded. He was already overcome by grief and rage, only wanting to find Beibei's whereabouts as soon as possible. Even with the slightest hope, he was willing to pay any price.
"Attack!"
With Mu En's low command, several elders immediately circulated their Soul Power, preparing to surround Bi Ji.
However, their feet had only taken half a step when a voice filled with endless coldness and boundless killing intent exploded in the forest like thunder from the heavens. Just two words, yet they contained a pressure capable of changing the color of the world:
"Insolent! Dare to touch Bi Ji, and I will leave you all here, and then slaughter everyone in Shrek City!"
The voice was not loud, but it seemed to carry the aura of ten thousand years of ice, instantly freezing the flow of Soul Power in the air.
All the Titled Douluo except Mu En felt as if their chests had been struck by a massive rock, their blood churning, their feet pinned to the spot, unable to move.
The anger and killing intent on their faces instantly solidified, replaced by deep shock.
This aura... it's Di Tian!
The true ruler of the Star Dou Great Forest, the leader of the Ten Great Ferocious Beasts, the Golden-Eyed Black Dragon King Di Tian!
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