In the dark waters at the bottom of the Lake of Life, Gu Yuena slowly withdrew her gaze only after Tang San and the God of Destruction's auras had completely vanished. A trace of gravity remained in her purple eyes as she gently swayed her long tail, stirring up small swirling currents.
"Di Tian."
Her cool voice rang through the water. It was not loud, yet it carried an unquestionable authority, instantly piercing through layers of lakewater and reaching the surface.
Di Tian, who had been deep in thought at the center of the Lake of Life, jolted awake. His enormous dragon body trembled slightly. This voice... it was Lord!
He could scarcely believe his ears. The last time he had heard Lord's summons was during the Three Gods War ten thousand years ago. After that battle, Lord had fallen into slumber, and there had been no word from her for ten thousand years. Now that she had suddenly awakened, could it be...
Di Tian had no time to think further. He hurriedly composed himself, and his massive dragon body plunged downward, diving into the lake like an arrow loosed from a bow. The deeper he went, the dimmer the light became and the heavier the water pressure grew, but he did not dare slacken for a moment as he headed straight for the deepest part of the lakebed.
Before a stretch of water where he could barely see his own claws, Di Tian stopped. An invisible spatial barrier stood here, enclosing the place where Lord had slept. He respectfully lowered his dragon head, his voice unable to suppress its excitement and reverence. "Lord, what are your orders?"
From within the barrier, Gu Yuena's voice came again. "What has happened in the Star Dou Great Forest these past few days?"
Di Tian froze, his heart full of doubt. Lord had slept for ten thousand years, so why would she suddenly ask about such trivial matters after awakening? Yet he did not dare hesitate in the slightest. He immediately reported everything that had happened recently in full detail—from Mu En and the others from Shrek Academy barging into the Core Area and accusing the Star Dou Soul Beasts of abducting the youth with the Holy Dragon of Light Martial Soul, to the battle that broke out between both sides, the deaths of Elder Lin, Elder Song, and Xian Lin'er, and then how they had investigated clues surrounding the youth's disappearance, as well as their recent decision to release news of Shrek Academy's heavy losses...
He recounted every detail while secretly trying to discern Lord's intentions. Yet even after he finished, he could not understand why these matters had disturbed Lord, who had slumbered for ten thousand years.
Silence fell within the barrier.
Di Tian could sense that Lord's aura had become somewhat unsettled. She was clearly pondering something. He held his breath and waited quietly, the doubts in his heart growing ever stronger.
After a moment, Gu Yuena spoke again, a nearly imperceptible gravity in her voice. "That youth with the Holy Dragon of Light Martial Soul, and those who vanished with him—have you truly found no trace of them at all?"
"Yes."
Di Tian hurriedly replied, "This subordinate had Bi Ji search the entire forest using life aura. We even questioned every Soul Beast over fifty thousand years old one by one, but there truly were no clues. It was as though... they had vanished into thin air."
Gu Yuena's brows furrowed slightly, and confusion flashed through her purple eyes. Holy Dragon of Light Martial Soul... disappearance... and those two God Kings' urgent search just now... could there be some connection between these three things?
She felt that she had overlooked some crucial information. God Kings descending to the lower realm was no trivial matter. Could what they were searching for be related to that missing youth?
But what could that youth possibly have to do with those two God Kings? It could not be that, like Sea God Tang San ten thousand years ago, he had also gained the favor of two deities, could it?
This was damn ridiculous.
"Lord?" Seeing that Gu Yuena had remained silent for a long time, Di Tian called out cautiously.
"It is nothing."
Gu Yuena gathered her thoughts and said calmly, "You may withdraw."
After a pause, she added, "For the time being, have all the Soul Beasts in Star Dou behave themselves. Do not provoke outside forces on your own initiative, especially Shrek Academy."
Di Tian's heart tightened, and he hurriedly asked, "Lord, has something happened?"
"Just now, two God Kings descended to the lower realm."
Gu Yuena's voice remained calm and even, but Di Tian felt as though he had been struck by lightning. "They seem to be searching for something, but their exact purpose is unknown."
"God... God Kings?!" Di Tian's voice began to tremble, and his enormous dragon body shuddered uncontrollably. Though he was only one step away from becoming a deity, before a true deity, he was no different from an ant.
Let alone Kings of the God Realm.
Though he did not know why they had descended to the lower realm, one thing was certain: the descent of God Kings was an earth-shaking event for the Douluo Continent and the Star Dou Great Forest alike!
At that moment, Di Tian seemed to think of something. Suppressing the shock and terror in his heart, he cautiously asked, "Lord, your whereabouts... have not been exposed, have they?"
This was what worried him most. If Lord's identity became known to the God Realm, the consequences would be unimaginable. The Soul Beast Clan now relied entirely on Gu Yuena to hold it together. If anything happened to her as well, the Soul Beast Clan would be truly finished, never able to rise again and forever reduced to a stepping stone for humans to grow stronger, because the God Realm imposed restrictions and did not permit Soul Beasts to ascend as gods.
"No." Gu Yuena's tone remained calm. "They do not seem to be targeting me, and I have concealed my aura well. They did not notice me."
Only then did Di Tian breathe a sigh of relief. The fine beads of sweat on his dragon head were instantly washed away by the lakewater. He quickly answered respectfully, "This subordinate understands! I will certainly restrain all Soul Beasts and never bring trouble upon Star Dou!"
"Mm." Gu Yuena responded softly, then gave no further reply, clearly sinking back into silence.
Di Tian did not dare say more. He respectfully bowed toward the spatial barrier, then slowly turned around and cautiously swam toward the surface. For a long time, his heart could not calm. God Kings descending to the lower realm, Lord awakening—the Star Dou Great Forest's seemingly tranquil surface appeared to conceal already-surging undercurrents.
Meanwhile, on the Douluo Continent ten thousand years ago.
Two lavishly decorated carriages slowly passed through Spirit Hall's gates. The carriages were drawn by pure white Unicorns, and their Carriage Walls were embedded with tiny gemstones that glittered brilliantly beneath the sunlight. One could tell at a glance that those inside were people of distinguished status.
Inside one of the carriages, Wang Dong'er reclined lazily against a soft cushion. She raised a hand and lifted one corner of the curtain, curiously observing the scene outside.
Before her stood Spirit Hall's magnificent building complex. The white marble ground shone like a mirror, towering spires pierced the clouds, and exquisite patterns were carved between the halls. Everything exuded solemn majesty and extravagant grandeur. Spirit Hall stewards and disciples passed by in uniform attire, their expressions respectful and their steps hurried.
"So this is Spirit Hall from ten thousand years ago..." Wang Dong'er murmured, her beautiful eyes filled with curiosity and emotion.
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