"Star Dou was only second? I refuse to accept this!!"
Xiong Jun slammed a palm onto the ground and roared at the sky.
Wan Yao Wang and Scarlet King beside him also wore indignant expressions.
"Looking across the world, other than Star Dou, what force could possess a true god like our master?!"
"Not being first is simply ridiculous!!"
Di Tian, Zi Ji, and Bi Ji remained silent, but they too felt it was unreasonable.
Gu Yuena, famed for inheriting the Dragon God's "wisdom," quickly thought of a possibility.
"Hmph, the Sky Screen ranks the forces of this plane. The God Realm, which governs this plane, is very likely included as well! First place must be the God Realm!"
All the Beasts present agreed. That was the only possibility.
Even Di Tian, who had always been a man of his own mind, slowly nodded at that moment.
The next instant, a golden pillar of light descended from the Sky Screen, passing through Life Lake and the pocket-world space.
It landed precisely before Gu Yuena, then split into three small balls of light and transformed into three treasures.
One was a red gem set in gold, one was a golden scepter, and one was a dark-red spiked breastplate!
"These must be the three Heaven-Sent Rewards. What pure, immense energy. I wonder what they do?!"
The Six Great Beast Kings could not help exclaiming as they sensed the energy radiating from them.
Gu Yuena reached out and touched them, and the descriptions of the three pieces of equipment poured into her mind.
[Quasi-Divine Artifact "Extreme Shadow": Passive · Swift Aura Domain [All allied forces within an eight-hundred-meter radius gain a 10% increase in attack speed, Soul Power recovery, and cooldown reduction]!] [Quasi-Divine Artifact "Moonlight": Active · Moon's Protection [Absolute invincibility, ignoring all forms of attack effects. Even the strongest divine skill cannot harm the user in the slightest. However, the user cannot move or use any skills during activation. Lasts two seconds. Cooldown: sixty minutes]!] [Divine Artifact "Thornmail": Active · Counter-Thorn [Enter the Counter-Thorn state for three seconds, returning 40% of all damage received during that time to the opponent as True Damage (True Damage ignores all shields and defenses, unless the target cannot be selected or is in a higher-tier invincible damage-reduction state). Cooldown: sixty minutes]!]
"They actually have such miraculous effects!"
Rare astonishment flashed through Gu Yuena's violet eyes.
The Beasts hurriedly asked.
"Master, what effects do these three divine items possess? Could you tell us?"
Gu Yuena's violet eyes returned to calm as she described their effects one by one.
"What?!!"
After hearing her out, all the Beasts present were dumbfounded and began discussing it excitedly.
"Extreme Shadow can enhance all allies over a wide area. If a large-scale war breaks out, this is practically a divine artifact!"
"Thornmail reflects forty percent of the damage. With such a high amount, it would be enough to challenge any opponent above one's level. It truly deserves the name of a divine artifact!"
"This Moonlight is even more heaven-defying, ignoring all attacks! If being unable to move while using it did not reduce its practicality, calling it a Super Divine Artifact would not be excessive!"
While they were discussing it fervently.
The Sky Azure Bull Python and Titan Giant Ape outside on Life Lake were also plunged into shock.
They knew nothing of the Silver Dragon King or Di Tian, and stared blankly at the Sky Screen's contents.
But when the golden pillar of light descending from the Sky Screen fell beneath Life Lake, they realized something.
There was another world beneath Life Lake!!!
"Big Brother, all these years, we have actually been living under someone else's watch! I wonder whether they bear us any ill will?"
The Titan Giant Ape, who had never feared heaven or earth, trembled as a chill ran down his spine.
The Sky Azure Bull Python, usually somewhat clever, was at a loss as well, staring fixedly at the surface of Life Lake.
Gu Yuena and the others below naturally heard their conversation clearly.
Gu Yuena put away the three pieces of equipment. After her violet eyes darkened in thought for a moment, she said majestically.
"Since we have already been exposed, then let us emerge! Gather all the powerful soul beasts in Star Dou and prepare for the changes that may come!"
As soon as she finished speaking, Xiong Jun, Wan Yao Wang, and Scarlet King accepted the order.
Di Tian, Zi Ji, and Bi Ji, however, held the exact opposite view and spoke in unison.
"Master, your grievous wounds have yet to heal. If you emerge and draw the God Realm's attention, it may prove unfavorable!"
How could Gu Yuena not have considered that? Her voice carried an unquestionable firmness.
"The Sky Screen has already pushed me into the eye of the storm. Hiding would merely be self-deception! We can only see whether the rewards from the Sky Screen's other rankings can help me recover from my injuries!"
Upon hearing this, Di Tian bowed and departed after accepting the order.
"As you command! I shall gather all the powerful soul beasts of Star Dou at once!"
Watching his departing back, Gu Yuena gave a majestic shout.
"We have slumbered in this pocket world for countless millennia. It is time for us to awaken as well!!!"
Far North.
Ice Empress and Snow Empress were searching for the Ten-Thousand-Year Profound Ice Cave.
The moment they saw the Sky Screen update, the two stunning figures abruptly stopped.
When they clearly saw the ranked force and its evaluation, both were shocked.
Besides Di Tian and the Six Great Beast Kings, Star Dou Forest actually concealed the divine beast, the Silver Dragon King!
Ice Empress spoke first, her voice stiff with disbelief.
"Several tens of thousands of years ago, Di Tian and the other Beasts came to our Far North many times, attempting to recruit us, yet they never once mentioned this!"
Snow Empress's exquisite face was equally astonished.
"Even more surprising is that Star Dou possesses such foundations, yet it is still only ranked second?"
The two looked at each other, and a bold guess arose in both their minds.
"Could first place be... the God Realm?!"
Ice Empress took Snow Empress's slender hand and said with a mischievous smile.
"Xue'er, the God Realm being first brings us only benefits and no harm. They cannot interfere with the lower realm anyway. Now that Star Dou's soul beast forces have been exposed, they will certainly draw away the attention and thoughts of many human soul masters. Even if humans truly invade the Far North later, we can borrow Star Dou's influence!"
Snow Empress flicked her forehead and said irritably.
"How can we scheme against our fellow soul beasts? We should hurry and find the Ten-Thousand-Year Profound Ice Cave to strengthen ourselves."
Ice Empress covered her forehead, turned her head away in a slight huff, and muttered.
"Hmph, do not forget that Di Tian came to the Far North several times back then because he wanted to force us into submission. He is no good person!"
Seeing that she was unhappy, Snow Empress smiled helplessly, pulled her into her arms, and coaxed her.
"Bing'er, all right, all right. Let the past remain in the past. With soul beasts being exposed one after another, we should work together now."
Ice Empress's mood eased slightly, though she still grumbled as she lightly bit Snow Empress's earlobe.
"Mm~~ You rascal!"
Snow Empress's delicate body shuddered. Ice Empress's little move left her both embarrassed and annoyed, yet she could do nothing about her.
She could not exactly... bite back...
Suotuo City, Shrek Academy.
Everyone was once again shaken by the Sky Screen's contents.
Zhao Wuji exclaimed.
"Star Dou Forest actually hides a living dragon divine beast. Not only does she control seven attributes, she even possesses divine artifacts!"
Ma Hongjun swallowed hard and said in shock.
"This Silver Dragon King must be a top-tier existence even among dragons, right? Any Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon would be pathetically weak before her!"
Hearing the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon belittled again, Yu Xiaogang grew furious once more.
"Bullshit! This is clearly a fake, fabricated ranking! If Star Dou truly had such foundations, why has there never been even the slightest rumor of it throughout history?"
Not far away, Xiao Wu stared wide-eyed at the Sky Screen.
Star Dou Forest actually hid such terrifying beings?
Now that the Sky Screen had exposed them, they would surely emerge. If she could ask for their help...
She could avenge her mother!
That was right, she was going back to Star Dou Forest. In any case, she had nothing left to miss here!
With that thought, Xiao Wu quickly approached the group, looked at Flender, and said solemnly.
"Headmaster Flender, I want to withdraw from Shrek Academy!"
Before you continue