Mutation

Tian'e and Walter stared solemnly at the core region of the Star Dou Forest.

"Old Crocodile, what's going on? Haven't these Beasts stayed out of the core region for centuries? What insanity has gotten into them today?"

Walter walked to Tian'e's side and spoke in a low voice.

"How would I know? Let's hope they're not here for us."

Tian'e replied quietly as well. His thoughts churned. Ever since entering the Star Dou Forest, nothing he had sensed seemed out of place. Could they really have just gone mad?

No! They might really be here for them. Had his brain rusted after staying in the Worship Hall for too long?! Even he was frightened by the life energy carried by Xiaoshuang's Martial Soul. How could those Spirit Beasts constantly facing their end remain indifferent?!

Realizing this, Tian'e immediately turned to Pullman and the three juniors.

"Pullman, take the three of them and run! Run as fast as you possibly can!"

Upon hearing Tian'e's shout, Pullman did not respond respectfully as usual. Instead, he immediately activated his Martial Soul Possession.

Two enormous wings appeared behind his back. As the first line of warning against a beast tide, the Platinum Bishops Spirit Hall stationed outside the Star Dou Forest were always Agility Attack System Spirit Masters adept at speed. Pullman was no exception.

"Young Lady, forgive my offense."

Pullman scooped Tian Yao and Qian Ningshuang into his arms, one in each hand. At his signal, Qian Renxue also stepped behind him and wrapped her arms around his neck. At a time like this, there was no need for a mere Spirit King to fuss over propriety. Escaping was what mattered.

Watching Pullman and the three juniors fly toward the outskirts of the Star Dou Forest, Walter let out a breath of relief.

"Old Crocodile, what do we do now?"

"Old Wo, did you leave your brain behind today? Why are there so many questions? Do I need to teach you what comes next? We hold them off for as long as we can. It doesn't matter if these two old bones of ours die, but Xue'er and Shuang'er are Spirit Hall's future hope."

Tian'e said irritably.

"Isn't it because I haven't fought in so long? I'm feeling a little nervous, so I'm easing the mood while I'm at it."

Walter smiled as he tugged at his gloves. Yet the warmth usually in his smile was gone, replaced by an inexplicable chill.

"From here on out, kill every enemy we see!"

Ten threads of unknown material appeared at Walter's fingertips. Yellow, yellow, purple, purple, black, black, black, black, black Spirit Rings emerged around him, fully revealing the aura of a ninety-fourth-rank Title Douluo!

At the same time, patches of golden scales appeared across Tian'e's face. The vivid red Spirit Ring among his rings was nobler than Walter's black ones, and the pressure of a ninety-eighth-rank Super Douluo erupted forth!

"Black Dragon, what brings you here?"

Tian'e looked indifferently at the massive black dragon that appeared before him.

"Human, hand over the girl who has just obtained her Spirit Ring. Do not force me to act!"

Di Tian looked at the two figures. On the way here, he had already sensed everything that had happened, understood whom the life energy Lord had mentioned came from, and realized just how vast and pure that life energy was. Today, he was determined to have her!

"Since when did Spirit Beasts become so long-winded? Didn't you used to charge in without thinking? Oh, you're injured. Could it be that you're afraid?"

Glancing at the enormous scorched wound on Di Tian's body, Tian'e taunted him.

"Human, you court death!"

A black dragon claw slammed down. The very mention of that wound infuriated Di Tian. Those damned gods of the God Realm!

"Martial Soul Avatar!"

A golden crocodile nearly as large as the black dragon appeared on the spot and rammed into the black dragon claw. At the same time, a booming voice emerged from its jaws.

"Old Wo, that bear is yours!"

"I am the Dark Gold Terrorclaw Bear King!"

"No difference. You're all the same!"

An overwhelming mass of threads wrapped around Xiong Jun as he charged toward Tian'e.

While Tian'e and Walter were battling the Spirit Beasts, Qian Ningshuang's group had not escaped the Star Dou Forest as Tian'e had hoped.

After all, three Beasts had come, but only two had appeared so far.

Di Tian and the others were not fools. If all three Beasts had appeared together, Tian'e and Walter would have done everything possible to stop them. They might not have held them for long, but it would certainly have taken some effort.

Rather than that, it was better for only two to show themselves openly and keep Tian'e and Walter occupied while the remaining beast dealt with Qian Ningshuang.

In the distance, the four fleeing through the air were suddenly struck down by an attack.

As the four crashed down, birds throughout the forest took flight in alarm.

Qian Ningshuang climbed out of Qian Renxue's arms and inspected their condition. Bishop Pullman had borne the brunt of that attack. Blood streamed from his broken head, one arm dangled limply, clearly fractured, and multiple wounds across his body were bleeding.

Qian Renxue's golden hair had come loose, and her body was covered in abrasions.

As for Qian Ningshuang and Tian Yao, Qian Renxue and Pullman had protected them well during the fall, leaving them without any obvious injuries.

Fortunately, the source of that attack seemed to have some reservations and had not used its full strength. Otherwise, the four of them would now be nothing but four piles of mangled flesh.

Before the four could recover, a Three-Headed Red Demon Mastiff appeared before them. Clearly, it was the one responsible for shooting them down.

"Young Lady, take the Second Young Miss and Miss Tian Yao and leave first. I'll hold it back."

Pullman braced himself with his broken arm and stood before the three girls. If he feared death, he would never have volunteered to guard the Star Dou Forest.

"A Spirit Douluo? Don't make me laugh."

A massive claw pressed down along with the voice.

"Stop!"

The claw truly halted in midair. Scarlet King fell silent as he looked at Qian Ningshuang, who held a small knife pointed at her own heart.

As a beast with three hundred thousand years of cultivation, Scarlet King had also sensed the scene of Qian Ningshuang testing her soul skill while coming here. Likewise, he understood how important Qian Ningshuang was to Lord. If she truly died, it would not merely mean a dog meat feast in the core region of the Star Dou Forest—canine Spirit Beasts would be erased from the Star Dou Forest altogether.

As for whether someone with such powerful life energy could die from suicide, he did not dare gamble. He could see clearly that the life energy came from Qian Ningshuang's Martial Soul, not Qian Ningshuang herself.

Seeing Scarlet King stop his attack, Qian Ningshuang sighed in relief. She was not stupid. Combining the original story she had read in her previous life with the Abyss Flower, she could guess why these Spirit Beasts had mobilized in such force.

"It seems you've already guessed that we came for you. What do you want? So long as you do not ask us to let you leave, the Star Dou Forest will spare no effort to grant it."

After a moment of silence, Scarlet King spoke.

"Send them out of the Star Dou Forest, and I'll go with you. And my two grandfathers! If either of them dies, I'll kill myself immediately!"

Qian Ningshuang watched the red three-headed hound vigilantly. She was not some transmigrator who only cared about herself. Her family and companions of six years had fallen into danger because of her. Trading her life for their safety required no deliberation.

Besides, if her guess was correct, she would merely be unable to return to Spirit Hall in the future. She would not have to die.

"Fine. I'll have Di Tian and the others stop at once. But stay where you are. Do not move. If you leave, you know the consequences."

Scarlet King gave Qian Ningshuang a deep look before turning and rushing toward where Tian'e and Di Tian were fighting.