A Brief Parting

On the battlefield at this moment.

Tian'e's massive Martial Soul Avatar was already covered in wounds, and his golden crocodile armor was stained almost entirely a deep, crimson red.

As for Di Tian, the original wounds on his body had merely been torn open a little wider.

Di Tian had already been fighting with injuries; otherwise, a Beast of his caliber, equivalent to or even exceeding a Limit Douluo, would have killed a 98th-level Super Douluo in a single exchange.

Walter, however, was in a much worse state.

The old butler was currently half-sitting, leaning against a wooden stake that had been newly formed during the battle.

Xiong Jun was covered in small cuts, but these wounds clearly had little effect on him. After glancing at the injuries on his body, the massive bear walked up to Walter.

"Human, I said earlier that I would swallow you whole, but I've changed my mind. For a 94th-level Title Douluo to achieve this much, you are quite impressive."

"Oh, is that so? Then, big bear, how do you intend to dispose of me?"

Walter did not look at Xiong Jun; he tilted his head to look at the sky and sighed.

Dying in the Star Dou Forest wouldn't be so bad, it was just a pity that the clothes the Second Young Miss had designed for him hadn't been worn for very long.

"I will kill you first, then burn you into ashes and scatter them throughout the Star Dou Forest."

In the midst of the battle, Tian'e saw this scene and let out a roar, charging at Di Tian once more. His eyes were filled with grief and indignation. Old friend, you go first; I, Tian'e, will be right behind you.

Turning his head to glance at the grief-stricken Tian'e, Walter chuckled softly. He understood what Tian'e meant and closed his eyes.

"Do it."

Xiong Jun didn't say anything more, his claws piercing toward Walter's chest.

The next moment, Xiong Jun's movement was blocked by a crimson claw.

"Scarlet King, why are you stopping me? Did you catch the person?"

Thank goodness I ran fast. If I had been a split second later, the canine spirit beasts of Star Dou could have been wiped off the map, and the bear spirit beasts would have been next. Scarlet King looked at Xiong Jun's claws with lingering fear.

"I didn't catch her, but she can't run. But you, Xiong Jun, if that claw of yours had gone down, both our Star Dou canine and bear clans would have been wiped out."

"What's going on?"

Xiong Jun scratched his bear head; he was the typical type of spirit beast that acted without thinking.

"What about those three little girls? If even a hair on their heads is harmed, Martial Soul Hall will fight you and Star Dou until the end!"

Before Scarlet King could say anything, Walter saw him and understood the actions of Di Tian and the others, speaking with instant urgency.

"Why are you in such a rush, old man? They are fine. In fact, you should thank that girl whose martial soul possesses powerful life energy. If she hadn't held a knife to her own heart as a threat, I wouldn't have bothered to stop Xiong Jun."

Just then, the battle between Di Tian and Tian'e also came to an end.

Di Tian carried the dying Tian'e in his jaws and tossed him next to Walter.

"I heard everything. What exactly is going on?"

"That girl guessed that our target was her. She said she was willing to come with us, but if even one person from their group is missing, she will commit suicide immediately."

Scarlet King said with his head bowed; he had always been respectful toward Di Tian, the Beast God.

"As long as she is willing to come with us, even my life is a small price to pay. Xiong Jun, take these two and let's go."

Di Tian took the lead and walked toward the direction of Qian Ningshuang. Unlike Tian'e and the others, who dared not lose focus during the battle, he had been keeping a distracted eye on the signs of Qian Ningshuang.

Rewinding time.

Just after Scarlet King left, Qian Renxue walked up to Qian Ningshuang and snatched the small knife she was holding.

"Sister..."

Qian Ningshuang forced a smile on her face, looking at the tear-streaked Qian Renxue.

From Scarlet King's series of actions just now, anyone could see that this group of spirit beasts was coming for Qian Ningshuang.

But even if they could see it, what could they do? They still couldn't do anything at all.

Aside from crying, Qian Renxue truly didn't know what else was appropriate to do right now.

Reason told Qian Renxue that in that situation, Qian Ningshuang's actions were correct; it was the only way for everyone to survive. If it were her, she wouldn't have been able to make a better choice.

But emotionally, Qian Renxue couldn't accept it. That was her younger sister, the person who helped her walk out of the shadows of her childhood.

She wanted to shout, What if we just risk it all and die together? But besides collecting a pile of corpses, what good would that do?

"Sister, it's okay. Since they need me, I might not necessarily be in any mortal danger."

Wiping the tears from Qian Renxue's face, Qian Ningshuang comforted her.

If her guess was correct, the reason these beasts were all coming for her was most likely the Lord of Spirit Beasts in Star Dou—the Silver Dragon King, Gu Yuena.

Since that was the case, there shouldn't be any life-threatening danger. If things went well, and she managed to win over this Silver Dragon King just like the transmigrator predecessors, that would be truly wonderful.

"I want to go with you."

Looking at the still tearful Qian Renxue, Qian Ningshuang suddenly didn't know what to say. Big sister, why are you still acting so foolish whenever emotions are involved, just like in the original story!

By myself, as long as these spirit beasts have a need for me, I can handle anything. If you come along, are you just giving them another bargaining chip to use against me?

"Sister, remember, you are the future leader of Martial Soul Hall! Under any, and I mean any, circumstances, you must remain calm and rational. Do not let emotions dictate your judgment."

"What you carry on your shoulders are the tens of thousands of lives within Martial Soul Hall, and the long-cherished wish of Martial Soul Hall spanning thousands of years!"

"Every thought and action of yours will affect countless people."

Looking at Qian Ningshuang, whose blue-purple pupils were filled with solemnity, Qian Renxue was stunned.

She desperately wanted to say, little sister, I remember everything you have told me since we were young; I remember those things about individuals and the collective, about ideals and selfish desires, but you are different! How could I possibly apply that coldness and calculation to you!

Yet, in the end, she did not say it out loud. She knew of Qian Ningshuang's inexplicable obsession with so-called collectivism; she knew that Qian Ningshuang looked down upon those emotions that supposedly couldn't survive without a certain person; she knew that Qian Ningshuang detested those who disregarded the big picture for the sake of emotions and personal desires.

She could only stand there in a daze until the arrival of Di Tian and the others.

"Human little girl, can you come with us now?"

A middle-aged man with black hair and two dragon horns on his head appeared before everyone.

Behind him, a muscular man with a body full of brawn dropped the unconscious Tian'e and the dying-looking Walter onto the ground.

"Of course, but please wait a moment."

"Dilly-dallying, we've already brought the people to you, what else do you want to do?" The muscular man, who was none other than Xiong Jun, said impatiently.

"Hmm? Did I give you permission to speak?" Di Tian, who had transformed into a black-haired middle-aged man, glanced at Xiong Jun.

Xiong Jun sheepishly lowered his head and took a few steps back. Under normal circumstances, he would have definitely clashed with Di Tian a few times. But today, he understood how important Qian Ningshuang was to the Silver Dragon King; as reckless as he, Xiong Jun, might be, he wasn't truly brainless.