A Brief Parting

At that moment, the battlefield was a ruin.

Tian'e's enormous Martial Soul Avatar was covered in wounds, and his golden crocodile armor was nearly stained crimson.

As for Di Tian, the wounds he already had had merely been torn open a little further.

Di Tian was already injured. Otherwise, a beast comparable to—or even surpassing—a Limit Douluo fighting a rank ninety-eight Super Douluo would have resulted in an instant kill.

Walter was in even worse shape.

The old butler was half-sitting against a wooden stump that had been created by the battle.

Xiong Jun was covered in tiny wounds, but they clearly had little effect on him. After glancing at his injuries, his enormous bear body strode toward Walter.

"Human, this king said I would swallow you whole. I've changed my mind. A rank ninety-four Title Douluo who could achieve this much... you're quite impressive."

"Oh, really? Then how does a big bear plan to deal with me?"

Walter did not look at Xiong Jun. He raised his head to look at the sky and let out a sigh.

Dying in the Star Dou Forest was not so bad. It was just a shame that he had not worn the clothes Second Young Miss had designed for him for very long.

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

Seeing this, Tian'e, who was still battling, let out a roar and lunged at Di Tian again. His eyes were filled with grief and fury. Old friend, go on ahead. I, Tian'e, will be down to join you soon.

Walter turned to glance at the grief-stricken Tian'e and gave a soft chuckle. He understood what Tian'e meant and closed his eyes.

"Do it."

Xiong Jun said nothing more. The tips of his claws stabbed toward Walter's chest.

The next instant, Xiong Jun's attack was blocked by a crimson claw.

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

Luckily, he had run fast enough. Had he been a moment later, the canine Spirit Beasts of Star Dou would truly have been wiped out—along with the bear Spirit Beasts. Scarlet King stared at Xiong Jun's claws in terror.

"Didn't catch them, but they can't run. More importantly, Xiong Jun, if that claw of yours comes down, both the canine and bear Spirit Beasts of Star Dou will be wiped out."

"What's going on?"

Xiong Jun scratched his bear head. He was the typical sort of Spirit Beast who acted without thinking.

"How are the three little girls? If anything happens to them, Spirit Hall and your Star Dou will fight to the death!"

Before Scarlet King could say anything, Walter spotted him and immediately understood Di Tian and the others' intentions. He asked anxiously.

"What are you panicking for, old man? They're fine. You should even thank that girl whose Martial Soul has powerful life energy. If she hadn't held a knife to her own heart and threatened us, this King wouldn't have bothered stopping Xiong Jun."

At that moment, the battle between Di Tian and Tian'e also came to an end.

Di Tian carried the barely breathing Tian'e in his jaws and tossed him beside Walter.

"This one heard everything. What exactly happened?"

"That girl guessed that she was our target. She said she was willing to come with us, but if even one person from their group was missing, she would kill herself immediately."

Scarlet King lowered his head as he spoke. He had always respected Di Tian, the Beast God.

"As long as she is willing to come with us, even my life is no issue. Xiong Jun, bring these two. Let's go."

Di Tian led the way toward where Qian Ningshuang was. Unlike Tian'e and the others, who could not afford distraction during battle, he had been constantly keeping part of his attention on Qian Ningshuang.

Time turned back.

After Scarlet King left, Qian Renxue walked over to Qian Ningshuang and snatched the small knife from her hand.

"Big Sister..."

Qian Ningshuang forced a smile as she looked at Qian Renxue's tear-streaked face.

From Scarlet King's series of actions just now, anyone could tell that the Spirit Beasts were targeting Qian Ningshuang.

But what could they do even if they saw it? Weren't they still powerless?

Other than crying, Qian Renxue truly did not know what she was supposed to do.

Reason told Qian Renxue that, under those circumstances, Qian Ningshuang had done the right thing. It was the only way for everyone to survive. If it had been her, she could not have made a better choice either.

But emotionally, Qian Renxue could not accept it. That was her little sister, the person who had helped her escape the shadows of her childhood.

Did she want to shout that they might as well fight and die together? Other than gaining a pile of corpses, what would that accomplish?

"Big Sister, it's fine. Since they need me, I might not be in any danger."

Qian Ningshuang wiped the tears from Qian Renxue's face and comforted her.

If her guess was correct, the reason this group of Beasts had all come for her was most likely Star Dou's Lord of Spirit Beasts—the Silver Dragon King, Gu Yuena.

If that was the case, then there could not possibly be any danger to her life. Who knew? Maybe, like those senior transmigrators, she might even win over the Silver Dragon King. That would be absolutely wonderful.

"I'm going with you."

Looking at Qian Renxue, whose face was still streaked with tears, Qian Ningshuang suddenly did not know what to say. Big Sister, why are you still like the original story? The moment emotions are involved, you become foolish!

When these Spirit Beasts need something from me, I can handle anything alone. If you come along, won't you just become another weakness they can use against me?

"Big Sister, remember this: you are Spirit Hall's future leader! Under any circumstances—any circumstances—you must remain calm and rational. Do not let emotions sway your judgment."

"You carry the lives of tens of thousands throughout Spirit Hall, as well as Spirit Hall's millennia-old aspirations!"

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

Qian Renxue froze as she looked into Qian Ningshuang's blue-violet eyes, which were filled with solemnity.

She desperately wanted to say, Little Sister, I remember everything you taught me since childhood. I remember all that talk about individuals and collectives, ideals and personal desires. But you are different! How could I possibly use that cold calculation on you?

But in the end, she said nothing. She knew of Qian Ningshuang's inexplicable obsession with collectivism. She knew Qian Ningshuang despised those emotions where people supposedly could not live without someone else. She knew Qian Ningshuang hated people who disregarded the bigger picture for love and personal desires.

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

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

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

Behind him, a muscular burly man placed the unconscious Tian'e and the seemingly dying Walter on the ground.

"Of course, but please wait a moment."

"Why are you dawdling? We already brought everyone here. What else do you want?" the muscular man—Xiong Jun—said impatiently.

"Hm? Did this one permit you to speak?" Di Tian, transformed into a black-haired middle-aged man, cast Xiong Jun a glance.

Xiong Jun lowered his head awkwardly and retreated several steps. Under normal circumstances, he would have challenged Di Tian a few times no matter what. But today, he understood how important Qian Ningshuang was to the Silver Dragon King. Xiong Jun might be reckless, but he was not actually brainless.