Eye of Destiny!

He infused Soul Power into his third soul ring. At once, the ground within a hundred meters of him began to tremble violently.

Rumble—rumble—

Countless thick, emerald-green vines burst from the earth and grew wildly, weaving themselves into a dense forest that blotted out the sky in the blink of an eye.

Fine golden patterns covered the vines' surfaces, radiating boundless life energy. Yet at their tips bloomed... bewitching pink flowers.

The flowers were enormous, like lotuses, with layers upon layers of petals and pale golden stamens at their centers. When the breeze passed through, the petals swayed gently, scattering fine pollen with a cloyingly sweet fragrance.

When the pollen landed on Dai Tu, he felt nothing. But if it landed on an enemy...

Dai Tu could sense that the pollen possessed powerful hallucinogenic and paralyzing effects. Inhaling even a small amount would leave one dizzy and cause Soul Power to circulate sluggishly. Inhaling too much would directly trap one in an illusion, at the mercy of others.

Moreover, the range of this Flower Tree World would expand along with his Soul Power. With sufficient Soul Power, it could even cover an entire city, turning the whole city into his domain.

It combined control and attack, had a vast range and powerful effects, and could even assist with healing. Since both the vines and flowers contained the Tree of Life's power, Dai Tu's healing abilities would be greatly enhanced within the Flower Tree World.

A perfect divine skill that combined offense, defense, control, and healing.

Dai Tu withdrew his Martial Soul, and the Flower Tree World slowly dissipated. The vines retreated underground, while the flowers withered into specks of light, as though they had never existed.

On the other side, Long Aotian opened his eyes as well.

He let out a long howl that shook the surrounding wilderness. Soul Power erupted from his body, forming a visible shockwave that blew away all the fallen leaves and dust around him.

Six soul rings rose beneath his feet in sequence: one yellow, two purple, and three black.

The last soul ring was deep, nearly pure black, and gave off terrifying fluctuations of power.

The fifty-thousand-year soul ring had been successfully absorbed.

Long Aotian's Soul Power soared directly from Rank 60 to Rank 63. He had broken through three ranks in a row, yet his foundation remained solid without the slightest instability.

"Awesome!" Long Aotian rose to his feet and stretched. His bones crackled explosively throughout his body, like a string of firecrackers going off.

He could feel that his skin Martial Soul had become much stronger after absorbing the Dark Gold Bear's soul ring. His vitality was more vigorous, his strength more overwhelming, and his defense even more monstrous.

Now, even against an ordinary Soul Sage, he had the strength to fight.

"Thank you, Beast God, for granting me this soul ring!"

Long Aotian clasped his fists toward Di Tian in salute, his attitude much more respectful than before.

Di Tian nodded without saying anything.

Du Busi grinned and gave Long Aotian's shoulder a hard pat. "Not bad, kid. You didn't embarrass me!"

Then he looked at Dai Tu, surprise flashing through his eyes.

"Little disciple, Rank 36 already? Three ranks in a row? That's some speed!"

Dai Tu nodded and did not explain further.

He could feel that after absorbing the Emerald Spirit Deer's soul ring, the Tree of Life Martial Soul had undergone some subtle changes.

Its canopy had become lusher, its leaves greener, and the golden patterns within their veins clearer. Moreover, that phantom Tree of Life seemed to have... grown a little taller?

Though it was only a little, Dai Tu could sense that it was an elevation in the level of life itself—a fundamental evolution.

"All right, you have your soul rings. It's time to leave." Di Tian spoke, his voice returning to its former calm. "The Auspicious Beast needs to recuperate. It isn't suitable for you humans to remain here."

Du Busi nodded. "Fine, then we'll be taking our leave. Di Tian, until we meet again."

"Until we meet again." Di Tian nodded, then looked at Dai Tu and said solemnly, "Dai Tu, remember this. The Star Dou Great Forest will always be your friend. If you need help, you may come find me."

Dai Tu nodded as well. "Thank you, Lord Beast God."

The three of them turned, preparing to leave.

But just then.

Roar...

A weak yet distinct growl came from behind them.

Dai Tu turned around and saw the Three-Eyed Golden Lion struggling to rise, staggering toward him.

Although Dai Tu had stabilized her injuries, she had not fully recovered. The huge hole in her abdomen had closed, but the newly grown skin was still fragile. Each step pulled at her wound, making her bare her fangs in pain, but she persisted, walking toward Dai Tu one step at a time.

Then, beneath everyone's shocked gazes, she raised a forepaw and gently placed it on Dai Tu's shoulder. Then... she pressed her forehead against his.

"Auspicious Beast! You mustn't!" Di Tian's expression changed drastically. He shouted sharply and tried to stop her, but it was already too late.

The instant their foreheads touched, Dai Tu felt an immense, indescribable power filled with mystery and the aura of destiny flow from the Three-Eyed Golden Lion's brow into his own.

No, it was not flowing into him.

It was... sharing.

It was grafting.

It was some kind of resonance that crossed races, crossed the levels of life, and even crossed space and time...

Countless images exploded through Dai Tu's mind in an instant.

A vast, boundless void filled with dazzling stars.

A colossal beast with a body of brilliant gold and three eyes, majestic as an emperor, roaming through the void, devouring stars and controlling fate.

A group of humans dressed in ancient clothing kneeling on the ground, worshipping the colossal beast and calling it "auspicious" and "Heaven's decree."

A war sweeping across the continent, humans and soul beasts slaughtering one another, blood flowing into rivers and corpses piling into mountains.

The colossal beast let out a sorrowful cry, golden tears streaming from its eyes. When the tears fell to the earth, they became a golden lake, within which grew an ancient tree... entirely emerald-green and radiating a sacred aura.

The ancient tree towered into the sky, its branches and leaves lush. Every leaf resembled a shrunken star, shimmering with mysterious light beneath the sun. Its canopy spread open, covering the entire lake, and also covering... a dying, newly born three-eyed beast beside the lake.

That was... the Three-Eyed Golden Lion.

And that colossal beast was her... ancestor?

The images shattered, then reassembled.

Dai Tu saw himself standing amid the ruins of Konoha. Arin's cold corpse lay beneath his feet, while the eyes of the villagers around him remained open in death. Blood dyed the earth red, and dyed his eyes red as well.

He threw back his head and roared. The scarlet Mangekyo in his eyes spun madly as bloody tears flowed down his face.

Then he raised his hand toward the sky, toward the blood-red setting sun, and roared hoarsely:

"I will make you... pay for your blood debts with blood!!!"

The sound stopped abruptly.

Darkness receded, and light returned.

Dai Tu found that he was still standing where he had been, his forehead still pressed against the Three-Eyed Golden Lion's.

But there was now an eye between his brows.

A vertical, tightly shut third eye. Its eyelids were pale gold, while at the position of its pupil, a tiny point of light like a star slowly revolved...

The Eye of Destiny.

The Three-Eyed Golden Lion's innate ability could see through destiny, commune with fortune, and... to a certain extent, foresee the future.

Now, she had shared this ability with Dai Tu.

No, it was not sharing.

It was... grafting. It was a gift. It was a bond that transcended race, transcended life and death, and transcended understanding...

Roar...

The Three-Eyed Golden Lion withdrew her forehead and gave a weak cry. Then she collapsed to the ground, gasping heavily. The brilliant golden fur on her body had dimmed considerably, and much of the spirit in her eyes had faded as well.

Clearly, that "gift" had consumed most of her strength.