Deep within the Star Dou Forest, mist that never dispersed shrouded the towering ancient trees in a haze of dark silhouettes.
The surface of the Lake of Life lay as still as a mirror, reflecting the interwoven branches and leaves overhead.
On a boulder beside the lake, the Sky Azure Bull Python lay coiled, his enormous body motionless and his deep-blue slit pupils utterly placid.
The Titan Giant Ape crouched beside him, absently patting the ground with a palm as large as a palm-leaf fan, making the surrounding soil shake and crumble.
Dozens of figures with deep, steady auras lurked in the surrounding woods, all veteran soul beasts who had lived for over a hundred thousand years.
Normally, they each occupied their own territory and never visited one another, even unto death. Today, however, they had gathered together for the first time.
"You've all heard?"
The Sky Azure Bull Python spoke first, his deep voice booming like an ancient bell and sending ripples across the lake. "That human traitor, Tang Hao, has been captured by Spirit Hall. In half a month, they'll hold a public trial in Spirit City. They're calling it a continent-wide live broadcast."
"Hmph! This day should have come long ago!"
A fiery lion with a scarlet body lashed his tail and spat out a searing blaze, burning the nearby shrubs to ash. "That bastard not only betrayed humanity, he also stole away the Blue Silver Emperor of our Soul Beast Clan! Even ten thousand deaths wouldn't pay for his crimes!"
"The Blue Silver Emperor was no better," a giant golden crocodile said. "Instead of being a perfectly respectable plant-type sovereign, she insisted on running off to fall in love with a human. In the end, she wound up sacrificing herself. She had it coming. She betrayed