At the deepest reaches of the Star Dou Great Forest, beside the Lake of Life.
The lake water was green as jade, and the dense aura of life had nearly condensed into mist as it slowly drifted across the surface.
Four figures stood silently by the shore, each radiating a pressure sufficient to make a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast tremble.
Bi Ji, King of Ten Thousand Demons, Xiong Jun, and Zi Ji—the four great Beast Lords of the Star Dou Great Forest's core region—had all gathered here.
"The master only said that the God King Qilin's successor was coming. She never said he was human..." Xiong Jun's rough voice carried obvious impatience.
His dark-gold claws unconsciously scraped at the ground, leaving deep marks behind. "Does a human deserve such respect from us?"
Bi Ji gently shook her head and said warmly, "Xiong Jun, since it is the master's will, there must be a reason.
Di Tian has already gone to receive him personally. We need only wait."
Before Bi Ji had finished speaking, space rippled slightly.
Di Tian stepped out of the void first, followed closely by Xia Ming, whose expression was calm.
Only the faintly circulating aura of his bloodline caused the Beast Lords' pupils to contract.
Snow Empress also appeared silently, standing half a step behind Xia Ming. Her frosty hair was white as snow, and her gaze was cold and clear.
She had not felt at ease letting Xia Ming enter the Star Dou core alone and had insisted on coming with him.
As for Ice Empress, she had already returned to Shrek Academy with Huo Yuhao. What came next had nothing to do with them.
"Master." Di Tian faced the Lake of Life and bowed. "The God King Qilin's inheritor has arrived."
The lake surface suddenly became