Inventory of the Top Ten Peak Soul Beasts? Tang San's Gone Mad for Xiao Wu?

Watching the shocking evaluation of Gu Yuan on the Sky Screen, the clamor of the teahouse seemed to be isolated from the small world shared by the two.

Gu Yuan withdrew his gaze and exchanged a look with Gu Yuena.

A hint of tacit understanding flickered in both their eyes.

To the rest of the world, this was a shocking secret, a terror that overturned their perception of reality.

But to them, it was merely an established fact being brought to light.

"It seems staying low-profile will be difficult from now on."

Gu Yuan teased, just about to speak of their specific arrangements for Suotuo City.

At that moment, a crisp, mechanical prompt sounded in his mind without warning, interrupting his train of thought.

[Ding! The 'Top Ten Hidden Powerhouses (Human Edition)' countdown has concluded.]

[The system is generating a new list... Generation complete.]

[Next round preview: 'Top Ten Peak Soul Beasts'!]

[Special Note: To increase the influence and entertainment of the countdown, this 'Top Ten Peak Soul Beasts' list will activate the 'Heavenly Dao Blessing' mechanism. All those who make the list will receive special rewards from the myriad worlds, based on their ranking!]

Gu Yuan froze for a moment, his pupils constricting slightly as an irrepressible surge of ecstasy welled up in his heart.

Rewards?

The previous list was merely exposure; while it brought fame and deterrence, causing forces like Martial Soul Hall to act with caution, it provided no tangible material gains.

But this time was different!

A Soul Beast list? This was practically tailor-made for him and Gu Yuena!

Looking across the current Douluo Continent, who was the true master of the soul beasts?

It was the Silver Dragon King, Gu Yuena, right beside him!

As for the remaining powerhouses—whether it be the fierce beasts of the Star Dou Great Forest or the overlords of the Extreme North—they were all forces he planned to subjugate, the cornerstones of his "Soul Beast Empire."

If they could obtain rewards and see their strength surge, or even break through bottlenecks of tens of thousands of years...

Then their capital to confront the God Realm would grow exponentially!

Especially for Gu Yuena; if she could seize this opportunity to obtain a supreme treasure to heal her injuries, the grand plan of restoration would be greatly accelerated!

Gu Yuan took a deep breath, suppressing the excitement in his heart. He leaned forward slightly, moved closer to Gu Yuena, and lowered his voice, his tone carrying a hint of undisguised thrill:

"Na'er, I have some good news for you."

Gu Yuena had been staring blankly out the window. Hearing this, she turned her head and blinked her purple eyes in confusion:

"What is it? You look so happy—has there been movement from the Golden Dragon King avatar?"

"Even better than that."

Gu Yuan smiled mysteriously, pointed at the sky, and whispered:

"The Sky Screen just sent a message. The next round of the countdown is no longer humans, but—the 'Top Ten Peak Soul Beasts'."

Upon hearing this, Gu Yuena raised an elegant eyebrow. Her expression did not fluctuate much; instead, it revealed a hint of worry:

"Soul Beasts?

Di Tian and the others will surely make the list.

How is this good news?

Exposing them will only invite the covetous eyes of human powerhouses, and it might even attract the attention of the God Realm."

As the Soul Beast Co-Lord, she instinctively rejected this act of exposing her trump cards to the light.

Although the God Realm could not currently interfere with Douluo Planet.

And even if these soul beasts were exposed, humans could not necessarily harm them.

But it would still be quite inconvenient.

"No, the point isn't the countdown."

Gu Yuan took her hand resting on the table, the warmth of his palm transferring over, and said earnestly:

"The point is, this list comes with rewards."

"Rewards?" Gu Yuena was stunned, a trace of bewilderment flashing through her purple eyes.

"That's right. Every soul beast that makes the list will receive a special reward bestowed by the Sky Screen."

Gu Yuan's eyes gleamed as he analyzed rapidly:

"This Sky Screen can even obscure the God Realm; its level is unimaginably high.

The rewards it provides will definitely not be mundane items.

Just think, what if Di Tian could use this to break through his hundreds-of-thousands-of-years bottleneck?

What if Snow Empress could resolve the hidden dangers of her transformation?

Or even... what if you could obtain a divine object to heal the wounds of the Dragon God?"

Upon hearing that final sentence, the originally calm and stunningly beautiful face of Gu Yuena finally changed.

She suddenly gripped Gu Yuan's hand in return, the force so great that Gu Yuan felt a hint of pain, and her breathing became slightly hurried as an unprecedented brilliance erupted within her violet eyes:

"Are you saying... it's true?"

If there truly were a reward capable of healing her injuries, why would she need to lie dormant for ten thousand years?

As long as she recovered to her peak, even without the Dragon God Core, she would still be a God King!

Coupled with Gu Yuan's Golden Dragon King avatar... what was there to fear from the God Realm?!

Gu Yuan nodded heavily:

"Absolutely certain."

Just as the two were conversing, the sky outside underwent a massive transformation once again.

The brilliant golden light that had originally belonged to Gu Yuan slowly receded, replaced by a vast, ancient, and wild green aura, as if the entire Douluo Continent had been instantly pulled back to a primitive era.

The wind changed.

It carried the dampness and the scent of blood from a primeval forest.

Beast roars that shook the soul echoed faintly in everyone's ears, causing the martial souls within every spirit master to tremble.

On that massive screen, new gold-leaf characters, carrying endless pressure, slowly emerged:

[Human powerhouses are but a drop in the ocean.]

[All things have spirits; beasts also reign supreme.]

[Next ranking list opening--]

[Douluo Continent · Top Ten Peak Spirit Beasts!]

[All who make the list shall be granted supreme fortune and the blessing of the Heavenly Dao!]

Shrek Academy, back forest.

"Bang! Bang! Bang!"

Dull, rhythmic thuds echoed through the silent woods, each sound accompanied by the violent trembling of the tree trunk and a flurry of falling leaves.

A figure was attacking a piece of Iron Wood, thick enough for three men to embrace, with the ferocity of a madman.

He did not use any spirit skills, nor did he even summon his martial soul; he relied solely on the strength of his physical body, smashing fist after fist into the hard trunk.

Tang San's knuckles were already a bloody mess, blood dripping from between his fingers and staining the soil beneath his feet.

Yet he seemed to feel no pain; those eyes, once clear and profound, were now filled with crimson bloodshot veins, brimming with a heart-stopping violence and despair.

Ever since Gu Yuan and Gu Yuena appeared that day and snatched Xiao Wu away in front of everyone, Tang San's world had collapsed.

After waking up, he had tried desperately to pursue them, only to fall into a coma from overexertion.

Upon waking again, he had tried to charge back to the Star Dou Great Forest like a madman, but was forcibly suppressed by the combined efforts of Flender and Zhao Wuji.

Reason told him that with his current strength, going there would be suicide; not only would he fail to save Xiao Wu, but he would also throw his own life away.

But he could not accept it!

With Xiao Wu taken away by such ferocious beasts, her life or death unknown, every second was like a slow, agonizing torture for him.

"Ah--!!"

Tang San suddenly let out a hoarse roar, throwing a punch with every ounce of his remaining strength. With a "crack," the Iron Wood, hard as iron, was snapped clean in two and came crashing down.