Heaven Knows

Deep within the Star Dou Forest, the surface of the Lake of Life gently rippled.

In the depths beneath the lake, a pair of vertical pupils suddenly opened.

The eyes blinked, and the shimmering light on the lake's surface flickered across their membranes.

Then, a deep voice came from within the roots, like distant thunder rolling beneath the earth.

"Is it time?"

The voice that answered from the darkness was gentle.

"I felt it too. The fated one of legend is nearby."

Immediately afterward, a resounding roar burst from the depths of the Lake of Life.

The owner of those dark-gold vertical pupils shifted slightly in the shadows.

Through gaps between the tangled roots, a patch of dark bluish-black scales faintly flashed.

"The fated one." The deep voice echoed again, carrying an indescribable undertone.

"Should we meet them?"

A low whimper was his answer.

The bushes by the lake swayed slightly as a massive black shadow poked half its body out from the forest.

At the same time, at the other end of the Star Dou Forest, four figures were making their way deeper along a beast trail.

"This place is still the same as ever." Zhou Qiubai brushed aside a low-hanging vine, his gaze sweeping over the dense trunks on either side. "There are more trees, but fewer Spirit Beasts."

"There may be fewer on the outskirts, but there are plenty in the depths." Dantai Canglan spoke without turning around. "You saw that Underground Flame Lizard just now. An eighty-thousand-year creature actually ran to the edge of the mixed zone. That means the territories in the depths of Star Dou have shifted. Most likely, something stronger drove the original lord out."

Walking at the rear, Yang Guyun casually rested the Returnless Spear across his shoulders. He looked relaxed, but