"Hmph, then let's find out! For the Auspicious Beast, I'll stop at nothing." After saying this, Di Tian prepared to attack again.
Green light burst from "Huo Yuhao," and the snowflakes around them began swirling faster.
A massive blizzard blotted out everyone's view. Even Di Tian lost track of "Huo Yuhao's" position.
The Snow Dance of Ultimate Ice from Snow Empress's previous life was displayed before everyone. Though Snow Empress had yet to become a Soul Spirit, she had successfully recreated the move through her own power and her Soul Bone.
Just then, the sky above the heart of the Star Dou Great Forest turned multicolored without warning. The colors quickly spread this way, soon covering the area where "Huo Yuhao" stood.
The blizzard abruptly stopped. At that moment, the power of ice and snow was no longer under Snow Empress's control.
Sunlight shone down again, falling across "Huo Yuhao's" stunned face. Her silver-white eyes were filled with deep unwillingness.
"How could she have intervened..."
Di Tian, who had been at a loss, saw this and immediately understood what had happened. He sneered.
"What a shame. Looks like you've run out of chances!"
"Huo Yu" looked at the smug Di Tian with a grim expression. She had never expected the one at the heart of the forest to intervene, much less suppress her power over ice and snow in an instant, just like Xuan Zi had in her previous life.
She was enveloped by deep fear. Without her power, Huo Yuhao could only be slaughtered at will. She couldn't imagine what would become of her after Huo Yuhao died. Now, all she could do was make one last stand, staring fixedly at Di Tian as he slowly approached.
"If you dare lay a hand on me, I'll start a war. I swear! I'll make sure the Star Dou Great Forest never knows a moment's peace!"
Di Tian sneered and shook his head. He came to a stop in front of her, looking into those silver-white eyes that gleamed with madness.
"Seems like you really have no other tricks left, human. Die!"
"Di Tian." A melodious voice rang out, stopping him in his tracks.
Di Tian froze, then immediately dropped to one knee toward the heart of the forest. "Boss!"
"I know what happened. Bring that human to me."
Di Tian's face filled with shock. "Boss! Why? Are we really afraid of that bunch from the Far North—"
"Just do as I say. Bring him here."
"...Yes."
Di Tian shot Huo Yuhao a cold glance. Snow Empress's power was fading, and he saw Huo Yuhao's eyes and hair gradually return to normal. He gave a cold snort.
"You're lucky!" He lifted Huo Yuhao by the collar, then turned to Scarlet King. "Let's go!"
Scarlet King hurriedly nodded and disappeared in a flash with the Auspicious Beast.
Only the Titan Giant Ape remained, scratching his head in confusion.
"There's another Soul Beast like that in the Star Dou Great Forest? The Beast God actually obeys her without question."
Well, that was that. Di Tian hadn't given him any chance to help. He'd simply grabbed Huo Yuhao and left.
After standing there for a while, he heard a rush of wind beside him. The Sky Azure Bull Python appeared, and the moment he arrived, he asked anxiously, "Tai Tan! What happened? Why did the Beast God come here?"
After the Titan Giant Ape recounted everything that had happened, worry showed in the Sky Azure Bull Python's eyes. He looked back toward the heart of the Star Dou Great Forest, his gaze flickering.
"...The Beast God's boss? How did Yuhao get mixed up with the Auspicious Beast, of all things..."
"Big brother, should we go save him?"
The Titan Giant Ape asked urgently. He'd only just fought alongside Huo Yuhao, and now he had to watch helplessly as Huo Yuhao walked into the jaws of death.
The Sky Azure Bull Python looked equally regretful and gently shook his head.
"We don't have the power to do that... We'd only be throwing our lives away. But since that one didn't order Di Tian to kill him, there should still be room to turn things around. If Sister Xiao Wu comes, don't tell her yet."
At the heart of the Star Dou Great Forest.
Back in his territory, Di Tian casually threw Huo Yuhao to the ground. Huo Yuhao's body was already extremely fragile after being ravaged by Snow Empress's power.
The moment he hit the ground, he coughed up two mouthfuls of blood.
"Yuhao, how are you feeling?" the others in his spiritual space asked with concern.
"Don't worry. I'm not going to die."
After taking stock of his condition, Huo Yuhao gave a bitter smile and shook his head. This was even worse than when Di Tian had used his body in his previous life. At least back then, he'd already been a Soul Saint.
Now he was barely a Soul Ancestor. Fortunately, he'd paid more attention to strengthening his body in this life, and after being tempered by Tian Meng's energy, these injuries weren't fatal.
"Your body is in terrible shape. Find a chance to heal as soon as possible, then come to the Far North and find me. Since that one wants to see you, she shouldn't kill you."
Snow Empress's voice came from Huo Yuhao's mouth. Anyone who saw this would find it strange: why was this person talking to himself in different voices?
"Mm. I'll get there as soon as I can."
Huo Yuhao nodded slightly, then looked at Di Tian beside him. "What, Beast God? Are you planning to heal my injuries?"
Faced with the fellow who'd been against him ever since his previous life, Huo Yuhao could hardly bring himself to be civil. This time, he'd nearly died.
Di Tian gave a cold snort.
"Come with me to meet the boss. You're not leaving until the boss says so! I can see the state your body's in. I never thought a human could have such a physique. You've certainly impressed me."
"I just exercise a lot."
"Come with me."
Di Tian didn't say anything more. He didn't care how physically strong Huo Yuhao was. He simply led the way, step by step.
"Why not take me straight to the destination?" Huo Yuhao asked, puzzled.
Di Tian impatiently urged him on. "Because it's a sign of respect for the boss. Stop talking and move."
Huo Yuhao's gaze flickered at Di Tian's words. In his previous life, he'd only known there was a being in the Star Dou Great Forest who ranked above Di Tian, but he'd never met her.
Now it seemed Di Tian was utterly loyal to this boss of his. From that, Huo Yuhao could infer that this being's strength all but dwarfed Di Tian's.
Otherwise, given the Soul Beasts' respect for strength, why would she tolerate someone weaker than herself standing above her?
The Dark Gold Terrorclaw Bear in his previous life had been completely crushed by Di Tian, yet it had still refused to submit.
"We're here," Di Tian said.
Huo Yuhao came back to his senses and looked around. "But there's nothing here."
Before he could finish, a crack suddenly split the space in front of him. Beyond it lay a darkness as black as the abyss.
"Spatial power?" Huo Yuhao raised an eyebrow, surprised. He began to suspect what was going on.
"Go in."
Di Tian spoke again, his eyes fixed on Huo Yuhao's every move.
"Thinking of escaping now would be a fool's dream."
Huo Yuhao didn't hesitate. He stepped through the crack as if passing through a thin membrane. "What a strange feeling..."
As soon as he entered, Huo Yuhao sensed a rich aura of life and looked around.
He was in a vast space. Besides him, there was only a gigantic silver-white dragon.
It wasn't an ordinary metallic silver. Its scales had the crystalline sheen of silver-white crystal. Beside the dragon lay a huge chunk of green stone that radiated an aura of life.
"G-Gold of Life!"
Huo Yuhao's eyes widened like saucers. Having spent so long with the Life Carving Knife in his previous life, he recognized the stone at a glance.
There was enough Gold of Life here to make over a hundred carving knives. It made Huo Yuhao realize what true wealth looked like.
"You've come."
The silver-white dragon opened her eyes. Curiosity glimmered in her purple eyes as she studied the first human she'd ever met. Her mouth didn't move, yet a melodious female voice rang out from every direction in the space.
Huo Yuhao's pupils contracted. He sensed an aura on the dragon before him that rivaled that of a God King. How could that be? How could a Soul Beast possess the aura of a god?
Having lived through his previous life, Huo Yuhao knew all the more clearly that Soul Beasts had no chance of becoming gods. If Soul Beasts truly could become gods, why would Tian Meng and the others have gone to such lengths to choose him in his previous life?
His thoughts raced. At last, he recalled the legends of the Divine Realm from his previous life. Combining them with the silver appearance of the dragon before him, Huo Yuhao blurted out her identity.
"Silver Dragon King, it's an honor to meet you."