The Scarlet King's Wrath, Bringing Ji Ye Back to the Lake of Life

The Scarlet King's gaze landed on Ji Ye's face, his six scarlet eyes scrutinizing the human.

Suddenly.

He saw a glimmer of golden light deep within Ji Ye's pupils.

That was the power of destiny, the unique symbol of luck belonging to the Three-Eyed Golden Lion, yet it was now present in a human?!

The Scarlet King instantly exploded.

His three heads let out a roar of fury in unison.

"Human! What have you done to the Emperor Auspicious Beast!"

The terrifying pressure of a two-hundred-thousand-year-old fierce beast bore down like a physical weight. Ji Ye felt his shoulders sink abruptly, and his breathing became difficult.

He glanced down at the Three-Eyed Golden Lion, hoping she would say something to help, but the little creature was shrinking her neck and hiding behind his legs.

Even she was afraid of the Scarlet King?

Ji Ye's mouth twitched.

Fine.

If he was going to die, he was going to die.

He took a deep breath, braced his body, and bowed slightly toward the Scarlet King, keeping his posture extremely low.

"Senior Scarlet King, I have not harmed the Auspicious Beast. I was heavily injured and unconscious, and it was the Emperor Auspicious Beast who saved me."

The Three-Eyed Golden Lion poked half her head out from behind his leg and spoke up as well.

"Uncle Scarlet King, it was my own choice. This human was severely wounded; if I hadn't saved him, he would have died."

The Scarlet King's three heads turned toward the Three-Eyed Golden Lion simultaneously, his six crimson compound eyes staring fixedly at her. His voice dropped a few notches, becoming even heavier.

"Lady Emperor Auspicious Beast, do you know what you are doing? You shared half of the Star Dou Forest's luck with a human! What will Lord Di Tian think when he finds out? What will the soul beasts of the entire Star Dou Forest think?"

The Three-Eyed Golden Lion shrank her neck, her voice growing smaller.

"I know... but I don't regret it, because I saw a world I had never seen before."

The Scarlet King snorted coldly, then looked back at Ji Ye.

"Human, what is your name?"

"This junior is Ji Ye."

"Hmph."

The Scarlet King paced over and circled around Ji Ye.

He looked Ji Ye up and down.

Ji Ye felt his skin crawl, terrified that the Scarlet King might swallow him in the next second.

Fortunately, the Scarlet King had no intention of eating him.

"Human, you have taken half of the Auspicious Beast's luck. Do you have any idea how much trouble you have invited upon yourself!"

Ji Ye spoke up.

"This junior is at fault and is willing to bear the consequences."

Ji Ye cursed his luck internally.

It wasn't like he had asked for it; this Three-Eyed Golden Lion had just appeared out of nowhere.

And if she was going to appear, why save him for no reason?

Fine, save him if you must, but why give him the power of luck?

I am truly speechless.

A string of complaints, though unfortunately, no one could hear them.

The Scarlet King snorted, seemingly satisfied with Ji Ye's answer.

He glanced at the shivering Ice-Armored Godzilla not far away.

Then, he grabbed Ji Ye and the Three-Eyed Golden Lion and tossed them onto his back.

"Hold on tight, you're coming with me!"

Ji Ye nodded upon hearing this and looked toward the Ice-Armored Godzilla.

Ji Ye gave it a reassuring look, signaling that it didn't need to worry.

As for why the Scarlet King didn't take it along as well.

Because the Scarlet King couldn't carry it...

"Let's go!"

The Scarlet King's massive body lunged forward, sprinting toward the depths of the Star Dou Forest with the human and the beast in tow.

Gales of wind rushed into Ji Ye's ears, and the surrounding trees blurred into indistinct shadows, moving so fast that he found it difficult to even breathe.

The Three-Eyed Golden Lion lay on the Scarlet King's back, her golden fur blown backward by the wind. She turned her head to look at Ji Ye, her eyes filled with a trace of apology and unease.

Ji Ye barely managed to pull at the corners of his mouth.

"It seems useless to talk about that now."

"Let us each leave it to fate."

Three hours later.

Scarlet King's speed finally began to slow.

Ahead appeared a massive lake; the water was clear to the bottom, its surface as calm as a deep blue mirror, reflecting the surrounding ancient trees and the sky.

In the center of the lake lay a small island, upon which grew a colossal ancient tree with gnarled branches and a canopy like a giant parasol.

The entire area was permeated with a rich aura of life, and the air carried the moist, fragrant scent of vegetation.

On the open ground by the lakeshore, a figure had long been waiting.

It was a being in human form.

He was tall, dressed in a black robe, with hair as black as ink draped over his shoulders.

His face was handsome yet cold, and his deep purple eyes were like two ancient wells, bottomless and unfathomable.

He stood there, and the surrounding air seemed to solidify, as if he were the center of this forest, with all existence revolving around him.

Di Tian. The true ruler of the Star Dou Forest, the Beast God.

The head of the Ten Great Fierce Beasts, a being whose cultivation was unfathomable.

Scarlet King stopped a dozen yards away from Di Tian, set down Ji Ye and the Three-Eyed Golden Lion, and then lowered his heads, his voice tinged with obvious nervousness.

"Di Tian... I, I have brought the Auspicious Beast back."

Di Tian turned around slowly, his gaze falling first upon the Three-Eyed Golden Lion.

His eyes narrowed, and then he snapped his focus toward Scarlet King.

The next second, an indescribable pressure radiated from him, descending like an invisible mountain.

Ji Ye and the Three-Eyed Golden Lion were both knocked back by the force of that pressure.

Ji Ye took several steps back before steadying himself, while the Three-Eyed Golden Lion tumbled across the ground before scrambling up to shake off her fur.

Scarlet King, however, was the target of the pressure.

His massive body was forced flat against the ground, his three heads bowed low, his entire frame trembling.

Di Tian walked toward Scarlet King step by step, each footfall producing a dull thud against the earth.

His voice was low and frigid.

"Scarlet King, This Seat requires an explanation."

Scarlet King's three heads buried themselves even deeper, his voice trembling uncontrollably.

"Di Tian... I am sorry... I... I..."

"You abandoned your post."

Di Tian cut him off, his voice still calm, yet the pressure intensified.

"This Seat ordered you to watch over the Auspicious Beast. Did you succeed?"

As he spoke, Di Tian stepped onto Scarlet King.

The sound of cracking bones echoed throughout the forest.

"I know I was wrong! I am sorry! Di Tian! Please, spare me!"

Ten Thousand Demon King and Bear Lord stood not far away, watching the scene, both visibly moved. Ten Thousand Demon King opened his mouth as if to speak, but closed it again.

Bear Lord let out a gruff snort, wanting to step forward, but was held back by Bi Ji.

Bi Ji took two steps forward, her voice gentle.

"Di Tian, spare Scarlet King. Although he was negligent, it was not intentional. He has already brought back the Auspicious Beast and that human; it has not reached the point of no return."

Di Tian let out a cold snort, his gaze sweeping over Bi Ji before returning to Scarlet King.

"Not intentional?"

"Half of the Star Dou Forest's fortune has flowed into a human. Can you bear the weight of this sin?"

Scarlet King lay on the ground, his three heads pressed tightly against the earth, shaking like a leaf.

Suddenly, as if remembering something, he jerked his head up and pointed a claw at Ji Ye.

"Di Tian! I brought that human here! It is him! He... he..."