The Scarlet King's gaze fell on Ji Ye's face, all six of his scarlet eyes sizing up the human.
Suddenly.
He saw a glimmer of gold deep in Ji Ye's pupils.
It was the power of fate, the symbol of the Three-Eyed Golden Lion's unique fortune. Yet now it was inside a human?!
The Scarlet King exploded with fury.
All three of his heads let out an angry roar.
"Human! What have you done to the Emperor Auspicious Beast?!"
The terrifying pressure of a two-hundred-thousand-year Ferocious Beast crashed down like a physical force. Ji Ye instantly felt his shoulders sink, and even breathing became difficult.
He glanced down at the Three-Eyed Golden Lion, hoping she would help explain. Instead, the little creature hunched her neck and scooted behind his legs.
Was she actually afraid of the Scarlet King, too?
Ji Ye's mouth twitched.
Fine.
If he was going to die, so be it.
He took a deep breath, braced himself, and bowed slightly to the Scarlet King, adopting the humblest posture he could.
"Senior Scarlet King, I did not harm the Auspicious Beast. I was gravely injured and unconscious. The Emperor Auspicious Beast saved me."
The Three-Eyed Golden Lion poked half her head out from behind his legs and spoke up, too.
"Uncle Scarlet King, I did it willingly. This human was badly hurt. If I hadn't saved him, he would have died."
All three of the Scarlet King's heads turned toward the Three-Eyed Golden Lion. His six crimson compound eyes stared fixedly at her. His voice was lower than before, but even more solemn.
"Your Highness, Emperor Auspicious Beast, do you understand what you've done? Half of the Star Dou Forest's fortune has been given to a human! What will Lord Di Tian think when he finds out? What will all the Soul Beasts of the Star Dou Forest think?"
The Three-Eyed Golden Lion hunched her neck, her voice growing quieter.
"I know... But I don't regret it, because I saw a world I'd never seen before."
The Scarlet King gave a few cold snorts, then turned back to Ji Ye.
"Human, what's your name?"
"This junior is Ji Ye."
"Hmph."
The Scarlet King slowly walked over and circled Ji Ye.
He looked him up and down.
Ji Ye was so unnerved by the scrutiny that he feared the Scarlet King might swallow him whole at any moment.
Fortunately, the Scarlet King didn't seem inclined to eat him.
"Human, you've taken half of the Auspicious Beast's fortune. Do you understand how much trouble you've caused?"
Ji Ye spoke up.
"This junior was at fault. I'm willing to bear the consequences."
Ji Ye inwardly groaned. What a miserable situation.
It wasn't like he'd asked for any of this. The Three-Eyed Golden Lion had appeared out of nowhere.
Fine, she'd appeared out of nowhere—but why had she saved him for no reason?
And if she was going to save him, why give him her fortune?
He was at a loss.
He had a whole string of complaints, but unfortunately, no one heard them.
The Scarlet King snorted coldly, apparently satisfied with Ji Ye's answer.
He glanced at the Ice-Armored Godzilla trembling in the distance.
Then he picked up 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, then looked at the Ice-Armored Godzilla.
He gave it a reassuring look, signaling that it needn't worry.
As for why the Scarlet King didn't take it along, too—
It was because the Scarlet King couldn't carry it...
"Let's go!"
The Scarlet King's massive body sprang forward, racing toward the depths of the Star Dou Forest with the human and Soul Beast on his back.
The wind roared in Ji Ye's ears. The trees around him turned into blurred streaks, and they were moving so fast that even breathing was difficult.
The Three-Eyed Golden Lion lay on the Scarlet King's back, her golden fur swept flat by the wind. She turned to look at Ji Ye, her eyes filled with a hint of apology and unease.
Ji Ye managed a strained smile.
"Seems a little late to say that now."
"Let fate take its course."
Three hours later.
The Scarlet King finally slowed down.
A vast lake appeared ahead. Its waters were so clear that the bottom showed through, and its surface lay still as a deep-blue mirror, reflecting the ancient trees and sky around it.
A small island lay at the lake's center. A towering ancient tree grew on it, its branches gnarled and its crown spread wide.
The entire area was steeped in a rich aura of life, and the air carried the damp, fresh fragrance of plants and trees.
Someone was already waiting in the clearing by the lake.
It was a being in human form.
He was tall, dressed in a black robe. His hair was as dark as ink, falling loose over his shoulders.
His features were handsome and stern, and his deep-violet eyes were like two ancient wells, impossible to see the bottom of.
The air around him seemed to solidify. He was the heart of this forest, and all things seemed to revolve around him.
Di Tian. The true ruler of the Star Dou Forest, the Beast God.
The foremost of the Ten Great Ferocious Beasts, an existence of unfathomable cultivation.
The Scarlet King stopped a dozen or so zhang away from Di Tian. He set Ji Ye and the Three-Eyed Golden Lion down, then lowered his heads, his voice betraying his nerves.
"Di Tian... I-I've brought the Auspicious Beast back."
Di Tian slowly turned around, his gaze first settling on the Three-Eyed Golden Lion.
His eyes narrowed, then he abruptly turned toward the Scarlet King.
In the next instant, an indescribable pressure spread from him, like an invisible mountain crashing down.
Ji Ye and the Three-Eyed Golden Lion were both flung backward by the pressure.
Ji Ye stumbled several steps before regaining his footing. The Three-Eyed Golden Lion tumbled across the ground, then got up and shook out her fur.
The Scarlet King, however, was the target of that pressure.
His massive body was pressed flat to the ground. All three heads drooped, and his entire body trembled.
Di Tian walked toward the Scarlet King one step at a time, each footfall resounding heavily against the ground.
His voice was low and cold.
"Scarlet King, I require an explanation."
All three of the Scarlet King's heads sank even lower, and his voice shook so badly he could barely speak.
"Di Tian... I'm sorry... I... I..."
"You abandoned your post."
Di Tian cut him off. His voice remained calm, but the pressure grew heavier.
"I ordered you to keep watch over the Auspicious Beast. Did you do so?"
As he spoke, Di Tian planted one foot on the Scarlet King.
The sound of cracking bones rang through the entire forest.
"I know I was wrong! I'm sorry! Di Tian! Please, spare me!"
The Ten Thousand Demon King and Xiong Jun stood nearby, watching the scene with troubled expressions. The Ten Thousand Demon King opened his mouth as if to say something, but then closed it again.
Xiong Jun gave a gruff snort and started forward, but Bi Ji held him back.
Bi Ji took two steps forward, her voice gentle.
"Di Tian, spare the Scarlet King. He was at fault, but he didn't do it on purpose. He's brought the Auspicious Beast and that human back. It hasn't reached the point of no return."
Di Tian snorted coldly. His gaze swept over Bi Ji, then returned to the Scarlet King.
"He didn't do it on purpose?"
"Half of the Star Dou Forest's fortune has flowed into a human. Can you bear responsibility for that crime?"
The Scarlet King lay on the ground with all three heads pressed tight against it, trembling like a leaf.
Suddenly, as if remembering something, he jerked his head up and pointed one claw at Ji Ye.
"Di Tian! I brought that human here! It was him! He... he..."
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