First Group Meeting

"Uncle Red King, there are humans beside Brother Lintian and the Mistress."

The Three-Eyed Golden Lion lay beneath a massive boulder, watching Di Lintian, Na'er, and the other members of the Imperial Dou Team.

"Lintian has surely sensed your aura; if he wishes, he will find an opportunity to meet with you," Red King's voice entered the Three-Eyed Golden Lion's ears, though his beastly form remained unseen.

"Then I will keep following them," the Three-Eyed Golden Lion nodded heavily.

"The habitat of ten-thousand-year Soul Beasts is in the mixed and core zones. Soul Beasts that possess dragon blood in their bodies are pitifully rare; we will likely have to venture deep into the core zone to have any hope of finding one."

Yu Tianheng led the way, explaining to those unfamiliar with dragon-type Soul Beasts, "Although we have Teachers Red Fire and Mystic Water protecting us from the shadows, we must still act with caution and try our best not to provoke powerful Soul Beasts."

Just as Yu Tianheng was introducing the area to the group, a dull, thunderous boom echoed from afar, and the ground shook violently without warning.

"What is going on?" Yu Tianheng asked Yu Feng, who was hovering above.

"It... it is a massive ape-type Soul Beast! It looks like a small mountain come to life!" Yu Feng stammered.

"That should be the Titan Giant Ape from the outer perimeter. Is he here to look for that hundred-thousand-year transformed Soul Beast?" Na'er whispered to Di Lintian.

"Yes. We will head back for a moment later and have Di Tian bring them to the core zone," Di Lintian nodded.

The Titan Giant Ape and the Azure Bull Python were different from Xiao Wu, who had only her 'Third Brother' in her heart. Di Lintian believed that the two beasts still held the Soul Beast clan in their hearts. If they did not, he would simply place them under house arrest in the core zone of the Star Dou Forest; they would serve perfectly as his seventh and eighth soul rings.

Right, there was also that Dark Evil God Tiger. Its attributes were a perfect match for him, though its age was a bit low—only sixty thousand years. It would need some cultivation.

Di Lintian decided to go back and tell Di Tian to make arrangements to help the Dark Evil God Tiger break through to the hundred-thousand-year level as soon as possible.

"It is a hundred-thousand-year Titan Giant Ape! I will take you all away!" Mystic Water used his soul power to lift the five people other than Di Lintian and Na'er, flying rapidly toward the edge of the Star Dou Forest.

"Young Pavilion Master, shall we leave as well?" Red Fire also appeared beside Di Lintian and Na'er to ask.

"No need. Go find the Dragon Duke nearby and see if he is tracking a thousand-year Human-Faced Demon Spider. If he is, capture the spider and bring it to me. If not, follow the Shrek Academy soul master with the Blue Silver Grass martial soul; he will find that Human-Faced Demon Spider," Di Lintian instructed.

"Understood." Red Fire acknowledged the order and vanished from the spot to search for the Dragon Duke.

"Brother Lintian!" Seeing that the humans nearby had all left, the Three-Eyed Golden Lion jumped out joyfully.

Di Lintian took the opportunity to stretch out his arms and gently caught her.

"It has been a few years; our little Golden Lion has grown so big," Di Lintian teased.

"Hmph, Brother Lintian never came back to see me." The Three-Eyed Golden Lion turned her head away, refusing to look at him.

"I was just too busy, wasn't I? I've come back to see you today, haven't I?"

The Three-Eyed Golden Lion's round eyes rolled around. It seemed he was right; Brother Lintian didn't need to hunt for soul rings, after all.

"Then I forgive you," the Three-Eyed Golden Lion said with a haughty air.

"Red King!"

"Present! Mistress, do you have any orders for me?" Red King appeared instantly, bowing respectfully.

"How were you protecting the Lucky Beast? How could you let her appear on the outer perimeter of the Star Dou Forest?" Na'er asked sternly.

Di Lintian keenly sensed the faint trace of jealousy drifting in the air. Was Na'er actually... jealous?

He placed the Three-Eyed Golden Lion onto Red King's back and waved his hand, acting as the peacemaker, "Forget it, forget it. It's fine; with Red King protecting her, no accidents would happen on the perimeter. We don't have much time, so let's hurry back to the core zone to discuss serious matters."

Star Dou Forest, Lake of Life in the core zone.

An oval long table, custom-made by Di Lintian, was set up. Nine people and one beast sat around it. Di Lintian sat at the head, holding the Three-Eyed Golden Lion in his arms, with Na'er sitting beside him. Behind them sat the seven Great Beast Kings, and the Dark Demon Dragon Lion sat on the ground.

"Since everyone is here, I announce the first collective meeting of the Star Dou Forest officially open!"

Di Lintian tapped the table and produced a book, "First, the primary matter: this is the Transformation Chapter from my inherited cultivation techniques. It will allow you to exert your full strength while in human form. Furthermore, when you take on a human body, you will be no different from a normal human, with not a trace of Soul Beast aura. The cultivation method is very simple; I believe that with your hundreds of thousands of years of experience, you will master it within a month."

"Afterward, I need you to take on human forms and head to the Sky Dragon Pavilion to serve as Supreme Elders. Strive for the unification of the continent under the Sky Dragon, and strive for the revival of the Soul Beasts."

Xiong Jun scratched his head in confusion, "Why must we unify the continent for the revival of Soul Beasts?" Xiong Jun simply felt that unifying the continent was too exhausting; it was far better to sleep in his tree hollow.

"Are you stupid? If I don't unify the continent, how can I collect faith? If I don't collect faith, how can I become a god? If I don't become a god, how can the Soul Beasts revive?" Di Lintian fired off three questions in a row, leaving Xiong Jun stunned and nodding repeatedly.

"Since no one has any objections, I will move to the second matter." Di Lintian looked around the room, and seeing no dissent, he spoke to Di Tian, "In the outer core zone, there is a sixty-thousand-year Dark Evil God Tiger. I feel it is very suitable to be my ninth soul ring, but its age is too low. Find a few Soul Beasts that are nearing the end of their lives and use them to raise its age."

After Di Tian nodded, Di Lintian continued, "Bring the gatekeeping Titan Giant Ape and Azure Bull Python here as well. Find an opportunity to test them: in their hearts, which is more important—that rabbit or the revival of the Soul Beasts? If that rabbit is more important—" a cold glint flashed in his eyes, "I see in them the potential to be my seventh and eighth soul rings."

"Leave it to me," Yao Ling said.

"Then our first collective meeting concludes here. Everyone may return to their homes. Remember to focus on cultivating the Transformation Chapter; Xiong Jun, do not slack off." Di Lintian did not forget to warn Xiong Jun.

"I know," Xiong Jun nodded honestly. He decided that once he got home and took a nap, he would start cultivating that 'Transformation Chapter' thing.

After the Beast Kings dispersed, only Di Lintian, Na'er, and the Three-Eyed Golden Lion remained. He looked down deeply at the Three-Eyed Golden Lion's third eye, which was filled with the power of destiny; he felt a powerful attraction emanating from it.

"Na'er, do you know about the Destiny Connection?" Di Lintian said abruptly.

"You want to perform a Destiny Connection with the Lucky Beast?" Na'er asked.

"I feel a powerful attraction within her eye of destiny," Di Lintian said truthfully.

"I am willing."

The Three-Eyed Golden Lion understood the meaning of their conversation and agreed before Di Lintian could even finish his request.