Star Dou Forest, deep in its core, at the bottom of Lake of Life.
Endless darkness and rich life energy intertwined here. Silence was its eternal theme.
Suddenly, an ethereal, majestic female voice, laced with unmistakable weakness, echoed in the consciousness of a giant black dragon lying dormant at the lake's deepest point.
"Di Tian... wake up!!!"
The voice rang like thunder, shattering tens of thousands of years of slumber.
The black dragon, whose body was as vast as a mountain and whose scales gleamed with a cold, metallic sheen, abruptly opened his eyes!
They were enormous, hellish, dark-golden vertical pupils. The instant they opened, his terrifying dragon might brought the waters of the entire Lake of Life to a standstill.
"The Master?"
Di Tian's deep, resonant voice trembled through the lakebed, filled with absolute reverence:
"You have awakened? What are your instructions?"
His heart tightened. Unless something momentous had happened, The Master would never have roused him from the slumber in which he was recovering from his injuries.
The next moment, Silver Dragon King Gu Yuena's voice entered his mind once more. Her words shook the soul of this Golden-Eyed Black Dragon King, whose cultivation was nearing eight hundred thousand years!
"What?!"
Di Tian's dark-golden pupils contracted abruptly, revealing shock and disbelief such as he had never felt before. He even instinctively raised his enormous dragon head slightly:
"Master, are... are you sure you haven't sensed it wrong?!
How is that possible?! Back then, it was clearly..."
His voice trembled with overwhelming shock.
The Silver Dragon King's voice carried deep weariness and uncertainty:
"My divine power has been depleted too severely, and the distance is great. The aura I sensed was extremely faint and elusive...
I can't be entirely certain, either."
Her words held a glimmer of hope she herself could hardly believe:
"But that fleeting aura... I couldn't be mistaken. It came from the deepest stirrings of our bloodline."
Di Tian forced down the tumult in his heart, lowered his enormous head, and asked in a deep voice:
"Master, where is he now?"
"The Far North."
The Silver Dragon King's voice was firm:
"Find him and bring him back!
Remember, Di Tian, no matter what, you must keep him safe!"
Determination flashed in Di Tian's eyes. "Your subordinate understands!"
"Take this."
As the Silver Dragon King's voice faded, a silver scale the size of a millstone appeared before Di Tian out of thin air, its surface rippling with the gleam of pure moonlight.
Mysterious patterns were naturally etched into the scale, which radiated the pure, noble might of a dragon.
"If this object draws near him, it will sense him and shine."
The enormous silver scale rapidly shrank with her words, then hovered quietly in the air.
At the same time, a dense black glow emanated from Di Tian's enormous black dragon form.
When the light faded, a tall man with a stern face and fearsome golden eyes stood in its place.
He reached out and solemnly took the now-shrunken silver scale in his hand.
"Di Tian," the Silver Dragon King's voice grew weaker, breaking off between words.
"My condition... is terrible. I can't stay awake for long... The Divine Realm is constantly searching for me."
Her words revealed deep caution and a sense of imminent danger:
"If you find him, give him this...
It can help conceal his aura. Make sure... the Divine Realm doesn't notice... you must keep him safe..."
Her voice grew fainter and fainter, until it was almost inaudible.
Di Tian gripped the cool silver dragon scale tightly. He raised his head, gazed with golden eyes toward the unreachable heavens, and uttered two weighty words:
"The Divine Realm..."
Silence returned to the lakebed. The enormous eyes that had just opened slowly closed.
The Silver Dragon King's aura sank once more into endless slumber and recovery.
Only Beast God Di Tian remained, holding the dragon scale with a grave expression.
The black-armored man who was Di Tian stood with his hands behind his back, thoughts churning in his golden eyes.
The Far North... That was Snow Empress's domain, home to a powerhouse of his own rank.
Under normal circumstances, he could go there himself to negotiate or investigate. But now, the Silver Dragon King, his Master, was in an extremely weakened state, and the Divine Realm's gaze hung over them like a sword above their heads.
As the Beast God, his foremost responsibility was to remain here and ensure his Master's safety beyond all doubt. He could not afford to leave lightly.
Once his mind was made up, he did not hesitate.
A vast, surging mental force imbued with supreme dragon might spread from Lake of Life toward several of the deepest corners of Star Dou Forest.
Moments later, several immensely powerful auras—ones that could make even Titled Douluo tremble—awakened in turn and swiftly converged on the lakeshore.
The first to arrive was a giant hound covered in dark-red fur, with three fearsome heads. Flames that seemed to come from hell burned around him. He was the Three-Headed Red Demon Mastiff, Scarlet King.
Next, the earth quaked faintly as a figure as mighty as a mountain strode over. His entire body was covered in dark-golden fur, and his thick forearms held the terrifying power to tear anything apart. He was the king of the Dark Gold Terrorclaw Bears, Xiong Jun.
A gentle green light flashed, and a rich breath of life filled the air. A woman in a flowing emerald dress appeared quietly, her bearing gentle and graceful. She was the Emerald Swan, Bi Ji, Star Dou Forest's guardian of healing.
Almost at the same time, a violet-black mist imbued with an aura of destruction spread through the air. As it gathered, it took the form of a coolly beautiful woman with a curvaceous figure and bewitching features, dressed in a long skirt of violet-black scales. She was the Hell Demon Dragon King, Zi JI.
Last, an ancient-looking tree that seemed ordinary at first glance, yet gave off an eerie, demonic aura, projected its will. The presence of Ten Thousand Demon King arrived quietly.
"Di Tian, why have you summoned us from our slumber?"
Xiong Jun's voice rumbled like thunder, tinged with annoyance at being disturbed and a hint of confusion.
His fierce gaze swept over the Ferocious Beasts present. Clearly, he did not understand why such a gathering was necessary.
Bi Ji's gentle gaze held a question as she softly asked:
"Di Tian, has something happened to the Master?"
She was most concerned about the Silver Dragon King's condition.
Zi JI said nothing, but her violet eyes were also fixed on Di Tian, studying him.
Di Tian slowly surveyed the assembled Ferocious Beasts. They were the true core of Star Dou Forest, trusted companions.
He spoke in a deep voice, his words carrying unquestionable authority and a grave note he could barely conceal:
"I have summoned you because an aura tied to the future of the Soul Beast Clan has appeared in the Far North."
At his words, every Ferocious Beast except Di Tian, who already knew a little, grew solemn.
Something tied to the future of the Soul Beast Clan?
And in the Far North?
"The Master is weak and can't pinpoint it clearly, but she has given me a token."
Di Tian opened his palm, revealing once more the silver scale gleaming with moonlight. The pure power it radiated made every Ferocious Beast hold their breath.
"This object will point the way. When it draws near its target, it will sense him and shine."
His gaze swept over the group once more, finally settling on Scarlet King.
Scarlet King was powerful and loyal, and unlike Xiong Jun, he was unlikely to act rashly and ruin things.
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