The Auspicious Beast's Identity Revealed, She Had Come Only for Him

Early the next morning, news came of unusual Soul Beast activity outside Shrek City.

At first, it was only that outer court patrol disciples had spotted a few low-level Soul Beasts approaching the city walls. Such things were not uncommon—Shrek was surrounded by abundant spiritual energy, and Soul Beasts occasionally lost their way and wandered in. The patrols could quickly drive them off. But today was different.

When Huo Yuhao arrived outside the city, his expression darkened the moment his Spirit Detection spread out.

"They aren't lost."

Wang Dong'er stood beside him. "How many?"

"At least thirty. Their levels aren't high, but they're all moving in the same direction." Huo Yuhao paused. "It's like they're searching for something."

Wang Qiu'er stood on his other side, her gaze fixed on the distant woods. She said nothing, but Huo Yuhao noticed her fingers tighten around the Golden Dragon Spear. Dong'er's expression had still been unpleasant when she saw Qiu'er that morning. Qiu'er, meanwhile, had remained as calm as usual, though she had looked at Huo Yuhao longer than she had yesterday. Dong'er had noticed those looks as well.

"They're here," Wang Qiu'er suddenly said. Several dark shapes shot out of the forest. At the front was a Windshadow Wolf of roughly three thousand years, its eyes filled with unnatural agitation. Rather than immediately attacking the patrol disciples, it skirted around the crowd and charged straight toward Wang Qiu'er.

Dong'er frowned. "It's coming for you?"

Qiu'er looked at the Windshadow Wolf, her eyes turning cold. "Not me."

The next instant, several more Soul Beasts burst out behind the Windshadow Wolf. Their levels and species differed, yet they all seemed drawn by some kind of aura as they crazily closed in on the three of them. Huo Yuhao's Spirit Detection rapidly expanded. Soon, he caught an extremely faint trace of black Soul Power—an aura that did not belong to the Soul Beasts themselves.

Someone was driving them.

"The Holy Spirit Cult?" Huo Yuhao's gaze turned icy.

He was no stranger to that cold, filthy Soul Power reeking of death. Though far weaker than that of truly powerful evil soul masters, it was already enough to send low-level Soul Beasts out of control. The patrol disciples began to falter. More than a dozen Soul Beasts charged out behind the Windshadow Wolf, varying in level and species but seeming to be pulled by the same invisible thread as they lunged madly toward the three. Huo Yuhao's Spirit Detection covered the entire battlefield. Ultimate Ice spread across the ground, freezing the paws of several Soul Beasts at the front. Dong'er's Light Wings followed immediately after, its radiance precisely cutting through the left flank and dividing the beast pack into smaller groups. Qiu'er guarded the right flank, her Golden Dragon Spear striking with crisp efficiency, every movement free of waste.

Qiu'er needed few instructions. The moment Spiritual Sharing touched her consciousness, she seemed to instinctively know where to fill the gaps. It slightly changed Huo Yuhao's view of her, and he began to regard her as a companion fighting at his side.

Huo Yuhao immediately said, "Don't charge too far ahead."

Dong'er nodded instinctively, then could not help glancing at Wang Qiu'er again. Wang Qiu'er did not object to Huo Yuhao's arrangement. She merely asked, "Why?"

"They were lured here by someone. The target might not be the city walls." Huo Yuhao spoke in a low voice. "It's very likely you."

Qiu'er looked at him. "You're worried about me?"

Huo Yuhao said helplessly, "...I'm assessing the battlefield."

"Then you are worried." As soon as she finished speaking, she charged out. Golden Soul Power burst from her body like a beam of light shining from deep within the forest. Within the Spirit Detection network, that trace of black Soul Power suddenly circled toward Wang Qiu'er's back. Huo Yuhao shifted his steps, and Spirit Shock pierced out in an instant. The shadow hidden in the woods let out a muffled groan, its Soul Power fluctuations abruptly thrown into chaos—and every driven Soul Beast fell into brief confusion at once.

"Found you." Huo Yuhao raised his hand, and Ultimate Ice spread along the ground, completely freezing several Soul Beasts charging at the front in place. Before the patrol disciples could react, the Soul Beasts attacking outside the city had already been divided, suppressed, and driven away.

"So strong," someone murmured in amazement.

"The three of them coordinate like they've trained together for ages."

A pang of bitterness rose in Dong'er's heart. The seamless coordination between her and Huo Yuhao had been built over years. What gave Wang Qiu'er the right to slip in on their very first time fighting together?

Just then, the shadow in the woods suddenly let out a shrill scream. All the Soul Beasts halted at once, then turned in unison toward Wang Qiu'er. Huo Yuhao's expression changed. "Qiu'er, watch out!"

Wang Qiu'er stood in the center of the beast pack. The next moment, golden light surged from her body—not ordinary Soul Power, but an aura noble and ancient enough to make Soul Beasts submit by instinct. The instant the golden light spread, every low-level Soul Beast seemed to have its spine pressed down, their movements abruptly stiffening. The Windshadow Wolf whimpered and actually lowered its head.

In Huo Yuhao's Spirit Sea, Sky Dream Ice Silkworm sucked in a sharp breath. "She's the Emperor Auspicious Beast!"

Ice Empress continued, "The Three-Eyed Golden Lion. The most noble million-year Soul Beast in the Star Dou Great Forest. No wonder your Spirit Eyes resonated with her mentally."

The shadow in the woods clearly had not expected Wang Qiu'er to suddenly release such an aura. Its shriek carried a trace of fear as it turned to flee.

Huo Yuhao's gaze was cold. "Trying to run?"

Spirit Detection locked on, and Spirit Shock erupted. Immediately afterward, Wang Dong'er charged forward with the mental support. Her Soul Power split open the shadows between the trees. The figure screamed, black energy scattering from its body to reveal a strange, twisted face—an evil soul master of low rank, but enough to prove that someone had already set their sights on Wang Qiu'er.

Huo Yuhao did not pursue too far. Instead, he returned to Wang Qiu'er's side. The golden light around her was fading, and her face was paler than before.

"How are you? Are you hurt?"

Wang Qiu'er shook her head. "No."

Huo Yuhao frowned. "Then why do you look so pale?"

"It's just that I shouldn't have exposed my aura outside the Star Dou Great Forest."

Dong'er walked over, her tone hesitant and complicated. "So you're a Soul Beast?"

"I am Wang Qiu'er."

"That wasn't what I asked."

"But that's the only name I want him to remember."

It felt as though something lightly struck Huo Yuhao's heart.

In the distance, Xuan Zi and several inner court teachers arrived. Seeing the lingering golden aura on the battlefield, the smile on Xuan Zi's face vanished completely. "Girl, you can't hide that identity anymore."

Qiu'er said nothing, but Huo Yuhao stepped half a pace forward and stood in front of her. Dong'er saw the gesture, and her heart stung, but she did not expose it. Because when Wang Qiu'er had been surrounded by Soul Beasts, she had not looked like an intruder. She had looked more like someone being chased by fate.

Xuan Zi looked at Huo Yuhao. "You know who she is now?"

Huo Yuhao nodded.

"You still stand in front of her even after knowing?"

Huo Yuhao said quietly, "She didn't come to harm Shrek."

Xuan Zi narrowed his eyes and smiled. "You're that certain?"

Huo Yuhao looked back at Qiu'er. She was looking at him too, and in those eyes identical to Dong'er's was an undisguised trust.

"Because she came for me. Besides, the evil soul masters are using her aura as bait. Compared to who she is, what matters more is who is manipulating this beast tide from behind the scenes."

Xuan Zi fell silent for a moment, then suddenly sighed. "You brat do make a fair point."

Huo Yuhao did not respond to the teasing. He lowered his head and looked at the lingering black waves on the soul tool recording sheet—the aura frequency left behind by that evil soul master was the same as the runes in the corridor last night.

"Elder Xuan, evil soul master runes were found near my residence last night. Today, a low-level evil soul master drove Soul Beasts outside the city toward her." He handed over the recording sheet. "This isn't a coincidence. Someone is testing her—and testing me as well."

Xuan Zi took the recording sheet, his expression finally turning grave. "What do you mean?"

"They knew she would come. At least, they knew before we did."

As those words fell, the air went quiet for a moment. Dong'er stood nearby and watched him, bitterness flickering through her heart. She did not know whether Huo Yuhao might develop other feelings through his time with Qiu'er, but at least for now... she did not want to keep thinking about it.