A Mysterious Novice Mission

Di Tian was not the only one present. Two others stood behind him, their features obscured. Chen An's heart jolted, and he instinctively lowered his gaze.

He had barely landed and was already facing the Beast God. What kind of luck was this?

Before he could react, Di Tian spoke first. His voice was calm, yet it bore down like a mountain.

"Have you not yet adjusted to your transformed body?"

Chen An blinked.

The next second, a hundred thousand years of memories flooded into his mind like a raging torrent. Chen An's vision blurred, and his pupils lost focus for a moment.

His original form was a fish, yet his bloodline was draconic. Most absurd of all, he had been born immune to all bloodline suppression, which was why Di Tian had recognized his potential and taken him in as a subordinate.

Immune to suppression?

Was this some special dragon-type martial soul with a 0.01% chance of appearing?

He had merely spent years in secluded cultivation, ignoring worldly affairs, and had only recently taken human form.

The Roulette's assigned initial identity had seamlessly integrated into this world. Chen An rapidly absorbed the hundred thousand years of memories flooding his mind, his tone carrying just the right degree of weakness.

"Reporting to Lord Di Tian, changes in my bloodline during my transformation caused my aura to become unstable. I still need some time to regulate my condition."

Di Tian did not press him further and merely gave a faint hum.

He raised a hand and took a silver necklace from his sleeve. The chain was fine and delicate, with a smooth amber pendant hanging from it. Within the amber seemed to be a scale.

"Put it on."

Di Tian's voice was not loud, but it brooked no refusal.

"It can suppress a soul beast's aura. Ordinary methods will be unable to investigate your origins this way. Since you have chosen to take human form and enter the human world, you must not expose your identity."

Chen An accepted the necklace with both hands. The moment his fingertips touched the pendant, a faintly soft power spread up his wrist.

"Thank you, Lord Di Tian."

Chen An promptly put the necklace around his neck.

Di Tian got to the point, his tone turning more solemn.

"This necklace was condensed from the Dragon Scale of our Lord. By infusing it with soul power, you can sense our Lord's location. It can also protect this frail body of yours after your transformation."

Chen An raised his head slightly and listened without interrupting.

Their Lord was Gu Yuena. After being gravely injured by the God Realm and slumbering for far too long, she had awakened to discover that soul beasts were nearly extinct. She had chosen to take human form, enter the human world, and rebuild her foundations.

Yet during her transformation, both her power and personality had split into two.

Just as Chen An finished sorting through his understanding of his identity, a translucent screen suddenly appeared before his eyes without warning.

That familiar Roulette quietly reappeared, hovering at the edge of his vision. It did not block Di Tian from view, yet it was too clear to ignore.

Chen An's pupils contracted imperceptibly as he instinctively glanced at Di Tian from the corner of his eye.

Di Tian showed no reaction whatsoever to the Roulette's existence.

That meant only he could see it.

Di Tian's golden eyes glimmered faintly in the dim forest, his gaze profound.

"Our Lord's other incarnation, Na'er, differs greatly from Gu Yue in temperament. Several days ago, she left the forest alone for the human world while we were unprepared. Gu Yue is currently slumbering in the depths of Star Dou and requires us to stand guard, so we cannot spare the time."

Di Tian paused, his gaze returning to Chen An.

"You must bring her back safely. Additionally, provided you can complete that primary task, if you are willing or discover an opportunity, you may observe and interact with humans for an extended period."

"This subordinate understands."

Chen An lowered his head in acknowledgment, respectful on the surface while his thoughts raced.

So this was that point in time? Na'er had run away, and Tang Wulin was still young. There was still plenty of time to develop.

In his memories, the Silver Dragon King had also learned of the situation. After speaking with Di Tian, she had included him as part of the plan.

However, she had already infiltrated this continent. In the future, she might arrange for him to go to the Star Luo Continent. He remembered that Dragon Valley was the only opportunity there.

There was very little he could do now. Chen An had only just transmigrated here, and growing stronger to survive was his foremost task. As for revival and resisting humanity, that was a matter of stance. He would take things as they came.

Di Tian's pride and loyalty to the soul beast race made it difficult for him to accept taking human form. Still, he sincerely hoped soul beasts could continue into the future, and he did not oppose soul beasts transforming into humans.

He could hold fast to his convictions. Among soul beasts, he was a leader worthy of respect. If he learned in advance that the Silver Dragon King would choose humanity's side, how disappointed would he be?

Seeing Chen An agree so decisively, Di Tian nodded faintly.

He seemed to reveal a worried expression, but it lasted only an instant.

"Bi Ji will explain the rest."

With that, Di Tian's figure blurred amid the shadows of the forest, as though he had never appeared at all. Only the traces of pressed vegetation remained.

Chen An slowly straightened. Fortunately, his acting had been decent, and he had reacted quickly enough to keep up the conversation. He really wanted to complain—who gave him no time at all to adjust to his identity?

After calming himself slightly, he looked toward the two figures behind Di Tian whose appearances he had not clearly seen.

One wore an emerald-green dress, with jade-green eyes. Her features were exquisitely beautiful and gentle.

Though she was a ferocious beast, the life aura she radiated inspired an instinctive sense of closeness.

"Little An."

Bi Ji gazed at Chen An with concern and extended a hand toward him.

Chen An cooperatively walked over. As he raised his head, warm fingers stroked his cheek, and every discomfort in his body dissipated under the touch of those palms.

"Little An, be good. I hope you return safely."

Chen An closed his eyes and felt her blessing. After a moment, he thanked Lady Bi Ji as well.

Zi Ji, who had been watching nearby, wore an entirely different expression.

Chen An lowered his head to salute her as well. Just as he prepared to determine the forest's direction, a cool female voice sounded, carrying undisguised scrutiny.

"Wait."

Chen An halted.

Zi Ji. One of the Ten Great Ferocious Beasts of the Star Dou Great Forest, the Hell Demon Dragon King.

She was an extraordinarily beautiful woman, tall and slender, with purple hair cascading to her waist. Her eyes were deep and dark, and a dangerous yet icy aura surrounded her.

Though she possessed only two hundred thousand years of cultivation, her actual combat strength far exceeded others of the same level.

Chen An had known her for many years in his memories. Their relationship was probably like that of a senior and junior.

If Di Tian regarded soul beasts taking human form as a helpless measure, then aside from Gu Yuena, the sovereign of soul beasts, Zi Ji completely hated humans.

What did she see him as now? Someone who had lost his qualifications as a soul beast? Or a victim of the current plight of soul beasts?

Her brows furrowed slightly as she looked him over from head to toe.

"You truly have become human through and through. A hundred thousand years of cultivation, and you transformed just like that, compromising with a race of ants—quite willing to give it all up, aren't you?"

Zi Ji's tone carried unconcealed displeasure, but it was not directed at Chen An.

This time, Chen An was prepared. He would not be startled again. He immediately slipped into character, nodded lightly, and revealed a resolute expression.

"Sister Zi Ji, I unconditionally trust all of you and our Lord. Even if my status is lowly and my strength insignificant, regardless of success or failure, this subordinate is willing to follow you."

He had voiced such words of loyalty in advance, so she said nothing more.

Zi Ji stared at Chen An for a moment, then snorted coldly. She raised a hand and pointed in a certain direction through the forest. A faint purple glow appeared at her fingertip, leaving an indistinct trail of light in the air.

"The direction where our Lord's aura last vanished is north from here. After leaving the Star Dou Great Forest, you will enter the region near Shrek City."

Shrek? According to the original plot, shouldn't Na'er have headed toward Aolai City?

Then again, Di Tian had gained a subordinate named Chen An, and Bi Ji and Zi Ji knew him too. It was not strange for Na'er to go somewhere else.

This must have been the butterfly effect caused by my transmigration and the merged setting.

She withdrew her hand, her purple eyes coldly regarding Chen An.

"Although I dislike the way you look now, retrieving our Lord is the highest priority. You..."

Zi Ji seemed to want to say something harsh, but in the end, she merely turned her head away.

"Forget it. Come back soon."

The concern that was difficult to detect was thoroughly hidden behind her cold, rigid profile.

Chen An lowered his head and said, "I will not fail your trust."

Zi Ji gave no further instructions and merely watched his departing back once more.

Her gaze was exceptionally complicated, as though she were looking at a former kindred spirit, yet also at an outsider who no longer belonged to this forest.

Chen An gradually disappeared beneath the dense shade of the Star Dou Great Forest, while she remained where she was.

"Zi Ji?"

Bi Ji turned back and called softly. Only then did Zi Ji turn around.