Immortals Lined Up Like Hemp

The journey back to the Star Dou Great Forest was far less novel and pleasant than when they had left.

It was nothing more than an "escort" that required constant vigilance.

Deep purple mist swirled around Zi Ji, enveloping the three of them as she sped deeper into the forest at a steady pace far faster than a soul train, yet not so fast as to disturb the forest's ecology.

The scenery outside the mist rushed backward, forming a flowing tapestry.

Yet to Na'er, every stroke in that tapestry was irresistibly captivating.

Na'er clung to the edge of the mist and pointed at a grove below filled with strange glowing flowers. "That shiny one—I've never seen it before!"

Without turning her head, Zi Ji said coldly, "My Lord, we need to keep moving."

Na'er pouted and tugged at Chen An's sleeve as he walked on her other side.

"Chen An, what kind of flower is that?"

Chen An's heart skipped a beat as he felt Zi Ji's icy, warning gaze sweep over him.

He immediately forced a smile and lowered his voice, coaxing her with a hint of deception.

"My Lord, I'll bring you back here alone later. We can take our time looking, and I'll even make you a flower crown. How does that sound?"

He skillfully tossed out another "bait," successfully diverting Na'er's attention.

Before long, Na'er was drawn to a flock of birds. Chen An somehow produced a piece of candy from the human world and stuffed it into her hand, preventing her from saying anything else that might draw unwanted attention.

Zi Ji could only remind Chen An with increasingly severe looks that his foremost task was to ensure the Lord's safety and return to the forest on time.

But Na'er seemed to have forgotten that, inwardly praying frantically for this torturous journey to end soon.

After passing through the final natural mist barrier separating the inside from the outside, the noisy, restless aura of the human world was completely shut out.

The Star Dou Great Forest, long past its former splendor, now seemed somewhat desolate after seeing it too often.

After months of wandering, Chen An had returned here. He had only taken a few steps when an old tree beside him slowly swayed its trunk and opened its withered eyes.

It was the Ten Thousand Demon King.

"Lord Di Tian and the Lord are waiting at Life Lake."

After delivering the message, it left.

An ancient, shadowy hall floated in the void beneath the earth.

This was not some simple cave beneath the lake's mud. It was a spatial layer, equivalent to an independent pocket realm that blocked spiritual and soul-tool detection from the outside world.

The Silver Dragon King, grievously wounded after the Dragon God War, had slept here for hundreds of thousands of years.

Relying on the life energy supplied by the Eternal Tree, she continuously repaired her divine soul and dragon body.

Previously, the five great ferocious beasts—Di Tian, Bi Ji, the Ten Thousand Demon King, Bear Lord, and Scarlet King—had been the only soul beasts permitted to know of this place.

Ordinary hundred-thousand-year soul beasts were not qualified to approach the shores of Life Lake, much less learn the secret beneath it.

But circumstances had changed. Chen An had also gained the right to enter.

The entire hall was built from ancient jade crystal rock. The ground was covered in naturally formed ancient dragon and beast patterns.

Threads of primordial life aura seeped up from beneath the earth.

It was Chen An's first time setting foot here, and he looked around as he walked.

"There's actually a place like this beneath the spring..."

When they arrived at the hall, it was utterly silent within, the pressure so heavy it had reached its limit.

All of the Star Dou Great Forest's remaining top-tier beings above a hundred thousand years stood within the hall:

Bi Ji stood gently to the right of the main seat, compassion in her brows and eyes;

The Ten Thousand Demon King had rooted itself in the shadows, as calm and indifferent as an old tree;

Bear Lord stood with his arms folded, violent energy churning around him, his face full of impatience;

Scarlet King crouched in the rear, his scarlet eyes sharp as blades;

Zi Ji stood in a corner, silently lowering her head;

And the elusive Demon Spirit hid within the shadows of space, its form unseen by anyone.

Chen An consciously filled an empty spot, standing as far from the main seat as possible.

As for Na'er, standing in the center of the hall—

She had only just been brought back from the human world by Chen An. Her personality, innocent and attached to the warmth of the human world, found the grim assembly before her somewhat unsettling, and she instinctively lowered her head slightly.

The Beast God Di Tian stood with his hands behind his back at the far left of the hall, faint light flickering across his black dragon scales.

His towering figure remained silent, his lowered gaze calmly sweeping over everyone in the hall.

Seeing that everyone had arrived, he turned toward the white jade throne at the center of the hall.

Seated there was a black-haired, purple-eyed girl.

She was none other than the awakened Gu Yue.

The supreme primordial aura of the Silver Dragon King lay faintly dormant within her. Though it did not leak out, it still filled every ferocious beast present with instinctive reverence.

Gu Yue's gaze swept lightly over Na'er. There was no reproach in it, only icy calm. She slowly spoke, her voice crisp yet carrying the majesty of the sovereign of all beasts.

"I have summoned you all today for only one matter."

"Na'er and I are split bodies from the same source. She yearns for the human world and left the forest without permission. It may seem like a small matter, but it has exposed our greatest weakness."

"—Our understanding of the current human world remains far too shallow."

As her words fell, the atmosphere in the hall grew even heavier.

Gu Yue continued slowly. Her voice was not loud, yet every word was clear and landed in the ears of every ferocious beast.

"Over ten thousand years, the seas have turned to fields. Humans are no longer the weak creatures they once were. Soul-tool technology, battle armor systems, the Federation's power, and the rules of the Spirit Pagoda have already completely changed the landscape of this continent.

We appear secure while holding fast to the Star Dou Forest, but in truth, we are frogs at the bottom of a well.

If this continues, soul beasts will only be hunted down and perish without end, until we vanish entirely from the Douluo Continent.

Our only way out now is to infiltrate humanity, integrate with humanity, seize control of the rules, and reverse the fate of soul beasts."

At those words, Bear Lord, the most hot-tempered of them all, immediately let out a low roar.

"My Lord! Why must we humble ourselves so? Humans are petty and vile, and they only know how to slaughter our kind!

With our strength, we should charge straight out of Star Dou, slaughter the humans, and reclaim the fortune of heaven and earth! Why should we disguise ourselves and endure in silence?"

Bear Lord's voice rumbled like thunder, brimming with fighting spirit and violent fury.

He was the most extreme advocate of war. Deep in his bones, he despised humanity and wanted only to overturn everything through violence.

The Ten Thousand Demon King slowly spoke, its aged and hoarse voice carrying cautious conservatism.

"Bear Lord, impulsiveness is useless. Human experts emerge one after another now, the Federation's military strength is terrifying, and there is also the battle armor we do not yet understand. Starting a war rashly will only lead us into utter ruin.

The Lord's plan to infiltrate humanity is the safer path. It is simply... far too dangerous. Humans are cunning and suspicious. Once exposed, there will be no recovery."

Bi Ji clasped her hands before her lower abdomen and spoke softly, her eyes full of sorrow.

"My Lord, I understand that you are doing this for all soul beasts. But the conflicts of the human world are complex, and slaughter never ceases. If your true body infiltrates them, one misstep could not only ruin the plan, but also place you yourself in danger.

And besides... once war begins, innocent lives will be devastated. I cannot bear it."

She remained the only moderate voice in the hall, yearning for coexistence and abhorring slaughter.

Scarlet King said nothing and merely lowered his head slightly, representing absolute obedience.

A faint glimmer flashed through Zi Ji's dark eyes.

"Sister Bi Ji is too kind. Humanity and our kind have been locked in a struggle of life and death since ancient times.

Humans press forward step by step and leave us no path to survival. Rather than sit and wait for death, we should take the initiative. The Lord's infiltration plan is feasible."

The Demon Spirit remained hidden in the void and said nothing, tacitly indicating its agreement.

Everyone held a different opinion, their positions clearly divided. Chen An had started to grow sleepy from the very first sentence.

Still, in a situation like this, he absolutely could not yawn.

At that moment, Di Tian, who had remained silent all along, finally spoke. His deep, authoritative voice suppressed all the noise in the hall.

"Everyone, listen to the Lord's decision."

The entire hall instantly fell deathly silent.

All the ferocious beasts turned their gazes toward Gu Yue on the throne.