Ye Tian Emperor

At the critical moment of life and death.

Ye Fan had no other choice. He forcefully broke free from Xiao Hongchen's large hand and scooped the Emperor Auspicious Beast up in his left arm.

The Six-Winged Angel wings behind him flapped desperately, widening the distance between himself and the Xiao Hongchen siblings.

He intended to use himself as bait to draw Scarlet King's attention.

"Xiaofan, what are you doing?"

Xiao Hongchen immediately noticed that Ye Fan had broken free and was swiftly carrying the Emperor Auspicious Beast away from them.

By the time he turned around to chase after Ye Fan, Ye Fan had already flown far away.

He looked at Meng Hongchen beside him, then at Ye Fan in the distance. In the end, he decided to flee the area with Meng Hongchen.

Jing Hongchen had also noticed Ye Fan's actions in helping Xiao Hongchen and Meng Hongchen escape danger. He was deeply moved within his heart.

But faced with the frenzied Scarlet King, he was clearly somewhat overwhelmed as well.

He could only keep using his ninth-rank soul tools to harass Scarlet King.

At that moment, Scarlet King had eyes only for the Emperor Auspicious Beast and could not spare any attention for Jing Hongchen.

The Emperor Auspicious Beast was still utterly bewildered. As a soul beast, she simply could not understand why humans would disregard life and death for one another.

Especially at the instant Ye Fan resolutely broke free from Xiao Hongchen's grasp and carried her off to draw Scarlet King's attention, the Emperor Auspicious Beast was stunned.

In that instant, the Emperor Auspicious Beast froze in his arms, her tiny body filled with confusion. When she looked up, she saw the wings around Ye Fan glowing with sacred patterns of light, like an angel descending upon the mortal world.

Since her birth, she had lived in the Star Dou Great Forest. Around her were either fierce beasts like Scarlet King and Di Tian or soul beasts constantly currying favor with her. She had never seen humans willing to sacrifice their lives for their companions like this, and for the first time, curiosity toward humanity arose in her heart.

At the same time, Scarlet King saw his target being lured away by Ye Fan. Rage surged within him as all three heads spewed scorching hellfire, black-red waves of flame carrying soul-burning power as they rushed straight at Ye Fan.

Ye Fan closed his eyes, already prepared to die for his family and friends.

At the crucial moment, the third Fate's Eye on the auspicious beast's forehead suddenly blossomed with brilliant golden light. A beam of fate slammed into the flames and blocked them. Then Ye Fan and the Emperor Auspicious Beast both fell unconscious.

"Ah, what a troublesome little fellow."

Immediately afterward, a vast spiritual power took control of Ye Fan's body. Before Scarlet King's eyes, it chanted an incantation and opened a pitch-black door. "Good thing I mastered Elex's undead magic. Otherwise, this divine consciousness and my benefactor would both be finished here."

Then it carried the auspicious beast into it.

Scarlet King watched helplessly as Ye Fan and the auspicious beast vanished from where they stood.

He could only rage impotently before turning his anger on Jing Hongchen.

"Human, it was all because of you. You delayed me. Then go die!"

Jing Hongchen watched Ye Fan and the auspicious beast disappear into thin air. Though his eyes were full of shock, at least Ye Fan had not died on the spot.

At this point, Jing Hongchen no longer had to worry about Xiao Hongchen, Meng Hongchen, or Ye Fan.

He no longer continued the fight, retreating as he battled. Scarlet King had no way to deal with him.

In the end, Scarlet King could only watch helplessly as Jing Hongchen escaped.

Only he remained at the scene, roaring without end. "Roar! Roar! Roar!"

After a long while, in the core region of the Star Dou Great Forest.

The fierce beast Scarlet King had assumed human form and knelt before a black-clad man with golden eyes.

"Lord Beast God, this subordinate failed to guard the auspicious beast properly."

"Please punish me."

Hearing this, the black-clad, golden-eyed man revealed a fierce glint in his eyes. Yet he still needed the Three-Headed Crimson Demon Mastiff's nose to search for the auspicious beast's scent, so he could only think inwardly, If the auspicious beast has suffered even the slightest injury, ten thousand deaths would not absolve you of blame.

But outwardly, he steadied himself. "Scarlet King, rise."

"The auspicious beast is protected by my natal scale. Based on what you said, the opponent was merely a level ninety-four Titled Douluo and cannot harm her in the short term."

"Make use of your Three-Headed Crimson Demon Mastiff body's strengths. Mobilize the entire clan and search the whole Star Dou Great Forest."

"Yes!"

On Ye Fan's side, within the Undead Demiplane, the God of Destruction's divine consciousness left his body and carefully observed the Emperor Auspicious Beast's third eye.

"So this is Fate's Eye?"

"Is the legendary power of fate contained within it?"

"It truly is a fine power."

"No wonder Huo Yuhao was able to cheat his way through everything after obtaining it."

"But in this life, this power belongs to Ye Fan."

"Tang San, let's see what you can use to fight me now."

During the time the God of Destruction protected Ye Fan and the auspicious beast.

Ye Fan and the auspicious beast each had a dream.

In Ye Fan's dream, he became a three-eyed soul beast and lived in the Star Dou Great Forest from childhood to adulthood...

On the other side, the auspicious beast plunged into a mortal illusion, personally experiencing all of the ancient sorrows and hardships of Heavenly Emperor Ye.

He had originally been an ordinary man from Earth, forcibly torn away from his homeland by Nine Dragons Pulling a Coffin and left to wander alone through a cruel starfield.

He possessed the Desolate Ancient Sacred Physique, yet was suppressed by the laws of heaven and earth. The entire world regarded him as worthless trash. He endured rejection from sects, humiliation from his own kin, the breaking of his marriage engagement, and several mortal Dao injuries that left him on the brink of exhausting his lifespan.

Over the following hundreds of thousands of years, he crossed the Forbidden Zones of Life and Death, fighting bloody battles against powerful enemies of every race. He watched helplessly as his relatives, beloved, and comrades exhausted their lifespans one by one, passed away in meditation, and left this world.

He lived against the flow for nine lifetimes and guarded the solitude of eternity alone. Even after ascending to the position of Heavenly Emperor, he could not escape the pain of parting. Burdened with the duty of protecting all living beings, he walked alone for eternity, with no one to share the long years with him.

The two sorrowful dreams intertwined, and the power of fate quietly wound itself around their souls, forging an invisible bond between them in the unseen.

Of course, Ye Fan knew none of this. In his memories, this segment had been sealed layer upon layer.

After a long while, Ye Fan and the auspicious beast both awoke from each other's dreams.

Ye Fan wore a bewildered expression, while tears streamed uncontrollably from the auspicious beast's eyes.

"Was this his previous life?"

The Emperor Auspicious Beast murmured softly.

"Kid, you're finally awake."

At this moment, the God of Destruction noticed that Ye Fan had awakened as well and spoke to him.

"Teacher, was it you who saved me?"

"Mm!"

The God of Destruction did not deny it.

Then Ye Fan said, "How do you plan to deal with this auspicious beast?"

Hearing this, Ye Fan also fell silent.

Within his consciousness, Ye Fan knew that he had already become bound to the auspicious beast. If her life or death remained uncertain, he likely would not fare well either.

In the end, Ye Fan decided, "Teacher, I plan to let her go."

The God of Destruction offered no further judgment and merely said one word. "Fine!"

He then opened the door to the Undead Demiplane and let Ye Fan leave with the auspicious beast.

After returning to the Star Dou Great Forest, Ye Fan looked at the Emperor Auspicious Beast before him. "Little auspicious beast, hurry back. Don't run out alone again next time."

"Not everyone knows your origins like I do and is willing to spare your life."

Hearing this, the Emperor Auspicious Beast kept looking back with every step, her gaze fixed on Ye Fan the entire time.

"Go on, go on. Hurry and find your companions."

Seeing this, Ye Fan feared that the auspicious beast would cling to him and refuse to leave. That would only bring endless trouble.

In the end, the Emperor Auspicious Beast turned her back to him, pouted, and muttered softly, "Damn Ye Fan, would it kill you not to be so aloof?"

As she spoke, the Emperor Auspicious Beast really did stomp off angrily toward the depths of the Star Dou Great Forest.

Seeing the auspicious beast leave, Ye Fan did not know why, but he felt a faint sense of loss in his heart.

Just as Ye Fan's mind was unsettled, the God of Destruction's voice sounded beside his ear. "Kid, since we're separated from Jing Hongchen and the others, let's take this opportunity to head to the Far North."