The Aggrieved Imperial Auspicious Beast

Xu Tianming reached out and slowly gripped the shaft of the Golden Dragon Spear. The instant he touched it, the spear suddenly shuddered, and the ruby lit up with a sharp flash.

Golden light surged up the shaft and into Xu Tianming's arm. Immediately afterward, a massive flood of information was forcibly crammed into his Spirit Sea.

Xu Tianming closed his eyes.

After a while, he opened them again, the strange expression on his face growing even more pronounced.

The Golden Dragon Spear had sensed the Golden Dragon King's Divine Core, as well as the Golden Dragon King's Bloodline within his body. By its judgment, Xu Tianming was its true master.

As for the Imperial Auspicious Beast that had originally obtained it, it was merely a temporary custodian. So the divine artifact had made its own choice: it ditched the Imperial Auspicious Beast, tore through space, and came running to Xu Tianming.

Xu Tianming lowered his head and looked at the Golden Dragon Spear in his hand.

"Damn."

"Just lying at home, and a divine artifact falls from the sky."

Karna looked at the Golden Dragon Spear.

"Its aura is very powerful."

"Of course it's powerful."

Xu Tianming held the spear shaft, growing more satisfied the longer he looked at it.

"This is the Golden Dragon King's divine artifact."

The Golden Dragon Spear's power was not limited to its sharpness.

It could devour life essence, turn the life force it consumed into its own power, then feed that power back to its wielder. To soul beasts, this ability was practically fatal.

As long as someone was stabbed by its blade, their life force would be rapidly drained away. And the spear was genuinely cool-looking, which was enough.

Xu Tianming had never denied that he was drawn to appearances, especially when it came to gorgeous weapons.

The Golden Dragon Spear's shaft was over two meters long. Its blade was shaped like a narrow golden dragon head, its tip wickedly sharp, with a faint crimson glow shimmering along its edges.

Slender wing blades extended from either side of the dragon head. Dragon patterns ran down the shaft all the way to the butt end, where there was a rounded golden spear pommel. The moment one held it, they could feel a heavy yet tyrannical power.

Unlike an ordinary spear, it did not need soul power to activate it. Even if Xu Tianming infused it with soul power, the Golden Dragon Spear would absorb the surrounding natural energy on its own and maintain its sharpness.

Xu Tianming lightly swung the spear. A muffled whistle tore through the air, and faint ripples spread even through space where the blade passed.

"Excellent spear!!!"

Xu Tianming could not help but praise it.

"Does Master require instruction in spear techniques?"

Karna asked.

Xu Tianming turned to look at him.

"Aren't you the best at using a spear?"

"Yes."

"Then that settles it."

Xu Tianming gripped the Golden Dragon Spear tightly, a smile slowly appearing in his eyes.

Jingliu would teach him swordsmanship, while Karna would teach him spear techniques. In the future, he would wield the Golden Dragon Spear in one hand and the Heavenfire Greatsword in the other—peerless with both spear and sword, absolutely unbeatable!

Just imagining that scene felt incredible~~~

Xu Tianming tightened his grip on the Golden Dragon Spear.

This spear had come at the perfect time. With it, a major gap in his future combat system had been filled. The Golden Dragon Martial Soul excelled at close-quarters combat, while the Golden Dragon Spear could devour life. Combined, they would raise his close-range lethality by at least another level.

He looked at the Golden Dragon Spear in his hand, then ultimately put it away.

Golden light flashed.

The Golden Dragon Spear transformed into a streak of light and entered his Spirit Sea. There, beside the Golden Dragon King's Divine Core, an unassuming golden spear appeared.

The dragon patterns on its shaft glimmered faintly, as though it were waiting for the day it could emerge and slaughter in all directions.

At the same time.

Far away in the core region of the Star Dou Great Forest, the Lake of Life remained shrouded in dense vitality.

The lake water was a clear jade green, its surface completely still. Yet countless tiny points of light drifted leisurely along the lakebed. They were not fish, but glimmers condensed from life essence. Flowing with the water, they nourished every inch of land along the shore.

Towering ancient trees surrounded the lake.

The thickest trunk would take dozens of people joining hands to encircle. Twisting roots thrust out from the ground, crossing into natural stairways. The canopies covered vast stretches of sky, and between the layers of branches and leaves, birdsong and beastly roars could occasionally be heard.

There was no roar of human soul tools here, nor the clamor of city lights. There was only the rustle of wind passing through leaves and the low sounds of various soul beasts moving in the distance.

The core region of the Star Dou Great Forest—this was the true territory of soul beasts.

In this place, even an inconspicuous ancient tree might possess several thousand years of cultivation. The lakeshore gathered some of the continent's most powerful soul beasts. Even an ordinary Titled Douluo would not dare act recklessly after entering this place.

Di Tian stood beside the Lake of Life.

He wore a black robe embroidered with dark golden dragon patterns. He was tall and straight, with a streak of gold amid his black hair. His golden vertical pupils were calm yet imposing. Even standing still, he exuded an oppressive aura that made all beasts submit.

"Di Tian!!!"

A crisp, pleasant young girl's voice came from afar, filled with obvious grievance.

"My Golden Dragon Spear was stolen!"

Di Tian frowned and turned toward the source of the voice. A petite soul beast rushed out from behind an ancient tree.

It looked like a small lion, with soft, fluffy golden fur. A vertical purple-gold eye grew in the center of its forehead. The ends of its four paws were not ordinary beast claws, but dragon claws covered in fine golden scales. Several delicate dragon scales also grew between its back and waist.

When all three eyes opened, strange light seemed to flow within them. This was the Imperial Auspicious Beast of the Star Dou Great Forest, the Three-Eyed Golden Lion.

Normally, this little beast rampaged through the core region, and hardly any soul beast dared provoke it. But now, it had lost all its former majesty. After rushing before Di Tian, it squatted directly on the ground, its golden tail drooping behind it, making it look utterly aggrieved.

"The Golden Dragon Spear was stolen?"

Di Tian's expression changed.

The Golden Dragon Spear had been forged from the Golden Dragon King's rib. It was also the exclusive divine artifact left behind by the Golden Dragon King. Divine artifacts possessed spirits, and apart from beings with the Golden Dragon Bloodline, it was nearly impossible for anyone to gain its recognition.

Moreover, the Golden Dragon Spear had always been kept by the Imperial Auspicious Beast. Although the Imperial Auspicious Beast was usually mischievous, it had never lied in Di Tian's presence.

"Auspicious Beast, do you remember when the Golden Dragon Spear disappeared?"

A gentle voice came from the side. Then, a woman in a jade-green dress walked over to the Three-Eyed Golden Lion. She had long, smooth green hair, a gentle and beautiful face, and clear emerald eyes. Her entire body radiated the aura of life, giving others the feeling of a spring breeze.

She was Bi Ji, the leader of the Jade Swan Clan, fourth among the Ten Great Ferocious Beasts, with five hundred and eighty thousand years of cultivation.