Ah Rou Was Near Death

Xiao Wu was left dazed by the immense impact and terror. Curled up on Scarlet King's scorching tail, she trembled uncontrollably, her face streaked with tears.

Yet the moment her gaze fell upon the Nine-Colored Deer nearby, an instinctive sense of closeness and trust surged up from the depths of her soul beast nature.

The sacred halo around the Nine-Colored Deer and its pure, tranquil aura, so peaceful it was intoxicating, seemed like the warmest candlelight in darkness. In that instant, Xiao Wu regarded it as her only salvation.

"Wah... wahhh—!"

Xiao Wu burst into shrill sobs. Desperately struggling up from Scarlet King's tail, she staggered toward the Nine-Colored Deer and tightly clutched one of its slender forelegs with her tiny hands.

"Please! Save my mother! Save Mommy! Humans are attacking her! Mommy lost so much blood! Please, save her! Wuwuwu..."

Seeing Xiao Wu's plea, the Nine-Colored Deer could not help frowning.

It was kind by nature and could not bear to see living beings suffer, much less a young life enduring the pain of losing her closest family.

Naturally, it would not refuse Xiao Wu's request.

"Alright," the Nine-Colored Deer replied to Xiao Wu.

The Nine-Colored Deer lowered its head and gently brushed Xiao Wu's tear-streaked face with its warm nose, offering comfort.

At the same time, the Nine-Colored Deer's powerful spiritual will conveyed its thoughts to Scarlet King beside it.

"Scarlet King, take us there. We must save her mother! I can sense an innocent life being harmed."

All three of Scarlet King's heads showed remarkably human-like hesitation and irritation.

"Auspicious Beast, you cannot! That is a battlefield of powerful humans. It is far too dangerous, and Lord Di Tian has strictly ordered—"

Nine-colored radiance burst from the Nine-Colored Deer, and Auspicious Aura spread through the surroundings almost tangibly. Its clear eyes stared directly at Scarlet King's largest central head, filled with both pleading and resolve.

"Take me there! Immediately! Otherwise, I will never be at peace!"

Scarlet King sensed the Nine-Colored Deer's compassion and determination, then looked at Xiao Wu, who was crying so hard she was nearly fainting. With an irritated growl, all three heads shook sharply.

Lord Di Tian's order was to keep the Auspicious Beast safe, but its will was so resolute at this moment...

Fine. With his strength, as long as they did not venture deep into human territory, protecting the Auspicious Beast should not be a problem.

If there was truly danger, he would simply take the Auspicious Beast away at once.

"Roar—!"

Scarlet King let out a roar. His massive body abruptly turned toward the battlefield, and he charged out at high speed, his four hooves pounding the earth.

Meanwhile, the Nine-Colored Deer stood steadily on his back. Gentle light shielded Xiao Wu in its embrace as it gazed resolutely toward the distant battlefield.

The moment Scarlet King set off, two earth-shaking roars rang out from deep within the Core Area of the Star Dou Great Forest.

"Mooang!" That was the roar of the Sky Azure Bull Python.

"Roar!" That was the roar of the Titan Giant Ape.

Both of them sensed that the Soft Bone Rabbit's life was in danger. They tore through the dense forest at astonishing speed, rushing toward Ah Rou.

On the battlefield.

Bibi Dong's Soul-Eating Spider Emperor scythe had already been raised to its highest point, locked onto Ah Rou's heart.

Meanwhile, Chrysanthemum Douluo and Ghost Douluo stood beside Bibi Dong, guarding against any unexpected developments.

A trace of relief and reluctance flashed through Ah Rou's eyes. She gathered her remaining strength, preparing to detonate her cultivation before her death and win her daughter one final, faint chance at survival.

At that critical moment.

"ROAR!!!"

A terrifying roar carrying a savage aura capable of burning the heavens and boiling the seas swept across the entire battlefield like an invisible tsunami.

Immediately afterward, a colossal crimson figure large enough to blot out the sky descended amid towering flames, smashing heavily down before Ah Rou like a falling meteor.

Scorching shockwaves spread out like an avalanche, forcing Bibi Dong and the other two back again and again.

As the dust settled, Scarlet King's true form was revealed, resembling an infernal flame demon.

Scarlet King's three ferocious heads glared at Bibi Dong and the others, his six eyes brimming with brutality and killing intent.

The terrifying pressure of his three-hundred-thousand-year Ferocious Beast cultivation erupted without restraint, crushing down upon Bibi Dong and the others like a tangible mountain.

"Humans! Get out of the Star Dou Core!"

Scarlet King's largest central head roared, the sound waves making the ancient trees around them shudder.

Bibi Dong's pupils abruptly contracted, and even the phantom of the Death Spider Emperor behind her rippled violently.

Chrysanthemum Douluo and Ghost Douluo's expressions changed drastically. They instantly retreated several steps, nearly unable to maintain their Martial Soul Avatars.

"Another Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast?"

Bibi Dong's voice carried gravity and disbelief. She had not expected another Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast to appear now.

Moreover, this Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast's aura was vastly more powerful than those she had hunted before.

It even made her feel a lethal threat!

And she could also sense two more Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beasts rapidly approaching from afar.

Scarlet King's appearance instantly shattered Bibi Dong's control over the situation.

Unwillingly, she glanced at the dying Ah Rou, then swept her gaze over Scarlet King, whose aura was terrifying, and the two powerful soul beast auras swiftly drawing near in the distance.

Three Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beasts. If she forced the issue, she might not only fail to obtain a Soul Ring and Soul Bone—she might lose her own life here as well.

In a flash, Bibi Dong made her decision.

She cast a venomous glance at Scarlet King, the strangely glowing little deer on his back, and the little rabbit, then decisively ordered, "Retreat!"

Before her words had even faded, Bibi Dong transformed into a streak of purple-black light and shot toward the forest's outskirts.

Chrysanthemum Douluo and Ghost Douluo followed without the slightest hesitation, vanishing into the depths of the forest in an instant.

The other members of Spirit Hall also departed at once.

With the powerful enemies gone, Scarlet King slightly reined in his aura, though he continued to scan the surroundings warily.

The Nine-Colored Deer had already leaped lightly down from his back with Xiao Wu.

"Mom!"

Crying out, Xiao Wu rushed toward Ah Rou, who lay in a pool of blood.

Ah Rou was barely breathing. The destructive power of the Eternal Wound had thoroughly destroyed her heart and life essence.

When she saw her daughter rush over, a faint glimmer appeared in her eyes. She struggled to raise a hand to touch Xiao Wu's cheek, but she no longer had even a trace of strength.

The Nine-Colored Deer hurried forward, its clear eyes filled with compassion.

Without hesitation, it lowered its head. The pair of nine-colored antlers atop its head, wreathed in specks of starlight, emitted a gentle and sacred radiance that softly fell upon Ah Rou's broken body.

Dense life energy and auspicious light tried to dispel the purple-black death energy Bibi Dong had left behind.

But Bibi Dong had already begun the Rakshasa God Trial, and her Eternal Wound already contained a portion of Rakshasa Divine Power.

The Nine-Colored Deer only possessed the cultivation of a Thousand-Year Soul Beast. Therefore, even when it unleashed the Nine-Colored Healing Light, it could only slightly fade the purple-black energy lingering around Ah Rou's wounds; it could not eliminate it completely.