Myriad Demon King Wishes to Sacrifice; Hundred-Thousand-Year Dark Gold Dreadclaw Left Palm Bone

"Di Tian, this is the 'big surprise' I mentioned before, the one I wanted to give the Star Dou Great Forest."

Hearing this, Ye Chenxing's lips curled slightly into a meaningful smile.

"At this moment, Douluo Star has been completely sealed off by me. Those people in the God Realm can neither investigate it nor descend to the lower realm."

"That's impossible!"

Di Tian cried out. Even with hundreds of thousands of years of composure, Ye Chenxing's answer made him lose control for the first time.

What was the God Realm? It was the Sword of Damocles hanging over his head, one that could fall at any time.

If stealing the Golden Tree's origin and awakening an ultimate martial soul had still allowed this beast god, who had lived for hundreds of thousands of years, to maintain an outward calm, then Ye Chenxing's claim that a mere soul master had effortlessly made that fatal sword vanish was something else entirely.

Even if he was unwilling to believe it emotionally, reason kept reminding him that it was true.

The most direct evidence was this: the boy had not only drained Shrek's most important Golden Tree, but had also removed the fragment of divine consciousness from the auspicious beast's body. Yet to this day, the legendary Sea God, who was said to have countless ties to Shrek, had not made a single move. Even with Di Tian's knowledge, he had never heard of such methods.

Looking at the calm and composed Ye Chenxing before him, Di Tian even began to feel fortunate that he had not become enemies with him because of a momentary racial prejudice.

Though he was already ninety percent convinced, the survival of the entire soul beast race was at stake. Di Tian's voice still carried an unconcealed urgency. "How did you do it? Can the God Realm truly no longer interfere? This is a matter of great importance. You must not speak lightly!"

Naturally, Ye Chenxing was not about to tell him that he had used most of the enormous energy he had gotten for free from the Golden Tree to block the God Realm.

"I naturally have my own methods. As for whether this is true, I imagine that with your abilities, Senior Beast God, you will find a way to verify it in the future."

Di Tian understood the implication behind Ye Chenxing's words. His brows furrowed slightly as he fell into thought.

Just then, Myriad Demon King, who had remained silent all along, suddenly stepped forward as if he had made some sort of decision.

"Honored Child of Nature, I have an unreasonable request."

"Oh? Please speak, Senior." Ye Chenxing looked slightly puzzled.

Myriad Demon King took a deep breath and said in a low voice, "I hope... to become your soul ring."

Ye Chenxing was slightly startled by those words, while Di Tian's reaction was even more intense.

"Myriad Demon King, have you lost your mind?!" Di Tian shouted angrily. "You have only passed your heavenly tribulation less than thirty thousand years ago. Why would you make such a decision?!"

Myriad Demon King shook his head. His withered face held the calm of one who had seen through everything. "Di Tian, you understand as well. Under the suppression of the God Realm's rules, we soul beasts have no possibility of becoming gods. But he is different... He is the new Child of Nature. So long as I become his soul ring, no matter when it is, I can continue cultivating with him as my foundation. With his protection, I may not even need to endure heavenly tribulations again."

"If one day he truly falls, his origin will turn into an Ancient Tree of Nature. As one attached to it, I can still be reborn beneath the ancient tree's protection. More importantly..." Myriad Demon King paused, his gaze burning as he looked at Ye Chenxing. "You saw the astonishing feats he accomplished today. To follow someone like him—such a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity is something I absolutely cannot let pass!"

"Are you trying to betray the soul beast race?!" Di Tian's gaze instantly turned incomparably dangerous, and the pressure belonging to the Beast God faintly emerged.

Seeing the tension rise to a breaking point, Ye Chenxing hurriedly stepped forward to mediate. "Senior Myriad Demon King, although I am deeply honored by your goodwill, the plant-type soul beasts of the Star Dou Great Forest still need your protection. At the same time, I do not wish to put you and the Beast God in a difficult position. Rather than sacrificing yourself now, let us make an agreement. I promise to reserve a soul ring slot for you. How about it?"

Hearing those words, Myriad Demon King was deeply moved. Though Ye Chenxing was the Child of Nature, he was still human at the end of the day. It greatly surprised him that Ye Chenxing would consider the soul beasts' interests.

He did not press the matter further. Instead, he forced a Seed of Life radiating a dense green glow from between his brows and respectfully handed it to Ye Chenxing. "In that case, please be sure to accept this Seed of Life, my lord. So long as you still draw breath, it will ensure that your vitality never fades."

With that, Myriad Demon King cupped his hands in farewell and vanished into the earth.

No sooner had Myriad Demon King left than the sound of heavy footsteps shaking the ground came from afar.

Amid earth-shaking footsteps, Xiong Jun came running back, panting heavily.

In his furry paw, he clutched a strange bone glowing with dark golden light, which he stuffed straight into Ye Chenxing's arms.

"Hey! Kid, I didn't expect you to know your stuff. You knew the Dreadclaws of our race are the strongest!" Xiong Jun grinned broadly, his face brimming with pride.

After all, his Dark Gold Dreadclaws had once lost to Di Tian. But now, the person Di Tian valued also coveted his Dreadclaws, making him feel that he had regained a little face.

"Over these hundreds of thousands of years, quite a few useless clansmen have died. Here, it's yours! I underestimated you before. A bet is a bet, and I'll admit defeat."

Looking at this top-grade soul bone, Ye Chenxing was somewhat surprised.

He had only intended to ask for an ordinary palm bone. He had not expected this simple-minded bear to either do nothing at all or go straight for the ultimate prize.

That was right. What he had whispered to Xiong Jun earlier was to exchange the wager for a palm bone from a Dark Gold Dreadclaw Bear.

From what he could sense, this was actually a Dark Gold Dreadclaw Bear left palm bone that surpassed a hundred thousand years.

Although Xiong Jun usually looked like he had no brains, he was clearly not stupid when it came to this matter.

He had obviously seen that Ye Chenxing's future was boundless and had taken the opportunity to make a generous "angel investment."

"Thank you, Senior Xiong Jun. I'll remember this favor." Ye Chenxing sincerely thanked him and put the soul bone away.

Xiong Jun chuckled. "Kid, next time you rob Shrek, remember to call me along." With that, he turned and left as well.

After putting away his things, Ye Chenxing felt it was time to leave.

He reached out and rubbed the auspicious beast's fluffy head, saying softly,

"I'm leaving."

"Why are you leaving?" The auspicious beast immediately grew anxious. Its large head rubbed desperately against him, refusing to let go. "Aren't you happy staying here? Whatever you want to eat, I'll find it for you. Wherever you want to go, I'll go with you. Don't leave, okay... If you have to go, then take me with you!"

Seeing her like this, Ye Chenxing smiled helplessly. "Auspicious beast, I can't stay in a greenhouse forever. If I remain here, I'll never grow."

At the side, Di Tian watched the auspicious beast, whom he had raised like his own daughter, eagerly wanting to follow a human brat. He could not help but sigh.

"Auspicious beast, stop being willful," Di Tian said gravely. "He is human, after all. He has to leave eventually."

"It's not like I'm never coming back." Ye Chenxing patted the auspicious beast's back, his tone turning serious. "The Star Dou Great Forest is too small, while my enemies are too strong. If I don't go out and become stronger, how will I protect myself in the future? How will I protect you? Forgive me, okay?"

Hearing this, though the auspicious beast was unwilling in every possible way, she could only reluctantly agree and extend a claw. "Then... then promise me you'll definitely come back!" "I promise." Ye Chenxing nodded solemnly.

Then, with a thought, six wings sprouted from his back, and he rose into the sky together with Saber.

Before leaving, he looked back at the auspicious beast and reminded her, "Remember to be wary of humans, especially the kind of slovenly old men." With that, the two turned into twin shooting stars and vanished beyond the horizon in an instant.

Di Tian looked up at their retreating figures and snorted coldly. "What arrogance. But... he is right. The Star Dou Great Forest truly is too small for him. Even I cannot estimate that boy's future achievements. I only hope that he does not become an enemy of the soul beast race someday." With that, Di Tian tore open space and silently vanished from where he stood.