Myriad Demon King Seeks to Sacrifice Himself; 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.

"Douluo Star has now been completely shielded by me. Those people from the God Realm can neither investigate it nor descend to the lower realm."

"That's impossible!"

Di Tian cried out in shock. Even with his cultivation of several hundred thousand years, Ye Chenxing's answer made him lose his composure 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 moment.

If stealing the Golden Tree's essence and awakening an unprecedentedly ultimate Martial Soul had still allowed this Beast God, who had lived for hundreds of thousands of years, to maintain a facade of calm, then Ye Chenxing's claim now was that a mere human Soul Master had effortlessly made that deadly sword disappear.

Though he was unwilling to believe it emotionally, his reason kept reminding him that it was true.

The most direct evidence was this: not only had this kid drained Shrek's most important Golden Tree, but he had also removed the fragment of divine consciousness within the Auspicious Beast. Yet even now, the legendary Sea God, who was said to have countless ties to Shrek, had not made a peep. 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 opposed him because of a momentary racial prejudice.

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

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

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

Di Tian caught the implication in Ye Chenxing's words. His brows furrowed as he fell into thought.

At that moment, Myriad Demon King, who had remained silent all this time, suddenly stepped forward as if he had made some kind of decision.

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

"Oh? Please, 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."

The moment those words came out, Ye Chenxing was slightly startled, while Di Tian's reaction was even more intense.

"Myriad Demon King, have you gone mad?!" Di Tian roared. "You 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. With the God Realm's rules suppressing us, soul beasts have no possibility of becoming gods. But he is different... He is the new Child of Nature. As long as I become his soul ring, no matter when it happens, 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 essence will transform into an Ancient Tree of Nature. As one attached to it, I can still be reborn beneath the ancient tree's protection. Besides..." Myriad Demon King paused, his eyes blazing as he looked at Ye Chenxing.

"You saw the astonishing feats he accomplished today. To follow such an existence... I absolutely cannot miss this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!"

"Are you planning to betray the soul beast race?!" Di Tian's gaze instantly became incomparably dangerous, and the pressure belonging to the Beast God began to surface.

Seeing the tension reach a breaking point, Ye Chenxing hurriedly stepped forward to mediate. "Senior Myriad Demon King, I am deeply flattered by your kindness, but 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, how about we make an agreement? I promise to reserve a soul ring slot for you. What do you think?"

Hearing this, Myriad Demon King was deeply moved. Though Ye Chenxing was the Child of Nature, he was still human in the end. Myriad Demon King had not expected him to consider the soul beasts' interests.

He did not press the matter further. Instead, he forced out a Seed of Life radiating dense green light from between his brows and respectfully offered it to Ye Chenxing. "In that case, I ask that you accept this Seed of Life."

"As long as you still draw breath, it will ensure that your vitality never fades."

After saying that, Myriad Demon King clasped his hands in farewell and disappeared into the earth.

No sooner had Myriad Demon King left than a series of earth-shaking footsteps thundered over.

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

His furry paw gripped a strange bone radiating a dark golden gleam, which he stuffed straight into Ye Chenxing's arms.

"Hey! Kid, I didn't expect you to know your stuff. You actually know that our clan's Terror Claws are the strongest!" Xiong Jun grinned broadly, his face full of pride.

After all, his Dark Gold Terror Claw had once lost to Di Tian. But now, the person Di Tian valued had his eye on his Terror Claw, which made Xiong Jun feel as though he had regained a bit of face.

"Over these hundreds of thousands of years, quite a few useless clan members have died. Here, it's yours! I underestimated you before. A bet's a bet, and I accept my loss."

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

He had only wanted an ordinary palm bone. He had not expected this simple-minded bear to either hold back completely or go straight for the trump card.

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

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

Although Xiong Jun usually looked like he had no scheming mind, he was clearly no fool in this matter.

He had obviously seen Ye Chenxing's boundless potential and was taking the chance 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, remember to call this old bear along next time you rob Shrek." With that, he turned and left as well.

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

He reached out and rubbed the Auspicious Beast's fluffy head, speaking softly.

"I'm leaving."

"Why are you leaving?" The Auspicious Beast immediately panicked. Her 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 really 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 won't grow."

Beside them, Di Tian watched the Auspicious Beast he had raised like his own daughter stare eagerly at some blond human boy, wanting to follow him away. 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 as if 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, and 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 you'll definitely come back!" "I promise." Ye Chenxing nodded solemnly.

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

Before leaving, he looked back at the Auspicious Beast and reminded her, "Remember, be careful around humans, especially those slovenly old men." With that, the two became twin shooting stars and vanished beyond the horizon in an instant.

Di Tian raised his head and watched their receding figures, snorting coldly. "What lofty words. But... he is right. The Star Dou Great Forest truly is too small for him. Even I cannot estimate what this kid will achieve. I only hope that he will not become an enemy of our soul beast race in the future." With that, Di Tian tore open space and silently disappeared from where he stood.