The Auspicious Beast: Lu Yuan Is the Fire Dragon King's Reincarnation!

At Di Tian's words, endless conflict and struggle churned in his draconic eyes.

For ten thousand years, the Three-Eyed Golden Lion had been the bearer of Star Dou Forest's fortune, the little treasure every Soul Beast held dear.

With her there, Star Dou's fortune endured, Soul Beasts cultivated smoothly, and this forest could remain evergreen through the ages, endlessly thriving.

But just as Gu Yuena had said, he had never truly asked the Auspicious Beast what she wanted.

Ten thousand years of protection was shelter—but was it not also a kind of restraint?

After a long while, Di Tian turned to the Three-Eyed Golden Lion beside him and said gently, "Auspicious Beast, no one can make this choice for you. But now, I want to hear what you think."

"Do you want to gamble on this chance to become a god?"

All eyes instantly converged on the Three-Eyed Golden Lion.

The Three-Eyed Golden Lion lowered her tail, and a loneliness no one had ever seen before lay hidden in her eyes.

She spoke softly, her clear voice carrying a trace of wistfulness.

"I've lived in Star Dou Forest for ten thousand years. Every day, I watched the sun rise and the moon set, watched the plants flourish and wither. All the Soul Beasts respected me and cared for me. I've never suffered the slightest grievance."

But the more peaceful her life was, the stronger the hidden longing in her heart became.

She raised her little head, her eyes brimming with yearning.

"But no matter how wonderful the forest is, its scenery never changes. For ten thousand years, every day has looked the same. I actually... have always been very lonely."

"I want to leave this place. I want to see the world outside. I want to take human form. I want a different life."

Those frank, pure feelings instantly shattered Di Tian's final reservations.

He stood silently, his eyes filled with helplessness and fondness.

After a long while, Di Tian slowly nodded. "All right. Since this is your wish, I will support you. No matter the outcome, Star Dou Forest will always be your refuge."

At that, the Three-Eyed Golden Lion's tail swayed lightly.

Seeing that the two had reached an understanding, a gentle smile bloomed across Gu Yuena's cool features. Then she changed the subject. "However, Auspicious Beast, you may take human form—but not yet."

"Ah?"

The joy that had just risen in the Three-Eyed Golden Lion froze instantly. She tilted her little head, her eyes full of confusion, while her tail drooped unconsciously.

Seeing her disappointed little expression, Gu Yuena patiently explained, "Xiao Yuan and Xiao Xiao are still young, and their cultivation is not yet high."

"I said before that godhood would emerge in batches in this era. But the opportunity to become a god has never existed in a greenhouse. It lies only in endless adventures and trials."

"In the future, the two of them will inevitably leave Star Dou Forest and enter Douluo Continent. Only through training, slaughter, and fortuitous opportunities can they touch that supreme divine realm."

"Once their cultivation has matured, you can take human form and accompany them on their adventures. That would be the safest course of action."

The Three-Eyed Golden Lion muttered softly, "All right... then I'll wait a little longer."

Her dejected, aggrieved look, as though all her expectations had come to nothing, was so adorable that it softened one's heart.

Gu Yuena could not help but smile at her appearance. She reached out and gently stroked her fluffy, soft golden fur, soothing her softly. "Why be so disappointed? I am not asking you to remain trapped in the forest forever. I am merely asking you to wait for the best time."

"Do you truly yearn for the human world so much?"

The Three-Eyed Golden Lion hesitated before nodding. "A little..."

To her, Star Dou Forest was a safe and warm harbor, but it was also an unchanging cage.

The human world was a completely unfamiliar realm of the unknown. Yet it was precisely that unknown which held endless wonders and possibilities, making it far more interesting than the unchanging forests and mountains of ten thousand years.

Gu Yuena said no more. With a gentle gesture of her jade-like hand, soft divine power wrapped around Lu Yuan and the Three-Eyed Golden Lion, drawing them gently before her.

"Xiao Yuan, press your forehead against the Auspicious Beast's vertical eye."

Lu Yuan did as instructed and leaned down slightly.

A human and a beast looked into each other's eyes as the distance between them instantly narrowed.

They each stepped forward half a pace, pressing their warm foreheads tightly together.

Buzz!

A faint, strange hum sounded quietly.

Rings of warped, dreamlike silver-gold light burst from between their touching foreheads. Like a flowing river of stars, they swiftly enveloped both human and beast completely.

Lu Yuan felt a warm dizziness wash through his mind. His consciousness instantly left his body and plunged into a pure, pristine river of memories.

It was the life of the Three-Eyed Golden Lion.

In the forest, the Three-Eyed Golden Lion broke from her shell, ignorant and innocent as she stumbled through exploring the forest.

Still learning to walk, she encountered Di Tian, Bi Ji, and other Ferocious Beasts.

Carefully protected by all the Soul Beasts and revered by them all, she grew up carefree and safe in this pure land, year after peaceful year.

Meanwhile, the Three-Eyed Golden Lion, drawn into Lu Yuan's memories, fell into complete confusion.

When her consciousness entered Lu Yuan's sea of consciousness, there were no complicated memories of life, no recollections of his growth and past. There was only an empty void.

The vast sea of consciousness was utterly blank, as if the boy before her had never possessed a past.

The only thing there was the black, unfathomable Martial Soul floating at the center of that sea of consciousness: the Lord of Eclipsing Origin Flame.

The Three-Eyed Golden Lion's tiny consciousness floated in the void, staring blankly at the enormous Martial Soul phantom, her mind full of question marks.

Why was there nothing at all?

Where had Lu Yuan's past gone?

Just as she was utterly unable to make sense of it, her heart filled with confusion, the Lord of Eclipsing Origin Flame suddenly raised a longsword.

A streak of sword light flew out, and Erosion began showing the Three-Eyed Golden Lion the memories of the Fire Dragon King.

The Three-Eyed Golden Lion reflexively shut her eyes tightly, believing she was about to be attacked, her entire body tensing slightly.

But the expected harm never came.

A majestic, ancient golden stream of light that seemed to span countless ages slowly flowed along the blade and surged directly into the depths of her consciousness.

The next instant, countless vast and magnificent scenes emerged in her mind like a tidal wave!

At the summit of a sacred mountain stood the Dragon King who governed light and wisdom...

Countless dragon descendants spread their wings across the heavens, releasing deep, reverent cries as the entire land worshipped and submitted to that Dragon King!

It was the glorious age of the Dragon Clan, the era when Origin Flame burned brightest and purest.

Yet in the next moment, the scene suddenly shattered.

The First Descender appeared, defeated the Dragon King, and sealed him in ice.

The Abyss began to erode him, carving twisted marks into his slumbering consciousness.

The once compassionate and majestic Flame Lord now had nothing left in his eyes but madness and Destruction...

One grand yet tragic scene after another flashed through the Three-Eyed Golden Lion's mind.

After an unknown amount of time, the silver-gold radiance surrounding them slowly receded and dispersed.

Lu Yuan and the Three-Eyed Golden Lion shuddered at the same time, slowly opening their eyes as they awoke from the intertwining of their fates.

Lu Yuan straightened and turned to look at the little one's somewhat dazed expression. Concerned, he asked, "Auspicious Beast, are you all right?"

The Three-Eyed Golden Lion came back to herself blankly. Her eyes remained fixed on Lu Yuan, shock and disbelief surging within them.

Lu Yuan was actually the reincarnation of the Fire Dragon King!

The supreme Dragon King who commanded light and wisdom!

The one who had created the Dragon Clan's glorious golden age!

Yet at the height of his power, the Dragon King had ultimately been defeated and sealed away, then cruelly eroded by the Abyss!

So that was it!

No wonder Lu Yuan's Martial Soul was always spewing black mist! So that was it!

But... what kind of terrifying existence was the Abyss that had eroded the Dragon King?

Countless questions churned wildly through her little head.