Chosen by the Auspicious Beast? Call You Qiu'er!

Star Dou Great Forest.

The air was tense.

Bai Qian narrowed his eyes. A faint dark-gold glow spread across his spear, and the dragon eyes near its tip flickered.

Purple flames swirled around the Three-Headed Red Demon Mastiff. All six of her eyes locked on him.

Just then, the Three-Eyed Golden Lion spoke. "Uncle Scarlet King, be gentle. You'll scare them like that."

The Three-Headed Red Demon Mastiff froze. But remembering who she was dealing with, she drew in her aura and quietly retreated to the Three-Eyed Golden Lion's side.

The madness in Bai Qian's eyes faded. His aura softened again, and he smiled.

"Since neither of you means us harm, please leave."

"I'm not leaving."

The Three-Eyed Golden Lion shook her head. "I want to wait until that human wakes up and speak with him alone. Don't worry. I won't kill him."

Bai Qian frowned. "Why should I trust you?"

Thought flashed through the Three-Eyed Golden Lion's slit-pupiled eyes. Then she raised a forepaw toward the sky and said solemnly,

"I swear upon the heavenly tribulation: if I bear that human even the slightest ill will, may the next lightning tribulation destroy my soul."

The Three-Headed Red Demon Mastiff tried to stop her, but she was too late.

As the words fell, the sky seemed to respond. A faint flash of lightning flickered among the clouds, then vanished.

Bai Qian lowered his spear. The wariness on his face gave way to a hint of amusement.

This soul beast had actually sworn upon the heavenly tribulation. That was sincerity enough.

"Fine. I'll agree on my young master's behalf."

Three hours later.

Jiang Hao's seated body suddenly trembled. Five-colored light surged around him, illuminating the entire area as brightly as day.

A deep purple, like lightning frozen solid, slowly rose from beneath his feet.

It spread in circles before gathering around him into a complete Soul Ring.

Purple. A thousand-year Soul Ring!

Bai Qian's pupils contracted, and an approving smile touched his lips.

A thousand-year first Soul Ring. Across the entire continent, few could have managed that.

At the same time, Jiang Hao's Soul Power climbed steadily.

Level eleven, level twelve, level thirteen...

It finally stopped at level fourteen.

"Phew."

Jiang Hao let out a long breath and slowly opened his eyes.

A flash of silver-white lightning crossed them and was gone.

"How do you feel, young master?" Bai Qian hurried forward, concern in his voice.

Jiang Hao stretched, felt the surging Soul Power within him, and flashed his trademark Dragon King smile.

"One word: amazing!"

His gaze fell on his palm.

At a thought, an arc of silver-white lightning danced across his fingertips with a faint crackle.

"Innate Fire Spirit. You really are a treasure that appears once in a thousand years."

Jiang Hao nodded in satisfaction.

It had not only given him a powerful soul skill. It had also transformed the Five Elements Qilin's fire attribute, bringing it within a hair's breadth of the legendary Ultimate Fire.

Just as Jiang Hao was about to test his soul skill, he felt someone watching him.

He turned and saw a golden soul beast crouching nearby, her head tilted as she studied him.

Behind her stood a crimson mastiff with three heads. All six eyes stared at him, full of menace.

"Holy shit!"

Jiang Hao stumbled back. "Bai Qian, what's going on?!"

"Don't panic, young master."

Bai Qian briefly explained what had happened.

"Huh?"

Jiang Hao's expression grew increasingly strange as he listened.

If he wasn't mistaken, these two soul beasts were the Three-Eyed Golden Lion, an Auspicious Beast, and the Three-Headed Red Demon Mastiff, one of the Ten Great Ferocious Beasts.

But...

Weren't they supposed to stay in the core region?

What were they doing out here?

"Human, are you an Auspicious Beast reincarnated?"

A pleasant girl's voice sounded.

Jiang Hao looked sharply at the Three-Eyed Golden Lion. Only then did he remember that she was female.

After a moment's thought, he shook his head. "I'm human, not a soul beast."

The Three-Eyed Golden Lion's slit pupils narrowed slightly. Confusion colored her voice.

"The aura around you is clearly the auspicious aura only an Auspicious Beast possesses."

"I thought I'd finally found another of my kind, but you're actually human?"

Jiang Hao said, "...Sorry to disappoint you."

"I'm not disappointed, exactly..."

The Three-Eyed Golden Lion shook her head, thinking. "I just don't understand why a human would have the aura of an Auspicious Beast."

"Maybe I was born with it."

"I suppose so."

The Three-Eyed Golden Lion fell into thought.

Fortune was determined at birth. It was difficult to change later in life.

"Was there anything else? If not, I'll be going."

Jiang Hao stood, ready to make his escape.

This was not the time to get involved with an Emperor Auspicious Beast.

If those even stronger Ferocious Beasts found him, there was no telling whether he would make it out today.

The Three-Headed Red Demon Mastiff might look harmless now, but that was only because she was wary of Bai Qian.

The Three-Eyed Golden Lion was silent for a moment, as though choosing her words.

"I'd like to be your friend."

"Huh?"

Jiang Hao blinked, thinking he had misheard. "You want to be friends with me?"

"Is there a problem?"

The Three-Eyed Golden Lion raised her head. "In all my years, I've never met a human with fortune as pure as yours. Being near you feels good."

At that, all three of the Three-Headed Red Demon Mastiff's heads turned toward Jiang Hao.

"Your Highness, you want to be friends with a human?"

"What, can't I?"

The Three-Eyed Golden Lion glanced at her. "Do I need your permission to make a friend?"

"Of course not..."

The Three-Headed Red Demon Mastiff shook all three heads.

Jiang Hao looked into the Three-Eyed Golden Lion's clear, slit-pupiled eyes and fell silent for a few seconds.

"I suppose we could be friends..."

The Three-Eyed Golden Lion's eyes lit up, and even her tail lifted. "Really?"

"Yeah. But if we're going to be friends, you need a name, right? I can't keep calling you Three-Eyed Golden Lion. It's a mouthful."

The Three-Eyed Golden Lion tilted her head. "A name? I've never thought about one."

"Then I'll give you one."

Jiang Hao looked her over. His gaze settled on her gleaming golden fur, and he smiled. "Your fur is as golden as fallen autumn leaves. How about Qiu'er?"

"Qiu'er?"

The Three-Eyed Golden Lion looked down at her golden fur, then back up at Jiang Hao. A light sparked in her eyes.

"Qiu'er... Qiu'er... I like that name!"

She spun around twice in excitement, her tail swishing wildly.

Beside her, all three of the Three-Headed Red Demon Mastiff's heads went rigid. Her six eyes widened.

Your Highness, you're the Emperor Auspicious Beast of Star Dou Great Forest. Could you show a little dignity?

"Good. That settles it."

Jiang Hao smiled. "Qiu'er, we're friends from now on. But I have to get back to the academy. I'll visit you when I can."

"You're leaving?"

Reluctance flickered in Qiu'er's eyes, but she quickly raised her head. "All right, go on. But you have to come play with me next time!"

"Don't worry. I won't forget."

Jiang Hao waved and turned toward the edge of the forest.

Only after he had vanished into the dense woods did Qiu'er look away and glance down at her golden fur.

"Qiu'er... It does sound nice."