"My lord?"
"Yes, our lord," Di Tian said frankly. "The Pure World Overlord's Leg can restore our lord to peak condition.
"Once our lord returns to that peak, humanity's reign will end, and the Douluo Continent will belong to us soul beasts once more.
"And you, Scarlet King, are the most crucial piece in restoring our lord to that peak!
"The Auspicious Beast is too important to the Star Dou Great Forest. We cannot risk sending her on this mission.
"Apart from her, you are the only one in the entire Star Dou Great Forest who has any friendship with that human brat."
"Only me?"
"Yes, only you."
After Di Tian's repeated assurances, the Scarlet King immediately chose to shoulder this important mission... or rather, volunteered for this plum assignment.
If this worked out, then never mind anything else-the Scarlet King would surely be able to eat Overlord Drumsticks to his heart's content.
After eating so many Overlord Drumsticks, going back to gnawing on other soul beasts was like chewing wax, unless they were exceptionally, exceptionally delicious.
Overlord Drumsticks had spoiled the Scarlet King's palate during this time.
"Di Tian, rest assured. I will definitely complete this mission."
"Then I shall await your good news."
Having accepted the mission, the Scarlet King headed for the outer region as quickly as he could.
Then, using the standard ability of soul beasts over two hundred thousand years old, he temporarily assumed human form.
The Scarlet King intended to enter Shrek City through the southern gate, just like any ordinary visitor.
After all, he had come to negotiate. Causing a disturbance would only make the negotiations harder.
Yet before the Scarlet King could reach Shrek City's southern gate, a golden figure blocked his path.
Though it was an illusory human silhouette made of light, it seemed as solid as if it had been cast from gold.
It merely stood there quietly, yet everything around it turned completely golden.
Dense light elements flowed through the air, radiating a pressure that made the Scarlet King's scalp prickle.
This was Mu En's external avatar.
He had already noticed something unusual, but remained uncertain, so he had sent his external avatar to investigate.
"Dragon God Douluo Mu En!" the Scarlet King exclaimed.
Mu En smiled gently. "You are the Scarlet King, the Three-Headed Scarlet Demon Mastiff ranked eighth among the Ten Great Ferocious Beasts, correct?"
"Indeed," the Scarlet King admitted openly. "Human, I am the Scarlet King."
"Scarlet King, what brings you to Shrek City?" Mu En went straight to the point. "As a ferocious beast, why have you left the Great Ferocious Land, and even the Star Dou Great Forest?"
Caught by a Limit Douluo, the Scarlet King thought quickly under pressure.
"Human, I am here to run an errand for the Auspicious Beast."
"An errand for the Auspicious Beast?"
"Yes, an errand for the Auspicious Beast." The Scarlet King mixed seven parts truth with three parts lies. "We have finished the gifts Gao Ren gave us.
"The Auspicious Beast hopes to eat Overlord Drumsticks every day."
Mu En stared at the Scarlet King for a few seconds. Finding that he did not seem to be lying, he invited him to visit the Sea God Pavilion.
"Since this is the Auspicious Beast's wish, please join us at the Sea God Pavilion for a chat, Scarlet King."
"A-Ren, come to the Sea God Pavilion with me. The Scarlet King is here," Xuan Zi said to Gao Ren, who was still busy working, as he entered the cafeteria kitchen.
"What? Who's here?" Gao Ren wondered if he had misheard.
"The Scarlet King. That big red dog with three heads."
"What's he here for?"
"He says he's running an errand for the Auspicious Beast. He wants to get some Overlord Drumsticks from you to take back." Xuan Zi felt that his wish might soon come true. "What a welcome visit! You're getting closer and closer to a Hundred Thousand Year Soul Ring, kid."
"An errand for the Auspicious Beast?" Ignoring Xuan Zi's last remark, Gao Ren felt that things were probably not that simple. "No matter how much the Scarlet King indulges her, he wouldn't make a special trip just to do this for her."
In his view, the Auspicious Beast did not have enough influence to send the Scarlet King all the way to Shrek Academy.
Though she was called the "Emperor Auspicious Beast," she was not the Star Dou Great Forest's true ruler. At most, she was a child emperor. The ones who truly held power at the forest's core were still those beast kings on the ferocious beast rankings.
"A-Ren, you aren't the Scarlet King. How do you know he wouldn't?" Xuan Zi grabbed him and, without wasting any more words, headed straight for the Sea God Pavilion.
Upon reaching the Sea God Pavilion, Gao Ren discovered that every elder who could attend had already arrived.
The moment he saw an unfamiliar face, he realized that this was the Scarlet King in human form.
Surrounded by more than five Super Douluos, the Scarlet King sat stiffly upright, a sight Gao Ren found rather funny.
Gao Ren: They actually got this many people together to put pressure on one big dog...
"Scarlet King, I trust you've been well," Xuan Zi teased. "I didn't expect us to meet again so soon. It seems my disciple's Overlord Drumsticks have won the Auspicious Beast over."
"Much as I hate to admit it, that is indeed the case."
The Scarlet King had fallen onto the back foot as soon as the negotiations began.
After all, Shrek Academy held the initiative.
For the first time, humans had gained the upper hand in negotiations with soul beasts... in the past, whenever the Star Dou Great Forest launched a beast tide, it had always been the humans who sued for peace.
"Did the Auspicious Beast ask you to pass any messages to A-Ren?" Xuan Zi believed she ought to have plenty to say to Gao Ren.
Hearing this, the Scarlet King inwardly cursed.
He had come to negotiate under the Auspicious Beast's name, not actually to run an errand for her. How could he know what she wanted to say to Gao Ren...?
"The Auspicious Beast said she wants Overlord Drumsticks so badly that she's going mad."
"And? Scarlet King, haven't you forgotten something?" Xuan Zi asked doubtfully. "Given how generous the Auspicious Beast is, surely she would send A-Ren another gift?
"Last time, she gave A-Ren a ten-thousand-year soul beast after just one meal. This time, she wants him to supply her with large quantities of Overlord Drumsticks over the long term. Surely that isn't all she said?
"Scarlet King, you wouldn't be trying to secretly pocket the gift the Auspicious Beast sent A-Ren, would you? If A-Ren meets her again later, that might cause some unnecessary misunderstandings."
"How could I? I am one of the Ten Great Ferocious Beasts! How could I do such a thing?"
Scarlet King: Fuck!
The Auspicious Beast screwed me over in the last negotiation. Who would've thought she could screw me over again without even being here!
What am I supposed to give them? Another ten-thousand-year soul beast? That bargaining chip seems a little too light...
Just as the Scarlet King was agonizing over this, Gao Ren spoke.
"As for the gift, let's wait until my next visit to the Star Dou Great Forest and have the Auspicious Beast give it to me herself."
At these words, most of the Sea God Pavilion Elders' expressions soured.
The Scarlet King, however, was overjoyed. He had never imagined Gao Ren would step forward to help him at a time like this.
"The little fellow is right! Let the Auspicious Beast give him the gift herself! A gift handed over in person is all the more precious, isn't it?"
Before you continue