Three-Eyed Golden Lion?!

Several thick vines crept closer like venomous snakes, then suddenly burst out of the ground, binding the Shadow Mantis's legs tight and rapidly winding up its limbs.

Whoosh-

The Shadow Mantis swung its pair of sharp scythe blades, hacking viciously into the vines and slicing through a long section. Sticky sap kept seeping from the severed ends.

But there were far too many vines. Cutting a few did nothing; fresh vines immediately wound around it from behind, locking down its scythe-like forelimbs while tightening their grip.

"Hiss!!"

The Shadow Mantis let out a desperate screech before being trussed up like a rice dumpling and dragged toward the forest's outskirts.

Zhu Zhuqing looked at the wildly struggling Shadow Mantis on the ground, with only its head exposed, and did not hesitate.

"Cut!"

A flash of white light swept past, severing the Shadow Mantis's head. Only after another long wait did a purple Soul Ring float out of its corpse.

Chen Yang withdrew the Blue Silver Vines and poked through the corpse. Seeing no Soul Bone, he finally spoke to Zhu Zhuqing, who was waiting nearby.

"Zhu Zhuqing, hurry and absorb it."

"Mm."

Zhu Zhuqing sat cross-legged and activated Martial Soul Possession, guiding the Soul Ring onto the Hell Spirit Cat.

"Aagh!"

The violent Soul Power within the Soul Ring suddenly surged into her meridians, rampaging through every limb and bone. Agonizing pain instantly swept through her entire body.

She clenched her teeth and made no further sound. A dense layer of cold sweat broke out across her forehead, dripping steadily down her cheeks.

Chen Yang shook his head. If it hurts, just cry out. There's no one else here. After taking Zhu Zhuqing into the Master Ball, he turned to Ning Rongrong.

"Let's go. It's time to find your Soul Beast."

"Huh? Mine? Maybe I should just choose an ordinary Soul Ring... Zhu Zhuqing looked like she was in so much pain... I'm a little scared."

Ning Rongrong shrank back, fidgeting awkwardly with her fingers. She was only a support Soul Master; there was no need for her to risk her life.

This meant absorbing a Soul Ring beyond her age limit. Even a cultivation fanatic like Zhu Zhuqing had screamed in pain. Wouldn't she pass out from the agony if it were her?

At the thought, she shuddered all over.

"Relax. You won't die."

Ignoring Ning Rongrong's struggles, Chen Yang took her by the arm and headed deeper into the Star Dou Forest. Meanwhile, his Blue Silver Domain concealed them as he searched for a suitable Soul Beast.

Only after searching for nearly half an hour did Chen Yang discover a herd of Spirit Treasure Deer drinking beside a lake nestled among pristine mountains and waters.

He immediately activated his Blue Silver Martial Soul, using the same entangling method that had bound the Shadow Mantis to precisely snare a Spirit Treasure Deer with over twenty-three hundred years of cultivation and drag it before him.

The rest of the herd scattered in terror, assuming they had trespassed into the territory of an exceptionally powerful plant-type Soul Beast. They did not dare linger for even a moment.

"All right. Kill it and absorb its Soul Ring."

Ning Rongrong crouched down and looked into the Spirit Treasure Deer's frightened eyes, unable to quite bring herself to do it.

"Little deer, don't blame me. I'm actually just as scared as you are. Cut!"

Whoosh-

A white slash flashed past, abruptly cutting off the Spirit Treasure Deer's mournful cry. A purple Soul Ring floated in midair.

"Master, you have to protect me! If I'm about to explode, stop me in time!"

Ning Rongrong swallowed, her legs trembling a little.

"Yes, yes, yes. I'll make sure you don't die. Happy now?"

With that assurance, Ning Rongrong steeled herself and plopped down on the grass under Chen Yang's speechless gaze, beginning to absorb the Soul Ring.

Who could have known that the moment the Soul Ring settled onto the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda, Ning Rongrong would scream like a pig being slaughtered?

"Aaaah!! Master, save me! It hurts! I'm going to die!"

Her piercing voice stabbed painfully at Chen Yang's eardrums. Covering one ear with a hand, he used the other to take her straight into the ball.

"Whew-peace at last."

Chen Yang looked at the headless stag on the ground and promptly tossed it into the Distortion World, planning to stew it to give himself a boost.

Rustle, rustle-

A rustling sound came from the bushes not far away.

Hmm?

A Soul Beast actually managed to evade the Blue Silver Domain's detection? Something's strange. It might be a big one skilled at concealment and assassination.

Chen Yang narrowed his eyes and quickly switched the target of his third Soul Skill, equipping Yveltal's skill panel.

With its rebirth mechanism, he could survive even if danger struck before he could reclaim the Distortion World.

"Come out, Titan Giant Ape, Sky Azure Bull Python, Yveltal!"

Three beams of white light shot out in succession, and terrifying Soul Beast pressure swiftly suppressed the surroundings.

"Roar!!"

"Moo!!"

"Yaa!!"

Chen Yang jumped onto Yveltal's back, his eyes fixed on the bushes.

Rustle-rustle-

The bushes shook more violently, and then an adorable, fluffy head poked out.

Thick, brilliant golden fur covered her head, each strand as translucent as crystal and shimmering in the sunlight. A strange, crimson vertical eye sat in the middle of her forehead.

*???*

"What Soul Beast is this? It can actually evade the Blue Silver Domain's detection?"

Chen Yang looked questioningly at Da Ming and Er Ming.

Only then did he notice that both of them were completely rigid, not daring to so much as breathe heavily.

The Sky Azure Bull Python's enormous body had gone ramrod straight. The Titan Giant Ape, Er Ming, was frozen in place, deliberately softening even his breathing and not daring to pant aloud.

Er Ming hastily covered his mouth with his thick palm, quietly turned his head, and lowered his voice, afraid of frightening her:

"Chen Yang, I may want a fight, but this is Star Dou's Auspicious Beast. You absolutely mustn't touch her. You can't hit her, not even once!"

Auspicious Beast? The Three-Eyed Golden Lion?

Chen Yang tilted his head, his mind full of question marks.

Wait, did she even exist during Douluo I??

Working backward along the timeline of Peerless Tang Sect, Douluo I and Douluo II were a full ten thousand years apart. This Auspicious Beast had exactly fifteen thousand years of cultivation when Huo Yuhao appeared. By that calculation, she should not even have been born yet at this point in Douluo I.

Hiss...

If this is real, those ferocious beasts wouldn't let the Auspicious Beast run around alone, would they?

Should I make a run for it now? I feel like even my three strongest Soul Beasts combined couldn't beat Di Tian.

Just as Chen Yang was about to use Fly to flee, the Three-Eyed Golden Lion seemed to catch some enticing scent and charged straight toward him with light, lively steps.

Chen Yang paused in the middle of his escape preparations. He seemed able to sense her happiness, and she seemed especially gentle.

Wherever the Three-Eyed Golden Lion ran, withered grass turned green and wildflowers bloomed one after another. An incredibly rich aura of life spread in every direction.

"Awoo~"

A soft, childish animal cry rang out as the Three-Eyed Golden Lion climbed up Da Ming's thick bull tail.

The Sky Azure Bull Python's entire body went rigid. He did not dare move at all and could only stare at her nervously with his wide bovine eyes.

A moment later, she reached the top of Da Ming's head. Her hind legs pushed off hard, and she leaped straight into Chen Yang's arms, affectionately nuzzling her fluffy, gilded head against his chest.

Chen Yang froze on the spot, his face utterly bewildered.

"Uh... what's going on?"

"Awoo~ awoo~"

After rubbing against him for a while, the Three-Eyed Golden Lion nudged Chen Yang's right hand with her head.

"Do you want me to pet you?"

Chen Yang raised his hand and gently stroked the back of her neck, following the lay of her long, gilded fur.

"Awoo~"

She lightly nipped Chen Yang's palm, then persistently nudged his hand with her head again.

"Not petting, then? Is it my Master Ball Martial Soul?"

"Awoo!"

The Three-Eyed Golden Lion nodded vigorously, her clear, gemlike golden eyes fixed on Chen Yang's, brimming with anticipation.