He gripped the Clear Sky Hammer tightly, his Soul Power surging wildly as he watched the Scarlet King warily. Against a Ferocious Beast of this caliber, he had no chance of winning.
But he could not simply sit and wait for death, either. He drew a deep breath, rapidly calculating ways to escape.
Yet the Scarlet King did not attack immediately. Instead, its gaze shifted to the Three-Eyed Golden Lion behind Wang Dong. Respect appeared on all three of its heads at once, and it said quietly:
"Auspicious Beast, why are you here?"
The Scarlet King had rushed after her in an emergency. Just now, for some unknown reason, the Auspicious Beast had gone crazy and run off at tremendous speed.
The Three-Eyed Golden Lion gave a low, soft growl, her voice carrying unquestionable authority.
She turned toward the Scarlet King, determination flashing in her golden eyes, seemingly conveying some information.
Shock appeared on all three of the Scarlet King's heads at once. It understood Her Highness's meaning: this human must not be killed; he carried an aura that made her feel close to him.
Moreover, the Auspicious Beast said that killing him would very likely harm the entire Star Dou Great Forest.
The Emperor Auspicious Beast was the embodiment of the Star Dou Great Forest's fortune, so her opinion naturally carried immense weight.
"How is that possible? This fellow is just a human. How could he possibly affect the Star Dou Great Forest's fortune...?"
Although puzzled, the Scarlet King did not dare defy Her Highness's wishes. All three of its heads turned toward Wang Dong, scrutinizing and sizing him up.
What exactly was so special about this human that Her Highness would defend him like this?
The Scarlet King carefully sensed Wang Dong's aura. Suddenly, its entire body shuddered, disbelief appearing on all three heads at once.
This aura... this pressure... why does it seem a little like the Master's aura? That's impossible!
Its eyes flickered as it stared fixedly at Wang Dong, its mind churning like an overturned sea.
The Master is the supreme existence of the Star Dou Great Forest. How could this human carry an aura similar to hers?
It sensed him carefully again, only to discover that although the aura was similar, it was not entirely the same. It carried a more overbearing, more primal power.
Uncertainty and suspicion filled its mind, but it did not dare act rashly.
The main issue was that it was not a dragon, and it ranked last among the Ten Great Ferocious Beasts. It had little contact with the Silver Dragon King; otherwise, it would have understood more clearly what was happening.
Wang Dong gradually came to understand as well: the other party would not hurt him. Looking at the Three-Eyed Golden Lion, he tentatively extended a hand to express goodwill.
To his surprise, the Three-Eyed Golden Lion moved closer of her own accord, rubbed her head against his palm, and gave a cheerful little growl.
Something stirred in Wang Dong's heart. He suddenly discovered that he could actually communicate with her. It was communication on a spiritual level, transmitting thoughts directly.
"Are you... the same as me?"
The Three-Eyed Golden Lion's voice rang out in his mind, carrying a trace of loneliness and longing.
"I'm so lonely. I've never had any friends. You have the same aura as me. I like you. Could you stay here and play with me?"
Wang Dong froze, then felt a wave of shock and embarrassment. The Three-Eyed Golden Lion clearly regarded him as one of her own kind.
No wonder she was so affectionate. The Emperor Auspicious Beast was simply too unique; there was only one of her on the entire continent. Although Di Tian and the others looked after her, she would still be lonely without any of her own kind.
But stay here? That was absolutely out of the question! He still had far too many things to do, and there was Huo Yuhao, too.
Besides, he certainly could not carelessly expose his Golden Dragon King Bloodline before Di Tian and the others.
The risk was too great. If those Ferocious Beasts discovered his secret, they might devour him and seize his bloodline.
The union of the Silver Dragon King and the Golden Dragon King could give rise to the Dragon God.
He drew a deep breath and began spinning his tale. "Well, I really am the same kind as you... but we're also a little different... I like you very much, too, but I can't stay here for the time being. I still have some enemies to deal with. I need strength. Once I become stronger, I'll definitely come back to see you."
The Three-Eyed Golden Lion tilted her head as she looked at him, seemingly considering his words. A moment later, she gave a cheerful little growl.
"Really? Then what help do you need? I can have the Scarlet King help you."
Joy stirred in Wang Dong's heart, but his expression remained unchanged. "I need a suitable Ten-Thousand-Year Soul Beast... preferably an old, weak, sick, or disabled one that's easier to deal with. Once I've absorbed its Soul Ring and grown stronger, I'll go back and take revenge. After that, I'll come back to find you."
The Three-Eyed Golden Lion believed him. She happily circled Wang Dong twice, then turned toward the Scarlet King and gave an authoritative little growl.
The Scarlet King fell silent for a moment before finally nodding. Its figure became a streak of scarlet light and vanished into the depths of the forest.
Watching the Scarlet King leave, Wang Dong secretly breathed a sigh of relief. His deception had worked, though even he felt a little guilty. But he had no other choice. He had to grow stronger as quickly as possible.
Before long, the Scarlet King returned. It carried an enormous Soul Beast in its mouth and tossed it in front of Wang Dong.
It was a Ten-Thousand-Year Soul Beast, grayish-brown all over, with an enormous body and thick limbs. It looked like a rabbit, but it was countless times larger than an ordinary one.
It was none other than a Violent Rabbit, and judging by its aura, it had a full thirty thousand years of cultivation.
However, this Violent Rabbit was clearly aged. Its body bore quite a few old wounds, and even its movements were somewhat sluggish.
In the Star Dou Great Forest, being asked by the Emperor Auspicious Beast to give up one's life was a blessing. These Soul Beasts were no exception. They could not refuse, nor were they willing to.
The Scarlet King gave Wang Dong a sidelong glance, grumbling inwardly without end. Their own Auspicious Beast had actually asked it personally to help this human with Soul Beast Hunting.
What a travesty.
Looking at the Violent Rabbit, Wang Dong felt a surge of delighted surprise. Though aged, a thirty-thousand-year Violent Rabbit's Soul Ring still contained immense energy.
He drew a deep breath and, without hesitation, sat down cross-legged and began absorbing the Soul Ring.
Only with strength could he protect himself. He circulated his Soul Power, guiding the Soul Ring's power into his body. The Violent Rabbit's Soul Ring became a streak of light and merged into him. An enormous surge of energy coursed through his body, battering his meridians.
The Three-Eyed Golden Lion crouched beside him, her golden eyes fixed intently on Wang Dong as she stood guard over him. Though young, she was the Emperor Auspicious Beast. Her very presence was a deterrent, keeping the surrounding Soul Beasts from daring to approach.
After an unknown amount of time, Wang Dong slowly opened his eyes and exhaled a breath of stale air. He sensed the Soul Power inside him, and a satisfied smile curled his lips.
Level forty-three! He had broken through again!
At that moment, his Soul Ring configuration was yellow, purple, black, black! Four Soul Rings, two of them over ten thousand years old-such a configuration could be called terrifying among Soul Elders.
He stood up and stretched, feeling the surging Soul Power within him as powerful confidence welled up in his heart.
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