Star Dou Great Forest.
The towering trees grew so densely that not even sunlight could penetrate them, leaving nothing but gloom within the forest.
Deep within the forest lay a small lake. Its waters were clear to the bottom, as pure as a sapphire crystal, with the breath of life rippling through them.
Within a strange space beneath the lake, a figure knelt on one knee.
He wore black robes and appeared to be in his forties. His features were handsome and resolute, and a lock of golden hair fell from his forehead along one side of his face.
"A human has entered the forest's Mixed Region. I believe his arrival caused that strange fluctuation in this golden flame just now. Go drive him away, but do not take his life."
"Perhaps this little fellow will be able to help our Soul Beast Clan someday," the Silver-White Figure said calmly.
"Yes, Lord!" Di Tian inclined his head slightly. Recalling the sight of twenty-three heavenly flames descending from the sky years ago, he felt a faint tremor in his heart.
The moment Di Tian finished speaking, he vanished, leaving only the Silver-White Figure within that strange space.
The figure's eyes opened slightly, revealing a pair of brilliant purple irises.
Meanwhile, elsewhere.
At the boundary between the outer region of Star Dou Great Forest and the Mixed Region.
What appeared before Xiao Yan was an enormous bear covered in dark golden fur. It stood over three meters tall, its black eyes filled with indifference and brutality.
This dark gold terrorclaw bear had exceptionally thick arms and shoulders as broad and imposing as a city wall. At the ends of its powerful arms were incomparably sharp, enormous dark golden claws, each over a meter long.
As it spread its thick arms, merely