"What!?"
At these words, all the ferocious beasts present were utterly shocked.
A moment later, Myriad Demon King frowned and pressed Di Tian. "Di Tian, is that true? Does this little fellow really have the combat strength of a 300,000-year ferocious beast?"
How could someone with only ten thousand years of cultivation possess the combat strength of a 300,000-year ferocious beast?
Even a Dark Gold Terrorclaw Bear, which possessed the Behemoth bloodline and was reputed to have the strongest attacks among soul beasts, could only rival a hundred-thousand-year soul beast at the ten-thousand-year stage.
Three hundred thousand years meant an existence that had survived two ferocious beast tribulations. Its combat strength was on an entirely different level from that of an ordinary hundred-thousand-year soul beast.
"Of course. Scarlet King can vouch for that."
Faced with Myriad Demon King's questioning, Di Tian replied calmly.
With Di Tian's confirmation, Bi Ji lightly covered her lips with her fingers, her gaze full of shock as she looked at Zeng Tian.
Zi JI also found it hard to believe, but she knew that, given Di Tian's character, he would never lie. In other words, the claim about Zeng Tian's combat strength was most likely true!
Realizing that Di Tian's words were no lie, Xiong Jun's eyes widened. Then he clutched his stomach with one hand and pointed at Scarlet King with the other, mocking him without mercy. "Scarlet King, when did you get so lame? You couldn't even deal with a ten-thousand-year soul beast?"
At Xiong Jun's words, Scarlet King's face darkened, and he couldn't help clenching his fists.
What did he mean, he had gotten so lame?
His strength had clearly grown greater than before!
If not for the overwhelming strength Xiong Jun had previously displayed, that remark alone would have been enough for him to teach Xiong Jun a lesson.
Although he didn't attack, Scarlet King folded his arms and snorted coldly. "Xiong Jun, watch your tone! I've fought Zeng Tian many times, and every match ended in a draw. His strength is the real deal.
"Or are you saying that Di Tian and I are both blind?"
"That's right, that's right! Zeng Tian trains with me every day. His strength is at least as great as Scarlet King says, if not greater."
The young Auspicious Beast nodded in agreement.
At these words, Scarlet King's expression darkened again.
You little tyrant, why did you have to stomp on me again while making your point?
Did I, Scarlet King, have no dignity at all?
Xiong Jun's gaze flickered at that, and he sneered. "Fine. In that case, brat, do you have the guts to fight me? If you can last a quarter of an hour against me, I'll acknowledge your position as successor.
"I'd like to see just what a soul beast Di Tian values so highly is capable of."
Although Xiong Jun had always opposed Di Tian and believed his decisions were wrong, he had to admit that Di Tian wasn't the sort to deceive them about something like this.
With Scarlet King and the Auspicious Beast also vouching for him, Zeng Tian's strength was most likely genuine.
This undoubtedly sparked Xiong Jun's curiosity. Even he hadn't been capable of such feats at ten thousand years, so how could that fire-attribute lesser dragon achieve them?
Bi Ji frowned. "Xiong Jun, Zeng Tian only has ten thousand years of cultivation. How could he possibly be your match? Isn't this going too far, bullying the young with your seniority?"
She knew Xiong Jun's strength better than anyone. Throughout the entire Star Dou Great Forest, he was second only to Di Tian in combat strength.
Never mind Zeng Tian, who could merely hold his own against Scarlet King-even if Scarlet King himself fought Xiong Jun, a single Dark Gold Dreadclaw could severely injure him in an instant.
Last a quarter of an hour against Xiong Jun? That was far too difficult!
Myriad Demon King remained silent, neither agreeing nor voicing any opposition.
With Di Tian and Bi Ji here, Zeng Tian will be fine even if that brute Xiong Jun gets carried away. Perhaps I can use this opportunity to see what Zeng Tian is capable of.
Myriad Demon King's gaze flickered as his eyes moved back and forth between Zeng Tian and Xiong Jun.
Clearly, he too was very curious about this fellow whom Di Tian valued so highly.
"Good." Scarlet King immediately patted Zeng Tian on the shoulder and encouraged him. "Zeng Tian, show this muscle-brained fool what you can do."
If anyone had the greatest confidence in Zeng Tian's strength, it was undoubtedly Scarlet King.
After absorbing Zeng Tian's experience and learning Flame Charge, Scarlet King's strength had improved tremendously. He was now practically on par with a Level 98 Super Douluo.
Yet even then, Zeng Tian could still fight him to a draw, which was ample proof of his formidable strength.
Although Xiong Jun was stronger than both of them, as long as he didn't use Sky-Rending Claw, Zeng Tian's speed would be more than enough to drag the fight out for a quarter of an hour.
"Since even you say so, Scarlet King, all right."
Zeng Tian sighed helplessly, then called out to Xiong Jun. "Pick a place. I've made some progress in my cultivation lately, so perhaps you can help me test my current strength."
"What! You've gotten stronger again?"
Before Xiong Jun could speak, Scarlet King cried out in shock.
In his previous fight with Zeng Tian, he had practically gone all out, yet in the end, he had only barely gained the upper hand.
Considering that he had no way to defeat Zeng Tian outright, that battle could be called a draw.
Now that Zeng Tian had improved again, didn't that mean his strength might have surpassed Scarlet King's?
After struggling for a long while, Scarlet King finally squeezed out a remark. "What a monster!"
"Hahaha! It's been so many years, and you're the first to speak to me like that. Now I'm rather looking forward to fighting you."
Meanwhile, Xiong Jun burst into laughter after hearing Zeng Tian's words.
Anyone who dared act so brazenly before him either had no brains or had genuine ability. From the looks of it, Zeng Tian seemed to be the latter.
"Let's make the forest ten li east of here our battlefield. Our fight shouldn't affect the Lake of Life there."
The Lake of Life was quite important to the Star Dou Great Forest. Even Xiong Jun had to show it some consideration, despite believing he could end the fight in a single move.
"All right!"
Zeng Tian nodded, beat his wings, and immediately lifted his feet off the ground, taking flight.
Seeing this, Xiong Jun grinned as well, his body slowly rising into the air.
"No, Zeng Tian! You can't fight him!"
Just as Zeng Tian and Xiong Jun were about to set off beyond the Lake of Life, the Three-Eyed Golden Lion suddenly spoke, bringing them both to a halt.
The Three-Eyed Golden Lion blurred into motion and instantly appeared before Zeng Tian. She tugged at him and pointed at Xiong Jun. "I know you're strong, but this fellow Xiong Jun practically loses his brain when he fights. He once even dared to challenge Di Tian. What if he gets worked up while fighting you and uses Sky-Rending Claw without knowing when to hold back?
"Why not wait until your cultivation reaches a hundred thousand years? It won't be too late to fight Xiong Jun then."
At these words, Xiong Jun immediately grew agitated.
"Auspicious Beast, what do you mean by that? I'm a mighty Dark Gold Terrorclaw Bear with four hundred and seventy thousand years of cultivation! Why would I need Sky-Rending Claw to fight a little fellow with barely more than ten thousand years?"