The slanting sun rose in the east.
The blazing sunlight shone through the shade of the trees onto the Three-Eyed Golden Lion.
It made its already golden scales look even more dazzling.
Watching the person before it approach step by step, it no longer felt the fear it had earlier. Instead, an inexplicable sense of security arose.
Cao Yu smiled. He had taken in every change in the Three-Eyed Golden Lion's expression just now, and of course he knew what was happening.
The Innate Soul Beast Affinity rewarded by the system did have some effect.
It was particularly effective on Soul Beasts with greater intelligence. By contrast, it did little against those that were vicious to the extreme.
For example, the Man Faced Demon Spider from earlier had already become bloodthirsty by nature, so this talent had been useless against it.
He was just about to move closer to the Three-Eyed Golden Lion.
Several figures flashed into view in midair. The one leading them had two horns on his head.
"The Bull Demon King?"
"Human, release the Auspicious Beast!"
"Little Bull, why should I?"
"You expect me to release it just because you say so? You certainly think highly of yourself!"
Hearing him call him Little Bull, Beast God Di Tian's face darkened. The Ferocious Beasts behind him struggled to suppress their laughter, and Xiong Jun's face had turned purple from the effort.
Had there not been a Limit Douluo guarding his side, with the Auspicious Beast still in their hands, Di Tian would have charged down and taught him a lesson long ago.
"As long as you release the Auspicious Beast, anything is open to negotiation."
His tone softened despite himself, and Di Tian reined in his earlier overbearing presence.
Cao Yu studied them, carefully considering what had just been said.
He felt there was plenty of room to work a deal out of this.
At this point in time, the Sky Dream Ice Silkworm probably had not escaped yet.
If he could obtain the Sky Dream Ice Silkworm now, he would not have to wait another seven years to fuse with him.
"You can trade that Ice Silkworm for the Three-Eyed Golden Lion."
"I don't know what you're talking about!"
"Do you need me to give you a hint?"
How did he know the Sky Dream Ice Silkworm had fallen into their hands?
Stormy seas churned in the hearts of the Ferocious Beasts, and they even considered killing him to silence him.
But after a glance at that Limit Douluo, they immediately abandoned the thought.
Di Tian looked extremely grim as he shouted, "Impossible! Human, name another condition."
"You said any condition was fine! Why are you going back on your word?"
"Or is the Three-Eyed Golden Lion worth less to you than that Ice Silkworm?"
"Auspicious Beast, you might as well come with me from now on. I'll make sure you feast on the finest food and drink."
After Cao Yu said this, the Three-Eyed Golden Lion on the ground grew downcast.
Could it really be as this human said? Was it worth less than that maggot in Di Tian's eyes?
The Three-Eyed Golden Lion could not help growing dejected. Seeing it like this, Di Tian was so furious that his brow nearly spasmed.
"Human, stop trying to sow discord!"
"Little Bull, I'm only telling the truth. Just say whether you'll hand him over!"
"Give me a straight answer!"
Cao Yu ignored Di Tian's fury. To him, the way Di Tian looked was utterly laughable.
He had never expected that the Beast God hailed as the foremost Ferocious Beast of the Star Dou Great Forest, Golden-Eyed Black Dragon King Di Tian, would have moments of such humiliation too.
With the Shadow Clone beside him, Cao Yu was brimming with confidence.
"Impossible. Name another condition!"
"Heh, Little Bull, I knew you'd say that."
It seemed Di Tian was dead set against handing over the Sky Dream Ice Silkworm.
But Cao Yu was in no hurry. Seven years later, the Sky Dream Ice Silkworm would definitely escape from the Star Dou Great Forest.
After all, as the protagonist of Douluo II, Huo Gua was destined to receive the Sky Dream Ice Silkworm's sacrifice as his first Soul Ring and second Martial Soul from the moment he stepped into the Star Dou Great Forest.
Huo Gua was merely a chess piece, while the one controlling the board was Tang San up in the heavens!
Tang San had also admitted to Rong Nianbing that he was playing a grand game of chess in the mortal world.
Many of Huo Gua's achievements had been brought about single-handedly by Tang San, apart from Elder Yi, that variable from another world.
With the system, did he need to fear being unable to break this game?
When the time came, he, Cao Yu, would definitely bring out a "shit-stirring stick" and throw Tang San's chessboard into chaos.
You want to play chess, Tang San? So do I. We'll see who wins in the end!
At worst, he could come back for the Sky Dream Ice Silkworm seven years later, when he could meet Elder Yi as well.
Although he had come to terms with it inwardly, Cao Yu put on a deeply troubled expression and said helplessly.
"Little Bull, since you won't trade the Ice Silkworm, I won't make things difficult for you."
"I'm not lacking anything right now, so you can owe me this favor for the time being."
"When I advance to Soul Grandmaster and Soul Elder, prepare two Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beasts to serve as my Soul Rings."
"Fine! I agree. Now release the Auspicious Beast."
At this, Di Tian finally breathed a sigh of relief. There were quite a few Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beasts in the Star Dou Great Forest.
With these powerful figures protecting him, Di Tian and the others naturally would not dare go back on their word.
But if these powerful figures left, hmph!
Cao Yu mounted the old blue ox and was just preparing to leave with everyone.
But the old man suddenly cried out, "Little Yu, come here!"
"This Man Faced Demon Spider actually has a Soul Bone!"
While they were negotiating, the old man had grown bored with nothing to do, so he had begun feeling around the Man Faced Demon Spider's body.
He had not expected this search to yield such an unexpected find, and it delighted him immensely.
A hundred-thousand-year Soul Bone!
Something like this was very difficult to buy on the market. He had never expected such a rare treasure to fall into their hands.
"Little Yu, here!"
"Grandpa, don't you need it?"
"Ah! I'm already an old bag of bones. What would I need this for?"
"Your grandpa is already old. It would be a waste for me to use it. Little Yu, keep it for later. This Soul Bone can only show its true worth with you."
"All right."
Taking it from the old man, Cao Yu only learned from the system's prompt that this was the Man Faced Demon Spider's External Soul Bone, the Eight Spider Lances!
Wasn't this the same as Tang San's?
The difference was that this Soul Bone was a hundred and nine thousand years old.
It truly was an unexpected gain. He would put it away for now and use it later.
And so Cao Yu, the old man, and their companions left the Star Dou Great Forest in satisfaction.
Only then did Di Tian and the others feel safe enough to fly down.
Di Tian stroked the Auspicious Beast's forehead. Seeing the injuries on its body, he comforted it softly.
"Little one, it was all my fault for failing to protect you this time."
"Brother Tian, let me heal it. Little Gold is badly injured right now."
"All right."
The Three-Eyed Golden Lion kept watching Cao Yu and the others as they left, lost in unknown thoughts, to the point that it had not heard what Di Tian had just said to it.
Recalling what that human had said to Di Tian earlier, the Three-Eyed Golden Lion could not help feeling sorrowful.
"Di Tian, why weren't you willing to trade that big white worm for me?"
"Was it really just as that human said?"
Di Tian froze for a moment, seemingly not expecting it to ask this question.
Only after they looked at each other for a while did Di Tian give a helpless smile.
"Little one, you're one of a kind to us. No Soul Beast is more important than you."
"But... we need that worm, and we need you even more. We cannot do without either of you."
The two looked at each other, and the light in the Three-Eyed Golden Lion's eyes dimmed. It understood what those words meant.
"All right, little one. Let's go home."
Di Tian lifted the Three-Eyed Golden Lion with his Soul Power, and the Ferocious Beasts flew toward the Core Circle of the Star Dou Great Forest.
Soon, the bustle here vanished, and the surroundings fell quiet too. Only some blood remained clinging to the grass, reflecting the sunlight.
(End of chapter)