Alone in the room, Su Chen's thoughts wandered back to the events in the Star Dou Great Forest.
It was undeniable—offending the Star Dou Great Forest was risky. Yet, Su Chen knew there was still room for negotiation.
The Tianmeng Ice Silkworm, a treasure of boundless spiritual energy, was unquestionably valuable. However, its loss likely hadn't reached the forest's bottom line.
What truly mattered to the forest were creatures like the Three-Eyed Golden Lion, a being born with innate talent and the power to alter a tribe's fate. Taking such a beast would bring inevitable retribution.
As for Bear King and Scarlet King, Su Chen thought, pinching his chin, I didn't hurt them. That counts for something, right?
The Star Dou Great Forest was pivotal to Su Chen's plans. It wasn't just the resources—it was the figures within.
The Silver Dragon King, Gu Yuena.
Half of the legendary Dragon God, her strength and talent were unparalleled. More importantly, her enmity with the God Realm made her a potential ally.
The Three-Eyed Golden Lion, the Emperor's Auspicious Beast.
With the bloodline of the Golden Dragon and the favor of the forest's destiny, its cultivation faced no bottlenecks. Upon reaching 10,000 years, it could rival a 100,000-year soul beast. Moreover, its luck aura accelerated the growth of soul beasts around it.
The combination of Gu Yuena and the Three-Eyed Golden Lion represented the last, desperate resistance of the Douluo Continent against the God Realm.
Yet Su Chen knew the tragic history: neither the Silver Dragon King nor the Emperor Beast could escape being controlled by Tang San's lineage, ultimately leading to the near-extinction of soul beasts.
But Su Chen wouldn't let that happen.
"The enemy of my enemy is my friend," Su Chen murmured, a glint of resolve in his eyes.
Whether it was Gu Yuena or the Emperor Beast, he had plans—plans that hinged on their cooperation.
Their survival wasn't just about saving the forest or resisting the God Realm. It was about reshaping the future of the Douluo Continent itself.
This time, it was a calculated move—a precautionary step to establish a presence in the Great Evil Land. Su Chen knew that waiting for the next encounter could result in disaster. Better to act now than to regret later.
However, casually mentioning the name Silver Dragon King was bound to leave Gu Yuena pondering his motives for a long time.
A faint, knowing smile appeared on Su Chen's lips.
As for Bear King and Scarlet King, who had nearly ended his life...
He hoped their punishment wouldn't be too severe.
________________________
Boom!!!
A deafening roar echoed through the Star Dou Great Forest. Two colossal figures were hurled backward, their massive forms carving out a 100-meter trench through the dense foliage. The shockwave scattered flocks of birds and sent nearby soul beasts into a frenzy.
"Agh... cough!"
Amidst the settling dust, the Dark Gold Terrorclaw Bear struggled to its feet, blood pouring from its injuries. Shaking its enormous head, it muttered in a hoarse voice, "Dragon King... I didn't know... that brat... was connected to you..."
Before it could finish, a shadow loomed over it.
Boom!
A black-scaled claw, shimmering with a dark, oppressive aura, descended like a bolt of lightning. The impact sent Bear King flying once again, its massive frame crashing into ancient trees, snapping them like twigs. Three deep gashes tore across its already battered body, exposing bone beneath blood-soaked fur.
"ARRRGH!!!"
Its anguished roar echoed through the forest, leaving a trail of blood in the air.
The Scarlet King fared no better. The once-proud Three-Headed Scarlet Devil Mastiff lay sprawled on the ground, its immense body trembling as it stared at the Black Dragon towering above it. Its six eyes reflected only fear and despair.
Crack!!!
A sickening sound filled the air as the dragon claw twisted and shattered the Red King's limbs one by one. Each fracture sent waves of excruciating pain through its body. It opened its bloody maw, trying to beg for mercy, but no words escaped—only a silent scream.
In the distance, a small golden creature shivered uncontrollably. It hid beneath the outstretched wings of the elegant Emerald Swan, tugging at her soft feathers with its tiny claws. Its wide, tearful eyes betrayed its terror.
"Auntie Bi..." the little beast whimpered, its voice trembling. "Uncle Di Tian... he's so scary. I've never seen him like this before. Bear King and Scarlet King... they look so pitiful. Can't we..."
"No."
The Emerald Swan's gaze lingered on the two fallen beasts. A trace of pity flickered in her eyes, but her voice was firm and resolute.
"This is necessary. If we don't handle this matter properly, the consequences will be catastrophic."
Her tone softened, but the weight of her words was heavy.
"It concerns the survival of all soul beasts."
Two days earlier, a wave of pure, soothing energy swept through the Star Dou Great Forest. It was unlike anything they had ever felt before—a life-giving force so potent that it even eased the long-standing injuries of the Lord.
Under the Lord's command, the fierce beasts gathered to trace the source of this miraculous energy. But when they arrived, they found only Bear King and Scarlet King, bound by an unknown force.
When the two regained consciousness, their revelation sent shockwaves through the Land of Great Danger.
The Lord's existence had been discovered.
The implications of this were staggering.
The fierce beasts knew that such knowledge could spell doom for their kind. The fragile balance between the soul beasts and the outside world now teetered on the edge of collapse.