When the divine beast was born, the entire Star Dou Great Forest was bathed in a golden hue, signifying the birth of a new power.
All soul beasts over 100,000 years old instinctively headed toward the southeastern part of the forest. Normally, such a gathering would lead to fierce territorial conflicts, but today was different—this was a sacred occasion.
Gigantic beasts roamed silently, some known to mankind, while others remained hidden in legend. Never before had so many ancient soul beasts assembled in this forest, all to witness the birth of a creature said to embody the very spirit of their kind.
A solemn atmosphere filled the clearing, as countless creatures gathered to watch a small golden beast emerge from its shell. The scene resembled a grand, reverent ceremony.
In the best vantage point stood the most powerful of the forest's beasts.
A handsome man with an air of majesty stood at the forefront, his expression a mix of joy and fervor. To his right sat a colossal black tiger.
The Tiger King, An Yun, had recently given birth to her only cub and was gazing affectionately at the wobbly golden beast, her amethyst-like eyes radiating maternal warmth.
Beside her, Bi Ji leaned against the giant tiger's forelimb, smiling softly. "Ah, the divine beast is just too adorable," she whispered in admiration.
Even Wan Yao Wang, usually exuding an air of menace, seemed to show a hint of gentleness. Yet beneath the gentleness lay ambition in his emerald-green eyes.
In the rear stood Chi Wang, eagerly craning his three heads forward, his wagging tail making him resemble an oversized, silly dog.
Next to him, the Fox King glanced at him disdainfully before turning his head back, his elongated fox face showing a mix of anticipation and respect. Still, a trace of cunning flickered in his eyes, vanishing as quickly as it appeared.
As for Xiong Jun, he wore a scheming expression that contradicted his bear-like nature. Though no one knew what he was plotting, his small, beady eyes seemed to say, "I must find a way to benefit from the divine beast."
Among the fierce beasts, it was clear who was cunning and who was simple-minded.
For soul beasts of lower cultivation, the birth of the divine beast evoked only reverence and joy. However, for these top-tier beasts, each had their own calculations.
Suddenly, the Tiger King's expression changed. She spoke softly, "Something's wrong. The divine beast is afraid."
The newly-hatched golden creature began growling anxiously shortly after emerging from its shell—a highly unusual behavior.
Emperor Tian narrowed his dazzling golden eyes, his expression turning grim. "The divine beast can sense fate and impending danger. It wouldn't fear other soul beasts... Could there be humans lurking nearby?"
"Di Tian, do you think the celestial phenomenon attracted those humans under the Angel God's command?" Wan Yao Wang speculated in a low voice.
Among the strongest beings of the time, besides Di Tian, only the two 99th-level Limit Douluos from the Spirit Hall and Sea God Island posed a real threat.
A dark aura surrounded Di Tian as he considered the possibility.
In an instant, darkness surged like a tidal wave, and a violet-black dragon's head materialized behind him, silently roaring toward the sky.
The oppressive force caused weaker soul beasts to tremble uncontrollably.
Even Xiong Jun flinched, glancing cautiously at Di Tian. Only after confirming that the pressure wasn't directed at him did he relax. Yet, whether he had truly abandoned his schemes remained a mystery.
Strangely, the divine beast seemed completely unaffected by the overwhelming pressure, continuing to rest peacefully.
Despite their fears, none of the lurking human experts revealed themselves under Di Tian's oppressive aura.
"What exactly did the divine beast sense?" Bi Ji clenched a tuft of fur on An Yun's forelimb nervously. "It shattered its own eggshell..."
"Is there something special about eggshells for egg laying soul beasts?" An Yun asked, puzzled, her ears twitching.
"For egg-laying soul beasts, eggshells not only protect the young but also contain energy that the hatchling can absorb," Bi Ji explained softly.
"In some of the most powerful species, the eggshell even contains inherited memories. It serves as the first nourishment for the newborn. If the mother isn't present, the energy from the shell can sustain the young until they are strong enough to survive on their own," she added with a bitter smile. "By not consuming the shell, the divine beast may face some hidden issues."
"I see," An Yun nodded thoughtfully. Despite her long life, she had never paid attention to the birthing process of other species.
The black tiger frowned deeply. "It's troubling that the divine beast feels threatened, yet we can't identify the source of the danger," An Yun muttered in frustration.
Before she could continue, her body tensed suddenly. Her fur stood on end, and a low, warning growl escaped her throat as she scanned her surroundings warily.
"What is it?" Bi Ji tensed up.
"Someone is watching us," the tiger said tersely, her voice taut with tension, like a drawn bow.
She sensed a probing gaze, distant yet laced with malice. If she hadn't been on high alert, she might have overlooked it.
Hearing this, Wan Yao Wang frowned deeply, while Xiong Jun openly glared at the surrounding soul beasts, as if trying to find the culprit among them.
Di Tian, whose expression had already been grim, now looked utterly stormy, as though it could drip with menace.
"I…" Bi Ji faltered, sensing nothing herself.
She looked at the others, bewildered by the heavy atmosphere.
"It's normal for your kind not to notice," An Yun explained in a low voice. "You aren't as attuned to battle as we are."
Compared to the top fighters of the Star Dou Forest, beings like Bi Ji, who thrived on heavenly treasures, naturally lacked the same level of combat intuition.
Di Tian lifted his gaze, staring through layers of foliage at the clear, gem-like sky above.
The cloudless sky gave no hint of disturbance, yet a shadow flitted through his golden dragon eyes.
As the supreme being of this world, no one could harm the sacred beast as long as Di Tian stood guard over the Star Dou Forest.
Even those at the pinnacle—whether from Sea God Island or Spirit Hall, with their divine connections—could do nothing to him.
Therefore, the invisible threat sensed by the sacred beast, and the bold, almost blatant act of surveillance, could only come from one place.
The God Realm.
"I must leave briefly," Di Tian said gravely. "An Yun, I entrust the sacred beast to you."
With that, he soared into the sky, transforming into a black dragon and flying off into the distance.
The God Realm might have chosen this moment to investigate the lower realm because of the sacred beast. If his suspicions were correct, the sacred beast carried an extremely pure, high-level dragon bloodline.
Alternatively, it might have been pure coincidence—but Di Tian couldn't afford to take that risk. Hidden beneath the Lake of Life lay the last hope of the dragon race, the sovereign of all soul beasts on the continent—Silver Dragon King.
The Silver Dragon King was hiding beneath Star Dou Forest, and it must not be discovered by the divine realm.
He had to inform the master immediately.
Almost instinctively, Di Tian considered using spatial movement to return to the Lake of Life, but he quickly dismissed the idea.
The divine realm should still be unaware of the Silver Dragon King's hiding place, but as the Dragon God's personal guard and the leader of the Black Dragon Clan, Di Tian's presence was known in the divine realm.
The investigation had come unexpectedly, and had it not been for the auspicious beast sensing something, Di Tian himself might not have detected it either. If he returned directly to the Lake of Life, he would inadvertently expose the Silver Dragon King's location.
After the fall of the dragon race, the divine realm had suppressed them to this extent… A burning rage surged in Di Tian's heart, but he forced it down.
Once the master recovered, the Dragon God's return would be imminent.
And the dragon race would regain its former glory with the return of the Dragon God.
With a powerful flap of his wings, Di Tian flew toward the direction far from Star Dou Forest.
...
After a long while, the Tiger Queen Dark Cloud felt the unpleasant sensation of being watched disappear, and she finally breathed a sigh of relief.
The massive black tiger stepped forward, carefully picking up the little King Rui, who was snoring softly in a puddle of dried slime, and placed it between her forelegs. She gently licked the golden fur, tucking the cub under her belly.
"Alright, everyone." An Yun turned toward the many 100,000-year soul beasts, who had become restless due to Di Tian's sudden departure. "The Beast God has entrusted the care of the auspicious beast to me for now. Since the cub is still small, if anyone is interested, you may visit the Lake of Life to meet it in the future."
"Now, please go back," An Yun said coldly.
But her tiger eyes clearly conveyed the message: "Go about your business, don't disturb the auspicious beast."
"Wait!" The Bear Lord suddenly spoke up. "It might not be suitable for the Tiger Queen to raise the auspicious beast!"
(End of Chapter)