Da Ming, Er Ming, and Xiao Wu all fell silent at once.
Xiao Wu spoke softly:"How many fierce beasts are there?"
"Hah, why do you need to know that much? I'll just tell you this—among the ranked fierce beasts, I'm number nine."
Da Ming's expression froze.Such terrifying strength and aura, yet she's only ranked ninth?
Then how strong must those above her be? Could there really be million-year soul beasts out there?How did they survive the tribulations of heaven's lightning?
Da Ming took a deep breath.To think he and Er Ming were praised by the soul masters outside as the Forest Emperor and Forest Overlord...
But in truth, the real masters of the Star Dou Great Forest had already retreated into its depths to live in seclusion.No wonder they had said earlier that the three of them were merely gatekeepers. Now it all made sense.
"Senior, how are you able to take human form right now?"
"It's only a temporary transformation. Once your cultivation surpasses 200,000 years, you'll be able to do it too."
Da Ming shook his head."Ten tribulations of lightning, each stronger than the last... can we really endure them?"
"You've got ancient blood in your veins—what are you afraid of?"Wang Qiu'er snorted.
T/N: Don't know why she's named her, a bit confused.
"Zi-jie, there's one more thing we need to give this rabbit."
Zi Ji raised her slender hand and passed a silver scale to Xiao Wu.
The aura of the scale was unnaturally calm—on the surface, nothing seemed out of the ordinary.
But the moment Xiao Wu accepted it, her soul beast aura vanished completely, as if erased from existence.
This was a technique of the Silver Dragon King.
Even in the world of Douluo Dalu 3, when a fierce beast took on human form, not even an Ultimate Douluo could tell the difference.
For the god-level Silver Dragon King, this was a mere trifle—hardly worth mentioning.
"Alright, Zi-jie, let's go back."
"Wait!"
Xiao Wu called out.
"You still haven't told me—what's that human's name? How do I find him?"
Wang Qiu'er tilted her head:"His name is Lin Feng. As for meeting him, fate will guide you to him. You don't need to do anything special. Just remember—among humans, he's the only one you need to trust."
"Let's go, Sister Zi. I want to lie down at the Lake of Life. The one here is already thin in vitality, and now it's become bathwater—it's kind of gross."
Zi Ji nodded slightly but suddenly paused in her mind.Bathwater?
Then what about our Lake of Life?
Is it... the Lord's bathwater?
Zi Ji shook her head quickly, brushing aside the strange thoughts creeping into her mind.
Watching Zi Ji and the Three-Eyed Golden Lion walk off, Er Ming's body and mouth were finally freed.
He looked at Da Ming with grievance.
"Big Bro, can't you give me a warning next time? That was really uncomfortable."
Da Ming replied calmly:"No. You're too hot-tempered. I couldn't let you speak or move."
"Huff—ugh—"
Er Ming sulked, pounding his chest a few times and drawing circles on the ground like a dejected child.
"Sister Xiao Wu, what do you think? Should we trust them?"
Xiao Wu slowly nodded.
"No matter what, there's hope now that Mom might be revived.
If the Auspicious Beast really has that kind of power, then she has no reason to lie to us."
Da Ming sank into the Lake of Life, leaving only his bull head above water:"The Auspicious Beast is born blessed by the heavens, a true child of destiny. She is our soul beast clan's empress.
With just 5,000 years of cultivation, she could already speak human language and possessed extraordinary intelligence. It's said she has the Eye of Destiny, capable of linking to the threads of fate connected to herself.
Being able to glimpse a corner of the future—that's not out of the question.
SIster Xiao Wu, even if they hadn't shown up just now, we had already decided where your journey would begin. The route they gave overlaps with ours almost entirely.
It's a confirmation. All you need to do is wait for this Lin Feng to appear."
Da Ming stared at the silver scale in Xiao Wu's hand, not sure if it was his imagination—
But he felt something else hidden within the scale.
That faint and terrifying pressure—it made even him uneasy.It was a suppression from bloodline alone. Even though the scale had already been refined into a simple item, it still carried such power.
To transform a single scale into a treasure that could mask a soul beast's aura so completely...
Just what kind of existence was its owner?Another mythical beast?Where did they rank?
Da Ming sank entirely into the Lake of Life.Every day it's the same. Always me dealing with everything.
And thinking about everything. Er Ming's an idiot. Sister Xiao Wu's unreliable.
Sometimes I really want to die. Why does all the crap fall to me? Just like those human soul masters say... what do they call it? "Working class?"
Sounds like a damn beast-of-burden title.
Xiao Wu looked at the silver scale in her hands, her eyes shining:
"At the very least, I got something tangible. I don't think they'd lie to me.
After all, we're all soul beasts—it's only right to help each other.
As for that soul master named Lin Feng... hmph. I don't know why Mom would thank him.
Did he play a part in her sacrifice? Just so she could be revived someday?"
Er Ming looked at Xiao Wu staring sadly at the lake. Da Ming was nowhere to be seen.
Scratching his head in frustration, Er Ming walked off.
"Two and a half years... I'll find the answers.
And as for that woman, she's definitely a bad person. She'll pay."
Xiao Wu murmured to herself, staring at the Lake of Life, lost in thought.
"Sis Xue'er, do you remember Yan Yan?
And Sister Lingyuan—hello!"
Qian Renxue and Lingyuan exchanged glances, surprised as they looked toward Lin Feng and his companion.
"Yan Yan? It's been so long! You've changed a lot, huh?"
Dugu Yan giggled and studied Qian Renxue up close:
"You're the one who's changed more, Sis Xue'er. You've become even prettier!"
Qian Renxue rubbed Dugu Yan's cheek, smiling:
"You little sweet-talker. So? Did you fulfill our agreement?"
Dugu Yan put her hands on her hips, looking proud:
"Of course! I'm now the strongest in my grade—the top of the academy!"
Qian Renxue raised an eyebrow:
"Impressive. What's your cultivation now?"
"Level 25—Grand Soul Master!"
Lingyuan covered her mouth, surprised:
"Eight years old... and already a Grand Soul Master?"
Qian Renxue, however, seemed to understand:
"Your grandfather gave you celestial herbs, didn't he?"
Dugu Yan giggled:
"Of course! Grandpa said my spirit had a flaw, and it was Brother Lin Feng's herb that fixed it.
And I could absorb a thousand-year ring as my second soul ring only because of the whale jelly Brother Lin Feng gave Grandpa."
Qian Renxue clicked her tongue:
"At this rate, probably no one at the academy can beat you."
Lin Feng chuckled:
"Not just that—when I ran into her earlier, she was standing up for a fellow student. Looked just like a bossy big sister."
"Really? Hahaha—"Qian Renxue couldn't help laughing.
Lingyuan, however, frowned slightly:
"Yan Yan, did you feel anything strange when absorbing the whale jelly?"
"Nope. Just got a little hot... and felt a bit weird in my heart."
Lingyuan let out a sigh of relief:"Then that's fine."
I was just worried you might start thinking about things you shouldn't... now that would've been serious.
T/N: For twenty chapters ahead on all my fics become a P@tron at [email protected]/LordHipposApostle