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Although he had already guessed, Su Wen was still taken aback when he saw the Auspice Beast in such a miserable state.
Its entire body was covered in golden scales, gleaming faintly. Its four dragon-like claws stepped on flames, golden pupils shining, and a third crimson eye burned at its forehead. Such a magnificent and auspicious creature should have been untouchable—yet at this moment, it looked utterly disheveled. Large patches of its golden scales were shattered, blood soaked its back, and one of its legs was limping badly. The injuries were clearly severe.
Who would dare target the Auspice Beast?
Though Su Wen's face remained calm, his heart was in turmoil.
Could it be the Body Sect?
No, ever since they provoked the beast tide and then signed an agreement with Shrek Academy, those lawless people had kept a very low profile. If not them, then who?
The Holy Spirit Sect? …Tch. Yan Shaozhe had just mentioned them a few days ago. Could those maniacs really have the audacity to come after the Auspice Beast?
Su Wen's thoughts turned rapidly.
"It really does look like them!"
After all, soul beasts had a blurry concept of human factions. In the original, the Body Sect killed seven hundred-thousand-year soul beasts, and even then, Di Tian and the others reacted sluggishly. Those hundred-thousand-year beasts were slaughtered and taken away in their own forest, and instead of seeking revenge directly, Di Tian led a beast tide against Shrek City…
If the Body Sect had simply patted their asses and left, Shrek would've been completely screwed.
Then again, it might have been Di Tian's ploy—knowing Shrek's importance in the human world, dragging them into the mess in order to force a human–soul beast pact.
But if these people really captured the Auspice Beast, Shrek Academy would be in dire straits.
Di Tian would likely launch another beast tide, demanding Shrek hand it over. Shrek, clueless, would be forced into a confrontation. The situation would escalate… and eventually erupt into war.
And then there was Tian Meng.
Su Wen narrowed his eyes.
That guy was trouble too. If he really turned the Auspice Beast into Huo Yuhao's second martial spirit, he could just hide inside Yuhao's body and play dead. But Shrek Academy—and the surrounding towns—would drown in blood. Corpses would litter the land. He might even coax Yuhao into fleeing, leaving Shrek to clean up the disaster.
After all, in the original, once the Auspice Beast died, Di Tian launched a beast tide in fury. Shrek bore the brunt. The Body Sect wouldn't come to help—they wouldn't make it in time, or perhaps wouldn't even care. The other empires wouldn't likely step in either.
What useless trash.
Su Wen cursed Di Tian silently.
Damn it, if you can't protect the Auspice Beast yourself, don't go dumping the mess onto Shrek later…
The thought gave him a headache.
But he couldn't simply avoid dealing with a rogue like Di Tian.
And Elder Xuan…?
Su Wen suddenly thought of that old powerhouse. But since entering the core circle, he hadn't seen him once.
Forget it. That guy couldn't be relied on in a crisis anyway.
"Humans?"
The Auspice Beast looked warily at Huo Yuhao and Su Wen.
What was going on? It was confused. These two humans didn't seem to be allies—why had they forced Tian Meng to retreat?
"Where's the Red King protecting you?" Su Wen raised an eyebrow.
"Hm?" The Auspice Beast's pupils shrank.
How did he know the Red King was protecting me?
"Looks like he's been pinned down," Su Wen muttered.
To suppress the Red King in such a short time, preventing him from sending word deeper into the Star Dou Forest… even the sect master Zhongli Wu must have come personally. If not the entire Holy Spirit Sect, they had definitely made thorough preparations for this mission.
And their true target was the Auspice Beast.
"Roar~!"
A low growl echoed from the distance. The mountains shook, birds scattered in all directions.
It was Gale!
Su Wen turned toward the sound, his gaze tightening.
Through Gale's vision, he saw multiple black-robed figures standing in formation. The strongest among them was unfathomably powerful, addressed by the others as a "Hall Master." The moment he noticed Gale, he became interested, intending to capture it for study.
But in their conversation, they clearly emphasized: "The Sect Master has ordered—do not alarm Shrek Academy. Capture the Auspice Beast and withdraw immediately, without error."
Su Wen exhaled quietly in relief.
So Elder Xuan was keeping watch after all. He hadn't shown himself, but he was nearby. Of course, whether he could actually intervene in time if things went south… that was another matter.
"Roar~!"
The growl came again. Gale's massive form appeared by Su Wen's side—summoned through the Pokéball's "transmission."
Ah yes, the wonders of the Pokéball…
"Spatial power? No… impossible." The Auspice Beast's golden eyes widened in shock.
Su Wen's mysterious ability had left it utterly stunned.
After all, spatial power was elusive and profound. Across the entire continent, even the top-tier Limit Douluo couldn't necessarily grasp a single shred of it.
"Run! If you don't leave now, you won't get another chance!"
Tian Meng frantically urged within the spiritual sea.
"Those people are madmen. Their bodies reek of murderous aura even from afar! If they catch you, they'll silence you without hesitation."
"Mm!"
Huo Yuhao glanced at Su Wen, opened his mouth to speak, but in the end turned and left without a word.
…
"Go. If you're caught, not even Di Tian might be able to find you," Su Wen told the hesitant Auspice Beast, ignoring Huo Yuhao's retreating back.
"Human… who exactly are you? Why do you know so much?"
At the mention of Di Tian, the Auspice Beast grew even more shocked.
But Su Wen didn't answer. He simply leapt away into the distance.
The Auspice Beast had no choice but to grit its teeth and follow.
…
"There it is—the Auspice Beast!"
"Quick, fire the signal flare!"
"Why rush? Catching it ourselves would be a great achievement, maybe even earn the Sect Master's reward. Why share the credit with them? I've been fed up with that Hall Master for a long time."
"This…"
"To hell with it! Offending him is nothing. Once I hand over the Auspice Beast, I'll be a favored man before the Sect Master. What can a measly Hall Master do to me then?"
"…"
As the two black-robed men closed in, the Auspice Beast's flames flickered weakly, its eyes full of despair and fury.
Once, such opponents would have been nothing more than prey it could devour in a single bite. But now, poison coursed through its body, its limbs stiffening. Even walking was difficult, let alone breaking through a siege.
"Despicable humans…"
It knew full well what awaited it if captured. Just as Tian Meng had warned, it would be a fate worse than death. Its eyes flickered coldly—it was ready to go down fighting, even if it meant mutual destruction.
"Slash!"
But in the very next moment—
A wind blade swept past.
One black-robed man's head went flying, rolling across the ground before coming to a stop. The other froze in terror, staring toward the source of the attack—only to be crushed into a pulp by a massive figure descending from the sky.
"It's you?" The Auspice Beast turned and saw Su Wen, who had appeared at some unknown moment. Relief washed over it, though it still couldn't help asking curiously: "Why did you save me?"
It had assumed Su Wen had abandoned it earlier.
"Because damn it, I'm from Shrek Academy!" Su Wen bared his teeth, glaring at the two mangled corpses in irritation.
The Auspice Beast: "…"
After a long silence, it finally seemed to understand.
"Ohhhhh~~~"
(End of Chapter)