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The Star Dou Great Forest.
Atop an ancient tree, a man and a beast cautiously parted the dense foliage, peering down below. Countless black-robed figures swept past, looking like clusters of black dots from high above, moving swiftly into the distance as though searching for something.
The surrounding mist coiled around the giant tree, coexisting with it. Birds and beasts dwelling in the branches seemed unusually friendly toward these two uninvited guests. Perhaps it was due to Su Wen's martial soul, or maybe it was the auspicious aura of the mythical beast. The moment they pushed aside the leaves overhead, several larks settled neatly upon Su Wen's head, lying in perfect alignment. As he moved his head, their gazes shifted along with him.
The auspicious beast spat twice, revealing its head, where a few larks also lay perched.
"Why do I feel like you're more of an auspicious beast than I am?" it muttered, spitting out the leaves from its mouth and glancing at Su Wen in surprise. Apparently, it wasn't an illusion—this guy really did have a natural affinity with soul beasts.
He could even manage simple communication with them. Since the two had climbed up here, a flock of birds had been chirping noisily around them. But when he told them to quiet down, the air seemed to freeze instantly, and silence had persisted ever since.
"It's because of my martial soul's nature," Su Wen whispered, sighing in relief when he saw the black-clad men below move away without investigating the ancient tree.
The situation was grim. He and the auspicious beast had been cautiously avoiding capture along the way, yet somehow circled back to their starting point. The forest felt like a vast maze, radiating an ominous aura at every turn.
It was probably some secret technique of the Holy Spirit Church. And since even that old monster Zhongli Wu had come personally, it was clear they were determined to succeed.
"…"
Su Wen glanced at the dazed look on the auspicious beast's face.
If they grew closer later, and true danger arose, he could always stuff her into the Spirit Ball. That space seemed like another dimension, isolating all external detection. Just like how in the original story Huo Yuhao had hidden within the Sun Moon Empire while waging guerrilla battles. The difference was, Su Wen's Spirit Ball could also contain himself—marking the original spot and returning him right where he'd entered.
But that only worked once trust was established. Otherwise, if he were mistaken for a trickster like Tianmeng trying to abduct her, things would turn very awkward.
The young miss of a divine beast might be a hopeless romantic, but she wasn't a fool.
Meanwhile, the Ice Emperor stayed near the senior sister's team from the academy, relaying information whenever necessary. The Holy Spirit Church seemed wary of Xuanzi's presence and likely avoided the academy when deploying their secret technique. This "space" seemed to coexist with the real one but not overlap. For example, when Zhang Lexuan had passed through the same location Su Wen had just been in, she saw nothing of him.
No one knew when exactly he had stumbled into this space—but it was a stroke of fortune that he did.
Su Wen couldn't help but sigh.
Otherwise, the auspicious beast would have already been spirited away in silence.
Damn the Holy Spirit Church.
They eat the meat without inviting me, yet leave me to shoulder all the blame.
"Dammit," Su Wen muttered angrily.
"You hate these black-robed humans that much?" the auspicious beast asked curiously.
"If you were to disappear, Di Tian would fly into a rage, and Shrek Academy would be the ones to suffer. Still, these people are formidable—where did they even get such a twisted secret art? Could it be that so-called Saint Monarch really has some skill?" Su Wen murmured.
The beast tilted its head, the larks on top mimicking the motion. Su Wen's mysterious presence had already piqued its curiosity, especially since humans—described by Di Tian as evil creatures—were now standing right before it.
This was the first time it had ever been so close.
"Are there many factions in your human world?"
"Aren't soul beasts the same? The Extreme North, the Evil Demon Forest, the Star Dou Great Forest, the Sea Clan… countless territories, countless clans," Su Wen cast it a surprised look.
"Beyond the Star Dou Great Forest, it's that vast?" The beast's golden eyes shone with yearning.
It had lived within this forest since birth. For tens of thousands of years, life had been monotonous, endlessly repetitive, day after day.
But as the auspicious beast, it bore the fortune of the forest and even the entire soul beast race. With Di Tian's constant reminders that humans were wicked and treacherous, it had always carried a natural fear of the outside world. Yet today, something within seemed to crack.
Su Wen stiffened, his throat tightening.
Did I just mess up?
He quickly turned toward the beast, his expression serious. "Did I say something just now?"
The beast blinked blankly. "You said outside the Star Dou Great Forest there's…"
"I said nothing! You must have misheard!" Su Wen declared righteously.
Its golden eyes widened. "You clearly said there's a vast world beyond the forest, even urged me to go see it for myself, trying to lure me away from the Star Dou Great Forest…"
Su Wen: "…"
A sly gleam flashed in the beast's eyes.
"But if you can take me out of here, then when Di Tian asks, it won't have anything to do with you."
Su Wen was speechless for a moment, then snapped irritably.
"Take you out of the Star Dou Great Forest? Let's deal with our current predicament first before worrying about nonsense like that."
"With you here, we'll be fine," the beast said lazily, toying with the leaves.
"Hm?" Su Wen arched a brow.
"I am the auspicious beast, the forest's symbol of fortune. Unless I willingly seek death, no matter how hard they try, they won't capture me. Every time I've faced danger before, I've escaped easily. This time, the one destined to save me must be you," it said calmly.
"…"
Su Wen fell silent.
That might actually be true.
Carrying such immense destiny, even death would be hard to achieve.
"But your fear earlier didn't seem like an act. You even looked ready to perish together," Su Wen said with suspicion.
"I fooled even you, didn't I?" The beast's tone suddenly grew light, carrying the satisfaction of a successful prank. "In truth, I don't hate them. I might even like them a little. After all, they stirred my otherwise dull life. It would be far too boring otherwise. I was only playing along with them, getting into my role convincingly…"
"I just don't want to keep living this tedious existence. This place is suffocating. Even when I sneak beyond the core areas, Di Tian always drags me back, terrified I'll get hurt. But I don't want that life…"
"Even if I leave the forest and their protection, I won't die."
The beast drooped its head again, pouring its heart out to Su Wen.
One of the fluffy larks beside them chirped in sympathy, pecking gently at the beast's head.
"I can't take you away," Su Wen finally said after a long silence.
"But you can leave on your own."
"They'd never let me leave…" the beast fretted.
"They will," Su Wen replied firmly.
The beast suddenly turned to him, only to see him nod solemnly.
"Trust me, they will."
"Then… when I go back, I'll try?" its eyes lit up with joy.
"Good. When you escape, come give me the good news." Su Wen caught a red fruit offered by a whirlwind hanging upside down from somewhere above, wiped it clean, bit into it, and then tossed another to the beast.
"Mhm."
Its golden eyes flickered, as though deep in thought.
(End of Chapter)