Although he had suspected it, Su Wen was still startled when he saw the bedraggled Auspicious Beast.
Its whole body of golden scales trembled, four dragon-like claws stepped on flames, pupils gold, the third eye on its brow a scarlet red. Such a creature of blessing and fortune now looked quite miserable: large patches of scales shattered, blood dyeing its back, one leg a bit lame—clearly badly wounded.
Who would dare set their sights on the Auspicious Beast?
Su Wen's face remained calm, but waves surged in his heart.
Body Sect?
No. They'd once triggered a beast tide and, after signing an agreement with Shrek Academy, those lawless guys had been keeping a low profile. Then who else?
Holy Spirit Cult…
Yan Shaozhe had just mentioned them a few days ago. Did those bastards really have the guts to target the Auspicious Beast?
Su Wen's mind raced.
"Seems likely!"
After all, soul beasts tended to have a fuzzy sense of human factions. In the original story, the Body Sect slaughtered seven 100,000-year soul beasts, and Di Tian and the others reacted slowly. Those 100,000-year beasts were killed and taken away right in the Star Dou Forest—their own turf—and instead of dealing with the culprits, they turned around and launched a beast tide at Shrek City…
If the Body Sect just patted their butts and walked away, Shrek would really be screwed.
Though it's possible Di Tian knew Shrek Academy's status in the human world and dragged them into the mess to force the goal: a human–soul beast pact.
But if these guys really abducted the Auspicious Beast, Shrek Academy would suffer a huge catastrophe.
Di Tian would very likely trigger another beast tide, then surround Shrek demanding the beast back. Shrek would be utterly baffled. The two sides would face off, then start fighting…
And there's Skydream.
Su Wen's eyes narrowed slightly.
If they really turn the Auspicious Beast into Huo Yuhao's second spirit, it could hide in his body and play dead, but Shrek Academy—and even the surrounding towns—would be awash in blood for a thousand km, corpses everywhere. They might even push Huo Yuhao to run early, leaving Shrek to clean up the mess.
After all, in the original, once the Auspicious Beast died, Di Tian launched a beast tide outright, with Shrek bearing the brunt. The Body Sect probably wouldn't come help—couldn't make it in time, or never got the word—and the other empires would be hard-pressed to respond.
What a damn useless chicken-feather mess.
Su Wen grumbled at Di Tian in his heart.
Damn it, can't even protect the Auspicious Beast, and when something happens, you come trouble Shrek…
A splitting headache.
But there's no avoiding a scoundrel like Di Tian.
Where's Elder Xuan?
Su Wen suddenly thought of that big Buddha, but he hadn't encountered him since entering the core circle.
Forget it, that one's unreliable at critical moments.
"Humans?"
The Auspicious Beast looked suspiciously at Huo Yuhao and Su Wen.
What on earth was going on? It was confused too. Weren't these two humans supposed to be together? Why had they forced Skydream to retreat instead?
"Where's the Scarlet King who's supposed to be protecting you?" Su Wen arched a brow.
"Hm?" The beast's pupils shrank.
How does he know the Scarlet King is guarding me?
"Looks like he's been pinned." Su Wen shook his head.
To suppress the Scarlet King in a short time and stop any message from being passed to the Star Dou Forest's interior—perhaps even the cult leader Zhongli Wu himself had come. For this operation, even if the Holy Spirit Cult hadn't emptied the nest, they were definitely fully prepared.
Is their target really the Auspicious Beast?
"Roar~!"
A low roar rose in the distance, the mountains trembling, flocks scattering.
It was Gale!
Su Wen turned toward the source of the sound, a grave look flashing in his eyes.
Through Gale's returned vision, several black-robed figures stood in formation, their strongest unfathomable. The instant he saw Gale, he became interested and planned to take it back for study.
From their words, they were acting on the "Cult Leader's" order: do not alert Shrek Academy. A strong expert was leading the team. Capture the Auspicious Beast and withdraw immediately. No mistakes.
Su Wen secretly exhaled in relief.
Looks like Xuan Zi is still reliable—not showing himself, but staying not far from the team. Of course, whether he could make it in time if danger struck is another matter.
"Roar~"
The roar sounded again, and Gale's massive figure appeared at Su Wen's side.
Teleported via a Poké Ball.
Speaking of a Poké Ball's wonders…
"Spatial power? No." The Auspicious Beast's golden eyes widened in amazement.
Su Wen's ghostly trick really dazzled it.
After all, space power is a mysterious thing. Across the continent, even peak experts like Limit Douluo might not grasp the slightest bit of it.
"Run for your life—if you don't go now, you won't get away!"
Skydream urged frantically in the spiritual sea.
"Those guys are all desperadoes. You can feel the killing aura on them from far away! If they catch you, they'll silence you for sure."
"Mm!"
Huo glanced at Su Wen, opened his mouth, then turned and left.
…
"Let's go. If you really get caught, even Di Tian might not be able to find you." Su Wen ignored Huo's quiet retreat and looked at the hesitant Auspicious Beast.
"Human, who exactly are you? Why do you know so much?"
Hearing Di Tian's name, the Auspicious Beast was even more surprised.
Su Wen didn't answer. He vaulted off into the distance.
Seeing this, the beast had to steel itself and follow.
…
"Auspicious Beast, so you're here…"
"Fire the signal flare!"
"What's the rush! If we catch the Auspicious Beast, it's a huge merit. We might even get the Cult Leader's reward. Why split the credit with them? I've been fed up with that Altar Master for ages."
"This…"
"Screw it! If we offend him, we offend him. Once I seize the Auspicious Beast, I'll be the Cult Leader's favorite. How could a mere Altar Master dare cause me trouble?"
"…"
As the two closed in, the Auspicious Beast's breaths made the flames around it flicker. Its eyes were full of despair and rage.
In the past, they would have been a bite apiece. But now, poison had entered its body, its limbs were growing stiff, it was staggering just to walk—let alone break through.
"Despicable humans…"
It knew what would happen if it fell into their hands. As Skydream Iceworm had said, life would be worse than death. Its eyes flickered, and it had already resolved to perish together.
Squelch!
In the next instant—
A wind blade flashed.
One black-robed head was severed, rolling a few times on the ground. The other looked in terror toward the source of the wind blade, only to be crushed into pulp by a massive figure descending from above.
"It's you?" The Auspicious Beast glanced to the side at Su Wen, who had appeared at some point. It secretly breathed a sigh of relief, then asked oddly, "Why did you save me?"
It hadn't followed Su Wen and thought the human had left it behind.
"Because I'm the damn one from Shrek Academy!" Su Wen bared his teeth, looking at the two mangled corpses, quite annoyed.
Auspicious Beast: "…"
After a long silence, it suddenly understood.
"Oh~~~~"
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