"Where do you think you're going?"
Although the dragon-lion soul beast hadn't opened its mouth, a brash female voice rang directly in Zhu Ziyang's ears, filled with questioning. His expression shifted slightly as he immediately realized this was spiritual communication at a profound level — something only powerful spiritual force could achieve. At his current level, this was still beyond him. The voice was clearly directed at the large Star Radiance Unicorn, Luo Xingxiya, and he was only able to hear it due to their spiritual link.
"Sigh! Why did it have to be her!" Luo Xingxiya muttered in frustration, not bothering to respond directly.
"What kind of soul beast is that?" Zhu Ziyang asked curiously.
"She's called the Three-Eyed Golden Lion, the auspicious beast of the Star Dou Forest, also known as the Imperial Auspicious Beast," Luo Xingxiya replied.
"Auspicious beast!" Zhu Ziyang's heart trembled as he finally understood the familiarity he felt — it was another auspicious beast! The desire in his heart burned even more intensely, stirring an instinct to devour the Three-Eyed Golden Lion as if doing so would grant him immense fortune. He forced the urge down and asked, "Can you tell me more about her background?"
"Yes." Luo Xingxiya nodded. "The Three-Eyed Golden Lion was born about 8,000 years ago. Her birth shocked all the kings of the Lake of Life. The Beast God Di Tian himself personally brought her back and entrusted her to Lady Bi Ji's care. If the Beast God is the emperor of the Star Dou Forest, then she is its imperial heir. She holds immense significance. Since her birth, the cultivation speed of soul beasts has doubled, bottlenecks have halved, and more than twenty ten-thousand-year soul beasts have broken through to the hundred-thousand-year level in the past 5,000 years. Even I was affected, which allowed me to reach 50,000 years."
"Hiss..." Zhu Ziyang gasped sharply, his gaze toward the Three-Eyed Golden Lion now filled with awe and unease. He instantly understood the immense value she held for the Star Dou Forest. To humanity, she was like a walking time bomb. He had known auspicious beasts were powerful, but this level was truly terrifying.
Her existence meant the Star Dou Forest's strength was rising at an exponential rate. The number and quality of soul beasts were climbing steadily. If left unchecked, they would soon surpass the humans. The emergence of the Beast Tide already showed that soul beasts were not far behind.
If humanity wanted to stop the soul beasts from overtaking them, they'd have to eliminate the Three-Eyed Golden Lion. But the moment an auspicious beast dies, the Star Dou Forest would go berserk. Five ferocious beasts still resided within, and even worse — the king of beasts, a terrifying creature with 800,000 years of cultivation. No one in the human world could match him. Her death would bring total war. Even if humans won, it would be a pyrrhic victory. Civilization might lose nine-tenths of itself.
It was a dead-end scenario. Unless a new god emerged among humans to solve the crisis effortlessly, this standoff would only lead to eventual ruin.
Yet Zhu Ziyang suddenly realized something — it seemed like no one in the soul master world was aware of the Three-Eyed Golden Lion's existence. Even Shrek Academy, the front line against the Star Dou Forest, had shown no signs of alarm. Maybe they didn't notice her… or simply didn't understand her importance.
Zhu Ziyang rubbed his chin, thoughts spinning quickly.
"Hey, human! You dare enter the Star Dou Forest riding a Star Radiance Unicorn? Get down and accept death!" the Three-Eyed Golden Lion snapped, her voice sharp and filled with arrogance when her question received no answer. Her fury flared the moment she laid eyes on Zhu Ziyang.
Her voice was delicate yet commanding. Zhu Ziyang was startled and asked, "Wait… has she already become a hundred-thousand-year soul beast?"
"No, her cultivation is only around fifteen thousand years. But her bloodline is so strong that she can speak like a human," Luo Xingxiya explained.
"Fifteen thousand years?" Zhu Ziyang's expression shifted with a sudden wicked idea. "Can you beat her?"
"Please don't harbor such thoughts toward an auspicious beast!" Luo Xingxiya said urgently. "They're always accompanied by a beast king when they leave the core zone!"
"Beast king?!" Zhu Ziyang was startled again. He immediately ducked down against Luo Xingxiya's back, cautiously scanning their surroundings.
"Ha! Cowardly human!" The Three-Eyed Golden Lion laughed scornfully, watching his reaction with disdain. "Kneel before me, and I might spare your life."
"Show some respect, auspicious beast!" It wasn't Zhu Ziyang who responded, but Luo Xingxiya. She growled in anger, "This is the Child of Light! You can't speak to him so arrogantly!"
"Tch. So what if he's the Child of Light?" The Three-Eyed Golden Lion scoffed. As the imperial auspicious beast, she had been revered by soul beasts since birth. Aside from Di Tian and Bi Ji, she looked down on everyone!
Zhu Ziyang noticed that no beast king had emerged despite her provocation. If there was one nearby, they would have rushed out to kill him the moment he appeared. That meant… she really might have snuck out alone.
He decided to test his theory. Straightening his back, he whispered to Luo Xingxiya, "Ask her if she snuck out."
"Okay," Luo Xingxiya replied, a little confused but obedient. She called out, "You shouldn't be here. Go back to the Lake of Life!"
"I won't!" the Three-Eyed Golden Lion retorted defiantly. "I finally snuck out while Chi King was sleeping. I'm not going back so soon!"
Chi King — one of the Ten Great Ferocious Beasts, ranked eighth. A three hundred-thousand-year cultivation level Three-Headed Red Demon Mastiff. Her personal bodyguard.
Hearing that, Zhu Ziyang relaxed completely. A mischievous grin spread across his face. "Luo Xingxiya, go teach this brat who dared to offend the Child of Light a lesson."
"This..." Luo Xingxiya hesitated. "Please don't harm the auspicious beast. It's dangerous."
"Relax. We're just giving her a spanking. Nothing serious," Zhu Ziyang smiled. This brat needed to be taught a lesson — only a good beating would do.
"...Very well." Luo Xingxiya agreed after a moment of hesitation. As long as Zhu Ziyang had no murderous intent, she could fight and hold back just enough.
Without delay, Luo Xingxiya's unicorn horn glowed with golden light, launching a beam of pure light energy at the Three-Eyed Golden Lion.
"Ah! How dare you attack me!" she roared in outrage. She never expected someone to strike her in the Star Dou Forest. Flames of gold erupted from her mouth, colliding with the energy beam. The two forces canceled each other out.
Zhu Ziyang didn't plan to let Luo Xingxiya fight alone. This had to be quick — once the brat's guardians caught up, it would be too late.
He leapt from Luo Xingxiya's back, activating his Silver Right Eye. For a brief moment, the Three-Eyed Golden Lion was frozen — but only for a split second before she broke free and glared at him.
Zhu Ziyang didn't hesitate. He summoned his Martial Soul — the Heavenly Frost Holy Dragon. Frost energy burst forth and completely immobilized her again.
He landed gently before her, looking into her eyes filled with rage, fear, and humiliation. He felt quite pleased.
Since he hadn't used his soul bone skill, his soul power had only been reduced by about two-thirds. He still had energy left to teach this brat a proper lesson.
The Heavenly Frost aura froze both time and space, giving him three seconds. Three seconds to appreciate her expression… and act.
Just as he was about to make his move, Luo Xingxiya's voice echoed, "Don't go too far!"
Zhu Ziyang raised his hand and gave her a firm smack on the head. She growled in fury, but immobilized, she could only glare. Another slap followed. Her third eye was now full of tears — not just rage, but wounded pride.
One second remained.
Zhu Ziyang decided to finish and run, but his gaze lingered on that spinning vertical red eye on her forehead. On a whim, he lowered his head and pressed his own forehead to it.
That single touch triggered the unexpected.
(End of Chapter)
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