Star Dou Great Forest, at the junction of the Mixed Zone and the Core Zone.
The air seemed to have solidified into a tangible substance. The crushing pressure made the surrounding ancient trees tremble, their trunks groaning under the invisible weight.
Beast God Di Tian's golden eyes burned with fury as he stared at Xuan Zi, who stood trapped at the center of the encirclement. The killing intent in his gaze was so thick it seemed ready to drip like blood.
"Xuan Zi! To think it's you again!"
Di Tian's voice was low and hoarse, every word ground out through clenched teeth, steeped in deep-seated hatred.
A few months ago, before the All-Continent Advanced Soul Master Academy Soul Dueling Tournament, a serious incident of Spirit Beast poaching had occurred in the Star Dou Great Forest. Di Tian had sensed the disturbance and rushed over—only to run straight into Xuan Zi, who happened to be in the forest at the time.
Back then, Xuan Zi had inexplicably taken the fall for the true culprit—Liu Yuan.
Enraged, Di Tian had beaten Xuan Zi half to death on the spot. If Xuan Zi hadn't fled fast enough, he might have died in the Star Dou Great Forest that very day.
And now—
Today, right here and now!
Di Tian could clearly smell the lingering aura of the Auspicious Beast on Xuan Zi. That scent was mixed with blood and terror—it had been stained onto him not long ago!
Old grudges and new hatred exploded together in this instant.
"Last time you escaped by luck. Instead of repenting, you doubled down! And now you even dared to lay a hand on the Auspicious Beast!"
A terrifying dark aura erupted from Di Tian's body. The Black Dragon Sword appeared in his hand out of thin air, its blade pointing straight at Xuan Zi.
"Today, even if Mu En himself comes, he won't be able to save you! I will destroy both your body and soul!"
Seeing Di Tian's expression—like a ferocious beast ready to devour him—Xuan Zi felt endless bitterness surge in his heart.
He was truly afraid.
The memory of the beating last time was still vivid. His injuries had only just healed, and now he had run straight into an even greater calamity!
This time was far worse than before. Bear King, Myriad Demon King, Scarlet King—every ranked Vicious Beast was present. This wasn't a fight; it was a death banquet!
"A misunderstanding! Beast God, this is truly a misunderstanding!"
While shielding the trembling Huo Yuhao behind him, Xuan Zi wiped the sweat from his brow and hurriedly tried to explain, his wrinkled old face twisted with anxiety.
"I—I was only passing through, trying to find a spirit ring for this child…"
"Finding a spirit ring by targeting the Auspicious Beast?!"
Bear King had long lost his patience. With his violent temper, he roared furiously, "Old thing, since you've admitted it, then die!"
"Sky-Tearing Claw!"
Boom!
The Dark Gold Dreadclaw, capable of ripping the heavens apart, slammed down without restraint, carrying world-destroying might straight toward Xuan Zi's head.
"Attack!" Di Tian commanded coldly.
The Black Dragon Sword slashed out, releasing a sword light that stretched for tens of thousands of meters.
Behind the Myriad Demon King, the Demon Eye Magic Tree surged violently, countless roots transforming into a massive cage that sealed the surrounding space.
The Scarlet King's three heads spat out blazing hellfire at the same time, completely blocking all paths of escape.
"Ao—!!!"
Screams echoed through the sky one after another.
Though Xuan Zi was a Level 98 Super Douluo, before such an overwhelming lineup, he was nothing more than a punching bag.
Even after activating his Martial Soul True Body, the colossal Taotie Divine Ox was still battered until flesh tore and blood sprayed. He had no strength to fight back at all.
"It's over… it's over…"
Huo Yuhao, tightly shielded by Xuan Zi, was pale as death. Looking at the terrifying attacks raining down, his entire body trembled uncontrollably.
In a battle of this level, even the shockwaves alone were enough to grind him into dust.
Within his sea of consciousness, the Ice Empress cursed furiously, "Idiot! Absolute idiot! I've never seen such a stupid human Titled Douluo! If he wanted to do something, he should've done it secretly—but no, he just had to provoke the Auspicious Beast! Now great, we're all getting buried with him!"
The Heavenly Dream Ice Worm wailed as well, "Yuhao, I haven't even helped you become a god yet! Are we really going to die here?"
In the outside world—
"Pfft!"
Xuan Zi spat out a massive mouthful of blood, his aura instantly collapsing.
He felt as if his internal organs were about to shatter. If this continued, he and Huo Yuhao would undoubtedly die within ten breaths.
"How can I be this unlucky?!"
Grief, rage, and regret flooded Xuan Zi's heart.
If he had known it would come to this, he would have been better off obediently staying in the Sea Gods Pavilion for secluded reflection! At least there, he wouldn't be facing certain death!
But regrets were useless now.
In this moment of despair, a trace of madness and resolve flashed through Xuan Zi's eyes.
"Ahhh! This old man will fight you to the death!"
He roared to the heavens as his withered aura suddenly surged unnaturally.
His skin turned blood-red, his entire body like a blazing furnace. He was burning his life origin, overdrawing his essence blood to exchange for a brief burst of terrifying power!
This was truly gambling with his life.
"Taotie Feast—open for me!"
Rumble—!!!
A peerless earthy-yellow light erupted outward with Xuan Zi at its center. The sheer force of it actually forced back Di Tian and the other Vicious Beasts for an instant.
Space itself tore open under that power, forming a massive spatial rift.
"Go!!!"
Xuan Zi didn't hesitate in the slightest. Without even checking the result of his attack, he grabbed Huo Yuhao and turned into a blood-red streak of light, plunging straight into the rift and vanishing without a trace.
"Trying to run?!"
Di Tian was forced back half a step. After stabilizing himself, the killing intent in his eyes grew even stronger. Black Dragon Wings unfurled from his back as he prepared to tear through space in pursuit. With his mastery over space, even fleeing into the void wouldn't save Xuan Zi!
But just as he was about to move—
"Wait! Di Tian!"
A gentle yet urgent voice rang out.
Bi Ji, who hadn't acted at all until now, suddenly lifted her head and looked toward another part of the forest—opposite to Xuan Zi's escape route. Her eyes were filled with surprise and joy.
"I sensed it! The Auspicious Beast's aura!"
She pointed urgently in that direction. "It's faint, but its vitality is recovering! It's over there—not far from here!"
"What?!"
Di Tian's foot froze midair.
He turned his head sharply, a flash of struggle passing through his golden eyes.
On one side was Xuan Zi, whom he hated to the bone and who bore both old and new grudges.
On the other side was the Auspicious Beast—its life or death tied to the very luck of the Star Dou Great Forest.
For the Beast God, there was only one possible choice.
"Consider that old thing lucky!"
Di Tian snorted coldly, glaring in the direction Xuan Zi had escaped. "I can kill him anytime. But the Auspicious Beast must not be lost!"
"Go! Move immediately!"
Before his words had even faded, Di Tian had already changed direction. He turned into a streak of black lightning and shot toward the direction Bi Ji indicated—
The place where Liu Yuan was.
Though Bear King, Myriad Demon King, Scarlet King, and the others were unwilling, they understood the priorities. With furious roars, they followed close behind.
In an instant, several terrifying auras capable of shaking heaven and earth surged forward like a raging tsunami toward that not-so-distant location!