The core region of the Great Star Dou Forest was one of the most forbidden grounds in the continent and the most famous; as more than half of the Top Ten Great Beasts of the continent resided in that region.
Five of them were equivalent to Transcendent Douluos, experts capable of causing natural disasters upon the land and the seas, and their leader was a formidable Great Beast reportedly at the level of a Limit Douluo!
The peak of mortal cultivation and the state closest to becoming a God!
With such a lineup, even the combined might of the three empires of the original continent: Heavenly Soul, Dou Ling, and Star Luo, couldn't match up to them.
There was basically no nation in the continent that would willingly venture into this region, unless they were seeking destruction.
However, perhaps, there was one legendary school that would be brave and have a powerful enough lineup that would head into the most renowned forbidden ground in the continent.
Booom!!
Numerous explosions erupted from the distance. The sheer force of the blasts sent shockwaves rippling through the air, causing even the ancient trees to groan under the pressure.
"Soul beasts! Release Shrek Academy's student!" A loud voice boomed through the forest, powerful undulations rippled through the air and pressing down soul beasts below fifty thousand years old to the ground to unconsciousness, he carried the unmistakable authority of a powerful Titled Douluo.
Dozens of figures floated on the sky, each one radiated powerful soul power undulations of an above average Titled Douluo. The ones releasing the most intimidating soul power were those at the front; Xuan Zi, Yan Shaozhe, Xian Lin'er, Qian Duo Duo, Cai Mei'er and Elder Song.
Six Transcendent Douluos and the several others standing behind them were Titled Douluos of rank 94 to 91.
Such an impressive lineup would be enough to overthrow an entire nation! Moreover, there were still a couple more Transcendent Douluos that had stayed behind in Shrek and Mu En.
Elder Xuan coldly stared down at the core region of the Great Star Dou Forest, which had less flora but its occupying around half of the region was a large lake radiating an intense aura of Life Energy—the Lake of Life.
Its crystal-clear waters shimmered with a somewhat divine radiance, pulsing gently as if the entire forest's lifeblood flowed through it. This was the very heart of the Great Star Dou Forest, where the most ancient and powerful soul beasts resided.
Suddenly, loud beastly roars echoed from the depths of the forest, shaking the heavens and the earth.
The oppressive aura of countless soul beasts surged like a tidal wave, washing over the assembled Titled Douluos from Shrek Academy.
Elder Xuan narrowed his eyes.
"They're here."
A large tear in space happened right before their eyes, like a broken mirror, causing several minor tears to appear and from the large crack of void out stepped several figures.
He was a tall man that looked strict and serious man, his long black hair had golden streaks running through it, giving him an aura of both regality and savagery. His piercing golden eyes were particularly glowing, exuding a terrifying pressure that made even Xuan Zi feel as if a mountain was pressing down on him.
Di Tian.
The Beast God had arrived.
And he wasn't alone.
Standing behind him were the rest of Great Beasts; Bi Ji, Myriad Demon King, Bear Lord, Scarlet King, and Hell Demon Dragon King. Their own Great Beast auras clashed against the Titled Douluos.
It might seem as though those from Shrek Academy had the advantage in numbers, but no.
They were in the core region of the most dangerous soul beast forest in the continent!
Ordinary hundred thousand year old soul beasts and particularly strong ten thousand year old soul beasts started reinforcing the Great Beasts, they were as strong as a Titled Douluo, and they all numbered at least a hundred!
A hundred to a dozen.
Both sides stared each other down, the air thick with tension, a single spark away from igniting into an all-out war.
The Shrek Academy forces, despite their strength, were outmatched.
It wasn't just the Great Beasts they had to contend with—it was the forest itself.
Hundreds of powerful soul beasts stood at the ready, their predatory gazes locked onto the intruding humans.
Elder Xuan snorted and took a step forward, the pressure emanating from him increased by several folds. His frail and old body started to expand and he became visibly younger, his upper clothing exploded to pieces to reveal his muscular body with golden runic tattoos all over, and nine soul rings appearing underneath his feet.
"Moooo!" A dense and thick soundwave, like a torrential wave, burst forth with a powerful aura from Elder Xuan's body.
This ferocious roar forcefully intimidated and caused the army of soul beasts in the distance to pause.
Martial Soul — Godly Taotie Bull!
Di Tian furrowed his brows, a cold glint flickered across his eyes. "The Taotie. I had once granted you mercy because the connection I once had to someone similar to your martial soul but do not think that mercy will be granted twice."
Di Tian's golden eyes gleamed with an ancient light, his gaze locking onto Elder Xuan with undisguised warning.
The air between them grew suffocating.
Elder Xuan wasn't afraid and asked with a deep voice. "Di Tian, you have kidnapped a student from Shrek Academy without any consideration of the consequences. Why have you done this?"
"Have you forgotten about the peace treaty we signed back then? You are the Beast God. Will you go against your word?!"
Di Tian laughed coldly and said, "No, I won't. I may a beast of many things, but a liar? That is something I do not do. As for the treaty, you have the audacity to talk to me about that? If your memory still serves, you should remember that there is an extremely important existence within the Great Star Dou Forest, the Three-Eyed Golden Lion!"
"The Three-Eyed Golden Lion?" Elder Xuan almost felt his heart skip a beat when he heard this name, and an ominous feeling filled his heart.
Many soul masters were unfamiliar with this name, the Three-Eyed Golden Lion, and even some of the elders within the Sea God's Pavilion didn't know about her existence.
However, Elder Xuan knew her very well, and he had seen her before with his own eyes by accident.
He understood how important the Three-Eyed Golden Lion was to the Great Star Dou Forest, and even the five Great Beasts who anchored down the forest's core region were, in practice, not as important as the Auspicious Beast!
"Something's happened to the Three-Eyed Golden Lion?" Elder Xuan asked with a tinge of incredulity. He didn't quite believe it. The Three-Eyed Golden Lion was exceptionally important to the Great Star Dou Forest, and the Great Beasts had always personally protected her.
Her status within the forest was comparable to Di Tian's, and even though her strength was nowhere near that of 100,000 year old soul beasts, her status was equivalent to that of a nation's emperor.
Elder Xuan wasn't dumb, and he quickly connected the dots. Since he specifically asked for Huo Yuhao's status, and Di Tian brought the matter of the Three-Eyed Golden Lion at the same time, there could only be one conclusion.
Huo Yuhao had done something to the Three-Eyed Golden Lion!
'Could Yuhao have hunted her down for her soul ring? No, that can't be it since Mu En had told me that Yuhao's still alive. Di Tian would've killed him on the spot if that were the case.'
"Bullshit!" A loud exclamation interrupted them. Yan Shaozhe stepped forward with an angry look on his face. "Are you insinuating that Huo Yuhao, our student, had done something to the Three-Eyed Golden Lion? If so, then you're a liar!"
Di Tian's expression darkened and the overwhelming dark aura exuding from his body intensified, pressing down on the Shrek Academy forces like an unstoppable tide. The sheer weight of his presence made even the Transcendent Douluos tense, their souls instinctively screaming at them to submit.
Yan Shaozhe gritted his teeth but stood firm. "You saw me, all of you Great Beasts! I was supposed to be protecting Yuhao when a sudden bursts of what seems to be Heavenly Tribulations when soul beasts reaches a hundred thousand years old."
The Scarlet King mocked him, saying. "Why didn't you protect him like you said so."
Yan Shaozhe snapped at him. "You soul beasts know damn well that no one should intervened in a Heavenly Tribulation! That would only spell death to both the one undergoing the tribulation and the one interfering!"
"Fortunately, Huo Yuhao had miraculously survived the Heavenly Tribulation but as I was about to retrieve him to seek medical help in our Academy.... Di Tian suddenly took him away."
Elder Xuan frowned. "Beast God Di Tian, in accordance to Yan Shaozhe's words, you took Huo Yuhao away without explanation. If he was injured, Shrek Academy would have tended to him. Do you deny his claims?"
Di Tian coldly stared at him.
"No."
"....Then will you clarify things and return Huo Yuhao to us?"
The corners of Di Tian's lips curled into a mocking smirk.
"No."
Elder Xuan exhaled deeply. "Looks like you didn't intend to end things peacefully."
Di Tian coldly laughed and said. "When you invaded the core region of the Great Star Dou Forest with an army of Titled Douluos, did you truly expect peace?"
Elder Xuan's expression remained calm, but he raised his hands and crystal-yellow flames erupted from his clenched fists. "We are here for Huo Yuhao. Nothing more."
Di Tian's smirk faded. "And I have already given you your answer."
There was a moment of silence.
Cracked!
A thunderous explosion shattered the stillness, sending shockwaves rippling through the battlefield. The air itself trembled as Elder Xuan shot forth his fist directly at Di Tian!
A titanic force erupted from his strike, his Godly Taotie Flames surging forward like a raging inferno. The sheer impact of his attack caused devastating tears of space around it.
Di Tian didn't move. His right arm was engulfed in pitch-black darkness before revealing a terrifying black-scaled dragonic arm and casually clashed against Elder Xuan's fist head-on!
BOOOOOM!
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AN: War!! Also, without meaning to, Huo Yuhao caused a war between Shrek Academy and Star Dou Forest. What's next?
Also, this day's going to suck. Why? Cause the region I'm in right now is deciding to cut off all the power for a 12hour maintenance.
It sucks bcz no internet, and it's going to be hot as well. Ah well. Time to touch water!
1/3 chapters of the week