"Le Xuan, Xiaotao, you've returned just in time."
Cai Meier arrived at the Sea God Lake shore, but her expression quickly changed after her gaze swept over everyone.
"Why is it just you all? What happened to Wang Dong'er? Why haven't the other elders of the Academy returned?"
Zhang Lexuan glanced at the people behind her, then stepped forward and began to tell Cai Meier about what had happened during their participation in the Elite Competition.
The Sun Moon Empire had surrounded Mingdu to trap the teams participating in the Elite Competition, so almost no news had come out of the Sun Moon Empire. This was the first time Cai Meier had heard about the Elite Competition.
"So that's what happened." Cai Meier nodded slightly as she listened. "Where is Wang Nan? Didn't he go to the Sun Moon Empire to find you all?"
"He…" Zhang Lexuan paused. "We returned together, but he said he had something else to do and needed to go to the Star Dou Great Forest."
"He went to the Star Dou Great Forest alone?"
"Dean Cai, don't worry, he'll be fine."
As Zhang Lexuan spoke, she remembered Wang Nan's previous performance. Perhaps, apart from those Vicious Beasts, no danger in the Star Dou Great Forest could threaten him now.
"Alright, you've all had a difficult journey. Go and get some good rest first. Send Wang Dong'er to Old Zhuang so he can take a look. Le Xuan, you and Xiaotao, please wait a moment."
Although Huo Yuhao and his group weren't participating in the Elite Competition for the first time, the previous competition was far less "exciting" than this one. Upon returning to Shrek Academy, the relief brought a sense of exhaustion.
"Did something happen at the Academy?" Ma Xiaotao grew up beside Yan Shaozhe and Cai Meier. She had noticed Cai Meier's unusual expression earlier and quickly spoke after Huo Yuhao and his group left.
"Alas, it's not something within the Academy. News came from the Tianhun Empire that there's been a Spirit Beast riot around the Sunset Forest, and several surrounding towns have already been attacked."
"Why would a Spirit Beast riot suddenly occur for no reason?"
"The specific reason is unknown. I've already asked Dean Immortal Lin'er of the Soul Guidance System to take people there to investigate. We don't know the results yet, but I'm worried there might be other unforeseen changes in the Sunset Forest."
"Dean Cai, Xiaotao and I will go and take a look too."
"That's what I was thinking. The other elders of the Academy haven't returned yet, and the Academy can't be left unattended. So I'll trouble you both to make another trip."
…
Meanwhile, in the Star Dou Great Forest, Wang Nan's figure was darting towards the Life Lake in the core area. The "Great Ominous Place" in the Spirit Master's mouth was a place where Wang Nan could come and go freely, not much different from other places.
With a single step, his figure appeared dozens of meters away. Along the way, he saw many Spirit Masters who had come here to obtain spirit rings, cautiously exploring deeper.
However, he only glanced at them and no longer paid attention. As he delved deeper, a gaze from the shadows spread towards him.
Golden light lit up in Wang Nan's eyes. Following that gaze, a three-headed lion-shaped Spirit Beast was watching him from deep within the forest.
When the Red King saw that the newcomer was Wang Nan, its three heads nodded slightly, and six streams of hot air spewed from its nostrils before it withdrew its gaze.
Beside the Life Lake, the Three-Eyed Golden Lion had reverted to its Spirit Beast form and was lying there. Suddenly, as if sensing something, it abruptly lifted its head and looked towards the depths of the trees. A moment later, Wang Nan's figure appeared there.
"Why are you the only one here?"
"That one and Ditian are still in the Dragon Valley. I still carry the power of Luck, so I returned early."
Wang Nan nodded at the words. "What exactly happened at Qiankun Asking Love Valley?"
"Qiankun Asking Love Valley?" The Three-Eyed Golden Lion repeated, then quickly reacted. "You're talking about the place that connects to the God Realm, right? That one said that the connection between the God Realm and this World has been severed."
The area beside the Life Lake was silent for a moment, with only the surrounding trees rustling in the wind.
"The God Realm severed? Is that what you mean, as I understand it?"
The Three-Eyed Golden Lion stood up, shaking its golden fur. The golden scales beneath its fur shimmered in the sunlight.
It paced over to Wang Nan, its three eyes looking at him. "It should be what you're thinking. The God Realm connects to many Worlds, but now, this World can no longer feel the aura of the God Realm. Similarly, the God Realm can no longer understand what happens in this World."
Immediately, Wang Nan instantly understood why he could no longer feel the Dragon God's aura in the dragon god's tear, and he also understood why Wang Dong'er had fallen unconscious.
To be precise, Wang Dong'er was not a "complete" person; her Soul was divided into two parts. One part was the current Wang Dong'er, and the other part was in the God Realm. If the Three-Eyed Golden Lion's destiny hadn't been changed, she would have had to split off another part.
Now that the connection between the God Realm and the Douluo Continent had been severed, the "half" Wang Dong'er naturally fell into a coma.
"Was it the Silver Dragon King who did it?"
"Although it's related to that one, only the Divinity who controls the God Realm Central Hub can actively sever the connection between the God Realm and other Worlds."
The Divinity who controls the God Realm Central Hub, that would be…
Wang Nan subconsciously looked up, but there was nothing above his head except a clear blue sky. For a moment, he even felt that the sky above him was much clearer.
"So, what does the Silver Dragon King plan to do?"
"I don't know either. She's currently in the Dragon Valley trying to pinpoint the location of the God Realm, but I don't know when she'll be able to do it."
Having understood the ins and outs of Qiankun Asking Love Valley, Wang Nan's mind was filled with thoughts, but for a moment, he didn't know what he could specifically do.
"Then now, your power…"
"My power has returned. Now I can see many things again." The Three-Eyed Golden Lion shook its head, walked in a circle around Wang Nan. "Thank you."
"There's no need to be so polite. Actually, I didn't do too much, and I also received many benefits from the Dragon God. I won't stay long. Now that I know about Qiankun Asking Love Valley, I should go back."
"Oh, by the way, that one said you can come here anytime you want in the future, and the Dragon God's previous agreement with you is still valid."
The Dragon God's agreement?
Wang Nan thought about it. It seemed that besides the events at the time, the Dragon God had indeed said that he could visit the Dragon Valley again when he reached level ninety. Now, he wasn't too far from level ninety.
"Okay, I understand."
Watching Wang Nan's retreating figure, the Three-Eyed Golden Lion's eyes flickered with light. Only it knew that the trajectory of destiny was elusive, and deliberately seeking it would only lead to being toyed with by fate. But the moment Wang Nan appeared, its predetermined destiny had already changed.
The third eye on its forehead bloomed with brilliant light. In the Three-Eyed Golden Lion's vision, the entire World turned black and white. The next moment, a white light representing "good Luck" fell upon Wang Nan.