"Where did it go wrong?"
Tang San walked down the empty corridor, heading wretchedly toward Clear Sky Academy's rest area, frowning in thought.
Er Ming followed, doing his bodyguard's duty, but his eyes held some sadness. Being called a traitor by the Lord, the Soul Beast Sovereign—how much psychic damage was that to a soul beast weighing thousands of tons?
But he and his brother were soul beasts by origin. Hard-won official posts in Heaven's Court had been gained by walking on thin ice, suffering endlessly. Now that they had them, how could they follow their "former boss" back to unemployment?
He knew the soul beasts' current plight. In Heaven's Court, he knew even more secrets. The God Realm barred soul beasts from godhood; even they, two insignificant edge-case officials, were likely the highest titles any beast currently had there.
And what did the Silver Dragon King have now?
Aside from her identity as Soul Beast Sovereign, half-divine strength, and a shattered body—nothing.
Well, perhaps the ferocious beasts gathered in Star Dou Great Forest, but he knew all too well the God Realm's terror. Just the one before him could crush the entire forest with a finger!
And that, too, was why the Silver Dragon King had skulked for so long. If the God Realm detected her location, Tang San would put her to death. In reality... Tang San already had. He remained quiet for his own ends—to prepare a gift for his future son.
The soul beasts were finished, with no future.
My Lord, surely you won't stop us from seeking a better one?
"Er Ming, why didn't my terms move her?" Tang San pondered a while, then, remembering he couldn't return to the God Realm to check the archives, frowned at Er Ming.
"Huh?" Er Ming froze.
"Forget it..."
Tang San waved it off. "Useless" was on the tip of his tongue, but he held it back. He was in the mortal realm now; better to give these two some face to facilitate his grand plan.
It was a pity—he'd just arrived, and didn't know the details of that old affair. He only knew the Silver Dragon King was formed from the Dragon God's creative godhead and elemental authority. Since they came from one source, they should love each other. The Golden Dragon King suffering in the God Realm—how could she not feel sorrow?
"Tricky."
Tang San cursed under his breath and headed for his room.
"Prepare for tomorrow's match."
...
"You heard that just now?"
Gu Yuena turned, her exquisite face regaining its indifference, and looked at Su Wen in the room.
"I just found it amusing. That so-called God Realm enforcer is using his little schemes in the wrong place," Su Wen smiled.
"He probably thinks your relationship with me is unbreakable, so you rejected his recruitment. In reality, your relationship with the Golden Dragon King isn't what he imagines."
Gu Yuena was silent.
"In fact, there's another way to save the soul beasts—one I didn't mention then. You could devour the Golden Dragon King and restore the Dragon God's peak, breaking the 'curse' the old Dragon God left, so soul beasts could ascend to the God Realm. Only with a voice in the God Realm will humans truly take this seriously..."
Su Wen crossed his arms and sighed.
It wasn't really a curse. The Dragon God likely never imagined that after splitting, soul beasts would end up so miserable—Golden Dragon King imprisoned in the God Realm, Silver Dragon King gravely wounded and hiding below.
So soul beasts' inability to become gods was, for them, a "curse" borne for generations.
"Devour the Golden Dragon King..." A glint flashed in Gu Yuena's silver eyes, then she shook her head. "Too difficult. Never mind he's suppressed in the God Realm—I'd have to break through that first. Even if I bypassed it, why would he willingly be devoured?"
Su Wen: "..."
Really? You dare to think that far?
When it comes to that, who devours whom is far from certain.
"You!"
Gu Yuena caught his odd expression, a shy annoyance crossing her face. She gave him a light kick—but in white stockings and slippers, it was soft and harmless. Su Wen only felt a fluffy tap.
"But..."
Su Wen hesitated.
"If you formed a contract with me, maybe you wouldn't need to devour the Golden Dragon King to advance to Dragon God..."
That sounded too blatant.
Like a shady uncle luring a girl. He preferred them to jump into the bowl on their own.
"Mmh..."
But the Silver Dragon King was genuinely tempted. She bit her lip, fidgeting.
"If—if I formed a contract with you, would I have to obey any compulsory orders you gave?"
"Mm... I haven't tried, but after a contract, I would have the advantage," Su Wen mused. "If we talk about Gale and Little Gold, they were 'forcibly' captured—meaning I didn't ask their opinion beforehand. But they absolutely profited. Even pledging loyalty to me, just evolving a bit is worth it... Since Azure Luan, for soul beasts with higher intelligence, I explain pros and cons and let you choose."
"Then wouldn't you be my master?" Gu Yuena pursed her lips, complicated.
"Uh, tsk... Seems so," Su Wen smacked his lips.
He had to admit—he held absolute control over all contracted soul beasts. When opinions clashed, he could forcibly override.
"Mm."
Gu Yuena nodded, kicked off her shoes, lay back in bed, pulled up the covers, turned her back to Su Wen, and huffed.
Signaling him to scram.
Su Wen scratched his head. "So that's a yes?"
"Hmph."
Listening to her hum under the quilt, he was more confused. "'Hmph' means what?"
"Get out!"
Gu Yuena snapped.
She lifted a foot to kick him, but he moved too fast. In the next second he'd slipped out the door and gently closed it.
Only then did the girl pull the quilt over her head, her face burning.
Someone dared be her master?
And worse, she'd somehow agreed?!!
How hateful! How hateful!
She kicked the quilt in a fury, then gradually quieted, wrapped in a strange feeling. She had always been "Lord" to Di Tian and the others, the Soul Beast Sovereign, worshiped by all beasts—few dared raise their voices to her, all were rigidly respectful.
But noble as she was, she would call a human "master"...
So strange.
…
On the other side.
Su Wen sat cross-legged on his bed. He yawned, ready to sleep.
A white-clad figure appeared at his side.
"Snow Empress?" Su Wen blinked.
"Master," the Snow Empress said gently. "Will you come cultivate with me today?"
"Mm?!!" Su Wen's skin prickled, eyes wide.
"W-what are you doing? Master this, master that—aren't we friends?"
The Snow Empress looked at him quietly, a soft smile.
"I—I was joking with the Silver Dragon King..." Su Wen faltered.
The Snow Empress remained calm.
"Can we skip tonight? I want to rest," Su Wen said miserably.
She shook her head.
Su Wen flopped on his back.
So tired...
...
Star Dou Great Forest.
Di Tian sneezed, looking around suspiciously.
The Scarlet King saw Di Tian's glance and shivered, rapidly searching his mind—had he caused trouble recently? No—Rui Beast had left days ago; he hadn't provoked anyone.
The Bear Lord met Di Tian's gaze without fear, snorted coldly, and crossed his arms. He coveted Di Tian's position. With the Lord away, if this guy looked again, he'd raise his paw and go at him.
The Ten Thousand Demon King and others were very well-behaved, avoiding Di Tian's eyes—choosing to submit.
Di Tian grew more suspicious.
He was a near-800,000-year apex fierce beast. Even months in the Extreme North's core wouldn't faze him.
Sneezing now? A bad omen?
"Scarlet King, did you cause trouble lately?" Di Tian asked gravely.
"No! Heaven and earth as witness—last time I put Rui Beast in danger, that was my fault. But the enemy was too strong! Ten Titled Douluo, a level 98—" the Scarlet King wept with snot and tears, three heads complaining in chorus.
"Stop, stop!" Di Tian's face twitched.
"What are you rambling for? I asked if you caused trouble!"
"No," the Scarlet King hunched his neck.
"If not, just say not. Look at you—so sleazy! Where's your dignity as a top-ten fierce beast!" Di Tian scolded.
The Scarlet King: "..."
You're sleazy! Your whole family's sleazy!
Why the beast-on-beast insults?
He only dared droop his head and silently accuse Di Tian of bullying.
"Could it be something happened to the Lord?" Bi Ji walked over, worried.
"No," Di Tian shook his head and opened his palm. A silver dragon scale hovered there. "The Lord may be wounded, but she still has half-divine strength. Before leaving, she left a scale with me. If something happened, it would dim."
"..."
The Bear Lord glanced at the scale, full of envy.
A token of trust. When would he earn such honor—and step on Di Tian...
"I'm overthinking," Di Tian muttered.
...
The next day.
The grand final.
Why the final on the second day? Because of a strange turn yesterday: Shrek crushed the Sun Moon Empire, and the latter simply conceded. Clear Sky versus Imperial Mystical Academy—knowing they couldn't win, Jiang Peng provoked Tang San, and to avoid revenge in the individual bracket, they also surrendered.
So the next day became the grand final.
Spectator numbers surged again—from one million to over 1.2 million squeezed in. Ticket prices doubled to two gold soul coins, still short on supply.
They even tore out the front-row chairs—standing room only, pure human sardines.
Clearly, no one could resist a "grand final."
Especially with rumors of a dragon-tiger clash this year, monsters everywhere. Miss this, and you might never see such a level of competition again.
These still-tender youths would become the future pillars and giants of all factions—worth every coin.
"So many people..."
Even Wang Dong'er's pink-blue eyes went wide in surprise.
As soon as they entered, the thunderous roar flooded the arena, echoing up to the sky.
Even the original rest areas had been dismantled, leaving only those for Shrek and Clear Sky; the rest became seats for special spectators—a crowd of nobles. Su Wen even saw Xu Jiujiu. She gave him a sweet smile and a cheering gesture.
Today, Xu Jiujiu carried an extra regal air in a light-purple court dress—the royal color of Star Luo... violet.
Meanwhile—
Across the way, Tang San narrowed his eyes at Su Wen.
The two met gazes, as if a battle of fate was about to begin.