When Su Bei finally stirred awake, his head felt heavy, as though packed with ice. A suffocating chill poured through his veins, prickling his back like needles drilling into bone. His body refused to move, stiff and numb. Even his brain buzzed with frozen static, thoughts sluggish and disjointed.
And yet, beneath all that biting cold, something warm pulsed steadily inside his lower abdomen.
It was spreading. Alive. Growing.
Almost like… soul power expanding!
Su Bei's eyes widened—or tried to widen. He could barely shift his gaze.
"Wait. Wait wait wait! No way… Did Gu Yuena actually… seal me up and play some forced bride game?!" His childish voice cracked in fear. "I-I'm really still a kid! Please, spare the baby!"
He struggled against the icy grip around his body but couldn't lift even a finger. Then, forcing his neck awkwardly, he looked around. Strange luminous plants glowed faintly nearby, veins shimmering with energy, but Gu Yuena herself was gone.
Busy preparing the wedding, no doubt.
"The first time in my life I've been forced into marriage… and it has to be a goddess doing the forcing." He could only laugh bitterly. "How the hell am I supposed to calm down?"
As if on cue, the system's voice dropped into his mind:
[Forced marriage event triggered. Sublimation reward acquired – Blood of the Silver Dragon King!]
White light burst out from within his chest. His entire small body radiated brilliance, purifying and scouring through his limbs. The frost immobilizing him melted away instantly as if he were never sealed at all.
Su Bei gasped when his fingers twitched freely. His spine straightened, the ice-burden vanishing into nothing but a faint, almost pleasurable crispness running through his bones.
Power. That chill wasn't pain anymore—it was strengthening him, altering his very body.
The realization sent a shiver down his spine. This wasn't random ice. This was a transformation.
"This thing actually improves physique?" His eyes glittered with excitement.
The black ice bed beneath him reminded him instantly of something—The Cold Jade Bed from Return of the Condor Heroes, the divine mount of the little dragon girl. The comparison almost made him laugh aloud.
"I see… Gu Yuena actually gave me this? She's treating me really, really well."
Su Bei clenched a small fist, grinning slyly. "Fine, fine. This pretty boy has decided. I'll play along as your husband… but after introductions, I'll still go chase down other beautiful girls too."
Before his thoughts could spin further, an earth-trembling roar echoed across the forest. The ground vibrated. The air buzzed with power.
High above, the scene shifted.
At the very center of Xinghu lay a volcano-like mountain rising like a jagged crown. The entire island was infamous: The Land of Great Evil.
Not just for its treacherous terrain, but because on this island resided ancient monsters—soul beasts of unmatched terror. Not ordinary ten-thousand-year creatures, but rulers among rulers, each surpassing one hundred thousand years in age. Seven of them guarded this horrific land.
They were known as the Top Ten Ferocious Beasts, though here seven gathered:
Golden-Eyed Black Dragon King — Di Tian (over 800,000 years)
Jade Swan — Brigitte (over 500,000 years)
Demon Eye Demonic Tree — Wan Yao King
Darkgold Fearclaw Bear — Xiong Jun
Three-Headed Scarlet Demon Mastiff — Chi Wang
Hell Demon Dragon King — Zi Ji
Ghost Bat — Ghost (200,000 years, weakest of the seven)
Each of these names alone could make a Titled Douluo shiver in terror. Together, they were enough to topple the entire human world.
Today, they were summoned urgently. Awakened from slumber, their titanic forms streaked across the forest and rushed toward the icy spring at the heart of the mountain.
There floated a silver-haired goddess in white, radiating unmatched majesty—Gu Yuena.
Countless soul beasts across the forest knelt instinctively, their loyalty unwavering. She wasn't just their leader; she was their sovereign Queen, the Silver Dragon King—the sole ruler of all soul beasts. In cultivation terms, she was nothing less than their Demon Emperor.
The seven ferocious beasts landed first, bowing deeply before her.
"We greet the Lord!"
Their voices shook the ground itself. Then, one by one, they stepped forward, assuming their human forms to show reverence.
Among them, a grave-faced man whose eyes gleamed a golden dragon's brilliance stepped ahead. Emperor Tian. His loyalty was the deepest.
"The Lord called us in such haste. Do you have an important command?" he asked respectfully.
A tremor of anticipation ran across the group. What matter was weighty enough for Gu Yuena herself to summon all seven rulers at once?
Gu Yuena's expression remained impassive. "Indeed."
"Whatever it may be, so long as it comes from the Lord," said Xiong Jun, pounding his chest, "we will follow without hesitation!"
The others nodded firmly. Generation after generation, beasts bowed to their Queen. Where her will pointed, the soul beasts obeyed.
But today, her will was something none could predict.
For standing proudly in her hands like a delicate treasure she was presenting to the world—was Su Bei, still drowsy and blinking at everyone with dazed confusion.
She lifted him slightly before declaring coldly:
"The seven fierce beasts shall prepare the most luxurious, the most divine, the most romantic wedding this world has ever seen. One day from now, I will be married."
The forest fell silent.
Crack!
It took a few seconds before reality hit them.
"Wh-what—MARRIED?!!"
The seven ferocious beasts erupted in shock. Even Emperor Tian, the unshakable Golden-Eyed Black Dragon King, stared dumbfounded, his bloodline trembling.
Their Lord, their goddess, revered above all, who had always been distant, aloof, obsessed with vengeance on the divine realm, the one who disdained humans so profoundly she would rather burn them than breathe near them—wanted to get married?!
This aside, WHO in this world could possibly deserve such an honor?!
For a moment, it felt like the fabric of existence had cracked.
"Lord… We don't understand. Could you repeat that?" Emperor Tian's voice shook despite himself.
Ridiculous. Impossible. Their sacred lord, bound in endless hatred, was going against everything she stood for.
Gu Yuena's gaze sharpened with frost. "What, are you deaf?"
The pressure of her authority descended instantly, silencing the trembling world. Her draconic aura churned like a storm bearing down on the beasts.
The seven exchanged terrified glances. If it weren't Gu Yuena herself speaking, none of them would believe it. But this was no jest.
"Lord, think twice!" Emperor Tian cried desperately. His heart, bound to her will, refused to accept such folly. "Your cultivation has not yet recovered! You cannot harm yourself further. And among the entire forest, which soul beast could possibly be worthy of you?"
His rage flared, golden dragon energy spilling as he roared, "Whichever beast dare seduce the Lord—drag it out and crush it before me!"
Roar!
The heavens trembled with his fury.
Slap!
Gu Yuena's hand cracked sharply across his face, swifter than lightning. The sound reverberated like thunder.
The other six rulers instantly shut their mouths. Even those who had shared his worries swallowed their words and stared silently at the earth.
"Are you… teaching your Lord how to handle her own matters?" Gu Yuena's eyes were colder than death.
Emperor Tian froze stiff. Trembling, his pride burned with humiliation but he bowed instantly.
"No…"
The others quickly followed, heads bent low. None dared speak.
"Then stay silent," Gu Yuena commanded. Her purple eyes flashed ruthlessly.
A suffocating silence pressed down. Even the fearless emperor himself shrank back, face marked from her strike but eyes glinting in sorrowful grievance.
My loyal heart… repaid with a slap? Lord… I only care for you… why strike me so…
Gu Yuena's cold eyes swept dismissively. "Do not disobey me."
The tension on the island thickened until Brigitte, the Jade Swan, finally stepped forward with a graceful bow.
Her gentle voice calmed the bitter air. "Naturally, we rejoice at the Lord's happiness. But… if it pleases the Lord, could you tell us which honored soul beast has won your heart?"
She smiled softly, her aura glowing with healing gentleness. Unlike Emperor Tian's blunt defense, Brigitte's diplomacy soothed the harsh edges, perhaps giving everyone a lifeline of explanation.
Gu Yuena's sharp gaze softened slightly under her words. She lifted her hand.
"He is not a soul beast," she said evenly, her tone laced with a glimmer of pride.
"He is a human."
Gasps rippled through the beasts.
And as she added with the faintest smile, her eyes sparkled with light like stars:
"A very, very good-looking human."