The sun blazed high, scattering warm rays through the Star Dou Forest. Green canopies dappled the floor with broken patterns of light and shadow. It should have been the perfect day for soul beasts to roam, for hunters to test their strength, for danger to brood in every step.
And yet…
The forest was eerily strange.
A group of soul masters, armed and vigilant, had entered the mixed area of the woods, hoping to secure soul rings for their breakthroughs. Their nerves tingled—until slowly, strangely, they realized… nothing was happening.
Not a beast, not even a rustle.
One Soul Sage leaned against a thick trunk, scratching his head. "What the hell? Did all the soul beasts die overnight? This used to be the place where if you dared let your guard down for just ten breaths, something would come ripping your throat out."
"Snap!" He slapped aside a thousand-year Windtail Serpent that slithered idly past. "Tch. Star Dou really is declining. Even snakes like these dare creep up on us."
Another muttered, "Forget it. If we go any deeper, we'll hit the core zone. If a hundred-thousand-year beast shows, we're done. Maybe we should try Moonfall Forest instead."
There were nods all around. The danger zones of Star Dou were tiered—outer ring, mixed circle, then the core, and finally the Fierce Land at its heart. The mixed circle was already a danger line, but the core? Even Titled Douluo wouldn't dare trespass lightly. Because within resided soul beasts whose names mortals whispered—the Titan Giant Ape and the Azure Bull Python—the forest kings known to meddle whenever humans went too far.
And yet, as these hunters prepared to leave, one of them froze. Eyes wide. He jabbed a finger toward the horizon.
"…Wait. Look!"
In the hazy distance—movement.
A dense tide of beasts surged across the forest. Herds crashing through rivers, flocks blotting out the sun, vines bridging trees like highways. Thousands upon thousands of soul beasts, their auras flaring, spanning from millennia-old serpents to eighty-thousand-year horrors, all moving toward one direction.
"Animal tide! RUN!"
The hunters scattered in sheer terror.
But it wasn't just them. All across the forest that day, anyone present witnessed visions of mass migrations. Yet none knew the truth—today was a wedding day.
The day the co-owner of all soul beasts, the Silver Dragon King Gu Yuena, had chosen to marry.
The Fierce Land, once terrifying in desolation, was now decked in splendor. Tens of thousands of years-old beasts gathered, while those weaker or latecomers crowded lake waters just to glimpse the ceremony. Ivy bridged sky to tree, flowers burst into bloom, and vines wove into long emerald aisles. Heavenly voices of spirit birds sang, and fireflies of soul energy danced like lanterns.
It was breathtaking. Spectacular.
At its heart stood seven ancient beasts, the ultimate rulers beneath Gu Yuena.
And of them, Emperor Tian grit his teeth till they nearly cracked. The Lord… the goddess above all… marrying a human child. Rage and helplessness gnawed his spirit. He, who had lived eight hundred thousand years, had never dared covet her in his most desperate fantasies. And now? This six-year-old boy held her hand?
His humiliation doubled when he realized why he stood here. With Zi Ji the Hell Dragon busy in her duties, he had been stuck providing ceremonial "Dragon Salutes." The great Black Dragon King reduced to trumpet fodder! He almost coughed blood.
Still, when Brigitte glanced sideways at him, he knew his cue. Grinding his teeth, he let out a booming dragon roar that echoed through mountains and rivers.
"ROAR!"
The crowd of beasts shook, voices joining in waves of howls and songs.
And then she appeared.
Gu Yuena.
Radiant beneath the blazing sun, she floated gracefully, robes flowing red as dawn, phoenix crown and gold pins glittering in her silver hair. The coldness she wielded as a weapon softened into something ethereal, breathtaking.
If a poet were here, he would collapse penning a verse:
Her bridal steps make hearts tremble.
Skin white as snow, beauty eternal.
The red robe sways, dimples hide fragrance.
Joy fights shyness, breath fights resistance.
God himself bestowed her beauty divine—
Only she could force marriage from heaven's decree.
Beside her, her small groom clutched her snow-white hand, his childlike but peerless face brilliant against the crimson contrast.
The beasts—thousands upon thousands—howled in unison.
It was spectacular. Insane.
The Silver Dragon King, richest queen of the soul beast race, displayed her power—summoning every corner of the forest to her call, bending crowns and claws alike. And at her side?
Su Bei.
The human boy.
"See the Lord!" roared the intelligent soul beasts in unison.
Those less cultivated wailed low and bowed down, instinct forcing surrender beneath her divine aura.
Gu Yuena's gaze swept across the scene. Her chilly voice carried as easily as thunder.
"This is nothing more than a small summon," she said. "Only to announce one matter."
All seven ferocious beasts shared glances. Sweat prickled their napes. Marriage not a big deal? Then what could possibly be bigger?!
Her chin lifted proudly as she held Su Bei's hand up before the gathered world of beasts.
"This child," her voice thundered, "from today is my chosen child-husband. When he grows, he shall be my true husband. From today forward, he is your king. Disrespect him, and you disrespect me. Harm him—" Her violet eyes stabbed like spears of frost. "—and I will cut you down myself."
The seven beasts bowed instantly. "Yes, Lord!"
Gu Yuena's glare remained. "Remember well—when you see him, it is the same as seeing me. Any beast who dishonors him, I will personally cleave limb from limb."
"Y-yes!"
"Meet the King!"
The cry resonated through the assembly. Tens of thousands of beasts bowed as one, foreheads to the ground, thundering their respect toward the stunned young boy.
Su Bei's heart flipped upside down. For a fraction of an instant, it felt… transcendent.
These weren't mere mortals kneeling. This was the most terrifying force in the entire Douluo world.
Every soul master across ages feared this gathering. Yet here they all were—kneeling… to him.
He almost laughed. Where had he started? Betrayed by a girlfriend, humiliated in a haunted house. And now? Raised instantly to the highest throne of the continent's scariest creatures.
One word: Cool.
But still, small prickles lingered in his mind as he locked eyes with the ferocious beasts.
Emperor Tian's dark gaze flickered with undisguised challenge, bitter and cold. Zi Ji's eyes glowed oddly from afar, shadowed—not hatred, but something closer to hunger? Dangerous hunger.
And Brigitte's soft emerald eyes—too gentle, too warm. More gentle than suit this icy forest.
Su Bei shivered slightly. Why do they all look at me so weird?
All this respect, all this reverence… yet under the surface, ripples stirred.
This wedding was supposed to crown him king. But Su Bei could feel it—this was only the beginning.