"What is this child even saying…?!"
The Spirit Hall member's first reaction was that the boy had gone mad.
It wasn't that intelligent soul beasts didn't exist—but even the clever ones needed at least ten thousand years of cultivation before their intelligence rivaled humans.
The soul beast before them looked only a few thousand years old at most. How could it possibly—
His thoughts stopped abruptly.
In front of him, the three-eyed soul beast slowly nodded.
Then, to his utter shock, it gently caught the corner of Bai Chen's clothes in its mouth—and turned away without hesitation.
"…"
The Spirit Hall member stood frozen.
They had… been spared?
Saved by a child's willingness to sacrifice himself?
A crushing sense of defeat flooded his chest. He collapsed onto the ground, powerless.
As merely a Soul Elder, he could only watch helplessly as the golden beast carried Bai Chen away into the night.
Under the dark sky, the golden soul beast ran swiftly across the fields.
Neither of them spoke.
Strangely, the silence felt… harmonious.
Only when they neared the outskirts of the Star Dou Great Forest did Bai Chen finally break it.
"Alright, we're almost at your home turf. Care to explain what's going on?"
The three-eyed beast halted abruptly and set him down.
Bai Chen brushed the dust from his clothes and asked casually,
"Just to be safe—can you speak?"
"Of course."
A cool, melodious female voice echoed in the night.
"Who do you think I am? I am the Emperor's Auspicious Beast."
Bai Chen smiled.
Impressive.
Normally, soul beasts could only speak human language after reaching one hundred thousand years.
Across the first three Douluo eras, there had been only one exception—a soul beast capable of speaking at ten thousand years.
The very one standing before him.
The Three-Eyed Golden Lion.
And coincidentally—
His martial soul in this era.
Even at only five thousand years of cultivation, she could already speak. Truly extraordinary.
The Three-Eyed Golden Lion studied him carefully.
"Human. I see no fear in your eyes. Are you not afraid of me?"
Bai Chen sighed softly.
"How could I not be? I'm terrified."
"Then why are you smiling? And more importantly—why did you step forward willingly earlier instead of running?"
She had lived five thousand years and encountered countless humans.
Most trembled in fear at the sight of her.
A rare few showed greed—but that greed always dissolved into terror once they witnessed her strength.
But this child was different.
His expression had remained calm and composed, nothing like a six-year-old.
And most importantly—
Instead of hiding behind the adult, he had walked toward her.
Did he realize how easily he could have died?
"Because if I had to die," Bai Chen said with a faint smile, "I wanted it to mean something."
"You're strong. That uncle wouldn't have been able to stop you. If I ran, you'd kill him to chase me. That's unacceptable. He did nothing wrong—he doesn't deserve to die for me."
Whatever her reason for coming to the village, Bai Chen was certain of one thing:
Her target had always been him.
Fighting others was incidental.
This was his problem.
If someone had to die, it should be him alone.
Why drag innocent people down in ugly desperation?
"Pride in life. No regret in death. That's my principle. Are you satisfied with that answer?"
"…"
The Three-Eyed Golden Lion fell silent.
He wasn't bluffing.
He truly had been prepared to die.
In her long life, she had seen humans reveal their ugliest sides when death loomed. Survival instinct drove them to disgraceful acts.
But this child—
He did not flee fear.
He faced it.
And smiled.
For the first time in her five thousand years, she met someone who could greet death so calmly.
After a long pause, Bai Chen tilted his head slightly.
"Well? Aren't you going to make a move?"
"Wh—who said I was going to kill you?!"
She snapped back, suddenly flustered.
Oddly enough, though she held the overwhelming advantage in strength, her voice now sounded slightly embarrassed.
She coughed lightly.
"I came to perform a Fate Convergence with you."
"…Huh?"
Bai Chen blinked in confusion.
"You're not here to devour me?"
He had mentally prepared to become her dinner.
Seeing his startled expression, she seemed to regain some pride.
"Of course not. What benefit would devouring you bring me? The responsibility you carry is different from mine."
"Care to elaborate?" Bai Chen asked seriously.
He was certain—
Regarding his martial soul, she knew far more than he did.
She clicked her tongue impatiently.
"What's so hard to understand? I preside over the fate of the soul beast race. You preside over human fate. Even if I devoured you, I couldn't take over that authority. So what would be the point?"
"Oh."
Understanding dawned.
"So performing Fate Convergence with me does have meaning."
Otherwise, she wouldn't have left the Star Dou Great Forest and traveled this far.
"Exactly."
She nodded approvingly.
"As the Emperor's Auspicious Beast of Star Dou, I grant my people fortune and prosperity. As long as I exist, their cultivation speed doubles."
Her voice softened slightly.
"…Except my own."
"Ah."
Now he understood.
"If we complete Fate Convergence, you'll receive my auspicious blessing as well. Is that right?"
"Yes. And you'll gain significant benefits from me too. Human, you've struck a great bargain."
"Hmm…"
Bai Chen hummed thoughtfully.
So—
Not only would she not kill him…
She would actively ensure his safety.