Under the moonlight, a swirling orb of light hovered silently in the air. It seemed eternal, unchanging since ancient times, its interior shimmering with countless hues and radiance.
Suddenly—
Buzz—
A burst of golden light erupted from the point of contact between Huo Yuhao and the Three-Eyed Golden Lion. The lion tumbled from the sky, staggered back a few steps, then shook its massive body in a daze.
Huo Yuhao, still suspended midair, effortlessly dispersed the impact before descending gracefully.
The Living Creatures' Guard Blade, previously shielding him from the outside world, retracted automatically and returned to his spiritual sea.
Though the attribute transfer had initially positioned the beast atop the man—a domineering stance—the resonance of fate's power had lifted both into the sky.
The confrontation with the Sea God's consciousness had felt prolonged, yet in truth, less than a minute had passed from its emergence to its self-destruction.
Undoubtedly, from the moment Huo Yuhao and the Three-Eyed Golden Lion met, the entire Star Dou Forest had been thrown into chaos—let alone the subsequent clash with the Sea God's will.
Compared to the original timeline, this attribute transfer had caused an even greater stir.
At the same time, Huo Yuhao completed the second favorability task with the Golden Lion.
[Achievement Triggered!]
[Obtained the Saving Grace achievement for the Three-Eyed Golden Lion. Reward: Doukong Gu.]
[Doukong Gu: A fifth-rank Gu of the Space Path. Once activated, it pulls both the user and the enemy into an alternate dimension, where they must fight to the death. Only upon determining a victor—or when the soul master's soul power is exhausted—can they exit the space.]
[Evaluation: When golden winds meet jade dew, it surpasses countless mortal encounters.]
A fifth-rank Space Path Gu worm.
Huo Yuhao recalled the Dark Demon Evil God Tiger's ultimate move, which bore some resemblance.
This event was also recorded in Douluo Continent.
The Dark Demon Evil God Tiger could drag its opponent into an alien space, reverting them to a juvenile state while remaining unaffected itself.
The battle within that space was a fight to the death—only one could emerge alive.
Tang San had once fallen victim to this technique and nearly met his end. Fortunately, he had countered with a spiritual attack from the Mainland's leading arsenal, disrupting the Evil God Tiger's defenses and stripping it of its immunity.
The juvenile beast had then perished under Tang San's hidden weapon, the Zhuge Divine Crossbow.
Danger lurked everywhere—such was the might of the Dark Demon Evil God Tiger.
Yet under Huo Yuhao's spatial suppression, even this 70,000-year-old evil soul beast had been powerless to unleash its dimensional abilities.
Lessons from the past guided the future.
Huo Yuhao would never grant his foes even a sliver of opportunity to threaten him.
His gaze settled on the Three-Eyed Golden Lion.
Her third eye still gleamed gold, while her two crimson eyes were vacant, as if lost in memory.
Huo Yuhao approached and rested a hand atop her head.
[Three-Eyed Golden Lion]
[Relationship: Confidant]
[Achievement Task: Pending Refresh]
It had been a long time since he last checked favorability.
And now, he had hit the jackpot.
Strangely, he felt a pang of guilt.
Disregarding their innate compatibility, Huo Yuhao had shown the Golden Lion only minor kindness—yet she had offered him her very essence.
The attribute transfer, the intertwining of their fates—this emperor beast's most treasured ability had been freely given.
Clearly, she had offered sincerity.
But Huo Yuhao had held back.
Long before this journey, he had meticulously crafted a modified memory sphere—one devoid of his past life, containing only his experiences from birth to the present.
Crucial details, such as the existence of Gu worms and other sensitive information, had been carefully excised.
Truthfully, Huo Yuhao's life thus far had been unremarkable.
Before the age of ten, his days were filled with suffering, interspersed with relentless cultivation.
The following two years, though eventful, paled in comparison to the two dazzling months of the Soul Master Tournament—where he had truly shone.
For a sheltered creature like the Three-Eyed Golden Lion, such memories were intoxicating.
Like the immortal herbs in the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, envious of the forest's free-roaming beasts, she yearned for a taste of the outside world.
After a moment's reflection, Huo Yuhao realized it was time to leave.
The beasts tasked with cleanup would arrive soon.
Unlike the Golden Lion, who had immersed herself fully in the exchange, Huo Yuhao had skimmed her memories swiftly, setting them aside for later perusal.
"Yuhao..."
The Golden Lion lifted her head, her golden eyes clear and luminous.
"Must you go? Our destinies are now intertwined. Uncle Scarlet King and the others will never harm you."
She had sensed his intent to depart.
"No. There are people waiting for me."
Huo Yuhao stroked her fur, his tone gentle but firm.
The earlier resonance of fate had stirred the heavens—undoubtedly, Senior Sister Zhang Lexuan would have sensed it. Delaying further would only worry her.
Moreover, he needed to absorb the Dark Demon Evil God Tiger's 70,000-year soul ring within the divine power space.
'Other people?'
The Golden Lion latched onto the keyword.
Though Huo Yuhao's memories had few mentions of Wang Dong'er, he had been transparent about his romantic entanglements.
After all, the Golden Lion was a beast—there was no need for secrecy.
Countless girls in Shrek's inner and outer courts had confessed their feelings openly or in secret.
And the woman accompanying him this time—wasn't she his senior sister from the inner court?
Suppressing a sudden surge of irritation, the Golden Lion huffed, "What about the grilled fish you promised me? You wouldn't break your word, would you?"
"Ah... right."
Huo Yuhao recalled his earlier pledge.
Refusing her now would be too cruel.
"Fine."
"Really?!" Her mood brightened instantly.
"Wait here. I'll catch some suitable prey first—today, I'll fill your belly properly."
From her recent memories, Huo Yuhao had glimpsed Chef Scarlet King's attempts at grilling.
Primitive, at best.
Though the Three‑Headed Scarlet Devil Mastiff's fire control was impressive, his seasoning skills were woefully lacking.
Huo Yuhao patted the Golden Lion's head, then retrieved dozens of pre-prepared grilled fish from his storage, still warm.
"Eat these for now. I'll be back with some soft-bone rabbits."
With that, he vanished.
The Golden Lion nibbled at the fish, her appetite oddly absent.
The flavor was perfect—Huo Yuhao's skills had clearly improved.
Yet the looming separation left her joyless.
…
Under the Crescent Moon
The night sky was adorned with a slender crescent, its cool light bathing the earth.
Normally, fires were forbidden in the Star Dou Forest—especially in the core region. Many soul beasts were drawn to light.
But Huo Yuhao and the Golden Lion had no such concerns.
One possessed unparalleled combat prowess; the other, the authority of an emperor beast.
Huo Yuhao swiftly hunted a few soft-bone rabbits and returned.
The Golden Lion lay by the bonfire, watching his every move in silence.
Her golden eyes flickered with unspoken emotions—a deep reluctance welling within her.
Having assimilated Huo Yuhao's memories, she understood: No feast lasts forever.
They each had their own paths.
One human, one beast—their encounter was fleeting.
Unless... she ceased to be a beast.
Between bites of barbecue, she finally asked: "Yuhao, will you stay at Shrek forever?"
From his memories, she knew Shrek was his second home—a place where he had healed and thrived.
"For now, yes. But in two years, I may go to the Sun Moon Empire to study soul tool technology."
Mainly for the sake of his mentor from the original timeline.
Huo Yuhao had realized that to advance his research on origin-powered soul tools, he needed the Sun Moon Empire's superior technology.
He was no slouch in this field, but specialization mattered.
A wise leader didn't need to master everything—he needed to recognize and delegate talent.
And the Sun Moon Empire was the perfect training ground.
Most future plotlines revolved around it, after all.
With his growing strength, Huo Yuhao felt ready to test the waters in the evil soul masters' den.
Plus, studying their technology would only strengthen Shrek.
"Two more years... I see."
The Golden Lion nodded solemnly, as if resolving something.
After some idle chatter, Huo Yuhao's gaze shifted past her, deeper into the forest.
"Time to go. Until next time."
"Next time!"
At that moment, the forest's depths trembled—an invisible pressure swelling forth.
The treetops swayed unnaturally, as if bowing to an unseen force.
Silence blanketed the Star Dou Forest, as though all life had stilled.
Huo Yuhao knew—the Three‑Headed Scarlet Devil Mastiff, Scarlet King, had noticed the disturbance and was en route.
Though Huo Yuhao could now fight Scarlet King evenly, the approaching forces included more than just him.
Di Tian might already be alerted.
And the god-level Silver Dragon King—she must have sensed the divine clash earlier.
While Huo Yuhao trusted the Immortal Gu's protection, and the Silver Dragon King likely wouldn't act against him for the Golden Lion's sake...
He wasn't alone on this mission.
Zhang Lexuan awaited him.
And Wang Dong'er—he needed to check on her, to see what schemes Tang San might devise next.
This encounter had revealed something crucial: Even a God King like Tang San was bound by rules.
Huo Yuhao had overprepared—the divine intervention had been disappointingly feeble.
But that was fine. The more Tang San underestimated him, the better.
As the Golden Lion watched reluctantly, a spatial vortex swirled around Huo Yuhao, and he faded from sight.
…
"Auspicious Beast, are you unharmed?"
Scarlet King materialized beside her, all three heads anxious.
She shook her head. "Let's discuss it back home."
Relieved, Scarlet King nodded.
But as they turned to leave, a figure blocked their path.
A man, two meters tall, clad in black robes—his presence as imposing as a mountain.
"Di Tian."
Scarlet King trembled, stepping forward deferentially.
Negligence in duty—this was trouble.
Di Tian ignored him, his golden eyes sweeping over the Golden Lion.
"How do you fare?"
"I'm fine. It's just..."
"Just what?"
Though he asked, his gaze had already settled where Huo Yuhao had vanished—the residual spatial energy unmistakable.
The dying bonfire only confirmed the scene.
"After connecting with that human, my Destiny Power has grown significantly. But what happened... it's complicated. I'll explain later."
"Very well." Di Tian studied her briefly, then waved his hand. Space twisted, revealing a dark passage.
With the Golden Lion in tow, he stepped through.
The void sealed behind them, leaving Scarlet King alone.
'...What about me?'
He sighed, resigning himself to the long trek back.
...
Beside the Lake of Life, space shattered, revealing a passage.
Di Tian and the Auspicious Beast stepped out of it.
A green figure quickly approached, her voice laced with concern. "Are you alright?"
Di Tian replied calmly, "Don't worry, Bi Ji. The Auspicious Beast is fine."
Hearing this, Bi Ji let out a sigh of relief—before promptly smacking the Auspicious Beast's head with her right hand.
"Thunk!"
A crisp sound echoed—a good start.
"You little rascal!" Bi Ji scolded. "Didn't we tell you to stick close to Uncle Scarlet King when you go out? Yet again, you've made us worry sick!"
"Oww!"
The Auspicious Beast feigned pain before pressing its head against Bi Ji and whining, "I was wrong this time..."
Di Tian watched their interaction, the corners of his lips quirking up ever so slightly.
Then, he cleared his throat, maintaining the dignified demeanor of the continent's foremost Fierce Beast.
Turning to the Auspicious Beast, he asked, "Now, tell me—what exactly caused the aura upheaval in the Star Dou Forest? And just now… was that the Dark Demon Evil God Tiger?"
In truth, it was the massive disturbance from the attribute resonance that had drawn Di Tian's attention.
Had Huo Yuhao not arrived in time—and had the Auspicious Beast not possessed the safeguard Di Tian left behind—the Dark Demon Evil God Tiger might have survived within its Domain and truly succeeded in its ambush.
As for the Scarlet King, it was only during his leisurely fish-grilling that he realized the Auspicious Beast had gone "missing." He immediately halted his activities and set off to search for her.
When Di Tian arrived at the scene, aside from sensing the spatial aura left by Huo Yuhao's teleportation, he also detected the lingering evil energy from the Dark Demon Evil God Tiger—as well as traces of Huo Yuhao wielding the Emperor Sword.
He instantly recognized the most likely source of the evil aura.
This was also one of the reasons Di Tian allowed Huo Yuhao to leave without interference.
He could tell—this human had aided the Auspicious Beast.
Though Huo Yuhao had also engaged in attribute guidance with her, Di Tian had always been clear about gratitude and grudges. For now, he let the human who had "stolen his cabbage" go without further ado.
As the Auspicious Beast recounted the incident—from cause to process to outcome—even the unflappable Di Tian felt a flicker of fear.
A 70,000-year-old Dark Demon Evil God Tiger had lurked so deeply within the Star Dou Forest… and had nearly ambushed the Auspicious Beast.
Fortunately, as the beast bearing the soul beast's fate, she wouldn't die so easily. Turning peril into safety was only natural for her.
Then, at the end of her story, the Auspicious Beast paused, her voice dropping to a whisper.
"Di Tian… someone tried to possess me."
Di Tian's expression darkened. "Who?"
His voice was icy, a murderous intent so dense it seemed tangible rising behind him, casting an oppressive shadow over the surroundings.
Bi Ji's face also hardened.
Possess the Auspicious Beast? Who would dare?!
Shrek Academy? Unlikely—they lacked the capability.
The Auspicious Beast explained, "When Huo Yuhao and I exchanged memories, I saw a blue-gold light attempting to invade. A soul was hidden within it. The Power of Fate alerted me—the other party sought to take over my body."
"In the end, Huo Yuhao helped me repel that light. The Power of Fate also revealed that I had narrowly avoided the greatest danger. Had he not intervened… the 'me' before you now might no longer be the original..."
Her voice carried a trace of grievance.
She had merely been out to play—why had she been targeted?
"How could this happen? Was it a scheme by the gods of the Divine Realm?" Di Tian mused.
From her description, the most likely culprits were indeed the gods above.
Just then, an ethereal, omnipresent feminine voice resonated through the air.
"I sensed it as well. It was indeed a clash of two divine auras."
Hearing this voice, Di Tian and Bi Ji immediately knelt on one knee, bowing their heads in reverence.
"Master!"
The Auspicious Beast beside them also lowered her head in respect.
Though she was the Star Dou Forest's Auspicious Beast, her exemption from kneeling was purely due to their master's fondness for her.
There was only one being on the continent who could command such deference from these three—The Silver Dragon King, Gu Yuena, co-ruler of the continent's soul beasts.
"Rise," Gu Yuena said calmly.
The three stood, and Di Tian faced the lake, speaking respectfully. "Master, you've awakened."
"Not long ago," she replied. "From what the Auspicious Beast described, I can confirm—a god from the Divine Realm has set their sights on her and made a covert move."
"Master, what should we do?" Di Tian asked urgently.
If the gods were watching them, their concealment was meaningless—they were fully exposed.
Though he bore the title Beast God, facing true divine combat power, he could at most put up a fight.
Now that their long-slumbering master had finally awakened, Di Tian naturally deferred to her judgment.
"Wait and observe," Gu Yuena said with a quiet sigh. Noting their unease, she added, "Do not worry. This god is only interested in the Auspicious Beast—and their chance has passed. Moreover, they remain unaware of my existence."
Though she offered reassurance, Gu Yuena withheld one detail.
Only the Five God Kings could interfere with the mortal realm in such a manner.
Yet, in her memory, none of the Five emitted a blue-gold aura.
After a moment's contemplation, she reached a conclusion.
The most likely perpetrator was Tang San—the dual god who, ten thousand years prior, had ascended with the titles Sea God and Asura God.
If it truly was him, confronting him in her current state would be difficult.
Her strength was no longer at its peak.
Moreover, she still bore injuries inflicted by the previous Asura God. Over the millennia, she had relied on the Lake of Life's golden essence to slowly recover.
Breaking the silence, the Auspicious Beast mustered her courage.
"Actually… I noticed that Huo Yuhao carries a portable elder—a remnant divine soul. It was his intervention that repelled the blue-gold divine consciousness. Perhaps… we could seek their aid?"
Gu Yuena, deep within the Lake of Life, seemed to consider this.
Indeed, the key now lay with Huo Yuhao.
Though she had only glimpsed him briefly, his talent was unparalleled in the continent's history.
According to the Auspicious Beast, despite being only a quasi-Soul King, he had, with external assistance, repelled a divine consciousness.
He would likely ascend to godhood in the near future.
Establishing ties with him now might alter their current predicament.
After a moment's thought, Gu Yuena made her decision.
"The enemy of our enemy is our ally. We may indeed rely on mutual strength."
Eagerly, the Auspicious Beast volunteered, "Leave winning over Huo Yuhao to me! I'll ensure success!"
Di Tian and Bi Ji exchanged glances.
'…Are you sure you don't have ulterior motives?'
"Very well. Since you've made your choice, proceed with confidence," Gu Yuena agreed.
She had no intention of forcing the Auspicious Beast.
Originally, she had considered meeting Huo Yuhao herself—but doing so might startle him. It was better to wait.
Since the Auspicious Beast was willing, there was no harm in letting her try.
After all, she and Huo Yuhao had already connected through attribute resonance. The god's scheme had failed, and they would get no further opportunity.
With her shared memories, winning him over would be easy with twice the result for half the effort.
…
If Douluo Continent's soul rings were ranked,
For attack-type soul masters, the Dark Demon Evil God Tiger would undoubtedly sit at the 10 pinnacle.
It was practically a must-have for any self-respecting time traveler.
Arriving in this world without hunting one for its soul ring? Unthinkable.
Evil God Wind Blade, Dark Demon Evil Thunder, Evil God Hook, Evil God Guard, Evil God Sprint, Arena of Life and Death, Dark Demon Domain.
Just these seven innate soul skills combined long-range elemental strikes, teleportation, damage immunity, true damage, control negation, and single-target lockdown—an absurdly luxurious kit.
Coupled with its monstrous physical prowess and its ability to devour others to rapidly grow stronger, it was a veritable hexagonal warrior—unstoppable in all aspects.
Any one of its soul skills could revolutionize a soul master's combat ability—let alone the martial soul evolution its ring could trigger.
However, soul skills' advantages typically shine in the early-to-mid stages. Only at Super Douluo and beyond do they regain prominence—with soul ring age being the critical factor.
In clashes between Super Douluo, sub-50,000-year soul skills often fall short.
At that level, victory hinges on martial soul purity and spatial control.
Most rely on 100,000-year rings, leveraging the soul beast's residual power to sway battles.
Take Tang San as an example.
Though he absorbed a Dark Demon Evil God Tiger's ring, he rarely used its skills—mostly as fodder for his Haotian Hammer's ring explosions.
In the original work, this 60,000-year ring wasn't even granted a proper skill name—reduced to a mere tool.
Likely, the Haotian Hammer's incompatibility prevented him from inheriting its broken abilities.
Had he acquired something like Arena of Life and Death, history might have differed.
By late-stage Douluo, Tang San already wielded the Sea God Trident, six soul bones, and dozens of skills.
Thanks to the Sea God Trials, his rings were all high-aged, each skill uniquely potent.
Yet, because they stemmed from disparate sources, switching between them caused lag, poor synergy, excessive consumption, and clunky rotations.
Simply put—he couldn't integrate them seamlessly.
Tang San knew this. Following his predecessors' examples, he found a solution: Focus on his martial soul's innate power.
"Since the Haotian Hammer is invincible, why tread others' paths?"
As for the Blue Silver Emperor? An afterthought.
After ascension, he abandoned both for godly abilities—prioritizing immediate power over future growth.
A pitfall of godhood inheritance.
Huo Yuhao, however, needn't worry.
Even if he inherited a god's throne, he'd treat it as a stepping stone—not an endpoint.
Before him stretched a path to heaven.
A spatial vortex opened.
The prime suspect, Huo Yuhao, reappeared in the Star Dou Forest—having already absconded with the Dark Demon Evil God Tiger's corpse via God's Power: Space.
Now, he stood in a clearing near Zhang Lexuan's location.
Before reuniting, he had to address the Evil God Pearl.
This orb functioned similarly to the Evil Eye Tyrant's crystal—housing the soul of the deceased.
Just as the Tyrant could possess hosts via its crystal, the Evil God Pearl preserved the Dark Demon Evil God Tiger's soul.
Destroy the pearl, and the soul ring and bone would manifest.
Its origins traced back to an evil god's descent upon a white tiger, mutating it into this abomination—corrupting its light into darkness, birthing black wings and a scorpion-like tail.
Unlike the Tyrant's crystal, the Evil God Pearl and soul ring were separate—the ring formed immediately upon death.
However, acquiring its soul bone required the pearl—where the tiger's essence lay concentrated.
Though only 70,000 years old, its inherent power rivaled a 200,000-year beast that had endured two heavenly tribulations.
Given its uniqueness, a soul bone was guaranteed.
Even if only 70,000-year tier and not a head bone, Huo Yuhao deemed it acceptable.
Once he ascended and crafted a godly outfit, he could enhance it later.
Only his God's Power: Space could suppress the pearl's spatial black hole—preventing it from escaping like it had for Tang San millennia ago.
Back then, Tang San lost the pearl, settling for just the ring.
That escaped orb later birthed an entire otherworldly realm—becoming Zhou Weiqing's cheat in Heavenly Jewel Change.
Its value was undeniable.
The tiger's greatest strength lay in its evil god lineage—the pearl's primary energy source.
Though Huo Yuhao didn't need its corruptive power, the space-time energy within was invaluable.
Soul ring, soul bone, Evil God Pearl.
Three treasures from one tiger—Huo Yuhao would claim them all.
Within the God's Power: Space, Huo Yuhao observed the soul ring—its black hue deeper, its size surpassing standard 10,000-year rings.
After a moment's thought, he summoned the corpse back to reality.
Instantly, a strange black orb floated out, spinning rapidly before attempting to tear open a spatial rift and flee.
Huo Yuhao simply grabbed it mid-air, locking it in place.
The pearl, shimmering blue-green, writhed in his grip—terrified.
"Teacher, I'll need your help again."
Though Huo Yuhao had soul-erasure methods, precision work on this caliber required an expert.
What followed was straightforward.
Electrolux took over—purifying light flashed, refining the pearl in an instant!
Dark Demon Evil God Tiger: "I'm… actually dead this time."
With a final wail, its remnant soul was annihilated.
Now—soul ring absorption could begin.
…
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