"Is it that human brat?"
Atop an ancient tree, Di Tian's lips twitched slightly.
What a coincidence…
Meanwhile, in midair, Neuvillette caught sight of the trembling Goldswallow Beast cowering in the shadow of a giant dragon. A faint smile curved his lips.
Finally, I've found you.
"So that's the Goldswallow Beast…"
Wang Dong'er and Huo Yutong, the two little ones, poked their heads out, curiously peering at the two soul beasts below.
"That's it! No mistake!"
The Skydream Iceworm coiled on top of the girl's head spoke out excitedly.
However…
Neuvillette's calm gaze swept past the nearby Di Tian, who was watching leisurely, and then to Mu Xue and her two companions, their auras in disarray. His brow arched slightly.
Why is this guy here?
Shouldn't he be tending to the Auspicious Beast? Yet here he is, at ease as ever…
Forget it.
Neuvillette shook his head lightly. The priority now was helping Huo Yutong absorb her soul ring, and then leaving Star Dou Forest.
This was not something he wished to get too involved in.
In the next instant—
Neuvillette stretched out his palm, fingers forming the shape of an eagle's claw. With a light grasp, the Goldswallow Beast below was caught in the phantom of a dragon's claw and slowly lifted into the air.
The beast flailed and struggled in midair, but it was all in vain.
He turned, about to leave.
Below.
Mo Yunfei, upon witnessing this scene, immediately understood—Neuvillette's strength was indeed far beyond his own, which was why he hadn't been able to discern his true depth!
This level of might… at the very least, he had to be Soul Douluo, perhaps even a Titled Douluo.
So young, yet so powerful—it was terrifying.
But still…
"Sir Neuvillette! We are from the Heavenly Soul Empire. These two are princesses of the Heavenly Soul Empire, and also saintesses of the Body Sect! If you could save them, the Heavenly Soul Empire would regard you as a benefactor. Wealth, power, beauty—you may ask for whatever you desire!"
Mo Yunfei cried out urgently to Neuvillette's departing figure in the sky.
Right now, Neuvillette was the only true powerhouse present.
And the only chance for the princesses' survival.
His own life or death didn't matter, but the princesses absolutely could not fall here!
Mu Xue's beautiful eyes were transfixed on the vast, pale-blue figure above—the true dragon described in ancient records.
And atop that majestic dragon's head stood Neuvillette, staff in hand, clad in a flowing dark-blue robe, his handsome face exuding a dignified aura.
He was powerful yet elegant, like a stern Damocles' sword.
Did someone like this truly exist?
Beside her, Weina stared blankly at the sky, her little face frozen.
A crystalline drop slid from her pale chin.
Drool.
Mu Xue sighed softly, ignoring her disgraceful younger sister. With her fair, jade-like hand, she gently wiped the corner of her mouth.
So hopeless, honestly.
"The Body Sect…"
High above, the massive dragon halted just as it was about to turn away. Its colossal head swiveled, gazing down at the three.
Neuvillette's long, pale fingers tapped lightly on his staff, his eyes sweeping across Mu Xue.
So, at this point, the Body Sect had already taken her as their saintess.
Yet, in the original canon, nothing like this happened in the forest.
Is this the butterfly effect caused by my presence?
Neuvillette pondered briefly, then gave a slight nod.
In the original story, Mu Xue later became something of a power figure—a name the Heavenly Soul Empire could present on the grand stage.
Though Neuvillette had no particular interest in the Heavenly Soul Empire, owing a favor wasn't necessarily a bad thing.
Of course, the most important factor was that Di Tian was proving somewhat underwhelming.
If the one here had been the Ten Thousand Demon King or Xiong Jun, he would have turned and left immediately—without even a second thought.
"Fine."
Neuvillette spoke calmly.
In the next moment, the three were lifted into the air by an invisible force, and the great dragon roared as it prepared to depart.
"Human! How dare you!"
A deep voice thundered from not far away.
A crimson figure blazed into view again, three scarlet eyes locked tightly on Neuvillette in the sky.
If he simply let them go, how would a Ten Great Fierce Beast like him keep his dignity?
The others would laugh him to death.
"As expected!"
Mu Xue's heart sank. The oppressive might of a hundred-thousand-year soul beast weighed on her like suffocation.
She knew it—the one pulling the strings from the shadows had been this being all along.
Though she had no idea how they had offended such a terrifying existence, the outcome was clear: they were not leaving alive.
Earlier, she had clung to the faint hope that Di Tian had lost interest and wandered off.
But…
Mu Xue could already imagine Neuvillette casting them aside and fleeing in disgrace.
A seventeen or eighteen-year-old genius achieving Soul Douluo-level strength, or even Titled Douluo—such a thing was already monstrous.
A talent worthy of the history books.
But against Di Tian, a three-hundred-thousand-year beast, one of the true overlords of Star Dou Forest…
Even Neuvillette, no matter how strong, could only run for his life.
Her beautiful eyes closed. At this point, she could understand Neuvillette's choice. A princess's favor was hardly worth gambling one's life for.
Mo Yunfei's face was equally grim.
Clearly, his thoughts mirrored Mu Xue's.
But seconds passed—
And the scene seemed frozen in place.
Mu Xue's eyes snapped open in shock. Looking around, she realized they were already high in the sky.
Clouds drifted by.
Above, the dragon's vertical pupils stared indifferently at Di Tian in the distance. There was none of the frantic fleeing she had expected.
Mu Xue's eyes widened further.
Her gaze fell on Neuvillette, still as calm as ever.
Why… why isn't he running?
"Is there a problem?"
At last, Neuvillette spoke, eyeing Di Tian's stiff expression with a look of mild puzzlement.
The air grew ever more awkward.
Mu Xue's rosy lips parted, her fair hand covering them as disbelief filled her beautiful eyes.
Could it be… Neuvillette didn't even recognize Di Tian?
Not only did he not run, but he even questioned him.
Wouldn't Di Tian simply crush him the next moment?
Mo Yunfei's throat bobbed, his face a mask of despair as he looked at Neuvillette's "puzzled" expression. He was nearly in tears.
Big brother, ancestor, for heaven's sake, just run! If you anger him now, dying would be the best you could hope for!
Yet—Di Tian did not strike.
Instead, his eyes burned with fury as he roared:
"It's all your fault! If you hadn't merged with the Auspicious Beast that day, it wouldn't have run away to the outside world on its own! Give me back the Auspicious Beast!"
Mu Xue's eyes filled with confusion.
Why was such a terrifying beast wasting words instead of attacking?
Moreover…
Her pupils shrank suddenly as she exchanged a glance with Mo Yunfei, both seeing the same shock reflected in the other's eyes.