Star Dou Great Forest, at the junction of the Mixed Zone and the Core Zone.
The air seemed to have solidified into something tangible; the heavy pressure made every surrounding tree tremble, letting out overburdened creaks.
Beast God Di Tian's golden eyes burned with fury as he stared fixedly at Xuan Zi, who was surrounded in the center. The killing intent in his eyes was so thick it almost dripped like blood.
"Xuan Zi! To think it's you again!"
Di Tian's voice was low and raspy, each word squeezed through his teeth, carrying deep-seated hatred.
A few months ago, before the All-Continent High-Rank Soul Master Academy Soul Dueling Tournament began, a heinous incident of Spirit Beast poaching occurred in the Star Dou Great Forest.
At that time, Di Tian had sensed the commotion and rushed over, only to run straight into Xuan Zi, who was also in the forest.
Back then, Xuan Zi had inexplicably taken the fall for the true culprit—Liu Yuan.
Furious at the time, Di Tian had beaten Xuan Zi half to death without a word. Had Xuan Zi not run fast enough, he might have perished in the Star Dou Great Forest right then and there.
And today!
Right now!
Di Tian clearly smelled the lingering scent of the Auspicious Beast on Xuan Zi! That scent was mixed with blood and terror; it had clearly just been stained upon him!
Old and new grudges erupted completely at this moment!
"Last time I let you escape by Luck, yet you didn't repent. Instead, you've doubled down! This time, you actually dared to lay a hand on the Auspicious Beast!"
The dark aura on Di Tian's body exploded. The Black Dragon Sword appeared in his hand out of thin air, its tip pointing directly at Xuan Zi.
"Today, even if Mu En comes, he won't be able to save you! I will destroy both your body and soul!"
Seeing Di Tian's expression, which looked as if he wanted to devour him, Xuan Zi felt bitter in his heart.
He was truly afraid.
The beating from last time was still fresh in his memory. His injuries had only just fully healed not long ago; how could he run into this calamity again?
And this time was clearly even more dangerous than the last! Look at this lineup: Bear King, Myriad Demon King, Scarlet King... all the ranked Vicious Beasts of the Star Dou Great Forest were here. This was going to be a full-course feast!
"A misunderstanding! Beast God, this is truly a misunderstanding!"
While shielding the trembling Huo Yuhao behind him, Xuan Zi wiped sweat from his brow and tried to explain, his old face wrinkled like a chrysanthemum. "I... I was just passing through, wanting to find a spirit ring for this child..."
"Looking for a spirit ring by targeting the Auspicious Beast?!"
The Bear King on the side had long been unable to restrain himself. He had the most violent temper, and hearing this, he roared, "Old thing, since you've admitted it, then pay with your life! Sky-Tearing Claw!"
Boom!
That Dark Gold Dreadclaw, capable of tearing the heavens, fell without reservation. With a world-destroying momentum, it went straight for the top of Xuan Zi's head!
"Attack!" Di Tian ordered, and the Black Dragon Sword slashed out a ten-thousand-foot sword light!
The Demon Eye Magic Tree behind the Myriad Demon King instantly surged, countless roots transforming into a cage to seal the space;
The Scarlet King's three heads simultaneously spat out Hellfire, sealing off all evasion routes.
"Aow—!!!"
In the next second, one scream after another echoed through the clouds.
Although Xuan Zi was a Level 98 Super Douluo, under the siege of such a lineup, he was simply being thrashed like a punching bag.
Even after activating his Martial Soul True Body, the Taotie Divine Ox's massive body was still beaten until its skin was torn and flesh gaped, blood spraying wildly. He had absolutely no power to fight back.
"It's over, it's over..."
Huo Yuhao, who was being shielded tightly by Xuan Zi, was as pale as paper. Looking at the terrifying attacks filling the sky above him, his entire body was shaking.
In a battle of this level, just the aftershocks alone could grind him into powder!
Inside his sea of consciousness, the Ice Empress was even more exasperated and cursed loudly, "Fool! What a fool! I've never seen such a stupid human Titled Douluo! If he wanted to do something, he should have done it stealthily, but no, he had to provoke the Auspicious Beast! Now great, even we have to be buried with him!"
The Heavenly Dream Ice Worm was also wailing, "Yuhao, Brother hasn't even helped you become a god yet. Are we really going to meet our end here?"
And in the outside world.
"Pfft—!"
Xuan Zi violently spat out a large mouthful of blood, his aura instantly withering.
He felt as if his internal organs were about to be shattered. If this continued, within ten breaths, he and Huo Yuhao would undoubtedly die!
"How can I be so unlucky!"
Xuan Zi's heart was filled with grief, indignation, and regret.
Had he known it would be like this, he would have been better off honestly staying in the Sea Gods Pavilion for secluded reflection! Although there was no freedom, at least there was no life-threatening danger!
But he knew it was too late for regrets.
In this desperate situation, a flash of determined madness crossed Xuan Zi's eyes.
"Ahhh! This old man will fight you to the death!"
Xuan Zi roared at the sky, and his originally withered aura suddenly and incredibly surged!
His skin instantly became blood-red, and his whole person seemed to turn into a burning furnace. He was burning his own life Origin, overdrawing his essence blood in exchange for a short burst of explosive power!
This was truly risking his life!
"Taotie Feast! Open for me!"
Rumble—!!!
A terrifyingly peerless earthy-yellow light exploded outward with Xuan Zi at the center. The strength of that power was so great that it actually forced back the attacks of Di Tian and the other Vicious Beasts for a split second!
Space was even torn open by this power, creating a massive rift.
"Go!!!"
Xuan Zi didn't hesitate for a moment, not even stopping to check the results of his attack. He grabbed Huo Yuhao and turned into a blood-red streak of light, plunging into that spatial rift and vanishing without a trace!
"Thinking of running?!"
Di Tian was pushed back half a step. After stabilizing himself, the killing intent in his eyes grew even stronger. With a flap of the Black Dragon Wings on his back, he was about to tear through space to pursue them. With his spatial mastery, even if Xuan Zi fled into the Void Realm, he could definitely catch up!
However, just as he was about to move—
"Wait! Di Tian!"
A gentle yet urgent voice suddenly rang out.
The Bi Ji Bi Ji, who had not made a move this entire time, suddenly looked up toward another part of the dense forest, in the direction opposite to Xuan Zi's escape. Her eyes were full of pleasant surprise.
"I sensed it! It's the Auspicious Beast's aura!"
Bi Ji pointed in that direction and said urgently, "Though it's very faint, its vitality is gradually recovering! It's over there, not far from here!"
"What?!"
Di Tian's foot, which was about to step into the void, stopped mid-air.
He whipped his head around, a flicker of struggle passing through his golden eyes.
On one side was Xuan Zi, whom he hated to the bone and who was the target of both old and new grudges;
On the other side was the Auspicious Beast, whose life or death was unknown and who concerned the Luck of the entire Star Dou Great Forest.
For him, as the Beast God, there was actually only one answer to this choice.
"Consider that old thing lucky!"
Di Tian glared fiercely in the direction where Xuan Zi had disappeared and snorted coldly through gritted teeth, "I can kill him anytime, but the Auspicious Beast must not be lost!"
"Go! Get over there immediately!"
Before his voice had even faded, Di Tian had already changed direction. He turned into a streak of black lightning and charged at full speed toward the direction Bi Ji pointed—which was where Liu Yuan was located!
Although the Bear King, Myriad Demon King, Scarlet King, and other Vicious Beasts were unwilling, they also understood the priorities. They roared one after another and followed closely behind.
In an instant, several terrifying auras capable of changing the color of the heavens and earth pressed toward that not-so-distant place like a tsunami!
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