Bonus Chapter. Enjoy!
============================
"Yuhao!" Wang Dong pulled on Huo Yuhao's sleeve, her anxiety written between her brows, in her eyes, and on her slightly trembling lips.
Xuan Zi also looked at Huo Yuhao, his earthy yellow eyes filled with guilt. He opened his mouth as if to say something, but swallowed it back down. He hadn't expected that coming along this time would lead to such a crisis again.
Moreover, he had no solution right now and actually had to let a Student like Huo Yuhao "sacrifice" himself in exchange for a chance at survival.
Xuan Zi took a deep breath, his gaze becoming firm. "Yuhao, there's no need for this. If we must die, then so be it."
At worst, he would risk his old life and fight Di Tian. Even in death, he would die with dignity.
Huo Yuhao guessed what Xuan Zi was thinking, but he really wasn't intending to sacrifice himself. His expression remained calm, showing no fear or tragic heroism. Although Huo Yuhao had never interacted with Di Tian, he had heard stories about Spirit Beasts from Aunt Leng Ten Thousand Years later.
Ten Thousand Years later, the Star Dou Great Forest had almost vanished. While it was said that the progress of human soul tool technology crushed the Spirit Beasts in strength, it was also partly because the Spirit Beasts had trusted humans too much.
The original intention of establishing the Spirit Pagoda was good, but later generations gradually changed their hearts, and the Vicious Beasts, who were originally partners, were kicked out.
In Leng Yaozhu's words, sometimes Spirit Beasts are more trustworthy than humans.
Huo Yuhao looked at the three of them and said calmly, "Elder Xuan, Dean, Wang Dong, don't worry. Senior Di Tian has promised not to harm my life."
Saying this, Huo Yuhao looked at Di Tian and smiled. "I believe Senior Di Tian, as the leader of the Soul Beast Clan, will not break his word."
Di Tian looked at Huo Yuhao, unable to understand where this youth got the courage to act so lighthearted in front of him.
However, he didn't really want to kill Xuan Zi here and make an enemy of Shrek. Shrek Academy had Ten Thousand Years of heritage; if they truly fell out, it would benefit no one.
Thus, he snorted. "This King's promise is naturally valid."
Xuan Zi and Xian Liner both recalled the academy's records of the Vicious Beasts in the Star Dou Great Forest. Although Vicious Beasts were Spirit Beasts, they never seemed to have broken the promises they made.
Especially Di Tian; as the Beast God and leader of the Soul Beast Clan, his every word and action represented all the Spirit Beasts in the Star Dou Great Forest. This powerful and proud existence likely wouldn't break his promise.
Xuan Zi was still hesitating, his brows furrowed; he truly couldn't rest easy letting a Student face the Beast God.
If something went wrong, how would he explain it to the academy? How would he explain it to Elder Mu?
At this moment, Xian Liner stepped forward. "Senior Di Tian, I hope you can keep your promise, otherwise Shrek Academy will certainly demand an explanation."
Xian Liner also sent a voice transmission to Xuan Zi and Wang Dong: "This seems to be the best way right now. Although Di Tian is a Spirit Beast, since he said he won't harm Yuhao, he should be trustworthy."
Xuan Zi nodded; this was the only way for now.
But Wang Dong was still hesitating, biting her lip, her eyes full of struggle. She didn't want Huo Yuhao to go, didn't want him to face danger alone.
Xian Liner transmitted again: "If we stay here and are killed by Di Tian, do you think Yuhao would risk his life against him?"
Wang Dong's body trembled violently; she understood what Xian Liner meant. She clenched her fists and suddenly looked at Di Tian, her large pinkish-blue eyes full of stubbornness. "My Clear Sky Sect has a Limit Douluo in residence. If Yuhao hasn't returned to Shrek in five days, then my clan elders will personally pay a visit."
A flash of surprise crossed the eyes of Xuan Zi and Xian Liner. They knew Wang Dong was from the Clear Sky Sect, but the Sect lived in seclusion, and they hadn't expected it still had a Limit Douluo.
Di Tian glanced at Wang Dong, a flicker of movement in his golden vertical pupils. A Limit Douluo was indeed enough for him to take seriously.
He then said, "Rest assured, he will safely leave Star Dou within five days."
Wang Dong took one last look at Huo Yuhao, her large pinkish-blue eyes misting over.
Her voice choked slightly, filled with reluctance and worry. "You must be careful. I'll wait for you to come back at the academy."
After speaking, Wang Dong turned and raised her hand to wipe her eyes, not wanting Huo Yuhao to see her cry.
Then she followed Xuan Zi and Xian Liner without looking back, her figure receding into the forest until she finally disappeared into the shadows of the trees.
Huo Yuhao watched the three leave, feeling a sense of relief in his heart. His brows unfurled, and his tense body relaxed slightly. At least they were safe. As for himself, he wasn't worried; he had trump cards and contingencies.
He looked at Di Tian again and asked calmly, "Senior Di Tian, where are we going next?"
Di Tian didn't reply. He glanced at Chi Wang. "Bring him to the Lake of Life."
After speaking, a spatial rift was torn open behind Di Tian again. He stepped calmly into it, his figure merging into the darkness. In the blink of an eye, the spatial rift closed, and Di Tian's figure vanished.
Chi Wang's three "dog heads" shook, its six eyes looking at Huo Yuhao with a complex gaze.
It spoke, its voice low and raspy. "Kid, follow me!"
With that, Chi Wang turned and ran deeper into the Star Dou Great Forest. Huo Yuhao quickly followed, his steps light as he leaped between tree roots and bushes, keeping close behind Chi Wang.
"What's your name?" While moving forward, a clear female voice drifted over.
Huo Yuhao turned to look at the Auspicious Beast running alongside him.
A soft glint flashed in his eyes. "My name is Huo Yuhao."
Then he also asked, "What's your name?"
"They all call me Auspicious Beast." The Auspicious Beast tilted its small head, its golden fur fluttering slightly in the dappled light and shadow.
But a trace of thought flashed in its two large eyes. "But I know that's not a name. I also want a name that belongs to me."
Before, the Auspicious Beast had never had this thought. But now, it really wanted a name of its own.
The Auspicious Beast blinked its golden eyes at Huo Yuhao and tilted its small head, asking, "Have we met before? You give me the feeling that you seem to know me."
Huo Yuhao's heart skipped a beat at those words. He hadn't seen the Auspicious Beast, never. But in his heart, she was the most familiar stranger.
Those historical records from Ten Thousand Years later, those yellowed pages, those ancient words, and those love stories embellished by later generations... all of these gave him an indescribable sense of closeness to this Auspicious Beast he was seeing for the first time.
Facing the Auspicious Beast's question now, Huo Yuhao hesitated for a moment, then pursed his lips and said, "This is our first time meeting."
"Hmph!" The Auspicious Beast let out a soft hmph and turned its head away, no longer looking at Huo Yuhao.
However, Huo Yuhao noticed that the third eye on its forehead, which had been closed, slowly opened. The Auspicious Beast's third eye wasn't golden like the other two, but red. Red light surged within it as the Auspicious Beast looked at Huo Yuhao again, its gaze seeming able to see through all illusions and discern all secrets.
Huo Yuhao didn't know what it saw, but he noticed the Auspicious Beast's pupils contract slightly, a flash of shock appearing in its golden eyes.
Then the Auspicious Beast's voice carried a hint of surprise: "You really aren't simple; you actually have such a dense power of Luck upon you!"
Huo Yuhao didn't reply; he thought of what the spirit of the Golden Tree, Elder Jin, had said. He was the Child of Destiny, carrying fifty percent of the Douluo Continent's Luck for Ten Thousand Years. However, the other party hadn't seen his ability to travel between two worlds, which made Huo Yuhao feel slightly more at ease.
After all, this was his biggest secret.
The Auspicious Beast then added, "Although I can't see it clearly, I am certain you must know me and be familiar with me."
"Because this is... the guidance of fate."
---------------------------------------------
A/N:
5 Power Stones = 1 Extra Chapter
2 Reviews = 1 Extra Chapter
I hope all of you are enjoying this story so far. I would appreciate some Power Stones if you can spare any. Leave a review if you like the story. Thank you.