As the light faded, the figures of Ma Hongjun, Oscar, and Dai Mubai were revealed.
The three men were dressed in tattered clothes, weak and listless, with traces of blood still clinging to their lips.
Dai Mubai, in particular, was clutching his right shoulder tightly with his left hand. The shoulder was empty, and blood had stained half of his body. His face was as pale as paper.
Inside the council chamber, everyone's expression changed drastically.
"Mu Bai!"
Tang San's figure vanished from the spot in an instant, and the next moment he appeared in front of Dai Mubai, supporting his swaying body.
His gaze fell on Dai Mubai's empty right arm, and his eyes suddenly sharpened.
"What happened?"
Tang San's voice was low and unreadable.
Dai Mubai gave a bitter smile, his face full of frustration and resentment.
"Third Brother, we failed."
He took a breath and continued.
"In the Star Dou Great Forest, there lives an extremely powerful black dragon."
"Even if the three of us joined forces, we couldn't withstand a single move from him."
"My arm was torn off by his claw."
Ma Hongjun added from the side, his tone tinged with lingering fear.
"That guy is too strong! So strong...it's unreasonable!"
"If Xiao Ao hadn't used Third Brother's Impression Sausage to block it at the last minute, the three of us might not be back today!"
The entire council chamber was deathly silent.
The other members of the Shrek Seven Devils all wore expressions of disbelief.
Three powerful individuals joined forces, yet they were defeated in a single move?
One of them even lost an arm.
How is that possible!
Tang San fell silent.
He looked at Dai Mubai's shocking wounds, and his brows slowly furrowed.
After becoming a god, he thought he had discovered all the secrets of this continent and had everything under his control.
But now...
First came the inexplicable golden list, followed by a mysterious black dragon capable of severely injuring three deities in a single move.
When did so many powerful beings appear in the Douluo Continent?
Inside the council chamber, a deathly silence reigned, broken only by Dai Mubai's heavy breathing.
The empty right shoulder was a shocking sight.
Ma Hongjun's face turned pale and then red, a mixture of fear of surviving a disaster and humiliation. He gritted his teeth and spoke indignantly.
"Third Brother! Those soul beasts are simply unreasonable!"
His voice broke the silence.
"After we arrived, we spoke to them politely and said that the magic bean would be of great use to us and that we wanted to trade with them."
"But the woman in charge refused without saying a word!"
"Then the black dragon appeared, and attacked without warning, giving us no chance to speak!"
Ma Hongjun became increasingly angry as he spoke, his fists clenching so tightly they cracked.
"They're a bunch of unreasonable beasts, making trouble for no reason!"
Tang San's gaze shifted from Dai Mubai's severed arm to Ma Hongjun and Oscar's pale faces. His once calm face was now covered with a layer of frost.
"Relying on their strength, they act recklessly and disregard human life."
He spoke slowly, his voice not loud.
"It is indeed an evil soul beast."
"He deserves to die!"
The last two words, spoken with resounding force, seemed to lower the temperature in the council chamber.
"Third Brother, you're right!"
Xiao Wu, standing to the side, immediately chimed in with a smile, her clear voice full of reliance and support.
In her opinion, Tang San was always right.
Tang San nodded, but his brows remained furrowed.
A huge question lingered in his mind, one that he couldn't shake off.
"However, I have some questions."
"I believe I know the details of the Star Dou Great Forest fairly well. When did so many unfathomable soul beasts appear?"
"The strength of that black dragon is probably far beyond that of an ordinary Douluo."
This is a question that everyone wants to ask.
Just then, Yu Xiaogang, who had been silent and observing everything with the air of a scholar, pushed up his glasses, and a glint of light flashed across his lenses.
He cleared his throat and spoke in a confident tone.
"If I'm not mistaken, all of this is related to that thing that was just announced on the list of successful candidates."
Everyone turned their attention to him.
Yu Xiaogang thoroughly enjoyed the feeling of being the center of attention. He paused for a moment before slowly uttering a few words.
"The Imperial Auspicious Beast, the Three-Eyed Golden Suan!"
Zhu Zhuqing's cool voice rang out, tinged with a hint of curiosity.
"Master, is there anything unusual about this soul beast?"
A smug look appeared on Yu Xiaogang's face as he began his most proficient theoretical explanation.
"There are scattered records in ancient books that the so-called imperial auspicious beast is an auspicious omen born from the gathering of the energy of heaven and earth."
"Its very existence is a manifestation of a rule. It can greatly enhance the fortune of the entire clan, allowing the cultivation speed of soul beasts to advance by leaps and bounds, and breaking through bottlenecks is as easy as turning one's hand."
"It can be said that with it around, the entire Star Dou Great Forest is a sacred place for cultivation, and it is not surprising that it produces many powerful individuals."
His words silenced the entire council chamber.
Everyone's face was filled with shock.
How to improve the overall fortune and cultivation speed of the entire clan?
What incredible power this is!
A flash of understanding crossed Tang San's eyes, and then that understanding transformed into an unprecedented burning passion.
His gaze swept over the crowd, his voice steady and firm.
"A soul beast with such heaven-defying effects must not fall into the hands of those evil soul beasts in the Star Dou Great Forest."
"That will only fuel their ferocity and bring disaster to the continent."
He stood up, and an invisible aura emanated from him.
"We must take it back."
"Only when it is in the hands of our righteous Shrek can it truly benefit the entire continent!"
...
Starry Sky Forest, Lake of Life.
A misty, life-giving atmosphere enveloped the lake like a thin veil, creating a serene and peaceful scene.
On the small island in the middle of the lake, Gu Yuena sat cross-legged, her long silver hair cascading down like a waterfall.
She put the fairy bean, which emitted a faint fragrance, into her mouth.
The beans melted in my mouth, turning into a warm current that instantly spread throughout my body.
That warm current was gentle yet domineering; wherever it passed, whether it was the wounds left by the divine war of yesteryear or the chronic ailments accumulated over millennia, they were all rapidly repaired and soothed.
The divine power, which had been somewhat sluggish due to the injury, now surged forth like a flood breaking through a dam, flowing more smoothly and powerfully than ever before!
Peak of a first-level deity!
Gu Yuena slowly opened her eyes, her purple pupils shimmering with a captivating light.
She gently stretched her delicate body, her exquisite curves fully revealed beneath her moon-white long dress.
A pair of long, straight, beautiful legs gently crossed, the skirt slipped down, revealing a small section of ankle as clear as jade, the bare jade feet round and lovely, the toes gleaming like pearls.
A long-lost sense of ease spread throughout my body.
Everything is about to come back.
The first-level deity is just the beginning!
Gu Yuena's strength is far more than that!
(End of chapter)