"It seems you had your 'eyes' on me from a very early time."
"Mm." The Three-Eyed Golden Lion shook its large head. "I noticed you the first time you came to the Star Dou Great Forest."
"Ever since I was born, I could see many things that other Spirit Beasts couldn't. Between this heaven and earth, whether Spirit Beasts or Spirit Masters, they all bore the mark of 'destiny,' but I couldn't see it on you."
"Each time you came to the Star Dou Great Forest, I was actually watching you."
Ah?
Wang Nan looked at it in surprise.
Before, when he was in the Star Dou Great Forest, he occasionally felt as if something was secretly watching him. He originally thought it was an illusion caused by the dense Spirit Beast Aura in the forest, but now it seemed that this was not an illusion at all; it was the truth.
"Because I can see the destiny of Spirit Beasts, I have always known that I would face an unavoidable disaster."
Wang Nan looked at the Three-Eyed Golden Lion, deep in thought.
An irresistible force stuffing a consciousness that didn't belong to it into its mind, then forcing itself to fall in love with a human who was an enemy of Spirit Beasts, and finally, all of its cultivation turning into another's power, facilitating the evolution of another's Spirit.
For the Three-Eyed Golden Lion, this was indeed a complete and utter disaster.
"Last time, when you fought with the Red King's offspring, I was watching from not far away. It's just that the people around you were too strong at that time, and I didn't want to show myself. However, if you had encountered danger, I would have come out to save you."
Speaking of the Red King, Wang Nan unconsciously lowered his head and glanced at the Spirit Bone on his left leg. The Red King's offspring's Spirit Bone was still there.
Now it seemed that even before meeting the Dragon God, the Star Dou Great Forest, which was extremely dangerous for other Spirit Masters, was relatively safe for him. In a sense, he could be considered someone under the protection of the Auspicious Beast.
Wang Xing, who was beside him, was still in meditation. The process of absorbing the spirit ring would take some time and wouldn't be completed in a short period.
Wang Nan simply found a spot and sat down as well.
The Three-Eyed Golden Lion stood in place, hesitating for a moment, but finally slowly padded over to Wang Nan's side.
It possessed the ability to see destiny, but similarly, such an ability also made it live under the shadow of the future. Only by Wang Nan's side, who was outside of destiny, did it not have to constantly face its impending end.
The Dragon God's Tear on Wang Nan's left wrist bracelet faintly emitted a nine-colored glow, falling upon the Three-Eyed Golden Lion.
The Golden Lion comfortably opened its mouth, seemingly yawning, then leaned against Wang Nan and lay down, enjoying a rare sense of peace.
The Three-Eyed Golden Lion's long fur floated in the wind, brushing against Wang Nan's face, making him feel a bit itchy. After reaching out and smoothing it, he wanted to ask something, but a low snore already sounded from the Three-Eyed Golden Lion beside him.
It fell into a deep sleep, like a child who had been tired for a long time.
---
As the sun set and the moon rose, Wang Nan awoke from his meditation. The Three-Eyed Golden Lion beside him was nowhere to be seen, but the ground nearby still held a trace of warmth.
Wang Xing's aura gradually receded. Six spirit rings — yellow, yellow, purple, purple, purple, black — rose from around him, indicating that the spirit ring absorption had successfully concluded.
"Dad, how do you feel?"
Wang Nan got up and went to Wang Xing's side, just as he saw him open his eyes.
"You'll know if you look." Wang Xing revealed his Coiling Dragon Staff.
The jet-black long rod glowed with a jade-like luster, and the golden patterns on it vaguely outlined the shape of a giant dragon.
As they were speaking, a golden figure dashed in from outside the bamboo forest, followed by a scattering of brightly colored fruits rolling across the ground.
Wang Nan glanced at the Three-Eyed Golden Lion and, not standing on ceremony, picked one up. After a quick wipe, he took a bite.
Immediately, a rich aroma burst in his mouth. Wang Nan unconsciously raised an eyebrow. The taste of this fruit was even better than Huo Yuhao's grilled fish.
"Thank you."
Wang Nan held the fruit and raised his hand toward the Three-Eyed Golden Lion.
However, the Three-Eyed Golden Lion seemed to have returned to its previous demeanor. It didn't speak, merely shook its head, then ran off to the side, acting very "aloof."
Wang Nan didn't forget what happened earlier. He turned to Wang Xing. "Dad, I'll take you out first. Afterward, I'll go meet the person who invited me."
Wang Xing looked at the scene before him, filled with emotion, but didn't say much. He just patted Wang Nan's shoulder. "Good, be careful."
After seeing Wang Xing off, Wang Nan followed the Three-Eyed Golden Lion deeper into the Star Dou Great Forest.
The surrounding air gradually grew humid. After passing through layers of trees, Wang Nan's vision suddenly opened up to a vast expanse, and a clear lake slowly revealed its full appearance.
Misty energy permeated the lake, appearing pearly white under the moonlight. A rich life energy surged forward, and the life gold that Wang Nan had kept on his chest was also stirred by this place, glowing with a green light.
Within the faint mist, a tall figure slowly appeared.
A towering physique nearly three meters tall, with long black hair reaching his waist flowing behind him. As soon as he appeared, a powerful aura pressed down.
The newcomer was, of course, the leader of the Ten Vicious Beasts, the Black Dragon Di Tian, a Spirit Beast with nearly eight hundred thousand years of cultivation. Without needing to intentionally release his power, the aura naturally emanating from him was already enough to make other Spirit Beasts and Spirit Masters feel immense pressure.
He first glanced at the nine-colored crystal on Wang Nan's wrist, then his gaze swept over Wang Nan's chest.
However, he didn't speak. After a slight nod towards the Three-Eyed Golden Lion beside him, he turned and bowed slightly toward the lake.
"Apologies, guest, I am injured and unable to show myself."
A clear, cold voice sounded in Wang Nan's ear.
After this voice fell, a vast mental force diffused from the lake.
This mental force connected with the entire heaven and earth. In Wang Nan's perception, this heaven and earth underwent earth-shattering changes in a short moment. It even seemed as if the entire heaven and earth were transformed by this mental force. Being here was like stepping into another world.
Is this the realm of a "God"?
Wang Nan knew that the "other half" of the Dragon God existed here. This mental force was the realm belonging to the Dragon God. There was no hostility towards him in this mental force; instead, Wang Nan saw a glimpse of a higher realm of mental force within it.
"What do you want to see me for?" Wang Nan slowly took a step forward, arriving before the lake.
"Actually, I've wanted to meet you for a long time, but I don't think you would have accepted our invitation to come to this dangerous place in the Star Dou Great Forest before seeing the will of the Dragon God."