The heavy casualties among their kin had long filled Bear Lord with a belly full of rage. Now, hearing that the humans not only refused to stop but even wanted to take advantage of the situation to encircle and suppress them, he was so furious that his fur stood on end, and a ferocious aura uncontrollably leaked out.
Although they already knew the truth—that it was the soul beasts who had initiated the beast tide—the hatred toward humans had deep roots. The destruction of Shrek City was something they were happy to see.
But the soul beasts had also suffered heavy losses and were being manipulated. If the matter ended here, all would be well.
However, the humans now intended to launch an operation against the Star Dou Forest. The soul beasts, already harboring hatred and anger, had absolutely no intention of sitting down for a proper explanation.
Moreover, even if the truth were revealed, would the humans believe it?
That the soul beasts' apparent ruler, the Beast God Di Tian, had been controlled by someone?
For a clan's leader to be controlled by another was a humiliating matter; the soul beasts wouldn't go around proclaiming it.
"Master, let this subordinate lead the Dark Gold Terrorclaw Bear clan to charge out. We will surely tear the despicable humans' lines to shreds, making them pay in blood. We soul beasts are not lambs to be slaughtered at will."
As he spoke, he was about to rise and muster troops, but in the next second, an icy gaze cold enough to freeze the soul silently swept over his entire body.
Bear Lord's massive frame stiffened abruptly. A fear originating from the deepest part of his bloodline, toward an absolute superior, instantly engulfed him, causing him to shiver violently. His boiling blood cooled almost instantly.
He turned his head stiffly and met Gu Yuena's pair of emotionless, yet profound purple eyes, deep as the starry sky.
There was no anger or reprimand in that gaze—only an extreme indifference, like overlooking insignificant ants.
All of Bear Lord's arrogance vanished without a trace. He thudded back down heavily on his knees, his massive head bowed low, not even daring to breathe heavily.
He dared to defy Di Tian at times and show attitude to the gentle Bi Ji, but he absolutely dared not show the slightest insolence or disrespect before Gu Yuena.
The Silver Dragon King's absolute bloodline suppression was an instinctive fear engraved deep in his soul, making him unable to muster the courage even to look up and meet her eyes.
He knew full well that this seemingly delicate and frail silver-haired woman needed only to move a finger, invoking a trace of power from the depths of her bloodline, to utterly destroy him—a super ferocious beast renowned for his physical strength—body and soul, leaving no remains.
The lakeside of the Lake of Life fell into a deathly silence once more, broken only by the rustling of wind through the leaves and Di Tian's painfully suppressed, agonized gasps.
All the ferocious beasts' gazes focused on Gu Yuena, awaiting the final decision from this co-lord who would determine the fate of the soul beast clan.
Gu Yuena slowly raised her jade-like slender hand, a faint yet incomparably pure silver glow emanating from her fingertip, containing the source power of creation and order.
The calm lake surface rippled in response, reflecting her coldly beautiful, expressionless face.
She didn't look at the kneeling, repentant Di Tian, nor did she pay attention to the restless Bear Lord. She merely parted her vermilion lips, her voice ethereal like heavenly music, yet carrying an unquestionable supreme authority, clearly transmitting into the depths of every ferocious beast's soul.
"If the humans want war, then war it shall be. But my soul beast clan must not be inexplicably used by others, reduced to pawns. This matter involves much; I have my own plans. You all shall guard this place strictly. Without my command, no one is to act on their own, nor make contact with humans lightly."
Her gaze finally fell on the painfully struggling Di Tian, a barely perceptible complex emotion flashing quickly in her purple eyes.
"Di Tian, your sin cannot be atoned for by death alone. The soul beast clan is at a critical juncture of survival; your power is still needed by the clan."
As her words fell, the brilliant silver glow at her fingertip suddenly transformed into a streak of flowing light, entering Di Tian's forehead.
Di Tian's entire body shuddered violently. The expression of extreme pain on his face eased slightly, and the mad, roaring whispers of destruction in his mind seemed temporarily isolated by a gentle silver veil, becoming much weaker.
"This source power can temporarily suppress the destruction imprint in your body, but it cannot eradicate it. Your next task is to lead the soul beasts and guard the core area of the Star Dou Forest well. Without my command, you must not initiate conflict with humans, nor... easily submit to that destructive will."
Gu Yuena's voice remained calm, yet carried a faint warning.
"Otherwise, I will personally end you."
Di Tian suddenly raised his head, his eyes filled with endless guilt, gratitude, and a desperate resolve to fight to the end.
He said gravely: "Di Tian... kowtows in thanks for Master's mercy. Please rest assured, Master. Di Tian swears here that if the day comes when I am completely devoured by destruction and lose my sanity, I will end myself before losing control."
Gu Yuena nodded slightly, then turned to the Myriad Demon King and Bear Lord.
"Myriad Demon King, pass down the order: contract the defenses, have all clans retreat to the core area around the Lake of Life, and build the final line of defense. Bear Lord, you lead the Dark Gold Terrorclaw Bear clan and all clans skilled in frontal combat to handle the outermost vigilance. If human forces dare to step half a foot into the core area... no need to report—kill without mercy."
"Yes, we obey Master's command."
Bear Lord and the Myriad Demon King responded in unison, their voices filled with awe and determination, before rising and quickly departing to execute the orders.
Bi Ji looked at Gu Yuena's calm profile, hesitated for a moment, and then softly asked: "Master, the humans are coming aggressively this time. Do we... really have to erupt into full-scale war with them? That would probably... have unimaginable consequences."
Gu Yuena slowly turned toward the direction of the forest's outskirts, a chilling coldness flashing in her purple eyes that made one's heart palpitate.
"I will seek a way to break the deadlock, but if the humans insist on not stopping and are determined to exterminate my soul beast clan..."
Her voice remained calm, yet suddenly carried an aura of overlooking the world, dominating all existence.
"Then we will let them witness with their own eyes the rage ignited when soul beasts are driven to desperation—a fire capable of burning this continent to ruins."
Her voice wasn't loud, yet it exploded like thunder in the depths of every ferocious beast's soul.
In that moment, every ferocious beast felt a tremor and shock originating from the most primal source of their bloodline.
It was the resurgence of the Dragon God's might, the Silver Dragon King's authority over the elements, the soul beast clan's long-dormant edge, now revealed once more—preferring to shatter like jade rather than remain whole like tile.
Gu Yuena had already made up her mind.
She would immediately leave the Star Dou Forest and head to the Sun Moon Empire.
The primary purpose of this trip was to lend Lu Jingming a hand in dealing with the unprecedented crisis in Mingdu.
Not only was there the Lord Ravager Celenova stationed there, but also a powerful divine consciousness clone of the Sea God Tang San hidden, plus that Phantylia who had seized the Golden Tree and whose strength had skyrocketed—the threat level was off the charts. She had to hurry there as soon as possible.
Secondly, to truly resolve the irreconcilable deadlock between soul beasts and humans and secure a sliver of survival for her clan, she might need to borrow Lu Jingming's power to create an opportunity for both sides to sit down and negotiate.
Even the troublesome destruction imprint in Di Tian's body might require seeking help from Lu Jingming to see if he had a solution.
Of course, if things truly became impossible, and the human side was dead set on exterminating the soul beasts, with even Lu Jingming unable to convince or stop them...
Then she, Gu Yuena, was no coward in battle. With her injuries mostly recovered, she did not fear becoming enemies with the entire human world.
However... just thinking of that worst possibility, of perhaps one day having to face Lu Jingming in battle, standing on completely opposite sides, caused a subtle yet clear, indescribable ache in the depths of her heart.
After all, Lu Jingming was ultimately human.
His stance, his foundation, what he protected—all naturally belonged to the human side.
…
Above the ruins of Mingdu in the Sun Moon Empire, within a different space.
This domain, forcibly peeled from the main plane and suspended amid the cold cosmic dust, was silent and still.
Only the distant stars slowly rotated, casting their eternal glow.
Celenova, clad in white, stood gracefully, indifferently gazing at the scorched earth below where the chaotic battle in Mingdu continued, like a cold deity observing the struggles of ants.
Suddenly, on her exquisitely beautiful face, like carved ice and jade, her brows furrowed almost imperceptibly.
Her slender, jade-like fingers lightly lifted, casually pointing at the void before her.
Space rippled like a calm lake disturbed by a pebble, and the scene within flowed rapidly, clarifying, finally locking onto a figure boldly charging out from a deep, dark abyssal rift.
Wind whirls encircled the body, sharp as blades; divine might manifested, a majestic phantom of a flying steed raised its head and neighed, draping the figure in a brilliant halo. In hand was a massive long-handled war axe that tore through space, carrying unparalleled might.
Heroic and valiant, with battle intent soaring to the heavens—it was none other than the Arbiter-General Feixiao of the Xianzhou Alliance.
"Hehe..."
A light laugh, tinged with mockery and undisguised smugness, abruptly sounded behind Celenova.
"The great victory general of the Xianzhou Alliance—you didn't really think she could be buried so easily, did you?"
Celenova's form didn't move, not even a fluctuation in her surrounding energy field.
She merely turned her head slightly, her peripheral vision and cold, indifferent gaze falling on Phantylia, who had appeared silently at some point.
At this moment, Phantylia held a round fan, her posture lazy and graceful, yet the life aura permeating her body was vast and boundless, forming a bizarre harmony with her original destructive essence.
"It seems you succeeded."
Celenova spoke, her voice cool and flat, showing no concern that Phantylia had invaded her exclusive observation domain without permission.
At this moment, strength reigned supreme, and Phantylia had indeed taken the lead.
As an Lord Ravager, even among followers, her power surpassed the shackles of the Douluo plane. Though she hadn't formally ascended to godhood under this world's rules, in terms of pure combat power, she was already no less than this world's so-called true gods.
However, Phantylia had taken a step ahead.