"Scouting?"
Mu En frowned slightly, his tone questioning.
"Scouting for what? Don't tell me you intend to incite another Beast Tide?"
Xiong Jun let out a cold snort.
"Human, don't use your filthy heart to measure us! If we truly wanted to unleash a Beast Tide, do you think you'd still be standing here, speaking to us?"
Bi Ji, standing at the side, explained to Mu En:
"Not long ago, a human Ultimate Douluo revealed his aura outside the Star Dou Forest. From that day forward, we intensified our patrols throughout the forest. The one the Devouring Douluo sought to kill was a Dark-Gold Terror Claw Bear dispatched by Xiong Jun."
Hearing Bi Ji's explanation, Mu En suddenly looked enlightened. So it was the upheaval caused by Long Xiaoyao that had triggered today's incident!
Mu En then turned to Di Tian and the others, saying,
"It was nothing but a misunderstanding. Humanity has no intent to act against the Star Dou Forest. That Dark-Gold Terror Claw Bear has come to no harm, and the Devouring Douluo already fought Xiong Jun to a standstill. Let us end matters here. Return our people to us, Di Tian."
Di Tian shook his head.
"Your words alone will not suffice. We do not agree."
At this, both Mu En and Elder Song furrowed their brows. Mu En asked,
"Then how does the Beast God propose we resolve this matter?"
Di Tian's gaze remained calm as he voiced his demand:
"I believe it is time we amended the terms of our contract. From now on, no Title Douluo or above may enter the Star Dou Forest unless explicitly invited by one of us soul beasts. Furthermore, I require the people of Shrek to swear a Soul Oath never to violate this."
"Absurd!"
Elder Song could no longer contain herself and cursed aloud:
"Your demand is far too excessive! If we were truly to abide by such a rule, would it not mean that you soul beasts could act however you please, while we would be powerless to intervene? That is grossly unfair to us! I, for one, will never agree to this—and neither will anyone else in Shrek!"
Mu En nodded in agreement with Elder Song's assessment. He addressed Di Tian:
"Your condition truly is excessive, Beast God. If one day you soul beasts were to plot something within the Star Dou Forest, and we were bound by a Soul Oath and unable to intervene, would that not be an abdication of responsibility toward all humankind?"
Xiong Jun snorted coldly.
"You think we are like you humans, constantly scheming and plotting? That's the behavior of useless weaklings!"
To Xiong Jun, whose head was full of nothing but muscle, there was never any need for schemes. A direct battle was all that mattered!
Mu En ignored Xiong Jun's words. Fixing his eyes on Di Tian, he shook his head firmly.
"Di Tian, for the safety of both the Academy and humankind, we cannot accept this condition. That is our bottom line."
"Even with your people in my hands?" Di Tian cast a meaningful glance toward Jiang Qingtong and Xiao Xiao as he posed the question.
Mu En paused for a moment, then replied:
"Even with our people in your hands! Forgive me, children—for the sake of humanity, this old man…"
His voice trailed off, eyes brimming with tears. The sight moved Xiao Xiao deeply. Her own eyes filled with tears as she looked across at Mu En, shaking her head.
"I understand, Elder Mu! As a student of Shrek, for the sake of humankind, our personal safety does not matter."
The distance between them was too great, however; Mu En could not hear her words. All he saw was Xiao Xiao weeping, and his heart sank under the weight of it. He felt another surge of grief in his chest and coughed violently.
"Elder Mu, take care of yourself," Elder Song said worriedly, frowning as she watched him.
Di Tian glanced at Jiang Qingtong and Xiao Xiao, then, after a moment of feigned contemplation, said to Mu En:
"Then let us each take a step back, Mu En. From now on, any Title Douluo who possesses a hundred-thousand-year spirit ring is forbidden from entering the Star Dou Forest. In turn, aside from necessary patrols, no soul beast of ten-thousand-year cultivation or above will appear in the outer regions."
These conditions tilted overwhelmingly in favor of the soul beasts—hardly a true compromise. Still, this at least allowed some of Shrek's Title Douluo to enter the forest. On the surface, it seemed acceptable enough.
In the present age, Title Douluo with hundred-thousand-year spirit rings were still exceedingly rare.
Moreover, even without such rings, a Title Douluo equipped with sufficient soul tools could still safeguard themselves within the Star Dou Forest. So long as they avoided Di Tian, Xiong Jun, and the like, they could retreat safely even when encountering a fierce beast.
Considering these factors, Mu En slowly nodded.
"These terms—we accept."
He immediately bound himself with a Soul Oath. Elder Song, though filled with reluctance, could do nothing else. Circumstances outweighed pride, and she had no choice but to yield.
Once Di Tian sensed the Soul Oath take effect, he instructed Bi Ji to escort Jiang Qingtong and Xiao Xiao forward. As the two girls were brought out, Xiong Jun made a move as if to act, but a single glance from Di Tian extinguished his every thought.
The Myriad Demon King, watching from the side, wore a smile upon his refined and alluring face, amused at how easily Di Tian cowed Xiong Jun.
Elder Song, tense and on edge, watched the three approaching figures with hawk-like focus. Mu En reassured her softly:
"Bi Ji, the Emerald Swan, has a good reputation. Do not worry—relax, lest something unexpected happen."
Elder Song nodded, but her gaze remained fixed, unblinking, on the three as they drew near.
When Bi Ji reached them, she inclined her head politely.
"Here, I return them to you. Rest assured—they have suffered no harm while with us."
With that said, Xiao Xiao and Jiang Qingtong ran to Mu En and Elder Song. Xiao Xiao clutched Elder Song's arm and burst into tears.
Though she had barely interacted with Elder Song before, fear had shaken her so deeply that she could no longer restrain herself.
Jiang Qingtong, by contrast, showed little panic. But in order not to arouse suspicion, she too adopted a look of lingering fright.
"Thank you," Mu En said to Bi Ji.
"I only hope you will keep your word," Bi Ji replied. With a final nod, she turned and returned to Di Tian's side.
The corridor of parted trees between the two sides gradually closed, vanishing as though it had never existed. Mu En, with Elder Song, Jiang Qingtong, and Xiao Xiao in tow, made his way back toward Shrek Academy.
Within the forest, Xiong Jun's expression grew dark. He bellowed at Di Tian:
"Di Tian! How could you make another contract with humans? Do you really believe they can be trusted? How long do you think this agreement can restrain them? Aside from that old man, none of them will ever swear a Soul Oath!"
"I am well aware of that," Di Tian replied evenly.
Xiong Jun frowned.
"Then why…"
Di Tian turned his gaze on him and spoke slowly:
"It is our Lord's will. That human's life force is already waning—he has little time left. There is no need to bare fangs at him now. Putting on a show and sending those two girls back is enough."
Xiong Jun pressed further:
"Why send them back at all?"
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