The core area of the Star Dou Great Forest was perpetually shrouded in a layer of hazy mist, as if even the sunlight dared not easily penetrate it.
Ancient trees towered into the clouds, their branches and leaves interwoven into a canopy that blocked out the sky and sun, leaving only scattered patches of light sprinkling onto the deep, secluded lake surface.
The Lake of Life was tranquil as a mirror, its water displaying an emerald-like jade green, and the dense Heaven and Earth Origin Qi had almost solidified, swirling and steaming above the lake surface.
This place was a forbidden area for humans, and a rare sanctuary of peace within the Star Dou Great Forest.
Suddenly, a ripple appeared on the lake surface.
"Di Tian!"
A clear, cold, and noble voice rang out, seemingly traveling from distant time and space, yet also echoing directly in the depths of the Soul.
The voice was not loud, but it instantly caused the powerful Spirit Beasts guarding the vicinity to hold their breath; even the sound of the wind seemed to freeze.
The next moment, a tall figure appeared by the lake shore.
He wore a black robe, his face was stern, and his golden pupils contained endless majesty and the vicissitudes accumulated over years—this was the Golden-eyed Black Dragon King, Di Tian, known by the world as the "Beast God"!
Yet at this moment, this sovereign, who stood at the Peak of the Spirit Beasts, slightly lowered his head, his posture utterly respectful, and softly said toward the center of the lake, "Master."
If any Spirit Master were to witness this scene, they would certainly be struck speechless with shock.
Who could have imagined that the strongest fighting force on the Douluo Continent, ranked first among the Ten Great Vicious Beasts, would possess such a humble attitude, referring to someone else as "Master."
Only these Vicious Beasts in the core circle of the Star Dou Great Forest were qualified to know that the existence beneath the Lake of Life was the future of the Spirit Beasts, the true co-sovereign of the Spirit Beasts; Di Tian was merely the representative on the surface.
Because this one was the other half of the Dragon God, a true God.
She was the Silver Dragon King, Gu Yuena!
The Lake of Life remained calm, seemingly unmoved even by the strongest winds.
Only when the voice sounded could a slight fluctuation be seen.
Gu Yuena's clear, cold, and majestic female voice transmitted once again: "Have you detected the unusual movement in the southern part of Star Dou?"
Di Tian respectfully replied, "I detected it. The celestial phenomena changed just now, but I still don't know what happened."
Gu Yuena then said, "I detected a trace of divine power. Go and investigate the situation."
Upon hearing this, Di Tian's golden vertical pupils slightly contracted. He hadn't expected the recent event to involve a deity.
"Yes, Master!"
Di Tian answered and then prepared to depart.
"Wait!"
Gu Yuena's voice suddenly came again, causing Di Tian to pause his movement.
"Remember this: your trip is only for investigation. No matter what you discover, do not antagonize the other party."
Di Tian solemnly agreed: "Yes!"
Di Tian's figure vanished instantly from the shore of the Lake of Life. The Silver Dragon King, Gu Yuena, at the bottom of the lake, withdrew her consciousness and mused, "The heavenly secrets have been disturbed, and the future has changed. Perhaps there is no need to wait another ten thousand years!"
"Hmph," Huo Yuhao couldn't help but let out a soft groan, slowly opening his eyes.
Tang Ya, who had been waiting nearby, instantly rushed over, looking at Huo Yuhao and saying worriedly, "Xiao Yuhao, you're finally awake. You had us worried sick."
"Sister Ya."
Huo Yuhao called out to the sister he had just met, then turned his gaze to the other side, looking at Kong Deming and Kong Xuan.
Although he appeared unconscious just now, he was actually communicating with the Heavenly Dream Iceworm in his Sea of Spirit.
According to the Heavenly Dream Iceworm, Kong Deming and Kong Xuan, the grandfather and grandson pair, were immensely powerful but their motives were unclear.
Moreover, these two had just witnessed him absorbing the Heavenly Dream Iceworm's million-year spirit ring, thus learning his secret.
Huo Yuhao was unsure why these two had been guarding him, but Brother Tianmeng told him to proceed with caution.
Seeing that Huo Yuhao's gaze was fixed on Kong Deming and Kong Xuan, Tang Ya shifted her body slightly, blocking his view.
"Xiao Yuhao, now that you've absorbed a spirit ring, you are an official Spirit Master."
"Do you want to join our Sect? With a Sect, you won't have to come hunt for Souls alone anymore."
Tang Ya decided to strike first, immediately voicing her intention to recruit Huo Yuhao into the Tang Sect.
She had been pondering this earlier. Although she didn't know Huo Yuhao's family situation, coming alone to the dangerous Star Dou Great Forest to obtain a spirit ring suggested he likely had no backing, or at least his family couldn't provide any assistance for his Cultivation.
Huo Yuhao instinctively asked, "A Sect?"
Tang Ya nodded, saying seriously, "The Tang Sect, once the number one Sect on the Continent!"
Huo Yuhao trembled all over upon hearing this, and involuntarily said, "I know the Tang Sect. My mother told me that the Tang Sect is one of the oldest Sects in history. She told me the legendary stories of the Tang Sect; she said a god was born there."
Tang Ya was overjoyed upon hearing this. Seeing the surprise in Huo Yuhao's eyes, she felt that she had a chance.
Not far behind Tang Ya, Kong Xuan, listening to their conversation, frowned slightly, thinking this was likely another "secret maneuver" by God King Tang.
Otherwise, how could Huo Yuhao's mother, a maid in a Duke's mansion who struggled immensely just to live under the suppression of the main wife, have the leisure to tell stories about the Tang Sect?
She wasn't even a Spirit Master, so where did her yearning and admiration for the Tang Sect come from?
"That's right, it is this Tang Sect."
Tang Ya said excitedly, "Xiao Yuhao, do you want to join the Tang Sect?"
Kong Xuan couldn't stand it anymore and immediately interjected, "The Tang Sect was indeed glorious in the past, but it has declined now—"
He took a few steps forward, walked up to Huo Yuhao, and continued, "I heard that the Tang Sect doesn't even have a manor anymore, its foundation has been seized, and the entire Tang Sect probably only has one or two people left."
Upon hearing this, Tang Ya involuntarily clenched her fists, and her eyes suddenly reddened.
She wanted to refute Kong Xuan, but couldn't speak, because everything he said was true.
Tang Ya stood up, her eyes filled with stubbornness as she looked at Kong Xuan: "Although the Tang Sect has declined now, I will definitely restore it!"
She turned her head to look at Huo Yuhao: "Xiao Yuhao, I won't lie to you. Although the Tang Sect has declined, it still possesses many secret arts that are very helpful for Spirit Master Cultivation."
"If you join the Tang Sect, once it grows strong in the future, you will be an elder of the Sect."
When Tang Ya mentioned secret arts, a question suddenly popped up in Kong Xuan's mind.
The Tang Sect's foundation was seized, yet the Iron Blood Sect surprisingly paid no attention to the Tang Sect's secret arts. This was completely unreasonable.
As a Sect, how could they only value assets and disregard secret arts that enhance strength?
Could this also have been calculated by God King Tang?
Doubt arose in Kong Xuan's heart, while on the other side, facing Tang Ya's expectant gaze, Huo Yuhao did not give his answer.
If it were in the past, he probably would have agreed, after all, this was the Tang Sect.
But now, being unclear about the motives of Kong Deming and Kong Xuan, he dared not casually agree, especially since they knew his secret and were much stronger.
Kong Xuan wasted no time either, looking at Huo Yuhao and saying, "Little brother, your Spirit is eyes, right?"
Huo Yuhao nodded, wondering if the other party was finally going to reveal his purpose.
"An eye Spirit is very suitable for learning spirit tools. My grandfather is a Titled Douluo, and also a Ninth Rank Soul Engineer. He values your talent and wishes to take you as his disciple."
Tang Ya and Bei Bei simultaneously looked toward Kong Deming, their eyes filled with shock.
This statement confirmed Bei Bei's earlier speculation: the other party truly was a Titled Douluo.
He just hadn't expected the other party to also be a Ninth Rank Soul Engineer.
"Senior, are you a person from the Sun Moon Empire?!"
Bei Bei's expression became serious. Currently, there wasn't a single Ninth Rank Soul Engineer in the original Douluo Three Kingdoms on the Continent.