Deep within the Great Star Dou Forest, the Lake of Life.
A deafening boom suddenly erupted between heaven and earth.
The sound waves spread like tangible substance, shaking the branches and leaves of the towering ancient trees, causing countless leaves to fall like rain.
The lake surface shook violently, layers of ripples colliding with each other, splashing fine water droplets.
This sudden thunderous sound instantly alerted all the fierce beasts.
Di Tian, Xiong Jun, Myriad Demon King, Bi Ji, and others appeared one after another, their gazes all turning toward the direction of the Lake of Life, their eyes full of shock and doubt.
"This aura..."
Di Tian's pupils contracted. As the Light-Dark Dragon King, he actually sensed a hint of the long-absent threat of death in this aura.
Immediately after, the energy of the entire heaven and earth began to fluctuate violently.
Countless heaven and earth energies emerged from all directions, as if drawn by an invisible hand, madly converging toward the sky above the Lake of Life.
The surging energy brought gusts of fierce wind, blowing the lake surface into turbulent waves.
The branches and leaves of the towering ancient trees swayed wildly in the fierce wind, emitting rustling laments.
A massive energy vortex gradually formed at the center of the Lake of Life, greedily devouring the heaven and earth energies pouring in from all directions.
The center of the vortex emitted heart-trembling fluctuations, and even the surrounding space began to distort slightly, as if unable to bear the pressure of this force.
Before this terrifying power, the entire Great Star Dou Forest fell into deathly silence.
Countless spirit beasts prostrated themselves on the ground, trembling, even their breathing becoming cautious.
"Is this Fang Yang coming out of seclusion?"
Xu Xiaoyan asked softly, her jade hand unconsciously tightening the corner of her clothes, a flash of anticipation and nervousness passing through her eyes.
"It's Brother."
Na'er nodded affirmatively, her platinum long hair gently floating in the breeze.
Her heterochromatic eyes flickered with hard-to-conceal joy, as if she had waited for this moment for too long.
Gu Yuena remained silent, her pair of purple eyes tightly locked on the Lake of Life.
As the Silver Dragon King, she could sense that the aura coming from the Lake of Life was more powerful than ever before, even making her feel a hint of pressure.
Just at this moment, a vast and majestic momentum suddenly descended, like an ancient dragon awakening from ten thousand years of slumber, carrying irresistible pressure, enveloping the four wilds.
Boom—
The lake water of the Lake of Life suddenly parted to both sides, and a figure slowly emerged.
Fang Yang stepped on the void, each step causing ripples in space, as if heaven and earth were trembling for his emergence.
He wore a black long robe, his hair like ink, his face still handsome, but between his brows there was an additional unfathomable majesty.
The aura emanating from around him was as vast as the sea, yet as restrained as an abyss.
In merely three steps, he went from the center of the Lake of Life to the lakeside, his figure as ethereal as an immortal.
Fang Yang's gaze fell upon the three girls, and a warm smile appeared on his face.
That smile carried the joy of reunion after a long separation, and also carried a hint of apology.
"Sorry for making you wait so long."
"Congratulations on your emergence, Brother Fang Yang!" Na'er ran to his side happily, her eyes full of delight.
Xu Xiaoyan also revealed a gentle smile, though there was a faint glimmer of tears in her eyes.
Gu Yuena stepped forward slowly, her purple eyes looking deeply at Fang Yang, speaking softly: "You finally came out."
A simple sentence, yet it seemed to contain a thousand words.
Fang Yang looked at her deeply and nodded: "Mm, I'm out."
Four eyes met, and everything was understood without words.
"Your Majesty..."
Just at this moment, a low voice came, breaking this warm atmosphere. Fang Yang raised his eyes to look, and saw Di Tian leading the fierce beasts forward.
Xiong Jun, Myriad Demon King, Bi Ji, and other fierce beasts followed closely behind, each with reverence on their faces.
"Your subordinate pays respects to Your Majesty!"
Di Tian was the first to bow in salute, and the other fierce beasts also lowered their heads in greeting, their postures incomparably respectful.
They could sense that the current Fang Yang, compared to three years ago, had undergone heaven-shaking changes.
Although his aura appeared more restrained on the surface, that unfathomable pressure made even them, as fierce beasts, feel their hearts tremble.
"You all may rise."
Fang Yang spoke indifferently, his voice peaceful yet carrying unquestionable majesty.
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Di Tian and the fierce beasts responded respectfully, slowly rising, yet still maintaining slightly bowed postures.
Fang Yang's gaze swept across the fierce beasts, finally settling on Di Tian: "These three years, has the Great Star Dou Forest been peaceful?"
Di Tian stepped forward, respectfully reporting: "Reporting to Your Majesty, all is well. With us sitting in guard, no one dares to violate the borders."
"Mm."
Fang Yang nodded slightly, not surprised by this result. With Di Tian and other fierce beasts sitting in guard, the Great Star Dou Forest indeed would have few major incidents.
"Then you may withdraw for now." Fang Yang waved his hand.
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Di Tian and the fierce beasts responded respectfully, slowly retreating, soon disappearing into the forest.
Fang Yang turned his gaze back to the three girls, his eyes carrying inquiry: "During my seclusion, did anything major happen outside?"
"Senior Liu Yang called on the soul guide phone."
Gu Yuena spoke up, "He said there were matters he wished to discuss with you, but upon hearing you were in seclusion, he said he'll discuss it with you after your emergence."
Fang Yang, hearing this, a flash of contemplation passed through his eyes. As one of the Plane Consciousness's avatars, Liu Yang's initiative to contact him must be for important matters.
He nodded: "Alright, I understand. I will contact him shortly."
"Brother, I missed you so much."
Na'er hugged Fang Yang's arm, gently resting her head on his shoulder, her tone carrying a coquettish meaning.
"I missed you too." Xu Xiaoyan spoke softly, her eyes full of tenderness.
Fang Yang's heart warmed, and he embraced Na'er and Xu Xiaoyan respectively: "I missed you both as well."
His gaze finally fell upon Gu Yuena, his eyes carrying an apology: "Gu Yue, sorry for making you wait so long."
Gu Yuena shook her head lightly: "As long as you came out, that's what matters."
"Fang Yang, I'm level 70 in soul power."
Xu Xiaoyan spoke to Fang Yang, her face carrying an expectant expression.
Fang Yang's eyes brightened, carefully sensing the soul power fluctuations emanating from Xu Xiaoyan—indeed, she had already reached the Soul Saint level.
He reached out to gently stroke Xu Xiaoyan's hair, his eyes full of appreciation: "As expected of my Xiaoyan, such rapid progress. It seems you didn't slack off during these three years either."
"Hehe."
Xu Xiaoyan smiled happily. Being recognized by Fang Yang was the greatest reward for her.
"Brother, I can now completely control the Golden Dragon King's power, and I'm also at the God King realm."
Na'er also eagerly shared her progress.
Fang Yang turned to Na'er, sensing the Golden Dragon King power within her body, and nodded with satisfaction: "My Na'er is also amazing."
"Hehe."
Na'er smiled happily, her platinum long hair shining brightly in the sunlight.
Gu Yuena watched Na'er and Xu Xiaoyan competing to show off before Fang Yang, and couldn't help but shake her head lightly, though the corner of her mouth carried a faint, almost imperceptible smile.
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