"Tianyuan Pavilion?" Upon hearing this, a trace of confusion appeared in Di Tian's eyes. In his memory, Shrek Academy did not have this organization—his recollection was still from five years ago.
However, though he was unclear about the origins of Tianyuan Pavilion, it did not hinder the vigilance he felt toward Zhu Ziyang. He could clearly sense that this human named Zhu Ziyang possessed extremely terrifying strength within him—strength that even made Di Tian wary!
Di Tian's face remained cold. His gaze passed over Zhu Ziyang and landed on Wu Huan'er behind him. After confirming that Wu Huan'er showed no apparent issues, he let out a slight sigh of relief. As for the Crimson Gold Flame Lion King in front of Wu Huan'er, which had already lost its breath, Di Tian ignored it completely. To be used as food or a soul ring by the Auspicious Beast was its fortune!
While Di Tian was examining Wu Huan'er, Zhu Ziyang was also sizing up the ferocious beasts behind him. Closest to Di Tian was a woman in green. She wore an emerald-green long dress, with green hair, green eyes, and even green wings behind her. Such a thoroughly green woman—her identity was naturally obvious: the fourth-ranked among the Ten Great Ferocious Beasts, the Emerald Swan, Bi Ji!
The second closest to Di Tian was a man with a yin-soft aura: the fifth-ranked among the Ten Great Ferocious Beasts, the Demoneye Demon Tree, Myriad Demon King. The two ferocious beasts behind were easy to recognize, as they appeared in their true forms—one was a Dark Gold Terror claw Bear over fifteen meters tall, and the other was a Three-Headed Scarlet Devil Mastiff. Clearly, they were the sixth-ranked Bear Lord and the eighth-ranked Scarlet King among the Ten Great Ferocious Beasts!
"Human, no matter your identity, you should be glad that the Auspicious Beast is unharmed. Otherwise, even flattening your Shrek Academy would not quench this king's anger!" Di Tian said in an icy tone.
"Hehe!" Zhu Ziyang chuckled lightly upon hearing this and said, "Perhaps."
"…" Di Tian fell silent, for Zhu Ziyang's attitude surprised him greatly. He had expected this human to retort, but unexpectedly, he responded with a casual "perhaps," leaving Di Tian momentarily unable to adapt.
"You are Zhu Ziyang, correct?" Seeing Di Tian fall silent, Bi Ji spoke up. Her voice was very gentle. "What is your relationship with the Auspicious Beast?"
"You all call her the Auspicious Beast? Why not use her name?" Zhu Ziyang did not answer Bi Ji's question but countered with one of his own.
"Uh~" Bi Ji's tone faltered, momentarily unable to follow Zhu Ziyang's train of thought. She stared at him with wide eyes.
"Hehe! I understand!" Zhu Ziyang sneered and said, "So what you care about isn't her, but the Auspicious Beast. To you, it doesn't matter who the Auspicious Beast is—what her name is or what she likes is secondary. Her identity as the Auspicious Beast is what you truly care about. If she weren't the Auspicious Beast but an ordinary golden soul beast, some among you would surely be the first to devour her and refine her bloodline to strengthen your own!"
"No, that's not it." Bi Ji immediately tried to explain, but Di Tian raised his hand to interrupt her.
Di Tian stared at Zhu Ziyang and said coldly, "Human, leave the Star Dou Great Forest immediately. I can overlook your sin of abducting the Auspicious Beast! From now on, you are forbidden from appearing in the Star Dou Great Forest again—otherwise, death without mercy!"
"Heh!" Zhu Ziyang sneered upon hearing this and said, "What if I say no?"
"Then you're courting death!" Di Tian's voice suddenly rose, and a terrifying pressure erupted from him, sweeping toward Zhu Ziyang.
Zhu Ziyang remained unmoved. His figure trembled slightly, and that mountain-like pressure instantly melted away like rain and snow. This scene caused Di Tian's eyes to narrow slightly, and the other four ferocious beasts to show astonishment. To resolve Di Tian's pressure so easily—this human's strength was no simple matter!
"Hehe, I originally came to the Star Dou Great Forest with the intent to fight," Zhu Ziyang said with a light laugh. "Let me witness the strength of the Soul Beast King of the Douluo Continent!"
With that, Zhu Ziyang extended his right hand in a gesture inviting attack—extremely arrogant. As he had said, he came this time with the mindset of fighting. Though he had promised Wu Huan'er not to act, not acting was clearly unrealistic.
After all, they were here to negotiate, and the prerequisite for negotiation was strength! You needed to demonstrate enough power to make the other party willing to sit down and talk!
This world, after all, was a world of the strong. The weak had no right to a seat at the negotiation table!
"Very good!" Di Tian was angered into laughter by Zhu Ziyang's arrogance, his voice carrying fury. "I hope you don't regret it!"
As Di Tian's words fell, his entire figure vanished. When he reappeared, he was already in front of Zhu Ziyang. Raising his hand, a palm enveloped in dark energy struck toward Zhu Ziyang.
Zhu Ziyang's smile faded upon seeing this, turning serious. He immediately raised his hand into a palm, light energy surging forth. Power exploded as it collided with Di Tian's palm.
Both retreated several steps simultaneously. The initial clash seemed to end in a draw, yet Di Tian's expression was not good. With three parts surprise and seven parts wariness, he said, "Ultimate Light! No wonder you're so confident!"
"Likewise." Zhu Ziyang said, "Near-law-level Ultimate Darkness, Golden-Eyed Black Dragon King, worthy leader of the Black Dragon clan!"
Bi Ji and the four ferocious beasts listened to the mutual praise, somewhat bewildered. But they now knew Zhu Ziyang possessed Ultimate Light. Amid their shock, there was more envy and jealousy. Ultimate elements—among the several great ferocious beasts, only Di Tian had Ultimate Darkness; the other four did not.
"Human, you are more worthy of my full effort than that Mu En!" Di Tian said seriously. Then his figure moved, appearing before Zhu Ziyang again. His palms flew, dark elements pouring down like rain toward Zhu Ziyang relentlessly.
Zhu Ziyang was not to be outdone. His hands gathered light elements, unleashing them rapidly, meeting Di Tian's palm shadows one by one without falling behind. Light and darkness collided, intertwined, and entangled in the air—one moment purifying, the next corrupting. The battle was back and forth, hard to judge.
Moments later, Zhu Ziyang and Di Tian simultaneously retreated a step, then advanced together. Their right palms collided fiercely, and a terrifying shockwave spread from them in all directions, shattering all trees, boulders, and soul beast hearts within a thousand-meter radius!
After the shockwave dissipated, the ravaged area formed a vast vacuum zone—not of air, but of elements. In this region, not a trace of light or darkness could be sensed. Zhu Ziyang and Di Tian's clash had drained all light and darkness from the area!
"Very good!" A rare smile appeared on Di Tian's face. He said, "You are the first in so many years to match me evenly in elemental combat. Dare you go to the skies for an all-out battle!"
"Nothing would please me more!" Zhu Ziyang replied without hesitation. A joke—below god-level, Zhu Ziyang had no equal; at god-level, a one-for-one trade was fair!
The two agreed instantly and prepared to head to the skies for a satisfying battle. However, at that moment, Wu Huan'er completed the soul spirit contract and awoke.
"Stop! Stop fighting! Don't fight anymore!" Wu Huan'er immediately shouted at the two.
Seeing Wu Huan'er awake, Zhu Ziyang had to abandon the idea of sparring with Di Tian. The strength he had shown was already enough to make the soul beasts sit down for negotiations. The promised battle with Di Tian was just a whim and could happen anytime. Business came first, so he smoothly backed down and went to Wu Huan'er's side.
"Alright, since Huan'er has spoken, we won't fight." Zhu Ziyang said.
"Hmph!" Di Tian was displeased. Looking at Wu Huan'er standing beside Zhu Ziyang, he said coldly, "Auspicious Beast, leave that human and return to us!"
"Huan… Auspicious Beast, come here quickly. Don't make Di Tian angry!" Bi Ji also persuaded. She clearly wanted to call her Huan'er but changed to Auspicious Beast out of consideration for Di Tian.
"No!" Wu Huan'er shook her head decisively and even hugged Zhu Ziyang's arm petulantly. She said, "Uncle Di Tian, Aunt Bi Ji, I came back with Brother Ziyang this time because Brother Ziyang has found a way to resolve the conflict between us, soul beasts, and soul masters!"
"A way to resolve the conflict between soul beasts and soul masters?!" Upon hearing Wu Huan'er's words, Bi Ji and Scarlet King's eyes lit up with interest. Myriad Demon King and Bear Lord remained unmoved.
As for Di Tian, a flicker appeared in his eyes, but he said disdainfully, "Overestimating yourself!"
"Perhaps." Zhu Ziyang smiled faintly. "After all, most of us humans don't care about the conflict between soul beasts and soul masters."
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Here are the chapters for today (づ￣3￣)づ╭～
"The novel is already finished on Patreon."
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