Gu Yuena's purple dragon eyes—deep as the cosmos itself, shimmering with starlight—slowly swept across the group of ferocious beasts standing below her.
Xiong Jun.
Bi Ji.
Chi Wang.
Myriad Demon King.
And finally—
Di Tian.
The pig-headed Di Tian, whose face was so swollen it looked like it had been kneaded by fate itself, now standing stiffly with his head lowered, wishing with all his heart that the Lake of Life would crack open and swallow him whole.
After a long silence, Gu Yuena spoke, her voice calm yet heavy.
"That Divinity… is different from the hypocritical Gods of the God Realm."
Her words echoed clearly through the space.
"He does not appear to harbor hostility toward our Soul Beast Clan."
At once, the tense expressions of Xiong Jun, Bi Ji, and the others loosened slightly. Even Chi Wang's three heads relaxed by a fraction.
If that being truly bore no ill will, then perhaps—
But Gu Yuena's next sentence struck like a blade of ice, freezing their souls in place.
"Otherwise…"
Her gaze grew distant, piercing through layers of space, as if seeing that lazy, terrifying figure who had casually complained while tossing Di Tian around like trash.
"If he truly wanted me dead, he would need only a single thought."
"We would not even be standing here to discuss this."
Her voice remained steady, but the meaning behind it crushed down like a mountain.
"His strength far surpasses any Divinity I know."
She paused for half a breath.
"Even… the former Dragon God."
Silence.
Absolute silence.
Stronger than the Dragon God?!
That was the supreme being who once ruled the God Realm, the progenitor of the Dragon Clan, an existence worshipped as the pinnacle of power!
How could anyone surpass that?
"My… my Lord…"
Xiong Jun's voice rumbled, thick and heavy, yet trembling uncontrollably. His usual arrogance and wild confidence were nowhere to be seen.
"Are… are you sure this isn't an exaggeration?"
"Our Lord Dragon God once dominated the God Realm! How could there exist someone stronger than him in this world—"
Before he could finish, Gu Yuena's gaze snapped onto him.
Cold.
Sharp.
Emotionless.
It was like being stared down by the abyss itself.
Xiong Jun felt his heart clench violently, as if his organs were about to freeze solid. The rest of his words were jammed straight back down his throat.
He instantly shut up, lowering his massive bear head, shrinking into himself like a scolded cub.
Gu Yuena withdrew her gaze, a trace of exhaustion flickering through her eyes.
"I am not exaggerating."
"Everything I say is the truth."
She exhaled softly.
"What I cannot understand is this—"
Her brows furrowed, genuine confusion surfacing even in her normally flawless composure.
"Why would such an existence, one who should reside in the God Realm, appear in a 'barren' lower plane like the Douluo Continent?"
This question weighed heavily on everyone present.
To a true Divinity, Douluo Continent was nothing more than a resource-poor backwater. There was no reason to descend here.
"And so," Gu Yuena continued, her voice regaining firmness, "I have decided to send someone to make contact with him."
"To probe his intentions."
She looked at her subordinates one by one.
"Hope is slim. But even if there is only the smallest chance…"
"I wish to win him over."
"To have him become an ally of our Soul Beast Clan."
The words landed like thunder.
Ally?
An ally stronger than the Dragon God?!
For a moment, the ferocious beasts' minds went completely blank.
This was not something they dared to imagine—even in their wildest dreams.
After a brief stunned silence—
"We pledge our lives to follow our Lord!"
All the fierce beasts bowed deeply in unison, their voices filled with unwavering loyalty and fervor.
Only then did Gu Yuena's expression soften slightly.
"I'll go!"
Xiong Jun suddenly stepped forward, slamming his massive bear paw against his chest with a thunderous boom.
"Leave this task to me!"
His eyes burned with fierce resolve.
"I'm thick-skinned and tough! I'm the best choice to scout ahead!"
"Even if that guy turns hostile, I can take it! I swear I won't disgrace you!"
Gu Yuena didn't even look at him.
In fact, she subtly took half a step to the side, as if instinctively distancing herself from something dangerous.
Xiong Jun?
Absolutely not.
With his explosive temper and questionable intelligence, he wouldn't even last a full conversation.
Sending him wouldn't be probing.
It would be delivering a head.
Gu Yuena's gaze shifted.
In the past, Di Tian would have been the obvious choice—strong, experienced, authoritative.
But now…
She glanced at the pig-headed Di Tian beside her.
The memory of his "I've seen through everything" self-satisfaction flashed through her mind.
Her lips twitched imperceptibly.
She seriously suspected the mysterious Divinity had been completely correct.
Di Tian's brain was indeed… problematic.
Severely so.
Her eyes moved on.
Myriad Demon King—cunning, but gloomy, with an aura that invited hostility.
Chi Wang—violent and impulsive, another walking disaster waiting to happen.
After weighing all options—
Only one remained.
"Bi Ji."
Gu Yuena spoke decisively.
Bi Ji stepped forward, her expression gentle yet resolute.
"My Lord."
"This mission will be entrusted to you."
Gu Yuena's tone was solemn, more serious than ever before.
"Your task is not to fight."
"Nor to provoke."
"It is to observe, to understand, and to probe that Divinity's true attitude toward our Soul Beast Clan."
"This journey is extremely dangerous. You must be cautious at every step."
Bi Ji smiled softly, warmth radiating from her expression.
"To contribute to the future of the Soul Beast Clan—even at the cost of my life—is Bi Ji's honor."
Gu Yuena nodded, satisfied.
In terms of loyalty, there was no doubt.
"However," she added, frowning slightly, "sending you alone still makes me uneasy."
"It would be best for you to have someone accompany you."
Her gaze once more swept across Xiong Jun, Chi Wang, Myriad Demon King… and the pig-headed Di Tian.
Looking at their eager—or oblivious—faces, Gu Yuena felt her temples throb.
What a lineup.
One pig-headed idiot.
One reckless fool.
One gloomy schemer.
One walking bomb.
Her decision paralysis returned in full force.
Just then—
Buzz—
Space suddenly rippled.
A purple figure burst out from a distortion, stumbling forward awkwardly and nearly falling flat on her face.
It was Zi Ji.
She had just returned.
Without even checking where she was, she rubbed the dark bruise around her eye, clutched her aching backside, and began ranting loudly.
"I'm so pissed!"
"Who the hell was that guy?! So ruthless!"
"Kicking my butt was one thing, but hitting my face too?!"
"This life, next life, and the life after—I never want to see that bastard again!"
Still grumbling, she lifted her head—
And met a pair of cold, exquisitely beautiful eyes watching her intently.
At the same time—
Gu Yuena's gaze lit up.
Like someone who had finally spotted a lighthouse in the middle of a stormy sea.