(Departure — Trigger)
The moment Di Tian appeared, an indescribable aura of danger spread outward—even though he was not deliberately releasing it.
That pressure was instantly sensed by the Sky Azure Bull Python, which resided within the Lake of Life.
At the time, the Sky Azure Bull Python had been sleeping.
Unlike human Spirit Masters, Spirit Beasts were fundamentally different in how they cultivated. Most Spirit Beasts increased their age either by devouring other Spirit Beasts or by absorbing Heaven-and-Earth treasures. Di Tian and the other Vicious Beasts entering hibernation to absorb the energy of the Heavenly Dream Ice Worm was the clearest example of this.
As a Hundred-Thousand-Year Spirit Beast, the Sky Azure Bull Python had not actually cultivated for a full hundred thousand years, but it had lived for tens of thousands of years.
During that immense span of time, aside from hunting, fighting, or other necessary activities, Spirit Beasts typically chose to sleep—both to reduce energy consumption and to pass the endless years.
The Sky Azure Bull Python was no exception.
Once a Spirit Beast reached the Hundred-Thousand-Year threshold, it became extremely difficult to increase its age by devouring others of the same kind. This was especially true on the Douluo Continent.
The situation at sea was completely different.
Because Sea Spirit Beasts faced far less interference from Spirit Masters, the number of Spirit Beasts killed by humans was less than one percent—or even one thousandth—of the number killed through internal competition. Much like a wild tiger ruling over hundreds or thousands of kilometers, what they consumed was far less than what nature continuously replenished.
As a result, the resources of Sea Spirit Beasts were extraordinarily abundant.
The number of Ten-Thousand-Year and Hundred-Thousand-Year Spirit Beasts in the ocean far surpassed those on land.
The Deep Sea Demon Whale King was the clearest example. By devouring other Sea Spirit Beasts, it rapidly grew to nearly nine hundred thousand years. If not for the suppression of the God Realm, it would have already broken through to the million-year level—reaching the strength of a true Deity.
But such conditions simply did not exist on land.
Because of this, Spirit Beasts like the Sky Azure Bull Python often chose long periods of sleep to endure the seemingly endless nights of existence.
However, as a Hundred-Thousand-Year Spirit Beast, its perception was extremely sharp.
The instant Di Tian appeared, the Sky Azure Bull Python surfaced from the Lake of Life.
Its enormous eyes fixed on the source of that terrifying pressure with vigilance.
Feeling the gaze upon him, Di Tian turned his head.
Seeing that it was the Sky Azure Bull Python, he was not surprised at all.
More than a hundred years ago, Di Tian had still dominated the Star Dou Great Forest together with Xiong Jun and the other Vicious Beasts.
Later, Di Tian discovered the Heavenly Dream Ice Worm in the Far North—a million-year Spirit Beast whose body contained unimaginably vast energy.
Though its combat power was pitifully low, its energy reserves were truly monstrous.
Afterward, Di Tian and the other Vicious Beasts—including Chi Wang, who had barely crossed the two-hundred-thousand-year threshold—followed him into the Silver Dragon King's independent space to absorb that energy.
The Heavenly Dream Ice Worm's reserves were beyond common sense.
No one knew how many tens of thousands of years of cold ice marrow it had wasted away while casually eating and sleeping—waking to eat, then sleeping again—yet still somehow cultivating itself to the million-year level.
Even after being drained for ten thousand years by the Silver Dragon King and multiple Vicious Beasts, it still had not been exhausted.
"Heh," Di Tian said calmly. "Sky Azure Bull Python, come here. I have something to ask you."
The Sky Azure Bull Python, having already identified Di Tian through his aura, swam over with restrained fear.
Back then, before Di Tian and the others entered the Silver Dragon King's sealed dimension, they had left the Sky Azure Bull Python, the Titan Giant Ape, Xiao Wu's mother, and Xiao Wu behind to guard the core area of the forest.
To put it bluntly, they had been left as watchdogs.
As for Xiao Wu's father, he had long since been killed by Xiong Jun for offending him—how long ago, no one remembered.
"My Lord," the Sky Azure Bull Python said respectfully, lowering its massive head.
Di Tian nodded in satisfaction, then asked directly:
"Very well. Where are the other three? Where are the Titan Giant Ape and the two rabbits?"
The Sky Azure Bull Python immediately understood and answered without hesitation.
"Er Ming left the core area tonight and went toward the middle and outer regions. As for Xiao Wu and Xiao Wu's mother…"
At this point, its mood visibly sank.
"Eight years ago, several human Spirit Masters entered the Star Dou Great Forest. Among them were three Titled Douluo. At the time, Er Ming and I were both away. Xiao Wu's mother and Xiao Wu couldn't resist them."
"Xiao Wu managed to escape, but her mother… was hunted and killed by those human Spirit Masters."
Di Tian frowned deeply.
It wasn't sorrow.
He felt no personal grief over Xiao Wu's mother's death.
What angered him was something else entirely.
Human Spirit Masters had dared to enter the Star Dou Great Forest and hunt Hundred-Thousand-Year Spirit Beasts.
In Di Tian's eyes, only those who had reached the Hundred-Thousand-Year level were worthy of being considered his own kind—excluding special existences like the Three-Eyed Golden Lion.
And yet, humans had invaded their territory and slaughtered one of their own.
Unforgivable.
"Do you know who those humans were?" Di Tian asked coldly.
The Sky Azure Bull Python shook its head.
By the time it and the Titan Giant Ape returned, the humans had long since vanished. Xiao Wu herself, frightened and ignorant of the human world, also did not know which organization they belonged to.
Di Tian felt a trace of irritation.
Without knowing the organization behind them, revenge could not be enacted.
"Forget it," Di Tian said dismissively. "You know nothing useful. I'm leaving. Continue guarding this place well."
"If I discover anything has gone wrong…" His eyes flashed. "You know my methods."
With those words, Di Tian transformed into his true form.
The Golden-Eyed Black Dragon King.
A thunderous dragon roar tore through the night sky.
In that instant, every Spirit Beast within the Star Dou Great Forest trembled in fear.
The Beast Emperor had returned.
---
Meanwhile.
Deep within a forest outside Spirit City.
Little Dragon—a Golden-Eyed Black Dragon with a body as massive as a small mountain—was curled comfortably inside an expanded cave it had claimed as its lair.
It was undeniably comfortable.
At the very least, it could fully stretch out its colossal body, even spreading its cloud-covering, sun-blocking dragon wings within the cave.
Suddenly—
Its heart twitched.
An inexplicable sensation surged through it, as if something deep within its bloodline had been stirred.
At the same moment.
Yin Zhang, who had been sleeping, abruptly sat upright.
A mechanical voice echoed directly within his mind:
[Detected target: "Little Dragon."]
[Little Dragon is a Golden-Eyed Black Dragon, the unexpectedly born offspring of the Golden-Eyed Black Dragon King Di Tian.]
[The Silver Dragon King has approved Di Tian to retrieve his offspring and bring him back to the Star Dou Great Forest.]
[Di Tian has now left the Star Dou Great Forest and begun searching for his son. Estimated time until discovery: half a year.]
[Departure Selection Triggered.]
[Option One: …]
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