"This concerns the survival of soul beasts? Snow Empress, don't you think you're exaggerating?"
The Scarlet King dismissed her statement with indifference.
"Hmph. What do you know?" The Ice Empress crossed her arms, her beautiful eyes casting a disdainful glance at the Scarlet King. Having just reached 400,000 years of cultivation, she had ascended in her human form, bypassing the tribulation altogether.
"You've broken through, Ice Empress?" The Scarlet King's retort froze in his throat as he turned to her, all three of his lion heads staring in disbelief.
Among the Ten Great Savage Beasts, the Ice Empress was ranked seventh, while the Scarlet King was eighth.
Previously, the Ice Empress had only been slightly stronger than the Scarlet King, as they both hovered around 300,000 years of cultivation. Outside the Extreme North, the Scarlet King had no fear of her.
But now things had changed. The Ice Empress had ascended to a 400,000-year cultivation level!
What made it even more shocking was that she achieved this in the Extreme North, where the absence of divine beasts' assistance should have made such a breakthrough nearly impossible for someone of her talent.
The Scarlet King was envious. His own breakthrough to 300,000 years had been thanks to divine beasts helping him through the tribulation. Otherwise, he might not have survived. As for the 400,000-year tribulation, he had long given up hope, so much so that he had stopped actively cultivating.
"I've discovered a way for soul beasts to break through without enduring tribulations. What do you think of that?" The Ice Empress smirked, clearly enjoying the moment.
The Scarlet King's first reaction was disbelief.
But Di Tian had a different response. He soon appeared, leading a group of other savage beasts from the Star Dou Forest.
The Ice Empress breaking through was already extraordinary. But the Snow Empress had also ascended!
This was far too unusual. Could it really be as the Ice Empress claimed—that they had found a way to bypass tribulations entirely?
If true, this was a monumental development for the entire soul beast race.
By breaking free from the shackles of tribulations, fewer high-level soul beasts would perish. Over time, their numbers would accumulate, granting them greater strength to stand against humanity's vast armies of Title Douluos.
Di Tian, clad in a black robe, appeared to be a man in his forties, with a handsome and resolute face. A strand of golden hair fell across one side of his forehead. Beside him stood other figures of varying heights, builds, and appearances, all savage beasts in human form.
Seeing the Ice Empress and Snow Empress safely surpass their tribulations had lifted his spirits. Whether or not future soul beasts needed to endure tribulations, the safe ascension of these two apex beings was a significant event for their kind.
The savage beasts understood the principle of mutual survival well.
"However, Snow Empress, why are the two of you traveling with these humans? Who are they?" Di Tian asked, puzzled. His gaze fixed on Qian Renxue, sensing the immense energy radiating from her—a clear sign she was a human Title Douluo.
"We've come to meet the one beneath the lake," Qian Renxue replied with a smile.
"What did you say?" The savage beasts, including Di Tian, were stunned. Their expressions changed dramatically.
The existence of that individual beneath the lake was supposed to be a well-kept secret. How had it been exposed?
Di Tian's eyes flickered, and the savage beasts closed in on Qian Renxue and Qian Ran. If their master's existence had truly been revealed, her safety might already be compromised.
"I thought we were friends. Is this how the Star Dou Forest treats its guests?" Qian Renxue remained calm, showing no sign of concern.
"You're unworthy of meeting her. However, I am curious—how did you learn of her existence? If you tell us, I might consider sparing your lives," Di Tian said after a brief pause.
"You have nothing to fear. Only a few of us know about her. As for qualifications, does the former Angel God, Qian Renxue, meet your standards?" A radiant angelic mark glowed on Qian Renxue's forehead as a surge of divine angelic power rippled outward from her.
When her six-winged Angel Spirit appeared behind her, the pupils of Di Tian and the other savage beasts shrank, their hearts trembling.
Though tens of thousands of years had passed, to these ancient beasts, it felt like yesterday when Qian Renxue, Bibi Dong, and Tang San clashed in their epic final battle. After all, those combatants were gods.
"Qian Renxue? So you're still alive. If it's you who wishes to meet our master, I can make the arrangements," Di Tian said, his once icy tone softening significantly.
Though she had fallen from her divine status, Qian Renxue's former position as a first-class deity still commanded Di Tian's respect. More importantly, he thought she might become an asset to their master.
If their master deemed Qian Renxue unreliable, they could always eliminate her later. After all, she was no longer the Angel God.
"What about him? Who is he?" Di Tian's curiosity shifted to Qian Ran. He noticed that even someone as significant as Qian Renxue treated him with great importance. The Ice Empress and Snow Empress seemed to share a peculiar closeness with this human male. The way they interacted suggested Qian Ran held a special position.
Sensing Di Tian's scrutinizing gaze, a black draconic aura surged toward Qian Ran. However, his body instinctively reacted, unleashing a golden dragon energy that surged outward.
Golden scales covered his exposed skin, and one of his hands transformed into a gleaming golden dragon claw.
The bloodline aura emanating from Qian Ran instantly overwhelmed the savage beasts, filling them with an instinctive sense of reverence. Compared to him, they felt like ordinary beasts standing before a natural-born king.
"This is impossible!"
Di Tian's shock was palpable.
That was a bloodline as noble as their master's! Yet Qian Ran's strength was shockingly weak.
A Golden Dragon's bloodline!
This was on par with the Silver Dragon lineage, carrying supreme authority. How could a human possess such a bloodline? Could the Golden Dragon King have escaped from the Divine Realm?
While Di Tian's thoughts raced in turmoil, the ground beneath them trembled slightly. The Life Lake's waters began to churn violently.
A surge of silver light burst from the lake, slamming heavily onto the shore.
A massive silver claw swept toward Qian Ran and Qian Renxue. The claw shimmered with a dazzling silver radiance, its hexagonal scales exuding an oppressive power that made every living being feel an urge to bow in submission.
"Master!"
Di Tian's expression shifted to one of ecstasy as he stepped forward and dropped to one knee.
The other savage beasts followed suit, kneeling without exception. Even the Ice Empress and Snow Empress showed no disrespect before this colossal creature.
(End of Chapter)