"Ptui! What the hell is this? So salty I could die~"
Fire Meow Meow scrambled to her feet, shaking her head with exaggerated retching motions.
She had just swallowed a few mouthfuls of lake water spewed from the Bull's nostrils—salty enough to make her gag.
"Die, all of you!!"
The Titan Giant Ape, seeing its big brother beaten half to death, roared in fury. Its Gravity Domain expanded around the group, then it leapt high into the air, fist raised, aiming to strike.
Aether raised a hand. A barrier surged out from him in all directions, instantly shattering the gravity field like paper.
BOOM—!
The Titan Giant Ape's massive fist crashed into the shield with a deafening impact. The rebound sent its enormous body flying backwards through the air like a ragdoll.
"Damn human! Let my big bro go!"
Struggling to its feet, the Titan Giant Ape roared again, frantic and about to charge once more.
Aether frowned, pressing a palm to the ground. Behind the ape, the earth heaved and roared—rocks flipped and soared into the air, forming a mountain in the blink of an eye. With a crash, it slammed down on the ape, pinning it completely beneath with no chance of movement.
"How many unknown powers does this man still have…?"
"This is… terrifying…"
Even Ghost and Chrysanthemum Douluo—who'd already witnessed many of Aether's divine abilities—were stunned anew.
These two weren't some random low-tier spirit beasts; they were ancient beast kings, each over 100,000 years old and possessing domains of their own!
Even if the High Priest himself came, he wouldn't be able to suppress them this easily… would he?
And yet before this man, they were no different from unruly children—one wave of the hand and they were utterly subdued.
If their previous awe was only respect, now what remained in their hearts was pure reverence.
"Human! Let me out!"
Pinned under the rock, the Titan Giant Ape kept howling, head the only part sticking out.
Aether ignored the crazed roaring. Instead, he turned to the wide-eyed Fire Meow Meow.
"This grudge is yours. How you deal with them is up to you."
He didn't know what past conflict Fire Meow Meow had with the two beasts, but judging by her wounds and the scorched, battered state of the Titan Giant Ape, they had clearly fought to the death.
Now that they were captured, their fate should be hers to decide.
Fire Meow Meow perked up, strutting over to the Sky Azure Bull Python with head held high.
"Speak. How do you want to die?"
"If I've lost, then kill me. But my brother and I—our spirit rings and spirit bones must not fall into human hands."
The Sky Azure Bull Python could barely move. Its massive eyes looked at her, heavy with pain but also pleading.
"Heh~ You actually made your choice?"
Fire Meow Meow, now reinfused with pyro energy, spoke fluently and without mercy, mocking the very bull that had smashed her into the dirt not long ago.
"…"
The Bull Python shifted its gaze to the youth who had effortlessly defeated it. Then it gave a despairing chuckle and shut its eyes, resigned.
It didn't even have the strength to self-destruct anymore.
Life or death—no longer its decision.
"Lion! You shame the soul beasts!"
Unlike his brother's surrender, the Titan Giant Ape had found a new target for his rage and immediately bellowed at Fire Meow Meow.
"What do you mean I shame the soul beasts?"
Fire Meow Meow's face darkened. She walked up beside his protruding head and spat a blazing fireball straight into his face, scorching every last hair off his rugged mug.
"Ptui! I thought you had real strength, but you actually surrendered to a human?! Called one your master?!"
"You disgrace us all!"
Despite the blistering pain on his face, the ape roared on.
"Tch. What the hell do you know~"
Fire Meow Meow sneered, utterly dismissive.
She'd originally wanted to argue, but now saw no point.
Soul beasts had always lived by the law of the jungle—survival of the fittest.
And more importantly, was her master some ordinary human?
Could an average person take both of them down with a wave of the hand?
Besides, in Aether's eyes, there was no difference between human or soul beast. He treated all life equally.
That was one of the reasons she followed him so firmly… though his terrifying strength played no small part.
Seeing the ape still mouthing off, Fire Meow Meow grinned and hurled another fireball onto his head, burning him half-senseless.
Once the trash talk finally stopped, she turned to Aether.
"Master, I think… you should decide their fate."
As a soul beast herself, Fire Meow Meow knew exactly how valuable a 100,000-year-old beast was to humans.
Even if Aether didn't care, Zhu Zhuqing and Yu Keke were serious Spirit Masters. Spirit rings and bones of this caliber would skyrocket their power.
She used to resent the human practice of hunting spirit beasts for their parts, but now… she understood.
It was just one species gaining strength from another.
Soul beasts did it too, didn't they?
And humans? They robbed and killed each other constantly.
Whether soul beast or human, it was all just survival of the fittest.
"Then we'll do as you say."
Aether gave her a calm look, as if waiting for her final decision.
"…"
Fire Meow Meow looked between the two pinned beasts, then over to Zhu Zhuqing and Yu Keke. Her gaze hardened.
"Master, let them—"
SPLASH—!
Before she could finish, ripples spread across the calm surface of the Lake of Life.
From its center, a space-distorting portal opened, brimming with spatial energy.
Everyone, human and beast alike, turned toward the disturbance.
Chrysanthemum and Ghost Douluo immediately assumed battle stances. Paimon and the others rushed to Aether's side.
The Sky Azure Bull Python, sensing a familiar energy from the lake, felt a brief flash of joy—only to have it replaced by deep worry.
At the lake's heart, from the swirling black portal, an emerald glow emerged and floated upward, slowly forming the outline… of a human figure.
_
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