"Wow! So beautiful~"
Paimon had initially been cautious, peering warily at the lake's surface. But when a figure outlined in a soft emerald glow began to solidify, her eyes widened in amazement. A dainty green-robed girl, as delicate and perfect as a porcelain doll, hovered above the water and appeared before the group.
"There's someone inside the Lake of Life?"
"No… wait, Old Ghost, feel it carefully. She—no, it—is a soul beast! A soul beast that has taken human form and regained its power!"
Yue Guan shook his head slightly, a solemn expression on his face.
"No wonder the ancient records repeatedly warn—even a Limit Douluo should never rashly investigate the secrets of the Star Dou Forest…"
Gui Mei's expression turned grim. This green-robed girl, appearing out of nowhere, was clearly one of the guardians of the Star Dou Forest—a powerful soul beast!
As for how powerful…
Even as a Level 96 Titled Douluo, he could feel the terrifying pressure radiating from her soul power. Fear sprouted in his heart, and the thought of fighting her didn't even cross his mind.
Buzz—
As the two continued to marvel, the surface of the lake trembled once more—this time, the spatial fluctuations were even more intense than before.
"This is bad! There's something even more terrifying inside!"
Gui Mei shouted with a tense expression, then turned to look at Aether, who remained calm and composed as ever. Only then did he manage to suppress his inner dread.
Roar—!
The spatial disturbance surged violently. Accompanied by a high-pitched dragon's roar, a new figure emerged beside the green-robed girl—a serene and elegant woman clad in plain white.
"L-Lord…"
Even Yue Guan found himself trembling. His lips quivered as he instinctively inched closer to Aether.
There was no other reason—this white-robed woman exuded soul power so overwhelmingly terrifying that "terrifying" didn't even begin to describe it!
He had never felt such pressure before. Not even the High Priest of the Spirit Hall made him feel this small and powerless.
In front of this woman, the thought of resistance was absurd. If she wished to kill him, she wouldn't even need to lift a finger.
Gui Mei also stepped instinctively behind Aether, as though hiding there would offer him a sliver of safety.
He had always believed that as a Titled Douluo, there were few places he couldn't go. And for decades, that had held true.
Yet he never imagined that within the Star Dou Forest, a place he had visited countless times, such unimaginably powerful soul beasts were hidden.
"Master, the air outside is so fresh~"
While the two Titled Douluo stared nervously into the lake, the green-robed girl was cheerfully gulping in the fresh air, her tone bright as she spoke to the white-robed woman beside her.
"…You silly girl. Do you think we're here just to breathe fresh air?"
Though the white-robed woman stood there like a goddess descended from the heavens, elegant and regal, she raised a slender hand and gave the green-robed girl a swift flick to the forehead—shattering the celestial image in an instant.
"Why are we here again…"
The green-robed girl rubbed her head with a pout, looking up with innocent eyes.
"…Forget it. You go back."
"Nooo, I want to stay with Master~"
She shook her head rapidly, unwilling to leave.
Sigh~
The white-robed woman gave a soft sigh and stopped trying to persuade her. Instead, her gaze shifted toward the people on the shore.
"Those two fools have trained hard to reach this point. Would Your Excellency be willing to show mercy and let them go?"
Her voice, gentle yet commanding, carried clearly to the shore.
Everyone instinctively turned to look at Aether.
"Traveler, that really pretty lady seems to be talking to you?"
Paimon, ever the voice of curiosity, tilted her head and spoke up.
"She's obviously talking to Fire Meow Meow. Didn't she ask it to spare them?"
Aether gestured subtly toward the two soul beasts subdued at their feet. He had already left the decision of their fate to Fire Meow earlier, hadn't he?
"L-Lord…"
Fire Meow's current state wasn't much better than the two it had subdued.
It lay trembling at Yu Keke's feet, all four legs curled in tight, fur standing on end, and stammering Aether's name in fright.
Others may not know the true identity of the women in the lake, but as a soul beast, Fire Meow had felt their presence from the moment it gained sentience.
These two… they were the true rulers of the forest. To soul beasts, they were divine.
If the Spirit Hall was the sacred land for soul masters, then the two figures in the lake were the soul beasts' ultimate leaders!
They embodied the pinnacle of their race and the depth of this forest's legacy.
He had come here hoping to catch a glimpse of them—and by sheer luck, he now had.
But under such overwhelming soul pressure, how could he not be afraid?
"They do seem super powerful. Look at poor Fire Meow Meow shaking like a leaf~"
Paimon gave the quivering beast a side-eye. She didn't understand why he was so scared of those two women.
Yue Guan and Gui Mei exchanged bitter glances.
Zhu Zhuqing and Yu Keke, standing beside Aether, didn't feel any oppressive aura—only that the two newcomers were clearly no ordinary beings.
Their remarks earlier had merely been teasing Fire Meow Meow and Paimon. As for Aether—he had already identified who these two really were.
The green-robed girl was almost certainly the Emerald Swan, Bi Ji.
And the white-robed woman, whose arrival was heralded by a dragon's roar—who else could she be but Gu Yuena, the Silver Dragon King?
What surprised Aether was that, according to the timeline, both of them should still be in slumber or sealed within their separate realm.
Why were they here now?
Could this be another ripple effect caused by his arrival in this world?
"Master… do you think they didn't hear you?"
Seeing that no one responded, Bi Ji looked at Gu Yuena with concern and mumbled quietly.
"…Tch."
Gu Yuena held back her irritation. She knew she shouldn't have brought this silly girl along.
"Your Excellency, this is an offering. I hope it will suffice for their release."
Gu Yuena understood the principle of equivalent exchange. Seeing no reaction from the shore, she raised her hand, conjuring a gentle splash from the lake.
Two ancient, ornate boxes floated up with the water. With a wave, the splash carried the boxes toward the shore.
"…"
Aether had merely spaced out for a moment, and she already thought he intended to kill them?
When did he ever say he wanted their lives?
Judging from Fire Meow Meow's behavior earlier, it was clear it had already decided to let them go.
Still, a gift is a gift—might as well see what's inside.
He extended a hand. The two boxes flew into his palm. Without opening them, he already sensed their contents.
He glanced at Fire Meow Meow and said, "Let's go. Fire Meow Meow, bring the Lightning Mink too."
As for Gu Yuena, Aether didn't have much of an impression. But since she had offered a sincere gift and apology, he would consider the matter settled.
Fire Meow Meow, now emboldened, transformed and bounded over to pick up the unconscious Lightning Mink. Then the group departed from the Lake of Life.
Once they vanished into the forest, Gu Yuena finally let out a long breath, her chest heaving slightly with relief.
"Damn it! He actually ignored me!"
Now that they were gone, she turned in the direction Aether had left and spat angrily.
"Master, didn't you say before we came out that you were going to teach them a lesson?"
Bi Ji bit her lip. The humans were gone, no punishment had been dealt, and they'd even given a gift? She was totally confused.
_
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