"Before that, pass down the order. Have the disciples of the Spirit Hall make preparations, but do not act rashly. Some existences are not something we can afford to provoke."
He raised his head toward the heavens, a complex look flashing through his eyes. "Especially that one, the master of the Star Dou Great Forest."
When Qian Daoliu had just advanced into the realm of an Ultimate Douluo, he once believed himself invincible in the world. During his travels across the continent, he naturally knew that the depths of the Star Dou Great Forest concealed even greater secrets.
That dragon's roar, that gaze, felt as though it could easily annihilate him.
In the blink of an eye, three days passed. During these three days, Ning Fengzhi of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect secluded himself behind closed doors with the two Titled Douluo, refusing all visitors. Even Xue Qinghe was turned away when he came to call.
Qian Renxue, disguised as Crown Prince Xue Qinghe, simply returned to the Hall of Offering together with Golden Crocodile Douluo.
On the first day, Meng Hongchen returned to the academy. Dugu Bo also arrived, intending to check on his granddaughter.
Without any prior warning, the Soul Beast Ranking began to be revealed, and the twentieth position was announced.
[Soul Beast Ranking No. 20: Three-Eyed Golden Lion]
[Age: 5,000 years]
[Affiliation: Star Dou Great Forest]
[The Three-Eyed Golden Lion possesses Extreme Light, Extreme Fire, and Extreme Spiritual attributes, and carries the bloodline of the Golden Dragon. It is the undisputed Imperial Auspicious Beast of the Star Dou Great Forest. The Three-Eyed Golden Lion bears the fortune of the Star Dou Great Forest and stands as its imperial auspicious beast. Its existence allows soul beasts to grow at twice the normal speed, greatly increasing the chances for hundred-thousand-year soul beasts to break through their bottlenecks. It holds an extremely high status among soul beasts, and even Di Tian, the leader of the Ten Great Ferocious Beasts, treats it with great respect. Though it has only five thousand years of cultivation, its strength does not lose to ordinary soul beasts with tens of thousands of years of cultivation.]
[After comprehensive consideration of talent, function, and combat power, it is temporarily ranked twentieth.]
[Reward: 10,000 years of cultivation, and the Fate Eye ability, which can observe the future.]
The instant the words "Three-Eyed Golden Lion" and the five-thousand-year age appeared together on the golden ranking, the entire Douluo Continent seemed to freeze in stunned silence.
Immediately after, discussions erupted, more complex than when the Martial Soul Ranking had been revealed.
There was doubt, there was curiosity, but even more than that was the deep-rooted wariness of the major powers.
Among ordinary soul masters, confusion and disbelief still dominated.
In a soul master tavern in Soto City, a Soul Emperor who had hunted soul beasts for years set down his wine cup, his brow tightly furrowed.
"Five thousand years? Did this ranking make a mistake? I've wandered the outer regions of the Star Dou Great Forest for years and never once heard of a 'Three-Eyed Golden Lion.' A five-thousand-year soul beast, even a mutated one, could never rank in the top twenty."
"You can't say it like that."
An elderly soul master with white hair at the neighboring table shook his head in rebuttal. "Did you forget the rules of the ranking? It doesn't judge pure combat strength alone."
Inside the council halls of the major powers, there was none of the agitation seen among ordinary soul masters. Instead, there was solemn analysis and concealed apprehension.
Within the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, Ning Fengzhi copied the golden ranking information onto paper, examining it again and again, his tone steady.
"The Three-Eyed Golden Lion. Three extreme attributes, Golden Dragon bloodline, and the ability to bear the fortune of the Star Dou Great Forest. Every one of these descriptions is extraordinary."
"The five-thousand-year age may be real, but its value absolutely cannot be measured by age alone."
Sword Douluo Chen Xin tightened his grip on his sword hilt slightly and said coldly, "Even so, five thousand years of cultivation means its combat power is ultimately limited."
"But the fact that the Star Dou Great Forest allowed it onto the ranking means this soul beast is crucial to Star Dou. If anyone were to act rashly, it would surely provoke the Star Dou Great Forest's frenzied retaliation."
Bone Douluo Gu Rong nodded in agreement. "Fengzhi, old Sword Man, our Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect should stay far away from this mess. Just seeing that Golden Dragon bloodline already makes my Bone Dragon martial soul feel an urge to submit. This ranking doesn't feel simple at all."
"That is only natural. Following the usual pattern of the rankings, the top few positions of the Soul Beast Ranking are absolutely terrifying existences that no powerhouse on the continent even knows about."
...
In Spirit Hall, Bibi Dong stared at the golden ranking. Her gaze was icy, yet there was not the slightest hint of contempt.
Looking at the words "bearing the fortune of Star Dou," a meaningful curve appeared at the corner of her lips.
"Five thousand years? It seems the Star Dou Great Forest has hidden a fine treasure. Doubling the growth speed of soul beasts and increasing the breakthrough chances of hundred-thousand-year soul beasts. This little thing is even more valuable than the Azure Bull Python and the Titan Giant Ape."
Spirit Crane Douluo stepped forward and asked cautiously, "Your Holiness the Pope, should we send people to the Star Dou Great Forest now?"
"What's the rush."
Bibi Dong shook her head. "The Star Dou Great Forest is full of dangers. You know that well enough. Since the Three-Eyed Golden Lion is the bearer of Star Dou's fortune, the Azure Bull Python and the Titan Giant Ape will certainly guard it at all times. Going now would be nothing but smashing eggs against a rock."
"It's also possible that other hundred-thousand-year ferocious beasts are lurking in the shadows."
She paused, a trace of viciousness flashing through her eyes. "Send people to watch it first. Find out the Three-Eyed Golden Lion's activity patterns and its weaknesses."
"Once I complete the eighth trial of the Rakshasa God and my strength advances further, I will act then. With a single strike, success will be guaranteed."
...
On the glaciers of the Far North, the Snow Empress gazed at the golden ranking. A flicker of surprise passed through her cool eyes before turning solemn.
"Three extreme attributes, Golden Dragon bloodline, and the ability to bear fortune. This Three-Eyed Golden Lion truly is an anomaly."
The Ice Empress frowned, a hint of vigilance in her voice. "To have such foundations at only five thousand years, no wonder the Star Dou Great Forest has produced so many ferocious beasts."
In the depths of the endless sea, the Deep Sea Demon Whale King stared at the information on the golden ranking. In its enormous pupils, there was no scorn, only cold scrutiny.
"Golden Dragon bloodline. Bearing fortune." Its deep voice echoed through the palace.
"So the Star Dou Great Forest has such an existence. It seems I underestimated those land-dwelling crawlers."
"As for threat?" The Deep Sea Demon Whale King let out a cold laugh.
"Before this king, any potential is nothing more than potential. Once I obtain the top ranking reward and break into the godly realm, not to mention a mere Three-Eyed Golden Lion, even the entire Star Dou Great Forest will have to submit. However…"
Its tone shifted, calculation flashing in its eyes. "Send the Sea Turtle Clan to scout the outskirts of the Star Dou Great Forest. See if there is an opportunity to stir up some trouble for that little thing."
"If it were to fall, the loss of Star Dou's fortune would be a good thing for us as well."
"No. On second thought, I have an even better idea. Have that old turtle bring the Three-Eyed Golden Lion back intact. Keeping it as a pet would not be bad either."
In a hidden dark forest within the Star Dou Great Forest, the Dark Devil God Tiger lay atop a massive boulder, its scarlet eyes locked firmly onto the golden ranking in the sky.
When all the information about the "Three-Eyed Golden Lion" appeared, its body trembled violently. A trace of greed flashed through its eyes, only to be swiftly replaced by wariness.
"Imperial Auspicious Beast. Bearer of fortune. Three extreme attributes."
It muttered under its breath, its claws carving deep grooves into the stone.
"To think such an existence still exists in this world. If I could devour it, my bloodline would surely evolve, and breaking through to one hundred thousand years would be just around the corner."
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