The world of fire churned endlessly, blazing in every direction. Wherever one looked, flames danced wildly, burning without end.
When all the crimson flames transformed into a noble, transparent crimson-gold, the world of fire finally reacted.
Boom!!
An invisible shockwave rippled outward. The boy's heart trembled violently, and his consciousness began to blur.
In the last moment before losing consciousness, he saw the fire realm rapidly expanding. Then, for the first time, he saw clearly—
This seemingly endless red-gold flame… was actually a phoenix standing tall between heaven and earth!
The phoenix, vast enough to cover the sky and block out the sun, rapidly shrank until it condensed between his brows. The once-dim symbol there burst into radiant golden light, as if it had been awakened.
Of course, Ma Hongjun knew none of this.
Tick, tick—
A wet sensation touched his cheeks. The red-haired boy's eyelids twitched, then slowly opened.
He blinked in confusion. Instinctively, he tried to raise his head, but a sharp pain surged through every inch of his body.
"Hiss—"
He inhaled sharply.
That familiar pain… even more intense than the first time his martial soul evolved!
So the pain didn't disappear—it had only been waiting for him here!
After about two minutes, the boy felt the pain ease slightly. He struggled to lift his head, wanting to see what had been licking his face.
Can't catch a break…
But when he finally looked up, he was startled to meet not just one, but three sparkling eyes.
Ma Hongjun: ???
What the hell is this??
"Woo!"
The creature—startled that Ma Hongjun had awakened—bolted in panic like a child caught stealing snacks. Yet in that brief moment, he finally saw it clearly.
It was a small beast, about the size of a puppy.
Its entire body shimmered in gold, with fur that sparkled like crystal. In addition to its golden eyes, a vertical red-glowing pupil shone between its brows.
This strange yet somehow familiar creature stirred something in the boy's memory. He blurted out instinctively:
"The emperor's divine beast… the Three-Eyed Golden Lion?!"
It really is this legendary creature?!
Ma Hongjun was stunned.
This was one of the greatest anomalies in Douluo Continent—a living cheat, a walking cultivation boost, a breakthrough accelerator!
Wherever it appeared, the cultivation speed and breakthrough success rate of soul beasts would double. It also held the ultimate fire and ultimate light attributes, carried the blood of a Golden Dragon, and after fifteen thousand years of growth, it would rival a hundred-thousand-year soul beast.
A natural miracle!
But if memory served, this little guy was the treasured guardian of the Star Dou Great Forest—protected with the lives of ferocious beasts. How on earth did it end up here?
Just as he was about to look around, a cold, distant voice rang out.
"I knew you wouldn't fall."
There was surprise in the voice, a hint of regret, and a touch of melancholy.
Huh?
Ma Hongjun blinked. Only now did he realize he wasn't on the outskirts of the Star Dou Forest, but somewhere much deeper, shrouded in clouds and mist.
"Where… is this?"
"This is the heart of the Star Dou Great Forest—and it is also my place of cultivation, Phoenix God."
The voice came again. The dense clouds parted as if moved by some unseen force, clearing in an instant.
The view before Ma Hongjun suddenly became clear.
But when he saw the scene around him, his pupils contracted sharply.
He stood by a pristine lakeshore. The morning sunlight spilled across the surface of the lake, making it glisten like diamonds. Flowers and grass swayed gently in the breeze. It looked like a heavenly paradise.
But several giant shadows on the shore shattered the peaceful illusion.
The Titan Ape—the one who nearly caused Shrek Academy's collapse—now sat like a docile puppy beside a giant python with the body of a snake and the head of a bull.
Ma Hongjun's heart sank.
If he couldn't recognize where this was by now, he may as well have never read the original story.
The Core Region of the Star Dou Great Forest—home to countless legendary beasts and even the Silver Dragon King herself.
An incredibly dangerous place.
Further ahead, a massive bear loomed with dark golden claws. It was even larger and more savage-looking than the Titan Ape.
Sixth among the Top Ten Ferocious Beasts, nearly 450,000 years old—King Bear.
Nearby, three mastiffs dripped molten magma from their jaws, their six glowing eyes exuding a terrifying aura.
Eighth on the list, 300,000 years old—Red King.
And there—a purple dragon, the Hell Dragon King Zi Ji, tenth among the top ten.
Next to her stood a massive tree with wide, gnarled branches—the Demon-Eyed Demon Tree, known as the King of All Demons, ranked fifth.
And then...
Ma Hongjun's gaze shifted forward—falling upon a massive black dragon, its wings stretching to blot out the sky.
Over 800,000 years of cultivation. Ranked first among all ferocious beasts—Golden-Eyed Black Dragon King, the Beast God, Di Tian!
Whew...
Faced with the gaze of so many terrifying beings, the boy exhaled slowly. A calm began to settle in his heart.
When things spiral beyond your control, fear loses its meaning.
Turning to the Titan Ape, he asked, "Where's Xiao Wu?"
"She's safe. Don't worry."
A flicker of admiration flashed in the Azure Bull Python's eyes.
No matter what, the boy's first thought upon waking was Xiao Wu. That deeply moved him.
"That's good," Ma Hongjun nodded.
He still didn't know what had happened, but it seemed his martial soul had evolved—and he'd ended up in this extremely dangerous land.
At least for now, he and Xiao Wu appeared safe.
Time to face the real person in charge.
Ma Hongjun looked toward the center of the shimmering lake—beyond the massive black dragon.
"I'm not the Phoenix God. I don't know any of you. You've mistaken me for someone else."
Since the Silver Dragon King believed he was the Phoenix God, he figured he might as well play dumb.
But something felt strange…
The Silver Dragon King didn't seem hostile at all.
Splash!
Gentle ripples spread across the lake, and a figure emerged from the water, leaping gracefully into view.
Her silver scales gleamed like jade, and every inch of her body radiated elegance—like she'd been crafted by the heavens themselves.
Her violet eyes sparkled like crystal. The way she looked at the red-haired boy carried a depth of emotion—unreadable and complex.
"Just as I thought. Your soul is incomplete, and your memory is gone. If not for the flame that once scorched the heavens and boiled the Sea of Stars, I wouldn't have recognized you at all."
The silver dragon shook her head slightly and gave a self-deprecating smile.
"You're right. The Dragon God now shares the same fate as you… and it's all his own doing."
What?!
Ma Hongjun's mind reeled.
Could it be… there's a hidden truth behind the ancient battle between the Dragon and Phoenix?