Zhongli stood watching, as Chen Xin knelt in quiet embrace with his parents
Zhongli, arms folded behind his back, allowed the young man space. His deep amber eyes observed, not intrusively, but like an ancient mountain watching a sapling rediscover its roots.
Then, a faint ripple stirred in the air beside him—Di Tian's spiritual message."All the Soul Beast Clan Leaders are gathering… They await your presence."
Zhongli's gaze lifted to the horizon. He sensed the convergence of immense forces—Liu Shen's glacial pride, Medusa's venomous elegance, Li Jia's sea-born strength, Xue Nu's arctic silence, and many others who had once warred or guarded their borders fiercely.
They were all gathering now.
Not for war.
But because he was there.
Zhongli's smile was faint, more thoughtful than amused.
He turned one last glance toward Chen Xin, watching as the boy's mother clutched him tightly, tears in her eyes.
"I'll return when it's time," Zhongli whispered under his breath. "Let him have this peace."
Then—without sound, without wind—he vanished.
One moment he was there… the next, only drifting cherry blossoms remained.
Sometime later one by one, the sovereigns of the spirit beast clans descended upon the sacred glade outside the centre of Stardou Forest.
First came Medusa, the Serpent Queen, with her long emerald hair and hypnotic eyes glowing faintly with a serpentine sheen.
Then Liu Shen, the gentle yet enigmatic Queen of the Plant Spirits, walking barefoot over blooming grass, the petals swaying with her every breath.
Ice Empress Bing'er and Snow Empress Xue Nu arrived together, trailing a mist of frost and beauty behind them, the air around them dropping with every step.
Last came Sea Princess Li Jia, her dress woven with water essence, flowing like tides, the scent of salt and storm following her.
As the leaders gathered in the glade, they were surprised to see not just Di Tian and Bi Ji, but three unfamiliar figures standing beside them. They noticed new dragon soul beasts, which was Dragon King Eruhben, Dragon Prince Raon, Darkness Dragon Queen Albis, Light Dragon King Apollon.
By their side Di Tian stood with arms crossed, his presence sharp as ever. Bi Ji smiled gently—but there was something different about her now. A faint glow in her eyes. A subtle grace.
Zhongli, Mio, and Tomoe stood behind the dragon rulers, not speaking, not moving, yet commanding the space as though it bowed to them.
While Mio and Tomoe stood quietly, there was an unmistakable closeness forming. Both Mio and Tomoe frequently stayed near Zhongli—sometimes wordless, sometimes in casual conversation.
When questioned, Mio would simply shrug and said,"We are his servants now. He gave us everything —we repay with loyalty."
Samething with Tomoe smiled mysteriously and add,"I serve him not from obligation… but from choice."
Meanwhile, Bi Ji had begun openly expressing her desire to learn healing from Zhongli, mesmerized by the purifying water technique he used on Mio. She would often speak to him in low tones, absorbing everything like a student before a divine tutor.
The three-eyed golden lion rested gracefully on Zhongli's lap, a creature both regal and endearing in its divine splendor. Her body, though lion-like, radiated an aura far gentler than a typical beast of her kind—her golden fur shimmered like woven sunlight, each strand catching the ambient light as if kissed by the heavens themselves. The warm glow that clung to her gave the impression that she was not merely a creature, but a celestial spirit born from golden stardust.
Nestled comfortably, the lioness let out a wide, gentle yawn, revealing a row of delicate, pearl-like teeth. Her amber-hued eyes, flecked with starlight, blinked lazily—two of them half-lidded in comfort, while the third eye on her forehead, framed by a delicate gold crest, remained half-open, glowing faintly as if still aware of all things around her. This third eye pulsed with an inner brilliance, a mark of higher perception and divine awareness.
Zhongli, calm and composed as always, sat in dignified silence.
Seeing this strange group, the five Clan Leaders began to speak among themselves.
But before they could utter more than a few words, Di Tian stepped aside and gave Zhongli a subtle nod.
Zhongli closed his eyes for a moment. Then…He released a mere ripple of his spiritual pressure.
It was not aggressive. Not violent. But it was immense, ancient, and grounded. Like the deep tectonic heartbeat of a slumbering mountain—timeless and unmovable.
In an instant, the air turned heavy.
Liu Shen stood still, her eyes calm but slightly widened. She adjusted her breath, focusing on her roots, the flow of spirit energy within her.
But the others…
—Medusa's seductive calmness shattered as she staggered half a step back, her snake tail twitching unconsciously.
—Bing'er clenched her fists as sweat broke down her temple, the frost around her evaporating under sheer pressure.
—Xue Nu bit her lip, hiding her discomfort, her voice caught in her throat.
—Li Jia's sea-blue eyes widened, and the water ripples around her faltered into stillness.
Each of them felt it in their core.
A presence older than their legacy.
A force deeper than the oceans.
A will greater than the frozen tundra.
Their thoughts became unified in silent terror:
"Who… is he?"
Di Tian stepped forward, his tone respectful yet solemn.
"This is Gu Yuena, the Silver Dragon King."
The gathered leaders—Liu Shen, Medusa, Li Jia, Bing'er, and Xue Nu—all stared with wide eyes. They had known for a long time that Gu Yuena had been gravely injured, wounds so deep even the strongest healing soul beast, Bi Ji, could not mend them.
Yet now, the one who stood before them radiated vitality. Her aura was calm, composed—restored.
Curiosity buzzed in the air. How was she healed?
Di Tian began recounting everything—how Gu Yuena was healed, what had happened during their absence, and more importantly, the arrival of Zhongli.
The more he spoke, the more the crowd reeled in disbelief. It sounded absurd—like a myth spun by desperate souls.
But the proof was right in front of them.
Gu Yuena was healed.
The Dragon God had returned.
And Di Tian's long-lost parents were alive.
Then, the Dragon God himself spoke.
"I am sorry," his voice echoed across the valley, heavy with ancient remorse. "For the rules I set upon the soul beasts. I did not foresee what they would become."
Before the others could respond, Zhongli took a step forward.
"I know you all fear the Heavenly Tribulations," he said calmly. "But I never intended for them to bring destruction."
Anger simmered in the eyes of Liu Shen, Medusa, and the others. The injustice they had endured burned in their hearts—but they also understood. If war erupted in the Divine Realm, it would annihilate everything.
Still, Liu Shen couldn't help but speak.
"Couldn't you have changed the law?"
The Dragon God, now called Eruhben, shook his head solemnly."I cannot. Not anymore. The law has been etched into the order of existence. The Way of the Universe itself now upholds it. It is unchangeable by my hands."
Disappointment settled like a dark mist—until Eruhben turned to Zhongli."Maybe I can't… but he can."
All eyes shifted toward Zhongli.
His response was simple, yet electrifying:
"It is possible."
Hope flared in the hearts of every leader present—but then, Zhongli added with a calm smile:"However, I don't intend to do it yet."
The hopeful flame flickered.
Medusa frowned slightly. "Why? What is the reason?"
Zhongli looked into the sky, his eyes as deep as time itself.
"The Way of the Universe is playing a game… with Asura and Poseidon. I'm curious how far they'll take it. I want to see their moves first."
He turned his gaze back to the others.
"Until then, I will create Sanctuaries in each of your lands. No soul beast within them shall suffer from the Tribulation."
Silence reigned for a moment—then awe followed.
Zhongli wasn't just powerful… he was toying with gods like Asura and Poseidon as if they were pieces on a divine chessboard.
It was shocking—yet strangely satisfying.
Just then, a ripple passed through the sky. The air shimmered faintly as if reality itself were being rewritten.
Zhongli's golden eyes flickered with amusement. A soft smile tugged at his lips.
"A playful fox has entered the forest," he murmured.
The statement caught everyone's attention.
Di Tian's face darkened immediately. His brows twitched as he groaned aloud, "…Xiao Bai."
Even before she appeared, the signs were already there. Wisps of vertical pink lightning descended from the clouds, crackling softly like threads spun from moonlight. Faint embers flickered below, casting long shadows over the land—like a stage being prepared for its dancer.
And then, she came.
High above, lounging effortlessly on horizontal strands of glowing pink energy, was Xiao Bai—the enigmatic 900,000 year old Nine tailed fox soul beast.
Her legs crossed elegantly, she reclined on the mystical threads as if they were silk cushions in her palace. Bare feet glimmered with silver anklets, swaying gently in the air, untethered by mortal rules.
Her gaze swept across the crowd—pale crimson eyes that shimmered like starlight trapped in crystal, narrowed just enough to suggest quiet scrutiny… or mischief.
A small red marking, shaped like a flame or lotus, adorned her flawless brow—marking her not only as rare, but noble.
Her porcelain skin seemed to glow under the moonlight, untouched by time or turmoil.
Silvery-white hair, tied into an elaborate bun adorned with dragon-shaped ornaments and delicate floral pins, framed her striking face. A few strands spilled freely across her shoulder and chest—intentional, alluring, and unruly, like the woman herself.
Her attire was as elegant as it was dangerous—a sleeveless black and silver gown, the bodice embroidered with flowing silver flora, hinting at both her wild origins and the power of nature she carried. The sleeves, detached from the main dress, hung from her arms like ceremonial streamers, adorned with tinkling droplets of light metal.
An ornamental necklace, crafted in the image of twin spirit beasts, rested upon her chest—two wolves or foxes biting into a shared ring, their twin tusks hanging like pendants over her heart.
Around her waist sat a finely wrought silver belt, square symbols etched into each link, holding her silhouette tightly like armor carved from starlight.
None dared interrupt. Her presence was overwhelming, but not violent. It was the calm before a beautiful storm.
Xiao Bai, having listened quietly from her seat atop the glowing pink threads, tilted her head slightly. Her expression, once unreadable, now shimmered with unveiled curiosity.
Her crimson eyes lit up, glinting like a fox that had found a mystery too tantalizing to ignore. She leaned forward just slightly, strands of silver hair sliding over her shoulder as she gazed directly at Zhongli.
A faint, suggestive smile played on her lips as she spoke, her voice smooth as silk and laced with amusement."I'm really interested in you."
The words hung in the air like a ribbon of honeyed venom—playful, provocative, and dangerous all at once.
Zhongli met her gaze without hesitation, his smile calm, untouched by the weight of her allure.
"Is that so?" he replied, arching a single brow, golden eyes unwavering.
There was no fluster in his voice, no shift in his composure—just a gentle challenge in his tone, as if he were speaking not to a seductress but to a fellow ancient being playing at games.
And with that, the playful fox had arrived—yet none could tell if she came to join the board… or flip it.
Around them, the mood cracked ever so slightly.
Mio and Tomoe, who had been standing at Zhongli's side with graceful poise, exchanged sharp glances.
Tomoe's fan snapped shut with a click, her eyes narrowing.
Mio didn't say anything, but her aura flared slightly, a chill like mist rising around her.
Bi Ji, ever gentle, gave a soft sigh, though her brows furrowed in visible irritation.
Gu Yuena's eyes turned colder than usual, her gaze sharpening like a blade. Though she remained silent, the tension in her posture said enough.
From the newly arrived side, Liu Shen scoffed quietly.
Medusa's violet pupils narrowed in distaste as she folded her arms.
Even the usually serene Xue Nu exhaled sharply.