After listening to Wang Dong—Wang Dong'er's story, Mu En remained silent for a long time.
He knew very well who Wang Dong'er truly was. She was none other than the young lady of the Hao Tian Sect, a sect that hadn't shown its face for countless years and hadn't released any news to the outside world. In the history of Shrek Academy, it was the first time a young master or mistress of the Hao Tian Sect had come to study.
For thousands of years in the soul master world, there had never been a rumor of a sect master or outstanding offspring from the Hao Tian Sect. That sect was simply too mysterious.
And now, the Hao Tian Sect's young mistress didn't bear the Tang surname? Mu En felt something was off. It was widely known that only the Tang bloodline could inherit the extremely powerful tool spirit, the Hao Tian Hammer.
As an Ultimate Douluo, Mu En could also faintly sense that terrifying aura on Wang Dong'er's body—Goddess of Light Butterfly, Hao Tian Hammer. That aura surpassed even the level of an Ultimate Douluo. All these factors combined led Mu En to a conclusion so outrageous, he dared not believe it, let alone speak of it.
And so, upon hearing that someone with such unfathomable background and terrifying potential was suffering from a serious mental issue, Mu En was deeply shocked.
After thinking for a long while, Mu En finally answered cautiously.
"Little Dong'er, tell me honestly. Do you truly have no connection with that Huo Yuhao? Not even know him at all?"
Wang Dong'er nodded firmly.
"That's right, Elder Mu. I really don't know him at all. But somehow, I can't shake the feeling that the scenes I imagine—of living alongside him at Shrek Academy—were supposed to happen."
Mu En fell into silence again. After a while, he sighed deeply.
"This… might just be fate."
Upon hearing that, Wang Dong'er frowned.
"Elder Mu, I can't accept such a vague explanation."
Mu En gave a weary sigh.
"Little Dong'er, I'm not just brushing you off. In this world, you might not be able to feel it, but an old man like me… I can. The force of fate that weaves through all living beings, binding people together… I suspect that you and that boy were meant to cross paths. Meant to be linked together. But something went wrong. Your paths missed each other."
Wang Dong'er fell silent. If this so-called force of fate truly existed, and they were indeed meant to meet… then must she endure such inexplicable suffering simply because of some unknown error?
Mu En saw the stubborn hurt in her expression. He could only offer a helpless sigh.
"There are many things in this world we simply cannot explain. Little Dong'er, maybe the only way for you to overcome this inner turmoil… is to go find Huo Yuhao and get to the bottom of it yourself. I'm sorry. I can't solve this problem for you."
Wang Dong'er shook her head.
"Elder Mu, your explanation of fate is already enough. When the exchange program begins, I'll get to the bottom of this myself."
—
Star Dou Forest, Lake of Life.
By the emerald-green waters of the lake, a magnificent, dignified little beast lay peacefully on the ground. Its golden fur shimmered like translucent crystal. Though it looked like a lion, it had dragon-like claws, each one stepping on a golden flame. Its snout was longer than that of a typical lion-type soul beast, and beneath its fur were fine golden scales. It had a third eye—an erect pupil—on its forehead. Its two normal eyes glowed gold, while the vertical pupil radiated an eerie red.
This was the only one of its kind in the entire world—the Emperor Auspicious Beast, the Three-Eyed Golden Lion.
The Three-Eyed Golden Lion hadn't been feeling well lately. In its nearly ten-thousand-year-long life, it had never experienced something like what had happened about twelve years ago. Some unknown force it couldn't resist had taken over half of its soul.
But just recently—a year ago—that presence left.
For the lion, who had always hated the unwelcome force within it, this was a great relief. Still, it needed time to recover from the damage caused by that overpowering presence.
So, the Three-Eyed Golden Lion had slumbered by the Lake of Life for a full year. And today, it finally awoke.
As it looked around, it realized none of its familiar companions were nearby. The other fierce beasts it trusted and cherished were gone—including the one it trusted the most: its father-figure Di Tian.
Just as it was preparing to leave the lake's heart, to go find a snack—its favorite treat, other soul beasts' brains—the Lake of Life suddenly began to glow with a dazzling emerald light.
Startled, the Three-Eyed Golden Lion looked toward the light. In that moment, it felt as if its consciousness had been drawn away, becoming frozen.
When it came to again, the light was gone. Everything was as it had been. The lake was peaceful once more. The lion, with its limited intelligence, simply assumed it had seen something wrong and didn't think much of it. Cheerfully, it set off to find a snack.
No one—not even the Silver Dragon King still sleeping beneath the lake—noticed that at the moment the lake glowed, a tiny, unremarkable green light entered the lion's third eye.
The gears of fate began turning once more.
But this time, it seemed that our dear Tang Buddha would not be involved.
—
Meanwhile, in the God Realm.
"How'd it go, Little Green? All set?"
In the courtyard of the Goddess of Life, the God of Destruction walked up to her and asked softly.
The Goddess of Life smiled sweetly and nodded.
"Yes. That little one has received my essence of life. Whether or not it meets our chosen successor and helps him… that's up to fate now."
The God of Destruction nodded in satisfaction. He stroked her long green hair and sneered.
"Hmph. That Tang San really will do anything to manipulate fate. He even split his daughter's soul in half just to try and plant a part of her in the Beast Clan's chosen one. All so he could shift the beast's destiny to his human heir and secure control of the God Realm. Fortunately, the heat's on him now. The Gods of Kindness and Evil are both watching closely. That forced him to retract the soul fragment."
(End of Chapter)
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