Di Tian could not imagine the terrifying consequences if Gu Yuena were exposed in the human World and drew the attention of the God Realm's Enforcers.
The last hope of the soul beast race might be severed right then and there.
Gu Yuena stood silently upon a tree branch, her silver hair fluttering slightly in the breeze.
Her purple eyes were calm and rippleless, as if the immense risk Di Tian spoke of was merely a trivial matter.
"It matters not."
She shook her head gently, her voice cold and clear.
"As long as I do not take the initiative to expose my power or stir my Origin, and provided no Divinity personally descends to the Lower Realm to investigate, no one will be able to see through my identity based on the perception of those humans alone."
Her words carried the absolute pride and confidence belonging to the Silver Dragon King.
She was, after all, half of the Dragon God. Even if she was currently like a fallen tiger or a dragon in shallow waters, her essence was not something mere Mortals, ordinary divine officers, or even those of The Hunt could peer into.
Unless it was a First-Class Divinity or... a God King in person, no one could see through her disguise.
She had originally been slumbering deep within the Lake of Life, using the purest life force in the World to slowly repair the fatal wounds left by the Great War of old.
But not long ago, a strange and powerful ripple of Karma, like a giant boulder thrown into a calm lake, forcibly jolted her awake from her long slumber.
This ripple was chaotic and disordered, yet it contained a power that twisted the rules of life and death.
Following the sensation, she quickly discovered the 'foreign object' that was out of place with the surrounding environment—Spirit Kite Douluo, an individual who should have completely perished but existed in a state of being neither alive nor dead.
After ordering Di Tian to capture her alive, Spirit Kite Douluo did not dare to hide anything in the face of the Silver Dragon King's supreme Bloodline pressure and gaze as deep as a sea of stars, and she revealed everything she knew.
Regarding that unknown power, her resurrection, and the cruel fact that they, the Nirvana Corpses, needed to devour the vitality of the living to maintain their existence and even grow stronger...
Gu Yuena immediately realized the severity of the problem.
Soul beasts were also living beings, and because of their long lifespans and powerful physiques, the vitality they contained was far more vast than that of ordinary humans.
She could almost foresee that when the number of resurrected Nirvana Corpses in the human World increased to a certain point, and when they were unwilling or afraid to devour their own kind on a large scale, their greedy eyes would turn elsewhere—inevitably toward the vast forests and the massive, vitality-rich soul beasts.
"Humans hunting soul beasts to obtain spirit rings is already a mountain weighing down upon our race."
Gu Yuena's gaze pierced through layers of space, as if seeing a future scene of blood.
"Now, another group of 'undead' that feeds on vitality has appeared... If left unchecked, by the time I next wake from my slumber, I fear it will be unknown whether the Star Dou Great Forest or the soul beast race of this entire continent will still exist."
As the Co-ruler of Soul Beasts, she inherited the Dragon God's will and responsibility to govern them.
She could not stand by and watch her subjects suffer a further layer of cruel exploitation from 'the deceased' on top of their existing hardships, until they walked into the abyss of extinction.
Therefore, she had to step out.
She would transform and enter the World, infiltrating it as a human to investigate the source and truth of these 'Nirvana Corpses.'
At the same time, she also needed to gain a deep understanding of the humans of this era—their power, their society, and their weaknesses—to prepare for the soul beast race's possible future.
"Di Tian, my mind is made up."
Gu Yuena withdrew her distant gaze and looked at the loyal guardian beside her, her tone calm but carrying an indisputable authority.
"Investigate any incidents that may be related to the Nirvana Corpses. I leave the Star Dou Great Forest to you."
She paused, a cold, sharp glint flashing in her eyes.
"If things truly develop to an irredeemable state where humans threaten the survival of our race... then even if it alerts the God Realm, I must take action to sweep away all threats."
For the continuation of the soul beast race, she would not hesitate to stir up waves once more; even if the path ahead was a bottomless abyss, she would go without turning back.
This was her, the Silver Dragon King Gu Yuena, her destiny and responsibility as the Co-ruler of Soul Beasts.
After a period of travel, the spirit tool carriage finally arrived at the destination of this trip—Shrek City.
Looking from afar, the silhouette of this city alone gave one a sense of immense shock.
It did not belong to any of the three great Empires, but was a truly independent giant city.
Its status was transcendent; relying on the prestige and strength of the continent's number one academy, Shrek, it stood at the center of the continent, becoming the de facto center of economy and culture, and a Holy Land for Soul Masters.
With a population exceeding ten million, its commerce was extremely prosperous, with a constant flow of merchant caravans. Goods from Heavenly Soul, Dou Ling, Star Luo, and even the Sun Moon Empire gathered and were traded here, and its level of prosperity even surpassed the capital cities of the three Empires.
As for Shrek Academy, it was located in the eastern part of Shrek City. Rather than saying the academy was in the city, it was more accurate to say the city was built around the academy.
The academy area directly faced the vast and boundless Star Dou Great Forest to the east, standing on the front line of defense against beast tides, guarding the peace of the city behind it.
Shrek City had four main city gates, among which the East City Gate was unique. It directly connected to the interior of Shrek Academy and was only for the use of Shrek Academy's teachers and students, serving as a symbol of the academy's independence and special status.
Caelus's carriage did not head toward the other gates intended for commoners and travelers, but went straight to the East City Gate.
At this moment, the area outside the East City Gate was already a clamor of voices, bustling with activity.
Looking out, the dense crowd likely numbered no less than five thousand. Most of them were young boys and girls aged eleven or twelve, accompanied by family or servants, their faces bearing expressions of nervousness, excitement, or longing.
They were all young Soul Masters from all over the continent, carrying dreams and talent, who had come to participate in Shrek Academy's entrance examination.
In addition to the examinees and parents, there were also a large number of merchants who had flocked here, setting up various stalls to sell food, water, simple spirit tools, and even some potions claimed to temporarily boost one's state. This made the already crowded environment at the city gate even more boisterous; during this period, the prosperity here even exceeded many areas within the city.
It was well known that Shrek Academy's entrance standards were rigorous.
One needed a recommendation letter from a city lord of a major city within the three Empires, to be no older than twelve, and to have a Soul Power Rank exceeding fifteen.
Every person standing here was an elite Genius from their respective region.
Caelus led Lan Susu and Lan Luoluo off the carriage, immediately feeling countless gazes projected toward them.
He ignored the surrounding noise and cast his calm gaze toward the city gate—where a row of temporary tables and chairs had been set up. About a dozen older students, roughly fourteen or fifteen years old, were responsible for reception and preliminary screening.
They were all wearing yellow uniforms with a green monster pattern badge on the chest.
This was the standard school uniform for second and third-year students of the Shrek Academy Outer Court.