Chapter 86: The Lord Is Feeling Guilty

Receiving the emergency military report, Guo Zhenfeng rushed out immediately. However, he still couldn't move faster than Xueling.

Since she was able to infiltrate the Northern Army's camp without a sound, slipping away before anyone could react was just as easy.

For the first time in his long military career, leading a large battle corps, Guo Zhenfeng felt a deep sense of powerlessness. A hint of fear even crept into his heart.

But what could he do? His superiors were too occupied to intervene, and his father refused to support him.

Left with no other choice, he had to order the Northern Army—barely out of wartime readiness for just a few months—to re-enter combat readiness, preparing for possible enemy invasion and natural disasters.

At the same time, in a different place.

Shrek City, Outskirts.

Even in this colossal metropolis of tens of millions, the most prosperous city in the entire Sun-Moon Federation, there were still underdeveloped areas and relatively impoverished communities.

Today, an unexpected group of visitors arrived.

A small party moved discreetly, expertly concealing their spiritual energy to remain undetected.

Yet their striking presence—sharp features and overwhelming auras—made it clear that they were no ordinary people.

These were Di Tian's former colleagues—some of the last remaining land-dwelling Great Beasts.

Having infiltrated the Spirit Pagoda for over three years, everything had stabilized, and any suspicions had long since faded away.

Thus, even if they gathered now, no one would question them.

A pale, almost skeletal man frowned and turned to Bi Ji.

"You're saying that the Lord has fallen for a human Soul Master? And it's that kid named Tang Wulin?!"

Bi Ji responded with a question of her own.

"Wan Yao Wang, you don't believe it?"

"Correct."

Wan Yao Wang nodded without hesitation.

"The Lord's bet with Na'er was about that Tang Wulin boy. In order to win the wager, the Lord would naturally act favorably toward him."

"With the Lord's intelligence, making it seem real—so real that no one could detect the deception—should be expected."

"Could it be that you misread the situation, Bi Ji?"

Bi Ji shook her head but did not respond immediately. Instead, she exchanged glances with another beast—Zi Ji.

Zi Ji sighed bitterly. She and the Lord both belonged to the True Dragon Clan. Previously, she had hoped to keep a foot in both camps—Di Tian's and the Lord's—to hedge her bets.

But never in her wildest dreams did she expect that, after Bi Ji's observations, the Lord would be deemed to have fallen for a human.

At first, Zi Ji refused to believe it. She didn't want to believe it.

Their Lord was on the verge of regaining her full strength. With the God Realm gone, she was about to become the undisputed ruler of the world.

How could she abandon the authority and responsibility of the Soul Beast King to bow down before a mere human?

But…

Bi Ji wasn't the only one who believed it.

Even Di Tian had reached the same conclusion!

That was what truly shook Zi Ji to the core.

After all, if there was anyone in the world who understood the Lord best, it was Di Tian.

Before she had even hatched from her dragon egg, Di Tian had already spent countless years by the Lord's side, slumbering with her in the Lake of Life.

If he believed it, how could she continue to deny it?

Zi Ji smiled bitterly before addressing Wan Yao Wang and the other beasts.

"Bi Ji is telling the truth. Even Di Tian reached the same conclusion."

"The Lord has indeed…"

She then began recounting the events that had transpired between Gu Yue and Tang Wulin, down to the finest details.

From the braised beef pot incident to the bloodline fusion accidents during various competitions—nothing was left out.

As she spoke, the other Great Beasts' expressions shifted repeatedly.

They had protected the Silver Dragon King for so many years—how could they not understand what it meant for her to experience bloodline fusion with a Golden Dragon King?

The fact that Tang Wulin, possessing Golden Dragon King blood, was still alive and well in the Lord's presence already spoke volumes.

Even if her bet with Na'er played a role, it didn't change the core truth.

As for why Bi Ji and Zi Ji kept in touch with Di Tian?

That wasn't surprising in the slightest.

Those two had been together for countless years—it was ridiculous to think they would sever all ties just because they had parted ways with the Lord.

Wan Yao Wang's voice grew heavy.

"Xiong Jun, is what they're saying true?"

Among all the gathered beasts, only Wan Yao Wang dared to speak so bluntly to Xiong Jun—the Bear Sovereign—because their power levels were nearly equal.

The muscular, middle-aged man who was Xiong Jun's human form wore a grim expression. Instead of answering Wan Yao Wang, he turned toward Bi Ji and Zi Ji.

"What you say is true, but the Lord personally explained this to me."

"The Lord has her own plans. She has always viewed Tang Wulin's Golden Dragon King bloodline as something she would eventually claim for herself."

"Rather than gossiping behind her back, wouldn't it be better to trust her judgment?"

Bi Ji remained unconvinced.

"We've followed the Lord for countless years. We know her personality better than anyone."

"She doesn't explain herself."

"The fact that she took the initiative to explain things to you—Xiong Jun, do you know what that means?"

Every beast present was highly intelligent. Even Xiong Jun, whose appearance made him seem simple-minded, was far from foolish.

With just a few words, Bi Ji made the truth painfully clear.

The Silver Dragon King had always been arrogant, decisive, and confident.

She never explained her actions.

If she had to justify herself to her subordinates, there was only one possible reason—

She felt guilty.

For a moment, the weight of this realization crushed the entire group.

A long, heavy silence followed.

Each of them wore different expressions, but none looked optimistic.

And then—

"Beep beep—"

A Soul Communicator rang in Zi Ji's pocket.

On the small device's screen, a name flashed—

Yuanen Yehui.

"Beep."

"Shrek City, Central Business District…"

"Understood."

"Beep beep—"

Zi Ji hung up and turned back to the group.

"The Lord has been studying at Shrek Academy for nearly a year now."

"Shrek Academy is the single greatest gathering place for powerful human Soul Masters. We cannot enter freely, so we must wait in Shrek City instead of infiltrating the academy itself."

"Over the past year, the Lord's actions have been closely monitored. Our informant will now provide us with all the details."

None of the Great Beasts objected.

They followed Zi Ji toward their contact point—

A highly visible beverage shop in the heart of Shrek City's Central Business District.

Moving through the crowded streets at astonishing speeds, they arrived within minutes.

The moment they met up with Yuanen Yehui, she glared at Zi Ji with intense jealousy.

Without a word of greeting, she simply ordered her own drink, completely ignoring the group's arrival.

Her attitude was crystal clear.

The other Great Beasts were baffled.

This human woman was supposed to be their informant…?

So why did it seem like she and Zi Ji were mortal enemies instead?

(End of Chapter)