The depths of the Star Dou Great Forest were darker and quieter than usual. The ferocious beasts that ruled its ancient territories stirred uneasily, sensing the shifting destiny weaving through the roots of the world.
In the heart of the Life Lake, atop a shining golden island made entirely of condensed life essence—Life Gold—a gentle figure sat cross-legged. Her blue hair, shimmering like endless waves, flowed freely. Ah Yin, the once Blue Silver Empress, now a mother-to-be, was surrounded by an aura of creation and rebirth.
Beside her stood a man like an unshakeable mountain — Tang Hao. His hammer calloused hands never strayed from the hilt of his weapon, his eyes sharp, surveying the forest like a beast ready to strike at any moment.
Above, in the shade of the ancient trees, a black dragon coiled silently — Di Tian, King of Beasts. His golden vertical pupils flickered coldly as he overlooked the precious scene. "You must protect her. No disturbance shall be tolerated," Di Tian's voice, low and ancient, reverberated like a command of the heavens.
Tang Hao nodded without words. He understood the weight of life Ah Yin carried inside her womb—an existence that could alter the fate of beasts and humans alike.
Elsewhere, deeper in the jungle's shadows, another force brewed.
A monstrous figure lumbered through the mist — a titanic Dark Gold Terrorclaw Bear, its body covered in iron-like fur, its claws glinting with chilling sharpness. This was Xiong, a beast that had lived for 400,000 years, second only to the Di Tian and divine beasts themselves.
Tang Hao, seeking a way to sharpen his strength, approached Xiong under Di Tian's arrangement.
Xiong huffed impatiently. "You wish to strengthen your flesh, human? Hmph! A trifling matter!" He lashed out a claw — not to harm, but to demonstrate.
The air split. A line of pure death energy carved into a distant mountain wall. Tang Hao's eyes narrowed in awe.
Under Xiong's harsh and brutal training methods, Tang Hao fought against gravity itself, crushing boulders with his bare fists, forging a new physique that could withstand the storm that was sure to come.
Suddenly, the forest's peace was shattered.
Ah Yin, in her serene meditation, shuddered violently. Tang Hao spun around — only to find Xiong baring his bloody fangs toward her. The old bear's killing intent was no longer concealed.
"The unborn auspicious beast... if I devour it... I, too, can become a true God Beast!" Xiong roared, his claws flashing like guillotines.
Tang Hao roared in fury, swinging his hammer with killing intent boiling, but Xiong was faster. One claw shot forward, ripping through space itself — and stuck deep into Ah Yin's womb, its sharp edges vibrating with malicious energy.
"NOOO!!" Tang Hao's voice tore through the air.
Before Xiong could retract his claw for a second strike, Di Tian descended with the fury of a storm.
A single swipe.
A single breath.
Xiong's titanic body split in two, his blood boiling as his soul dissolved under Di Tian's wrath.
Before his death, Xiong howled in despair, trying to curse them — but not even his resentment could find purchase.
The clearing fell into suffocating silence.
Ah Yin gasped weakly, blood staining her white dress. Yet from within her, a resilient light bloomed — the child still lived.
Near the Life Gold platform, Shiv, unnoticed and silent, approached the fallen remnants. The Dark Gold Terrorclaw Bear's claw, still embedded with faint life energy, remained stuck in Ah Yin's abdomen, vibrating with violent soul force.
Sensing a strange resonance, Shiv absorbed the claw soul bone directly.
Muscle and bone screamed — Blood erupted —but Shiv's grin widened.
[ Ding! Xiong's Dreadclaw Soul Bone absorbed successfully! Mutation detected! Unique Ability: Dual Claw Manifestation unlocked! ]
Twin crimson claws burst forth from Shiv's forearms, humming with deadly energy.
At the same time, the crimson spirit ring released from Xiong's corpse floated toward Ah Yin.
The broken, battered Ah Yin struggled, then gritted her teeth.
For the sake of her unborn child — for Tang Hao — she stretched out her hand and absorbed the monstrous ring.
Crimson light engulfed her.
Blue Silver Grass roots exploded around the lake, the forest trembled, and Ah Yin, who had once been a Spirit Douluo, stepped into the realm of Soul Saint — Level 70, successfully entering the mature period.
But fate was not done yet.
At the border of the Star Dou Forest, dark-robed figures emerged. Spirit Hall — the behemoth power of the continent — had caught wind of Tang Hao and Ah Yin.
Leading the army was the Pope, flanked by Spirit Hall elders, Title Douluo Ghost and Title Douluo Chrysanthemum, along with cardinals.
With cruel smiles, they unleashed soul skills upon the forest indiscriminately, not caring about beast, tree, or innocent life.
The great forest shook under the weight of human greed.
Within the heart of the forest, Gu Yuena, the silver dragon goddess, materialized silently beside Di Tian.
Her voice was cold and distant: "Before the birth of auspicious beasts, endless trials and calamities will come. If you endure... the heavens themselves will grant unimaginable rewards."
Tang Hao, still drenched in Ah Yin's blood, clenched his fists.
He knelt before the Life Gold platform, ignoring the chaos outside.
And for the first time in years, he closed his eyes... and meditated.
The golden light wrapped around him, flowing into every broken meridian, every shattered nerve.
With time itself seeming to freeze, Tang Hao began walking the path to the Title Douluo realm — Level 90 — with the world itself holding its breath.