Beast King's Cradle – Forgotten Grove
The air was rich with the scent of ancient trees and primal magic. Ren walked deeper into the Beast King's Cradle, the ground soft beneath his boots, shadows curling protectively around him. With each step, the forest trembled in silent recognition.
This wasn't just any hunting ground—it was a resting place of legends.
Beside him floated three orbs of light, each containing the essence of the soul beasts he had already claimed. They pulsed in rhythm with his own heartbeat. But there were more—many more.
He was here for the greatest of them all.
Silver Lake – Home of the Crystal Swan
The next spirit beast he sought shimmered beneath the calm waters of a hidden lake. The surface rippled as Ren approached, his gaze steady.
Then she rose—a woman of impossible beauty, with crystal feathers along her back and eyes like twin stars. She hovered above the water, elegant, divine.
"Who dares disturb the sanctity of my slumber?" she asked, her voice like a chime in the wind.
Ren stopped a few feet away. "I am Ren of the Shadow Path. I offer not destruction—but eternity."
The Swan narrowed her eyes. "Many have come. All wanted my power."
"I want you."
The wind stilled.
"And what do you offer in return?" she asked, curiosity flickering behind her regal mask.
"Freedom from this cage," Ren said, holding up the orb from her fallen sister, the Ice Phoenix. "A life beyond waiting. A chance to fight. To feel. To choose."
The Crystal Swan stepped forward. "Then prove your sincerity."
Ren offered his hand. No tricks. No force.
She took it.
The bond flared instantly, her form dissolving into radiant essence and merging into Ren's dimension. Another goddess of the soul beasts joined him—not as prey, but as partner.
God Realm – Silent Conspiracy
While Ren's legend grew in the Cradle, unrest churned within the heavens.
Tang San stood before the high gods, bruised from the prior defeat. "You cannot let this continue. He's already claimed three former divine beasts. If he unites them all—"
"He becomes a threat to the balance itself," said the God of Judgment.
Yet none moved.
Because many gods were watching… and wondering. Could he be right? Could he be better than us?
Shadow Citadel – New Arrival
Back in the mortal realm, Ren returned briefly. His arrival shook the citadel. His wives gathered to greet him—Mei, Yuexue, Bi Ji, and now Xianhua, the silver-haired wolf.
But it was the newest arrival that caught their attention.
The Crystal Swan had taken human form—hair flowing with crystal sheen, her presence calming yet intense. "I am Yanyue," she said, bowing with grace. "I am his now."
"Another one?" Mei laughed. "At this rate, we'll need a second palace."
Ren smirked. "Then I'll build it. For all of you."
His promise was quiet but absolute.
Nightfall – Within the Hunting Dimension
Ren sat with his shadow generals, studying the next set of beasts. The Cradle had much more to offer: the Golden Eyed Black Dragon King, the Scarlet Snake Empress, the Dream Fox Queen.
Each one more ancient, more dangerous… and more beautiful.
"They await," Yuexue said softly, placing a hand on his shoulder.
"And I'll claim them all," Ren replied. "One by one. Not as weapons. But as my people."
The shadows around him stirred.
The army grew.
The legend deepened.
End of Chapter 53To be continued…