Douluo Dalu 3: Legend of the White Fox

"Is this what Wujin is?" Xia Yi's heart trembled as he pieced together the truth—Wujin was that Lion Emperor.

No wonder Wujin carried such an icy aura. It turned out that it was the concentrated essence of blood, flesh, and souls from the soul beasts of the Infinite Mountain Range.

"One day, I'll return and level the Abyssal Plane to avenge my people." A cold voice echoed behind Xia Yi. The white-clad youth, Wujin, had silently appeared behind him.

"You really are that Lion Emperor," Xia Yi said, gazing at Wujin. Wujin—the Endless Mountain Range. It all made sense now.

"Yes, and no," Wujin replied, shaking his head.

"What do you mean?" Xia Yi asked curiously.

"The Snow Jade Lion Emperor perished at the hands of the Abyssal beings long ago. What you see now is a vengeful manifestation formed by the blood, soul, and essence of the soul beasts of the Infinite Mountain Range. Even my soul is a patchwork of fragments from countless soul beasts." Wujin's voice was cold and carried boundless killing intent.

"No wonder there's a deathly aura emanating from you," Xia Yi nodded. Then, after a moment, he asked, "As far as I know, the Abyssal Plane invaded Douluo Continent thousands of years ago. Why have you only now taken form?"

"My state is unique. After escaping from the Infinite Mountain Range back then, my blood and flesh were dragged back by a mysterious force and dispersed throughout the mountain range. Even the most powerful beings couldn't detect it. It took thousands of years to slowly recover and reassemble into my current form," Wujin said icily.

"As I understand it, the Infinite Mountain Range is far within the former Sun-Moon Empire. Why did you come to East Sea City?" Xia Yi continued.

"Because of Gu Yue," Wujin replied gravely.

"You know Gu Yue's true identity?" Xia Yi was taken aback. Wujin had supposedly died a thousand years ago. Even if he were resurrected, how could he know Gu Yue's identity?

Gu Yue's transformation was the highest secret among soul beasts. Aside from Xia Yi, only a few fearsome beasts like Di Tian knew about it.

"As my body was forming, a voice suddenly appeared in my mind and revealed Gu Yue's identity as the soul beasts' sovereign," Wujin said coldly, equally perplexed about the source of this guiding voice.

"Could it be the Will of the Plane?" Xia Yi speculated silently. Apart from the fearsome beasts of the Star Dou Forest, only the Plane's Will would know Gu Yue's identity.

Moreover, the Plane's Will had indeed been watching Gu Yue closely.

A month ago, Xia Yi had been forced into transformation by the Plane's Will after striking Gu Yue.

Yet Xia Yi couldn't understand why the Plane's Will would divulge Gu Yue's identity to Wujin. Was it hoping Gu Yue would rally the strength of all soul beasts?

"Impossible!" Xia Yi shook his head. According to Gu Yue and the others, the Plane's Will, despite its wife being a transformed soul beast, had always suppressed soul beasts. There was no way it would assist them.

"Since you've come all this way for Gu Yue, why not reveal your identity to her?" Xia Yi asked.

"Disappointment," Wujin spat the word icily, then turned to Xia Yi. "My sole goal in life is to destroy the Abyssal Plane. I have no time for her romantic antics. Only you beasts of the Star Dou Forest have the leisure to indulge her nonsense."

"You must have guessed my identity; otherwise, you wouldn't have spoken so freely," Xia Yi remarked. Given that Wujin knew Gu Yue's identity, it wasn't hard for him to deduce Xia Yi's.

Of course, Wujin likely assumed he was a hundred-thousand-year-old transformed soul beast. He couldn't possibly know Xia Yi was only a ten-year beast.

"I saw potential in you and hoped you'd leave Gu Yue sooner rather than later. Otherwise, when she follows the old path of Star Dou Forest's transformed soul beasts, you might find regret too late," Wujin said solemnly.

"You seem to harbor a deep resentment toward the Star Dou Forest," Xia Yi said, his voice steady.

"What's the point of discussing this? I've said what I needed to say. Whether you listen is up to you," Wujin replied, shaking his head. "Now that you've asked so many questions, it's my turn to ask you."

"Go ahead," Xia Yi said.

"My first question: how did you get here?" Wujin asked, his tone sharp.

"I don't know. I was meditating when I suddenly found myself here," Xia Yi replied, shaking his head. He genuinely had no idea.

"This place is an awareness space formed by the collective soul fragments of the Infinite Mountain Range's fallen soul beasts. You can think of it as a spiritual world. Once your consciousness enters, you must endure the constant corrosion of the lingering resentment here. If not for my unique identity, which deters these spirits from harming me, I'd likely have been destroyed. Even so, the aura here nearly consumed me. How is it that you remain unaffected?" Wujin stared at Xia Yi, his eyes filled with doubt.

"I really don't know," Xia Yi shook his head again. He didn't even know how he arrived, let alone why he was immune to the resentment.

Wujin nodded, convinced Xia Yi wasn't lying. Suddenly, a gleam of light flashed in his eyes. "I have a suggestion—perhaps you could try it?"

"Judging by your look, it's probably nothing good. I won't fall for it," Xia Yi said flatly, shaking his head.

"Hear me out first. You could try circulating your soul power to absorb a small amount of the resentment here and see if you're affected," Wujin said, his icy gaze now tinged with fervor.

Xia Yi shook his head decisively again. "So this is why you've been so friendly. You want me to absorb the resentment, leaving you with purified soul energy for your own benefit, while I risk becoming a dark soul master. No way."

Truthfully, Xia Yi was intrigued. He carried too many secrets, even ones he didn't fully understand. He was curious if he could absorb resentment without succumbing to it.

But the sheer volume of resentment in the Infinite Mountain Range was staggering. He dared not risk it.

"I know your concerns. You can start by absorbing just a little. If it doesn't work, stop," Wujin persisted, unwilling to give up. He desperately wanted to grow stronger and return to the Abyssal Plane, but the resentment constantly drained his focus and hindered his progress.

"Give me a reason or excuse to take this risk for you," Xia Yi said coolly.

Wujin nodded. "Fine, I'll give you one. A large part of this resentment stems from your Star Dou Forest soul beasts. As a subordinate of Gu Yue, don't you bear some responsibility?"

"Aren't the soul beasts of the Infinite Mountain Range victims of the Abyssal beings? What does this have to do with the Star Dou Forest?" Xia Yi asked.

"Originally, it had nothing to do with them. But when I learned of Gu Yue's identity, resentment grew in my heart. All the Infinite Mountain Range's soul beasts perished, yet their sovereign flirts and dallies here. My resentment spread to the souls of the fallen, amplifying the hatred within me. Tell me, does this resentment have anything to do with the Star Dou Forest? With your so-called soul beast sovereign?" Wujin stared at Xia Yi and demanded.

In truth, the original resentment of the fallen soul beasts didn't trouble Wujin much, as he had done all he could back then. Their spirits bore him no grudge.

It was the resentment stemming from Gu Yue that truly tormented him, constantly assaulting his spiritual world and threatening to overwhelm him with hatred toward Gu Yue for neglecting her duty.

If this resentment broke free, Wujin would undoubtedly be consumed by it and become a dark soul master.

This was why he had stopped fighting Xia Yi after only two moves earlier in the day.

Seeing Xia Yi with Gu Yue had reignited his resentment, nearly breaking his control.

"This must be why the Lord of the Plane guided Wujin to East Sea Academy," Xia Yi speculated. Though he had no evidence, he was 80% certain.

The Lord of the Plane likely wanted to prevent Wujin from progressing further, hoping the resentment would consume him instead.