"Thank me?" Lin Lei was startled.
He was meeting these Six-Eyed Golden Lions for the first time. Why would they thank him the moment they laid eyes on him?
What reason could there be?
"But you... you were born a bit too late. If only you had been born three thousand years earlier, the Fourth and Fifth wouldn't have had to die." The Six-Eyed Golden Lion muttered softly, and the two other Six-Eyed Golden Lions also glanced at Lin Lei before the three of them flew off to join the six Saint-realm magical beasts nearby.
Deslly smiled at Lin Lei and said, "Lin Lei, what connection do you have with those three brothers?"
"None at all," Lin Lei replied.
Deslly said nothing more, but his expression made it clear he didn't believe it.
"In the past, very few magical beasts could enter the Tomb of the Gods. Only a few powerful Saint-realm beasts from the Dark Forest could manage it. Now that Di Lin has shown up, even the beasts from the Magic Beast Mountain Range can go," Hayward remarked with a sigh.
Lin Lei glanced to the side.
The six Saint-realm magical beasts accompanying the 'Six-Eyed Golden Lions' were no ordinary creatures.
"Looks like four of them are the same Saint-realm beasts—or rather, the same races—that once stormed into Fenn City." Lin Lei recognized them at a glance: the Blood-Eyed Mane Lion, the Tyrant Dragon, the Earth Bear, and the Golden-Furred Purple-Eyed Ape.
The one that had crushed Kalan under its foot back then was a Golden-Furred Purple-Eyed Ape.
He just didn't know whether the one before him now was the same individual that had attacked Fenn City.
A great many powerhouses had gathered—humans and magical beasts alike. Hidden experts from every corner of the Yulan Continent had assembled here today, and all of them spoke in hushed voices. Humans and beasts stood as two equal races at this moment.
"Whoosh!" A dark shadow shot out of the metal castle—it was Bei Bei.
Every human and magical beast present fixed their gaze on Bei Bei. In the past, only Lord Beurote's three children and a handful of divine-level powerhouses could exit that metal castle. Saint-realm experts generally had no right to enter.
"Boss, it's handled," Bei Bei's voice echoed in Lin Lei's mind. "You can have Bak come over."
Lin Lei smiled. Bei Bei truly had pull when speaking to the mysterious Beurote.
"Dark Roar, go notify Bak and bring him to me," Lin Lei communicated directly to the Dark-Striped Cloud Leopard 'Heilu' through soul transmission. Heilu's voice resonated in Lin Lei's mind in reply: "Yes, Master."
Roughly an hour later, Bak arrived under Heilu's escort.
"So many people." Bak gazed at the assembled powerhouses, his heart jolting with surprise. The Saint-realm experts present—humans and beasts combined—already numbered over eighty. Every single one of them possessed astonishing strength. Without transforming, Bak was the weakest here.
Of course, once he transformed, his strength would place him solidly in the upper middle ranks.
The absolute peak of this crowd still belonged to Deslly, Fa En, and the other three, along with Lin Lei.
The sun had climbed to the center of the sky, yet the Saint-realm experts gathered in the clearing before the metal castle showed remarkable patience, each quietly waiting. Suddenly, four figures flew out of the living castle—the domineering War God, the ethereal and serene Great Priestess, the otherworldly Di Lin, and the languid Xisai.
The four divine-level powerhouses descended before the castle.
Every human and beast listened respectfully, awaiting their commands.
The Great Priestess, with her long silver hair flowing behind her and a green-glowing mask on her face, spoke up. Her voice was soft and perfectly neutral—nearly impossible to identify as male or female.
"Some of you have entered the Tomb of the Gods before, and some have not. However, this time is different from all the past, so I must give you several serious warnings."
"This time is different?" Lin Lei smiled faintly. He had never gone before, so whatever it had been like in the past made no difference to him.
Every human and beast present listened carefully to the Great Priestess's caution.
"Those who have been to the Tomb of the Gods know there are three passages that lead there. One is within the Dark Forest, another on a remote island in the North Sea, and the third lies deep beneath the South Sea." The Great Priestess's voice remained gentle.
The expressions of Deslly, Fa En, and other experienced powerhouses began to shift.
"Three thousand years ago, the entrance was through the seabed of the South Sea. Two thousand years ago, through the Dark Forest. One thousand years ago, through the island in the North Sea. The cycle repeats every three thousand years. This time, the passage will be through the South Sea's depths." The Great Priestess's words reached every person and beast present.
Lin Lei's heart skipped a beat.
"The Tomb of the Gods has three passages?" he wondered. "But these three locations are worlds apart. The North Sea, the Dark Forest, the South Sea... tens of thousands of miles separating them. How is that possible?"
Though confusion churned within him, Lin Lei knew this was not the time to ask questions. He could only listen patiently.
A hint of amusement seemed to creep into the Great Priestess's voice. "Now you know which passage we'll be using this time. Those dozen or so veterans should also understand the danger involved. Very well—Deslly, step forward and explain everything to the rest."
"Remember, anyone who wishes to withdraw may leave. We set out together tonight." The Great Priestess's voice remained composed and mild.
Di Lin's cold laughter cut through the air. "If you're scared, don't go. There's no shame in that. If you back out now, it's still fine. But if you wait until we get there and only then run away in fear—that's where real shame begins." The four divine-level powerhouses walked off to one side to wait for nightfall.
Meanwhile, Deslly stepped to the front of the crowd.
His expression was grim. Lin Lei had never seen the normally refined and scholarly Deslly look so dark.
"All of you who experienced the Tomb of the Gods two thousand years ago and one thousand years ago—listen carefully," Deslly said, his voice cold. "The Tomb of the Gods is not one tomb. It is three! Three passages lead to three different tombs!"
"Three tombs?" Many people gasped in shock.