Magic Beast Forest was one of the four forbidden lands on Auguland.

This forbiddance was of course, only for humans. For the beasts, it was their paradise, as a large number of magic beasts lived in the forest.

For the humans of Auguland, the heart of the Magic Beast Forest was a mysterious area. No one knew what it looked like, and no one knew what the heart was either.

The heart of the Magic Beast Forest in the present time.

A huge castle of metal stood at the heart. There was a guard at every three steps and a watch post at every five. So clearly, there were many guards standing there.

Upon closer look, however, one would notice that all these guards had beast heads, just like those demons with their incomplete human forms in Journey to the West1.

Right then, a feast was being held in the castle's main hall.

A fatty with a portly belly was sitting high above the main seat, with several charming fox ladies rubbing his back and massaging his shoulder. All the while, they would refill its wine goblet and attend to all of its fancies. At the center of the hall were several... Magic Beasts.

There were Bull Beasts, Tiger Beasts, Wolf Beasts...

Without exception, all of these Magic Beasts had shrunk their bodies to a very small size, similar to that of a husky as they enjoyed the feast before them happily.

"Did all of you hear everything I said just now?"

The fatty in the main seat took a swig of liquor before he looked around and asked.

"We heard it, king!"

"We all heard it!"

All of the Magic Beasts spoke in human tongue, as they were Sacred-level beasts. On Auguland, only Sacred-level Magic Beats could transform and speak the human tongue.

"Don't just listen, keep it in mind too!"

The fatty then solemnly said, "The God of Light's pantheon is gone, and even he himself got killed. If all of you don't want to die, you better behave from now on.

"Any fool who does something stupid and provokes that monster, even if he does not kill you, I bloody hell will! Understand?!"

"Yes, yes!"

"Yes, king!"

The group of Sacred-level Magic Beasts responded obediently. Even if the king did not say it, they would not go and provoke that living calamity either.

Goodness, even the God of Light had been killed!

How dare they provoke such a person?

"As long as you understand."

The fatty gave a satisfied nod. "Come eat, and get lost once you're done! I want to go into my lair for seclusion, Auguland has really not been safe of late..."

"Excuse me, can I get a glass of wine to drink?"

At that moment, a clear voice rang out in the hall as the fatty and a group of Sacred Magic Beasts turned their heads. A young man had appeared outside the hall without them noticing it.

"Where did you come from, mailing?! How dare you intrude into this place? Still don't know when to get lost?!"

A Sacred-level Dog Beast, Skyhowler suddenly stood up and yelled angrily at the youth.

"Your king has said nothing, so why is a mere dog like you barking? Shut up!"

The youth sniggered and ignored Skyhowler as he looked at the fatty sitting upon the main seat.

"What did you just say! Do you want to die?!"

However, right then, a black shadow darted out of the hall and a slap landed heavily on Skyhowler's face.

This slap was very powerful, and it sent Skyhowler flying. Several of its fangs also went flying from the impact.

Skyhowler was shocked, surprised to see that the one who had attacked it was its own king. It looked on in disbelief. "My king, you..."

"Shut up! You mewling fool!"

The fatty roared in anger before it tumbled over toward the youth and spoke with sweat on its forehead.

"Your Lordship, it was I who failed to whip them into shape that this c*r ended up insulting you. Please be forgiving and let this slide?"

Hearing this and seeing how their king was acting, everyone in the hall suddenly understood it. They all knelt down and planted their foreheads on the ground. "Greetings... Your Lordship!"

"Your... Lordship?"

Skyhowler was stunned, and it looked at Ling Jiu in disbelief. "He-He is that... living calamity?"

Seeing Skyhowler still standing there, the fatty yelled again, "Your c*r, what are you standing there like a fool for? Hurry up and apologize to His Lordship!"

"Yes, yes... my king!"

Skyhowler immediately scampered before the young man and kowtowed as hard as it could. "Please forgive me, Your Lordship. Please forgive me..."

The youth was none other than Ling Jiu. He glanced at Skyhowler, which was scared out of its wits, and faintly said, "You are lucky, my body has been heaty lately, and so I won't eat dog meat. Get lost."

"Thank you, Your Lordship! Thank you!"

Ling Jiu walked to the main seat and sat down as the fatty smartly got someone to bring a new set of wine glasses and food for Ling Jiu to dine.

Ling Jiu took a bite and could not help but nod. "The taste is not bad."

"As long as you like it, Your Lordship. As long as you like it," the fatty said with a smile.

"You are the master of the Magic Beast Forest, the Golden Titan Ant King?" Ling Jiu looked at the fatty and asked.

"Yes, Your Lordship!" the fatty quickly replied.

"I heard that you are the descendant of the God of the Magic Beasts?" Ling Jiu asked casually as he ate.

"Yes, Your Lordship!"

The fatty cautiously said, "All of the Beast God pantheon's true gods are in the Divine Realm. Father has only me, being the least useful of the lot, to remain on Auguland and rule over the Beast Tribes."

"Oh, I see!"

Ling Jiu nodded slightly and focused on eating. Fatty, as well as the other Sacred-level Magic Beasts in the hall, remained silent and dared not disturb him.

Half an hour later, once he was almost done eating, Ling Jiu stood up and patted the fatty on the shoulder as he smiled. "Not bad. If there's another chance in the future, I'll come again."

"We welcome your arrival at any time, Your Lordship," the fatty hurriedly said with a smile.

"Right then. Goodbye."

Ling Jiu smiled and quietly disappeared from the hall.

Dushhh!!

"That was so dangerous! It was just too dangerous just now!"

"My King, has that living calamity left?"

"Seems like he's gone."

The fatty wiped the sweat off its forehead and fearfully said, "I never thought that the living calamity would come here. That almost scared the life out of me."

"My king, that living calamity doesn't look like much and seems like he's quite easy to talk with. He's totally not as bloodthirsty as you said!"

A Sacred-level Tiger Beast frowned.

"You know jacksh*t!" the fatty roared.

"He butchered the God of Fire, God of Thunder, God of Earth, and God of the Woods in the God of Light's pantheon alive. Even the God of Light was killed in three shots, unable to fight back!

"He butchered the Prime Gods, and he's not a godslayer? I'm telling you, he just can't be bothered with killing you and me! Our level is just too low!"

"Makes sense."

The Sacred-level Magic Beasts all nodded.

"Thank goodness he left, and I hope he doesn't come back!"

The fatty looked outside of the hall and suddenly roared. "Skyhowler, you damned c*r, get over here!"

"My... My king!"

The Skyhowler scampered its way into the hall.

"Bloody hell, you almost got me killed today!"

The fatty slammed the table and glared at Skyhowler. "Men, take him away. Clean him up and steam him. I want to eat dog meat today!"

"My... king! Nooo! You b*stard! You only whimper before others, yet you brutalize me! Go to hell!" A famous story in Chinese literature about a monk traveling with a monkey king, pig demon, and shark demon on a journey of enlightenment.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Journey_to_the_West