Communication

"I didn't become friends with Sky Dream Ice Silkworm," Wang Rui retorted, sounding exactly like a rebellious teenager arguing with his father. "I'm using him."

"Star Dou Forest and Sky Dream Ice Silkworm share common interests. But if an alliance is built solely on mutual benefit, the other party may betray us at any time for greater gains." He spoke coldly, his expression nearly indifferent. "Compared to a bond tied together by mutual benefit alone, I believe more in one formed from both mutual benefit and emotion—I need Sky Dream Ice Silkworm to see me as a friend."

"Then you could simply extract that worm's innate power and use it to cultivate a human you favor. The rest of the worm could be stewed in a cordyceps soup."

Di Tian made a rare joke, though Sky Dream Ice Silkworm probably would not have found it funny.

"That would be the most efficient use of resources. We'd get a lavish dinner, and you wouldn't have to personally go to the human world to watch over that human's growth out of concern that the Sky Dream Ice Silkworm in his head might lead him astray."

"Well? If you truly only intend to use that worm, I'll go catch him and bring him back right now. We can have an extra dish tonight."

"Don't, don't, don't." Wang Rui's stern expression collapsed.

"Fine." He wiped his face. "I admit it. I really have come to regard dinner as a friend."

The Imperial Auspicious Beast held a special position. In Star Dou Forest, there were not actually many who could be considered his friends.

And Sky Dream Ice Silkworm was naturally familiar with everyone, a lively joker who loved acting shameless. He was foolish enough, too. Even if he had some petty schemes, anyone could see through them at a glance.

Even though Wang Rui had originally approached Sky Dream Ice Silkworm intending to use him, after several thousand years, their feelings really had become quite deep.

...Though there was admittedly a great deal of water mixed into that friendship.

Tian Meng was still worried that the Auspicious Beast might be punished by Di Tian for letting him go. He had no idea that Wang Rui had long since privately spoken with Star Dou's Beast God.

Still, from Di Tian's perspective, his attitude toward Tian Meng really was strange, Wang Rui thought with a bitter smile.

It was probably somewhat like that joke from the internet in his previous life: a vampire elder could not understand why his child was so kind to humans, just as humans could not understand why their children wanted to befriend giant drumsticks.

After all, Sky Dream Ice Silkworm smelled far too delicious. His entire body did not resemble a living Soul Beast at all, but rather an enormous heavenly treasure—something like an oversized, walking ice cream bar.

Being around Sky Dream Ice Silkworm and not taking a bite out of him already showed that Wang Rui possessed exceptional self-control.

"If Sky Dream Ice Silkworm truly does something harmful to Star Dou..." Wang Rui paused. "I'll personally turn him into a stewpot."

"If anyone's making stew, it'll be me. What's a child like you thinking about so much for?" Di Tian frowned.

"Even if you intend to cultivate a god who supports Star Dou, someone else could do it. Do you really have to go to the human world yourself? Especially when you're planning to go to Shrek City—you know how dangerous that place is."

"Yes. I wouldn't feel at ease leaving it to anyone else." Wang Rui nodded calmly. "The human I chose is the Child of Destiny with the strongest fortune in ten thousand years. I need to draw upon his luck. Once the attributes are linked, my destiny will inevitably become entangled with that human's, so naturally I must go to the human world."

"And in my human form, I am completely human, without even the slightest flaw. Even you cannot tell that I'm a Soul Beast, let alone anyone else." Wang Rui grinned. "Even if a god stood before me, he wouldn't be able to tell I'm a Soul Beast."

Di Tian merely snorted noncommittally.

"Humans have no Power of Destiny. If you give him the destiny attribute, you'll simply be letting that human take advantage of you." The handsome middle-aged man's face was expressionless, making it impossible to tell whether he was pleased or angry.

"We've discussed this before, Di Tian." Wang Rui shook his head. "The luck of humans and Soul Beasts differs. I can grant Soul Beasts good fortune or misfortune, but I can only affect Soul Beasts. I cannot affect humans."

The bad luck bestowed by the Imperial Auspicious Beast could make Bear Lord choke on water, or even make Di Tian sneeze nonstop, yet it could not affect an ordinary human who had never cultivated.

No matter what, the race favored more by the Douluo World was still humanity, not Soul Beasts.

Wang Rui had also seen the memories gifted by Miss Jin Ni. The original Three-Eyed Golden Lion had only been able to judge humans through the Power of Destiny after linking attributes with Huo Yuhao.

Otherwise, how could that old bastard Taotie have possibly forced me? I'd have cursed him and those little brats he brought along until they choked to death while eating. That was one of Miss Jin Ni's complaints left within the memories.

"The essence of attribute linking is actually a form of exchange. What I can give that human is the authority to control the Power of Destiny. In terms of fortune, that child is the true Child of Destiny of the Douluo World for tens of thousands of years. His position among humans is much like mine among Soul Beasts—we are both favored by destiny," Wang Rui explained.

"And I will obtain part of his fortune. This portion of human fortune will complete my control over the Power of Destiny, allowing me to influence human destiny." Ambition blazed within Wang Rui's brilliant golden eyes. "When that time comes, humans will no longer be anything to fear."

More importantly, drawing upon human fortune was merely a threshold.

Only by completely mastering the Power of Destiny could he comprehend the Law of Destiny, ultimately break through the Douluo World's limitations, and become... a god!

The Power of Destiny was the most unique of all powers.

It might not be constrained by the Divine Realm, and it was also the path most likely to break the rule that Soul Beasts could not become gods.

If he truly became the God of Destiny, Wang Rui would have the possibility of directly rewriting the laws of the Douluo World!

Changing the rules of the world so that Soul Beasts no longer produced soul rings or soul bones was the true way for the Soul Beast clan to completely escape humanity's threat.

He simply could not say this to Di Tian... Di Tian himself was still stuck at the hurdle of the nine-hundred-thousand-year Great Tribulation. For Wang Rui, whose strength had yet to reach the level of a Fierce Beast, to say such things would sound far too arrogant.

"You little brat, you always have an argument ready. I can't outtalk you." Di Tian sighed.

"Even if you must link attributes with that human, you could bring the human child back to Star Dou, or back to Beast Sect, and let him stay with those humans affiliated with Soul Beasts... Or you could use that puppet avatar you made from Gold of Life and Dragon Ginseng. Couldn't you have the avatar teach that human child?" Di Tian said in a deep voice. "As the Auspicious Beast, you should not personally place yourself in danger."

"The environment of Beast Sect is relatively closed off. The outside world is more suitable for a human's growth, and that identity has tasks of its own." Wang Rui sighed. "Besides, there are some things I need to do myself."

Di Tian stared at the Auspicious Beast with furrowed brows, an unreadable emotion in his golden eyes. He looked like a high school dean deeply dissatisfied with a student.

Wang Rui's scalp tingled beneath his gaze.

After a long while, Di Tian spoke again. "Other than what you said, is there another reason?"

Wang Rui's heart skipped a beat.

"No." He shook his head and answered calmly. "Aren't those reasons enough for me to go to the human world?"

...Of course there was.

But he could never tell that reason to Di Tian—or to any Soul Beast.

Wang Rui stared fixedly into Di Tian's eyes, silently apologizing while doing his utmost not to reveal even a trace of guilt.

"Forget it." After a long while, Di Tian shook his head and scoffed. He raised a hand and patted Wang Rui's head. "The little brat has grown up. It's normal for you to have your own secrets. Go, then. But be sure to stay safe. I don't need to keep nagging you about how dangerous the human world is, do I?"

"I understand." Wang Rui nodded. "Then I'm leaving? I'll be back around this time next year. As for the Far North, I'll have to trouble you to accompany me there personally."

He whistled sharply. A few seconds later, a Crimson Feather Eagle as tall as an adult dove down from above.

Wang Rui leaped high into the air and grabbed the eagle's talons.

With a loud eagle cry, the bird carried him soaring fiercely into the sky.

"Heh, I'm off—"

You! You! You! And you!

All of you, please!

Keep me company and chat with me!

(Angrily uses an ape meme.jpg)

Please leave some comments, I really feel like I'm playing solo here orz