An Animal's Survival Instinct

He was genuinely stunned by White Lotus Boy's sudden stunt of "acknowledging a father."

This bastard... to stay alive, he truly had no shame or principles left! A dignified attendant beneath a Saint, a Quasi-Saint cultivator, could actually kneel so decisively and call someone father?

What Lin Zhu did not know was that White Lotus Boy had truly been beaten into submission by him, and terrified into submission by the Dragon Clan. The crushing defeat in Southern Jambudvipa, being exposed before Spirit Mountain, the terror of nearly being instantly killed by a Dragon Emperor just now... incident after incident had long since crushed his spirit and pride to pieces.

There was only one thought in his mind now.

Live! Live at any cost!

Take revenge on Lin Zhu? The thought occasionally surfaced, only to be immediately suppressed by an even deeper terror.

A clear realization had already taken shape in his subconscious.

Offending Buddha Tathagata might still leave room for reconciliation, with punishment being the worst outcome. But offending Lin Zhu, this smiling fiend before him, meant truly dying—and perhaps suffering endless torment and humiliation before death! Though Master Amitabha did his utmost to protect him, he clearly could not stop a crazed Dragon Emperor, much less protect him every moment.

If he died now, would not all the suffering, torment, and lost face he had endured before have been for nothing? That would be far too great a loss! So even if he had to kneel and call someone father, even if he had to endure unprecedented humiliation, he would seize any sliver of hope! Cowardice? Could striving to survive be called cowardice?

Lin Zhu quickly recovered from his astonishment, his gaze turning amused and profound.

He saw the fear and abasement ingrained deep within White Lotus Boy's eyes.