"Human, come with me." A tall woman in a jade-green dress had appeared nearby without Jiang Siming noticing. Her body radiated an even stronger aura of life, and she seemed sacred and untouchable.
Jiang Siming took a deep breath and said nothing. He hurried after her.
A moment later, a golden throne came into view. The black-robed man seated upon it had sharp, sword-like brows, and his eyes held a mysterious quality, like black holes that drew in anyone who looked at them. There was no need to guess: he had to be the Black-Eyed Golden Dragon King, Beast God Di Tian. The tall woman stood quietly beside the throne.
"You're from the Divine Realm?" Di Tian's voice was cold. He didn't release any pressure, but his words still sent a chill through the air.
Jiang Siming said nothing. He simply released his Martial Soul, the Donghuang Bell, and a true emperor's presence spread outward.
A flicker of surprise appeared in Beast God Di Tian's otherwise impassive eyes.
"A god of the Soul Beast Clan? This is unfamiliar... but it is indeed the aura of a god." Di Tian had felt the Dragon God's aura before. The aura radiating from the Donghuang Bell was similar, yet different—or perhaps even more powerful.
"You came to negotiate with me?" Di Tian asked again, finally taking Jiang Siming seriously.
"I can help you awaken the Silver Dragon King." Jiang Siming got straight to the point. He had only one option in this gamble.
"That's not enough. You're still too weak. Besides, you're human." Beast God Di Tian shook his head.
Jiang Siming breathed a silent sigh of relief. He'd bet right.
"Give me ten years." Jiang Siming made no grand promises. The more he said, the less believable he would sound.
Beast God Di Tian fell silent.
There had been no heated arguments or threats during the negotiation, just a few cold words. Yet the back of Jiang Siming's shirt was soaked with sweat.
"Give me a reason." Di Tian's cold voice echoed through the verdant world once more.
"True peace between Soul Masters and Soul Beasts will never be possible. But without Soul Beasts, Soul Masters would cease to exist. You want the profession of Soul Master to disappear forever, but you can't make that happen." Jiang Siming answered calmly.
Di Tian stared coldly at Jiang Siming and released a faint pressure. Jiang Siming was already gravely injured, and he tasted blood in his throat. Still, he forced the rising blood back down.
"You're right. What do you intend to do?" Di Tian slowly withdrew his pressure and spoke coldly again, though a trace of helplessness lingered in his voice.
"I'll become a god through my own strength. I don't need a legacy." Jiang Siming's eyes brimmed with confidence. Even if no one else believed in him, he had to believe in himself.
"What do you want?" Di Tian's cold voice rang out again. He had no reason to doubt Jiang Siming. He didn't care whether Jiang Siming lived or died; this was merely an inconsequential investment.
Jiang Siming had never expected to get anything out of this. Right now, he only wanted to get away as quickly as possible. Every extra second here could bring more danger. But he had to ask for something—and it had to be enough. Otherwise, he might be dead in the next moment.
"I need you to protect the Heaven Dou Empire for ten years." Jiang Siming tossed out an impressive-sounding request at random.
"Fine, I agree. But you must enter into a contract with me. I want a drop of your blood." As he spoke, Di Tian traced black runes in the air with his finger. They drifted slowly toward Jiang Siming, who hesitated.
"You needn't worry. We Soul Beasts aren't as untrustworthy as humans. I haven't tampered with this contract at all." Di Tian's disdainful voice snapped Jiang Siming out of his thoughts.
Jiang Siming had no choice. He bit his finger, and his blood floated into the air, drifting slowly toward the black runes. It merged with them, and then the contract vanished.
Jiang Siming felt as though a shackle had been placed around his heart. To break free of it, he would have to fulfill his promise and awaken the Silver Dragon King.
"You may go." Di Tian vanished from the throne as soon as he finished speaking. The tall woman then stepped forward.
"Little one, you may call me Bi Ji." Bi Ji extended her hand, and a stream of green energy flowed into Jiang Siming. It swiftly healed all his injuries and even helped his Soul Power, which had already been on the verge of a breakthrough, advance to the next level.
"Thank you. Just call me Jiang Siming." He spoke politely. This had to be Bi Ji, ranked fourth among the Ten Great Ferocious Beasts in the second installment, right? Just like the original story had said, she was kind and compassionate toward both humans and Soul Beasts.
"Come with me. I'll take you out. I can't remember how long it's been since I last spoke to anyone. Keep me company and talk to me for a while." Bi Ji sounded a little sad.
"Actually, I'm surprised you survived." Bi Ji smiled.
Jiang Siming remained silent, showing no reaction.
"Aren't you going to ask why?" Bi Ji asked curiously.
"Maybe I've been disappointed for too long?" Jiang Siming replied.
"Perhaps. Even though Di Tian is invincible on this continent, in the end, he's just a wave breaking against a rock. All you hear is a single crash." Sadness and helplessness colored Bi Ji's voice.
Jiang Siming didn't answer. The conflict between Soul Masters and Soul Beasts could never be resolved. Peace was just a fantasy. The Divine Realm wouldn't wipe out the Soul Beasts, but it wouldn't let them grow much stronger than humans, either. For the Soul Beasts, that was unfair from the very beginning. They had always been prey.
"I'm finally out! That scared the hell out of me." Jiang Siming let out a long breath, in a very good mood.
"I can't believe you made it out alive." Daming's figure emerged from the water again.
"Yeah, I can't believe it either. I should get another chance to come back next time. Remember to brush your teeth then." Jiang Siming cheerfully teased him, still thrilled to have just escaped death.
Daming was left speechless, looking thoroughly exasperated.
Crisis Averted; Zhu Zhuqing's Confession
Tang San's side.
"Xiao Wu, are you all right?" Tang San held Xiao Wu tightly in his arms, his eyes red from crying.
"Brother, I'm fine." Seeing Tang San's red eyes and how worried everyone had been for her, Xiao Wu felt even more touched.
"Where's Jiang Siming? He went to save you. Where is he?" Zhu Zhuqing's cold words carried a hint of concern.
Looking at Xiao Wu in his arms, Tang San asked her the same thing. "Xiao Wu, is Brother Siming all right?"
"Brother Siming is fine. He, uh... has some things to take care of. I don't know how long it'll take." Xiao Wu seemed at a loss for words. After all, she didn't know where Jiang Siming had gone, either. Daming and Erming hadn't told her.
"I'm going to find him." Zhu Zhuqing turned to leave.
"Zhu Zhuqing, calm down. Xiao Wu said Jiang Siming would be fine. His strength is probably no weaker than mine. Even if he can't win, he can still get away. If something important is keeping him there, then it must really matter. With your strength, you'd only be going there for nothing." Zhao Wuji stopped Zhu Zhuqing in time.