No Longer Carrying It Alone

Star Dou Great Forest.

"Zi JI, are you really sure?"

The moonlight, like water, poured onto the ancient lake deep within the Star Dou Great Forest.

Zi JI stood by the lake, her long purple hair swaying gently in the night breeze, shimmering with a faint light.

She looked up at the full Full Moon, remaining silent for a long time.

After a long while, she finally let out a soft sigh.

The sigh was so soft, almost carried away by the wind, but Bi Ji, standing behind her, heard it clearly.

As a sister who had been by her side for many years, Bi Ji knew her too well. In that sigh, there was a thousand kinds of helplessness and ten thousand kinds of determination.

It's decided.

Zi JI finally spoke, her voice as calm as the surface of a lake tonight, "We, the Soul Beast Clan, can no longer remain cowardly."

Bi Ji was silent for a moment, her eyes slightly red. "But Zi JI, you must know that the moon should not interfere in worldly disputes."

Zi JI finally withdrew her gaze from the moon and turned around.

The Moonlight fell on her face, illuminating a stunningly beautiful yet resolute countenance.

A slight upturn at the corners of his mouth revealed a bittersweet yet relieved smile.

"Bi Ji, you're right. The moon shouldn't interfere in worldly disputes."

Zi JI's voice was soft, like a stream flowing under the moonlight, "But have you ever thought about—"

She stretched out her hand, palm up, and a handful of moonlight fell into her fair palm, like a clear spring.

"Though the moon is far away in the sky, when has its light ever truly left this earth?"

Bi Ji was stunned.

Zi JI withdrew her hand and turned to look at the lake.

The moonlight shattered into countless silver scales on the lake, rippling gently with the waves, a beauty that seemed unreal.

"We Soul Beast were born here, grew up here, and have lived in this great forest for hundreds of thousands of years."

Her voice trembled slightly, "From the era when the ancient Dragon God ruled over all spirits, to the rise of humanity and the rampant existence of Soul Master... the moon has always been there, watching us prosper and watching us decline."

"But what about now?"

Zi JI's tone suddenly rose, then quickly fell back down, as if afraid of disturbing the tranquil night, "Now in this forest, how many young beasts can still be heard crying? How many new shoots can still be seen?"

"Humanity grows more daring and arrogant year by year, and we have yielded, compromised, and endured it all—"

She turned her head abruptly, her eyes glistening with tears.

"Bi Ji, if we continue to endure this, the Star Dou Great Forest will truly be nothing but an empty shell!"

Bi Ji's eyes reddened even more, and her lips moved a few times, but she ultimately did not utter a word of rebuttal.

How could she not know all this?

As one of the few Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast in this forest, she has witnessed too many tragedies.

Those human Soul Master, carrying cold soul weapons, ventured deep into the forest, reaping one Soul Beast after another as prey.

Their cries still echo in her dreams.

"Lord... the Lord will have a way, He will definitely have one..."

"Why must our Lord suffer these things? Just because she is the Silver Dragon King? Is she our Lord?"

Before the words were finished, a deep, resonant voice came from the darkness, like muffled thunder rolling across the sky.

That's enough.

Zi JI and Bi Ji were both startled and looked in the direction of the sound.

From the depths of the dense forest, where the moonlight could not penetrate, a tall figure slowly emerged.

The black, fitted outfit clung to his broad shoulders and back, and his golden eyes shone brightly in the darkness, like two eerie flames.

With each step he took, the surrounding air grew heavier, and even the ripples on the lake seemed to be flattened by an invisible force.

Di Tian.

Bi Ji bowed slightly, but Zi JI simply turned her head away, refusing to look at him.

Di Tian walked to the lakeside and stood side by side with Zi JI, but did not look at her.

He looked up at the full Full Moon, its golden pupils reflecting a cool, clear light.

"You're right that we can't let the Lord bear everything. You're also right that we, the Soul Beast Clan, can't continue to be cowards."

He paused, his voice lowering slightly, "But have you ever considered that, as the guardian of the Star Dou Great Forest, haven't I endured enough over the years?"

Zi JI's lips trembled slightly, but she couldn't utter a single word.

Di Tian turned around and faced the lake under the moonlight.

The lake was as calm as a mirror, reflecting his figure—tall, lonely, like an old tree rooted in the darkness.

"When our Lord this land, I swore an oath to protect her with my life."

His voice was soft, yet it struck their hearts like a hammer blow. "But what was the result? She was severely injured and fell into a deep sleep, and I could only watch helplessly."

"Human Soul Master invaded the forest and slaughtered my people, and I could only watch helplessly."

His fist gradually clenched, and his knuckles made a cracking sound.

Do you think I'm not in pain? Do you think I don't hate?

Di Tian suddenly raised his hand and punched the old tree next to him.

That punch didn't use much Soul Power, yet the tree trunk let out a muffled, mournful cry and cracked open with a deep gash.

Bi Ji gasped and instinctively took a half-step back.

Zi JI stood still, watching Di Tian's slightly trembling fist, her heart felt as if it had been violently clenched.

There was a long silence.

"But this should be our shared responsibility, not just the Lord's Lord. We have to do something."

Di Tian's hand was still pressed against the tree trunk, the crack seemingly etched into his bones.

He didn't turn around, but his shoulders trembled slightly.

Zi JI watched his retreating figure, took a deep breath, and steadied her voice. "Di Tian, I haven't denied you. We've all seen everything you've done for the Star Dou Great Forest over the years. But—"

She paused, took a step forward, and stood beside him.

"But you've carried this burden alone for so long, so long that you've forgotten that we can stand by your side too."

Bi Ji nodded gently from behind, her eyes still red, but her gaze was no longer wavering.

Di Tian remained silent for a long time.

The moonlight flowed slowly overhead, like a silent river.

Finally, he withdrew his hand, turned around, and his golden eyes swept over Zi JI, then over Bi Ji.

The two women stood there, one stubbornly raising her chin, the other quietly pursing her lips, but their eyes burned with the same thing.

That was the same as his—a sense of resentment.

"What do you want to do?" Di Tian's voice lowered, no longer carrying the suppression of before, but truly asking.

Zi JI turned around and looked at the full Full Moon. The moonlight fell on her profile, casting a resolute arc.

"Once the moon matures, it will inevitably become the strongest being in the world."

Her voice wasn't loud, but every word she spoke was firm and resounding.

"I still hold the same idea: use my Soul Spirit as a substitute, at least in exchange for his neutral stance."

"... when?"

"After we help our Lord retrieve the Dragon God Core, I'll go talk to Yun Jingheng. My attributes are very compatible with his. If he doesn't absorb a dark attribute Soul Ring, he'll go crazy like Zhao Yunhong."

"He won't refuse."