What Was Di Tian Gambling On?

When Yun Ming stepped into Shrek Inner Court, it was already late at night.

The moonlight shone on the bluestone path, stretching his shadow long and thin, like a silhouette gliding silently across the ground.

He had just passed through the gate outside the Sea God Pavilion and hadn't even turned towards home when he felt several Divine Power sweep over him at the same time.

The first to arrive was Feng Wuyu. He came running from the direction of the Golden Tree, his footsteps clattering on the stone slabs. He still had a piece of pastry dangling from his mouth and mumbled, "Yun Ming! How's it going? Did that old bastard Di Tian give it to you?"

The second person to arrive was Cai Yue'er.

She arrived faster than Feng Wuyu, wearing a casual outer garment over her moon-white nightgown, her hair loose and disheveled, and a pen still clutched in her hand. Clearly, she had rushed over from the side courtyard next to the Sea God Pavilion.

Then came Zhuo Shi, who strolled slowly from the end of the corridor. His pace was neither hurried nor slow, but Yun Ming noticed that he had covered twice the distance of Feng Wuyu, yet he arrived only three breaths later. Beneath his leisurely demeanor lay considerable anxiety.

Ya Li arrived last, but Long Yeyue followed behind her. Elder Long had already left the Inner Court at some point, and was standing under the corridor leaning on a black ebony cane. His face was calm, but his gaze was fixed on Yun Ming.

"Come in." Long Yeyue turned around and pushed open the door of the Sea God Pavilion.

Several people filed in.

There is no conductive light for opening the soul.

Cai Yue'er lit an oil lamp. The flame flickered a few times before settling down, and the warm yellow light brought the shadows in the room back into focus.

Yun Ming sat down at the table, took out the two Soul Bone from his Storage Soul Tool, and placed them on the table. The one in his left hand was completely black, and its surface shone like solidified darkness, so that any light shining on it would be swallowed up.

In his right hand was a piece of white jade with a golden tinge, like a milky white jade containing the morning light, its spiritual energy fluctuations gentle yet profound.

The room fell silent for a moment.

Feng Wuyu forgot to swallow the pastry in his mouth. "... What year is this Soul Bone from? I feel it's even more powerful than a 100,000-year-old one?"

"The left leg bone Dark Dragon King, and the right leg bone is the Light Dragon King. Judging from the energy fluctuations, they are at the god level," Yun Ming said.

Cai Yue'er's pen fell onto the table with a crisp sound.

Long Yeyue's hand paused in mid-air for a moment, then she lowered it, her gaze shifting from the Soul Bone to Yun Ming's face. "What is the price?"

Yun Ming put the Soul Bone away, leaned back in his chair, and remained silent for a moment.

Then he recounted his entire conversation with Di Tian by the Lake of Life that night, from the agreement eight years ago to Zi JI's Soul Spirit Contract, from the Blood Pact on his palm to Di Tian's words, "He has to pay back for the investment my Soul Beast Clan made eight years ago."

After he finished speaking, the room remained quiet for a long time.

Feng Wuyu had already swallowed the pastry in his mouth, but his mouth was still slightly open.

Cai Yue'er picked up the pen, twirled it twice in her hand, and then stopped.

Zhuo Shi leaned against the pillar by the door with his eyes closed, but his brows were furrowed more deeply than usual.

Ya Li sat down next to Yun Ming and gently patted his arm twice.

"Blood Pact."

Long Yeyue broke the silence, her voice neither loud nor soft, like an old piece of wood slowly burning in a coal fire, "The fact that Di Tian dared to place Blood Pact with you means he's certain you won't go back on your word."

"Conversely, the fact that he dared to do this also shows that he was absolutely confident in the Soul Spirit Contract between Zi JI and Jing Heng."

"Zi JI herself is willing."

Yun Ming said, "Di Tian said this decision was made after discussions throughout the Star Dou Great Forest."

"What about Jing Heng?"

Cai Yue'er frowned. "You agreed on his behalf?"

"No."

Yun Ming shook his head. "I told Di Tian that the final decision rests with Jing Heng himself. When Zi JI goes to see him, she can't bring up the premise that 'your father has already made arrangements.' It's his own Soul Spirit; he can decide for himself whether or not to keep it."

Zhuo Shi opened his eyes and looked at Yun Ming: "You want him to negotiate a contract with a 200,000-year-old Ferocious Beast?"

"Let him make a contract with the Ferocious Beast; he won't be eaten."

Yun Ming leaned back in his chair, his tone carrying an inexplicable certainty, "Besides, if Zi JI really wants to form a contract with him, she will test the waters first. She won't just pounce on Jing Heng like a tree and start gnawing on him."

Long Yeyue's expression flickered in and out of view in the firelight. "What Di Tian wants is the blessing he will bestow upon the gods after he becomes a god. He's using your life as a threat, betting that Jing Heng won't dare to be careless."

Cai Yue'er asked, "Is there really a problem with Jing Heng's first Soul Spirit?"

Yun Ming replied, "It's probably true. My questioning didn't elicit any rebuttal from Di Tian. Since Jing Heng returned from the Star Luo Empire, he's stayed under the Golden Tree and hasn't gone out. Di Tian's Divine Power couldn't have spread over here, and we didn't even notice."

Feng Wuyu wiped his mouth, his expression unusually serious. "So you're determined to force Zi JI onto Jing Heng? The Blood Pact is tied to you. If Jing Heng goes back on his word, Jing Heng Di Tian will have a reason to deal with you—does that kid Jing Heng really think he can just stand by and watch his father get into trouble?"

Zhuo Shi opened his eyes by the pillar, his voice calm and unhurried, but each word was heavy. "Di Tian wasn't betting on whether Jing Heng would go back on his word; he was betting on Jing Heng's character."

"That kid is loyal. If something happens to you in front of him, he'll do anything for you. The Blood Pact on you is a hundred times more effective than if it were on himself."

Long Yeyue held the teacup, her fingertips slowly circling the rim before setting it down and looking at Yun Ming: "You knew this when you agreed."

Yun Ming did not deny it.

He leaned back in his chair, staring at the flickering flame of the oil lamp on the table, and after a while said, "I know. But I don't think Di Tian would really threaten me with Blood Pact."

"Although he is a man of deep thoughts, he cares more about Zi JI's own wishes than the future of the Soul Beast Clan."

"Zi JI's willingness is the prerequisite. That's also my bet. If Zi JI is unwilling after meeting Jing Heng, Di Tian won't force her."

"Then why did he still need to enter into Blood Pact?" Cai Yue'er pressed.

"Because he doesn't believe me."

Yun Ming said calmly, "Di Tian's trust in humanity has always been negative. The fact that he was willing to negotiate with me eight years ago was already an exception."

Even if he's 90% sure I won't back out, he still needs to keep that 10% leverage. This isn't directed at me; it's an instinct he's developed over tens of thousands of years.

The room fell silent for a moment.

Feng Wuyu leaned back on the stool, his belly bulging in the firelight.

Ya Li spoke softly, "When will Di Tian send Zi JI to see Jing Heng?"

"No specific time was mentioned."

Yun Ming shook his head, "But judging from Di Tian's style of doing things, it won't take too long."

"Now that this matter is out in the open, he will definitely strike while the iron is hot and let Zi JI show her face before Jing Heng's attention shifts elsewhere."

Zhuo Shi snorted, "That kid's head is full of thoughts about the Soul Bone and the Fourth Trial right now. If Zi JI were to suddenly appear and offer to form Soul Spirit Contract with him, his first reaction would probably not be happiness, but wariness."

"Being vigilant is a good thing."

Yun Ming said, "If he foolishly agrees right away, I'll be more worried."

Feng Wuyu sat up straight on the sofa and patted his knees. "So what we can do now is to let Jing Heng fuse the Soul Bone he got tonight and solidify his physical foundation."

"We'll deal with Zi JI's matter after he's finished fusing with the Soul Bone. Even if Zi JI comes looking for him then, the stronger his foundation, the lower the risk of contract fusion."

That makes sense.

Cai Yue'er nodded, tucking the pen behind her ear. "Then let Jing Heng come over first thing tomorrow morning? Soul Bone fusion requires a quiet environment. The quiet room in the underground of the Sea God Pavilion can be used. We old guys, plus Xiao Lan and Tang Girl, can protect him together. There shouldn't be any problems."

Long Yeyue stood up, took two steps toward the door with her ebony cane, glanced back at everyone, and said, "Let's do it this way. Have Jing Heng come to the Sea God Pavilion tomorrow to fuse his Soul Bone. We can discuss the rest after the fusion is complete. Everyone, disperse, it's late."

The group got up and started to leave.

As Feng Wuyu passed by Yun Ming, he patted him on the shoulder lightly, the touch gentle but carrying a genuine warmth characteristic of an old man. "You've had a hard night, go home and get some rest."

Yun Ming nodded.

Ya Li walked to his side and reached out to help him remove a small piece of grass that hadn't been brushed off his cuff. Her movements were very gentle, as if she were picking a petal that had fallen onto his clothes.