Transaction

Even Xiao Wu covered her mouth in disbelief.

She never expected Huo Yuhao to harbor such a massive secret, or that a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast would actually be willing to become his Soul Spirit.

"Ice Empress? You are the Ice Empress? Is everything this human says true?" The Sky Azure Bull Python looked on in shock.

The Ice Empress, clearly displeased at being summoned as evidence, glared at Huo Yuhao.

She then nodded helplessly. "It is true. Yuhao is my host; you should be able to sense my current state."

There was no helping it; compared to the Sky Dream Ice Silkworm, the Ice Empress held a greater reputation among Soul Beasts, making her the best choice to step forward.

Huo Yuhao looked up, meeting the Sky Azure Bull Python's eyes, which still held traces of astonishment.

"Senior Sky Azure, does this prove that I am not lying?"

The Sky Azure Bull Python's expression was unreadable.

"This is truly unheard of... to think such an incredible thing could exist."

He carefully scrutinized the Ice Empress's state, finding it exactly as Huo Yuhao had described—flawless.

If this were a scam, how could a human at only the thirtieth rank possibly have the ability to deceive him?

"If your method truly works, it could indeed entice Soul Beasts to make this deal. I keep my word. Human, follow Titan to settle in; I will go and put in a word for you."

With that, he departed toward the depths of the forest.

"Many thanks, Senior."

Huo Yuhao cupped his hands in salute. Seeing that she was no longer needed, the Ice Empress flashed and collided with Huo Yuhao's chest, vanishing from sight.

Seeing things go smoothly, Xiao Wu felt both happy and a little annoyed.

"With such a huge matter, you didn't even tell me. Is this why you went to the Far North two years ago..."

Huo Yuhao nodded, smiling as he said, "I was just afraid it would be too shocking to the world."

Xiao Wu nodded in agreement; if this were told to anyone, they wouldn't believe it, and no one would be foolish enough to go around talking about it anyway.

"Fine, then let's keep it as our little secret."

The corners of Xiao Wu's mouth curled up slightly.

She didn't mind Huo Yuhao's concealment—no one would believe such a thing if it were told anyway. On the contrary, she was happy to have come to understand Huo Yuhao even better.

The two stepped onto the hand of the Titan Giant Ape and were brought to an open clearing with beautiful scenery, presumably the territory of these two Soul Beasts.

Feeling the abundant life force, Huo Yuhao nodded slightly. As expected, no Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast achieved their status through cultivation alone; Soul Beasts, too, relied on destiny.

This treasure land provided immense help to the cultivation of the two Soul Beasts; this was their destiny.

While Huo Yuhao was sighing in admiration, he did not know that in the distance, a Soul Beast was pacing back and forth in a panic.

He had arrived at the territory with the Titan Giant Ape easily, but it was the Three-Eyed Golden Ni in the distance who was suffering.

The moment Huo Yuhao stepped into the Star Dou Great Forest, she had sensed him. She rushed over in a hurry, only to find that his aura had entered the territory of the Sky Azure Bull Python and the Titan Giant Ape.

She wasn't close with those two big brothers! Trespassing into the territory of a fierce beast was an act of provocation; if she were bullied, that would be one thing, but to actively provoke them would surely lead to a scolding.

"This human! How did he get in there? Could they know each other? I can't force my way in... Di Tian won't let me clash with those two..."

"Forget it, I'll wait for next time. There will always be an opportunity. Next time, I'll go straight to the outer perimeter to block you! Let's see where you can run then!"

The Three-Eyed Golden Ni flicked her little tail fiercely. After one last look at the location of the aura, she returned to her own territory, dejected.

Inside the territory.

With nothing to do, Huo Yuhao began asking the Titan Giant Ape about the Seven-Colored Elk race.

His knowledge of this race was limited to records in ancient books from his past life, and he had no idea what had happened to them.

Fortunately, Er Ming knew. Although his speech was intermittent, Huo Yuhao still managed to piece together the reason for the race's extinction in his past life.

This race was a treasure from head to toe, not just for Soul Masters, but for Soul Beasts as well. It could be said that these creatures were destined to disappear into the long river of history.

But the reason no Soul Beasts had laid hands on them yet was because of their King, who was also a Soul Beast that had surpassed one hundred thousand years.

She had petitioned Di Tian, and out of respect for her status as a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast, Di Tian had ordered a prohibition against killing any Seven-Colored Elk within their tribal territory.

This had resulted in the Seven-Colored Elk never leaving their territory, rarely appearing in the sight of humans.

But all of this was coming to an end. The Elk King was already approaching two hundred thousand years of cultivation; at the latest, within another thousand years, she would face the Heavenly Tribulation.

It was already remarkable for this race to produce a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast, but there was almost no possibility of surviving a two-hundred-thousand-year Heavenly Tribulation.

Thus, the history of his past life was obvious: the tribe, having lost Di Tian's protection, became fodder for other Soul Beasts and Soul Masters.

"Then why doesn't Di Tian continue to protect them?"

Tian Meng's voice echoed in his mind.

"The reason is what the Ice Empress said earlier: the law of the jungle."

"In Di Tian's eyes, the value of this race is to provide other Soul Beasts with the opportunity to advance further."

"He doesn't care what happens to a single tribe; what he needs is for the collective of Soul Beasts to produce more powerhouses. If the death of one tribe can give birth to more Soul Beasts with powerful spiritual energy, how could he refuse?"

"Yuhao is right. In the Far North, this same natural law is practiced," the Ice Empress chimed in.

Huo Yuhao exhaled a long breath, his gaze complex.

"It really is... cruel."

He did not know if this way of thinking among soul beasts was right or wrong; he had only come this time to make a deal for his own benefit.

Even if he wanted to do something, he was powerless; he was still too weak.

The conversation drew to a close, and the Sky Azure Bull Python returned, accompanied by a very beautiful deer.

The fur on its body was layered in strands, possessing colors as brilliant as a rainbow.

It had no horns on its head, and under the sunlight, an invisible barrier faintly surrounded its body, blocking even Huo Yuhao's Spirit Detection.

"You are the one Sky Azure spoke of, the one looking to make a deal with me?"

The tone was gentle, and a single sentence revealed a temperament detached from the world.

"It is I, Deer King. It is a pleasure to meet you. I trust that the Sky Azure Bull Python has already informed you of the details of the deal on the way here."

Huo Yuhao bowed slightly to show his respect.

"May I ask, are there any soul beasts in your tribe whose lifespan is nearing its end and who are willing to make this deal?"

"There are."

The female voice remained as gentle as ever. Huo Yuhao felt a flicker of joy, but his smile froze immediately after.

"I am willing to make this deal with you, on the condition that you protect my tribe."

Huo Yuhao had not expected this beast, nearing two hundred thousand years of cultivation, to be willing to trade with him, and he was stunned upon hearing the condition.

He could not help but interrupt.

"Wait, I currently do not have the ability to protect your tribe. I cannot agree to this condition."

"You do not seem surprised that I asked you to protect my tribe; it seems Titan has already spoken to you."

"Rest assured, the protection I speak of is not for now, but for the future—after you become a god."

"You are so certain that I can become a god?"

Huo Yuhao could not help but voice the doubt in his heart; the deer before him actually believed in him so much.

"If you, having been chosen by two great beasts, cannot become a god, I do not know who could."

"I can sense the aura of a spirit-type great beast on you, and with the Ice Empress that the Sky Azure Bull Python mentioned, that makes two. If my senses are correct, you also carry the aura of the Snow Empress. I have never heard of a human who could survive after meeting the Snow Empress."

The Deer King slowly laid out her deductions, and Huo Yuhao's mental space fell into dead silence.

Just by meeting, she had already figured out almost everything about them.