A King Should Be Thus

Ice Empress glanced at Tian Meng, her tone tinged with jealousy.

"Both of you are spirit-type, yet some people have several times the cultivation base. How is the gap so wide?"

"..."

Tian Meng felt mentally exhausted and didn't want to speak.

"Spirit beasts keep their promises. Di Tian once promised that if I failed to survive the heavenly tribulation, he would grant my tribe a thousand years of time."

"If within that millennium another spirit beast of our kind can break through to one hundred thousand years, his protection will remain effective."

Deer King continued the words that had been interrupted.

Huo Yuhao fell silent. From the historical records of his past life, it was clear that Deer King had not succeeded.

Her tribe had not birthed a second Deer King, which led to the race losing its protection and vanishing into the long river of history within a mere few hundred years.

Seven-Colored Elk looked deeply at Huo Yuhao. "You seem to know something. Can you tell me?"

Huo Yuhao answered with a question of his own.

"Why choose me? Aren't you afraid I might deceive you? You could clearly seek a breakthrough in the remaining time, cultivate a new successor, or at the very least, beg Di Tian for mercy."

Even knowing the outcome from his past life, Huo Yuhao wanted to know why this tribal leader had chosen him so easily.

This time, Seven-Colored Elk did not answer immediately. Huo Yuhao did not urge her, simply watching the other party steadily.

Not long after, a voice rang out. "How about the answer to this question in exchange for the answer to the one I just asked?"

Huo Yuhao nodded, not refusing.

Seeing Huo Yuhao agree, Seven-Colored Elk spoke again.

"My tribe is physically frail and gentle in nature; unlike other spirit beasts, we are not adept at combat."

"From the moment I was born, my parents took me into hiding. Although it was hard, it was considered happy. Unfortunately, good times did not last. They died one after another to protect me, and even when facing death, they never felt anger toward their own plight."

"It was as if this was the fate of our race: hiding, being discovered by other spirit beasts and eaten, or being discovered by human spirit masters and slaughtered."

"I did not want my tribe to have such a fate. I cultivated desperately, finally breaking through to one hundred thousand years of cultivation, and begged Di Tian for protection."

"My tribe finally gained a brief peace. Newborns could be accompanied by their parents instead of watching them die like I did, and the elderly could die of old age instead of being torn to shreds one day."

"Other spirit beasts constantly break through to gain more lifespan, while for my tribesmen, dying of old age is a luxury."

"They are grateful to me and honor me as their King. I still remember that since Di Tian's protection began, every newborn in the territory would be brought to me by their parents to thank me."

Speaking of this, Deer King paused and looked at Huo Yuhao.

"The choice you speak of is not a choice to me."

"I know myself; there is not a shred of possibility that I can survive the heavenly tribulation. That would just be a deathbed struggle. Now that a new option is placed before me, why shouldn't I choose it?"

"Even if I am deceived, it is only me who suffers. As their King, I should make this choice."

Her voice was very calm and gentle, only growing slightly louder at the end, as if she were very proud.

Looking at this beautiful Deer King, he realized she had agreed to his deal so easily for the sake of her tribe.

Huo Yuhao opened his mouth, but his throat felt as if it were blocked; his chest felt as though a fire were burning.

For the first time, he had a tangible sense of his place in history. He had given a race destined to disappear into the river of time another path.

And the King of that race had chosen him... He was truly changing history.

No one spoke—not the joke-loving Tian Meng, not the free-spirited Xiao Wu, nor anyone else present.

After a long while.

"Can you take me to see your tribe?"

Huo Yuhao made the request; he wanted to see what kind of race could produce such a leader.

"I am sorry, I cannot. There is a barrier set up by Di Tian around my tribe. Except for my kin, no one can enter or leave freely, and once they leave the territory, they are hunted."

Huo Yuhao nodded. "I agree to your terms. The deal is struck. Now it is time for me to answer your question."

He called for Elder Yi in his heart. A moment later, a golden orb of light drifted from Huo Yuhao's mind, swaying as it floated toward Seven-Colored Elk.

"I hope you are prepared."

Huo Yuhao sighed softly. The future of a past life was too cruel for a tribal leader.

Seven-Colored Elk made no comment, simply watching as the orb of light merged into her forehead.

Xiao Wu curiously observed the two, though she knew it was not the time to ask questions. For a moment, the scene was silent.

This memory only concerned the interaction between Wang Yan and Huo Yuhao, as well as the relevant records in the history books, so Seven-Colored Elk finished viewing it before long.

"Is this... the future of my tribe..."

Her voice remained soft, though it carried a hint of desolation. She then looked at Huo Yuhao again.

"Why didn't you show me the memory sooner? Wouldn't that have been more advantageous for you?"

Huo Yuhao smiled brilliantly.

"Then it wouldn't have been a fair trade."

"...I want to know why you have these memories, I want to understand who you are, and what I need to pay for this?"

The Seven-Colored Elk became even more curious about this youth. She had originally thought he was merely a puppet created by the beasts of the Far North to forge a god, but it seemed that was not the case.

"Oh, then consider it a gift for reaching this agreement; no extra payment is required."

"You certainly have a silver tongue. No wonder the little girl beside you likes you so much."

The Seven-Colored Elk said this teasing remark with a straight face.

Huo Yuhao scratched his head, feeling somewhat awkward, while Xiao Wu's face instantly turned bright red, and she lowered her head, at a loss for what to do.

"Since it's decided, let's begin. What do you need me to do?" The Seven-Colored Elk stopped stalling.

"Just follow my guidance."

Having experienced this countless times in his past life, Huo Yuhao was well-versed in the process, even though it was still somewhat painful.

However, for Huo Yuhao, who had already undergone Martial Soul Evolution, this level of pain didn't even make him frown.

Half a day passed, and a red spirit ring with two golden patterns rose from beneath his feet. At the same time, a miniature version of the Nine-Colored Elk emerged from his chest and hopped onto Huo Yuhao's head, looking quite adorable.

Gently stepping on Huo Yuhao's head, she felt her own state and couldn't help but exclaim, "How truly marvelous..."

Within the mental space, the Deer King curiously surveyed Huo Yuhao's mental realm—it was vast, expansive, and boundless.

But what about the Sea of Spirit?

The Deer King looked left and right, finally spotting a puddle of golden water about the size of a water vat.

"..."

The Deer King felt her little brain was about to overheat. How could a child possess such a high level of mental power and such a vast mental space, yet have so little actual mental energy!

"Deer King, nice to meet you. We're all family from now on, just call me Brother Sky Dream."

A cheeky voice came from behind. Turning around, she saw a golden, chubby silkworm appearing, blinking its small eyes.

"Don't listen to him, just call him Tian Meng. You can't give this guy an inch."

The Ice Empress also appeared beside Tian Meng, using her large pincers to ruthlessly pinch the body of the Sky Dream Ice Silkworm, drawing a howl from him.