Di Tian?

"So strong!"

"This pressure! It far exceeds that of a Super Douluo!" Luo Shang's expression turned grim.

"Humans!"

A low voice emanated from the depths of the lake. It was not loud, yet every word struck the heart like a hammer.

"Who gave you the gall to trespass here?"

"For a hundred thousand years, no human has dared to set foot in this place."

"And today, you actually bring a child here to throw your lives away!"

Roar after roar echoed from every direction.

Each voice carried a terrifying pressure, and as they stacked together, they forced Luo Shang's knees to creak under the strain.

Luo Shang's pupils constricted sharply.

There was more than one of these powerful soul beasts!

There were many!

The pressure radiating from each one was no less than his own.

The depths of the core circle were truly, as the legends claimed, a gathering place for fierce beasts.

Every one of these soul beasts, having lived for hundreds of thousands of years, possessed strength no lower than a level 95 Titled Douluo, if not greater.

He could barely handle one.

He could only run from two.

But with so many...

He didn't even have a chance to run.

Luo Shang took a deep breath, using all his strength to straighten his back. He turned his head to look at Luo Yun, who was pinned to the ground and unable to move, his voice hoarse but firm: "Find an opportunity to run later."

Luo Yun wanted to speak, but he couldn't open his mouth; his teeth were clenched so tightly that he couldn't even move his lips.

Just then, a man in black walked over from the direction of the lake.

He did not walk quickly, yet every step fell in time with some unseen rhythm.

His long black hair draped over his shoulders, his face was cold and refined, and his pupils were a deep, piercing gold, like two burning suns.

Behind him, a pair of massive black dragon wings were unfurled, spanning several zhang, each scale shimmering with a cold, eerie luster.

His gaze swept over Luo Shang before landing on Luo Yun, his golden eyes narrowing slightly.

"Interesting." The man in black spoke, his voice quiet, yet every word carried an unquestionable majesty. "Who exactly gave you the courage to step foot in here?"

"A place that even that hundred-thousand-year Titan Giant Ape dares not enter, yet you dare to come in. Truly interesting."

He stopped three paces in front of Luo Shang, looking down at him from his superior height.

"State your purpose." Di Tian's tone was indifferent, as if he were speaking of something trivial. "This Seat might consider letting you die quickly."

Luo Shang's throat bobbed.

He had met many powerhouses.

Titled Douluos, Super Douluos, even Limit Douluos.

But the feeling this man in black gave him was entirely different.

Yet, he still spoke.

"I am Luo Shang." Luo Shang's voice carried reverence, but no fear. "It was our rashness that offended you lords and led us to trespass here. But for my son to survive, we had no choice but to enter."

Di Tian's brows shifted slightly. "With your strength, protecting your son from that Titan Giant Ape would not be difficult. So, there is another reason?"

Luo Shang fell silent.

What could he say?

Should he say that his son had received a divine inheritance, and the divine trial required him to enter the depths of the core circle, or else be erased?

Would a group of fierce beasts believe such words?

Even if they did, what then?

A human becoming a god was harmful and offered no benefit to their kind.

They would likely be eager to kill Luo Yun immediately.

The interest in Di Tian's eyes faded bit by bit.

He waited for a few breaths, and seeing that Luo Shang remained silent, the corners of his mouth curled slightly.

There was no warmth in that arc, only coldness.

"Since you will not speak, there is no need to keep you."

As he spoke, Di Tian raised his right hand, his fingers slightly curled, his sharp nails glinting coldly in the moonlight.

Luo Shang's eyes turned bloodshot in an instant.

"Do you really think this King fears you!"

"Luo Yun! Get ready to run!"

The Frost Cold Sword suddenly erupted with a blinding blue light.

The bright red hundred-thousand-year soul ring flashed abruptly, and a terrifying cold current burst forth from the blade.

The air within a hundred-meter radius instantly solidified, thick layers of ice began to form on the ground, and even the water by the lake froze into ice crystals.

"Ninth Soul Skill! Frost Cold Storm!"

An ice-blue storm hundreds of meters in diameter took shape, with countless ice blades spinning and slicing within it, emitting a piercing, shrill whistle.

This storm spread outward with Luo Shang at its center, and wherever it passed, even the air was frozen until it cracked.

This was Luo Shang's strongest killing move.

He did not expect this move to injure the opponent.

He only hoped to buy enough time for little Yun to quickly escape and find a place to hide.

That would be enough.

But the next second.

A massive black dragon claw reached out from the void, its five fingers splayed, and then it gently closed.

The raging ice-blue storm came to a complete standstill in an instant.

The dragon claw slowly clenched, and the storm was crushed into an ice ball the size of a fist, annihilating into the void without leaving a single trace behind.

Luo Shang was stunned.

His strongest strike, crushed just like that?

Di Tian retracted his dragon claw, his golden pupils devoid of any emotional fluctuation. He stepped forward, and with every step he took, the pressure emanating from his body grew heavier.

One step. Luo Shang's knees buckled.

Two steps. Luo Shang's elbows braced against the ground.

Three steps. Luo Shang knelt on one knee, the Frost Cold Sword thrust into the ground to barely support his body from collapsing.

Di Tian walked up to him, looking down at the human kneeling before him.

"Level ninety-five, a hundred-thousand-year soul ring, a top-tier ice-attribute tool martial soul."

"Human, you do indeed possess some talent and strength."

He paused, his golden pupils narrowing slightly.

"But before This Seat, it is still not enough."

Blood spilled from the corner of Luo Shang's mouth.

"Little Yun, it is Father's incompetence... for failing to protect you."

"But as a man, one should not die so cowardly!"

Having said this, Luo Shang slowly straightened his body.

The Frost Cold Sword trembled violently, and the soul power within his body began to riot.

It was clear that Luo Shang was preparing to self-destruct!

For the first time, a look of concern appeared on Di Tian's face, and his brows furrowed slightly.

If this fellow were allowed to self-destruct, it would certainly affect the Lord.

Thinking of this, the killing intent in Di Tian's eyes intensified, and he raised his hand, intending to crush the self-destructing Luo Shang to death!

Luo Yun seemed to realize something and forced his head up to look in his father's direction.

An emotion he had never felt before surged from the depths of Luo Yun's heart.

"No! Don't!"

Luo Yun's eyes were filled with a rage that burned through his reason.

He struggled with all his might to break free from the pressure.

In his sea of consciousness, the Sun Corona Sword and the Moon Eclipse Sword vibrated violently in unison.

Just then, two low, soft sounds echoed clearly in Luo Yun's mind.

One was deep and cold, the other gentle and clear.

"Nine Trials of Destruction, Second Trial complete."

"Reward: Application of the Law of Destruction."

"Nine Trials of Life, Second Trial complete."

"Reward: Application of the Law of Life."

The moment the voices faded.

A purple-black radiance erupted from within his body.

Luo Yun snapped his head up.

Di Tian's pressure was still there, but the force that had made him unable to breathe could no longer suppress him.