Choosing a Soul Beast, Emerald Swan

"Dad..."

"Hmm." Luo Shang's voice was a bit hoarse, but the corners of his mouth curled up. "You're awake?"

Luo Yun blinked, recalling what had just happened, and his brows furrowed. "Just now... I felt like I had changed."

Luo Shang's fingers tightened slightly. He remained silent for a moment, saying nothing.

He had vaguely guessed what it was.

That deity.

That damn god trial not only assigned such a dangerous task but also directly possessed his son's body.

Luo Shang cursed the God of Destruction again in his heart.

"It hurts." Luo Yun struggled to sit up.

Luo Shang glanced at him, confirming that the boy's eyes had returned to normal and were no longer those cold, violet-red eyes from moments ago, before letting out a soft sigh of relief.

"You brat, you really scared the life out of me just now!"

Just then.

Luo Yun looked down at his own palm.

A wisp of emerald light radiated from the surface of his skin, brimming with the aura of life.

Is this the Law of Life?

Douluo God Realm.

Tree of Life.

The God of Destruction rested his chin on his hand, leaning against the trunk. His violet-red eyes peered through layers of clouds, gazing toward that azure planet.

The corners of his mouth tilted upward, as if he had seen something interesting.

"Have you seen enough?" The Goddess of Life sat beside him, her tone tinged with a hint of helplessness.

"Not yet." The God of Destruction kept his eyes fixed ahead.

"After that boy was possessed by my divine sense, he didn't even pass out."

The Goddess of Life couldn't help but smile. "That child has mastered the origin of life; he is constantly replenishing the energy consumed by your descent."

The God of Destruction finally withdrew his gaze and looked at the Goddess of Life.

"Interesting."

"When my divine sense entered his body, I sensed something else."

"What?"

"The aura of the Silver Dragon King." The God of Destruction's tone was devoid of emotion. "It was very faint, but it definitely existed."

The Goddess of Life's brows furrowed slightly.

The Silver Dragon King, one of the two manifestations of the Dragon God after the split. After the great war in the God Realm, the Silver Dragon King fled to the lower realms, and her whereabouts remained unknown to this day.

"Are you saying... the Silver Dragon King is on the Douluo Continent?"

"Not necessarily."

"But at the very least, there is a remnant of the Silver Dragon King's aura."

"It seems the Douluo Continent is not as simple as I imagined."

The Goddess of Life was silent for a moment, placing the leaf she had been twisting back onto the branch.

"What do you intend to do now?"

"What do you mean, what do I intend to do?" The God of Destruction raised an eyebrow.

"This child." The Goddess of Life looked at him. "You put your divine sense into his body and blocked a catastrophe for him. Given your personality, you wouldn't have gone this far if you hadn't already settled on him as your successor."

The God of Destruction did not speak, his violet-red eyes narrowing slightly.

"Xiao Zi." The Goddess of Life's voice softened. "I know you're protective of your own. But don't lead the child astray."

"Protective?" The God of Destruction's mouth curled, but the smile didn't reach his eyes. "I just think this kid has a good temperament. This unyielding spirit of his is actually a bit like mine."

The Goddess of Life looked at him without speaking, though the corners of her mouth lifted slightly.

It was clear she didn't want to expose him.

"Besides," the God of Destruction added, his tone carrying a hint of imperceptible pride.

"After this experience, the kid has witnessed the power of the destruction attribute; he'll surely choose Moon Eclipse as his main martial soul, hahahaha!"

The Goddess of Life shot him a glare. "What difference does it make whether he chooses Sun Corona or Moon Eclipse? You insist on making the decision for the child."

"I just want the child to be stronger," the God of Destruction replied dismissively.

The Goddess of Life sighed.

Star Dou Great Forest, core circle.

Half an hour later.

Luo Yun sat cross-legged by the lake, a jade-green halo slowly circulating around his body like a thin, gauzy veil.

The Law of Life operated automatically within him; without any conscious effort on his part, that gentle power continuously nourished his body, repairing every minute injury.

He was like a mobile spring.

Wherever he went, the Law of Life followed, constantly regenerating his health and mana.

"Dad," Luo Yun couldn't help but speak up, "I feel terrifyingly strong right now."

Luo Shang didn't even look up at the remark: "Why don't you go pick a Fierce Beast to fight?"

Luo Yun: "..."

A faint sound of footsteps drifted through the mist by the lake.

Bi Ji had returned.

Following behind her were several soul beasts, each one on the verge of death, bearing shocking wounds.

Some had shattered scales revealing raw, crimson flesh beneath; others had broken wings dragging on the ground; some were charred black all over, as if struck by lightning.

They were all thousand-year soul beasts.

And they were all dying.

Bi Ji stood a few paces away, and those soul beasts stopped behind her, neither struggling nor resisting, as if they had already accepted their fate.

"These were all wounded by Evil Soul Beasts." Bi Ji's voice was soft, tinged with a trace of sorrow. "They won't live much longer. You two choose."

Her gaze lingered on Luo Yun for a moment, a complex expression flashing in the depths of her eyes.

Luo Yun stood up from the ground, brushed the dirt off his clothes, and walked over to the soul beasts.

Luo Shang also approached, his gaze sweeping over each of the creatures.

A thousand-year Shadow Leopard, a thousand-year Iron-Back Dragon, a thousand-year Purple-Winged Eagle... they were all decent soul beasts; in the outside world, any one of them would be enough to make soul masters fight to the death.

Just as he was preparing to help Luo Yun choose, Luo Yun had already raised his hand.

"That one."

He pointed to a soul beast at the very back of the line.

It was a swan with a body of emerald green, its feathers as verdant as jade, shimmering with a warm, gentle luster under the moonlight.

But its condition was dire; its left wing was snapped in half, drooping at its side, its feathers matted with dark red blood.

There was even a deep gash on its neck, where the bone was almost visible.

It curled up on the ground, eyes half-closed, each breath accompanied by a faint whimper.

Bi Ji's body trembled slightly.

That was one of her kin.

A thousand-year Emerald Swan.

It had been ambushed and severely wounded by an Evil Soul Beast; she had brought it back and tried everything, but could not heal it.

Watching the wounds worsen day by day and its vitality slip away bit by bit, she could only watch helplessly as it approached death.

So, when Di Tian said he would bring a few dying thousand-year soul beasts, Bi Ji thought of it immediately.

It wasn't cruelty; it was mercy.

Rather than letting it continue to suffer in agony, it was better to give it a swift end.

But she hadn't expected that child to choose it directly.

"Why choose it?" Bi Ji's voice was a little tight.

Luo Yun tilted his head, looking earnestly at the Emerald Swan.

"Because the aura of life on it is very similar to my Martial Soul."

He raised his right hand, and the Sun Corona Sword emerged from his palm.

Golden-green light flowed across the blade, sacred and warm, radiating a rich aura of life.