Bi Ji's pupils contracted sharply.
Such pure life energy.
She had lived for hundreds of thousands of years and seen countless soul beasts and humans with life attributes, but never anything so pure.
It was the very pinnacle!
It carried an affinity that made people unable to resist drawing near.
The Sun Corona Sword's radiance spilled over the Emerald Swan. Its eyelids stirred faintly, and it let out a soft cry, its voice carrying an indescribable... longing.
Luo Yun stepped forward, crouched down, and met the Emerald Swan's gaze.
He extended his left hand, fingers spread, palm facing the swan's forehead.
The power of the Law of Life flowed from his palm, emerald green and gentle as a stream, slowly enveloping the swan's wounds.
The swan's body trembled slightly.
It raised its head and looked at Luo Yun with its emerald eyes.
Luo Yun looked at it without saying a word.
After a while, the Emerald Swan
gently pressed its forehead against Luo Yun's palm.
A magic circle slowly appeared beneath its feet.
Bi Ji stood behind them, lips parted, unable to utter a word.
A sacrifice.
Another sacrifice.
She had watched this Emerald Swan grow up and knew its pride and stubbornness.
But now, it had willingly sacrificed itself to a six-year-old human child.
Bi Ji's gaze shifted from the Emerald Swan to Luo Yun, then to the golden-green longsword in his hand, and finally to the emerald-green Law of Life flowing around him.
This child's talent was truly terrifying.
Perhaps he really could reach that level someday.
But what about that purple-black figure from before, radiating an aura of destruction?
Bi Ji suddenly thought of a possibility.
A possibility that made even her breath catch.
Dual Godhood?
One was the pinnacle of life.
The other was the pinnacle of destruction.
Just then,
a beam of golden-green light shot into the sky from within the Emerald Swan, brighter than the beam that had appeared when the Holy Leaf Spirit Deer sacrificed itself.
A few breaths later, the beam faded.
The Emerald Swan was gone.
In its place, a purple Soul Ring slowly rose.
The second Thousand-Year Soul Ring.
Luo Yun rose from the ground and looked down at the purple ring of light slowly revolving beneath his feet.
"Second Soul Skill, Life Eulogy."
"Single-target healing. It can heal most external and internal injuries. The less Soul Power it consumes, the weaker the healing. The more Soul Power it consumes, the stronger the healing."
"At maximum Soul Power consumption, it can... regenerate severed limbs."
Luo Shang's brows shot up.
Regenerate severed limbs.
What terrifying healing power!
But...
Why was his Sword Martial Soul developing in the direction of a support type???
Luo Shang didn't know what to say.
Still, his other Martial Soul seemed more geared toward offense.
If both Martial Souls developed at once, Xiao Yun would be a whole team by himself!
Luo Shang crouched down, his gaze falling on the two purple Soul Rings slowly revolving beneath Luo Yun's feet. He was silent for a moment.
"When you reach level thirty, you'll be able to add a Ten Thousand Year Soul Ring to your Second Martial Soul, Moon Eclipse. Do you know what that means?"
Luo Yun thought for a moment. "It means I'm really strong?"
"It means you'll be a monster in the future."
"...Dad, could you not look so proud when you say that? It seems a little unhumble."
Luo Shang looked at him expressionlessly. "This king is stating a fact. There's no need to be humble."
Luo Yun was speechless.
"Let's go." Luo Shang stood and headed back the way they'd come. "Staying here too long could lead to trouble."
Luo Yun trotted after him.
They had only gone a few steps when the mist ahead suddenly parted, opening a path.
A man in black emerged from the fog. His long black hair fell over his shoulders, and his golden eyes were like two burning suns.
Di Tian.
Luo Shang stopped, discreetly moving his left hand to shield Luo Yun behind him.
Di Tian didn't look at him. His golden gaze passed over him and settled on the little boy peeking out from behind him.
"Human," Di Tian said, his voice quiet. "In nearly ten thousand years, you're the human with the greatest hope of becoming a god that I've ever seen."
Luo Yun peeked out from behind his father and looked seriously at Di Tian.
"Do not disappoint me." After saying this, Di Tian narrowed his golden eyes slightly, then turned and walked deeper into the mist.
Luo Yun froze for a moment, then suddenly ran out from behind Luo Shang and called after Di Tian, "Senior, wait!"
Di Tian paused slightly but didn't turn around.
Luo Yun stood straight, folded his hands in front of him, and bowed solemnly.
It was the junior's bow of respect that Luo Shang had taught him to give to elders or benefactors.
He crossed his hands over his chest and bent at the waist to a perfect ninety degrees. His form was impeccable.
"Thank you." Luo Yun's voice was quiet, but earnest.
Di Tian's silhouette remained silent for a moment.
Then he continued walking, without turning back or saying a word, and disappeared into the mist.
Luo Yun straightened and returned to Luo Shang's side.
"Let's go."
Luo Shang glanced down at him, the corner of his mouth twitching slightly, but said nothing.
The father and son turned and disappeared into the dense forest.
By the lake,
Di Tian stood in the middle of the water, his feet resting on its surface without sinking. His golden eyes gazed toward the direction in which the father and son had vanished, deep and calm.
Bi Ji walked over and stood behind him. She hesitated, but finally spoke.
"Di Tian."
"Mm."
"Why are we helping them?" Bi Ji's voice was soft, tinged with confusion. "Our Soul Beast Clan has never needed to curry favor with humans."
Di Tian was silent for a long time.
Wind swept across the lake, sending ripples spreading outward in circles with a faint rustle.
"I'm gambling," he finally said, his voice low.
Bi Ji's brows moved slightly. "Gambling on what?"
Di Tian turned around and looked toward the depths of the lake.
Something slept there. Bi Ji knew that.
It was Di Tian's secret, and the very reason the Star Dou Great Forest's Core Circle existed.
"I'm gambling that this human's future won't be like that of other treacherous humans," Di Tian said evenly, his voice betraying no emotion. "I'm gambling that when he reaches that level, he'll... show mercy to our lord."
Bi Ji's breath caught slightly.
Our lord.
The Silver Dragon King.
The being who had been asleep for hundreds of thousands of years.
Di Tian had waited for her for hundreds of thousands of years, waiting for her to awaken and lead the Soul Beast Clan out of its predicament.
But Di Tian knew all too well that the day their lord awoke would be the day humans and soul beasts went to war in full.
And the human side... had the Divine Realm's support.
A human who possessed a godhood—or was about to inherit one—was someone they should befriend if possible, and avoid offending at all costs.
"Besides," Di Tian added, his golden eyes narrowing slightly, "if I kill that child now, the God King in the Divine Realm will immediately notice this place."
"By then, our lord might be discovered by those gods in the Divine Realm!"
Before you continue