To be honest, before this happened, Xu Tianchen had always scoffed at the so-called Power of Destiny on Douluo Continent. The world's power level spoke for itself. It hadn't earned its reputation as the bottom rung of fantasy for nothing.
How strong could its destiny attribute possibly be?
Could it peer into the River of Destiny? Was this some vast world like the Primordial World?
Besides, after Huo Yuhao gained the Power of Destiny in the original story, it mostly boosted his spiritual power. Supposedly, he could also see and change a person's luck, but he barely ever used it. That was about the extent of it.
With a showing like that, how could Xu Tianchen take it seriously?
Yet somehow, that very Power of Destiny had sensed something unusual about his fate. Xu Tianchen didn't believe it could tell he had crossed over to this world. At most, it could tell he was different from everyone else here.
If it could tell he was a transmigrator, Xu Tianchen would "eat" that Three-Eyed Golden Lion.
With that thought, Xu Tianchen felt much more at ease. What people feared most was the unknown.
Besides, the shut-ins of Star Dou Forest were a straightforward bunch. To a certain extent, they could be trusted.
"Looks like you've figured it out," Di Tian said, seeing the realization on Xu Tianchen's face.
"More or less. So please, just tell me what you want. If you have a deal in mind, we can discuss it directly. There's no need to be so mysterious."
Xu Tianchen looked at Di Tian, the corners of his mouth lifting slightly. Let's hear what they have to say first. Whether I can actually do it is another matter.
"There is something very important to our future that we'd like to negotiate with you. But don't worry. We won't harm you, because you're the only one who might be able to do it."
Di Tian sighed as he spoke to Xu Tianchen.
Xu Tianchen was stunned. Wait, is the first thing you soul beasts do in a negotiation really to show your hand? He was used to humans scheming against each other. This was his first time seeing such blunt honesty, without the slightest attempt to talk around the issue.
It almost made Xu Tianchen uncomfortable.
Honestly, Di Tian shouldn't have sent the Myriad Demon King away. He should have kept him here. Of everyone in Star Dou Forest, the Myriad Demon King was the one with a few tricks up his sleeve. He was relatively clever and shrewd.
After all, the Myriad Demon King had once outwitted an Immortal Herb and emerged as the winning tree.
From some angles, these Ferocious Beasts were even less cunning than those supposedly "innocent and foolish" college students! Hardly any of them had a calculating bone in their bodies. They were all as naive as Xiao Bai.
No wonder they'd been founding major shareholders of the Spirit Pagoda, only to get pushed out by latecomers and lose their original shares. In the end, even Star Dou Forest had been ruined, forcing them to move to another planet. With brains like these, how were they supposed to compete with those crafty old schemers?
Still, that gave Xu Tianchen a reason to trust them. At least they weren't the sort to say one thing to his face and do another behind his back.
"We'll support you and provide you with resources. We can even offer you Spirit Rings from soul beasts that won't survive their next Heavenly Tribulation."
Those were excellent terms. Even the weakest soul beast facing such a tribulation would be a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast. His future Spirit Rings would be all but guaranteed.
As Di Tian saw it, those soul beasts would die if they failed their tribulations anyway. They might as well give their power to Xu Tianchen. Once he explained the arrangement, they would surely agree. After all, if Xu Tianchen became a god, they could be revived through his divine power and gain eternal life.
For soul beasts that couldn't survive their next Heavenly Tribulation, it was a chance at tremendous reward with nothing to lose!
"And your condition? What do you need me to do?"
Xu Tianchen asked because he didn't believe such generous terms could come with a small request.
"It's simple. Once you become a god, improve the living conditions of soul beasts," Di Tian replied.
"All right. I agree."
Xu Tianchen agreed readily. Di Tian had only said to improve their living conditions, without specifying by how much.
Increasing the soul beast population would count. Helping soul beasts relocate to other planets would count, too. So would lifting the Dragon God's ban on soul beasts becoming gods.
Of course, lifting that ban might be difficult unless Xu Tianchen became a Supreme God King. The Dragon God wasn't truly dead, after all. He was in a state of Schrödinger-like death.
"One more thing. You have a tremendous influence on the future of us soul beasts, but right now, you're far too weak. A genius who never gets the chance to grow amounts to nothing. So, for your safety—and to protect our investment—we've decided to have a Ferocious Beast stay by your side and protect you."
Di Tian's main concern was that calling it surveillance, or saying she would become Xu Tianchen's companion, would be too blatant. After discussing it with the other Ferocious Beasts, he'd settled on this phrasing. It sounded better and would make it easier for affection to grow over time, fulfilling their master's grand plan.
"Protect me? Who? You?"
Xu Tianchen was stunned. He'd thought these soul beasts were an honest bunch, but apparently they were capable of arranging surveillance after all.
"Not me." Di Tian shook his head.
"Me. From now on, I'll be responsible for protecting you personally and serving as your link to Star Dou Forest."
Bi Ji stepped forward, though there was still a hint of color in her cheeks. To her, staying by his side might mean staying for a lifetime.
Xu Tianchen stared at Bi Ji's beautiful face, as though it were the creator's most perfect work, and lost himself for a moment. Then his gaze drifted downward, and he was stunned all over again.
No wonder she's Douluo's number one healer!
That healing capacity is terrifying. She really does have a generous figure!
But Xu Tianchen quickly came to his senses. Realizing how rude he'd been, he hurriedly looked away. He couldn't be like the protagonists in those ridiculous novels who claimed their gazes held nothing but appreciation, without a trace of lust.
What normal man could manage a look like that?
Bi Ji hadn't really noticed. A blush had spread from her neck to her small face, and she was still looking down, as if checking whether she could see her own toes.
So this is Star Dou's honey trap?
Why does this plan sound a bit like something Gu Yuena would do? A honey trap? That's a bit much, isn't it?
I guess they really do treat people differently.
Huo Yuhao got the Black Dragon Reverse Scale, while I get Bi Ji following me around. Not bad at all. It's still surveillance, but having a beautiful woman beside me beats a cold scale.
Still, it's a shame. I'd have liked a Black Dragon Reverse Scale, too. Who wouldn't want to try having the Beast God fight for them—or wield the mighty heavenly-tier technique, Ghost Possession?
As Xu Tianchen was thinking this, a soft, fair hand reached out in front of him.
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