"Since it holds the power of heavenly tribulation, why not call it... the Heavenly Tribulation Demon Dragon?"
Di Tian wanted to conceal the Dragon God's existence for now, so he came up with a new name based on the twelve dragon heads they had just seen.
Little did he know that Gu Yunxiao would keep using this name far into the future.
"All right, Heavenly Tribulation Demon Dragon it is."
Gu Yunxiao smiled and nodded.
"Yunxiao, the Heavenly Tribulation Demon Dragon martial soul has far-reaching implications. Don't use it under ordinary circumstances."
Di Tian gave him a stern warning, then continued solemnly, "After discussing it, we decided to fuse a new martial soul into you to tide you over."
From the day Gu Yunxiao arrived in the Star Dou Great Forest, they had already begun making plans for his future growth.
Although the Heavenly Tribulation Demon Dragon primarily possessed the power of heavenly tribulation, it also held the Dragon God's power.
If the Divine Realm discovered him, Gu Yunxiao would be in grave danger.
Until Gu Yunxiao fully matured, he still needed to keep a low profile.
"A new martial soul?"
Gu Yunxiao froze, a little puzzled.
"Come with me."
Di Tian casually opened a spatial vortex and led Gu Yunxiao inside.
Gu Yunxiao's vision blurred. When he came to his senses again, he had arrived in a peculiar space.
An altar stood at its center, with an unusual soul beast atop it.
The soul beast was jade-white all over and more than seven meters long, round and plump, with a pair of glittering golden eyes on his head.
Most unusual of all were the ten golden markings on his body.
At the sight of this soul beast, a name immediately surfaced in Gu Yunxiao's mind: Big-Brained Silkworm.
Wasn't this soul beast none other than Sky Dream Ice Silkworm?!
As a million-year soul beast, this Big-Brained Silkworm had quite the "astonishing" record of achievements: eating and sleeping.
This fellow had literally broken through to a million years while lying around.
Unfortunately, despite all his cultivation, his strength was pitifully weak. He couldn't even compare to a hundred-thousand-year soul beast.
"Boo-hoo-hoo, I've got it so rough."
Sky Dream Ice Silkworm was firmly sealed on the altar, unable to move anything except his mouth.
He was like an all-you-can-eat buffet, providing Di Tian and the other ferocious beasts with the purest energy.
"Shut up."
Di Tian stepped forward and slapped Sky Dream Ice Silkworm, instantly silencing him. He seethed but dared not speak.
Then Di Tian motioned for Gu Yunxiao to approach and explained, "This is an ice silkworm with over a million years of cultivation."
"Back then, he nearly slipped away right under our noses."
"Fortunately, our lord intervened and captured him. He's been sealed here ever since, waiting for your martial soul awakening."
"Now, the time has come."
Hearing this, Gu Yunxiao instinctively examined the silver energy on the altar. It was a power unlike that of Di Tian and the others.
This power existed on an exceptionally high level. No matter how old Sky Dream Ice Silkworm was or how strong his mental power became, he was merely an "ordinary ice silkworm" before it.
"Uncle Tian, does the new martial soul have something to do with him?"
Gu Yunxiao had already guessed a little, but he still feigned ignorance and asked, "Could my new martial soul be this Big-Brained Silkworm?"
"Big-Brained Silkworm???"
Hearing that name, Sky Dream Ice Silkworm nearly burst into a stream of curses.
But with Di Tian standing nearby, he forcibly swallowed them.
His instincts told him that if he dared utter a single curse, Di Tian's dragon claw would come crashing down and split his skull open on the spot.
"No. He isn't worthy."
Di Tian shook his head and continued explaining, "This million-year ice silkworm is rather special. He can provide you with an empty slot for an ice martial soul."
"Our plan is to have him willingly sacrifice himself to you. Once you have an additional ice martial soul slot, we'll take you to the Far North to acquire a powerful martial soul."
A major reason Gu Yuena had intervened to capture Sky Dream Ice Silkworm back then was her concern over Gu Yunxiao's martial soul.
Until Gu Yunxiao matured, the Dragon God's power absolutely could not be exposed.
"I understand."
Gu Yunxiao nodded as though he had "suddenly seen the light," though in truth, his understanding was already clear as a mirror.
Gu Yuena had indeed thought everything through.
The Heavenly Tribulation Demon Dragon martial soul could not be exposed yet. To help him grow quickly, he needed another martial soul to tide him over.
Sky Dream Ice Silkworm offered precisely that opportunity.
"Worm, you heard what we said."
"I'm giving you a choice now. Either willingly sacrifice yourself to Yunxiao, or I'll personally extract the origin power from your body."
Di Tian looked at Sky Dream Ice Silkworm, his gaze indifferent and his expression icy. His voice carried a note that brooked no argument.
He could forcibly extract Sky Dream Ice Silkworm's origin, but doing so would undoubtedly take some work.
If Sky Dream Ice Silkworm willingly sacrificed himself, it would certainly be faster.
Sky Dream Ice Silkworm was drowning in misery.
Not only had Di Tian and the other ferocious beasts been absorbing the million years of energy in his body, but now he would have to throw his life into the bargain too.
Although he was also curious about Gu Yunxiao's identity, his own life concerned him far more at the moment.
"Lord Beast God, I..."
Sky Dream Ice Silkworm spoke cautiously.
But Di Tian had already seen through his little schemes and cut him off bluntly. "I know what you're thinking."
"Offer yourself willingly, and I'll allow you to retain a wisp of consciousness. When Yunxiao becomes a god in the future, you'll still have a chance of coming back to life."
"If you refuse, you die now."
"You have three breaths to decide. Once they're up, I'll act."
If it weren't so troublesome, Di Tian wouldn't have wasted so many words on Sky Dream Ice Silkworm. He would have acted long ago.
Gu Yunxiao watched quietly from the side without interrupting.
One breath, two breaths...
As the third breath drew near, killing intent began rising from Di Tian.
"I'm willing! I'm willing to sacrifice myself!"
Before the final breath elapsed, Sky Dream Ice Silkworm chose to cling to life.
Di Tian withdrew his killing intent and said flatly, "Begin the sacrifice now."
He wasn't remotely afraid of Sky Dream Ice Silkworm trying anything underhanded.
Not only was he watching, but their lord was also keeping an eye on this place from the shadows.
If Sky Dream Ice Silkworm displayed any abnormal behavior, even if it was merely a coincidence or a habit, he would die without a place to be buried.
Gu Yunxiao was the hope of the Soul Beast Clan. Nothing could be allowed to jeopardize his safety.
"Phew!"
Sky Dream Ice Silkworm drew a deep breath, then turned his eyes toward Gu Yunxiao. "Human boy, please release your martial soul."
"There's no need."
Di Tian shook his head, his expression calm. "Sacrifice your origin to Yunxiao first. Once Yunxiao possesses his second martial soul, complete the sacrifice."
As a rule, the sacrifice of a soul beast over a hundred thousand years old required the soul master to have an empty soul ring slot.
But Sky Dream Ice Silkworm was a special case.
Not only was he a million-year soul beast, he also had a mental attribute. He was fully capable of sacrificing a "martial soul slot" first, then sacrificing all his cultivation afterward.
"Lord Beast God, while I'm without my origin, my energy will leak away. The final sacrifice will be far less effective..."
Sky Dream Ice Silkworm looked at Di Tian, trying to explain.
Di Tian cut him off just as coldly as before. "Do as I say. Ask one more pointless question, and I'll kill you right now."
"Huh? All... all right. I'll do it now."
Sky Dream Ice Silkworm jumped in fright and dared not say another word.
"Hmph."
Di Tian snorted coldly, restraining his killing intent as much as he could.
In his eyes, even with a million years of cultivation, Sky Dream Ice Silkworm was merely a fat worm with a little value.
A true dragon would not concern himself with a worm's thoughts.
He had already shown considerable patience by exchanging even these few words with Sky Dream Ice Silkworm.
Before you continue