Creation and Destruction

If it had been anyone else, Xu Jiujiu could not have been bothered to put effort into building a relationship. But Lu Jingming's talent was obvious to all, he had someone as powerful as Jing Liu backing him, and he was also the City Lord of Haiyuan City in the Star Luo Empire. From every angle, he was someone worth winning over.

If Lu Jingming had maintained that respectful, distant, and polite attitude, she really would have found it difficult to make a move.

But if the two of them could become good friends, that would undoubtedly be the best possible outcome.

"Since that's the case, then... Sister Jiujiu." Lu Jingming showed no awkwardness or pretense as he naturally addressed her that way.

He understood that Xu Jiujiu was only so warm and friendly toward him because she saw the potential value he possessed.

That was reality. If he had no value of his own, let alone affectionately calling the princess his sister, he probably would not even have had the chance to approach Xu Jiujiu.

Xu Jiujiu valued his exceptional talent and Jing Liu's unfathomable strength, while Lu Jingming valued Xu Jiujiu's noble status and the many benefits she could bring him.

Thus, the two could be said to be getting what they needed. To some extent, it could even be called a mutual pursuit.

Before long, under the dumbfounded gazes of the guards, the two who had only just met were already as familiar as biological siblings who had grown up together.

Xu Jiujiu called him "Little Brother Jingming" with easy warmth, while Lu Jingming called her "Sister Jiujiu" just as naturally.

Jing Liu stood quietly to one side without saying a word.

Seeing Lu Jingming acting so uninhibited, even somewhat slick-tongued, her thoughts drifted away, and the image of another one of her disciples surfaced in her mind.

Star Cloud Douluo Manyi, meanwhile, studied Lu Jingming with great interest. After a moment, she nodded in satisfaction.

In her view, whether it was Lu Jingming's identity as the City Lord of Haiyuan City, his backing by a Titled Douluo, or his astonishing talent, he was fully qualified to earn Xu Jiujiu's friendship.

After all, befriending promising young nobles like Lu Jingming was something Xu Jiujiu, as a princess of Star Luo, needed to do regularly. It would help consolidate the imperial family's influence within the empire.

Moreover, the way Star Cloud Douluo Manyi looked at Lu Jingming carried a deeper meaning.

She had watched Xu Jiujiu grow up. How could she fail to see Xu Jiujiu's unusual curiosity toward Lu Jingming?

As someone with experience, she knew that curiosity was often the beginning of all emotions.

Still, she was happy to see it happen. The Star Luo imperial family had always been rather sparse, with only princesses and no princes so far. Xu Jiujiu would have to marry someday.

Finding an outstanding match for her in advance might not be a bad thing in the long run.

Lu Jingming did not know about the complicated thoughts in Star Cloud Douluo's heart. Noticing that Manyi had been studying him the entire time, he felt somewhat puzzled and glanced back at her.

Manyi wore a kind, amiable smile, but Lu Jingming could not shake the feeling that the way Star Cloud Douluo looked at him was strange, carrying an indescribable oddness.

After their pleasant conversation, Lu Jingming and Xu Jiujiu agreed that he would definitely visit his newly acquired "cheap sister" in Star Luo City when he had the time.

Afterward, Lu Jingming and Jing Liu bid farewell to Xu Jiujiu and the others and set out on their return journey.

Xu Jiujiu still needed to continue searching the Star Dou Great Forest for a suitable third Soul Ring, while Lu Jingming had no intention of tagging along for the excitement.

Although luck had allowed him to obtain a suitable Soul Ring in little time, he had been away from home for quite a while. He was beginning to miss life in Haiyuan City and the people there waiting for his return.

Compared to roughing it in the Star Dou Great Forest, he longed more for the comfort of home.

As they were about to leave the boundaries of the Star Dou Great Forest, Jing Liu casually turned back and cast a deep look toward its innermost core.

Within the mysterious forbidden region of the Star Dou Great Forest, faint ripples spread across the shimmering Lake of Life.

By the lakeside, a middle-aged man in black with long black hair streaked with several strands of gold suddenly revealed a look of surprise.

But he quickly reacted, hurriedly lowered his head in respect, and said in a low voice, "The Master, you're awake!"

"Mhm." A faint response came from the void.

Though it was only a single brief word, it seemed to carry supreme majesty. The middle-aged man in black became even more respectful, bowing deeply.

If anyone who knew him had witnessed this scene, they would surely have been stunned speechless.

That middle-aged man with the devout, respectful expression was none other than Beast God Di Tian, the ostensible ruler of the Star Dou Great Forest and the number one among the ten great savage beasts of Douluo Continent.

At that moment, a pair of dazzling dragon eyes, like deep violet crystals, slowly opened in the void.

In an instant, the elemental power between heaven and earth began to boil as though welcoming the descent of the ruler of elements.

"Creation and Destruction? Strange!" A trace of confusion appeared in those violet dragon eyes as their gaze drifted into the distance.

A moment later, the pair of violet dragon eyes slowly closed, leaving only a faint murmur that dissipated into the silent space.

When the middle-aged man in black heard that murmur, his expression changed drastically, and waves of shock surged through his heart.

Countless questions flooded his mind, but when he saw the Lake of Life gradually returning to calm, he ultimately suppressed his curiosity and stood silently where he was, not daring to make any unnecessary movement.

Although everything around him had returned to silence, Di Tian's heart remained in turmoil for a long time.

The words "Creation and Destruction" were far too familiar to him—so familiar that merely hearing them sent endless waves through his heart.

Di Tian had once served as a guard of the Dragon God and had even received a divine skill personally passed down by the Dragon God: the Dragon God Claw.

He knew full well that the Dragon God's supreme godhead had been formed through the intertwining of the powers of Creation and Destruction.

And the Master he now served—the Silver Dragon King—was one half of the Dragon God, transformed from the Godhead of Creation.

That was why, when the Silver Dragon King spoke the words "Creation and Destruction," Di Tian found his excitement almost impossible to contain.

Yet at this moment, his heart was filled with confusion.

What exactly had happened to draw such attention from the Master and make her utter those two words?

But amid the silence, Di Tian could only forcibly suppress his doubts and pretend that nothing had happened.