The arrival of Gu Yuena instantly transformed the atmosphere.
The once-thick aura of violence vanished, replaced by a solemn, oppressive silence. The turbulent elemental energies calmed in an instant, as if nature itself were holding its breath. The air cleared. At the edge of the crater, Jingliu stood motionless, her sword unseen, yet her entire body tensed, ready to react in an instant. She sensed no hostility from the newcomer, but the power radiating from her was likely her equal—the power of a true master.
The injured Di Tian gazed at her with a mixture of shame and profound adoration. He knew this form, but to see it so... whole, so powerful, was something even he hadn't dared to hope for so soon.
For the others, their shock was far more fundamental. Bi Ji, the Emerald Swan, gasped. Her gentle eyes widened as she felt a calm, complete aura, with no trace of the ancient wounds she knew had shackled their lord. How...? she thought, astonished.
Zi Ji, usually ferocious, now trembled, her purple eyes glistening as she beheld the majesty of her master in a perfect human form. Xiong Jun could only gape, his simple mind unable to process the sight. They knew their master, but they had never imagined she would appear so suddenly; wasn't she still wounded?
Without hesitation, all of them, led by Di Tian, immediately knelt. The presence of their master was an absolute law that transcended all pride.
In the midst of it all, Lian Yang remained calm behind Lingsha. Outwardly, he appeared unaffected, a child observing a display of godly power. Inwardly, however, his mind was racing. He could feel it—a faint yet undeniable connection between himself and the silver-haired woman. The resonance vibrated through Yggdrasil, the world tree bound to his soul, and through the Shroud of Power that had become a part of him. Despite her stunning appearance, it was difficult to revere Gu Yuena as a goddess when he saw Jingliu and Bronya every day. Her arrival was expected. In fact, this was part of his plan.
Gu Yuena's purple eyes surveyed the scene—the wary Jingliu, the humiliated Di Tian, and her own prostrated followers. Finally, her gaze passed over them all and settled on Lian Yang.
Then, she spoke, her voice as calm as a lake's surface yet carried the weight of absolute authority. She addressed neither Lian Yang nor Jingliu, but went straight to her most loyal lieutenant.
"Di Tian," she said, her tone flat, a cold statement of fact. "Your actions were reckless."
Di Tian lowered his head further, not daring to argue.
Gu Yuena stared at him intently. On the surface, she was merely reprimanding him. However, in the realm of the mind, a cold and absolute telepathic command shot into the Black Dragon King's consciousness.
"These humans are guests. You will not harm them. Listen to their requests. I feel the destiny of the Star Dou Forest shifting, and that child... he has a strange connection to the Tree of Life."
Di Tian flinched. The command was so clear and absolute there was no room for debate. Confusion flashed in his golden eyes before he bowed his head. "I understand, My Lord."
His drastic change in attitude and total compliance left Zi Ji and Xiong Jun even more bewildered. They could only bow deeper, not daring to question. Only Bi Ji, with her sensitivity, could sense that something far more significant was taking place.
Without wasting a moment, Bi Ji moved. A soft emerald light enveloped her hands as she approached Di Tian, beginning the healing process. From her position, Lingsha watched with curious eyes. The abilities of Spirit Beasts were truly more varied than those of Spirit Masters. She could see the structure of the life energy Bi Ji was emitting—pure, yet complex, and possessing a unique 'signature.' This wasn't just ordinary healing energy; it was the ultimate life force. Far more valuable than anticipated, she thought. And far more difficult to replicate.
After giving her command, Gu Yuena turned back to Lian Yang's group. Her eyes met Lian Yang's once more. For a moment, a faint frown creased her brow as she sensed something odd and inexplicable—a familiarity that shouldn't exist.
She didn't say a word to them. Instead, she gave a single, almost imperceptible nod.
With that unspoken permission, Lian Yang gestured for Lingsha to follow. He stepped forward confidently, taking the stage that had been set for him. He showed no signs of holding any sway over Gu Yuena; in the eyes of the Spirit Beasts, he was just an incredibly brave or incredibly foolish human.
His target was clear. He looked neither at the wounded Di Tian nor the majestic Gu Yuena.
"Lady Bi Ji," Lian Yang began, his voice calm and respectful, a stark contrast to his age. "We haven't come seeking cooperation. We've come to offer a solution to the conflict between Spirit Masters and Spirit Beasts."
Bi Ji didn't stop the flow of her healing energy, but her wise eyes shifted to Lian Yang, her gaze weary. "A solution? All I see is violence and arrogance, human child."
"That was merely our way of knocking," Lian Yang replied smoothly. "The solution we offer is for the endless conflict between humans and Spirit Beasts. Every year, thousands of lives from both sides are lost in a pointless cycle of hunting."
He paused, letting his words sink in. "My organization, Schicksal, is researching a way to create artificial spirit rings. Stable rings, crafted without the need to kill a single Spirit Beast. Imagine a future where humans no longer have a reason to hunt your people."
Bi Ji fell silent, her brow slightly raised. "That is a grand ambition, but it's impossible. You are not the first to try. What makes you different?"
"Not impossible, but incredibly difficult," Lian Yang corrected. "To change the system, we need a deep understanding of the very essence that forms a spirit ring. Our project requires a catalyst—an essence with the highest life attribute. An essence like yours."
"Nonsense!" Zi Ji took a step forward, her fists clenched. "You want us to hand over Bi Ji's essence after what you've done? Deceitful humans!"
"Enough, Zi Ji." Di Tian's voice was low, but it cut through her anger like a knife. He slowly raised his head, fighting through the pain, and his sharp golden eyes stared directly at Lian Yang. "But she has a point. Humans never give without taking. Such a lofty proposal... must come at a price. State clearly, what do you truly want from us?"
Xiong Jun, who had been silent, let out a low growl, his voice like grinding stones. "Coming with swords, then talking of peace. It stinks."
Lian Yang faced the barrage of suspicion calmly. "It's a matter of efficiency. Would you, the mighty, golden-eyed black dragon king, have even considered a human child like me if I had come quietly? This war is a waste of resources. We have a way to end it, and yes, it will benefit us. But it will also benefit you. That is the foundation of any good deal."
Bi Ji stared at Lian Yang intently, trying to read the intent behind the childish face. "Even if your intentions are sincere, what guarantee do we have that you won't abuse it?"
"That is why we require your expertise," Lian Yang said, his tone one of partnership, not demand. "We are not asking you to leave the forest. We only ask for periodic samples of your essence and, more importantly, your guidance to ensure this project does not go astray. We have no intention of harming this forest. On the contrary, we wish to protect it."
The logic, coupled with the fact that he genuinely wanted to help end the conflict between humans and Spirit Beasts, but on the other hand Jingliu had just injured someone she cared about, put Bi Ji in a difficult position. She was naturally wary, but she could also sense no malice from the boy. And the proposal... if true, could change the fate of her race.
After a tense silence, Di Tian struggled to rise, forcing himself to sit upright despite the searing pain of his wounds. "Very well," he growled, his voice hoarse yet firm. "We will consider your proposal. But on our terms, and these terms are non-negotiable."
He stared at Lian Yang, each word spoken with the weight of a sovereign.
"First, Bi Ji will never leave this forest. You will come here. Second, you will establish a research post at a location we designate, and nowhere else. Third, every research process, every sample taken, and every result you obtain must be completely transparent to us. No secrets. We will station our own guards there, and they will report directly to me."
It was a concession, but also a statement of much tighter control.
Lian Yang smiled faintly. "A reasonable proposal. We agree." He then turned to the still-seething Zi Ji. "And to ensure there are no misunderstandings, we would like Lady Zi Ji to be the direct supervisor of this project."
The request was completely unexpected. Both Di Tian and Zi Ji stared at him, bewildered. Assigning the most anti-human among them to oversee a cooperative project? It made no sense.
But to Lian Yang, it made perfect sense. It would grant him access to Zi Ji, making it easier to capture her. However, the woman was indeed very anti-human, so the process had to be more subtle.
Di Tian pondered for a moment, then nodded reluctantly. "So be it."
With the agreement reached, the mission was complete. As if sensing it, Gu Yuena's majestic presence began to fade. But before she vanished completely, she looked at Lian Yang one last time. Her gaze was unreadable—not hostile, not warm, but confused, as if some small, deep part of her consciousness sensed something was amiss about their connection. Then, she disappeared into thin air, leaving the Spirit Beasts with more questions than answers.
In his mind, Lian Yang smiled triumphantly. The dragon goddess couldn't overcome the Waifu Catalog's binding. She couldn't actively oppose an action that would ultimately benefit Lian Yang. She was instinctively acting to facilitate his interests.
How ironic, Lian Yang thought with amusement. The mighty Silver Dragon King, even after being healed, still can't escape the fate of unconsciously acting against her own race, just like in the original story. Truly a world of 'love brains'—capture the woman, and you win.
With their business concluded, Lian Yang's group turned to leave. The tense atmosphere among the Spirit Beasts had dissipated, replaced by an awkward silence and curiosity as they watched the three humans walk away peacefully.
On the way back, Lingsha wasted no opportunity. Her sharp eyes scanned the forest floor, and she would occasionally stop to pluck a leaf from an odd-looking bush or carefully retrieve a faintly glowing mushroom. She stored them in small specimen pouches, her movements efficient and purposeful. Every plant here was a potential treasure.
"That woman... Gu Yuena," Lingsha finally spoke up as she stored her last sample, her analytical eyes sharp. "I couldn't read her power level. Was Master Jingliu..."
"She is strong," Jingliu interjected, her tone as flat as ever, but there was a note of admiration in it.
Lian Yang just smiled mysteriously, offering no explanation. It wasn't yet time to tell them about his connection to Gu Yuena.
Once they were a safe distance away, Lian Yang stopped. He wasted no time, immediately taking out his smartphone and sending a short message.
At the same moment, thousands of kilometers away inside Sweet Home, Bronya Rand received a notification on her main console.
A simple message appeared on the screen: Stigma S-1 successful. Initiating phase two.
Bronya's eyes showed no emotion, but her fingers moved with precision across the holographic control panel. Before her, a strategic map of the Douluo Continent glowed. Points of light representing Schicksal assets began to shift. New supply routes were formed, reconnaissance units were redirected, and funds were diverted to previously dormant projects.
Back in the forest, Lian Yang put away his device and turned to his two companions.
"The deal with the Star Dou Forest has secured our foundation."
Jingliu and Lingsha listened in silence.
"Our next move is north," Lian Yang announced, his eyes shining with a spirit of adventure and ambition. "To the Extremes North."
He paused, letting the implication sink in.
"Our objectives are twofold. First, to acquire a rare material called the Divine Ice Crystal to accelerate Project Stigma." He paused for a moment, then continued.
"Second, and more importantly, we will find the two rulers of that domain: Bing Di, the Ice Jade Scorpion Empress, and Xue Di, the Snow Empress."
Lingsha's face showed confusion, but Jingliu remained expressionless. She had already suspected this was no mere material gathering mission.
"The power of those two entities is too valuable to pass up," Lian Yang continued. "I will bind them into the Retinue to earn more credits. Both are quite powerful, so we will take them on one by one. Jingliu will incapacitate them first, then Lingsha will assist me as I begin the binding process."
The diplomatic mission just completed might feel minor in hindsight, given how quickly it ended. In contrast, a journey to the roof of the world—an expedition—would feel like a true adventure.