Star Dou Forest, Core Region.
"Damn humans!" Seeing figures flash past in the sky, the Titan Giant Ape immediately beat its chest and stomped its feet.
Not far away, the surface of the lake surged as the Sky Blue Bull Python emerged.
"Step aside." The Evil Emperor cast a glance, a vertical eye appearing at his brow. "Spiritual Detonation!"
A strange ripple shook the air and rapidly spread outward. The two beasts shuddered as though struck heavily, collapsing to the ground.
Without pausing, the Evil Emperor continued flying toward the depths of the lake. Passing through layers of mist, he soon glimpsed a towering ancient tree, and beneath it a tall, imposing figure. His brows furrowed, and he sped up, landing before Di Tian.
"Where is the Child of Nature?" the Evil Emperor asked bluntly. He could tell at a glance that the golden ancient tree before him was not the Child of Nature.
"He is safe, and has already set foot upon that path," Di Tian replied calmly via spiritual transmission.
When the Myriad Demon King had released spiritual fluctuations and lingered here for some time before leaving, he had already guessed that the Child of Nature had chosen that road.
"You should know that path cannot succeed." The Evil Emperor's brows knitted.
Even with his spiritual power, he could not see through the figure before him. That meant this being was his equal — and had already guessed he too was a soul beast. Otherwise, he would not have spoken directly in spiritual transmission the moment they met, revealing the Child of Nature's choice.
"I can only say that the newborn Child of Nature is extremely special. The chances of success are not low." Di Tian's tone remained flat. "Moreover, I can tell you — the God Realm will never allow soul beasts to become gods. Thus, we have no choice. When the opportunity arises, we must seize it."
"I only hope, when that day comes, you will stand as an ally. That is the reason I face you now."
"Who exactly are you?" the Evil Emperor asked.
"Does knowing that now serve any purpose?" Di Tian countered.
'If he fails, then we merely continue to struggle on in hiding as before…' The Evil Emperor fell silent, then said: "What do you need me to do?"
"Faith," Di Tian replied. "And secrecy."
"I am curious — why do you choose to trust me?"
"With your cultivation, if you were a lackey of the gods, you would certainly bear the taint of divine aura," Di Tian said, his expression still calm. "Most importantly — you are also a soul beast."
"I believe you, like me, would not wish to see our kind perish in the end, dying with hatred. And as kings, we each have our pride."
"You have persuaded me." The Evil Emperor sighed.
With a sweep of his hand, a crystalline eyeball the size of a fist appeared in his palm. "This is my mother's relic. Facing the fifth heavenly tribulation, she gave her life for me. With its blessing, I was able to pass those thresholds. Though its essence was damaged from repeated use, I have nourished it over many years, and it has recovered somewhat. Absorbing it should be possible. With the Child of Nature's life force, it will surely recover further — perhaps even evolve."
"I ask that you deliver it to him, as a token of my will."
'So, the Evil Eyed Tyrant…' Di Tian was inwardly startled. He had once flown the world and seen the Evil Emperor's true form.
"I will see it delivered." He reached out and accepted it.
"I hope, when next we meet, it will be as comrades-in-arms," the Evil Emperor inclined his head. "Farewell."
Turning, he departed swiftly.
"Comrades, huh?" Di Tian stood silently for a long while. When that day arrived, the God Realm would undoubtedly intervene. "I hope we can all survive…" He sighed, then turned toward the golden ancient tree, raising his hand. The fist-sized evil eye slowly floated into the tree's trunk, merging within.
The golden ancient tree's surging vitality would nurture and restore the evil eye's essence. With such support, the Child of Nature would find it far easier to absorb later.
In the next moment, Di Tian's figure vanished, leaving only ripples upon the distant lake.
It was now July. At night, a half-moon hung in the sky, fireflies flickered across the ground, and the croaking of frogs filled the air.
Inside the bedroom, Zhu Zhuqing was the first to awaken, joy flashing in her eyes. She glanced at Yang Yunhai, then closed her eyes again to continue cultivating.
Much later, the others stirred awake as well.
"Yun, I've broken through to rank 47." Zhu Zhuqing smiled.
Yang Yunhai's face brightened, and he slowly stood. "This is the perfect time. Let's go find Grandpa and the others."
"Mm." Zhu Zhuqing nodded, following with Dugu Yan and Yiner as they walked out with Yang Yunhai.
Knock, knock, knock.
"Respected one." Yao Ling was the first to step out, bowing respectfully.
Dugu Bo, Chrysanthemum Douluo, and Ghost Douluo opened their doors, turning to Zhu Zhuqing. "You broke through?"
"Yes." Zhu Zhuqing nodded.
"Let's go outside the city," Chrysanthemum Douluo said. "A soul beast's sacrifice will unleash violent energy fluctuations — it will not be quiet."
"No need for all of us. You and Old Ghost should suffice as guardians," Dugu Bo nodded. "I'll stay here with Yan Yan."
"Alright." Chrysanthemum Douluo agreed.
Thus, they set out, soaring into the night sky under the moonlight.
After three quarters of an hour, they reached a dense forest far from Heaven Dou City and landed on a grassy clearing.
Without hesitation, Chrysanthemum Douluo reached into his soul tool and pulled out the still-slumbering Xiao Wu. Yao Ling extended a branch to bind her tightly and placed her on the ground. A sickly green light rose, growing ever stronger.
"Mm?" Xiao Wu soon reacted, joy flickering across her face. "Third Brother!" she cried softly.
But moments later, her joy turned to alarm. "Third Brother, be careful!"
"No, no… Third Brother, don't worry about me, run!" Her expression grew frantic.
Soon it twisted into despair, then hardened into resolve.
"Third Brother, forget me!"
In the next instant, pink light flared from her body, rapidly driving away the green glow and turning crimson. Her skin, too, flushed with a crystalline, ruby-like red, burning with thick flames of blood.
The branches around her were consumed to ashes.
"A soul sacrifice!" Yao Ling was shocked, then furious. "And for a human who slaughters our kind without mercy!"
"Third Brother!" Xiao Wu's eyes remained shut, unaware that the burning agony of her body had merged with the dream, leaving her unable to distinguish reality from illusion.
Ahead, Zhu Zhuqing was already shrouded in crimson light under the lock of spiritual force.
And Xiao Wu's body grew ever more illusory.
At that moment, with all branches destroyed, she floated suspended in the air.
"Third Brother, I love you…" She leaned forward, then suddenly frowned, her lashes trembling as her eyes snapped open. Within her vision, the one wrapped in the great crimson halo was not the brother she longed for —
But Zhu Zhuqing.
"Zhu Zhuqing!" Her face went pale. Everything before her screamed that she had been deceived.
But once a sacrifice began, it could not be halted. Especially a soul sacrifice — and the soul ring had already been drawn into Zhu Zhuqing's body.
"No! No—!" Xiao Wu shrieked shrilly, twisting her head toward Yang Yunhai.
"Yang Yunhai, you shall die a miserable death!"
"You shall—" Her voice cut off abruptly as her figure faded to nothing. Expression lingered, but sound no longer came.
"Forgive me, Xiao Wu. From the moment you chose to stand with Tang San against me, it was fated that our paths could only end with one of us dead." Yang Yunhai's face remained calm.
For those confirmed as his enemies, he might pity them, but he would never show mercy.
"…" Zhu Zhuqing and Yiner both fell silent, sorrow flickering on their faces.
"Hmph, she deserved it!" Yao Ling's face was like frost.
For a 100,000 year soul beast, loving a human was no great sin. But knowing full well that the human slaughtered their kind mercilessly, and still choosing to remain unrepentant — that was unforgivable. And to go further, offering a soul sacrifice for him?
In his eyes, that was treachery. Betrayal of the entire race.
Chrysanthemum Douluo and Ghost Douluo exchanged glances but said nothing. Truthfully, they could understand Yao Ling's fury.
But Xiao Wu herself? They could not.
Perhaps this was just how outsiders saw more clearly than those within. Otherwise, they would have no choice but to call her an utter fool.
Before their eyes, Xiao Wu's body gradually vanished.
Meanwhile, before Zhu Zhuqing, a bright red soul ring tightened around her feet. Yellow, yellow, purple, black — four rings pulsed in rhythm inside the crimson halo.
At the same time, a red glow flashed upon her right thigh — a scarlet leg bone appeared briefly before vanishing.
Moonlight spilled down. The forest grew still.
"How is it?" Yang Yunhai asked.
"Rank 55." Zhu Zhuqing's face held no joy as she stepped forward to take his hand, speaking softly.
Even as an enemy, Xiao Wu's death by sacrifice had touched her deeply.
'An entire 8 ranks…' A smile spread across Yang Yunhai's face as he nodded.
Chrysanthemum Douluo and Ghost Douluo also smiled.
It was an immense gain.
As expected of a 100,000 year soul ring and soul bone.
(End of Chapter)
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