Chapter 494: Companions on Both Sides, Di Tian's Dilemma
Deep beneath the Lake of Life, inside a dark cavern.
What was once a pitch-black cave now shone brightly, illuminated by the golden glow of a massive silkworm. As soon as Di Tian returned to the cave, the now-small Xiong Jun stormed up to him, grabbing him angrily by the collar in front of the other astonished soul beasts. Some of them stepped forward to intervene, but Di Tian raised his hand, signaling them to hold back.
"What do you have to say for yourself?" Di Tian said icily, unleashing the pressure of his immense power built up over 880,000 years, instantly forcing Xiong Jun back.
Xiong Jun's breathing faltered momentarily, but the fierce, violent look returned to his bestial eyes as he opened his fanged mouth and snarled, "Di Tian, we respect you as the Beast God, so you should be upholding the honor and survival of the soul beast race! Now a human has come into our domain, and you refuse to fight him to defend our honor. Are you even worthy of being called the Beast God?"
"Not only did you bow to that brat, but you also sent Bi Ji and Zi Ji to be with him! Don't you know he's a notorious womanizer? Sending Bi Ji and Zi Ji to him is like leading wolves to a pair of lambs!"
"You don't realize what might happen to them..."
Xiong Jun's voice grew harsher, but he trailed off, unable to finish the thought. Yet all the soul beasts present understood his implication and turned their eyes to Di Tian.
Di Tian didn't rush to respond. Instead, he calmly swept his gaze over the other soul beasts before finally asking in a steady voice, "Is this what all of you think as well?"
The soul beasts exchanged looks, but in the end, each nodded in agreement.
Seeing this, Di Tian sighed quietly. "I understand your concerns, but in the face of our race's survival, individual feelings are insignificant. The reason I sent them to Dai Yao was so that, when he ascends to godhood, he will take them with him to the Divine Realm."
"Once they're in the Divine Realm, they'll have the chance to connect with another of our leaders there. With the help of both our leaders, we may finally breach the Divine Realm and break the curse that prevents soul beasts from becoming gods. At that point, we will no longer be at the mercy of humans and will finally stand on equal footing with their deities."
"So what are a few sacrifices compared to that?"
The gathered soul beasts reacted with mixed emotions.
Some showed excitement; Some were angrier than ever, wondering if the soul beast race's survival really had to depend on sacrificing two of their strongest females; Some were puzzled and reluctant to voice their concerns.
What if Dai Yao ascended to godhood but did not take Bi Ji and Zi Ji with him? Wouldn't Di Tian's actions then be nothing but a wasted effort?
The golden silkworm with its ten-lined patterns shifted slightly, as if sensing something, but it quickly returned to slumber as if nothing had happened.
As the tension in the cavern eased somewhat, Di Tian fell silent and walked straight toward a sacred inner chamber into which no other soul beast was permitted to enter.
As he stepped into the inner sanctum, a giant white cocoon emerged before him. Di Tian bowed deeply, respectfully saying, "Greetings, my lord."
A cool, ethereal voice echoed in the chamber. "Di Tian, you've been by my side for so many years. Why be so formal?"
Maintaining his respectful stance, Di Tian replied, "Your identity far surpasses mine, my lord. If I were to forget my place, it would be disrespectful."
The white cocoon was silent for a moment before a quiet sigh filled the air. "Di Tian, has that human arrived?"
"He has."
The cocoon fell silent once more, then the voice spoke again, softer this time, "Must you make this sacrifice? The burden of our race's future lies with me, not with you."
"No, my lord," Di Tian finally lifted his head, his black eyes as hard as obsidian, filled with resolve. "I have been honored as the Beast God by my kin, and with that comes a duty to lead them. This sacrifice is necessary. Without Bi Ji and Zi Ji to distract those in the heavens, how could I ever have a chance of slipping into the Divine Realm unnoticed?"
This, indeed, was Di Tian's true objective.
He would not entrust the fate of the soul beast race solely to two female soul beasts.
The cocoon was silent for a long time, before its reply emerged as a resigned sigh. "You have carried a heavy burden for too long."
Di Tian shook his head, refusing any praise, and affirmed his unwavering loyalty to his master before leaving the chamber.
Upon exiting the sacred chamber, he returned to the main cavern where the Ten-Patterned Iceworm lay, glancing toward where Bi Ji and Zi Ji had once been. Even his steely heart felt a pang of sorrow at their absence.
Were Bi Ji and Zi Ji truly just pawns to distract the Divine Realm's deities?
He knew they were not.
Sneaking into the Divine Realm was a one-way journey, and if he failed, the entire soul beast race could be destroyed. He was willing to take on this responsibility, but he couldn't bear the thought of dragging Bi Ji and Zi Ji down with him. If he shared his real intentions, they would insist on accompanying him to the end.
Sending them to Dai Yao's side was, in truth, his way of protecting them.
After all, he knew his chances of success were slim.
If Dai Yao agreed to his terms and took Bi Ji and Zi Ji to the Divine Realm, that would simply be an unexpected blessing.
With a faint sigh, he turned away from the Ten-Patterned Iceworm's life force and instead focused his gaze on a young beast that had been slumbering nearby.
This was the Three-Eyed Golden Ni, the Imperial Beast, carrying the destiny of the Star Dou Forest within it.
Would even a creature as blessed as the Golden Ni be able to grow up safely in this turbulent world?
In the mountain forest, days passed like years, and more than ten days had slipped by in the blink of an eye.
During this time, Bi Ji and Zi Ji accompanied Dai Yao as he explored the scenic Star Dou Forest. Gradually, the three became more accustomed to each other's company. To the surprise of both women, the "infamous seducer" Dai Yao had not so much as laid a finger on either of them, leaving them wondering if his reputation was exaggerated—or even questioning their own appeal.
One afternoon, atop a large rock, Dai Yao lay lazily on his back. He looked over his shoulder at Zi Ji and ordered casually, "Hey, Ice Queen! Go fetch me something to eat!"
"You...!" Zi Ji's violet-black eyes widened in anger as she glared at Dai Yao.
Bi Ji took her hand and gently shook her head. Gritting her teeth in frustration, Zi Ji grudgingly went off to fulfill his request.
After Zi Ji left, Bi Ji seated herself beside Dai Yao and smiled with mild exasperation. "Dai Yao, it's been days now, but why are you always so harsh with Zi Ji? You constantly tease her. I can tell you don't actually dislike her, so why can't you two get along?"
Dai Yao turned his head, his gaze momentarily drawn to Bi Ji as she sat down beside him. However, his expression remained indifferent as he glanced up at the sky and replied, "And do you know why I treat you so differently?"
Bi Ji tucked a stray lock of hair behind her ear, an inkling of understanding crossing her mind, though she simply smiled and said, "I'd be happy to hear it."
Dai Yao's voice lowered, turning serious as he answered,
"You and Zi Ji were sent by Di Tian to be close to me, and your intentions couldn't be clearer. But honestly, your attempts at seduction have been pretty clumsy." Dai Yao remarked, noticing Bi Ji's slightly reddening face as she recalled their recent efforts to sway him. Despite their attempts, she hadn't anticipated that Dai Yao would resist them, behaving more like a gentleman than the infamous "demon of lust."
"Even we're surprised," Bi Ji teased, "Could it be that the stories of the 'demon of lust' are just exaggerated rumors?"
Dai Yao's face darkened, taken aback at how his reputation had been twisted. Clearing his throat, he continued, "Seduction may be the strategy, but there's a clear difference in your intentions."
"For you, it's about preserving your race—you're sacrificing yourself for a greater purpose. But Zi Ji...do you really think she understands what she wants?"
Bi Ji blinked in surprise, about to respond, but Dai Yao continued, "Zi Ji was sent to me with a mission, and she probably isn't fully prepared. Her emotions are a mix of resentment toward someone else, regret for her duties to her race, and the struggle of accepting her role here. All of that creates a haze within her."
"Otherwise, she wouldn't so openly display her disdain toward me," he said. "And if she's determined to treat me with contempt, why should I offer her kindness? I'm not so magnanimous."
Bi Ji fell silent, sighing softly. She understood Zi Ji's feelings well, given that they stemmed from the same circumstances. The one who held a special place in Zi Ji's heart also held one in her own, yet her responsibilities to her people required her to suppress that connection and make sacrifices.
The gentle smile that usually adorned Bi Ji's face faded, replaced by a rare look of seriousness. Unlike Zi Ji, Bi Ji was fully aware of her purpose here and had long since prepared herself for it. However, Dai Yao had not touched her, clearly because he didn't wish to cross the boundaries between species.
"Dai Yao, it's been ten days now. You've known our purpose all along, yet you've still made no decision. You can't stall forever; are you truly unwilling to give the soul beasts a chance?" Bi Ji's voice was calm but resolute.
Dai Yao's expression darkened. He knew that his continued delays had tested the patience of the soul beasts.
"You're overthinking it."
"Then why not just take us? Even if you don't bring us to the divine realm in the future, accepting us now wouldn't harm you," Bi Ji pressed.
Her words left Dai Yao thoughtful. No matter what he chose, he knew he wouldn't be on the losing end. But he had been deceiving the soul beasts from the beginning. Once his intentions became clear at the end of the thirty days, it would be a blow they could hardly bear.
How could he face the two women if he used them fully and then betrayed them? He could tell himself it was all for the safety of humanity, that he had to gain the trust of the soul beasts, and such reasoning would justify deepening relations with Bi Ji and Zi Ji.
But he couldn't bring himself to do it. That was why he kept his distance from Bi Ji and pushed Zi Ji away. Yet Bi Ji's unrelenting questions were now forcing him to make a choice.
Dai Yao sat up, meeting Bi Ji's serious, green gaze. Instead of answering her question directly, he said, "I can see you're prepared to sacrifice for peace between humans and soul beasts. But as I told Di Tian before, as long as spirit rings are necessary for humanity to advance, our conflict can't truly end."
"Your sacrifice is ultimately pointless. Even if you submit to me, you won't achieve what you hope for. Are you still willing to go through with this?"
Bi Ji was taken aback, then gave a small sigh. But soon, a sense of duty settled on her face, and she smiled faintly.
"Of course, I understand that. But humans and soul beasts have been at odds for hundreds of thousands of years. If I don't make this sacrifice, if I don't attempt to serve as a bridge, there will be no opportunity for any improvement. If my purity could become a turning point for our two races, then it's worth it."
Dai Yao was stunned by Bi Ji's conviction, her willingness to sacrifice for the greater good of her kind. Yet, he couldn't help but wonder how she would feel once his true intentions were revealed.
"Understood." Dai Yao paused before adding meaningfully, "Di Tian was right—humans and soul beasts rely on each other. Once soul beasts are hunted to extinction, spirit masters will fade from history as well."
"No human spirit master wants to see that day. So once this situation settles, I'll try to find a way to eliminate humanity's dependence on spirit rings to advance. If I succeed, the relationship between humans and soul beasts will naturally change."
"When that day comes, it's possible relations may improve—or worsen," he continued. "But that will no longer be my concern."
Bi Ji didn't quite understand why Dai Yao was confiding this in her. Still, hearing his promise erased her initial misgivings about him. Slowly, she wrapped an arm around his neck, a playful glint in her eyes as she drew close.
"Well, what are you waiting for?"
Dai Yao raised an eyebrow. With his beautiful companion taking the initiative, refusing would be out of the question.
In the dead of night, the sounds of exertion on the stone finally ceased, and the cool moonlight bathed them.
After a while, Bi Ji looked at Dai Yao, who lay beside her with a satisfied expression. She chided, "It seems they were right to call you the 'demon of lust'!"
Dai Yao straightened up, adopting a self-righteous tone. "Slander! Would I ever live up to such a name?"
Bi Ji playfully rolled her eyes, "Aren't you the one who said you were hungry? Poor Zi Ji has probably been waiting all this time!"
Dai Yao agreed it was probably best to stop. Besides, he couldn't help but suspect Zi Ji might be watching, which could lead to awkward moments ahead.
Indeed, concealed in the shadows of the forest, a pair of violet eyes observed them. Zi Ji's expression was complicated as she watched, her thoughts unreadable.
Deep in the underground cave of the Lake of Life, Di Tian was silently reviewing his interactions with Dai Yao over the past few days, unease gnawing at him.
Finally, he summoned Xiong Jun and said in a low voice, "Xiong Jun, go to the Heaven Dou Empire. I need you to find out if there have been any changes in the human world. While we haven't heard from the Golden Crocodile or Lion Douluo, I can't shake this feeling of unease. Go—check the situation in Heaven Dou. There's something off with Dai Yao!"
Reluctant to be interrupted in his training, Xiong Jun was visibly irritated, but hearing Di Tian's command brought a cruel grin to his face.
"Don't worry, Di Tian. Leave this to me! If that brat is deceiving us, I'll rip him apart myself!"
Thank you for the support, friends. If you want to read more chapters in advance, go to my Patreon.
Read 40 Chapters In Advance: patreon.com/Canserbero10