Looking at the "Spiritual Pivot" emitting silver, flowing data streams in front of him, Kong Mingan's eyes were calm.
The increase in his own spirit powerRank was still too slow, only rising ten Ranks on average per year. At this rate, he would still need more than three years to reach Titled Douluo. It was truly too slow.
Whether it was to handle the upcoming affairs more calmly or due to his desire to become stronger, establishing an alternative and unique advancement system belonging solely to him was imperative.
Of course, this was definitely not rushing things, but rather opening up an unprecedented path based on the existing foundation.
The simple paths of "Spell Cultivator," "Body Cultivator," and "Artifact Cultivator" were not suitable for his current self, so he had to slightly forge a new path.
Gathering his thoughts, Kong Mingan split off a thread of his mind to maintain the auxiliary cultivation for the Snow Empress, while the other part of his mind immersed itself in constructing the transformation of the "Spiritual Pivot."
Soon, the laboratory fell completely silent... In the core region of the Star Dou Great Forest, at the Lake of Life.
The lakeside, usually quiet and peaceful, was currently permeated with an inexplicably solemn atmosphere.
Dozens of incomparably powerful auras converged here. Every single one was at least a hundred-thousand-year-Rank existence, and the auras of the few humanoid figures in the center were even more terrifying, clearly being Vicious BeastRank existences.
Standing silently at the center of all the figures was a silver-haired, purple-eyed maiden. Her aura was restrained, and her gaze calmly swept over every figure present before she broke the silence:
"Everyone, do you think we should cooperate with that human and the Chamber of Commerce behind him?"
As soon as her voice fell, a burly strong man was the first to step forward, his voice irritable, "Master, we absolutely cannot cooperate with those cunning humans!
"Those humans definitely harbor ill intentions! If you ask me, we should just gather our strength and fight them! If that really doesn't work—"
Before he could finish his sentence, a hand pressed down on his shoulder.
Xiong Jun's words halted. He turned to look at the middle-aged man beside him, who was dressed in a dark gold Dragon-patterned black robe, and his eyes lit up: "What, Ditian, you also think I'm right, don't you? I'm telling you, humans are just—"
Before he finished speaking, the middle-aged man exerted a little force and directly grabbed Xiong Jun and threw him to the back.
The Spirit Beasts: "..."
They were used to it.
The Spirit Beasts withdrew their gazes. Ditian also looked at Gu Yue, then bowed slightly, his tone somewhat tactful:
"Master, I believe this matter is strange. That human actively proposing cooperation definitely harbors a conspiracy and requires extreme caution."
After he finished speaking, his gaze subtly shifted to the side.
There, an old man in a deep purple robe with a withered face paused slightly, sighed, and slowly stepped forward, bowing as he spoke:
"Master, I believe cooperation might be feasible."
Gu Yue's eyes shifted slightly:
"King of Ten Thousand Monsters, why do you say that?"
The King of Ten Thousand Monsters took a deep breath and slowly said, "Because the other party has not truly given us room for choice."
"No. King of Ten Thousand Monsters, explain yourself clearly!"
Xiong Jun walked forward again, unable to resist speaking immediately.
The King of Ten Thousand Monsters did not look at him, his gaze remaining respectfully fixed on Gu Yue:
"Master, the problem lies in that contract. Does the content of the contract only stipulate terms between you and that human youth? Did it not restrict the other powerful individuals under his command, such as the Snow Empress?"
Gu Yue's pupils constricted, and she nodded slightly stiffly.
The King of Ten Thousand Monsters sighed, his voice carrying a hint of powerlessness: "Then that is it. The contract restricts that human youth from attacking us, but the Snow Empress, who has already achieved Divine Rank, is not bound by this restriction.
"Master, forgive my bluntness, but aside from you, everyone present, including Ditian, is absolutely no match for the Divine RankSnow Empress. If she descends upon the Star Dou Great Forest with Divine Rank might, and you are unable to intervene, we have no path but destruction."
He paused, looked at Gu Yue, whose expression had slightly changed, and continued: "And if you, Master, intervene to stop the Snow Empress, you would be violating the clause in the contract that states 'neither party nor their affiliated forces shall be attacked.'
"At that time, that human youth could rightfully activate the Destruction God Trial, informing the God Realm of your existence. The consequences would be unimaginable."
Gu Yue's expression completely froze.
The situation was too urgent at the time, and the other party pressed her step by step, giving her absolutely no chance to delve into the contract's contents, resulting in her being forced to sign the contract after only thinking for a dozen seconds.
How could this human be so wicked!
"Therefore, the other party seemingly gave us a choice, but in reality, only left two paths: one, cooperation; two, destruction.
"Even if the other party verbally promised non-aggression, the initiative always remains in their hands. Once we refuse, they will always have the reason and the power to force us to submit."
Compared to most other Vicious Beasts who rely on absolute strength and have limited understanding of human society, the King of Ten Thousand Monsters, relying on his talent, could obtain outside information through the plants in the Star Dou Great Forest.
Although he couldn't gather information from too far away, he had some understanding of the recent events within Shrek City, especially the conflict between the Mingmeng Chamber of Commerce and Shrek Academy.
In his view, Shrek outwardly appeared to be cooperating equally with the Chamber of Commerce, but in reality, it had already lost its autonomy under the Chamber of Commerce's gradual erosion, and becoming a subordinate was only a matter of time.
And now, the Star Dou Great Forest seemed to be facing a fate similar to that of Shrek Academy.
The other party's goal was exceptionally obvious and not even concealed: they wanted to boil the frog slowly, but the Master had simply failed to see it initially.
The lakeside was dead silent. All the beasts understood their current predicament. They had virtually entered a dead end, with no room for choice.
After pausing for a moment, the King of Ten Thousand Monsters thought for a bit and then spoke reassuringly:
"In fact, cooperating with the Chamber of Commerce is not entirely a bad thing. Judging from the Snow Empress successfully transforming and Breaking Through to Divine Rank, the other party very likely possesses a method to help Spirit Beasts safely pass the Heavenly Tribulation and achieve Divinity.
"The fact that the Ice and Snow Empresses simultaneously chose to support him, and their attitude is as you described, Master, at least proves that they have not been oppressed by the other party; rather, they have gained tangible benefits.
"With the precedent of the Extreme North Land existing, this seemingly forced path for our Star Dou Great Forest may not necessarily be a bad thing; perhaps it could be another way out."
These words plunged the Vicious Beasts present into deeper silence.
The chance to become a Divinity. For Spirit Beasts, this was an irresistible temptation that no one could oppose.
But even so, none of them spoke.
Concerning the future of the entire Star Dou Great Forest, only one person present had the right to decide.
Gu Yue was silent. She also didn't know what to do.
The Snow Empress's questioning that day greatly affected her. It was from that moment that she realized that she, the "Beast Co-ruler," had done little, or rather, nothing at all, aside from enjoying the offerings of the Spirit Beast race throughout the long years.
Waking up, falling asleep, waking up again, and then falling asleep again. This had been her routine since her birth and subsequent escape into the Douluo Plane.
Previously, she took this for granted. She could shelter the Spirit Beast race and solve all problems.
Yet now, when this feeling of powerlessness and the choice concerning the future of the Spirit Beast race truly fell upon her, she was at a loss.
After a long time, under the silent gaze of the beasts, Gu Yue raised her eyes.
A faint dignity emanated from those brilliant purple eyes, and her gaze turned resolute.
"I will handle this matter," her voice regained its coldness and majesty. Her gaze swept over every figure present, and she added, word by word:
"The Spirit Beast race will never perish."
As her voice fell, Gu Yue said no more. A flash of silver light surrounded her, and her figure vanished from the Lake of Life's shore.
Gu Yue: Eating this, can the Spirit Beast race truly continue?
Protagonist: Guaranteed.
--
I suddenly realized the Silver Dragon King's storyline is very easy to write, and I can play Jenga with Qiu'er along the way?
(End of Chapter)
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