Chapter 492: Life Lake, Accompanied by Beauty
The Lake of Life was silent. Dai Yao's thunderous voice had faded, leaving only the soft lapping of the lake's waves against the shore. Holding the Sea God Trident tightly, Dai Yao leveled it at Di Tian, his black and five red spirit rings surrounding him, exuding an imposing aura that for a moment overshadowed even the surrounding spirit beasts.
Dai Yao was not acting out of impulsive bravery, nor was he prepared to let the spirit beasts slaughter humanity without restraint. Before coming to the Star Dou Forest, he had meticulously prepared for the worst.
He had arranged for the combined forces of the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect and the Azure Lotus Sect to gather at the Star Luo Empire's side of the forest. He and Bibi Dong had agreed that any remaining Wuhun Empire soldiers and kingdom forces would be stationed on three sides of the forest. Only the side facing the Heaven Dou Empire remained undefended—an intentional strategy to create an "encirclement with one escape."
Even if a beast tide were unleashed, the majority of spirit beasts would instinctively flock to the unguarded side, heading toward the Heaven Dou Empire. With Wuhun Empire forces pushing forward through Jialing Pass to Zhen Nan Pass, this region was sparsely populated, minimizing civilian casualties. Furthermore, most of Wuhun Empire's main forces were concentrated here, ready to make the spirit beasts pay a heavy toll.
Although this would leave the Wuhun Empire's troops vulnerable to a two-sided assault from the spirit beasts and Heaven Dou forces, the matter was far too serious—neither Heaven Dou nor anyone else would dare to backstab the Wuhun Empire in such a crisis. Yet even with this plan, Dai Yao knew it would severely deplete Wuhun Empire's strength, and whether it would still be able to unify the continent afterward remained uncertain.
Dai Yao remembered the intense gaze Bibi Dong had given him after he proposed this plan, only agreeing after a long pause.
"If Di Tian actually launches a beast tide, though I would not be failing my race, I would be betraying Bibi Dong," he thought.
His eyes fixed intently on Di Tian, a mix of determination and faint guilt washing over him. Bibi Dong had labored for years to elevate Wuhun Empire's strength to unprecedented heights, and if his failure cost her the chance to unify the continent, he could never forgive himself. Yet Di Tian's relentless pressure left him with no other choice.
Moreover, while Dai Yao's stance appeared fiercely opposed to Di Tian, his "fight to the death" declaration was a calculated move. His vehemence cornered Di Tian, forcing caution and second thoughts. Di Tian was unwilling to accept even the slightest risk of failure; for him, the survival of the soul beast race outweighed his personal pride. In this way, Dai Yao's defiance pressured Di Tian into hesitation, giving Dai Yao valuable time.
Di Tian was well aware that Dai Yao, now on the path to godhood, needed only a little more time to become a full-fledged deity. If he forced a confrontation now and failed to eliminate Dai Yao, they would face the wrath of a god in the future—a nightmare scenario. Years ago, Di Tian had already attempted to deal with Dai Yao when he was merely at the Soul Emperor level, only to find himself powerless. Now, with Dai Yao at the level of a Title Douluo, a direct confrontation was an even greater risk.
If they clashed, the soul beasts' survival could be measured in decades, whereas retreat might extend their existence far longer. Dai Yao calculated that there was an 80% chance that Di Tian would back down from initiating the beast tide. And with such odds, in light of the preparations he'd made, he was left with no reason not to confront Di Tian head-on.
The silence around the Lake of Life shattered as an overwhelming roar filled the air. Countless spirit beasts rose on their hind legs, howling at Dai Yao, baring their fangs in aggression. A few fearless beasts even charged straight at him, only to be immobilized by the pressure radiating from Dai Yao's spirit rings.
Di Tian raised his hand, pulling the brave attackers back. Standing with a stoic expression, he observed Dai Yao, his gaze revealing nothing of the turmoil brewing within. The six crimson spirit rings surrounding Dai Yao had, indeed, shaken him to his core.
Truly, this was the fate-marked child.
Clasping his hands behind his back, Di Tian stood silent for a long time before speaking.
"A fight to the death? Bold words. If a beast tide is unleashed, countless innocent lives will perish because of your choice. While you may comfort yourself with the thought of avenging them, what if I specifically target Sea Harbor City, massacre your sect, and kill your loved ones? Could you remain so self-righteous?"
The images his words invoked—of Sea Harbor City in ruins and his loved ones lying lifeless before him—struck Dai Yao's heart like a hammer, making it hard to breathe. He had steeled himself to make this decision, accepting the potential sacrifices it would entail. But if that sacrifice included his own family, or even Zhuqing and Wutong…
How could he bear such a cost?
Easy to lecture others, difficult to bear oneself.
If the beast tide were to spread unchecked, thousands upon thousands would die. These were not just numbers; they represented countless families who would suffer, many left bereft of loved ones. Did he have the courage to shoulder such responsibility?
He faltered.
Decades ago, he was an imprisoned prince, uncertain if he'd survive another day, with his sole goal to make it through each one. As he grew, his focus narrowed to exacting vengeance on those who'd wronged him, indifferent to the countless lives lost along the way. Back then, he had never felt a burden too heavy to bear.
But now, with humanity's survival hanging in the balance, for the first time, he fully understood the weight of his responsibility and the implications of the godhood he was striving to attain.
Just as this hesitation gripped him, he realized that Di Tian had not initiated the beast tide outright. Instead, Di Tian sought to make him feel the gravity of such a catastrophe, hoping to pressure him into acceptance. Dai Yao understood instantly—he'd gambled correctly!
Di Tian was bluffing. He did not dare to launch a full-scale beast tide.
A wave of calm washed over Dai Yao as he sensed his chance to capitalize on the hesitation he'd managed to instill in Di Tian. Di Tian's relentless pressure had been a ploy. If he'd conceded, he would have immediately lost all negotiating ground, leaving him only with the bleak options of compliance or rejection. But by taking a fierce stance, Dai Yao had backed Di Tian into a corner, compelling him to consider retreat.
Now, he could calmly press forward, using his leverage to buy more time. But if he'd chosen to compromise from the start, he would have only empowered Di Tian further. After all, as the saying goes, "Give an inch, and they'll take a mile."
With thoughts churning rapidly, Dai Yao allowed his face to show a flash of genuine struggle before lapsing into silence. His acting skills, honed over years in life-and-death situations, proved their worth once again. Even Di Tian, with his 880,000 years of experience, detected nothing amiss.
For all his wisdom, Di Tian's secluded life in the Star Dou Forest had dulled his sense for human subtleties. Even ten-thousand-year-old creatures like Xiao Wu and the Titan Giant Ape remained, in many ways, innocent as children.
Under the shield of the Sea God's Light, Dai Yao's emotions were entirely concealed, making it impossible for Di Tian to read him. Yet when Di Tian caught a flicker of hesitation in Dai Yao's expression, a glint flashed in his amber eyes. He'd found Dai Yao's weakness—he was sure of his victory in this negotiation.
With a dismissive wave, Di Tian issued the retreat command. Although many spirit beasts looked on in resentment and reluctance, they obeyed, receding from the Lake of Life under the Beast God's command.
As the spirit beasts scattered, Di Tian, hands clasped behind his back, landed on the shore, smiling slightly as he addressed Dai Yao. "Your resolve wavers, doesn't it? In that case, why don't we each take a step back?"
Dai Yao's eyes narrowed as he, too, descended to the lakeshore. After a moment of contemplative silence, he responded, "What do you propose?"
Unperturbed, Di Tian suggested, "Stubbornly opposing each other will only lead to mutual harm. Even if you were to exterminate all of us, where would that leave humanity? No more powerful soul masters would rise. I don't need an immediate answer from you. Instead, why not stay in the Star Dou Forest for a while?"
The lake returned to its usual tranquility as Di Tian's words lingered in the air. The gentle breeze stirred, while Dai Yao's brows remained furrowed, fists clenching and unclenching as he wrestled with the proposal. Di Tian was extending a concession by allowing him to stay without launching a beast tide, so refusing now would be ungrateful. Besides, remaining in the forest aligned with his own purpose to stall for time.
After a long silence, Dai Yao finally replied, "Very well."
Di Tian smiled. "I believe that during your stay here, your view of spirit beasts may change."
Dai Yao shrugged, noncommittal.
Then Di Tian took a step forward, releasing a wave of invisible energy. Moments later, six powerful presences surged from the lake, one after another.
The first to appear was a stunning green-haired woman, with an elegant, serene expression that inspired a feeling of peace in those who looked upon her.
The second figure was also shrouded in green but carried an air of menace, with long green hair stretching over ten meters and cold, snake-like jade eyes.
The third was a towering figure, over fifteen meters tall, with shoulder muscles resembling small mountains and an aura many times more intimidating than the Titan Giant Ape.
The fourth was a three-headed lion, whose fur blazed like fire.
The fifth figure was semi-transparent, as though barely there—Dai Yao wouldn't have even noticed if not for his keen spiritual senses.
Finally, the sixth figure was a purple-haired woman whose icy gaze bore into Dai Yao, her expression filled with pure animosity.
Turning toward Dai Yao with evident pride, Di Tian introduced the group. "These are the most powerful spirit beasts in the Star Dou Forest after me: Bi Ji, the Myriad Demon King, Xiong Jun, Chi Wang, Yao Ling, and Zi Ji. For tens of thousands of years, they have stood beside me, enduring countless hardships to reach their current strength."
As Di Tian named each beast, they nodded in acknowledgment—except for Xiong Jun and Zi Ji, whose hostility was unmistakable. Dai Yao could tell that if Di Tian weren't present, those two would likely have attacked him already.
Among the others, Bi Ji's gaze was notably gentle, while the Myriad Demon King's was distant and aloof, seemingly indifferent to Dai Yao's presence. Chi Wang's expression was complex, revealing both resentment toward humans and deference to Di Tian's command. The spectral Yao Ling remained unreadable, his face too obscured to reveal anything.
The moment Di Tian finished, Xiong Jun bared his teeth, exposing his cold, sharp fangs, his massive, lantern-sized eyes blazing with killing intent. "Boy, you make me sick! Unlike Di Tian, I won't keep holding back for the sake of the clan! I may not command a beast tide, but you can bet that if you keep wasting my time—"
"Xiong Jun!" Di Tian and Bi Ji both snapped in unison.
Xiong Jun glared back at Di Tian defiantly but held his tongue under Bi Ji's stern gaze. The Bear King owed numerous debts to Bi Ji, the Star Dou Forest's most powerful support-type soul beast, so despite his attitude, he dared not completely disregard her.
Once Xiong Jun relented, Di Tian turned to Dai Yao, apologizing, "I'm sorry. Xiong Jun has always been this way; please don't take his behavior to heart."
Dai Yao's face remained cool and indifferent. Only after Di Tian's apology did he speak, resting his weight on the Sea God Trident with a faint smile. "I understand. To the Bear King, my repeated rejections of the spirit beast clan's offers likely seem disrespectful. His reaction is natural. However, while I'm willing to ignore it this once, should he provoke me again, I will be forced to test the true strength of the spirit beasts."
The six spirit beasts looked stunned, while Xiong Jun and Zi Ji's expressions grew darker, their anger unmasked. Di Tian, however, stayed calm and replied evenly, "I'll ensure Xiong Jun is restrained. This won't happen again."
"That's preferable," Dai Yao replied, his face impassive once more.
His gaze swept over the six spirit beasts, inwardly marveling as he matched each with the legendary beasts from his past life. With a sense of familiarity, he noted Di Tian's decision to introduce him to the leaders of the spirit beast clan.
"You've arranged for me to stay by the Lake of Life," Dai Yao began, raising an eyebrow. "And now you've introduced me to the core members of your clan. Does my stay here somehow involve them?"
Di Tian nodded, his tone ambiguous. "Indeed. While you're here, Bi Ji and Zi Ji will keep you company."
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