"Speaking of which, I've always wondered—what's really going on with this Mirror Flower, Water Moon martial soul?"
Hearing Fate mention Mirror Flower, Water Moon again, Jiang Shengyu finally voiced the question that had puzzled him for years.
"I can understand the Mirror-in-Flower having the properties of a mirror and being able to imprint other martial souls—that's a straightforward cheat I get. But why does the Water-in-Moon give me skills from other worlds?"
"Two-pronged approach, of course!"
Fate's smile returned. It said to Jiang Shengyu:
"Only by combining the power within the world with the power beyond the world can you disrupt the heavens' calculations and break the predetermined ending! But…"
Here, Fate raised its hand and summoned the Water-in-Moon out from Jiang Shengyu's body. Staring at the rippling crescent moon, it said:
"You must have noticed—although the Water-in-Moon can grant skills from beyond this world, in the end it's like grasping at the moon's reflection in water: an illusion, not reality."
"Of course I understand that," Jiang Shengyu nodded.
Otherwise, just that first Void Flame alone would've been enough for him to burn the entire Douluo Continent to ash.
"So, ultimately, it still depends on you. You are the greatest 'power from beyond the world.'"
Fate sent the Water-in-Moon back into Jiang Shengyu's body, then continued:
"Work hard! I'm with you! The final fate of the Douluo Continent will favor you! At least until you grow strong enough, I'll do my best to keep the God Realm from spying on you."
As soon as Fate finished speaking, its figure began to fade from Jiang Shengyu and Jiang Qingtong's sight. A tugging force pulled from behind them, sweeping them out of that golden space.
When Jiang Shengyu opened his eyes, he found Kong Deming, Jing Hongchen, and Tianyin Douluo gathered anxiously around his bed.
Seeing him awake, Kong Deming hurriedly asked:
"Shengyu, how are you feeling? Why did you suddenly collapse? Are you injured? Did something happen during the hunt for the evil soul masters earlier?"
Kong Deming's barrage of questions left Jiang Shengyu a little overwhelmed. He reassured him:
"I'm fine!"
"Nonsense! You suddenly passed out—how could you be fine? Let Tianyin Douluo give you a proper checkup!"
Kong Deming clearly didn't believe him and motioned for Tianyin Douluo to run a more thorough examination.
Jiang Shengyu could only accept helplessly. It wasn't like he could tell them what had really just happened.
Compared to him, though, Jiang Qingtong's situation was far more precarious—she was facing none other than Beast God Di Tian.
When Jiang Qingtong opened her eyes, Di Tian, Biqi, the Scarlet King, and the Three-Eyed Golden Lion were all gathered around her. As for Xiao Xiao, she had been tossed aside, still unconscious—Biqi had made sure she stayed asleep a while longer.
"Human, what's your name?" Di Tian asked.
Instinctively, Jiang Qingtong wanted to respond with a dumb joke—but when she met Di Tian's cold golden eyes, she thought better of it and answered honestly:
"Jiang Qingtong."
Seeing that she showed no trace of fear upon meeting his gaze—nothing like an ordinary human girl—Di Tian was slightly surprised.
"You're a student of Shrek Academy?"
Jiang Qingtong glanced down at her uniform and spread her hands.
"Isn't it obvious?"
At that, Biqi laughed softly.
"I've never seen a human dare to speak like that in front of Di Tian. You really are special."
Jiang Qingtong nodded in agreement.
"I know I'm special."
With Fate backing her, her courage had grown. Even a half-spent Fate was still Fate—it wasn't some dime-a-dozen cheat.
Once activated, it was comfortable.
The Three-Eyed Golden Lion piped up to Di Tian:
"Di Tian, Di Tian! Can we keep her here and raise her?"
"Auspicious Beast, there's never been a human living in the Star Dou Great Forest's Core Zone," Biqi reminded.
"Then she can be the first," the lion replied without hesitation.
Di Tian placed his palm gently on the lion's head, rubbing it as he spoke:
"Auspicious Beast, the relationship between humans and soul beasts cannot be reconciled. Humans cannot live here. More importantly, I need them to negotiate with Shrek Academy."
Hearing this, the lion looked downcast—but Jiang Qingtong's eyes lit up. She quickly said:
"Yes they can! Of course it can be reconciled!"
Her words drew the gazes of Di Tian, Biqi, and the lion.
"Human, for the Auspicious Beast's sake, I won't kill you—but that doesn't mean you can speak recklessly," Di Tian said slowly, fixing her with his gaze. "Close that ignorant mouth of yours."
"I'm not being ignorant!" Jiang Qingtong retorted.
Seeing her expression, Di Tian continued:
"The soul rings and soul bones you human soul masters need for cultivation all come from the deaths of my soul beast kin. Tell me—how is such a relationship to be reconciled?"
"Simple—soul masters just need a way to break through without hunting soul beasts for their rings!" she replied.
"Absurd! How could human soul masters possibly cultivate without rings produced by soul beasts?" Di Tian's brows knitted, his tone dripping with disdain.
"Beast God, let me show you something," Jiang Qingtong said.
Di Tian didn't stop her—he was curious to see what she had to offer. Jiang Qingtong spread her hands, and the Mirror-in-Flower martial soul emerged once more. From beneath her feet, two purple and one black soul rings rose.
Though Di Tian's expression didn't change, his mood clearly soured at the sight.
"I'm at the fortieth rank of soul power right now," Jiang Qingtong told him. "To break through the bottleneck and continue cultivating, I'd need a fourth ring. I'm sure the Beast God can see that?"
Di Tian nodded.
"That is indeed the case."
Though her soul was shrouded in a mysterious power that kept him from seeing its true nature, her soul power rank was no mystery to him—one glance was enough.
"Then next—witness a miracle."
Jiang Qingtong smiled. As she spoke, her flowing soul power began to surge. Releasing the power she had been suppressing ever since her evil fire had flared, her soul power instantly broke past the forty-first level.
Di Tian's brows drew together. When he saw a brand new soul ring rise from beneath her feet, the expression he had maintained finally cracked.
"You… you can attach a soul ring without killing a soul beast? This is the power of a God-bestowed ring! Are you… the inheritor of some god?"
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