As the patriarch of the Black Dragon Clan, Di Tian had witnessed the era when the Dragon God still walked the world. Other than the Silver Dragon King herself, there was no one on the current Douluo Continent who understood the gods more than he did. Neither humans nor soul beasts could compare with him in this regard.
For someone like Jiang Qingtong—who could attach spirit rings to her martial soul without hunting soul beasts, and even in a manner that pushed right up against the limits of what the body could endure—there was only one explanation: god-bestowed spirit rings.
Realizing that Jiang Qingtong was the inheritor of a god's legacy, Di Tian also understood the source of that power within her soul that blocked his attempts to probe it.
It had to be a god's method of protecting their chosen successor. Though Di Tian styled himself the "Beast God," he knew full well there remained an insurmountable gulf between himself and a true deity.
Jiang Qingtong nodded slightly and said to Di Tian:
"You can think of it that way."
Di Tian fixed his gaze on her and added,
"You reveal your secret to me so openly—aren't you afraid I'll kill you? I am the Beast God. I will not sit idly by and watch another human god be born! The deity who chose you, at this stage, likely cannot intervene on your behalf."
Though he did not know all the details of how god-inheritances worked, Di Tian was not ignorant either. At her current level—only four spirit rings—Jiang Qingtong could not possibly have reached the stage where a god would personally descend with power to protect her.
But Jiang Qingtong's expression remained calm and confident. She shook her head.
"You won't kill me, Beast God. On the contrary—you will protect me."
"Oh? And why is that?" Di Tian asked.
"Because if you kill me, then there will be no hope of reconciling the conflict between humans and soul beasts."
"Just you?"
Di Tian's voice carried a faint trace of disdain. Although she bore a god's favor, to him she was still just a little human girl! Compared to his countless years, she hadn't even lived long enough to match a fraction of his lifespan. How could someone so young presume to speak of reconciling the ancient rift between humans and soul beasts?
"Of course, not just me. My elder brother as well."
Jiang Qingtong looked steadily at Di Tian and continued,
"My brother and I are researching the mysteries of god-bestowed spirit rings—exploring new methods for soul masters to cultivate. If we succeed, soul masters will no longer need to slaughter soul beasts to obtain spirit rings."
"What about spirit bones, then?"
Di Tian showed no surprise at her words. Unlike Snow Empress, who might have been shaken, he responded calmly and directly.
Jiang Qingtong drew a deep breath before answering:
"Flesh is fragile. Ascension lies in machinery! Beast God, you are surely aware of the existence of soul tools, aren't you?"
Di Tian inclined his head. Jiang Qingtong pressed on:
"The soul tools of today are already powerful enough to threaten even Title Douluo—perhaps even Limit Douluo. With continuous advances in soul tool technology, I firmly believe that one day, mankind will create devices that can fully replace spirit bones."
"And how long must we wait for that?" Di Tian retorted.
"I have heard that the soul tools of your Douluo Continent's three nations are weak—far inferior to those of that empire which crashed into your lands thousands of years ago."
Jiang Qingtong raised her hand, revealing the ninth-tier soul tool Old Moon.
"I am of the Sun Moon Empire. We possess the most advanced soul tool technology in the world. We are the ones leading the progress of human civilization! A single ninth-tier fixed-mounted soul cannonball is equivalent to the full-force strike of a Title Douluo! Our steps already reach toward the heavens. We shall one day conquer the entire Douluo Continent! If we begin striving for that future now, then at the very least we will see that day one day sooner than if we waited until tomorrow."
Her words cast the surrounding ferocious beasts into silence. Only the Three-Eyed Golden Lion tilted its head up at her and said:
"You are a good human! Stay here. I will keep you."
"Indeed, you are the most remarkable human I have ever seen." Bi Ji nodded in agreement with the Golden Lion, but then turned and added:
"However, Auspicious Beast—she cannot stay here."
"Why not?" the Golden Lion asked in puzzlement.
Di Tian replied,
"To achieve her goal, her world cannot be confined to the Star Dou Forest."
He then looked back at Jiang Qingtong.
"Human, I know of the strife between the Sun Moon Empire and the three kingdoms of the Douluo Continent. For someone of your standing in the Sun Moon Empire to come here to Shrek Academy… surely you have deeper motives?"
After all, Di Tian had personally witnessed the war between the Sun Moon Empire and the continent's nations alongside Shrek Academy. He knew the animosity between them ran deep.
"To know your enemy and know yourself is the only path to certain victory." Jiang Qingtong answered with eight steady words.
Di Tian regarded her for a long moment. At last he nodded.
"You are right. Only by thoroughly understanding humans can we hope to defeat them. Let us cooperate, human."
"Di Tian?"
Both Bi Ji and the Scarlet King widened their eyes in disbelief. To hear Di Tian—the Beast God—offer cooperation to a human girl? Unthinkable! Even the Limit Douluo of Shrek Academy had never been treated with such courtesy.
"Your research cannot continue without the aid of soul beasts. I have been to the Sun Moon Empire—the quality of its soul beasts cannot compare to that of the Star Dou Forest." With just a few words from Jiang Qingtong, Di Tian had already deduced some of the difficulties they faced.
Spirit rings came from soul beasts. Without their support, how could such research succeed?
"Work with me," Di Tian said, locking eyes with her. "You and I can each take what we need."
Jiang Qingtong's heart leapt with joy at his words. She was about to agree when she suddenly felt a crushing pressure descend upon her shoulders, weighing her down.
At the same time, she saw Di Tian, Bi Ji, and the others stiffen and turn toward the Lake of Life. They bent low in a deep bow.
"Master!" they intoned.
Master?
Jiang Qingtong blinked in surprise. Then she understood. Their "master" could only be half of the Dragon God—the Silver Dragon King herself! She was sleeping and recovering beneath the Lake of Life. That immense pressure just now—it was from her!
Jiang Qingtong frowned as she watched. Di Tian and the others seemed to be listening to words only they could hear, their faces solemn as they nodded repeatedly. Then Di Tian straightened and turned back to her.
"Our Master wishes to see you."
"See me?" Jiang Qingtong was stunned. Why would the Silver Dragon King want to meet her? She hadn't stirred even when Huo Yuhao had seized away fortune and destiny itself. Would she really appear over Jiang Qingtong's cooperation with Di Tian?
As the final trump card of the soul beasts, by all rights the Silver Dragon King should have had no reason to pay any attention to her at all.
Di Tian's brows furrowed at her reaction.
"You don't seem very surprised at our Master's existence… You—already know of her? Did the god who chose you tell you this?"
Jiang Qingtong hastily waved her hands and shook her head.
"No, no, no! I'm very surprised—super surprised!"
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