On the way to the Great Ferocious Land, Di Tian remained silent, clearly deep in thought.
Only when they reached the Lake of Life did he finally stop.
"Next, you will meet the most exalted existence among soul beasts," Di Tian said coldly. "Do not speak a single lie. Show proper respect. Understood?"
"Understood."
Bai Chen nodded.
Di Tian seemed satisfied. Turning toward the Lake of Life, he extended his hand above the water. Threads of black energy drifted from his palm and merged into the lake.
Ripples spread across the surface.
Then—
With a deep rumble, a massive silver dragon head rose from the water.
The radiant silver dragon looked down upon Di Tian.
"Di Tian. I told you not to wake me without urgent cause. What has happened?"
As the Silver Dragon King's majestic form appeared, the Bai Chen of the Douluo III timeline subconsciously glanced at the silver-haired girl resting against his shoulder.
He poked her cheek lightly.
She let out a soft murmur, curling up instinctively, looking even smaller and cuter.
If one didn't know the plot, it would be impossible to connect this fragile girl to the awe-inspiring dragon before him.
Back in Douluo I, Di Tian began explaining everything.
The Silver Dragon King listened patiently.
By the end, her gaze turned strange.
She shifted her attention to Bai Chen.
"Human. Come here."
Bai Chen obediently stepped forward.
Her gaze swept over him twice.
"There is indeed a peculiar and profound spatial-temporal force surrounding him. It seems he did not lie."
Di Tian asked, "My Lord, can you control this temporal power?"
"No."
She shook her head.
"The level of this force is extremely high. I can perceive it only upon close inspection. To wield it is impossible."
After answering Di Tian, she turned back to Bai Chen.
"Child. Tell me in detail about the future. I wish to know how soul beasts are driven to near extinction."
"Alright."
Bai Chen agreed without hesitation.
"To understand the reversal between humans and soul beasts, we must begin six thousand years from now…"
The conflict between humans and soul beasts was ancient—mutual predation since their birth.
For most of history, humans were at a severe disadvantage.
Take Bai Chen's current era.
Humans didn't even know the Great Ferocious Land existed.
Without divine intervention, Star Dou truly could have unleashed a beast tide and wiped out humanity.
And yet—
In just twenty thousand years, soul beasts would be pushed to the brink.
Twenty thousand years may sound long.
In the river of Douluo's history, it was but a short segment.
Two primary reasons explained humanity's rapid dominance.
First — The Rise of Soul Tools
In Douluo I, soul tools were ancient relics.
After the collision between the Douluo Continent and the Sun-Moon Continent, soul tools became manufacturable.
This technological revolution drastically amplified overall human strength.
Second — The Leap in Soul Master Cultivation
From Douluo I to III, cultivation methods and resources evolved continuously.
Overall human peak combat power steadily rose.
In Douluo I:
Bo Saixi remained isolated on Sea God Island.
Tang Chen was controlled by the Slaughter King.
Qian Daoliu was the only active Limit Douluo on the mainland.
Against Di Tian and the ferocious beasts—
Humans had no chance.
By Douluo III:
Yun Ming and Chen Xinjie existed at Di Tian's level.
The number of Limit Douluo exploded.
Even without technology, humanity surpassed soul beasts in raw power.
"In the end," Bai Chen concluded, "the fundamental issue is intelligence."
To put it bluntly—
Soul beasts are generally not as clever.
What humans achieve in ten years of growth, soul beasts require a hundred thousand years to approximate.
The time gap is devastating.
Human advancements—technology, cultivation theory—accumulate across generations.
Soul beasts, requiring immense time to gain wisdom, cannot keep pace.
Their defeat was, in many ways, inevitable.
"And what would you do?" the Silver Dragon King asked calmly.
"If you were to save soul beasts, what solution do you propose?"
"Ascend to godhood," Bai Chen answered without hesitation.
"Using absolute power to save soul beasts."
"According to legends from twenty thousand years later, Spirit Ice Douluo Huo Yuhao ascended by relying on the million-year soul beast Tianmeng Iceworm. I believe I possess similar potential."
"Oh?"
The Silver Dragon King smiled faintly.
"So you intend for me to gift you the Iceworm? The dagger finally revealed."
"Not a gift," Bai Chen corrected.
"An exchange."
"I will use Tianmeng Iceworm's power to ascend. In return, I will repay soul beasts."
"Before ascension, I will also share future human technologies—allowing soul beasts to utilize tools that once suppressed them."
"Interesting."
She chuckled softly.
"Di Tian. Take this human to the Iceworm."
"My Lord… is that wise?" Di Tian hesitated.
Tianmeng Iceworm was a true treasure—even among ferocious beasts.
To relinquish it so easily…
He felt reluctant.
The Silver Dragon King replied calmly,
"If in his vision of the future we still reach extinction, then our current path is flawed. We must try another."
She glanced at the Three-Eyed Golden Lion, smiling faintly.
"And besides… we were already considering extending his lifespan."
"To extend a human's life, we must first increase his strength. Is that not so?"
After a brief silence—
"…Understood."
Di Tian nodded.
He patted Bai Chen's head.
"Come, boy. I'll take you to meet the Tianmeng Iceworm you spoke of."
"Alright!"
Bai Chen could not hide his excitement.
He had assumed awakening the Three-Eyed Golden Lion in Douluo I meant losing any chance at Tianmeng Iceworm.
In this era, the Iceworm had not yet escaped the ferocious beasts.
Approaching it should have been impossible.
Yet—
In a single night—
Everything had changed.