// Wishing all my wonderful readers a very Merry Christmas! May this holiday season bring you warmth, joy, and countless moments of happiness with those you hold dear!
Word Count: 2,900 Words
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"So eager for revenge, even with your wounds unhealed?"
Ling Bai felt surprisingly calm facing this 100,000-year super evil spirit beast for the second time, so calm, in fact, that he even had the leisure to tease it.
"All thanks to you."
The Dark Demon Evil God Tiger ground its jagged fangs. Once struck by the Eternal Scar, Ultimate Death would spread endlessly. Even a being as powerful as itself could only fight to delay the inevitable.
It had gathered its evil spirit beast companions and minions to return to the Star Dou Forest at any cost. Its sole purpose was to devour the Emperor Destiny Beast's power of destiny and force Star Dou's Great Beasts to surrender the Lake of Life.
Life and death existed in perfect opposition. The Life Gold at the lake's spring heart was the only thing capable of halting the Eternal Scar's corruption.
Encountering Ling Bai here was an unexpected bonus, the perfect opportunity to settle old and new scores together!
When enemies meet, tempers flare. The Three Mutant Wolf Apes activated their three-in-one fusion skill while the Emerald Demon Bird and Soul Devouring Spider Emperor flanked the tiger. The Dark Demon Evil God Tiger's tail curled high, its Evil God Hook gleaming as it sneered:
"Enough talk. We're on a schedule. Call out that useless dragon of yours."
"A real tough guy, aren't you?"
Ling Bai suddenly felt a flicker of genuine respect for the Dark Demon Evil God Tiger. He flashed a grin at Ling Qiuxi:
"You want to call, or should I?"
"I will."
Ling Qiuxi was a woman of few words but decisive action. She gripped the Golden Dragon Spear tightly and stabbed its tip hard into the Black Dragon's Reverse Scale she wore!
BOOM—
A dragon roar erupted like thunder. The sky underwent a dramatic transformation as dark clouds shrouded the entire Star Dou Forest. A deep black hole tore open behind Ling Qiuxi, and a pitch-black dragon head as massive as a mountain emerged. The moment its golden eyes flashed, the Darkness Domain shattered instantly.
"Holy shit, Di Tian!"
The Dark Demon Evil God Tiger recoiled in absolute horror, its spine arching high like a startled cat. The gaze it cast toward Ling Bai overflowed with disbelief.
The useless dragon I meant was the Bone Dragon!
Not the fucking Golden Eyed Black Dragon King!!!
The Golden Eyed Black Dragon King's true body stretched as vast as a mountain range, extending beyond sight. Di Tian peered down at the assembled spirit beasts with cold contempt:
"Dark Demon Evil God Tiger, Soul Devouring Spider Emperor, Emerald Demon Bird, and three pieces of trash…
You dare harm my Star Dou's Destiny Beast? You're courting death!"
A torrent of black dragon flames erupted from Di Tian's maw. The three 100,000-year spirit beasts barely managed to huddle together in defense, but the pitiful Three Mutant Wolf Apes were instantly incinerated to ash, leaving behind only their spirit rings and three 10,000-year spirit bones.
The Three Mutant Wolf Apes had been Star Dou natives before becoming the Dark Demon Evil God Tiger's underlings. They had thought they could at least drink the soup while the three great beasts ate the meat, but Di Tian had flipped the table from the start, scattering even their ashes to the wind!
"You lying bastard! You said the Darkness Domain would keep Di Tian from finding us!"
The Emerald Demon Bird shrieked, beating its wings to whip up emerald cyclones against the dragonfire.
The Dark Demon Evil God Tiger bellowed in fury, remembering Ling Qiuxi's early actions. "I miscalculated! The Emperor Destiny Beast carries the Black Dragon's Reverse Scale. If she faces mortal danger, Di Tian can tear through space and descend from anywhere! The Darkness Domain can't stop him!"
While Di Tian battered the three 100,000-year beasts into submission, Ling Bai sat comfortably with an arm around Ling Qiuxi, watching like spectators at a fishing pier:
"Old Tiger, you really underestimated Star Dou.
Spirit beasts can't keep eating losses forever; eat enough and even they'll eventually wise up.
But you're quite the... generous beast, actually. Bringing your brothers here as a delivery service."
"Seraphim, I will definitely kill you!!!"
The Dark Demon Evil God Tiger's eyes blazed crimson. It seized an opportunity and unleashed torrents of Dark Demon Evil God Thunder as if they cost nothing.
"ROAR—"
The Spectral Gate opened wide before Ling Bai, and the Death Abyss Bone Dragon emerged to perfectly shield the pair. The bone dragon's eyes gleamed with cunning at the Dark Demon Evil God Tiger's desperate state. It immediately followed Di Tian's example, kicking the tiger while it was down by spitting out its own mouthful of dragon flame.
The bone dragon's fire couldn't compare to Di Tian's, but it was the straw that broke the camel's back. The trio's defenses collapsed entirely, leaving them writhing in the hellish mixture of Ultimate Death and Ultimate Darkness.
The Soul Devouring Spider Emperor's eight legs turned a well-done orange-red as it scrabbled frantically and roared:
"Dark Demon Evil God Tiger, it's hopeless! Get us out of here!"
"Go!"
The Evil God Hook wrapped around the Soul Devouring Spider Emperor while the Emerald Demon Bird transformed into a streak of emerald light, landing atop the Dark Demon Evil God Tiger's head. Its face twisted with unwillingness as it spat out a final threat: "You all remember this! I'll be back!"
With that, the Dark Demon Evil God Tiger's body grew increasingly translucent as it attempted to activate a secret technique to escape the Star Dou Forest.
"Escape?"
Di Tian raised a bright silver dragon scale, pouring darkness spirit power from his Yin-Yang Complement twin spirit cores into it. "In the name of my Lord, Elemental Seal!"
A void-like silver barrier rose, covering the vast expanse of the Star Dou Forest. The Dark Demon Evil God Tiger crashed headfirst into it, seeing stars. It shook its dazed head, and its heart turned cold upon seeing the elemental seal locking down Star Dou's spatial boundaries.
At the same moment, several figures rushed toward them at incredible speed. Leading the charge was a massive dark-gold bear!
The Dark Gold Terror Claw Bear King, Xiong Jun!
"Dark Demon Evil God Tiger, if you escape today, this king will change his surname to Pig!"
Dark golden light erupted as each of Xiong Jun's claws transformed into dark golden blades over a hundred meters long. Wherever the Dark Gold Terror Claws passed, space tore like fragile paper. Distant howls echoed from within the rifts, and faint starlight could be glimpsed in the depths.
Xiong Jun's signature technique, Sky Splitting Claw!
"Evil God Protection!"
The Dark Demon Evil God Tiger still refused to surrender. It activated the evil god bloodline within its body to release a barrier comparable to the Invincible Barrier.
SCREECH! SCREECH! SCREECH!
The Sky Splitting Claw savagely tore at the Evil God Protection, producing sharp, teeth-grinding sounds. The 100,000-year Emerald Demon Bird and Soul Devouring Spider Emperor were nearly paralyzed with fear, for Xiong Jun wasn't alone.
Strange trees burst from the ground, their countless eerie eyes firing endless yellow-green beams. It was the Monster Eyed Tree, Myriad Demon King!
The Three-Headed Scarlet Devil Mastiff opened all three mouths simultaneously, pouring forth hellfire without reservation. Bi Ji, Zi Ji, and Yao Ling also arrived.
Seven of the continent's Ten Great Beasts!
To exterminate the 100,000-year Dark Demon Evil God Tiger, the Great Beasts of the Star Dou Forest had gathered in force.
"AAAHHH—"
The Evil God Protection shattered into fragments. The first to fall was the Emerald Demon Bird with its weak defenses. Xiong Jun's Dark Gold Terror Claw sliced it into eight pieces, and a blood-red spirit ring rose from its remains.
The Soul Devouring Spider Emperor lasted only two and a half seconds longer. Countless branches bound its eight legs and massive disc-shaped body, pinning it firmly against a giant tree.
"Di Tian, let me go! I swear by the Evil God, I'll never harbor another thought about the Emperor Destiny Beast!"
At death's door, the Dark Demon Evil God Tiger finally surrendered, panting heavily as it bowed its head to Di Tian.
Di Tian stood at the center of Star Dou's Great Beasts, unmoved. "Dark Demon Evil God Tiger, only your death will put our minds at ease."
"Don't force me! I have the power to take any one of you down with me, including you!"
"Life and Death Arena? Indeed a unique Innate Spirit Skill. Feel free to try!"
The Golden Eyed Black Dragon King slowly raised his claw. The pitch-black dragon claw shimmered with a magnificent seven-colored radiance. The Dark Demon Evil God Tiger trembled violently, a fear rising from its very soul that even its evil god bloodline couldn't resist.
Dragon God's Claw!
The agitated spirit beasts of the Star Dou Forest fell silent the moment Di Tian revealed the Dragon God's Claw. One by one, they prostrated themselves on the ground. Even the Great Beasts knelt on one knee in submission.
To humans, the Dragon God's Claw might seem no different from any other powerful spirit skill. But to spirit beasts, it was something else entirely.
The Dragon God's Claw had been personally bestowed upon Di Tian by the Dragon God himself and carried the aura of the spirit beasts' sovereign. When the Dragon God appeared, all beasts submitted.
"I refuse to accept this! I possess the world's supreme bloodline! The Emperor Destiny Beast is inferior to me, and so are you! Why, why must you all stop me...
I was born to be an Evil God!"
The Dark Demon Evil God Tiger lost its mind in the face of imminent death. It howled and lunged at the Dragon God's Claw. Di Tian snorted coldly. Black lightning flashed across the sky as the Dragon God's Claw made a distant grasping motion. Amid the tiger's agonized screams, countless tearing wounds spread rapidly across its body.
Di Tian transformed into his human form and descended to earth, holding the unconscious Dark Demon Evil God Tiger suspended in midair.
"Uncle Di Tian!"
While the world feared Beast God Di Tian, Ling Qiuxi never had. After more than ten thousand years together, he was like a father to her. She ran forward, beaming with joy.
Di Tian smiled and ruffled her hair. "Sneaking out again without permission. You're lucky you had the Black Dragon's Reverse Scale to save your little life."
"I'm sorry. I was afraid you wouldn't let me leave," Ling Qiuxi apologized, lowering her eyes.
Di Tian's gaze shifted to Ling Bai, and cross-shaped veins instantly bulged on his forehead. "How much love potion did he feed you to make you transform and leave the Star Dou Forest? All humans are bad people!"
Ling Qiuxi immediately stepped back at those words, avoiding Di Tian's hand. She tilted her chin up stubbornly:
"Uncle Di Tian, you don't understand him. He's not a bad person at all!"
"Destiny Beast, you..."
Di Tian felt a stabbing pain in his liver. Like an old father who had raised his daughter with his own hands, he had watched her grow from a child into a beautiful young maiden. For ten thousand years he had nurtured this flower, only for someone to come and take it away, pot and all!
He had no desire to understand Ling Bai. He only wanted to end Ling Bai!
[TL/N: This is a pun. "Understand" is 了解 (liǎojiě) and "end" is 了结 (liǎojié). They sound very similar.]
"Hey, you blondie!"
"Huh? Me?"
Ling Bai pointed at himself in confusion, sensing the intense malice in that form of address.
Di Tian shot him a sidelong glance. "Who else? Is there another blond-haired fellow in the Star Dou Forest?"
"...Senior speaks truly."
"Let's have a private chat. About the Destiny Beast!"
The last four words came out through gritted teeth. Di Tian's face twisted grotesquely, and for a moment, Ling Bai thought he saw a black-smoke-breathing evil dragon.
Then, like a master of face-changing, Di Tian's expression softened as he turned to Ling Qiuxi. "Destiny Beast, Auntie Bi Ji misses you very much. Go keep her company for a while!"
"Mm, don't be too hard on him."
Ling Qiuxi requested before reluctantly leaving to find the Emerald Swan, Bi Ji, looking back every few steps.
"You, come with me!"
Di Tian ground out through clenched teeth.
Ling Bai nodded, then suddenly remembered something and asked tentatively, "Senior, will my Bone Dragon be safe here?"
Di Tian's fist tightened. "Your Bone Dragon should be safer than you."
Cold sweat immediately drenched Ling Bai's back. An old father who's lost his precious daughter… can't afford to provoke, really can't afford to provoke!
Di Tian led Ling Bai to the Lake of Life. A gentle breeze rippled across the emerald waters, and the life essence in the air refreshed both body and spirit.
In the eyes of the continent's Spirit Masters, the great ominous land in the core of the Star Dou Forest was supposed to be a dark and gloomy place that never saw the light of day. Who could have imagined such a beautiful scene brimming with vitality?
Di Tian dropped the Dark Demon Evil God Tiger and gazed at the lake's center to calm his emotions. After a long moment, he finally spoke:
"The Destiny Beast is stubborn. Once she sets her mind on something, she never turns back. She carries Star Dou's destiny, so naturally, I didn't want her leaving the forest. I could control her for a time, but not forever. Eventually, she took advantage of my inattention, transformed into a human, and went to find you.
You once did the Destiny Beast a favor, and Star Dou a favor. I gave you a Black Dragon Scale and promised you one request, so I won't harm you. I also don't want to make the Destiny Beast sad. But you must make me a promise."
"Please speak, Senior."
"Take good care of the Destiny Beast. With the Black Dragon's Reverse Scale, no one in this world can harm her physically. But she's inexperienced and pure-hearted. If you break her heart, I will certainly visit Shrek Academy to demand answers from your teachers. From that day forward, I will consider you Star Dou's mortal enemy!"
Uh…
Ling Bai blinked. It seemed Di Tian still thought he was a Shrek student...
"I promise, Senior Di Tian."
"There's one more thing."
Di Tian clasped his hands behind his back. "Now that the Destiny Beast has transformed, her lifespan will be as short as a human's. You've changed her destiny, so you must bear this responsibility.
'Those not of our kind will surely have different hearts.' If this were the old me, I would never allow the Destiny Beast to be with a human. But I'll give you one chance.
Become a God."
His gaze burned into Ling Bai. "When we last met, you were Rank 60. Now you're already Rank 80.
What takes our spirit beast race tens of thousands of years of bitter cultivation...
You've accomplished in just a few scant years.
Humans truly are life forms blessed by heaven and earth. But even in human history, I doubt there has ever been a genius like you. Even those who became Gods ten thousand years ago couldn't compare.
With your talent, you have a chance to reach the Divine Realm."
In another timeline, Huo Yuhao had carried the Star Dou Forest's destiny. Di Tian, unwilling to let the fate of spirit beasts remain forever in human hands, had done everything to prevent Huo Yuhao from becoming a God.
Ling Bai's situation was completely different. Star Dou's destiny still rested with Ling Qiuxi. If Ling Bai became a God, he could bring her along. Di Tian held a father's love for Ling Qiuxi and hoped for her future happiness.
"If it's just about becoming a God, Senior Di Tian needn't worry."
The Rakshasa Mark flashed briefly on Ling Bai's forehead.
"A God Position Inheritance!"
Di Tian's pupils constricted. "You… you've already received a God's favor!"
At that same moment, turbulent undercurrents stirred beneath the Lake of Life.
A genius and a God's chosen successor were two entirely different concepts. Ling Bai's status shot up in Di Tian's heart. Suddenly, he found the boy much more pleasing to the eye.
A Star Dou son-in-law!
"In that case…"
Di Tian coughed lightly, suppressing his excitement and struggling to maintain the imposing manner of the continent's number one Great Beast. "If you need anything in the future, you can come find me in the Star Dou Forest.
When you become a God, don't forget Star Dou's kindness. Personally, I think the Divine Realm is too tyrannical in not allowing spirit beasts to become Gods. Perhaps that could be changed…
And this title of mine, 'Beast God'… it doesn't quite live up to reality. Ahem!"
Hint ✗
Obvious hint ✓
"Senior speaks wisely. The Divine Realm is indeed lacking a proper Beast God."
Ling Bai smoothly replied, already beginning to lay the foundations for the Star Dou Forest's spirit beast faith. Man and beast looked at each other and smiled meaningfully.
"By the way, Senior, my Seraphim Martial Spirit needs an eighth spirit ring," Ling Bai said, his expression suddenly turning bashful.
Di Tian paused, a flicker of suspicion in his eyes. He smelled a conspiracy. "So you..."
"I must say, Brother Scarlet King still has his charm!"