"Your Majesty!" Di Tian flew anxiously into the Lake of Life.
He and Tianlin had sensed the fierce battle from outside the forest and rushed at full speed, but still arrived a step too late.
The Lake of Life was in ruins. The Silver Dragon King lay on the central island, her once-bright silver scales now dull, even emitting purple poison.
"Di Tian, you're back? Good, then I'm at ease. From now on, the Star Dou Great Forest and all soul beasts are yours to lead," the Silver Dragon King said weakly, unable to open her eyes but recognizing Di Tian's voice.
"No!" Di Tian shook his head desperately. "Your Majesty, we need you. The soul beasts need you. You can't die! Bi Ji, heal her, quick!"
"I… I've exhausted my soul power, and it's no use on her." Bi Ji's voice was hoarse and powerless—she was spent.
"Di Tian, let me try. Eighth Soul Skill: Extreme Curse – Return of Yin and Yang!" Tianlin immediately used his healing skill. The Silver Dragon King's surface wounds and the poison began to heal and dissipate at a visible rate.
Di Tian was overjoyed. "It's working. As expected of a god-level martial soul."
But Tianlin showed no joy. "Di Tian, my skill only heals surface wounds. The Evil Spirit Pearl's aura is still inside her. I can't expel it. My sword's power can't reach her inner injuries."
As he finished speaking, the Silver Dragon King's wounds reopened, the poison spreading again. As long as the Evil Spirit Pearl's aura remained, her body would be relentlessly destroyed, just like the third elder before—only death awaited.
Unless the Silver Dragon King could absorb the Thunder Spirit Pearl as Tianlin had, she would never rid herself of the evil aura. But in this world, only Tianlin could do that.
"I sense this power… You're here too, human?" Although she couldn't be saved, the Silver Dragon King felt somewhat better, at least able to open her eyes and see Tianlin.
Though ruler of all soul beasts, she was still a female dragon and hadn't forgotten when Tianlin flirted with her years ago.
"You're here for the Thunder Spirit Pearl, right? Fine, I can't use it now. You can take it. But I'm breaking my promise—I said I'd help you, but now I'm dying," she said with a bitter smile.
Tianlin retrieved the Thunder Spirit Pearl. "Thank you for sending Di Tian to help me before. If not for the Demon-Suppressing Sword, I would have lost that battle."
"That was your own thing. I was just returning it. No need for thanks." The Silver Dragon King said calmly. "But, human, if you feel any gratitude toward me, please protect the soul beasts in the future."
Tianlin looked at the pleading Silver Dragon King. He knew how desperate she was. With her death, the soul beasts would have no hope of rising again. They faced extinction, so she could only beg the human she'd always hated.
Tianlin was powerful. Once he became a god, he would be among the strongest. If he would speak up for soul beasts, perhaps they could survive a little longer.
Looking at the dying Silver Dragon King, Tianlin made a decision. He pressed his forehead to her dragon head.
"Soul bone skill: Future Sight. Soul bone skill: Soul Reading."
Tianlin's skull skills let him see the future and share his memories.
He showed the Silver Dragon King the future of the soul beasts: ten thousand years later, human technology would advance rapidly. New soul tool mechas would outmatch even Di Tian. Soul beasts would be slaughtered nearly to extinction, with only a tiny core of the Star Dou Great Forest remaining. Only a few top soul beasts would survive.
That was the original future. If Tianlin unified the continent, human progress would only accelerate, and the soul beasts' doom would come even sooner.
"These… What is this? How could our future be like this?" The Silver Dragon King roared in anger and despair.
"Your Majesty, what's wrong?" Di Tian and the others asked urgently, glaring at Tianlin. "What did you show her?"
"The soul beasts' tragic future," Tianlin said coldly.
"Silver Dragon King, you see? This is the fate destined for you soul beasts. I alone cannot change it." Tianlin's words sounded cold and heartless.
The Silver Dragon King spat out blood—the anger only worsened her injuries.
"Why show me this? Just to make me die with regrets?" she cried in sorrow.
"Silver Dragon King, I won't help soul beasts fight humans, but I'll do my best to find a path for soul beasts and soul masters to coexist. I already have a plan, but I can only represent the human side—the soul beast side needs you. You still owe me a promise. Will you do this with me?"
Tianlin's Holy Emperor Seal shone with divine light. "If you help me, I swear by the name of the Holy Emperor to give your people a future."
"Holy Emperor!" The Silver Dragon King's pupils shrank. As one of the Dragon God's two avatars, she knew the hierarchy of the gods well. Tianlin's god position was terrifying—even stronger than the Dragon God.
A beam of light from the Holy Emperor Seal entered her brow. Through the soul reading, she understood Tianlin's plan. It sounded unrealistic, but she was excited. Even the five God Kings couldn't do it, but the Holy Emperor could.
"Human, you want my help, but I'm dying. The only way is to sacrifice myself and become your companion soul beast. But, my identity is too special. The god realm won't accept me. You'd be making yourself an enemy of all the gods. Are you prepared for that?" the Silver Dragon King asked.
"Besides being the Holy Emperor, I'll be the new God of Asura, in charge of law. Justice is law's core. The current laws are unfair to soul beasts. I'll change that. If other gods try to stop me, I'll defeat them one by one," Tianlin said confidently.
"Fine. You are Emperor, I am King. If you have that resolve, I'll bet everything with you," the Silver Dragon King said. She was desperate anyway. Rather than watch her people face extinction, she'd gamble on Tianlin.
She believed the Holy Emperor and Asura God's power could change everything. Once she became a god beast, her strength would surpass even the God Kings.
"Don't worry, Silver Dragon King. Honestly, I just want your power. As long as I get your soul rings and soul bones, I won't break my word." Tianlin promised. Not a grand ideal—just his true thoughts.
The Silver Dragon King felt more at ease with this answer. Compared to empty promises, this practical exchange reassured her.