"Alright."
Bi Ji still agreed.
She too could hardly imagine that a mere youth like Su Wen would dare to play tricks in front of Di Tian, her, and several other great beasts.
"Scarlet King, summon Bi Ling, and bring all the clan members."
Bi Ji spoke after a pause.
The Emerald Swan clan lived in the deepest core of the Star Dou Great Forest. Soon, a flock of noble, elegant swans arrived. Around their necks was a ring of snowy-white feathers, while from their wing roots to their tails the color deepened into a rich green, like jade.
It was obvious that under Bi Ji's protection, the Emerald Swans had lived very comfortably.
"Clan leader."
The lead swan bowed respectfully.
"Mhm. Is there anyone among you willing to offer yourselves as sacrifice to him?" Bi Ji smiled warmly, pointing at Su Wen.
"Sacrifice?!" The swans were bewildered.
"If the clan leader asks me to sacrifice, then I will." Bi Ling gritted her teeth.
"No. I don't want you to sacrifice. But he saved the Auspicious Beast, and his condition was to have a clansman of at least ten-thousand-year cultivation. If you wish to offer yourselves, you may. If not, no one will force you." Bi Ji smiled gently.
"That…" Bi Ling opened her mouth to refuse.
Nonsense — with their long lifespans ahead, who would willingly throw it away to sacrifice themselves for a human?
"Wait."
Su Wen interrupted Bi Ling, drawing all eyes toward him.
"Hmph. Human, stop dreaming. Our Emerald Swan clan will never sacrifice for you. Even a dog wouldn't…" Bi Ling glared coldly at Su Wen.
For soul beasts, "sacrifice" was never a good word.
Scarlet King, however, curled his lip, feeling somewhat offended.
"First, let me clarify — this isn't sacrifice. It's coexistence." Su Wen smiled.
He clapped his hands.
Gale, Little Gold, and Ice Emperor appeared beside him.
"These are all my martial souls." Su Wen flipped his wrist, and a purple sphere appeared in his palm.
"Whenever I advance, I don't gain soul rings — I gain soul beasts."
"Each of them has an independent consciousness. They are not my puppets."
Bi Ji's eyes lit with realization, her expression softening slightly.
But… only slightly.
"Come with me."
Su Wen waved his hand. The purple spirit ball drew the beasts inside, revealing a hidden inner world. The sight stunned them — every beast had its own suitable terrain, there was visible healing energy, and their cultivation speed rose before their eyes. In just a few minutes, their initial scorn turned into gradual awe.
And most incredible of all — their cultivation was linked to Su Wen's.
And Su Wen was a human!
A natural-born spirit.
His cultivation speed left soul beasts in the dust, easily over a hundred times faster.
Though human lives were short, if they could use that fleeting brilliance to break through the ten-thousand-year or even hundred-thousand-year threshold, and shine so brightly — perhaps it was worth it.
"Moreover… my talent ranks among the greatest in human history. Which means I have a real chance to become a god." Su Wen spoke slowly.
"Hiss…"
Bi Ling gasped.
Becoming a god? If he succeeded, they too could ascend with him to the God Realm, enjoying eternal life?
It was like the last missing piece had fallen into place.
Even Bi Ji felt her heart stir.
That was godhood.
Beasts had always been shackled, unable to ascend, unable to become gods. Many had taken human form to evade this rule, but none had succeeded. The only one with hope — a man who ascended ten thousand years ago — had never truly become a god.
"Hm? Why do your soul beasts show anomalies? It's as if their bloodlines themselves have transformed."
Di Tian asked in surprise.
He stared especially at Ice Emperor and Gale.
He had seen the Ice Jade Empress Scorpion before — though how this youth advanced it in just a few thousand years was baffling. But that Wind Baboon… that was strange indeed. By all rights, it should have been one of the forest's weakest creatures, yet now it seemed to have broken through its bloodline shackles.
"Oh, I almost forgot to mention one last thing."
Su Wen patted his head, smiling.
"As my strength rises, all contracted soul beasts evolve alongside me. Gale was once just an ordinary Wind Baboon — this is its second form. Ice Emperor too evolved, from an Ice Jade Scorpion into the Ice Jade Emperor Scorpion."
"…"
The air froze.
Di Tian's throat moved.
"Evolution?"
"Exactly. Any soul beast contracted with me has multiple forms. Each time I reach a certain stage, they all evolve together."
"And me?" Di Tian couldn't help asking.
"In theory, yes. Your current state would be your initial form. With my growth, who knows what you could evolve into… not even I can predict that."
The beasts: "…"
Scarlet King muttered, "This is making me want to join…"
"What could a Three-Headed Scarlet Devil Mastiff evolve into, a Nine-Headed Hellhound?" Bear Lord scoffed. "That's nothing compared to our Titan Giant Ape or Dark Gold Dreadclaw Bear's Behemoth bloodline."
As he spoke, Bear Lord glanced at Little Gold, his eyes flashing with complex emotions.
What luck, little one.
Not just him — even the other fierce beasts were tempted.
Reaching their current cultivation, every further step was as hard as ascending the heavens. Each hundred-thousand-year tribulation was like a death warrant; fail it, and they'd perish in this forest.
The power to evolve their bloodlines was terrifying.
If it could go further…
"Well then, everyone, I can take responsibility for my words. If I've spoken even half a lie, Di Tian, you may come to Shrek Academy to seek me out."
Su Wen smiled brightly.
"So now — any Emerald Swans willing to join me?"
"I!!!"
Bi Ling stepped forward. "I want to join!"
"…Didn't you just say…" The surrounding swans were stunned.
"A dog won't sacrifice, but I will! I'll devote myself to this human!" Bi Ling said solemnly.
"No. You're lacking." Su Wen shook his head, dismissing her. Her talent level of five was decent, but he already had a teammate with a level seven.
"Now, it's my turn to choose…"
"You. Yes, you." Su Wen pointed at a plain-looking Emerald Swan.
Because of their unique talent, Emerald Swans cultivated extremely fast. Under Bi Ji's protection, ten-thousand-year swans had become common in recent years. Though none had reached a hundred thousand, among so many, one ordinary ten-thousand-year swan seemed unremarkable.
"Me?!"
The chosen swan was dumbfounded, almost flustered with surprise.
"Willing?" Su Wen asked.
"Y-yes, yes!" The swan nodded eagerly.
"Then come, Emerald Swan!" Su Wen tossed a black spirit ball.
A pillar of light shot into the sky.
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