[TL/N: Xiao Hei will be changed to Little Black. Also, I'm planning to rename the Thundercliff Armor. Feel free to offer suggestions for the new name for this earth-attribute armor.]
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"Do you think I need to deceive you? If I wanted to act against you, no one here could stop me."
Lin Mu stepped forward, his calm gaze fixed on Bi Ji's exquisite face.
Startled by his sudden approach, Bi Ji instinctively took a few steps back. Her beautiful eyes filled with resentment as she glared at the bastard before her.
Still, this man had kept his promise and truly preserved Zi Ji's soul.
In the past, when her people had been slain, she had hated Lin Mu to the core. But now, her opinion of him had changed slightly.
If he was truly willing to maintain balance between humans and soul beasts, then perhaps the peaceful coexistence she longed for might really be possible.
The only problem was that this man would never truly stand on the side of the soul beasts.
At that moment, seeing that Zi Ji had successfully become Lin Mu's soul spirit, Di Tian spoke.
"Lin Mu, are you still lacking soul spirits?"
"I am still short a few. Are you interested?"
Lin Mu looked at Di Tian intently. Although Di Tian's attributes were not a perfect match for his own, there was no questioning his quality. If Di Tian could become one of his soul spirits, Lin Mu's strength would undoubtedly rise again.
Even if he was incompatible with Thunder Atlas Armor, that did not mean he was unsuitable for the Asura Armor.
That said, it was still uncertain whether the Asura Armor could even be used as a martial soul.
After all, Thunder Atlas Armor and the four other elemental armors belonged to the same system, while the Asura Armor was something entirely different.
It might simply remain an ordinary summoned armor, or perhaps it could become another martial soul altogether.
Seeing the light in Lin Mu's eyes, Di Tian's lips twitched slightly. This fellow was actually planning to take him in as a soul spirit as well, truly taking advantage of every opportunity.
Though he did envy the chance to become a god and gain greater power, he had no intention of submitting to Lin Mu, at least not for now.
As long as his lord fully recovered, the soul beast race would still have hope.
The reason he had allowed these ferocious beasts to become soul spirits was mainly to prepare for both possibilities.
"Lin Mu, there are still many hundred-thousand-year soul beasts in the Star Dou Great Forest. I can have them voluntarily become your soul spirits," Di Tian suggested.
Since becoming Lin Mu's soul spirits would grant them the qualification to enter the God Realm, it would be better to choose hundred-thousand-year soul beasts from the Star Dou Great Forest.
That way, once they became gods, the soul beast race would also have some say in the God Realm.
Moreover, this would do Lin Mu a favor. Once he reached Level 100 and ascended to godhood, he would certainly be able to secure a place there.
"That would save me a great deal of time."
Lin Mu stroked his chin thoughtfully before adding, "However, I only want hundred-thousand-year soul beasts with wind and earth attributes."
After fusing with three soul spirits, he already possessed hundred-thousand-year soul rings of lightning, fire, and water. The only things he lacked now were wind and earth.
Di Tian naturally had no objection to Lin Mu's request.
Although it felt a bit like choosing goods from a market, for ordinary hundred-thousand-year soul beasts, this was an opportunity rarely seen in a lifetime.
Just then, the Deep Sea Demonic Whale King emerged from Lin Mu's ninth soul ring in spirit form. As a million-year soul beast, it retained far greater autonomy than ordinary soul spirits.
"Master, if you still need more soul spirits, I still have a wife and daughter.
The Deep Sea Demonic Whale King's words stunned everyone present.
No one had expected him to say such a thing. Becoming Lin Mu's soul spirit was apparently not enough, he even intended to offer up his family.
But after thinking about it, the choice was actually a wise one.
After all, this was a direct ticket to the God Realm.
When he had first become a soul spirit, the Deep Sea Demonic Whale King had not fully made up his mind. But now that he saw there were not many spots left, he had no choice but to think of his wife and daughter.
"Little Black, are you really planning to bring your whole family along?"
Lin Mu was momentarily speechless.
Hearing this, the Deep Sea Demonic Whale King let out an awkward chuckle.
He truly had no other choice.
On one hand, this was a chance to break through the limits imposed by heaven and earth. On the other hand, if he entered the God Realm alone and left his family behind, then no matter how much stronger he became, loneliness would be inevitable.
In his view, a family ought to stay together.
"Very well. Your clan's attributes happen to suit me, so I won't make things difficult for you," Lin Mu said calmly.
The Deep Sea Demon Whale King's primary attribute was water, with lightning as a secondary one, perfect for Tsunami Armor and Thunder Atlas Armor.
"Thank you, Master."
The Deep Sea Demon Whale King quickly expressed his gratitude, his tone filled with sincerity.
At first, he had not been convinced by Lin Mu. But after getting to know him better, he had become completely won over, even feeling fortunate to have become Lin Mu's soul spirit.
With the strength Lin Mu had displayed, he would surely surpass even the Sea God once he became a god.
With such a powerful backer, it was only natural to bring his family along to share in that prosperity.
Seeing that two more spots had now been taken, a trace of displeasure flashed through Di Tian's eyes.
But there was nothing he could do. The Deep Sea Demonic Whale King was already Lin Mu's soul spirit, so Di Tian could hardly object.
At this point, all he could do was quickly find suitable hundred-thousand-year soul beasts.
"Di Tian, I'll return in seven days. The stronger their wind and earth attributes, the better."
With those words, Lin Mu withdrew his three soul spirits.
Before leaving the Star Dou Great Forest, he paid a visit to the Silver Dragon King's independent space.
Although he had not yet become a god, his current soul power reserves were already sufficient to restore the Silver Dragon King's essence quite effectively.
At this rate, the Silver Dragon King should recover most of her essence within three to five years.
Lin Mu finally returned to Heaven Dou City that evening.
Without resting even for a moment, he immediately entered the palace. Qian Renxue had gone to undergo the Angel God's assessment and would definitely not return to the Heaven Dou Empire for quite some time.
During this period, he could only temporarily handle the empire's affairs himself.
Most of the people remaining in the palace had already been purged by Qian Renxue and replaced with her own trusted subordinates, so there was no need to worry about internal problems.
However, just as Lin Mu flew into the palace, he encountered someone.
"Ge Long? What is he doing in the palace at this hour?"
Lin Mu looked down at the silver-armored general being stopped by the guards below, his brows furrowing slightly as he wondered why Ge Long had come so late at night.
Ever since Qian Renxue took control of the Heaven Dou Empire, she had appointed Lin Mu as the Grand General of the Empire.
However, Lin Mu had no interest in managing military affairs. His position was more nominal than practical, mainly serving as a deterrent to the generals who actually commanded the army.
After a brief moment of thought, Lin Mu flashed downward and instantly appeared before him.
"Grand General?"
Seeing Lin Mu appear so suddenly, Ge Long froze for a moment before hurriedly reporting, "Grand General, I have urgent matters to discuss with His Majesty, but these men insist on stopping me."
"His Majesty has ordered that, at night, no one except the Grand General may enter the palace," the captain of the guards declared firmly.
Hearing this, Ge Long was furious. He was the Grand Marshal of the Empire, second only to Lin Mu in rank, yet he was being treated like this. To him, it was a clear insult.
"I have urgent military matters to discuss with His Majesty. If the battle is delayed, can you bear the responsibility?"
Even in the face of Ge Long's threat, the guards did not retreat in the slightest. Their loyalty belonged solely to His Majesty.
Seeing this, a strange light flashed in Lin Mu's eyes. He had not expected Qian Renxue to be so skilled at winning people over.