Chapter 93: The Golden Jade Fruit
"Sigh, now that things have come to this..."
The Ice Dragon King’s head shook slightly as she let out a long, drawn-out sigh, her tone filled with helplessness and regret.
"It seems that, in the short term at least, the hope of you breaking through the shackles of the Divine Realm solely through your own power has become slim. These fetters of the Heavenly Tribulation hang over you like a sword of Damocles, stifling far too many possibilities."
Her tone shifted abruptly; her massive, ice-blue dragon eyes—now bearing a look of unprecedented solemnity—turned toward Di Tian.
"Little Di Tian, tell me... what do you make of this Jiang Bai?"
Di Tian was momentarily taken aback by the question, a flicker of deep contemplation passing through his eyes.
He recalled their recent exchange—the talent Jiang Bai had displayed, his profound grasp of the ice element, his maturity and insight that belied his tender age, and the many inexplicable secrets that seemed to shroud his very being...
"At the age of thirteen or fourteen, he is already a Five-Ring Soul King," Di Tian assessed slowly, his voice low and objective.
"Both his natural aptitude and his mental fortitude are exceptionally rare. Even more remarkable is the fact that he has clearly encountered some extraordinary destiny; furthermore, regarding Soul Beasts... he seems to harbor a philosophy that differs significantly from that of ordinary Soul Masters—one that borders on true symbiosis. If he can grow to full maturity without meeting a premature end, his future achievements... will truly be limitless."
"Mm."
From the side, the Fire Dragon King let out a low grunt of agreement, the crimson flames flickering across his form.
"Moreover, his Martial Soul is truly unique; it is capable of housing and nurturing our remnant souls, and has even manifested a spatial domain that borders on being a ’pocket world’ of its own. This boy is blessed with immense fortune and possesses a truly singular destiny. If he can indeed transcend the mortal realm and ascend to godhood—given the nature of his Martial Soul and his attitude toward Soul Beasts—he might just be able to secure a glimmer of hope for our Beast Clan within the Divine Realm."
Di Tian’s golden eyes contracted sharply.
Uncle... Aunt... could it be that they held Jiang Bai in such high esteem?
Were they, in fact, placing the Beast Clan’s last remaining hope for the future—however faintly—upon the shoulders of this human youth?
"Uncle... Aunt... are you implying...?"
Di Tian asked, a hint of uncertainty in his voice. The Ice Dragon King nodded, her tone sounding incredibly solemn: "We hope that, when necessary, you can offer Jiang Bai some assistance—a form of investment and guardianship rooted in our shared interests and future vision."
She continued: "Due to the unique nature of his Martial Soul, Jiang Bai is destined to share a profound bond with Soul Beasts. His attitude toward Soul Beasts will, at the very least, never be one of mere hunting and exploitation. I am convinced that, given his talent, character, and fortuitous encounters, his eventual ascension to godhood is virtually inevitable. Moreover, judging by the potential he has already demonstrated, once he attains divinity, his rank among the gods will undoubtedly be high. At that time—even if he cannot single-handedly shatter every restriction the Divine Realm has imposed upon the Beast race—he could, at the very least... secure for us a measure of influence and slightly alleviate the plight of the Beast race."
Di Tian fell silent for a moment.
Flashing through his mind were the harsh truths revealed by the Ice Dragon King; the hundreds of thousands of years he himself had spent enduring and struggling; and the dire reality of the Soul Beast race, caught between the dual pressures of humanity and the Heavenly Tribulation...
And then, those eyes—clear and resolute, gleaming with the light of idealism whenever she spoke of how "the world need not be this way."
Finally, slowly and solemnly, he nodded. : "I understand, Auntie. Uncle."
Di Tian’s voice regained the composure and decisiveness befitting the Black Dragon King.
"I will keep an eye on him. When he is in need—provided it does not compromise the fundamental interests of the Star Dou Great Forest—I will offer him appropriate assistance."
"Very good." The Ice Dragon King seemed to breathe a sigh of relief, her tone softening slightly.
"You may go now. There are matters in the outside world that require your attention."
Just as Di Tian was preparing to withdraw, the Ice Dragon King suddenly recalled something and asked, "Oh, by the way—from the depths of this Lake of Life, we faintly sensed a familiar yet powerful draconic aura... Though faint and dormant, that aura... does it belong to the Silver Dragon King?"
Di Tian’s figure paused momentarily before he replied respectfully, "Yes, Auntie. The Silver Dragon King—my Sovereign—is currently slumbering in the deepest reaches of the lakebed, recovering her strength and healing her wounds."
"Hmm..." The Ice Dragon King mused for a moment, her mental fluctuations carrying a trace of complex, enigmatic meaning.
"For the time being... do not reveal our existence to her."
A flicker of bewilderment crossed Di Tian’s eyes, yet out of absolute respect and trust for the Ice Dragon King, he did not press further; he simply responded, "Understood. I shall bear that in mind."
...
In the outside world, by the shores of the Lake of Life, beneath the ancient tree.
Jiang Bai slowly opened his eyes.
Almost simultaneously, the light and shadows before him rippled gently, and Di Tian’s towering figure solidified once more, appearing directly before him.
Their eyes met.
Di Tian gazed at the youth standing before him—a boy who still appeared somewhat callow, yet already shouldered a burden of secrets and potential far too heavy for his years.
Emotions surged within him—complex and ineffable.
There remained the lingering pain and bewilderment born of the shocking truths he had recently uncovered; there was a curiosity—a desire to investigate the true source of the draconic aura emanating from Jiang Bai; and, above all, there was the weighty sense of responsibility and expectation entrusted to him by the Ice and Fire Dragon Kings.
Ultimately, he suppressed all these emotions deep within the unfathomable depths of his eyes.
His face resumed its customary expression—the calm and majesty befitting the Sovereign of all Soul Beasts—though his tone, compared to before, held a fraction less of that cold, scrutinizing edge, and a fraction more of a subtle, almost imperceptible gentleness.
"Our recent spar, as well as... our lengthy conversation, have proven immensely enlightening."
Di Tian’s voice was even-toned, betraying no specific emotion.
"For now, settle in here and make yourself at home; the environment of the Lake of Life will be beneficial to your cultivation. As for me... I, too, require some time to properly digest the events of this day."
Jiang Bai sensed a subtle shift in Di Tian’s demeanor; he understood immediately that this was surely the result of the Ice and Fire Dragon Kings—residing within the tower—having communicated with him.
He nodded toward Di Tian and gave a soft "Mm."
Di Tian spoke no further; raising his hand, he gave a gentle, sweeping motion through the empty space beside him.
"Hiss—"
A spatial rift materialized silently. He stepped through it, his figure vanishing into the fissure, which then immediately sealed itself shut, as if it had never existed.
Tranquility returned to the lakeside, leaving behind only the faint sound of the wind rippling across the water’s surface, and the distant, indistinct murmurs of birds and beasts.
Jiang Bai sat cross-legged and re-entered a state of meditation.
The dense aura of life and the vibrant elemental energies surrounding the Lake of Life acted like the finest of tonics, rapidly dispelling his fatigue and nourishing his meridians and Soul Power.
He remained seated in this state for several hours.
As the sun dipped below the horizon, the sky was painted with a magnificent evening glow, and the lake’s surface mirrored the resplendent interplay of light and shadow.
Jiang Bai slowly opened his eyes.
His Soul Power had advanced—ever so slightly—yet another step forward.
No sooner had he concluded his cultivation than he saw Jiang Li’er emerging from the woods, cradling a pile of lush, verdant fruits that gleamed with an alluring luster and exuded a rich, intoxicating fragrance.
Each fruit was perfectly round and plump, encased in a crystalline green skin dotted with a fine, even scattering of tiny golden specks—like stars adorning the night sky.
The dense, fruity aroma hung thick in the air, lingering without dissipating; merely catching a whiff of it was enough to invigorate the spirit and make one’s mouth water.
Jiang Li’er walked over to Jiang Bai’s side, placed the fruit onto a clean stone, and picked one up for herself. She ran to the lakeshore to wash it thoroughly, then took a loud, crisp bite.
Her beautiful eyes narrowed in satisfaction as she mumbled through a mouthful: "Here—these are Golden Jade Fruits. They’re considered one of the specialties of the Star Dou Great Forest’s core region and are extremely rare. They are a completely natural treasure—gentle on the system—that can enhance one’s physique and nourish soul power; you simply won’t find anything like them anywhere else. Give them a try."
Jiang Bai didn’t stand on ceremony; after offering a word of thanks, he picked up a fruit and washed it just as she had.
The fruit felt cool and substantial in his hand.
As he bit through the skin, a sweet yet slightly tart juice instantly flooded his mouth; the flesh was crisp and carried a peculiar, fragrant scent of herbs and vegetation.
Once the fruit flesh reached his stomach, a moment later, a gentle and soothing warmth began to radiate outward.
Like a babbling brook, it flowed naturally through his body—spreading to every limb and bone—without the need for any conscious guidance.
The soul power within his dantian seemed to be infused with new vitality, its circulation speed quietly accelerating.
A wave of profound comfort washed through his meridians, as if they were being gently cleansed and nourished.
"It truly is a remarkable treasure," Jiang Bai praised, clearly sensing the subtle enhancement to both his physical body and his soul power.
Such natural wonders were immensely beneficial for solidifying one’s foundation and achieving steady, gentle growth.