Chapter 88: He Is Different!
"Little one," Di Tian’s voice remained deep, yet it held a touch less of its usual aloofness—replaced instead by a subtle, almost imperceptible hint of helplessness and a didactic tone.
"You must understand one fundamental truth: in this world, only those who possess true strength have the right to speak of mastering their own destiny. You are still far too young; your power, your worldly experience, and your temperament are all woefully insufficient."
His gaze swept over Jiang Bai, who stood silently to the side, his words carrying a pointed implication: "The world outside is indeed vibrant and colorful, but it is also fraught with peril. To venture out alone—especially in your current form, facing off against human Soul Masters... it is simply too dangerous."
"..."
Jiang Bai felt the weight of Di Tian’s scrutinizing gaze, along with the faint, underlying warning it conveyed.
"Jiang Bai... he isn’t a bad person!" Jiang Li’er instinctively retorted.
Her cheeks flushed a faint crimson, and her voice unconsciously dropped to a whisper, tinged with a shy bashfulness.
Di Tian withdrew his hand, clasping it behind his back. His golden vertical pupils fixed upon Jiang Bai; his tone was outwardly calm, yet possessed a piercing intensity.
"The human heart is a veiled mystery—the most unfathomable thing of all. As a Soul Beast, how can you possibly discern the true intentions of a human? A momentary act of kindness may merely be a ploy to serve a far greater, ulterior motive."
"He’s different!"
Jiang Li’er bit her lip, as if steeling herself to make a momentous declaration. She lifted her head, her crimson eyes locking directly with Di Tian’s; her voice was soft, yet rang out with absolute clarity: "I... I have undergone... the ’Destiny Convergence’ with him."
At these words—even for Di Tian, with his hundreds of thousands of years of profound composure—his eyebrows shot up in sheer astonishment!
He whipped his head around, his gaze piercing into Jiang Bai like a tangible, razor-sharp blade. For the very first time, a distinct ripple of emotion surfaced on his face.
It was a complex expression—a blend of shock, utter disbelief, and a faint trace of simmering anger.
The Destiny Convergence?! The Emperor’s Auspicious Beast... with a human?!
No wonder... no wonder the aura of destiny emanating from the Auspicious Beast was so inextricably intertwined with this human!
No wonder she had suddenly chosen to take on a human form, insisting on leaving the forest behind!
Every lingering question suddenly seemed to find its answer.
You audacious brat... so you were the root cause of it all!
Sensing the fleeting glint of coldness in Di Tian’s eyes, Jiang Li’er was startled.
She immediately stepped forward, grasped Di Tian’s arm, and pleaded anxiously, "Uncle Di Tian! This has nothing to do with him! I was the one who made the first move! The circumstances at the time were—special... Please don’t hurt him!"
Di Tian looked down at Jiang Li’er—who was clutching his arm with a face full of anxiety—and his gaze grew even more complex.
He remained silent for a few seconds before slowly speaking, his voice low and deep: "Is this, too, something you learned during your time in the human world? Bonds? Or perhaps... love?"
He let out a sigh—a sigh laden with the weariness of having endured countless ages, tinged with a hint of exhaustion.
"Little one, you must understand: in your uncle’s eyes, you will always be that little child who hasn’t quite grown up yet—the one who needs to be sheltered and protected. The Star Dou Great Forest—and us old fellows who dwell within it—will always be your home, your steadfast support. If you wish to venture out and see the world, so be it. But at the very least... you must let us know. Tell us where you are going, and assure us that you are safe."
His tone softened, imbued with the deep concern of a guardian.
"Do you realize? When you vanished so suddenly, the Red King nearly went mad with worry. He turned the entire Star Dou Great Forest upside down, convinced that you had been abducted by some powerful entity."
Upon hearing this, Jiang Li’er immediately lowered her head in shame, her fingers unconsciously twisting the hem of her clothes.
Uncle Red King—the three-headed Red Demon Mastiff charged with her protection...
That day, she had gone to visit Bi Ji at the Emerald Lake, where she happened to run into Jiang Bai. A chain of events had followed, and in the ensuing chaos, she had completely—and utterly—forgotten all about Uncle Red King...
Uncle Red King... I’m so sorry... I made you worry so much...
She offered a silent apology within her heart.
Observing Jiang Li’er’s contrite demeanor, Di Tian realized she had recognized her error; his voice grew even gentler.
"Very well. The important thing is that you’ve returned safely. You’ve been away for quite some time now—why not head home and pay a visit first?"
Jiang Li’er nodded obediently. "All right."
Di Tian’s gaze then shifted back to Jiang Bai. His eyes had reverted to their former state of profound, unruffled stillness—so deep and inscrutable that it was impossible to discern the thoughts stirring within them.
"Jiang Bai... is that your name?"
He spoke slowly.
"Tell me... would you be interested in coming to the Lake of Life... to be our guest for a few days?"
It sounded like an invitation—yet, in reality, it was an offer that brooked no refusal.
Di Tian had developed a profound interest—along with a strong desire to investigate—into the secrets surrounding the True Dragon aura emanating from Jiang Bai, as well as the intricate threads of destiny entangling him with the auspicious beasts.
He needed to observe this human for a few more days.
Jiang Bai cast a glance at Jiang Li’er, who stood by his side; she was watching him with a gaze filled with both concern and a subtle undercurrent of hope.
Jiang Bai’s mind raced. Given the current circumstances, a refusal would clearly be unwise. Di Tian’s power was unfathomable, and his true intentions remained far from clear.
Meeting Di Tian’s gaze, he cupped his hands in salutation and said, "It is precisely what I desire—though I dared not presume to ask."
Di Tian frowned slightly. "What does that mean? Speak in plain language."
Jiang Bai replied, "...It means I would be more than happy to go."
Di Tian spoke no further; raising his right hand, he gave a light slash through the void.
—Rip!—
A pitch-black rift appeared silently and abruptly before everyone’s eyes.
"Let’s go." Di Tian was the first to step into the rift.
Bi Ji nodded at Jiang Bai and Jiang Li’er, signaling for them to follow.
Jiang Li’er took a deep breath, took Jiang Bai’s hand—which he offered willingly—and stepped into the rift right behind them.
The sensation of spatial transition was brief yet peculiar, feeling much like passing through a curtain of cool water.
The very next second, the scene before their eyes burst wide open.
They now found themselves standing within a magnificent, ethereal wonderland that defied all description.
Before them lay a vast, boundless lake. The water possessed an incredibly pure, vibrant shade of pale green; smooth as a mirror, it was utterly devoid of even the slightest ripple.
Sunlight filtered through the sparse clouds, casting down upon the lake’s surface.
It shimmered with a myriad of emerald-like glimmers—a breathtakingly beautiful sight, as if the most perfect natural emerald in all of heaven and earth had been embedded right here.
Encircling the lake stood a host of ancient, towering trees—trees of unimaginable scale.
Their trunks were so massive that even dozens of people linking arms could not fully encircle them, while their crowns pierced straight into the heavens, vanishing into the swirling mists above.
A rich, botanical fragrance—intermingled with an incredibly pure aura of life—washed over them.
With every breath, they felt their spirits uplifted and their Soul Power stirring with renewed vitality.
A faint, milky-white mist drifted across the lake’s surface, creating an atmosphere that felt utterly dreamlike and illusory.
The very air buzzed with the active presence of elemental energies of every attribute, concentrated to an extraordinary degree.
For both Soul Beasts and Soul Masters alike, this was truly a blessed sanctuary—a paradise beyond their wildest dreams—perfectly suited for cultivation.
This was the true core of the Star Dou Great Forest: the Lake of Life!
Leading the trio, Di Tian made his way to the lakeshore and stopped beneath the shade of one of the massive, ancient trees.
This tree towered to a height of a hundred meters; its trunk was so massive it rivaled a small hill, and its mottled bark bore the marks of countless ages.
Near the base of the tree lay a naturally formed tree hollow—spacious and dry. The interior was quite roomy, even furnished with simple "beds" fashioned from smooth stones and soft, dry hay.
It appeared to have once served as a resting place for a Soul Beast.
"Rest here for the time being." Di Tian pointed toward the hollow and issued the instruction in a flat, even tone.
His gaze lingered on Jiang Bai for a fleeting moment before he turned and took a single step; his figure seemed to dissolve into the very air, vanishing from sight.
Jiang Li’er stared in the direction where Di Tian had disappeared, blinking in sheer disbelief.
"Uncle Di Tian... just left? He’s not going to ask any more questions?"
Bi Ji walked over to her side, offering a gentle smile as she reached out to smooth the strands of hair that had been ruffled by the wind.
"What’s the matter? Would you only feel at ease if Di Tian flew into a rage, or gave you two little rascals a sound thrashing?"
"Umm..." Jiang Li’er stuck out her tongue, smiling sheepishly.
Bi Ji turned her gaze toward Jiang Bai, her emerald eyes holding a look of both earnestness and caution: "Jiang Bai, Di Tian... he does not fully trust you yet. His decision to have you remain at the Lake of Life was partly out of consideration for Li’er; however, I suspect his primary motive is to observe you at close quarters and uncover the secrets you harbor."
She paused, her tone softening further: "Nevertheless, you need not be overly anxious. Although Di Tian commands great authority, he is not an unreasonable tyrant who slaughters the innocent without cause. Provided you treat him with candor and refrain from deliberate deception, you should come to no harm. For the next few days, simply tread carefully and wait to see how things unfold."
Jiang Bai nodded solemnly: "I understand. Thank you for the warning, Sister Bi Ji."
"Mm." Bi Ji acknowledged him, her gaze shifting between Jiang Bai and Jiang Li’er.
"I have been away from our clan territory for quite some time now; I must return to check on things and attend to some matters. You two should get some good rest for now; I will come to see you again tomorrow."
Having said this, she gave them both a slight nod. A verdant glow enveloped her form as she transformed into a gentle stream of green light, gracefully soaring away toward the opposite side of the Lake of Life, where she soon vanished amidst the dense foliage and swirling mists.
Beneath the ancient trees by the lakeside, only Jiang Bai and Jiang Li’er remained.
The surroundings fell silent, save for the rustling of leaves in the breeze, the faint chirping of distant birds, and the subtle, gentle lapping of the water in the Lake of Life.
They were enveloped by an aura of life—so rich and dense it felt almost tangible—interwoven with the energies of various elements, leaving them feeling utterly soothed and at ease.
Jiang Li’er let out a sigh of relief and plopped herself down onto a smooth, large stone situated at the entrance of a hollow within the tree trunk, patting her chest as she did so: "That scared me to death... I really thought Uncle Di Tian was going to stay angry for ages."
Jiang Bai walked over and sat down beside her, gazing out across this legendary sanctuary of the Soul Beasts.
As he felt the Soul Power within his body spontaneously surge and grow, his heart was filled with a profound sense of awe and emotion.
He looked at Jiang Li’er and asked, "So, are we just going to stay right here for now?"
"What else would we do?" Jiang Li’er tilted her head.
"Uncle Di Tian has already given the word; surely we aren’t going to try sneaking off, are we? Besides..."
Gazing at the beautiful lake and ancient trees before her, her voice grew cheerful: "The Lake of Life is the finest place in our Star Dou Great Forest! You can also take this opportunity to cultivate; the life energy here will be of immense benefit to your training!"
Jiang Bai nodded; cultivating in this place would indeed yield twice the results with half the effort.
The two sat in silence for a while, admiring the indescribable grandeur and tranquility of the Lake of Life.
Night gradually fell. Shrouded in starlight and a faint mist rising from the water, the Lake of Life took on an even more mysterious aura.
Inside the hollow of a tree, Jiang Bai sat cross-legged, immersed in meditation and cultivation.