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🕑 Added 2022-03-21 07:45:45 +0000 UTCTitle: The Strongest Creature (1)
Far in the middle of an unknown ocean, within a resplendent hall that held murals of a trident wielding warrior calming men, beasts, and sea alike, a towering, shimmering golden trident revealed a sonorous, aching cry that made the hearts of listeners shudder in with a tinge of guilt. The entirety of the island within which the Trident was erected shook. Waves rose and soon grew outward, forming natural disasters.
Within the shaking hall, in front of the trident that was beginning to lose all its glow and slowly turn dull, a peerless woman with almost silverish hair with an ocean blue sheen couldn't help but stand there with a dazed expression. Confusion wrought in her expression while she gazed at the spot in the middle of the crest of the trident that would fit a rather large pyramid-like object.
She could feel a sense of loss from that very spot.
---
Similar to the mysterious island with the golden trident, in a vast forest covered by a gloomy sky lay erect an entrance to the cave through which only a few select individuals may enter a spacious underground world. Similar to King's Lair, the world had not only spatial natural arrays but blood array, too filled with a whiff of slaughter.
The True Slaughter City.
Unlike before, all the added decoration of the city had been dissolved by the tsunami of acidic blood that Ja Sun had caused in his wake, killing every single sinner of the city. Yet, the array itself would never harm the original construction, allowing the sinners of the continent to enter the location should they wish.
However, with the distinct lack of corruptive order under the so-called Slaughter King, the city had truly turned into the paradise of outlaws where only strength made right. No matter the status, beauty, or wealth. If one had the strength, they would be only happy in here.
Deaths occurred daily but these were the lightest of crimes ever committed in a location known as the Paradise of Sin.
Yet, on this fateful day, buried deep into the ground lay a fleshy, blood-red orb that would beat akin to a human hear, tore out a pale, almost snowy-white arm. A terrifying aura filled the Slaughter City in that very instant.
"He dared destroy this King's palace..." A somber whisper echoed, "His blood... is what I desire the most. But how dare these insects rule what is mine?"
A blood-red sword chimed and let lose a slaughter intent that made every citizen of the city fall on their knees, clutching their chests as many hearts burst in that very instant!
---
"How dare you... pee on me, boy!" Qian Daoliu rumbled but there remained no intent behind his words, making Xie Yue giggle happily. Xie Xan, on the side, with a new diaper, had his body covered in a cold sweat.
"Grandmaster, let me change him. Lana truly didn't mean that you need to do this when she asked you to look after Yue'er," Xie Xan stated hurriedly while the pee that drenched Qian Daoliu evaporated while the Grand Priest scoffed, "Show some spine. Besides, this is on me. I chose to come here since I was already within the Star Dou Great Forest.
And, aren't you Dong'er's more capable worker? What are you doing wasting your time here?"
Xie Xan handed the man the fresh pair of diapers and sighed slightly, "Well... I have been taking some breaks in between to keep up with my training and also look after Yue'er. Lana is usually tired after—"
"She asked you to stay here because you've got a good head on your shoulders," Qian Daoliu sneered, "Don't mix truth with falsities."
Xie Xan finally shrugged. With Ah Yin strangely disappearing a little after a week from her return, Bibi Dong had started moving some resources and funds. Xie Xan, who usually handled such matters was informed very little about it except for the fact that knowledge related to this should not leak in any matter or form. Of course, besides the top three, Xie Xan was one of the most capable members of the team to rely on. Sure, Liu Erlong's martial strength surpassed his, but she didn't hold anything over him when it came to written work.
There were also Oscar, Jun'er, and Yuehua, but their paperwork was related to more diplomatic stuff and the formation of passes and tokens to enter the Giant's Forest.
Qian Daoliu's arrival was a surprise, but Bibi Dong seemed pretty determined to keep her actions a secret from the top of the Spirit Hall. If she knew more about Divine Intent then she would come to understand how fruitless this action really was, however, Bibi Dong was also in the luck that Daoliu didn't seem keen on uncovering every single thing the team of his two disciples is upto.
With a smile, Qian Daoliu added, "But it's always a gratifying sight to see a parent willing to take care of their offspring. It's unfortunate that Ka-ul and Yin haven't learned anything from you and Hu Lana."
"Them?" Xie Xan chuckled and sat down seeing that the grandmaster didn't mind the lack of formalities, "I heard that the two will only have a child when one of them is the strongest... how crazy is that."
"Huh..." knowing full well... or only assuming the supposed strength of his disciple, Daoliu muttered in a factual tone, "So, soon."
---
A large crowd of spirit beasts surrounded the Emerald Lake in the center of the King's Lair. Aside from the vegetation, almost all the spirit beasts had recovered. Those who were capable of the human form took such forms whether they liked it or not to accommodate larger spirit beasts under the cultivation of 100000 years that were unable to temporarily turn into humans.
These past four days, the Emerald Swans of the King's Lair had overworked themselves to heal every injury on the bodies of the spirit beasts including the two remaining foreign spirit beasts. Yet, the two beasts from the Extreme North had not returned. Zi Ji protectively sat in front of a golden sphere within which lay a Golden-furred beast. She would constantly look in the particular direction where a colossal body of a pitch-black dragon lay.
Di Tian!
Yet, the body was unmoving.
He wasn't dead or a spirit ring would have appeared by now... however, the spirit beasts didn't dare go near the location. They could still feel that sheer bloodlust radiating from that very direction, indicating that the assailant had not only survived but managed to remain strong enough to shock everyone present to the point of numbing them.
The explosion in that strange contained space, in fact, lasted for two days!
For the remaining two days, neither Ja Sun nor Di Tian moved.
Di Tian, obviously, was unconscious and his vitality was too weak. The fact that he could survive the tremendous explosion of a divine artifact could be chalked up to his prime true dragon physique... but how could even Ja Sun survive such a suicidal attack?
Their speculations came to an end when Di Tian's colossal body moved with an echoing rumble.
The grating sound of something dragging across the surface of the King's Lair couldn't be clearer but it wasn't Di Tian's body directly that was getting dragged.
*Thc*
*Thc*
*Thc*
Trees were uprooted by the masses as if enough destruction hadn't already ensued in the King's Lair. Yet, strangely, after Di Tian's body was dragged for ten minutes ever so slightly, the trembling march would come to a stop, and all the trees that had fallen over would be erected once again.
*Thc*
*Thc*
*Thc*
Di Tian's body moved.
Trees fell.
Di Tian's body stopped.
Trees were planted again.
The process continued and the group of spirit beasts, both sentient and non-sentient stayed silent. After all, the non-sentient ones didn't dare bare their teeth at the apex of their lines much less at the approaching body of the God of Beasts.
Finally, the view of a very tiny human in their standards appeared with a hearty smile. It was almost evening by now as the lukewarm rays of the sun fell on his brilliant silver fur and resplendent golden pupils encased around by emerald irises.
"So, everyone was waiting here, huh. Saves me the trouble. Oye, Greeny! Get your fellow species to heal this big guy already!" Ja Sun instantly spotted the terrified young Emerald Swan that had stumbled upon him when he entered the King's Lair.
Yet, his cheerful request was met with stunned silence.
Not minding their silence since he had simply gained too much from these 'good-hearted' beasts, Ja Sun shrugged and let go of Di Tian's gargantuan tail. The beast's body was placed over a giant platform with wheels built underneath but the most vicious task was to drag Di Tian without having his equally titan of an asshole uncovered overhead, fearing that he might be showered in the unholy fetishes of some of the weirdest individuals to have ever existed— you know, all that without actually kink-shaming anyone.
"Well, do heal him if you want the man alive," Ja Sun shrugged and stepped forward. As he did, the group of beasts instantly parted ways. A wave of cold sweat covered them all as they couldn't help but feel as if their hearts were getting stomped. Though Ja Sun still had a peaceful, almost goofy smile, the slaughter intent from his body had not slighted in the least.
There was a reason why Ja Sun took to intimidating his opponents. After all, he wouldn't have survived the attack if he hadn't exploded his third and fourth spirit rings. With only three spirit rings remaining, Ja Sun's ability to fend off the enemies had gotten quite low and even the amount of spirit energy in his Spirit Core had been depleted to keep the form of his exoskeleton for the period of that explosion.
Right now, Ja Sun could be said to be truly spent. Another round of digestion from his rewards would bring him the most benefits and would truly push him to the top of the mortal rank in almost all the aspects of his cultivation. At the moment, this battle was truly beneficial but Ja Sun didn't want to leave.
There were a few questions in his mind— for instance, the identity of the creature who could pull spatially isolated space that can survive the explosion of a Divine Artifact. Heck, Ja Sun felt that this individual would be the same whose divine intent didn't leave his body even after using the Bright World Domain. Not to mention the fact that the real 'prize' was almost within his grasp.
All the beasts gave way to Ja Sun as he continued to get closer to the emerald lake with a silver pole sticking out. He gave that location a casual glance but then stood in front of a Zi Ji staring back at him defiantly and standing in front of the Golden Sphere behind her protectively.
"You know... caring and understanding ones like Bi Ji... and fiercely protective kind like you, I don't hate individuals with such qualities," Ja Sun smiled, the three of his eyes narrowed slightly, "And since you're beautiful, you're pleasing to the eye, too. Believe me, the last bit really helps. So? Are you going to fight me again?"
Not hearing a reply, Ja Sun added casually so that Zi Ji could make an informed decision, "I have extracted anything of value from you... now, the only thing that remains is your life, spirit bone, and dignity. Continue to stand here and I will choose what to strip off from you."
Her body shuddered. The eyes of every beast lit up in rage but they didn't move. They couldn't. The raging emotions in their hearts were curb-stomped by Ja Sun's purely refined killing intent that shouldn't exist in this world in the first place.
*Wuu*
A soft whimper broke the tension as the only being that wasn't targeted by Ja Sun stood up within the Golden Sphere.
Zi Ji bit her lips while fully able to talk 'beast', Ja Sun equipped a smirk, "See? I have a fatal charm on female beasts." Just to flame the Abyss Demon Dragon for her defiance, Ja Sun added, "After all this is over, I'll surely bring Bi Ji with me now that she doesn't have anything to do with this location."
Not giving Zi Ji a chance to rage, Ja Sun walked past her, shoving her aside with the push of his butt alongside, and then stood in front of a 5-meter high Golden-furred spirit beast with pure red eyes. Its third vertical eye was similar to Ja Sun including the beautiful marks around it except it was red, too. Similar to his martial soul, the golden-furred beast had a mouth familiar to wolves and other 'sharp' canines but instead of talons, its limbs ended with golden scaled draconic claws.
Yet, what Ja Sun expected... wasn't here. The expected resonance was nowhere to be found. When the six pairs of eyes looked into each other, aside from wild fascination... not a note of greed could be felt from within themselves towards one another.
Letting lose a soft groan that scared the living shit out of a few cowardly spirit beasts, Ja Sun mumbled, "So all that anxiousness I felt was from you... damn, girl! I fought that freaking giant of a dragon to meet with you!"
*Hfff*
"Your master? Oh? Ohhhh... so he just took you in once your mother passed away after your birth, huh... so you're sentient from the very beginning? Very interesting. And this beautiful array that is doing something to your soul origin... what is this?"
Ja Sun touched the golden sphere as the scale markings on its surface glowed fiercely. Just when Ja Sun thought he would be attacked, the silver pole trembled very softly, something Ja Sun noted in an instant but he kept his attention on the outstanding, almost crazy array form.
All he said was true. He indeed had a bloodline core of the Three-eyed Golden Lion and always felt a sense of ominosity from it but that feeling wasn't related to him at all!
It was from this very Three-eyed Golden Lion.
Hesitating for a second and seeing that the sphere didn't harm him, the Three-eyed Golden Lion growled softly, shocking everyone around her and allowing Ja Sun's brows to rise in intrigue.
"Amazing... if what you say is true then the maker of this array... should be the real deal. It's the real king, right? Probably, someone, even Di Tian serves?" Ja Sun wasn't about to mince words and save face for the defeated individual. The fact that the Beast God even served someone else was more shocking than the fact that he was defeated.
The Three-eyed Golden Lion nodded.
Ja Sun looked back towards the Silver Pole sticking out of the lake alongside other 100000-year-old spirit beasts with a thoughtful expression.
"Well, I think I can get you out... however, the circumstances are lenient and would allow me to also understand this array. You don't mind waiting, right?"
A hint of panic flashed in the eyes of the Three-eyed Golden Lion but Ja Sun seemed to have willfully ignored it and nodded with a kind expression, "Truly a kindred spirit. You are more beautiful than that devil of a dragon over there... hmm, just you wait.. I'll get you out of this sphere in a month... no. Three months!"
Ja Sun felt that he had just heard a gentle but amused chuckle. Still, he sat down right then and there, his cold voice reverberating with divine intent, "If anyone of you wants to fight me, just attack. I might get bored so refreshment is always welcome."
Then as if he was the owner of this land and the beasts were his tenants, Ja Sun ordered calmly, "I don't intend to, however, hurt anymore. You are free to live or leave."
This was an absolute lie.
"And I don't particularly side with humanity."
This had some truth to it.
"Oh, Zi Ji, if you truly understand that I'm the new God around, then bring back Bi Ji. If not, keep on brown-nosing Di Tian. Anyone who can bring back Bi Ji before Zi Ji will get a treasure that can save 100000 years worth of cultivation. So, if I were you, I would make use of my generosity.
Finally, any spirit beast who brings a new tribe of the 100000-year-old beast will also gain a similar treasure. Remember, don't disturb the family of the Sky Bull Python, Titan Ape, and that humanoid bunny spirit beast. I will meet them myself."
Although Ja Sun hadn't adopted the role of their leaders... he had a use for these spirit beasts so he wasn't afraid of encouraging them.
His words stunned everyone for the umpteenth time, including the mysterious entity within the lake.
The first to move, surprisingly, was none other than Zi Ji!
She gave Di Tian's unconscious body one last look before taking off in that very instant. She adored Di Tian for his strength but loved Bi Ji as her only sister. The sight of the defeated Di Tian and Ja Sun's incentive did wonder to her thoughts. Although she may put resistance on the surface, just this act revealed how easy it is for the world to be ruled by true strength and proper benefits.
A few beasts returned to their nests seeing that Ja Sun meant what he said. He wasn't attacking anymore and they didn't have a leader. Instead, they had a conqueror whose will shall be followed whether they chose to stay here or not.
Funnily, no ideas of rebellion even rose in the minds of others for Ja Sun hadn't only defeated Di Tian but crushed the entire forest by himself. How could they even fight back? What finally began to earn their respect was the lack of casualties from their side aside from trees.
Many other beasts were quick to leave the King's Lair. The greed on their faces revealed that they weren't escaping but trying to make use of Ja Sun's terms.
"Hmm... didn't even wait for me to reveal a few immortal herbs. What an impatient bunch. That leaves the two of you. You're from the Extreme North, right? You're welcome to my property but could you state your intentions?"
Ja Sun inquired without looking back.
Just as the little Ice Jade Scorpion was about to blow her top off, Snow Empress placed her hand on the scorpion's shoulder and remarked, "You have great strength and knowledge. I merely wish to learn from you about the beasts within you."
"Is that a sexual pun?" Ja Sun mused.
"No! You vile human!" The Scorpion finally spat.
Not minding the attitude since Ja Sun was sure that beasts didn't really go through etiquette training... something Yuehua would find pleasure in doing later, which Ja Sun made a mental note of, he shrugged, "Information is even more costly than resources. Bring your tribe to stay here and I might consider."
"It's not possible. Cold suits us," Snow Empress retorted.
"Don't you guys bring chill with your very presence? Either bring something of equal value or I'm not telling you anything."
The cold refusal frustrated Snow Empress to no end. She may be courteous right now, but even she knew that without appropriate strength, she would have forced him to talk anyway. Now, it wasn't an option.
Turning on her heels, Snow Empress left alongside the Scorpion.
Greeny, however, flew over to him and rubbed his head against his foot as if to curry favor before squawking and flying away.
Now finally given some private time, Ja Sun looked at the aggrieved emotion in the eyes of the Three-eyed Golden Lion and scoffed, "Don't be so dramatic. I've just defeated a troop of continent destroyers! Unraveling this array is my form of rest. And oye! Get your asses to heal Di Tian already. He's no longer useful if dead... I need his fucking scales, too. The moment Duskgold Dreadclaw Bear returns, have him claw off Di Tian's scales."
His orders spread throughout the forest. The bear had yet to leave and he returned pretty quickly like the most loyal servant that had just betrayed his previous owner and began to work while the entire tribe of Emerald Swans started to treat Di Tian starting from his mangled and mushed insides, which they had to pull out with the Bear's assistance... which eventually landed in Ja Sun's storage ring— a prime resource for a luxury banquet.
