Chapter 290 Di Tian's Gift of Gratitude
In the dark world, in the squares of major cities, Soul Masters looked at the sky, and discussions arose once again.
"Now we'll see if Di Tian can create his own godhood," a Soul Master said. "Bai Xuanzi said that creating one's own godhood requires an understanding of this world and a comprehension of its laws. Di Tian has lived for nearly a million years; he shouldn't lack such comprehension, right?"
"It's hard to say." The person next to him shook his head. "Bai Xuanzi was able to create his own position as the God of Order, which is due to his extraordinary talent. Although Di Tian is the Beast God, no one can say for sure whether he can reach that level. Creating one's own position is an extremely rare thing in the history of the God Realm."
"However, in any case, Di Tian now has a cultivation of a million years," another Soul Master said. "Unless he faces a tribulation when he cultivates for 1.1 million years, he will basically have eternal life."
"A million-year-old soul beast, its lifespan should have no upper limit, right?" someone asked. "Legend has it that after a soul beast survives a million-year tribulation, its life level undergoes a qualitative change, and it is no longer limited by its lifespan. Di Tian should be considered immortal now."
"Perhaps," said an older Soul Master, "but we can't be completely sure. After all, no Soul Beast in the Dark World has ever reached that level, and this is the first time in the White World as well. Whether Di Tian will face another tribulation of lightning is something only he knows."
"I think he has a high probability of creating his own godhood," another Soul Master said. "Look at Bai Xuanzi's attitude towards him. What kind of person is Bai Xuanzi? He's willing to help Di Tian, which means he thinks highly of Di Tian. If Di Tian didn't have that potential, Bai Xuanzi wouldn't have gone to such great lengths."
"That makes sense." The person next to him nodded. "Bai Xuanzi never does anything in vain. Since he helped Di Tian overcome his tribulation and told him the path to creating his own godhood, it means he believes Di Tian can do it."
"Alright, stop guessing," someone said. "Let's look at the sky. Di Tian should be making a move soon."
Meanwhile, in the core area of the Star Dou Great Forest, the ferocious beasts continued their discussions.
"Can Di Tian create his own divine position?" Xiong Jun asked in a deep voice.
"I don't know." The Demon King stroked his beard. "But Xuanzi said that this path is viable. As long as Di Tian follows this path, there will eventually be a result."
"I believe in Di Tian," Bi Ji said. "He has lived for nearly a million years and has seen all kinds of storms. Creating a godhood is difficult, but he should be able to do it."
"I believe him too," said the Red King.
The beasts' discussions gradually subsided, and everyone's attention refocused on the sky.
[In the scene depicting the sky.]
Di Tian and Gu Yuena left the Sea God Pavilion and returned to the Star Dou Great Forest.
From then on, Di Tian never left the core area of the Star Dou Great Forest. He devoted all his time to cultivation and enlightenment, rarely concerning himself with outside affairs. Bi Ji took over the daily management of the Star Dou Great Forest, Xiong Jun was in charge of patrols, and the Ten Thousand Demon King and the Crimson King assisted him.
[Emperor Tian sits cross-legged beneath an ancient tree in the core area each day, eyes closed, sensing the fluctuations of the laws of heaven and earth. His body no longer exudes the oppressive dragon might of the past; instead, it has become restrained and profound, like a bottomless lake.]
Gu Yuena would come to see him every day, sometimes sitting with him for a while, sometimes just watching from afar without disturbing him.
As the days passed, Di Tian's aura slowly changed. It was no longer merely powerful, but possessed an indescribable quality, like the nascent form of some kind of rule.
However, there is still a long way to go before it truly attains divine status.
On this bright and sunny day, the core area of the Star Dou Great Forest was serene.
[Di Tian opened his eyes and stood up. He had been sitting cross-legged for a full month without moving an inch. His body felt perfectly relaxed, even more so than a month ago.]
Gu Yuena walked over from a distance, looked at him, and asked, "Any progress?"
Di Tian shook his head: "I have some insights, but I'm still far from achieving godhood. Xuanzi is right, this path is very difficult."
"No rush," Gu Yuena said. "You have plenty of time."
Di Tian nodded, then said, "However, there's one thing I need to take care of first."
"What is it?" Gu Yuena asked.
"A token of our gratitude," Di Tian said. "Xuanzi has helped us so much; we can't leave without showing our appreciation. Although he wouldn't care for ordinary things at his level, the sentiment must be there."
Gu Yuena thought for a moment and said, "You're right. So what should we prepare?"
[Di Tian was silent for a moment, then said, "My essence blood. The essence blood of a million-year-old soul beast. Although it's useless to him, it should help his students. Also, Bi Ji's healing essence, the fruit of the Ten Thousand Demon King, the blood of the Bear King, and the scales of the Crimson King. Pick the best and send them over."]
Gu Yuena nodded: "Okay, I'll go tell them."
A few days later, Di Tian, Gu Yuena, Bi Ji, Xiong Jun, Wan Yao Wang, and Chi Wang left the Star Dou Great Forest and flew towards Shrek Academy.
Each of them carried something. Di Tian held a jade bottle containing his million-year-old essence blood; the golden liquid flowed within, emitting a faint golden light. Bi Ji held a jade-green crystal, her accumulated healing essence gathered over many years.
[The Bear King held a large chunk of dark golden blood crystal, formed from his own essence. The Demon King held a fruit radiating a rich life force, the most precious fruit that had grown from his own body. The Crimson King held a crimson scale, the largest and hardest scale on his own body.]
The group landed at the main gate of Shrek Academy. The guards recognized them and, no longer tense, allowed them to pass, sending someone to inform Bai Xuanzi.
Bai Xuanzi received them at the Sea God Pavilion.
[Di Tian entered the Sea God Pavilion, placed the jade bottle in his hand on the table, then stepped back and bowed deeply to Bai Xuanzi.]
"Xuanzi, this is our gift of gratitude," Di Tian said. "I know that at your level, these things may not amount to much. But this is the best we can offer. Please don't refuse."
Bai Xuanzi glanced at the items on the table, then at Di Tian, and remained silent for a moment.
"The essence blood of a million-year-old soul beast." Bai Xuanzi picked up the jade bottle and looked at the golden liquid inside. "This stuff is indeed precious. It will be very useful to my students."
"And there's also Brigitte's healing essence." Gu Yuena placed the emerald green crystal on the table. "She spent hundreds of thousands of years condensing it to obtain just one; it can bring the dead back to life and heal the wounded."
"The blood crystals of Lord Xiong." Lord Xiong placed the dark golden crystals on the table and said in a deep, resonant voice, "My blood is beneficial for physical cultivation."
"My fruit," the Demon King said, setting the fruit down. "Consuming it will enhance your spiritual power and vitality."
"My scales," the Crimson King said, setting down the crimson scales. "They can be made into defensive soul tools."
Bai Xuanzi looked at the things on the table, nodded, and a slight smile appeared on his lips.
"I'll accept the gifts," Bai Xuanzi said. "Thank you for your kindness."
Di Tian breathed a sigh of relief and bowed again: "Xuanzi, thank you. Not only for the tribulation, but also for your previous care of our Star Dou Great Forest. Without you, I wouldn't be where I am today."
"Alright," Bai Xuanzi waved his hand. "No need to thank me every time we meet. You should go back now. Di Tian still needs to continue his cultivation; don't waste his time."
"Alright." Di Tian nodded and led Gu Yuena and the others away from the Sea God Pavilion.
The group transformed into streaks of light and flew towards the Star Dou Great Forest.
Bai Xuanzi stood by the window, watching the departing streaks of light, then looked down at the things on the table.
"A million years' worth of essence blood," Bai Xuanzi said in a low voice. "Giving it to Yuhao should help him break through to level eighty-five."
He put his things away, turned around, sat back down at the table, and continued drinking his tea.
In the plaza of the Dark World, the Soul Masters witnessed this scene, and their discussions erupted once again.
"I never expected the soul beasts to give away such things." A soul master's eyes widened. "The essence blood of a million-year-old soul beast, what does that mean? Di Tian cultivated for nearly a million years to condense something, and he just gave it away like that."
"There's also Biji's healing essence, Xiong Jun's blood crystals, the fruit of the Demon King, and the scales of the Crimson King," someone nearby said. "These are their most precious possessions. Giving them away shows their genuine gratitude to Bai Xuanzi."
"It seems they are truly grateful to Bai Xuanzi," another Soul Master remarked. "Bai Xuanzi put in so much effort during our tribulation. Now they're bringing these things to express their gratitude; it's a way of repaying that favor."
"However, have you noticed?" an older soul master said, "the soul beasts treat the Shrek Academy in the White World and the Shrek Academy in the Black World completely differently."
"Of course." The person next to him sneered, "In the dark world, Shrek Academy is so badly targeted by spirit beasts that they want to tear them apart. Di Tian led a beast horde to attack the city directly and almost razed Shrek Academy to the ground. But what about Shrek Academy in the white world? Di Tian and the others personally came to deliver gifts and even bowed to express their gratitude. The difference in attitude is like night and day."
"Why?" someone asked.
"Why? Because of Bai Xuanzi," another person said. "Bai Xuanzi treats soul beasts well, so the soul beasts treat him well in return. What is Hei Xuanzi's attitude towards soul beasts? When he led people to hunt soul beasts in the Star Dou Great Forest, he didn't take them seriously at all. Soul beasts aren't stupid; they know who treats them well."
"That's the difference." An older Soul Master shook his head. "Bai Xuanzi genuinely wanted to maintain the balance between humans and Soul Beasts. What about Hei Xuanzi? He only cared about Shrek Academy's reputation and his own cultivation level. Soul Beasts aren't blind; they can see that."
"Alright, that's enough," someone said. "Talking too much about the dark side of the world is just too painful. Let's watch the light side of the world instead; it's more comforting."
The murmurs in the square gradually subsided, but everyone was thinking about the same question.
If Shrek in the dark world could coexist peacefully with the soul beasts like in the white world, perhaps many things wouldn't have happened.
Unfortunately, there are no "what ifs".
(End RAW)