The flight back to the Scarlet King's desolate domain was… tense.
Not because of any hostility between the passengers, surprisingly. Scarlet King was too busy nursing his multiple impacts and trying to look dignified while subtly wincing. Bi Ji floated with her usual serene grace, though her emerald eyes held a thoughtful concern. Zi Ji flew with coiled energy, her purple gaze sharp and assessing, clearly intrigued by the upcoming encounter.
No, the tension came entirely from the silent, overwhelming presence of the Beast God, Di Tian.
He flew effortlessly, his colossal Golden-Eyed Black Dragon King form cutting through the air like a living shadow, absorbing the light around him. His golden eyes held an unnerving stillness, focused straight ahead, processing the incredible information Scarlet had just dumped on him.
'Thirty thousand years… in less than a month…' Di Tian's ancient mind turned the fact over and over. 'Resources capable of that… combined with a human Soul Sage whose Domain overpowered Scarlet's… and who harbors a specific, burning hatred for Asura…'
It didn't compute according to the established laws of the world. Which made it extraordinarily interesting.
'This Song Qing… anomaly doesn't begin to cover it.'
Scarlet King nervously led the way, glancing back occasionally to make sure he wasn't about to get tail-swatted again. 'Just gotta get there… let them talk… stay out of the blast radius…' He felt like a fuse leading to an unknown quantity of divine dynamite.
As they neared the jagged peaks and blood-stained plains surrounding Scarlet's den, the oppressive aura preceding them washed over the land.
Waiting near the cave entrance, Song Qing felt them coming long before they were visible.
He stood calmly, his posture relaxed but alert. Beside him, the Three-Eyed Golden Lion, now significantly larger and radiating undeniable power, shifted its paws nervously. Its initial excitement at returning had been thoroughly tempered by Scarlet King's report on Di Tian's… forceful reaction to the transformation request.
'Okay… focus…' Song Qing thought, subtly drawing upon the dormant power of his first spirit, the Abyssal Demonic Dragon God Emperor. He didn't manifest it, didn't flare his soul power unnecessarily. He simply let its intrinsic quality, its near-divine draconic essence, permeate his being, creating an invisible shield against overwhelming pressure.
'No point getting squashed by sheer aura before the negotiation even starts. Need to meet the Beast God on relatively even footing, mentally at least.' He felt the familiar, cold, abyssal power rise within him, a comfortable counterweight to the approaching storm.
The little lion nudged his leg, its mental voice trembling slightly. 'Song Qing… they're here. Lord Di Tian… his presence… it's terrifying.'
Song Qing placed a reassuring hand on the lion's warm, golden fur. 'Stay calm, little one. Remember your reasons. Speak your truth. I will handle the rest.'
His own emerald eyes remained fixed on the horizon, calm and analytical. 'Let's see the legendary ruler of the Great Star Dou Forest.'
First came the battered crimson comet – Scarlet King, landing with considerably more caution this time, skidding slightly before bowing his three heads low.
Then, a vision of grace descended – Bi Ji, the Emerald Swan Empress, landing silently, her gentle aura a soothing balm… that was immediately overwhelmed.
Next, a flash of predatory purple – Zi Ji, the Abyss Dragon Demon Empress, landing with a sharp, assessing gaze that swept over Song Qing and the lion, lingering on Song Qing with undisguised curiosity. 'So this is the brat…'
And finally… him.
Di Tian didn't just land. He arrived.
The sky seemed to darken as his colossal form eclipsed the sun. He descended slowly, majestically, the air crackling around him. When his massive claws touched the volcanic rock, the ground itself seemed to sigh under his weight.
He ignored Scarlet King entirely. Ignored Bi Ji's gentle nod and Zi Ji's curious stare.
Those immense, molten gold eyes fixed instantly, not on Song Qing, but on the Three-Eyed Golden Lion.
A wave of pressure, far more intense than anything Scarlet could muster, far more ancient and domineering, rolled outwards from the Beast God. It wasn't malicious, not yet. It was simply… presence. The innate authority of the absolute ruler.
The little lion gasped mentally, its legs trembling violently. It instinctively wanted to bow, to prostrate itself, every fiber of its being screaming submission to the apex predator, the king of its kind.
'Hold… firm…' it told itself desperately, remembering Song Qing's words, its own desire. It lowered its head slightly in respect, but forced its legs to remain standing, meeting Di Tian's gaze with its central golden eye, though the effort was immense.
Di Tian observed the struggle, his expression unreadable. He noted the lion's vastly increased power, the purity of its aura, the sheer vitality pouring off it. Scarlet hadn't exaggerated.
Then, those golden eyes shifted, swiveling like divine spotlights, to land on Song Qing.
The pressure intensified, specifically targeting the human. It was a test. A silent demand for submission.
Song Qing felt it wash over him – ancient power, draconic authority, the weight of millennia. It was heavy, potent, enough to crush the will of ordinary Titled Douluo.
But within him, the Abyssal Demonic Dragon God Emperor merely stirred, unimpressed. Its own innate pressure, cold and abyssal and terrifyingly divine in its own right, met Di Tian's wave effortlessly, neutralizing it before it could even register as a threat.
Song Qing remained perfectly still, his expression calm, polite, meeting Di Tian's world-shattering gaze without a flicker. He offered a slight, respectful inclination of his head. Not a bow. An acknowledgement between beings of significant power.
Silence stretched.
Bi Ji watched with gentle apprehension. 'He resists Lord Di Tian's presence so easily… Scarlet wasn't exaggerating about his strangeness.'
Zi Ji's purple eyes narrowed further, fascination warring with predatory instinct. 'Interesting. Very interesting. Similar aura to mine… but deeper? More… fundamental? How is that possible in a human? And a Soul Sage?' She felt an urge to test him herself, to clash her power against his, just to understand.
Scarlet King watched, dumbfounded. 'He's just… standing there? Unaffected? By Lord Di Tian?! I knew he was strange and had a powerful spirit but really just what is this kid?!'
Di Tian's golden eyes narrowed fractionally. The human hadn't flinched. Hadn't even seemed to notice the pressure. This confirmed the reports. This human was not normal.
Finally, the Beast God spoke, his voice a low rumble that resonated in the soul.
"Song Qing. Of Spirit Hall." It wasn't a question.
"Lord Di Tian," Song Qing replied, his voice clear and steady, carrying easily despite the Beast God's overwhelming presence. "It is an honor to finally meet the revered ruler of the Great Star Dou Forest." Polite. Respectful. But not subservient.
Di Tian's gaze shifted back to the trembling but resolute Golden Lion.
"Auspicious One," the Beast God addressed the lion directly. "Scarlet informs me you harbor a desire previously unspoken. A desire to forsake your true form."
The lion flinched at the directness, the implicit disapproval. But it held its ground.
'Yes, Great Beast God,' its mental voice projected, clearer now, gaining strength from Song Qing's calm presence. 'I… I feel this is the path to unlocking my fullest potential. To better serve our kind in the future.'
Di Tian's gaze swung back to Song Qing, sharp and penetrating. "And you encourage this? This… aberration?"
Song Qing met the gaze evenly. "Great Beast God, I encourage the path that leads to the greatest strength and potential for this remarkable creature. If that path currently involves taking human form, then yes, I support exploring it."
Zi Ji snorted softly. 'Bold words, human brat.'
Di Tian tilted his massive head. "Explain. Why would the inherently weaker, flawed form of a human grant greater potential than the noble lineage of an Auspicious Emperor Beast?" The skepticism was thick enough to taste.
"It's not about the form itself being inherently superior, Great Beast God," Song Qing began, his tone reasonable, pedagogical almost. "It's about the process and the perspective that form allows, especially at this stage of development."
He gestured towards the lion. "You see the results of my methods. Thirty thousand years of cultivation condensed. Bloodline purity enhanced. This was achieved through unique resources, yes, but also through stimulating its growth in ways that resonate beyond mere physical absorption."
'He's got a point there,' Zi Ji conceded mentally, studying the lion's vibrant aura. 'The results are spectacular.'
Bi Ji nodded slightly. 'The little one's vitality is truly astonishing.'
Song Qing continued, "The Golden Dragon bloodline within him, the source of his Auspicious power, is intrinsically linked not just to raw power, but to concepts like luck, destiny, and even emotion. Humanoid forms, for better or worse, possess a wider, more nuanced spectrum of emotional experience and conceptual understanding than most spirit beasts."
Di Tian's eyes narrowed. "You suggest human emotions are key to unlocking dragon potential? Preposterous."
"Not emotions themselves," Song Qing clarified patiently. "But the understanding gained through experiencing them directly. Living as a human, learning their language not just as sounds but as ideas, navigating their societies, understanding their motivations, their cultivation paths which focus heavily on comprehension and enlightenment alongside power accumulation… all this provides a unique crucible for growth."
He elaborated, "Think of it as accessing a different library of knowledge. Human cultivation, especially at higher levels, delves into understanding the laws of the world in ways that are different, perhaps more abstract, than the instinctual mastery spirit beasts possess. By experiencing this firsthand, the Auspicious One can potentially integrate these different perspectives, accelerating his comprehension, and thus, the awakening of his bloodline's deeper powers."
He paused, letting the idea sink in. "His growth to thirty thousand years was stage one – building the foundation. Stage two, I believe, requires this shift in perspective to truly refine that power and unlock the unique abilities tied to his lineage much faster than waiting millennia in his current form."
The Three-Eyed Golden Lion seized the opening, projecting its thoughts earnestly, though still trembling slightly under Di Tian's scrutiny.
'Great Beast God, Song Qing speaks truth! I can feel it! Since my power surged, I feel… incomplete. Like there are doors within me I cannot yet open. I sense that understanding the world as humans do, walking amongst them, learning their ways… it holds the key! It's not about wanting to be human, but wanting to understand everything, to grow faster, stronger, to fulfill my destiny!'
Di Tian remained silent for a long moment, his golden eyes unreadable. The argument was… unconventional. It defied millennia of spirit beast tradition. Yet… the results with the lion were undeniable. And the human's logic, while strange, had an internal consistency.
"Faster growth…" Di Tian rumbled thoughtfully. "Integration of conceptual understanding… You claim this temporary immersion in humanity will accelerate his path to true power, not dilute it?"
"Precisely," Song Qing confirmed. "Think of it as intensive, specialized training. A necessary detour to reach the ultimate destination far quicker. And under my direct protection and guidance, the risks you naturally fear – corruption, loss of identity, physical danger – will be meticulously managed."
He met Di Tian's gaze again. "My methods are proven by the results before you. Trust in the results, Great Beast God. Allow this experiment. The potential gains for the Auspicious One, and by extension, for all spirit beasts who rely on his destiny, are immense."
Bi Ji looked thoughtful. 'Accelerated growth… understanding humans better… It could be strategically valuable, if the risks are managed as he claims…'
Zi Ji was still focused elsewhere. 'His confidence is infuriating. But that power… it feels like looking into a distorted mirror. What is his spirit?'
Di Tian considered Song Qing's words, the lion's earnest plea, the undeniable evidence of its power boost. The strategic mind behind the Beast God acknowledged the potential benefits. Understanding the enemy, accelerating the growth of their single most important asset…
But the risks… the tradition… the sheer wrongness of an Auspicious Beast in human skin…
His gaze hardened again. "Your confidence is noteworthy, human. Your results… surprising. But your proposal tampers with destiny itself."
He leaned slightly closer, the sheer scale of him overwhelming. "Before I even contemplate entertaining such a radical departure, I must understand you better. Scarlet mentioned… a particular animosity. A hatred directed towards the Divine Realm. Specifically," Di Tian's voice dropped, becoming almost a low growl, "towards the Asura God."
The atmosphere shifted instantly. The strategic debate vanished, replaced by something far more personal, far more intense.
Song Qing's calm demeanor cracked. Not outwardly, perhaps. No sudden flaring of aura, no change in posture. But the shift was palpable to the powerful beings present. The air around him grew colder. The subtle, defensive hum of his spirit's power seemed to darken, infused with an ancient, chilling fury. His emerald eyes, previously calm and analytical, now held chips of arctic ice, burning with a contained, white-hot rage that seemed utterly disproportionate to his youth.
Bi Ji shivered slightly, sensing the raw emotion. 'Such… anger. So deep.'
Zi Ji felt a thrill course through her. 'Now this is interesting. Pure, unadulterated hatred. Delicious.'
Even Scarlet King felt the change, instinctively shrinking back slightly. 'Uh oh. He hit that nerve.'
Song Qing took a slow breath, the sound unnaturally loud in the sudden stillness. When he spoke, his voice was dangerously quiet, level, yet vibrating with suppressed fury.
"My… disagreement… with the Asura God?" he began, the word 'disagreement' utterly failing to capture the venom beneath it. "It stems from a personal encounter. An unprovoked attack. An attempt on my life by the God King himself, mediated through one of his lackeys."
Di Tian's golden eyes narrowed. "Explain."
"Five years ago," Song Qing stated, his voice flat, devoid of inflection now, which only made the underlying rage more terrifying. "I was eight years old. My cultivation was negligible as merely someone possessing Soul King power. I was traveling in Heaven Dou City and checking out the market with my dear friend."
He paused, as if accessing a painful memory.
"It was then that I encountered one of his chosen inheritors. Someone wielding the Deathgod Domain bestowed by Asura. A Titled Douluo with the Clear Sky Hammer… Tang Hao!"
Di Tian nodded slowly. "The Deathgod Domain. Asura's signature power for his chosen mortals."
"Tang Hao attacked me," Song Qing continued, his gaze distant, fixed on a point only he could see. "For no reason other than the fact that my potential was too high and he did not want to see the Spirit Hall becoming stronger if I grow up. Fortunately I was being protected by Five Titled Douluo."
His hands clenched slightly at his sides, the only outward sign of the storm within.
"During the encounter, something went… wrong. Or perhaps, exactly as Asura God intended. One of Tang Hao's attacks managed to strike my body and a sliver of the Asura God's divine will, embedded within the Domain, latched onto me."
Bi Ji gasped softly. 'A God's will… attacking a child?!'
Zi Ji's interest peaked. 'Direct interference? Nasty.'
Song Qing's voice dropped further, becoming a low snarl. "It deemed me… unacceptable. A threat, perhaps. An anomaly to be erased. This fragment of Asura's divine consciousness actively tried to obliterate my soul."
He laughed then, a short, harsh, utterly mirthless sound that chilled the air. "An eight-year-old boy against the focused killing intent of a God King. The outcome should have been obvious."
He looked up, meeting Di Tian's intense gaze again, and the fury in his eyes was naked now, blazing.
"By some miracle, some fluke of fate, my own nascent spirit reacted, fought back in ways I didn't understand. I survived the direct obliteration." He spat the word 'survived' like a curse. "But survival came at a cost."
His voice trembled slightly, not with fear, but with incandescent rage.
"The backlash, the conflict between that divine killing intent and my own soul, plunged me into a coma. For three years, Great Beast God. Three years."
He swept a hand out, encompassing an unseen audience. "Three years stolen. Three years where my family, my loved ones, my Teacher… thought I might never wake up. Three years they spent in despair, in anguish, watching over a comatose child, helpless against the lingering remnants of Asura's divine malice that tortured my subconscious."
The raw pain, the fury, the sheer injustice radiating from him was undeniable. It wasn't just anger for himself; it was rage for the suffering inflicted on those he cared about.
"I woke up eventually," he said, his voice regaining some control, but the arctic fury remained. "But I remember the feeling. The cold, merciless intent of the Asura God. The absolute conviction that my existence was wrong and needed to be snuffed out. Simply because I was."
He fell silent, his chest rising and falling rapidly, the contained energy making the air around him shimmer slightly.
Di Tian stared at the young human, processing the story. A direct attack by Asura's will. A three-year coma inflicted on a child. The resulting deep-seated, personal, burning hatred.
A low rumble started deep within the Beast God's chest. It wasn't anger at Song Qing. It was… resonance. A shared frequency of ancient grievance. The Golden-Eyed Black Dragon King had his own long, bitter history with the interfering Gods, Asura prominent among them.
He saw the human's rage, felt its authenticity, its depth. And it… pleased him. Greatly.
This wasn't some abstract philosophical opposition to the divine. This was visceral. Personal. Earned.
A human who hated Asura with such passion… a human with strange power capable of nurturing their Auspicious Beast like never before…
Zi Ji watched Song Qing, a slow, predatory smile spreading across her draconic features. 'Oh, I like this one,' she thought with vicious delight. 'Hating a God King with that much fire before he's even a Titled Douluo? He's got spirit. Maybe he is worth talking to.' The similarity of their spirit auras suddenly felt less like a curiosity and more like a potential point of connection, a shared darkness.
Bi Ji felt a wave of sympathy for the young man, for the suffering he and his loved ones endured. The Gods' casual cruelty often had devastating consequences for mortals. His anger, she felt, was justified.
Di Tian finally broke the silence, his voice losing its harsh edge, replaced by a deep, resonant consideration.
"Three years… stolen by Asura's interference…" he mused aloud, the words echoing with ancient weight. "A heavy price. A deep wound."
He looked at Song Qing, truly looked at him, not just as an anomaly or a tool, but as a being with a shared enemy.
"Your hatred… is acceptable."
The unspoken implication hung in the air: And perhaps… shared.
The tide had turned.