manynovel Chapter 37 The Zhang Family
Chapter 37 The Zhang Family
Morning light pierced through the layered canopies of ancient trees in the Starry Sky Forest, scattering fine golden rays like broken gold, weaving dappled light and shadow on the ground covered with decaying leaves and moss. The forest was filled with the crisp scent of morning dew and vegetation, the day's danger gone, replaced by a sense of tranquility and peace. Zi Lingtian and his companions walked back on their journey, their steps much lighter than on their way there, their tense minds finally able to relax.
Titan led the way, his mountain-like figure moving nimbly through the dense forest. His heavy feet trod on the soft, decaying leaves with only a faint rustling sound, demonstrating the ultimate control he had gained after transforming into a ten-thousand-year-old soul beast. His large, bell-like eyes still vigilantly scanned the depths of the surrounding forest, his ears twitching slightly, not missing a single unusual sound. However, the tense lines on his face, which had been taut for a whole day and night, finally relaxed slowly, and most of the solemnity in his eyes dissipated, leaving only a trace of lingering caution.
Tang Wutong walked in the middle of the group, her long, light blue braid swaying gently with each step, the ends falling onto her slender shoulders and swaying lightly in the wind. She hummed a light, melodious tune, her clear voice echoing through the forest. Her eyes curved into a smile, an unconcealable joy playing on her lips, her mood as bright as the sunlight filtering through the leaves. Every now and then, she would steal a glance back at Zi Lingtian, who was bringing up the rear. In her large, light blue eyes, complex and difficult to discern emotions surged—pride at witnessing him acquire a powerful spirit ring, concern for him absorbing a ten-thousand-year spirit ring and harming himself, and a hint of dependence and curiosity that even she herself hadn't noticed. Her gaze shifted, full of the lively thoughts of a young girl.
Zi Lingtian quietly trailed behind, her posture as upright as a pine tree. Her deep purple eyes were calm and undisturbed. She seemed to be focused on the forest path stretching ahead, but the image of the Thunderous Hell Vine offering sacrifice kept replaying in her mind, lingering there.
"It is my honor to serve the Lord with this crippled body..."
The aged and weak voice seemed to still echo in my ears, devoid of the fear and struggle of impending death, only the solemnity accumulated over ten thousand years and the piety etched into my bones. It was not a helpless sacrifice forced into a corner, nor a dying struggle under the hunting of Soul Masters, but a choice made voluntarily out of the deepest reverence in his heart—to entrust the power of his ten thousand years of cultivation, his unique Thunder God bloodline, and even his complete soul, without reservation, to a child who was only six years old.
Why?
This question lingered in Zi Lingtian's mind, prompting him to ponder it repeatedly, always seeking the most fundamental answer. The Thunderous Hell Vine possessed a diluted bloodline of the Thunder God, and the power of the Thunder God was inherently of the same origin as the power of destruction, yet flowing differently. It was understandable that it could sense the bloodline of the God of Destruction flowing within it and feel awe. However, sacrifice meant the complete erasure of its own existence, entrusting everything it had in its life. Such a resolute choice could not be driven by mere awe.
Unless, it sees within itself the opportunity that has been waiting for thousands of years.
Zi Lingtian suddenly recalled the secrets of the Soul Beasts in Douluo Continent: when a Soul Beast cultivates for 100,000 years, it faces a life-or-death choice: either take the risk of transforming into a human and embarking on a new but unpredictable path of cultivation, or be annihilated by the Heavenly Tribulation and completely disappear from the world. As a subspecies of the Dragon Clan, and possessing the bloodline of the Thunder God, the Thunderous Hell Vine's ambition and pursuit were far more than simply breaking the 100,000-year limit. What it yearned for was the purification and sublimation of its bloodline, to shed its mortal body and return to its ancestral form, to touch the unattainable legendary realm of the Thunder God, to break free from the shackles of the Dragon Clan subspecies, and to achieve the true inheritance of the Thunder God.
The destructive power within itself is fundamentally connected to the power of the Thunder God, and their auras are intertwined. By voluntarily sacrificing itself to him, its Thunder God bloodline will not perish, but will instead perfectly merge with the destructive power, continuing in a higher dimension. It may even complete an evolution that it could never achieve in its entire life through the bloodline of the God of Destruction.
For the Thunderous Hell Vine, this was never death, but rather another form of immortality, a way to break free from the cycle of reincarnation, and the final destination of its millennia-long obsession.
Zi Lingtian took a deep breath, suppressing the surging emotions in his chest, a solemn look flashing in his eyes. Regardless of the Thunderous Hell Vine's original intention, this self-sacrificed gift weighed a ton. Three soul rings: a 2,300-year-old Thunder Flame Dragon, a 3,600-year-old Destruction God Ape, and a 12,000-year-old Thunderous Hell Vine. Each ring's age far exceeded the absorption limit of soul masters of the same level, and each contained a unique and immense power. He absolutely could not betray this generous gift.
"Little Six, are you tired?" Titan's deep voice came from ahead, his gentle tone breaking Zi Lingtian's thoughts.
Zi Lingtian raised her eyes, looked calmly at Titan, and gently shook her head: "Not tired."
Titan grinned, scratching the back of his head with his rough hand, his tone full of admiration: "You kid, your physical foundation is truly one in a hundred years. Absorbing three spirit rings in a row, including a ten-thousand-year spirit ring, would have left an ordinary child exhausted and collapsed, but you're as good as new. In all my tens of thousands of years, I've never seen such a prodigy before."
Upon hearing this, Tang Wutong immediately turned her head, blinked her big eyes at Zi Lingtian, and muttered softly, her tone carrying a hint of resentment mixed with admiration: "He was originally a little monster, different from ordinary people."
Zi Lingtian's expression remained calm and composed, without the slightest ripple, and she said indifferently, "Thank you for the compliment."
"I wasn't praising you!" Tang Wutong's cheeks flushed slightly, she snorted softly, turned her head away, and her ear tips secretly turned pink.
Upon seeing this, Titan couldn't help but burst into laughter. His deep laughter echoed through the empty forest, causing the birds on the branches to flutter their wings and scatter in all directions, adding a touch of liveliness to the tranquil journey home.
The return journey was a hundred times smoother than the journey there. On the way there, they had spent most of the day searching for a soul beast with compatible attributes, stopping and searching repeatedly. On the way back, they didn't have to hesitate and went straight ahead. There were no more troublesome soul beasts blocking their way in the forest. In just two hours, the hazy outline of the edge of the Star Dou Great Forest clearly appeared in the three of them's sight.
The moment she stepped out of the forest, the unobstructed warm sun poured down, enveloping her in its bright light and dispelling the damp chill of the woods. Zi Lingtian squinted slightly, raised her hand to shield her eyes from the sunlight, and took a deep breath of the air, which was filled with the fragrance of grass and earth, feeling completely refreshed.