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--- Chapter 368 ---
Witnessing Na'er contract the Calamity Eclipse Dragon gave Di Tian and the others a fresh perspective on this new system.
Although they had seen Han Yuan perform the Soul Contract ritual a few months ago, they hadn't truly captured the consequences of the bond formed between a human and a beast.
For the Ferocious Spirit Beasts like Di Tian and Bi Ji, who have lived for thousands of years and have immense cultivation, the idea of becoming someone's Spirit Souls holds no appeal.
They believe it is better to reach a higher realm of cultivation themselves. Having survived multiple Lightning Tribulations and endured body-tearing hardships, they feel that becoming someone's Spirit Souls would erase the battles they have faced.
Wouldn't that mean all their efforts would be a waste?
Yes, they understand that advancing as spirit beasts is challenging, but they remain determined not to give up!
Han Yuan fulfilled his promise by providing Di Tian with a more condensed version of the Ten Thousand Beast Flame's seed, allowing the Beast God to purify his bloodline.
However, it seems that further purification of the Light Dragon King's and Darkness Dragon King's bloodlines is futile.
Their bloodlines are already at the pinnacle within the Douluo Universe, possessing strength comparable to a Godking, if not surpassing it slightly, when combined, and Di Tian carries them within himself.
Still, although the Ten Thousand Beast Flame could strengthen Di Tian's bloodline, it primarily assisted him in slowly improving his origins and mastering the powers associated with the Light Dragon King.
Finally, Di Tian rid himself of his weaknesses. He has inherited his father's power and become the wielder of Ultimate Light.
As Di Tian's own cultivation improved and the two bloodlines within him merged, he was able to combine Ultimate Light and Ultimate Darkness, transforming into an ultimate dragon that surpassed both of his Dragon King parents.
The future of the Light Dragon Clan and Dark Dragon Clan finally rests on Di Tian's shoulders.
Of course, there is also Di Yating, but she has deviated from the orthodox path by receiving the baptism of Demonic Power from Han Yuan.
Currently, returning to the Star Dou Forest, particularly the Green River of Vitality, where the Emerald Swan Clan resides, Han Yuan has spent a few days helping Bi Ji prepare for her evolution.
Bi Ji is steadily meditating above the river, inhaling the purest vitality from her surroundings. Usually, she would cultivate near the Lake of Life, as the vitality there is more beneficial.
However, Han Yuan's recent partnership with the Emerald Swan Clan has established several arrays that enhance their cultivation and improve the environment, making the Long River of Vitality a suitable alternative.
While the conditions are not as optimal as the Lake of Life, they are still comparable. The Long River of Vitality does lack the continuous life force supplied by Life Gold, and if overused, its energy will become depleted and require time to recover.
Bi Ji slowly opened her emerald eyes and then wiped the sweat from her forehead. "I've completed the Yin-Yang Complementary Spirit Cores you envisioned."
"I've also sealed most of my origins and spirit energy within them. What should I do next, Han Yuan?"
"Nirvana." Han Yuan replied with a smile as he summoned the true form of the Ten Thousand Beast Flame, Enma. "You will burn to ashes, and then revive from those ashes."
"You are going to become a Phoenix, so you should experience Nirvana at least once. However, I need your full trust. If you don't trust me with your life, I can't help you survive this life-and-death test."
Bi Ji blushed slightly. "This… Han Yuan, the way you're saying this is a bit ambiguous, isn't it?"
"..." Han Yuan's mouth twitched, staring at her blankly.
"How come you become so unserious, too, Bi Ji? Spending too much time with Yating must have influenced you."
"Han Yuan, what do you mean by that?! Are you implying that I'm a bad influence on Bi Ji?" Di Yating said, exiting Han Yuan's spiritual sea in a furious outburst.
Han Yuan shrugged. "I didn't say that. You did."
"You!" Di Yating was in disbelief, pointing her trembling finger at him.
Bi Ji giggled at Di Yating's reaction before glancing warmly at Han Yuan, saying, "I trust you, Han Yuan."
"You're not just the benefactor of the Star Dou Forest; you're also my Emerald Swan Clan's ally. I was thinking of following you as a maid to repay you…"
"Whoa, whoa! What do you mean by that?" Han Yuan pushed Di Yating aside and looked at Bi Ji in confusion.
"Nothing. Just my own thoughts," Bi Ji replied with a faint smile. "The Star Dou Forest is destined to enter a stable and prosperous era soon."
"I can't stay in the Star Dou Forest forever, and like Xiong Jun and others, I also want to reach a higher stage."
"What better way to do that than by following you?"
Di Yating huffed and puffed. "Hmph! You heard that. I didn't do anything to this swan! She's just that down bad on you."
"Hmm, down bad is such a poor way to describe me, Yating," Bi Ji said, pouting slightly. "Besides, didn't you say I could visit another world as long as I followed Han Yuan?"
"Uuh... Well, I might have misspoken a couple of times," said Di Yating while looking away awkwardly.
"So, it's still your fault!" Han Yuan gave Di Yating a speechless look.
He rubbed his temple and gazed at Bi Ji, "Let's not mention this maid thing for now, let's focus on your evolution first."
Bi Ji's lips curled slightly, 'Heh, men, all that but you didn't directly reject my advances...'
What Bi Ji didn't know was that Han Yuan got too desensitized, as there were so many beautiful women in his life.
Some women are wilder than Bi Ji, who was quite modest, and she was in for a great surprise later on. After all, Ah Yin, Xiao Rou, and Xiao Wu have never left the Star Dou Forest.
"Let's start," Han Yuan gazed at Bi Ji calmly.
Meow~!
Enma followed Han Yuan's immediate order and, under Di Yating's blank gaze, burned Bi Ji to ashes.
Bi Ji groaned in pain as she felt her whole being rapidly getting burned to ashes, and watched her once fair hands become dark like coal before turning into dust.
The suffocation feeling of death rushed to Bi Ji's panicked mind, and then her whole life flashed before her eyes. She watched everything from the beginning to this very moment.
Finally, Bi Ji gasped when seeing two silver rays penetrating through her darkness, and those rays were none other than Han Yuan's calm eyes.
Bi Ji was surprised before smiling, 'Don't let me down, Han Yuan...'
Whooooooosh!!
"This..." Di Yating watched Bi Ji turning into a pile of burning ashes and glanced at Han Yuan. "She's going to be fine, right?"
Han Yuan put on a calm look, "She is."
"Don't worry."
At the same time, the spirit beasts in the Core Area felt Bi Ji's uneventful death and let out a sorrowful roar to the sky. They thought the kindest spirit beast had fallen, but some spirit beasts knew the truth and didn't panic.
Di Tian arrived beside Han Yuan and gazed at the pile of burning ashes with a solemn expression. "It started already?"
"Yes, and all we need to do is wait," Han Yuan nodded. "The longer it takes for Bi Ji to experience Nirvana, the higher her chance of rebirthing into Azure Phoenix."
They waited for almost an hour when a piercing Phoenix's cries echoed in the Star Dou Forest.
An azure flame bloomed in the ground and rose to the sky.
The world rejoiced, and an auspicious wind swept the forest.
BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!!
CAAAAAAAAAAAAWWW!
Han Yuan gazed at the divine bird in the sky. She was lithe and beautiful, danced in the sky, causing the soft and grand gem-like azure feathers to shake rhythmically with the wind. A crown of azure flame bloomed on the bird's forehead as her azure eyes gazed back at Han Yuan.
Then, the Azure Phoenix descended from the sky and landed right before Han Yuan.
If Bi Ji, as an Emerald Swan, was an ethereal beauty, then the current Bi Ji is a divine beauty, whose appearance could shake the world.
"Bi Ji thanked Young Master Han Yuan for his help."
"I am willing to be your servant and follow you till the end of time."
"Young Master, you won't reject me, right?" She tilted her head and put on a teasing smile.
"..." Han Yuan.