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Just as Tang Chen's mental force connected with the giant silkworm baby in the cave and he heard its cry for help, an anomaly suddenly occurred. An extremely terrifying pressure, filled with dark power, like a sleeping monarch, suddenly awakened and burst forth from his body. Immediately after, the reverse scale given to him by Ditian on his chest became slightly warm, and a black dragon scale phantom quickly appeared and spread on his skin, then emitted a faint black light.
An invisible barrier suddenly formed with a buzz. Tang Chen's mental force connection with the giant silkworm baby through the Blue Silver Domain was abruptly and instantly severed by this sudden dark power. The urgent cry for help from the Tianmeng Ice Silkworm in his mind came to an abrupt halt, as if everything just now was merely an illusion.
Tang Chen frowned slightly and looked down at the black scales on his chest that were slowly fading. A look of solemnity flashed in his eyes as he wondered what this was. Previously, when Ditian intervened to save him, although he was in a coma, he was not entirely unconscious and had some awareness of the existence of this reverse scale and everything Ditian did.
He thought to himself that the giant silkworm baby just now seemed to be the Tianmeng Ice Silkworm. It seemed Ditian did not want him to know of its existence, and even less wanted him to interact with it. Just then, Xiao Ruier took a step forward, looking at Tang Chen, who was in a daze with an unusual expression. Her beautiful face showed a hint of worry and confusion as she asked him softly if something happened or if his injuries had not fully healed.
Hearing this, Tang Chen quickly composed himself and suppressed his doubts about the Tianmeng Ice Silkworm. He gently shook his head at Xiao Ruier and showed her a reassuring smile. He told her it was nothing and that he had just recovered, so there were some fluctuations during his mental force probe. Xiao Ruier saw that Tang Chen seemed unwilling to say more and bit her red lips. A hint of struggle flashed in her eyes, but in the end, she made a certain decision.
After a moment of silence, she looked at Tang Chen seriously and slowly began to speak. She told him that this place was actually the most core Forbidden Land of the Star Dou Great Forest, known as the Land of Great Danger. She revealed that she was actually not human and that her true identity was the Emperor Auspicious Beast Three-Eyed Golden Lion of the Star Dou Great Forest.
She told Tang Chen everything plainly and without reservation. She explained her identity as a Spirit Beast, how they met, and how Ditian had sensed danger earlier. She described how Ditian intervened to save them from Bibi Dong and used his reverse scale to bear the damage of the Eternal Wound for him. After saying all this, Xiao Ruier looked at Tang Chen somewhat nervously, afraid of seeing disgust or estrangement in his eyes.
However, after Tang Chen heard all this, there was no expression of surprise or rejection on his face. Instead, he showed a knowing smile. He slowly extended his palm, gently and tenderly brushing a few strands of golden hair from Xiao Ruier's forehead with gentle and solemn movements. He told her softly that he actually knew all of this a long time ago.
At this moment, Tang Chen's gaze was clear and firm. Looking into her eyes, he said he did not care about external identities, whether she was human or a Spirit Beast. He paused with a tone of self-mockery that was incredibly frank. He added that in a sense, he was also a Spirit Beast because his mother was the previous Blue Silver Emperor, a hundred-thousand-year plant Spirit Beast. He noted that with such a deep connection to the Star Dou Great Forest, he could be considered half a Spirit Beast.
His words were like warm sunshine, instantly dispelling all of Xiao Ruier's apprehension and gloom. Upon hearing these words, her last shred of worry vanished into thin air. A tremendous wave of emotion and joy instantly surged into her heart, and tears once again uncontrollably filled her eyes. This time, they were tears of happiness.
Xiao Ruier choked out the name of her beloved and then could no longer hold back, throwing herself into his embrace and holding him tightly. The two embraced tightly by the Lake of Life, their heartbeats seemingly merging into one. No more words were needed as all acceptance and deep affection merged into this silent embrace.
Just then, a condensed black shadow, as if blending into the night, silently drifted from the nearby forest and finally materialized by the lake. It was the Beast God Ditian. Seeing the newcomer, Xiao Ruier quickly composed her surging emotions and respectfully called out to him as Uncle Ditian.
Ditian's majestic gaze immediately fell upon Tang Chen, and he nodded slightly. Tang Chen felt the other party's unfathomable aura and he too bowed slightly with an attitude that was neither humble nor arrogant as he greeted the Beast God.
Ditian nodded again and then looked at Xiao Ruier. With a calm tone that carried undeniable authority, he asked her to step aside for a moment because he wanted to have a quick chat with the young man. Hearing this, a hint of hesitation flashed across Xiao Ruier's beautiful face. She looked at Tang Chen, and seeing him give her a reassuring look and a gentle nod to indicate he would be fine, she then obediently replied and retreated into the distance.
After Xiao Ruier left, the faint black Qi currents swirling around Ditian slowly receded. He stood quietly beside Tang Chen, looking together at the Lake of Life, which was embedded in the forest like an emerald. After a moment of silence, Ditian's deep voice asked if he felt it and if it was beautiful here.
Taking a deep breath of the thick, almost tangible life energy, Tang Chen answered without hesitation that it was too beautiful and simply a paradise on earth. His praise came from the heart as the tranquility and vitality here felt as if they washed away the gloom from his previous intense battle and severe injuries.
Ditian said indifferently that this was where life was nurtured. He explained that the lake was the most sacred Lake of Life in the Star Dou Great Forest. This lake had existed for millions of years and had nurtured all living beings in the forest, allowing it to have its own ecological balance over time. He mentioned that originally, he and another entity had a role there, but he paused with eyes filled with a sense of loss and awe as if recalling an ancient and powerful existence.
Tang Chen did not look at Ditian, so he could not see the expression in his eyes. He was completely awestruck by the beautiful scenery and the majestic life and ancient history contained within the lake. He felt that only the name Lake of Life could express its beauty and sacredness.
After another moment of silence, Ditian changed the subject and focused his deep golden dragon eyes on Tang Chen again. He asked a crucial question about whether Tang Chen knew why he saved him. Tang Chen snapped out of his awe, pondered for a moment, and asked if it was because of his relationship with Ruier.
Ditian first nodded and then slowly shook his head with an incredibly profound gaze. He said seriously that while that was true, it was not the entire reason. He paused and added with a voice of heavy expectation that he saw hope in Tang Chen, specifically the hope of the Spirit Beast race.
Tang Chen was somewhat puzzled to hear this. Although he possessed the Blue Silver Emperor Bloodline left by his mother, he felt he was still far from being the hope of the entire Spirit Beast race. Ditian once again cast his gaze upon the calm surface of the lake and remained silent for a moment as if making a decision.
He slowly said that it was too early to tell him now. He added that when Tang Chen's strength also reached his realm, he might truly have a chance to reach that level since he was human and not a beast. At that time, he hoped Tang Chen could help him heal someone's injuries. He did not say who that person was or what kind of injuries they had, but for someone as powerful as Ditian to be so solemn, the source and severity of those injuries were imaginable.