Deep within the core of the Star Dou Forest, hidden beneath the Life Lake, lies the secret domain of their master, the Silver Dragon King, Gu Yuena.
In a cave far below the surface, several of the fearsome beasts gathered—among them, Bi Ji, Zi Ji, the Crimson King, and the Emperor Auspicious Beast, the Three-Eyed Golden Lion. Di Tian, their leader, had left the safety of the core zone. His reasoning was simple: if the Dragon Essence he consumed caused his bloodline to evolve, there was a real possibility that his power would surge, perhaps even pushing him beyond the 900,000-year mark.
Such an advance would trigger the dreaded lightning tribulation. And a tribulation of that magnitude would wreak havoc, possibly laying waste to the core zone—something Di Tian could not allow. The core zone was not just home to them, but also to their master, the Silver Dragon King.
Thus, he ventured away from the core and deep into the inner regions of the forest. To prevent collateral damage to the creatures of the inner zone, Di Tian used his immense power to drive away all nearby soul beasts. Only then did he begin to prepare.
Standing in the now deserted area, Di Tian gazed at the Dragon Essence in his hand.
"I hope this is as powerful as the mysterious livestream described. May it evolve my bloodline and help me break through the 900,000-year barrier!"
With those words, Di Tian swallowed the Dragon Essence.
Almost immediately, a tidal wave of energy exploded from within him, surging through his body. It wasn't just pure energy—it was life force, raw vitality, and most importantly, the essence of the dragon itself. Di Tian felt his body growing stronger, his soul power increasing with each passing moment, and, perhaps most thrilling of all, his very bloodline was evolving.
Ecstatic, Di Tian couldn't help but roar. His joy manifested in a powerful, earth-shaking dragon cry. In a flash, he transformed into his true form: the Black Dragon King with golden eyes. Soaring high into the sky, his massive body stretched out, revealing a dark and fearsome figure. His once-black scales grew thicker and denser, their surface glinting as gold lines began to etch themselves into his armor-like hide.
And then, something new—an unexpected development. The bones in his skull began to grow, forming a crown-like structure atop his head. The transformation was complete.
Di Tian was no longer just the Golden-Eyed Black Dragon King—he was now the Golden-Eyed Black Dragon Emperor!
The energy contained within the Dragon Essence alone wasn't enough to push him beyond the 900,000-year mark. But the combination of that potent energy with his newly evolved bloodline provided the necessary boost. His cultivation broke through the barrier!
Suddenly, the sky darkened. Ominous clouds swirled overhead, crackling with the raw power of the lightning tribulation. The sound of thunder echoed like the drums of war as massive bolts of lightning, shaped like serpentine dragons, rained down from the heavens.
Even in his new and empowered form, Di Tian felt the stinging lash of the lightning. His scales were shattered, and blood flowed freely as bolt after bolt struck him with relentless fury. The once-impenetrable armor of his scales was no match for the intensity of the tribulation. His roars of pain echoed through the forest, sending shivers down the spines of those who heard them.
In his previous form as the Black Dragon King, the tribulation might have left Di Tian on the brink of death. But as the Black Dragon Emperor, his newfound strength, resilience, and regenerative abilities allowed him to endure. He gritted his teeth and bore the brunt of the storm.
After what felt like an eternity, the dark clouds began to dissipate, and the tribulation finally ended.
Di Tian's body was battered and broken—many of his scales had been charred away, and much of his flesh was scorched and torn. Even his once-pristine bone crown had been shattered. But despite the state of his body, Di Tian began to laugh, his voice filled with triumph.
He had done it. He had broken through the 900,000-year barrier.
Meanwhile, across the Star Dou Forest, human soul masters hunting soul beasts couldn't help but notice the dark storm clouds that had gathered above. The tribulation had drawn attention far and wide.
Not far from where Di Tian had endured his ordeal, deep in the core zone, the other beasts had felt the tremors of his breakthrough. They rushed to the surface, eager to see what had become of their leader.
"Congratulations, Lord Di Tian! You've broken through the 900,000-year mark!" they exclaimed as they reached him.
"Hahaha! Yes, I've finally done it! And not just that—my bloodline has evolved. With the power of my Dragon God Claw, no human Limit Douluo can stand against me now!" Di Tian declared, his laughter wild with exhilaration.
"It's been almost six months since this mysterious livestream appeared in our Douluo Continent, and still, the Divine Realm has not responded," Di Tian continued. "Perhaps this livestream has cut off their connection to us."
The Crimson King, one of his closest confidants, looked at Di Tian in shock. "Lord Di Tian, does that mean you're planning to lead us in a war against the humans?"
Di Tian smirked, shaking his head. "Not yet. While I have broken through and gained immense power, we are not ready for all-out war. The Divine Realm may not be able to interfere directly, but their influence lingers. There are still remnants of gods on this continent—echoes of their power in the form of divine remnants or fragments of their souls."
His voice grew somber as he explained further. "If I were to declare war on humanity now, those remnants would awaken. The gods' lingering consciousness could still bestow divine tools upon human Limit Douluos, leveling the playing field. Though I may now have the strength to challenge them, if they wield those divine weapons, my advantage could be lost."
The Crimson King frowned, visibly concerned. "But Lord Di Tian, what are we to do? The balance between soul beasts and humans has always been fragile. If we wait too long, humanity might grow even stronger."
Di Tian's golden eyes glinted with a predatory gleam. "That is why we must continue to strengthen ourselves in secret. The soul power of that million-year-old Ice Jade Scorpion remains crucial to our plans. By absorbing its energy, I can further augment my strength. I'm not done evolving yet. And if I can acquire another Dragon Essence, I'm confident I can break through to the million-year level myself."
A ripple of excitement coursed through the gathered soul beasts. Di Tian's ambitions were clear—he sought nothing less than ultimate power. The idea of having a soul beast reach a million years of cultivation was unheard of, a milestone that would completely tip the balance of power on the continent.
"With a million years of cultivation," Di Tian continued, his voice now dripping with confidence, "we will be unstoppable. Not only will I be able to crush the Limit Douluos of the human race, but I will also have the power to directly oppose the remnants of the gods. At that point, we will no longer hide or bide our time. We will strike, and we will reclaim this world for the soul beasts!"
The Crimson King, along with the others, could feel the weight of Di Tian's words. His grand ambition was not just survival or coexistence with humans—it was domination. He planned to restore the soul beasts to their rightful place as the rulers of the continent, casting humanity down from their current position of power.
"First, we must keep absorbing the Ice Jade Scorpion's soul power," Di Tian said, his voice filled with a renewed sense of purpose. "And if we are fortunate enough to come across another Dragon Essence, I will claim it for myself. When the time is right, we will rise. Until then, we lie in wait, gathering our strength."
The beasts around him nodded, understanding their leader's vision. The time for caution had not yet passed, but when it did, they would be ready. Di Tian's eyes gleamed with the promise of future glory, and he clenched his fist tightly against his chest, symbolizing his resolve.
"This continent will belong to the soul beasts once again. I swear it."
Note: If you are interested you can read up to chapter 133 at patreon.com/MythMosaic.