"If I'm not mistaken, soul beasts originally only needed 100,000 years of cultivation to ascend to godhood. Once they survived their first great tribulation, they could transform into human form and become a god, correct?" Mu Chen asked.
"How… how do you know something even soul beasts themselves don't?" The Deep Sea Demon Whale King's voice trembled, a trace of shock overtaking its usual confidence.
"Based on what I know about divinity, a being must undergo a transformation to become a god. For soul beasts, the ability to take human form marks that transformation. However, since the pathway for beasts to ascend to the Divine Realm has been completely sealed, even surviving 100,000 years is meaningless—you're cut off from the opportunity to become a god." Mu Chen's tone was calm, but each word landed like a hammer on the Demon Whale King's psyche.
"Then… does that mean I could have become a god?" Xiao Bai murmured in disbelief, her voice trembling.
Yu Si Nuo, the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Queen, locked eyes with the Demon Whale King, a complicated expression on her face.
Both Xiao Bai and Yu Si Nuo were exceptional soul beasts—Xiao Bai had crossed 100,000 years, while Yu Si Nuo was approaching 300,000 years and her next great tribulation. It was precisely her fear of failing that tribulation that had driven her to become Mu Chen's companion.
"Despicable human gods!" Yu Si Nuo growled, her voice laced with anger and frustration.
The Demon Whale King said nothing, but its silence spoke volumes. Its earlier shock had already confirmed the truth in Mu Chen's words. It had spent nearly a million years striving for godhood, only to realize it had been chasing an illusion.
"So… I will never become the Beast God I dreamed of…?"
The sharp gleam in the Demon Whale King's eye faded entirely, replaced by a look of emptiness. A sense of profound futility overwhelmed it.
For nearly a million years, the Demon Whale King had been haunted by the words of its ancestors—soul beasts once needed only 100,000 years to ascend. Back then, every millennium, a beast would achieve godhood and leave for the Divine Realm.
But something had changed. By the time of its forefathers, ascension became harder and harder, until it was nearly impossible. The reason for that change had remained a mystery—until now.
The path for soul beasts to ascend had been sealed.
The realization struck the Demon Whale King like lightning. Its lifetime of struggle and suffering had been in vain.
Watching closely, Mu Chen noticed the shift in the Demon Whale King's emotions. The frustration, the despair—it was all visible.
This is my chance, Mu Chen thought, his confidence soaring. Previously, he had only a 50% chance of defeating the Demon Whale King in battle. But now, with its will shattered, his odds had risen to 90%.
With a thought, Mu Chen summoned his Chaos Sword, a gray rune glowing at his brow.
"You intend to kill me?" the Demon Whale King's voice suddenly echoed.
"Uh… yes." Mu Chen blinked, startled that his intentions had been so easily read.
What happened next surprised Mu Chen even more.
The defeated look in the Demon Whale King's eyes vanished, replaced by an even more terrifying, burning resolve.
"What's happening? Didn't it lose its will to fight? Why does it suddenly seem so… unshakable?" Yu Si Nuo asked, her voice laced with shock.
"It's not a will to survive," Xiao Bai said, her tone uncertain. "It's something deeper…"
"No," Mu Chen corrected. "It's a will for vengeance."
Even Mu Chen couldn't help but be astonished. He consulted his system briefly and received an explanation—the Demon Whale King's newfound strength came from its boundless fury and desire for revenge.
"Human, what is your name?" the Demon Whale King asked coldly.
"Mu Chen," he replied cautiously.
"Mu Chen… I can sense that you are undergoing a divine trial. Tell me, which trial are you on?"
Mu Chen frowned at the strange question but answered honestly. "The Eighth Trial. To complete it, I must kill you."
The Demon Whale King's lone eye glinted sharply, and it let out a deep, rumbling laugh. "Kill me? Hah! The human gods certainly think highly of me."
Its laughter ceased abruptly, and it stared at Mu Chen with a newfound intensity. "Mu Chen, I will give you what you want. I will allow you to fulfill your trial… but only on one condition. Swear on your Martial Soul that you will grant my final wish. As I understand it, swearing upon one's Martial Soul is the most sacred oath among spirit masters."
Mu Chen's eyes narrowed. "What is your condition?"
"Destroy the Divine Realm. Eradicate all the human gods. Promise me that, and I will submit to you willingly," the Demon Whale King declared, its voice filled with hatred.
"That's impossible," Mu Chen replied firmly. "Not all human gods are evil. Some are righteous and just. I won't make such a vow."
"Then I will make a new condition," the Demon Whale King growled, its tone softening slightly. "When you ascend to the Divine Realm, promise me that you will reopen the path for soul beasts to ascend. Undo the seal that bars us from godhood."
Xiao Bai and Yu Si Nuo both turned to Mu Chen, their gazes full of anticipation and tension.
"Reopening the path for soul beasts…" Mu Chen muttered, shaking his head slightly. "That would put me at odds with the gods of the Divine Realm, especially those who harbor prejudice against soul beasts."
"Mu Chen," the Demon Whale King interrupted, its voice low but commanding, "even with your strength, you cannot kill me easily. To me, only the Seagod was a true threat. That High Priest you defeated on Seagod Island? She wouldn't have lasted a moment against me. If you agree to my condition, I will offer myself to you as a sacrifice. Everything I possess—my soul ring, my essence, my treasures—will be yours."
"What?!"
"What?!"
"What?!"
Mu Chen, Xiao Bai, and Yu Si Nuo all exclaimed in disbelief.
The Deep Sea Demon Whale King—the ruler of the ocean, the terror of the seas—was offering itself as a sacrifice to a human?
"Tell me why," Mu Chen asked, struggling to understand.
In the original story, Tang San had required the full strength of the Shrek Seven Devils and Xiao Bai's shark tribe to bring down the Deep Sea Demon Whale King. Even then, it had been a grueling battle.
But here and now, the king of the deep seas was volunteering to sacrifice itself. All for a single promise.
Mu Chen couldn't comprehend it. There was no bond between them, no shared history, no emotional connection. They had only just met.
So why was the Deep Sea Demon Whale King willing to give up everything?
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