Chapter 571 - Servitude Contract

Once comparable to a First-Rank God, and often sneaking among powerful beasts to steal heavenly treasures, the Treasure-Seeking Beast was indeed extremely cunning.

He could tell that Bi Ji and the others held great respect for Xia Yi, and that Gu Yue and Xia Yi shared a very close relationship.

No matter what, he absolutely could not admit that he knew the true identity of Xia Yi, the soul master.

If he admitted it, it would be intentional disrespect. If he pretended not to know, he could claim ignorance and be blameless.

"What's his background, really?" Xia Yi asked curiously, looking at Gu Yue.

He had encountered many powerful soul beasts, but never one like this Treasure-Seeking Beast who could change his demeanor faster than flipping a page in a book.

"Your Majesty," the Treasure-Seeking Beast immediately took the opportunity to speak upon hearing Xia Yi's question and proactively introduced himself. "I was the most loyal subordinate of the Dragon God. In fact, in the early years, I was merely a parasite on his body—though a rather large one. But the Dragon God is a Supreme Divine King! Bathed daily in the aura of a Divine King, I began to evolve over time. After who knows how many years, my body gradually evolved and developed intelligence."

Xia Yi was intrigued and asked, "You mentioned earlier that most of your kind perished in the aftermath of the Dragon God's war. But if you were a parasite on his body and had a species, then were there many such parasites on the Dragon God?"

"Of course, there were many of us. I had plenty of companions. But I was the first among them to develop intelligence while on the Dragon God. How could those who came after ever compare to me?" the Treasure-Seeking Beast replied proudly.

"You're actually proud of being a parasite?" Xia Yi muttered under his breath. "Just how long did the Dragon God go without bathing to have so many parasites?"

Even if he didn't bathe, as a Divine King, his body should have been spotless.

How could there be so many parasites on the Dragon God's body?

Wasn't it uncomfortable?

Xia Yi instinctively glanced over at Gu Yue.

But the moment he turned his head, he met Gu Yue's deadly glare.

Startled, Xia Yi quickly averted his gaze.

"Damn vixen. Don't you know whether I'm clean or not? To think you'd imagine something so disgusting. Do I really seem that gross to you? Just wait till tonight—I'll teach you a lesson!" Gu Yue gritted her teeth inwardly as she watched Xia Yi dodge her gaze.

She was the Silver Dragon King.

The Dragon God was the Dragon God.

Don't confuse the two, okay?

Even if she was an avatar of the Dragon God, strictly speaking, her divine core originated from the Phoenix God.

What she inherited from the Dragon God was merely elemental control.

The Dragon God's body was given to the Golden Dragon King, alright?

"Ahem, ahem!" Xia Yi coughed awkwardly and turned back to the Treasure-Seeking Beast. "You're a parasite, so how did you end up with power comparable to a First-Rank God?"

"I'm no ordinary parasite. I was the Dragon God's most loyal subordinate. He bestowed divine consciousness upon me, granting me powerful illusion abilities and keen perception. We were entrusted with guarding the Divine Realm's gardens, tending to the immortal herbs and fruits. Sometimes, we were even rewarded with them." The Treasure-Seeking Beast spoke with pride.

"Loyal? You had power comparable to a First-Rank God, yet I never saw you during the Dragon God War," Gu Yue suddenly interjected coldly. "All you cared about was saving your own hide. And you still dare to speak of loyalty?"

"I had no real combat ability. Even if I joined the fight, it wouldn't have changed anything," the Treasure-Seeking Beast mumbled defensively.

Not just him—his entire species avoided the war. Only the weak among them or those caught in the crossfire perished.

The powerful ones all managed to escape. But without the Dragon God's aura to sustain them, they slowly died off over time.

"No combat ability? Heh. I remember when the Phoenix God was slain by the Dragon God, several divine beasts loyal to her chose suicide to follow her into death. Why didn't you do the same?" Gu Yue asked coldly.

"The Dragon God won't die. One day, he will return in glory," the Treasure-Seeking Beast replied.

"The Phoenix God won't die either. She also left behind a method of resurrection," Gu Yue retorted coldly.

"The Phoenix God can't compare to the Dragon God. Gold-Patterned Blue Demon Birds and Silver-Patterned Blue Demon Birds are already incredibly rare, and they must appear simultaneously. On top of that, they're hunted by dragons. How could they ever grow strong enough to give birth to the Phoenix God?" The Treasure-Seeking Beast was full of pride, clearly well-informed about the Phoenix God due to his time on the Dragon God.

"That's only what you think," Gu Yue said calmly.

It was the Dragon God who gave the order to hunt those birds—not her, the Silver Dragon King.

She had never issued such an order.

"The Phoenix God, wise for a lifetime, foolish in one moment. A failure, spreading her resurrection method—what was she thinking? Now look at the Dragon God. No one knows how or when he'll return. This greatly increases his chance of reviving and regaining power." The Treasure-Seeking Beast could never have imagined that Gu Yue had not only ceased the hunt but had begun searching for the Phoenix God's old followers.

In his eyes, Gu Yue's divine core had been seized from the Phoenix God by the Dragon God.

So naturally, Gu Yue would do everything to prevent the Phoenix God's resurrection in order to preserve her core.

"You may actually have a point." Gu Yue's eyes narrowed as she suddenly thought of a possibility. What if the idea that the Gold-Patterned and Silver-Patterned Blue Demon Birds could give birth to the Phoenix God was a complete ruse from the beginning?

After all, any being who could ascend to godhood couldn't be an idiot.

The Phoenix God was incredibly shrewd—why would she openly share her resurrection method?

Maybe those rare birds were just a decoy to attract attention.

And if that's the case—

Could the Phoenix God have already revived somewhere, hidden where no one would suspect?

As this terrifying possibility struck her, Gu Yue felt a splitting headache.

If the Phoenix God had already returned, then what was she planning after all this time hiding in the shadows?

Forget it. No point overthinking. Soon enough, not just the Phoenix God—even if the Dragon God himself revived—it wouldn't matter. The Genesis Origin fears nothing. Gu Yue shook her head. As long as she was strong enough, no crisis could threaten her.

With that thought, the Sky Cauldron appeared in her hand again. Another spatial passage to the Origin of Creation opened.

"Your Majesty!" came Di Tian's voice from within the spatial tunnel.

"Come through. I need to talk to you," Gu Yue replied.

"Yes!" Di Tian stepped slowly out of the spatial passage.

"Money Beast!" Di Tian's eyes landed immediately on the Treasure-Seeking Beast. Although he had learned the Dragon God Claw from the Dragon God, he had never heard of this beast.

He only knew of the Money Beast who stole immortal herbs from the Imperial Auspicious Beast.

"This is the Treasure-Seeking Beast who once served the Dragon God. I'll explain later," Gu Yue said again as she pointed a finger at the Treasure-Seeking Beast's forehead. A faint, multicolored aura emerged from his head and floated toward Di Tian.

"Di Tian, use your spiritual power to guide it. This is a slave contract—one bound by divine consciousness. It cannot be violated, and if the master dies, the slave dies too. It's the most unfair contract. From now on, this Treasure-Seeking Beast is yours." Gu Yue didn't give the beast a chance to speak as she continued, "This guy talks to humans one way, and to ghosts another. He only thinks of himself and constantly changes form. If he escaped again, Xia Yi would have a hard time catching him. But he has some value, so I'll spare his life—for now."

Gu Yue knew the Treasure-Seeking Beast far too well. Though he acted loyal to the Dragon God, it was only because he needed the Dragon God's aura to evolve.

If danger ever came, he'd be the first to run.

If he wasn't useful, she'd have already slapped him to death.

Both the Nine Dragon Kings and Gu Yue hoped Di Tian would grow strong enough to lead the revival of the Dragon Clan.

She had even given him the supreme artifact Heavenly Sacred Rift Abyss.

Since the Treasure-Seeking Beast once served the Dragon God, letting him follow Di Tian would benefit the latter.

Even if Di Tian became a Divine King one day, the beast's knowledge could still help him.

Reviving the Dragon Clan required more than just strength.

"Yes, Your Majesty!" Di Tian didn't hesitate at all. He released his spiritual power and connected with the wisp of divine consciousness.

At once, his spiritual sea trembled violently, as though a tidal wave had crashed through it. The wisp of divine consciousness was absorbed.

Di Tian felt a jolt. New knowledge flooded his mind. When he looked again at the Treasure-Seeking Beast, he could now perceive all of its emotional and energy fluctuations.

And he had the distinct sense that, with a single thought, he could end the beast's life.

"What a domineering slave contract!" Di Tian couldn't help exclaiming.

"So now I just follow whoever you tell me to?" The Treasure-Seeking Beast offered no resistance. He knew resistance was useless now.

Better to cooperate. Maybe one day, Di Tian would set him free.