Chapter 30: Life Feather

Just as true dragons have inverse scales, avian soul beasts also possess a life feather.

The life feather in her hand belonged to Bi Ji, and it was likely the strongest life feather in this entire plane.

With Bi Ji's profound cultivation nearing six hundred thousand years, her life feather was imbued with an innate ability—it could substitute for death once!

If Bi Ji were to lose her life feather, she would have no chance of surviving her six-hundred-thousand-year tribulation and would undoubtedly perish.

As a Jade Swan whose primary ability was healing, Bi Ji's life feather held no offensive or defensive capabilities and could not be given to anyone other than her most trusted companions.

From the vibrant life aura emanating from the feather, Zi Ji seemed to see a miniature Lake of Life, with emerald-green radiance rippling across its surface.

At the center of the lake stood a woman dressed in a flowing green gown. She was breathtakingly beautiful, her skin delicate like water, flawless and smooth. Her long green hair cascaded down her back, soft as a waterfall.

Her figure was slender and graceful, and the fitted green gown perfectly outlined the curves of her body. Her arms, as fair as lotus roots, were exposed, and behind her, a pair of extraordinary wings unfolded—wings that looked as if they were carved from jade, flawless and natural.

The feathers of these wings shimmered in a deep emerald hue, each one dazzlingly beautiful, exuding an aura of pure life energy. This only made their owner appear even more ethereal, like a goddess of nature.

Yet, despite her divine beauty, she was weeping, sorrowful and heartbroken.

Beneath her, the Lake of Life seemed to be formed from her fallen tears.

"I'm sorry… I'm sorry…"

Even though her voice was tinged with sobs, it still carried an angelic melody.

"My healing abilities are of great use to the Lord. She will not let me go so easily."

"Once I assist him in restoring the soul beasts' former glory, he will surely consider my contributions and will not be too harsh about your decision to abandon him back then."

"Also, Zi Ji must be thinking the same way I am, so don't blame her."

"Moreover, knowing Zi Ji's impatience, she will definitely seek you out as soon as she is out of the Lord's sight."

"As for me, I won't be able to find you so soon. The Lord will certainly summon me from time to time."

"Besides, we all have cover identities in the human world. If two of us disappear at the same time, someone observant will notice, and that would bring unnecessary trouble."

Zi Ji quickly browsed through the memories recorded in the life feather's aura.

All that remained was the handwritten message on the feather itself, the characters seeming to be formed from the water of life itself, an inscription that could never fade:

"Wait for me, you must wait for me!"

Zi Ji stood frozen in place as if she had turned to stone.

Staring at the newly arrived Snow Spirit sister, she recalled the cloaked woman who had just fled moments ago.

Zi Ji suddenly felt as if her entire beastly existence had become dull and meaningless.

She had thought she was the first to seek out Di Tian, but to her utter shock—she was actually the last one!

"Damn it, how could I forget about the life feather!"

Bi Ji had a life feather, but she had an inverse dragon scale she could have removed!

This round—she had lost, completely and utterly.

"Hmph!"

"Bi Ji just knows how to cry!"

Muttering a self-consoling remark that she believed to be very "fitting," Zi Ji then shoved the life feather—imbued with the ability to substitute for death—back into Di Tian's hands.

"Don't worry, I'll pass your message to Bi Ji and tell her not to be concerned. The Di Tian we know is still as meticulous as ever."

"Still the same Lord who cares for his people, still the same Beast God who worries for the future of our soul beast race."

"And I'll also tell her—Bi Ji, Bi Ji, stop crying~"

"Di Tian's days are much better than ours! He has beauties accompanying him, enjoying the pleasures of life, indulging in the mortal world, living carefree and joyful~"

"Uh…" Di Tian was both amused and exasperated by her words. Choosing to change the topic, he asked about their former comrades' current situations.

"Them? They're still the same."

"Xiong Jun still resents you. Though he acknowledges your strength, he refuses to accept it in his heart. Now, he's trying to replace you in the Lord's favor and is being excessively diligent about it."

"However, I believe that even if you and the Lord were to part ways and you angered him, Xiong Jun still wouldn't be able to take your place."

"As for the others, besides occasionally asking Bi Ji and me about your whereabouts, they've just been following the Lord's orders and diligently carrying out their tasks."

As Zi Ji spoke idly about the situation of their fellow soul beasts, a knock suddenly sounded at the door of the small dining hall.

"Knock, knock, knock!"

"Come in."

As soon as Di Tian gave permission, a young man with his hair tied neatly walked inside.

His eyes subtly scanned the room, and for a brief moment, a hint of amazement flashed in them.

But then, recalling Divine Craftsman Zhen Hua's warning—that once he entered, he should see less, ask less, and hear less—he quickly lowered his gaze.

"I am Xie Yinling, a member of the Guardian Clan of the Blacksmith Association. I have come on the orders of the President to deliver the designs for your four-word battle armor and god-rank mecha."

"The President said these are the preliminary designs. The finer details will require more time to refine."

As soon as he finished speaking, the scroll in his hands suddenly vanished, seemingly snatched away by an invisible force.

Xie Yinling was not surprised by this.

Since even the President had specifically issued a warning and had temporarily lent out the entire dining hall, the black-haired, golden-eyed man before him was certainly no ordinary figure.

Di Tian unrolled the scrolls, revealing four detailed schematics.

The first two depicted the four-word battle armor and god-rank mecha designed for a Soul Master with the Dark Holy Dragon Martial Soul.

The last two were updated versions—adjusted by Mu Ye and Zhen Hua—based on Di Tian's true body, the Golden-Eyed Black Dragon King.

Although these later designs seemed rougher, they were made from top-quality materials and were exceedingly rare. There was no indication that they had been deliberately designed to be of lesser quality.

"Refined Cold Iron, Dragon-Patterned Black Gold, Hundred-Thousand-Year Silvermother…"

Tsk. No wonder blacksmiths were among the richest professions on the continent.

Even with the modern soul tool excavation technology, these rare metals and minerals were still incredibly precious.

Di Tian's gaze moved steadily over the designs until it finally settled on the last few lines—a personal message from Zhen Hua:

"Life Gold is compatible with all kinds of metals and minerals. Incorporating it will not only serve as a bonding agent but will also enhance the overall quality of the battle armor and mecha."

"This will also increase the success rate when crafting battle armor and mechas for soul beasts."

"However, I have neither found Life Gold in my collection nor seen it circulating on the market."

"You, Beast God, have lived for countless years. Perhaps you have some by chance? If so, would you be willing to provide a portion?"

Life Gold…

Di Tian indeed still possessed some.

It was a precious material that survived the latter half of his million-year tribulation, enduring the four elemental calamities of fire, wind, water, and earth.

It was true that Life Gold's properties were highly compatible with other metals.

But… everyone in the human upper echelon already knew that Life Gold could be found in the core of the Star Dou Forest's Lake of Life.

At this moment, Zhen Hua's deliberate inquiry carried a far more intriguing meaning.

(End of Chapter)