144: Chapter 144: Not killing you for now doesn't mean I'll let you go or never kill you again.

She brought Lu Jing back, indeed harboring thoughts of investigation.

There were too many mysteries about this youth.

For example, his relationship with the Snow Empress, the means to awaken the remnant souls of the Ice and Fire Dragon King, as well as that inheritance of the God of Destruction... all made it impossible for her not to care.

Just as Lu Jing said, she was evaluating—evaluating the value of this youth, evaluating whether he would become an aid, a variable in her future plans, or... an obstacle that needed to be cleared in advance.

But she did not expect that this human youth, who did not look very old, would have such a meticulous mind and such keen observation skills.

In such a passive, or even desperate situation, not only did he not panic, but he was actually able to calmly analyze her intentions, and even... point out her identity in one breath!

Silver Dragon King, Silver Dragon King.

This name, in the current human World, had long since become a symbol buried in the fragments of ancient legends.

Even in the Spirit Beast World, apart from Di Tian of the Star Dou Great Forest, no one knew her true name.

Since that was the case, how did this youth come to know it?

Was it knowledge contained within the inheritance of the God of Destruction?

Or... something else?

What made the Silver Dragon King feel a trace of strangeness was Lu Jing's attitude.

Facing her, facing this absolute predicament, there was truly not much fear in his eyes.

That was not the recklessness of the ignorant, but a kind of... calmness as if he had insight into some rule, some bottom line, and it even carried a strange, equal scrutiny.

He was actually sizing her up, analyzing her, and even... the undisguised amazement in his eyes made her feel somewhat subtle.

"You... certainly see things clearly."

The Silver Dragon King spoke slowly, withdrawing that trace of surprise, her stunningly beautiful face regaining that cold and indifferent expression, only the scrutiny in her purple eyes grew more intense: "Correct, I will indeed not kill you for the time being. As an inheritor of the God of Destruction, although your stance is opposite to that of our Spirit Beast lineage, killing you, apart from angering the God of Destruction and inviting unnecessary trouble, holds no substantial benefit for me at this stage."

She stepped closer, no more than an arm's length from Lu Jing, her amethyst-like eyes seeming to reflect the secrets from the depths of his soul.

"However, not killing you does not mean I will easily let you go."

The Silver Dragon King's voice remained ethereal, yet it carried a trace of unquestionable chill as she asked: "There are too many suspicious points about you. Tell me, how did you know my identity? What exactly is your relationship with the Snow Empress? Did you awaken the remnant souls of the Ice and Fire Dragon King truly just to save her, or do you have other motives? And... what is your view on Spirit Beasts, and on the future of humans and Spirit Beasts?"

Every question pointed directly to Lu Jing's core secrets and stance.

Her gaze was like an invisible shackle, firmly locking onto Lu Jing, waiting for his answer.

This answer would directly determine his subsequent fate.

Would he continue to be imprisoned and studied, become a collaborator in some sense, or... be quietly erased after losing all value?

Facing the Silver Dragon King's four questions that pointed to the core and contained cold scrutiny and powerful pressure, Lu Jing did not panic or attempt to quibble or cover up as an ordinary person would.

Instead, he seemed to heave a sigh of relief, as if he had long expected this question, his expression even carrying a composure that suggested, 'finally, you've asked the right point.'

He did not answer immediately, but first took a deep breath, as if organizing his thoughts, or perhaps calming the discomfort brought about by being vaguely imprisoned by spatial power.

Then, he raised his head, meeting that pair of amethyst eyes that seemed capable of piercing through the soul with a calm gaze, and began to answer one by one, his tone unhurried, clear, and distinct.

"The first question!" Lu Jing extended his index finger: "Regarding the relationship between me and the Snow Empress, that is, the Master of the Far North."

He paused, seemingly searching for the most accurate wording, then said frankly: "We are not enemies, nor are we master and servant. If I must use a word to describe it... let's call it friends. Hmm, the kind of friends who can entrust their backs to each other and are willing to take risks for one another in times of crisis."

"Friends?" As soon as Lu Jing finished speaking, the Silver Dragon King's willow eyebrows furrowed slightly, a trace of obvious displeasure and suspicion appearing on her stunningly beautiful face, her expression as if she had heard some extremely absurd joke.

The light in her purple eyes also turned a few degrees colder, and her tone carried a hint of faint mockery:

"Human youth, are you sure... you are not joking with me, or attempting to muddle through with such a childish lie?"

She stepped closer by almost an inch, that invisible pressure stemming from the level of life and absolute strength instantly intensifying, like a physical mountain pressing down on Lu Jing's heart.

"She, the Snow Empress, the true Master of the Far North, the Ice and Snow Emperor with nearly seven hundred thousand years of cultivation, one of the top existences in the Spirit Beast World! Her nature is aloof, viewing all things as ice and snow, and she detests human Spirit Masters even more! She would become so-called friends with you, a... hmm, although somewhat special, you are ultimately a human Spirit Master? Do you not think this statement is too childish, too insulting to my intelligence?"

The Silver Dragon King's voice remained ethereal and pleasant, but the questioning and coldness contained within it made the temperature of this space seem to drop a few degrees.

In her long and arduous life, she had witnessed too many hunts, enslavements, and schemes by humans against Spirit Beasts.

The blood feud between Spirit Beasts and humans had long since penetrated into the bone marrow.

Especially for an emperor like the Snow Empress who stood at the pinnacle of Spirit Beasts, to become friends with a human? It was simply a fantasy!

She could be almost certain that this youth was spouting nonsense, attempting to use such a clumsy lie to curry favor with her or lower her guard.

However, facing the Silver Dragon King's questioning and that almost undisguised mockery, Lu Jing not only did not show panic or eagerness to defend himself, but instead, as if he had heard something exasperating, couldn't help but roll his eyes, his face revealing an expression mixed with speechlessness and 'here you go again'.

"Hey, look at you, getting impatient again."

Lu Jing's tone carried a hint of imperceptible teasing, as if facing a friend who was easily excited and wouldn't listen to the end of a sentence.

"I haven't finished what I was saying yet. Will you let me finish, please?"

His attitude, which bordered on insubordination and carried a hint of casualness, made the Silver Dragon King slightly stunned.

How many years had it been since anyone dared to speak to her in this tone?

Even Di Tian maintained absolute respect in her presence.

This human youth...

Lu Jing did not pay attention to the Silver Dragon King's momentary daze and continued, his tone restoring its previous calmness and seriousness:

"That's right, the Snow Empress is the true Master of the Far North, holding high status and great power, with heaven-defying strength, and she indeed has no good feelings toward human Spirit Masters. But everything has exceptions, doesn't it?"

"Exceptions?" The Silver Dragon King's purple eyes flashed slightly, noncommittal.

"Yes, exceptions." Lu Jing nodded, explaining: "And this exception is time, as well as shared experiences."