157: Chapter 157: Everyone has their own ambitions; moral blackmail won't work on me.

Lu Jing's words were like a cold iron hammer, shattering the last bit of illusion in Silver Dragon King's heart.

She widened those amethyst-like eyes, looking in disbelief at the handsome youth before her, whose gaze was calm to the point of being cold.

He... he was actually this selfish?

This indifferent?

So frankly admitting that he only cared about those close to him, and was completely indifferent to the broader scope of all living beings?

This was completely different from the world-caring, compassionate successors of Divinity she had imagined!

Looking at Silver Dragon King's shocked expression that seemed to say 'how can you be this kind of person', Lu Jing couldn't help but chuckle, his laughter carrying a hint of nonchalance.

"No need to be so surprised. Each person has their own ambitions, and the same goes for gods. I am not the Goddess of Life, born with compassion to benefit all living beings; nor am I like the Angel God or the Sea God, who need to rely on the faith of believers to maintain and enhance their Divine Power, and thus must put on a display of universal love and benevolence. What I inherit is destruction, the end, one of the universe's laws of returning to the void. My power stems from my comprehension of the origin of destruction, from my own cultivation and inheritance; it does not depend on external faith. Therefore, your attempts to kidnap me with empty words like racial righteousness or the future of civilization are completely useless to me. I don't buy it."

His words thoroughly stripped away all warmth and pretense, laying the most realistic and essential rules of exchange before Silver Dragon King.

Either produce something sufficient to tempt him, or there was nothing to talk about.

Silver Dragon King opened her mouth, wanting to say more, trying to find any possible bargaining chip.

However, right at that moment—

"My Lord, are you awake?"

A low, respectful voice that carried a hint of imperceptible urgency seemed to penetrate the barriers of space, faintly coming from the outside world and echoing directly within this life space.

It was Di Tian's voice.

Silver Dragon King's brow furrowed slightly as she temporarily withdrew from her confrontation with Lu Jing, regaining the coldness and majesty belonging to the Silver Dragon King, and asked faintly toward the void: "What is it?"

Di Tian's voice rang out again, even clearer: "Snow Empress has arrived; she is currently by the shore of the Lake of Life. She... has brought some news."

"Snow Empress?"

Silver Dragon King's brow furrowed even tighter as she asked: "What is she doing here? What news did she bring?"

Di Tian's voice paused, seemingly weighing his words, then he quickly reported: "The other party... seems to be already attempting to contact the Divine Realm. It is regarding... your taking of this human, and the possibility of your whereabouts being exposed. Do you think... we should..."

Di Tian did not finish his sentence, but the meaning was already obvious.

Snow Empress was using the might of the Divine Realm to apply pressure!

Behind Lu Jing was the God of Destruction, and behind Wang Donger was the Sea God.

If these two great Divinities learned that the Silver Dragon King had awakened and taken their successors, the consequences would be unimaginable!

On Silver Dragon King's exquisite face, her expression instantly turned cold. A flash of sternness crossed those amethyst-like eyes.

She understood; Snow Empress was using the most direct and effective method to force her to release the person!

Using the pressure of the Divine Realm to exchange for Lu Jing's safety.

Her gaze fell back upon Lu Jing before her, her eyes filled with complexity.

This youth was not only impervious to both soft and hard tactics himself, but the people around him were equally decisive and direct in their methods.

Lu Jing naturally heard Di Tian's report as well. No look of surprise appeared on his face; instead, he showed a look of realization, as if it were expected.

He looked at Silver Dragon King and said in a calm tone:

"Let me leave. There is no enmity between us. Regarding today's events, I will not reveal your whereabouts or information to the Divine Realm. I can act as if nothing happened and that I never met you."

His words were very direct, providing a promise and pointing out the best current solution.

That was to owe each other nothing and part ways here, avoiding any escalation of the situation.

Silver Dragon King took a deep look at Lu Jing, light flickering in her purple eyes.

Reason told her that what Lu Jing said was the most stable choice at present.

Forcing him to stay would only draw the Divine Realm's gaze completely toward herself.

She had not yet recovered, and the Soul Beast Clan was far from being prepared.

Emotionally, she was unwilling to let go of this youth who might bring variables, yet she could not produce anything that could move him.

Ultimately, all the struggle, reluctance, and weighing turned into a silent sigh.

She gently waved her hand.

The layer of invisible spatial barrier shrouding Lu Jing and restricting his contact with the outside world quietly dissipated.

"You may go." Silver Dragon King's voice carried a hint of fatigue as she turned around, no longer looking at him.

Lu Jing felt his whole body lighten, knowing the restraint was gone.

He said no more, gave a slight nod to Silver Dragon King's back, and turned to walk toward the spatial exit.

However, just as his figure was about to submerge into that silver halo of departure, his footsteps paused slightly.

He did not look back, but with his back turned to that exquisite and lonely silver-haired woman, he left one final sentence in a calm yet clear voice:

"If one day you can produce... something truly worth me speaking up for you before the God King."

"You can come find me again."

As the words fell, his figure completely vanished within the silver halo.

Silver Dragon King's delicate body trembled slightly as she spun around abruptly, only to see the empty exit and a faint, lingering aura of destruction in the air.

Within her amethyst-like eyes, a complex light flickered intensely.

Something worthy?

What would that be?

---

By the shore of the Lake of Life, the night was thick.

The bright moon was like a jade plate, hanging high in the ink-blue canopy of heaven, shedding cold and clear moonlight that plated the dark green lake surface with a silver edge.

The evening breeze carried the freshness and chill unique to the forest, brushing over the lake and rippling outward in circles.

Di Tian stood by the lakeshore with his hands behind his back, his golden eyes watching the lake surface, his expression quiet, lost in thought.

Not far away, the Sky Azure Bull Python and Titan Giant Ape remained prostrate a bit further off with lingering fear, not daring to approach, only occasionally glancing toward the center of the lake with reverent gazes.

Snow Empress stood alone, quietly by the shore.

She was still dressed in white, her silver hair flowing with a cold luster under the moonlight. Not much emotion could be seen on her exquisite face; only those ice-blue eyes stared unblinkingly at the seemingly calm center of the lake, as if trying to penetrate the water to see the secrets beneath.

The night wind ruffled her long hair and the hem of her skirt, making her figure appear even more aloof, her temperament as cold and clear as an immortal.

Time trickled by, every minute and second seemingly stretched thin.

Just as the string in Snow Empress's heart grew tighter and tighter, almost to the point where she could no longer restrain herself and was considering whether to use more drastic measures.

That others feared Di Tian and the Co-lord of Spirit Beasts did not mean she, Snow Empress, feared them.

Snow Empress even dared to directly face a Heavenly Tribulation she knew meant certain death; what did the so-called Di Tian and Co-lord matter?

It was simply a matter of not being able to win a fight, nothing more.