A trace of confusion first flashed through Heavenly Dream Ice Silkworm's tiny, bean-sized golden eyes.
Then—
It saw Di Tian's face clearly.
"PFFFT—HAHAHAHAHAHA!"
A thunderous burst of laughter exploded across the entire Lake of Life.
Heavenly Dream Ice Silkworm's plump, snow-white body rolled wildly on the ground as it laughed, twisting back and forth like a runaway dumpling, kicking up clouds of dust.
"Hahaha! What the hell is this?! Where did this pig-headed spirit come from?!"
"I'm dying! I'm actually dying of laughter!" it howled. "How did you grow up looking this creative?! Hahahaha!"
The sound echoed endlessly, loud and unrestrained.
The moment those words left its mouth—
Di Tian's entire pig-headed face instantly turned as black as the bottom of a pot.
A terrifying dragon's might leaked out of him uncontrollably, surging outward like a sudden storm.
"Hm?"
Heavenly Dream Ice Silkworm, still laughing just a second ago, suddenly stiffened.
That pressure—
That terrifying aura engraved deep into its instincts, carved into its very soul—
The laughter froze in its throat.
Its bean-sized eyes widened as it stared hard at that swollen, distorted face.
"Di… Di… Di Tian?!"
Boom!
Heavenly Dream Ice Silkworm's brain short-circuited on the spot.
The next second, its eyes rolled back, its plump body flipped over, belly up, limbs stiff—
It instantly went limp, playing dead with professional precision.
Even so, its fat body kept twitching uncontrollably, letting out faint pfft pfft sounds, like a leaking air bladder, clearly struggling with every ounce of willpower not to laugh out loud again.
Di Tian's eyes twitched violently.
At that moment, he truly wished he could rush over, grab this damned stupid worm, and tear it apart inch by inch.
But—
His Lord was standing right beside him.
He forcibly suppressed the murderous intent boiling in his heart.
He didn't want to speak anymore.
Mentally exhausted.
Physically battered.
Spiritually shattered.
Destroy me if you want—just make it quick.
Silver Dragon King coldly glanced at the useless creature floating on the lake surface—plenty of cultivation, zero backbone—then shifted her gaze to the pig-headed Di Tian beside her.
A sharp, throbbing pain bloomed between her brows.
Why…
Why was there not a single normal one among her subordinates?
She didn't bother wasting words.
"Wake them up," she said flatly.
Di Tian's body trembled.
He took a deep breath, the kind taken by someone heading for execution.
Opening his mouth, he released a dragon's roar filled with grief, humiliation, and resignation.
"Awooooo—!!"
(All of you, wake up!)
The roar rippled across the Lake of Life.
Around the lake, several terrifying auras that had been dormant instantly stirred.
"Snore… huh?"
The Dark Gold Dreadclaw Bear, Xiong Jun, abruptly stopped snoring. He sluggishly lifted his enormous bear head, rubbing his eyes with one massive paw.
"Di Tian! What are you yelling for?!" he growled irritably.
The Emerald Swan, Bi Ji, gracefully lifted her head from beneath her wing, emerald-green eyes carrying a hint of post-sleep languor.
The Three-headed Demonic Hound, Chi Wang, yawned loudly—the middle head stretched lazily while the other two snarled in irritation at being disturbed.
From the Demonic Eye Demon Tree, Myriad Demon King, a wrinkled human face slowly emerged along the gnarled trunk, eyes filled with impatience.
But—
The moment their gazes locked onto the source of the sound—
Everything stopped.
Breathing paused.
Movements froze.
All eyes were fixed on Di Tian's uniquely… memorable pig-headed face.
Silence.
Utter silence.
Is this… Di Tian?
They had only slept for ten thousand years.
How did his face turn into this?
"Pfft—"
Someone cracked first.
A muffled laugh escaped before it could be suppressed.
That single sound was like a spark dropped into dry grass.
"HAHAHAHAHAHA!"
"Di Tian! Did you go and poke a nest of soul bees?!"
Xiong Jun rolled on the ground laughing, his massive bear paws slamming the earth so hard the ground trembled.
Chi Wang's three heads laughed so hard they tangled together, slobber flying everywhere.
Myriad Demon King's wrinkled bark-like face twisted into a grotesque grin, his branches shaking wildly like a blooming chrysanthemum.
Even Bi Ji—usually the picture of grace—couldn't help covering her mouth with her wing. Her emerald eyes curved into crescents as her shoulders shook, desperately trying to hold back her laughter.
But then—
Their gazes shifted.
They landed on the peerlessly beautiful silver-haired girl standing calmly beside Di Tian.
In an instant—
All laughter vanished.
All movement ceased.
"Boom!"
Xiong Jun shot upright like he'd been struck by lightning. His massive body snapped into a deep bow, his posture utterly incongruous with his monstrous frame.
"My Lord!"
Bi Ji's body shimmered as she transformed into a beautiful woman clad in an emerald-green gown. She bowed gracefully, her demeanor reverent.
"Greetings, my Lord."
Chi Wang and Myriad Demon King immediately followed suit, lowering their heads respectfully.
In the blink of an eye, the Lake of Life—moments ago filled with chaotic laughter—was enveloped in solemn silence and awe.
Gu Yuena nodded slightly, her expression calm.
Her gaze shifted to the pig-headed figure beside her.
"Di Tian," she said coolly, "tell them everything you experienced. From beginning to end. Exactly as it happened."
Di Tian's face twitched violently.
Again?
Another round of public humiliation?!
His dragon pride screamed in protest.
But he dared not disobey.
Grinding his teeth, Di Tian steeled himself and began recounting his ordeal once more, every word soaked in humiliation.
At first, when he spoke of fighting four human super Douluo—
Xiong Jun's bear face twisted with undisguised mockery.
"Tsk! Di Tian, you're getting worse! A few humans beat you into this state?"
He even tried reaching out with a massive paw to poke Di Tian's swollen cheek.
Di Tian exploded with fury, dragon's might surging as he glared back.
"Shut up! Let me finish!"
But—
When he spoke of the mysterious Divinity, Lin Feng.
When he described how a casual wave of that man's hand shattered his Dragon God Claw.
When he recounted how, from thousands of miles away, that man merely beckoned—and forcibly dragged him back mid-escape—
The Lake of Life fell into dead silence.
Heavy.
Oppressive.
When Di Tian finally described how Lin Feng casually tore open the subspace where his Lord slept, tossed him inside like discarded trash, and even complained about it—
Every ferocious beast present stood frozen.
Stunned.
Their minds echoed with a single thought.
A Divinity… on the continent.
A Divinity who could casually tear open their Lord's subspace.
A Divinity whose intentions were utterly unknown.
After a long, suffocating pause, Bi Ji was the first to speak.
She inhaled deeply, suppressing the unease clawing at her heart, and bowed toward Gu Yuena. Her voice was dry, strained.
"My Lord…"
"What… are your plans?"
At once, every gaze converged on Gu Yuena.
The weight of the future hung heavy in the air.