Chapter 1597
Chapter 1597 - 1593: King of the Forest
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8 min read
"You can see that I am a trader with considerable sincerity...."
In confirming that he can’t surpass this deity in calculations and tricks, Lu Ping’an doesn’t think that losing is a big deal, even if it’s just a part of their humanity at play, heaven knows how many brilliant minds as support are involved in these calculations.
In the ancient divine wars, there were never so-called strategic mistakes; victory or defeat often hinged on the gap between the limits of ’predicting the future.’ Those so-called heroes and Divine Sons who were schemed against were probably manipulated from the moment of their birth or growth.
Facing such entities, the less communication, the better.
The trade with deities involves proposing demands and offering sacrifices; if it can be accomplished, great, if not—just make a run for it... This has been repeatedly confirmed by ancients and moderns alike as the most suitable method for trading with deities.
"Not enough."
The green-haired girl in front of him, however, shook her head. From the beginning, she knew both Guan Xinxian’s and Lu Ping’an’s demands.
But just the half-crippled Evil God from the outer space orbit wouldn’t possibly descend personally and adjust an Avatar that is as close as possible to their past mortal form.
Of course, to irritate her senior sister with this familiar appearance was one aspect... She felt a bit let down when they met. If her senior sister were still in her past form rather than transformed into a ’Ghost Soul,’ she might even have been able to absorb her into the Divine Kingdom.
Whether it’s for amusement as a Divine Envoy or as a Demigod pulling strings with pets, they’re worth paying a certain price.
But this man in front of her... the great Lady of the Forest found herself unable to see through everything.
Even with the "resonance" of the same origin, she could directly read the surface thoughts and basic abilities of the other party, but looking deeper, she saw a "world" in gestation.
He could possibly become a deity with just a thought.
And furthermore, if he truly became a deity, he probably wouldn’t be weaker than herself.
The more stable the rules, the stronger the power circle that can be shaped, the Lady of the Forest has grown to this extent, her advantage being "all rivers run into the sea," a typical unconventional growth... or rather, a crowdfunding-type growth.
She is the Forest Land, an Eternal Unowned Land; everyone willing to become a part of the forest can merge into this system.
This is her strong root, but it also shapes her most vulnerable shortcoming... she has no King; or rather, she is destined not to become the King of her own Forest Land and is always just the soil under the King’s feet, a platform to support the King.
Narrowing his eyes with the Eye of Truth, Lu Ping’an saw through everything.
Hence, he tried his utmost not to get involved with her.
He was now part of Lin Nu’s Church but not a member of her Forest Land; if he carelessly agreed to anything, he might end up sacrificing his life for it.
Moreover, through Big Cat, Lu Ping’an was probably the one who understood this Deity in front of him best.
Even though she appears highly humanized, she is still an Order Deity; her behavior patterns and objectives still have to follow her own path of the "Lady of the Forest."
Her prototype is the ancient forest goddess Diana from Nemi (near present-day Italy); she is the master of the Forest Land but not a King... It is her priests, the so-called Forest Kings, who are the real Kings.
And this King is not determined by herself but through many candidates’ battles; the winner will receive the Scepter from the forest goddess and be crowned King.
In the context of Linnu Church, all Quasi-Gods and True Gods are candidates for the King... The Throne of the Forest King is vacant, but there have been two in the past.
In reality, veteran Quasi-Gods like Xiu Yi and Elder Liu are unlikely to actually compete for a "Throne"; they are more like elder bystanders, waiting for the birth of a new King.
The "Rule" of the Lady of the Forest is to construct an environment that belongs to herself; unlike Lu Ping’an and Big Cat who have a clear "path of Life," her path of truth is the "path of the Forest King"; she is more like the entire collection of that forest.
Her current strength lies in the fact that on the level of Rule, she could incorporate those strong Quasi-Gods into her own system, while on the other hand, the Forest Land is free to leave... she can borrow, she can analyze, but it will never be truly hers.
She was strong; the Forest King’s position was one that could be contested and replaced. Yet, when the King enforced their own Rule, the true beneficiary was always the Forest Land itself.
Generation after generation of Forest Kings ultimately contributed to the prosperity of the forest itself.
In a way, these Kings became nutrition for the Forest Land...
"I hope that you will become my Divine Son."
Lin Nu presented her terms, not concealing her admiration, hoping Lu Ping’an to become a candidate for the Throne of the Linnu Force.
It was very tempting, but Lu Ping’an resolutely shook his head...
"I have no intention of becoming expendable."
"Perhaps you have misunderstood. I have never considered my Kings as expendable. We are collaborators, friends who evolve together, companions who share the journey... I can elevate you to a Demigod in just three months."
The paths of the two previous Forest Kings, who had both summarized their reigns, were incomplete; yet, one became her Demigod and the other a Divine Envoy, both of whom had significant reputations in the high-end circles.
Their paths had proven they lacked potential, and while they pursued those paths, not only did the Lady of the Forest reap rewards, but even those ’bystanders’ gained much.
Of course, if a Forest God could suppress everything and truly demonstrate that their path possessed infinite potential, he could use this platform to rapidly grow stronger.
Ascend to the Divine’s Throne in three months? If Lu Ping’an actually did that, he would be utterly bound to Lin Nu, and if he wasn’t careful, he might well become just a "component."
And to become "King" is to either succeed or die trying...
"I didn’t expect you to have such little confidence in yourself."
"No, you are mistaken. It’s just that I look down upon you. My path will grow to be no less than yours, there is no reason to let a weaker contain me, a Strongman."
𝓯𝙧𝙚𝒆𝙬𝙚𝒃𝙣𝙤𝒗𝓮𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢
Lu Ping’an’s words were full of irreverence toward the divine.
Yet the other party could sense that these were true words, sincere sentiments from the bottom of his heart.
If she continued to press, not only would the negotiations likely fail, but they might actually become enemies.
"Actually, I’ve always hoped that Senior Sister would become the King..."
This statement confused Lu Ping’an. Weren’t you sworn enemies?
"...It’s a pity she didn’t survive the trials I set for her; she was too emotional, never proving herself."
The woman smiled sweetly, yet Lu Ping’an’s scalp tingled.
Who knew what conspiracies and betrayals lay within the term "trial"... Although Chris had not divulged what she had experienced to become such bitter enemies, her calling someone a "Swindler," "b*tch," and "Angelic Bitch" hinted that it was certainly a tale themed around betrayal and backstabbing.
"I have always liked...no, I have admired her. She is beautiful and powerful, the most beautiful Beast in my forest. It’s such a pity that she refused to become my Beast King, and she wouldn’t eat her own beasts to become the one and only King."
The woman’s overly sweet laughter and sickeningly sweet sentimentality were overbearing, but Lu Ping’an felt as if he had been tossed into the maw of a Black Hole.
If Chris was a dangerous beast, then the woman before him was an outright monster... They truly were sisters, without a doubt.
"...She cursed you as delusional and told you to go die."
"Tsksksk, Senior Sister only has her mouth left to her."
"She used even uglier words..."
— End of Chapter 1597 —