Douluo Continent: My Martial Soul is the Black Dragon, I am the Lord of the Gods

Chapter 327 Gu Yuena's Proposal
……

Xuanming slowly rose, closed his eyes, and carefully experienced the vast spiritual power that seemed to be able to perceive the world with a single thought.

With a slight thought, he attempted to connect this newly formed, half-step divine consciousness level spiritual power with the ubiquitous ice and snow elements of the far north.

Om-!
An unprecedented sense of control welled up inside me.

In his mental perception, nearly half of the far northern ice field seemed to have become an extension of his body!
Endless ice and snow, biting winds, deep-buried ice layers... the flow and state of all ice elements were clearly presented before his "eyes".

He even felt that with just a thought, he could draw upon the ice-attribute energy of this vast world for his own use, just like a level 99 peerless Douluo mobilizing the power of heaven and earth!
He had a slight thought, not to attack, but merely to tentatively and gently "pluck" the omnipresent string of ice element.

In an instant, the entire far north seemed to come alive!

In the distance came the rumbling sound of glaciers moving, the snowflakes in the sky suddenly became violent, and the snow on the ground moved on its own without wind, forming huge vortexes!
Although it lacks any world-destroying aggression, this sign of having taken control of the entire far north ice plains is enough to make any ice-attribute being tremble from the depths of its soul!

The Snow Empress and the Ice Empress's expressions changed drastically almost simultaneously!
For the first time, an expression of disbelief and shock appeared on Xue Di's usually noble and indifferent face.

She could clearly feel that the extreme ice energy in the surrounding world, which she had always been able to control, had, in that instant, shown a tendency to break free from her control and instead obey the young man's will!
That level of control, that depth of resonance with the entire far north, was even... above her, the Ice and Snow Maiden! How could this be? He was clearly human!
Hyotei was so shocked that he took half a step back, his emerald green eyes filled with fear.

She not only sensed that supreme control over the ice element, but also felt a deadly threat from the trace of aura that Xuanming unintentionally revealed!

It was an absolute suppression originating from the level of life and the spiritual realm! It was as if the other party could freeze her soul with just a single thought!

Xuanming slowly withdrew his spiritual power, and the disturbances in the far north gradually subsided.

He understood that with his half-step divine consciousness spiritual power, combined with his own ultimate ice attribute and the blessing of the Ice and Fire Divine Crown, he could unleash power comparable to or even surpassing that of an ordinary peerless Douluo in this far north.

His gaze swept over the Snow Emperor and the Ice Emperor, and a thought crossed his mind.

Blood Spear is still missing two soul rings.

The divine test might offer a divinely bestowed soul ring, but that would inevitably be an extreme challenge.

As for these two before me... the Ice Emperor's potential has been exhausted, and he will undoubtedly die in the next tribulation.

Although the Snow Emperor is powerful, her chances of surviving the 700,000-year Heavenly Tribulation are slim.

If they were to sacrifice themselves, it would undoubtedly result in two extremely powerful 100,000-year spirit rings, especially the Snow Empress's spirit ring, which would be of exceptional quality.

But the thought only flashed through his mind before Xuanming suppressed it.

Gu Yuena has staked the future of the dragon race, and even her own fate, on herself.

The ferocious beasts such as Di Tian, ​​Xue Di, and Bing Di are the true top combat force of the Soul Beast race. They are the pillars that allow the Soul Beast race to survive even if he fails.

We must not easily shake these foundations in order to increase our strength in the short term.

Hunting ocean enemies like the Deep Sea Demon Whale King is acceptable, but these powerful soul beast overlords who guard their respective territories should not be taken lightly.

Just as Xuanming composed himself and was about to signal to Gu Yuena that they were leaving the far north, a sudden change occurred!

On his forehead, the fragment of the Heart of the Sea God, which had been dormant and had initially merged with the Ice and Fire Divine Crown, seemed to be suddenly activated by his vast spiritual power at the half-step divine consciousness level, and burst forth with a strong nine-colored halo!

An indescribable, ancient sense of weariness and drowsiness swept over his soul like a tidal wave!
"Huh?!" Xuanming's expression changed as he tried to resist, but the drowsiness came too fiercely and strangely, directly affecting the very essence of his soul!

Before he could even utter a word, everything went black, his consciousness rapidly faded, and his body swayed as he fell backward.

Gu Yuena flashed and caught him just in time.

Her silver-purple eyes looked solemnly at the ice and fire divine crown on Xuan Ming's forehead, which was shimmering with light. She could sense that a dormant ocean will within it was resonating and conflicting violently with Xuan Ming's immense spiritual power.

"His spiritual power suddenly increased too much, which triggered the ancient divine thoughts remaining deep within the Heart of the Sea God. He needs time to adapt and integrate," Gu Yuena explained to Di Tian and the others who had gathered around. At the same time, she carefully examined Xuan Ming's condition and confirmed that he had only fallen into a self-protective sleep due to excessive mental strain and was otherwise unharmed.

She gently settled Xuanming, set up a protective barrier, then raised her head and calmly looked at the Snow Empress and Ice Empress, whose expressions varied.

Gu Yuena's gaze lingered for a moment on Xue Di's noble and aloof face, which concealed a hint of calamity, before turning to Bing Di's delicate face, which still held a sense of fear and resentment.

She paused for a moment, then her clear, cold voice slowly rose, carrying a barely perceptible sigh: "Snow Empress, Ice Empress. Your cultivation is nearing its limit. What are your chances of surviving the next Heavenly Tribulation?"

Upon hearing this, both the Snow Empress and the Ice Empress trembled slightly.

A hint of sadness flashed in Xue Di's ethereal eyes as she slowly shook her head: "A seven-hundred-thousand-year heavenly tribulation... Forgive my bluntness, but without an extraordinary opportunity, the hope is slim."

Hyotei bit her lip, her emerald green eyes filled with resentment and helplessness: "I... I'm afraid I won't even be able to withstand the next tribulation. My potential is exhausted."

Gu Yuena looked at them with a complicated expression.

She knew all too well the cruelty of the Heavenly Tribulation to soul beasts.

She paused, her tone calm yet tinged with a heavy weight: "You've all witnessed his growth. He is our only hope. His martial spirit still needs a spirit ring."

Upon hearing this, both Xue Di and the other person were stunned, and even Di Tian and Bi Ji were somewhat shocked.

Gu Yuena raised her hand slightly, stopping them from saying anything harsh. Her voice remained calm: "I am only suggesting a possibility. It is not an order, nor will I force you."

"Follow him and help him become a god. If you succeed, on the day he becomes a god, he will have divine power to reshape your bodies, free you from the suffering of the heavenly tribulation, and perhaps even... go further. At that time, you will also be the heroes of the revival of the soul beast race." "If you fail, all is lost."

“This is a gamble. You’re betting everything on him.” Gu Yuena’s gaze swept over the two of them. “The choice is yours. You can think about it slowly before he wakes up.”

After saying that, Gu Yuena said no more, but quietly supported the sleeping Xuanming and waited.

The Snow Empress and the Ice Empress fell silent, facing a tremendous choice.

Is it to wait for the almost inevitable calamity that will shatter one's soul, or to place all bets on this human being, who is full of uncertainty but has already shown astonishing potential?

Out of pride as the overlords of the far north, they were absolutely unwilling to entrust everything to a human.

However, even they wavered when faced with a heavenly tribulation that seemed certain to kill them...

three days later.

Xuanming's consciousness slowly rose from a deep stillness. The weariness that had swept over his soul had faded away, replaced by an unprecedented clarity and stability.

He felt his spiritual power was like divine iron that had been forged through countless trials, solid and restrained, without the previous restlessness and superficiality. The realm of half-step divine consciousness had been completely stabilized.

He slowly opened his eyes. The swirling starry sky in the depths of his icy blue eyes had vanished, replaced by an ancient, icy pool, unfathomable yet calm and still.

"Big brother! You're awake! How are you feeling? My soul rings are awesome, right? Let me tell you..." Tianmeng Ice Silkworm's spiritual thoughts, carrying a hint of flattery and self-aggrandizement, immediately rang in his mind, chattering on and on.

However, it hadn't finished speaking—

"Noisy!"

A cold, majestic female voice, carrying an unquestionable dragon's might, suddenly resounded in Xuanming's spiritual sea like a biting north wind!
The next moment, the enormous spiritual body of Tianmeng Ice Silkworm seemed to be grabbed by an invisible giant hand and forcibly stuffed into a "small room" constructed of extreme ice laws deep within the sea of ​​spirit, its sound instantly cut off.

"Big Sister Ice Dragon King! I was wrong! Let me out!" Tianmeng Ice Silkworm's wailing was completely blocked.

Xuanming felt somewhat helpless.

The Ice Dragon King may sometimes appear playful or even willful in front of him, but when facing outsiders, her majesty and domineering nature as the first Dragon King never diminishes in the slightest.

Clearly, Tianmeng Ice Silkworm's "enthusiasm" annoyed her.

Xuanming stood up, stretched his body, and felt the vast and stable spiritual power within him, as well as the new power brought by the platinum million-year soul ring.

"Awake?" Gu Yuena's voice came; she had been keeping watch by her side.

“Hmm.” Xuanming nodded. “We’ve been delayed for three days. It’s time to move on to the next step.”

Just then, the Snow Empress and the Ice Empress walked over slowly.

The Snow Empress still maintained her noble and aloof demeanor, but her eyes held a more complex scrutinizing gaze.

Hyotei followed behind her, his emerald green eyes filled with wariness and a hint of barely perceptible curiosity.

"My lord." The Snow Empress nodded slightly, her ethereal voice ringing out, "Regarding your previous suggestion... we have discussed it."

Gu Yuena and Xuan Ming both looked at her.

The Snow Empress paused, then continued, "Please forgive us for not being able to make a decision immediately. The matter of the sacrifice concerns everything for us, and even the future of the far north. We need... to see it with our own eyes."

Her gaze fell upon Xuanming, carrying the pride and scrutiny of a queen of the far north: "We need to confirm whether he is truly worthy of our entrustment, worthy of the far north's following. If he is not a worthy master, even if we perish under the heavenly tribulation, we will not choose to eke out a living."

Hyotei nodded vigorously, indicating that this was a decision they made together.

Their understanding of humanity is indeed very poor. Although Di Tian has told them some things about Xuanming during this period, hearing it is not enough.

They cannot easily make a decision to stake their lives on a human they have only recently met.

Gu Yuena was not surprised by his words, and simply nodded calmly: "Alright. Then come with us. Let's witness his path together."

As a ferocious beast overlord who has lived for hundreds of thousands of years, he possesses his own pride and judgment, and it is impossible for him to easily hand over everything based solely on her words and the partial potential shown by Xuanming.

Xuanming had no objection to this. He hadn't insisted on it in the first place.

Seeing this, the Snow Empress no longer hesitated and turned to the Titan Snow Demon King, who resembled a small snow mountain not far away, and instructed him: "Atai, the Ice Empress and I will leave with the Lord and the others for a while. The far north will be under your temporary control."

Titan Snow Demon King let out a low growl, indicating his obedience.

After the arrangements were made, Xue Di and Bing Di stood behind Gu Yue Na, indicating their attitude of temporarily accompanying her and observing from the sidelines.

Gu Yuena looked at Xuan Ming, who nodded slightly.

The next moment, the group transformed into several streaks of light, leaving this frozen world and speeding towards the vast ocean.

(End of this chapter)