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

Chapter 374 Trial of the Heart
……

Outside the Temple of Poseidon, just as Xuanming was about to forcefully break open the temple door and go in to talk things out with Poseidon, the golden trident mark on his forehead suddenly burst out with an unprecedentedly brilliant light!
A vast and majestic flow of information surged into his mind, its contents causing him to freeze in place instantly. Even Gu Yuena, who had always been calm and composed, showed a rare hint of surprise in her eyes.

[The Ninth Trial of the Sea God, Fourth Trial: Severing all emotional ties and achieving a clear and unobstructed mind.]

[Content: Clarify and define your own emotional entanglements, and make a clear decision regarding the women involved (including but not limited to those who harbor feelings for the examinee, or those whom the examinee is interested in). Either establish a relationship and walk hand in hand; or sever all ties and have no further involvement. Do not remain ambiguous or hesitant, as this will only lead to confusion, added trouble, and negative karma.]

[Note: This is a crucial step in stabilizing the mind and clarifying one's true self. If the mind is blocked, the spiritual path is difficult. Emotional entanglements are also obstacles to spiritual practice and must be resolutely severed or acknowledged. Time limit: One year.]

Xuan Ming: "..."

Gu Yuena: "..."

For a moment, the two were speechless.

Compared to the previous rigorous tests of reshaping the martial soul, ascending to the Heavenly Rank, and dealing with the Rakshasa inheritance, the content of this fourth test took a sudden turn, appearing exceptionally... eerie and personal.

Is this serious?
Just as Xuanming was stunned by this sudden and bizarre test, Poseidon's divine sense, tinged with a hint of mischief and undeniable authority, once again accurately entered his mind:
"You brat! Don't play dumb! I don't care about others, but don't tell me you didn't see how much my Poseidon has for you! She's waited for that blockhead Tang Chen for decades, and she was finally getting over it when you came to interfere! Now Tang Chen is gone, and she's even more confused! You have to handle this for me!"

"Either give me a straight answer and take responsibility, or cut ties cleanly and make her give up completely! Stop keeping her hanging on like this!"

"When did I string her along?" Xuanming asked, completely bewildered.

What kind of days did he spend every day after arriving at Poseidon Island to begin his divine trials?
Where does he find the time to spare?
"I don't care, if you dare to bully her or make her sad, hmph..." Poseidon's divine sense carried a strong threat.

"Hmph, I'll make sure those little girls you brought won't even pass one of the divine exams!"

This almost shameless threat made the veins on Xuanming's forehead throb slightly.

The reward for the first test was a soul ring bestowed by the Asura God, so the content of the first test was most likely determined by the Asura God. The second test was a soul ring bestowed by the Evil God, which was determined by the Evil God.

Similarly, the third round is most likely ordained by the God of Destruction.

And now, this inexplicable fourth test is definitely the work of that shameless old Poseidon!

Ending the romantic relationship? That sounds so noble! It's clearly a case of "Get rid of my high priest, or I'll make things difficult for you!"
Xuanming felt a headache coming on.

He could certainly sense that Poseidon was showing him some unusual concern and... perhaps feelings that she herself wasn't even fully aware of.

However, he deliberately avoided it, partly because of Tang Chen's existence, and partly because his own love life was already a mess and he didn't want to get involved any more.

But now, Poseidon has brought this matter to the forefront, linked it to the divine examination, and even threatened him with Hu Liena and the others' future!
This is absolutely shameless!

Just as Xuanming was getting a headache from Poseidon's almost shameless threat, and even began to wonder if the old man was just bored out of his mind—

Deep within the Temple of Neptune, in Poseidon's chambers.

A golden divine light, equally vast yet carrying a completely different meaning, descended silently, enveloping Poseidon, who sat quietly on the edge of the bed.

Poseidon's delicate body trembled slightly, a hint of surprise flashing in her sea-blue eyes, before she focused her attention on sensing the assessment information that appeared in her mind.

[High Priestess of Poseidon Island, Poseidon, triggers hidden divine trial: Trial of the Heart.]

[Content: Obtain the Heart of Xuanming and successfully seize the Heart of the Sea God from it.]

[Duration: One year.]

[Reward: Qualification for the Sea God's Legacy.]

[Note: This test is independent of the Nine Trials of Xuanming. Its success or failure will not affect your duties as High Priest, nor will it affect the progress of the Xuanming trials. However, this is your only path to godhood.]

Poseidon: "..."

She was completely stunned, her dignified and beautiful face filled with disbelief.

To obtain the Heart of the Mysterious Netherworld? To seize the Heart of the Sea God?
What... what kind of assessment is this?

Poseidon's heart suddenly raced, and her fingers tightened slightly as she gripped the scepter.

The test was far too... straightforward, and far too shocking. Obtaining the Heart of Xuanming meant she needed to get that deep-thinking, emotionally reserved young man to open his heart to her, and even... fall in love with her?

Obtaining the Heart of the Sea God was even more difficult, as it was not only the key to the Sea God's inheritance but also deeply bound to Xuanming's soul. However, the six words "qualification for the Sea God's inheritance" seemed to possess a magical power, stirring up a storm in her heart.

Becoming the sea goddess means that she will no longer be the high priestess who is forever trapped on the island of the sea god and waiting for others to return, but a god who can truly control her own destiny and even protect this sea area!

This temptation was too great for her, who had guarded Poseidon Island for nearly a hundred years.

But this assessment method... it's asking her to actively approach Xuanming and "win" his heart? This made her feel embarrassed and at a loss.

She had never experienced anything like this before, especially at this delicate moment when she had just confirmed that her obsession with Tang Chen had dissipated, and that special feeling for Xuan Ming was quietly growing.

This is almost like... like the sea god is deliberately bringing them together, or like conducting an extremely cruel test.

What should she do?
Is it to follow the stirrings of her heart, try to get closer to the young man who repeatedly touched her heartstrings, and take this opportunity to break free from the shackles of fate?
Or was it out of fear of failure and inherent pride that he chose to give up this only chance to become a god and continue to be the high priest who was forever calm but also forever trapped?

……

Along the circular seaside, the waves gently lapped against the shore.

Hu Liena, Ning Rongrong, Zhu Zhuqing, Xiao Wu, and the others, exhausted from breaking through the blockade of the Ring Sea and completing the second test, were slumped on the beach, panting. Brigitte's gentle, healing green light enveloped them, repairing their fatigue.

However, before they could catch their breath, the marks on their foreheads that represented the assessment lit up at the same time, and the information about the third test flooded into their minds without any refusal.

[The Sea God's Trial, Third Test: Enlightenment and Realization of One's True Nature.]

[Content: Clarify the emotional entanglements with Xuanming and define the relationship's position. Whether as partners, close friends, or like-minded individuals, honesty is essential to ending ambiguity and achieving true understanding.]

[Duration: One year.]

[Note: This hurdle tests your moral character and will also affect your chances of being assessed later.]

Everyone: "..."

For a moment, an eerie silence fell over the beach. Each person's face displayed a complex and indescribable expression—some shy, some struggling, some bewildered, some resolute—but without exception, they all tacitly refrained from revealing the content of the assessment, each lowering their eyes, their thoughts wandering.

Looking at the group of girls who had suddenly fallen silent, a knowing glint flashed in her emerald eyes. She looked up towards the magnificent temple atop Mount Poseidon; she could clearly sense that Xuanming and her lord had returned.

Moreover, judging from Xuanming's even deeper and more profound aura, he had clearly completed his third test.

I just don't know if things are going well on the Lord's side...

……

As night falls, Poseidon Island is enveloped in tranquility.

Xuanming stood alone on the mountainside of Sea God Mountain, gazing at the Sea God Temple on the summit, its doors still tightly shut and shrouded in soft golden light, his brows furrowed.

Poseidon avoided meeting her, and this inexplicable fourth test felt like another shackle. The sea god's meaning was crystal clear—whatever choice you make, you must not hurt Poseidon's feelings.

But matters of the heart were precisely the area he was least adept at handling. The thought of facing Poseidon's sea-blue eyes, which seemed to encompass everything but were now perhaps filled with complex emotions, and having to give a clear "explanation," filled him with a sense of powerlessness.

"It seems I won't be able to get the reward for the fourth test..." Xuanming sighed inwardly, almost foreseeing the outcome of failing the test.

Since the reward was hopeless, he decided to give up and focus on maximizing his own strength. After all, he had already accumulated enough power to forcefully break through to level 100.

Now, Blood Spear's nine spirit rings are complete, especially the ninth spirit ring, which is a million-year level destruction ring with immense power.

The Black Dragon Martial Soul currently possesses four million-year soul rings, and still has five vacant slots.

Completing these five spirit rings would not be difficult for him.

He was quite confident that he could persuade the Snow Empress and the Ice Empress to make sacrifices, given their close relationship and the fact that it was a way out for them.

Xiao Wu and A Rou… Xuan Ming hesitated slightly. But he quickly made up his mind. Anyway, he was now absolutely certain of becoming a god, and resurrecting them was only a matter of time. He was sure they would understand.

The last vacancy... perhaps we could discuss it with Bi Ji. As a healing-type soul beast that's over 500,000 years old, her soul rings are of extremely high quality, and their attributes also have a certain degree of compatibility with his Black Dragon Martial Soul.

(End of this chapter)