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

……

Xuanming looked at the extremely strange atmosphere before him, especially Ziji's undisguised gaze that seemed to want to devour him whole, and combined with Gu Yuena's ambiguous "future development"... a thought flashed through his mind like lightning.

Yes!

Gu Yuena must have thought the same thing as him!
This damn fourth test, "Severing Ties," is an unsolvable problem. Rather than getting entangled in it and adding to your troubles, it's better to just give up.

The most urgent task is to accumulate one's own foundation to its peak as soon as possible, and break through the realm directly with force to reach the god level!

The fastest way to increase one's strength is undoubtedly to complete the remaining five spirit rings of the Black Dragon Martial Soul.

These four before him—Snow Empress, Ice Empress, Jade Princess, and Purple Princess—are they not the most suitable candidates? Their cultivation is profound, and their attributes are compatible with his Black Dragon Martial Soul to varying degrees.

Gu Yuena must have summoned them to persuade them to sacrifice their soul rings and lend him a hand. The strange atmosphere just now must have been caused by their inner struggle upon hearing this.

After all, everyone knows what sacrificing a soul ring means.

"You told them everything?" Xuanming asked.

"Yeah." Gu Yuena nodded slightly.

“Then you…” Xuanming looked at the four women present.

"Who comes first?"

He didn't say anything more. Things had come to this point, and the risks weren't too great. Gu Yuena had the Heart of the Dragon God, and his Black Dragon Martial Soul also possessed the power to travel through time and space. Even if the God Realm had broken off relations with them now, they still had the ability to escape the Douluo God Realm's control.

It's actually safer to hang on him than to stay here.

Xuanming asked the question as if it were a matter of course, his tone calm, as if he were simply asking who would be on night duty that day.

However, the question "Who goes first?" struck the four women like a thunderbolt from a clear sky!

"..."

The hall fell into a near-vacuum of deathly silence.

Gu Yuena's previously calm face instantly froze. Looking at Xuan Ming's serious expression of "quick victory", she almost choked. Her silver-purple eyes were filled with disbelief and a deep, almost desperate speechlessness.

"What...do you mean?" Murasaki couldn't help but ask.

In her mind, Xuanming wasn't such a simple and crude person, was he? Why couldn't she hold back?
“A sacrifice,” Xuanming said.

"Weren't you guys just discussing this? Anyway, I don't have the ability to pass this inexplicable fourth trial, so why not just adjust my state and try to break through to the God Realm? My Black Dragon Martial Soul is only five spirit rings away from being completed. Ordinary 100,000-year spirit rings are not very meaningful to me. You guys... aren't you just perfect?"

Xuanming's words became increasingly hesitant, because he noticed that everyone's expressions were...not quite right!
Gu Yuena had turned away completely, her shoulders trembling slightly, whether she was sighing or trying to suppress a laugh, she simply didn't want to look at him anymore.

Xue Di's cold, icy eyes widened suddenly, filled with astonishment and a sense of... utterly offended absurdity. An uncontrollable chill emanated from her, causing the temperature in the entire hall to plummet, and even freezing the floor.

Hyotei laughed in anger, hands on her hips, her scorpion tail swaying dangerously: "So in your eyes, we're just five walking 100,000-year soul rings?! And just the right amount? Xuanming! Has your brain been infected by that insect sacrifice?!"

The blush of shyness on Biji's gentle face completely faded, replaced by a deep sense of helplessness and amusement. She sighed softly, "Xuanming...you...sigh..." She seemed unable to even utter words of reproach.

She should have thought of it; Xuanming's mind was always quite serious, and he would never let his imagination run wild in such directions. The previously blazing flames in Ziji's aggressive dragon eyes instantly extinguished, replaced by an expression mixed with annoyance, speechlessness, and a hint of… being choked. Her lips twitched slightly. "What…what kind of things are in your head?!"

We're here seriously, even with a touch of shyness and determination, discussing matters of lifelong happiness and the future of our community... and all you're thinking about is... sacrificing your soul rings?!
Xuanming was even more bewildered by the anger of the Snow Empress and the Ice Empress. He subconsciously took a half step back, trying to explain, "That's not what I meant... I meant, this is the most efficient solution at the moment, and I can guarantee it..."

"Guarantee what? Guarantee that our deaths will be worthwhile?!" Ice Empress shrieked, interrupting him. "Xuanming! Open your eyes and look! The four of us—Snow Empress, myself, Biji, and Ziji—are standing in front of you! All you can think of is soul rings?! Don't you have any other thoughts?!"

Any other ideas?

Xuanming was even more confused.

What other ideas could he have besides spirit rings?
They are all powerful spirit beasts, allies, and friends. Although sacrificing their spirit rings is a huge sacrifice, isn't this the optimal solution for a common goal and a safer future?
Could it be that they are unwilling to give up their cultivation? But he has already promised to do his best to revive them.
In any case, given their current situation, it's impossible for them to achieve greater breakthroughs and accomplishments under the current rules of heaven and earth. Wouldn't it be more worthwhile to wait until he changes the status quo before trying?
Seeing Xuanming's still clear eyes, which were filled with "Isn't this right?", the four ferocious beasts finally understood completely.

Trying to talk about romance with this block of wood is even more hopeless than talking to a cow!

Zi Ji was the first to give up. She glared at Xuan Ming and said, "When you finally figure it out, come talk to me about who went first! But by then, it won't be the same way!"

After saying that, she angrily transformed into a streak of purplish-black light, smashed through the castle wall, and left.

She was afraid that if she stayed any longer, she would lose control and take action.

Even though she can't beat this bastard anymore!
Hyotei stomped her foot in anger and pointed at Xuanming's nose: "You! You idiot!" With that, she turned into a streak of green light and disappeared from the spot.

Biji looked at Xuanming with a complicated expression. In the end, she just sighed softly and said nothing. A soft green halo emanated from her body, and her figure slowly faded away.

Finally, only Xue Di remained. She looked at Xuan Ming, the coldness in her icy blue eyes lessening slightly, replaced by an indescribable scrutiny. She spoke coldly, her voice like ice beads falling onto a jade plate: "Xuan Ming, sometimes, power is not the only way to solve all problems. Some things are far more important than soul rings."

Leaving behind these profound words, the Snow Emperor's figure transformed into countless ice crystals and vanished into the air.

In the blink of an eye, only Xuanming and Gu Yuena, who had finally turned around, remained in the hall.

Xuanming stared blankly and innocently at the empty hall and the large hole in the wall that Ziji had smashed into: "What happened?"

Looking at him like this, Gu Yuena finally let out a long, helpless sigh.

"It's alright, it's my fault."

Since the divine trial began, Xuanming's mind has been preoccupied with how to deal with the divine realm, even preparing for a potential confrontation where they would simply flee. His mindset has completely entered a "wartime state," with improving his strength and responding to crises as his highest priority.

Now, she suddenly shifted the topic from "life and death" to "love and affection," and Xuanming, who was already on edge, couldn't quite process it... which seemed like a normal stress response.

"What exactly happened?" Xuanming frowned, he really didn't understand. "Weren't you just... talking about the sacrifice?"

He carefully recalled the atmosphere and everyone's reactions, trying to find the basis for his mistaken judgment. The Snow Empress's coldness, the Ice Empress's anger, Bi Ji's helplessness, Zi Ji's… that phrase, "That's not how it's done…" Could it be…

Impossible. Absolutely impossible.

Putting aside the fact that Gu Yuena is right here, all four of them are ferocious beasts who have lived for hundreds of thousands of years, proud and arrogant. How could they possibly collectively be towards him... especially in a serious setting like discussing the "future of soul beasts"? This is too outrageous.

He must be overthinking it. Most likely, they have reservations about the sacrifice, or they think his plan is too risky. (End of Chapter)