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

……

Humans are the greatest threat to the Soul Beast race in this world, and also the only intelligent race.

Once the human race is wiped off the world, the future development of the soul beast race will be an internal matter for their race, and no one will be able to pose a real threat.

Whenever this thought crossed his mind, Xuanming felt extreme disgust and inner turmoil. He was not inherently bloodthirsty, and the destruction of countless innocent lives severely conflicted with certain bottom lines deep within his heart.

If it were just about eliminating the existing Soul Master class, he might be able to convince himself that this was eliminating a threat.

However, the existence of soul power is part of the rules of this world, and as long as humanity exists, those with soul power talent will continue to be born.

Simply eliminating one generation of Soul Masters is merely a stopgap measure.

Perhaps it won't even take thousands of years, just a few hundred, before new Soul Masters spring up like mushrooms after rain, and the cycle of history will repeat itself once again.

Therefore, if we want to fundamentally "solve" the problem, it seems there is only one way left...

To utterly destroy the human race!

Whenever this conclusion clearly surfaced in his mind, Xuanming would feel a sense of disorientation, wondering if he had lost his mind and gone mad under immense pressure.

Reason told him how insane and cruel this was, but his obsession with the promise and the cold logic of finding the "optimal solution" in a desperate situation prevented him from completely ruling out this option. This cold and cruel option was still silently listed as one of his final "alternative plans."

Especially after the Ice Dragon King sacrificed himself for him, Gu Yuena could clearly feel that Xuanming's destructive desires and his resolute sense of giving up had become even stronger.

He seemed to be preparing the most insane and thorough escape route for his possible failure—even if it meant a desperate counterattack, he wanted to clear the biggest obstacle for the soul beast race.

She was afraid. Afraid that if she told him now that even the Dragon God's soul had acknowledged him, and that the expectation of revitalizing the Dragon Clan and even surpassing the Dragon God had been placed upon him, would this heavy expectation become the last straw that broke him? Would it really drive him down that irreversible path of destruction, driving him completely insane?

She can't take that risk.

The pressure was already immense. She couldn't add even the slightest bit more to it.

She simply hugged him tighter, as if trying to use her body heat to dispel the chill that was quietly creeping into his heart, and whispered, "It's nothing, I just... suddenly wanted to hug you."

Xuanming was slightly taken aback. Although he found Gu Yuena's reaction a bit strange, the warmth and dependence from her embrace temporarily calmed his chaotic and heavy thoughts. He raised his hand, gently hugged her back, and whispered, "Mmm."

……

Poseidon Island, a ring-shaped island in the sea.

The fine white waves washed over the pristine white sand again and again, leaving damp marks before quietly receding, repeating the cycle endlessly, much like the restless emotions of the girls on the shore.

Hu Liena, Ning Rongrong, Zhu Zhuqing, Xiao Wu, Dugu Yan, Ye Lingling, Shui Bing'er, Huo Wu... They stood or sat, scattered across the beach, but their eyes were all fixed on the distant ice crystal castle that shimmered with a magnificent glow under the setting sun.

"Were we... too selfish before?" Ning Rongrong gazed at the sea, her voice somewhat unsteady.

She recalled how they used to unconsciously gravitate towards Xuanming, placing their vague feelings of affection and dependence on him, but rarely did they truly consider what they wanted or how to deal with these complex emotions.

Ning Rongrong sighed softly, "We always wanted him to understand and make a choice, but we forgot that relationships are never a one-sided process of taking and waiting. We threw the difficult choice at him and made him bear all the entanglement and pressure alone."

A complex expression appeared on Zhu Zhuqing's usually cold face: "His personality... he always takes responsibility upon himself and doesn't want to hurt anyone. Pressuring him like this will only make things more difficult for him, and might even... lead him to make a choice against his conscience."

Xiao Wu lowered her head, her rabbit ears drooping slightly, and remained silent, lost in thought. "Brother Xuanming's inability to give us a definite answer is... already an answer in itself," Ning Rongrong said softly, a knowing glint in her eyes. "Perhaps he can't bear to refuse any of us, or perhaps... he himself can't tell, and is reluctant to let go. But whatever the reason, it means we can no longer completely entrust the choice to him."

Dugu Yan stood up. "This is not only his choice, but also our own. We must think clearly about what we really want, what we can accept, and what price we are willing to pay."

She looked at everyone: "Should we continue this ambiguous entanglement, causing everyone pain? Or... should some choose to withdraw, and others choose to persevere? Or... should we find a new way of getting along that we can all accept?"

"I don't want to have any regrets," Shui Bing'er said softly. She and Huo Wu exchanged a glance, both seeing the determination in each other's eyes. Their talent might not be as great as Hu Liena's or Ning Rongrong's, but they had come this far not only because of Gu Yuena's help, but also because of their unwavering determination to follow in his footsteps.

Ye Lingling nodded silently. She was the most gentle and introverted person, but at this moment, her fingertips clenched the hem of her clothes slightly. The destiny of being the only heir of the Nine-Heart Begonia lineage made her yearn for a stable and warm emotional home more than anyone else.

Dugu Yan tossed her long, dark green hair, a hint of arrogance flashing in her snake-like eyes: "Hmph, so what if I get rejected! I, Dugu Yan, can take it and leave it! It's much better than guessing like this!"

Even so, her slightly trembling fingertips betrayed her inner nervousness.

As the sun gradually sank below the horizon, it dyed the sky and the waves a warm orange-red.

The sea breeze ruffled the girls' long hair and clothes, carrying the coolness of the night.

……

As night deepened, Poseidon Island was enveloped in a tranquil starlight.

The ice crystal castle shimmered with a cool, clear light in the moonlight, like a pearl in the deep sea.

The girls ultimately didn't choose to rush forward, as that would only make the situation more chaotic. After a brief silence, Hu Liena proposed a method that seemed fair, yet also carried a touch of fate—drawing lots.

“Let’s go one by one.” She held a few seaweeds of varying lengths in her hand. “Let’s say what we want to say clearly. No matter the outcome, at least… we were brave.”

No one objected. As the slips were drawn one by one, and everyone saw their turn, their hearts skipped a beat.

The first one is Xiao Wu.

This result surprised everyone, yet it also seemed somewhat expected. Xiao Wu and Xuan Ming's bond began very early, intertwined with the debt of saving a life, the kinship of relying on each other for survival, and various other complex and difficult-to-disentangle emotions that followed. She appeared lively and carefree, but her mind was delicate and sensitive, and her attitude towards this relationship was the most complicated and hesitant.

Time passed in silence, and the night deepened.

At midnight, the gates of the Ice Crystal Castle opened silently.

Gu Yuena appeared at the doorway, her long silver hair shimmering with a cool light under the moonlight. Her gaze swept over the waiting crowd on the beach, finally settling on Xiao Wu.

"He's awake, let's go inside."

Gu Yuena stepped aside to let her in, then gently closed the castle gate.

The castle was softly lit, its walls and dome made of transparent ice crystals that reflected the moonlight, creating a tranquil and serene atmosphere. Xiao Wu followed the familiar path to Xuan Ming's resting room.

Xuanming wasn't cultivating; he simply stood quietly by the window, gazing at the boundless starry sky and sea outside. Hearing footsteps, he turned around, his icy blue eyes falling on Xiaowu.

"I..." Xiao Wu opened her mouth, but found that the words she had prepared were stuck in her throat. She originally thought that she would ask clearly and decisively, just like Dugu Yan had said, or she would express her long-standing attachment, just as she had imagined.

But when she actually stood before him and felt his calm yet undeniably pressured gaze, she suddenly realized that the "feelings" she had been struggling with all along weren't entirely romantic love. (End of Chapter)