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

……

“However, the current situation…” The Goddess of Life’s tone became solemn, “Xuanming has stripped the Heart of the Sea God, and his intention is clear. If he believes he has failed the fourth trial, becomes disheartened, and no longer follows the path of the trial, but instead forcibly attempts to break through to the God Realm… then the nature of the situation will be completely different.”

Gu Yuena's heart tightened; the situation she feared most had indeed been discovered by the divine realm.

"A breakthrough on one's own, breaking away from the divine realm's inheritance system, and harboring resentment towards the divine realm..." The Goddess of Life's voice carried a hint of warning, "Such a new god is a huge variable that the divine realm absolutely does not want to see. At that time, for the sake of the peace and order of the divine realm, no matter how much we had high hopes for Xuanming before, the final choice... will probably only be one."

Gu Yuena understood what that "choice" meant—to destroy Xuanming before he succeeded!
She took a deep breath and responded with her divine sense: "I understand your concerns. But the fourth test is now at a stalemate. If you suddenly announce that the test has been passed, given Xuanming's personality, he will not only not appreciate it, but will feel fooled and insulted."

She knew Xuanming too well; he could accept any hardship and danger, which was the price he had to pay for choosing his path.

But he could not accept charity or childish, ever-changing policies, for those were tramples on his will and efforts.

“We know,” the Goddess of Life sighed, “which is why we didn’t directly interfere with the assessment. We contacted you hoping you could guide him and resolve this impasse. Silver Dragon King, you are the person he trusts most right now, and the only one who can persuade him. We must get him back on track with the assessment; at the very least… we can’t let him go down that most extreme path.”

Gu Yuena remained silent for a moment. She knew that what the Goddess of Life said was true.

Xuanming's mental state is extremely unstable, and the act of stripping away the Heart of the Sea God is a dangerous signal.

If he really decides to abandon the assessment and forcefully attempt to break through to the Divine Realm, given his obsessive personality, he will definitely make the worst-case scenario plan before taking action, and might even...

In order to "fulfill their promises" and "clear obstacles," they did something as insane as destroying the humans of Douluo Star!

“I understand,” Gu Yuena finally replied, a resolute glint in her silver-purple eyes. “I will do my best to keep him calm and guide him through the next assessment.”

"I'm counting on you." The Goddess of Life's divine thought, carrying a hint of relief, slowly receded.

After the communication ended, Gu Yuena looked at Xuanming sleeping soundly on the bed and sighed softly.

"What a troublesome guy..." she muttered to herself, her fingertips brushing against his slightly cool cheek. "Looks like I'll have to find a reason for you to continue the assessment."

Escaping this star system was always a last resort, because even she didn't know what would happen.

She had no idea what the world beyond the realm of gods was like.

It hasn't come to that point yet, so she naturally has to do her best to fight for it.

After communicating with the Goddess of Life, Gu Yuena looked at the sleeping Xuanming and made her decision.

Time is of the essence, and we must adopt a two-pronged approach, or even a multi-pronged approach, to keep this stubborn donkey from going berserk.

She first left the Ice Crystal Castle, her figure transforming into a streak of silver light, and descended upon the Sea God Temple once more.

Poseidon remained standing in the hall, clutching the trident of Poseidon, which had now recognized her as his master, and gazed at the statue with a complex expression, lost in thought.

Sensing Gu Yuena's arrival, she turned around, her eyes filled with a hint of doubt and wariness.

"Your Excellency Gu Yuena, is there anything else?" Poseidon's voice carried a hint of weariness.

Gu Yuena didn't beat around the bush. Her silver-purple eyes stared directly at Poseidon, her tone more serious than ever before: "Poseidon, I've come to tell you something... about Xuanming, and the real situation this world might face."

Poseidon's heart skipped a beat, and he gripped his trident tightly. "Please speak." "Xuanming's stripping of the Sea God's Heart is not simply a matter of repaying a debt," Gu Yuena's voice was icy. "It means that he may have lost patience with this divine trial, or rather, he has decided that he has failed."

Poseidon's expression changed slightly.

Gu Yuena continued, "You should know his character. If he's convinced this path is blocked, he won't just sit and wait to die. He'll choose another path—to forcefully break through to the Divine Realm!"

Poseidon gasped: "Forced breakthrough to the Divine Realm? Then... what are the success rates..."

“It’s low, but not hopeless.” Gu Yuena interrupted her, her eyes sharp as knives. “However, what’s even more terrifying is that, given his personality, before attempting to break through to the Divine Realm, he will definitely make the worst-case scenario plan and eliminate all potential threats and unfinished business.”

She paused deliberately, allowing Poseidon to process the meaning of her words, before saying, word by word, "What do you think is the greatest 'potential threat' and 'unfinished business' in his mind?"

Poseidon's pupils suddenly contracted, and a terrifying thought uncontrollably surfaced, sending a chill down her spine: "You...you mean...humans?"

“That’s right!” Gu Yuena’s voice was resolute, carrying an undeniable sense of pressure. “He will believe that the rise of human soul masters is the greatest threat to the soul beast race’s future. In order to ‘fulfill his promise’ and to clear the way for the soul beast race, he will spare no effort to destroy human civilization in this world before he can fail and escape!”

"Douluo Continent, Sun Moon Continent, Seagod Island... all human settlements will become his targets for destruction! This is not an exaggeration, Poseidon! Knowing him as you do, do you think he wouldn't do it?!"

Poseidon staggered back a step, his face ashen, barely able to hold onto the trident of Poseidon.

Her mind flashed through Xuanming's past—his ruthlessness towards enemies, his cruelty towards himself, his obsession with promises... She had no doubt that Xuanming was capable of doing what Gu Yuena said!

What wouldn't a person who can tear his own soul and skull apart with his own hands dare to do?!

“Why…why is this happening…” Poseidon’s voice trembled.

"Because of your divine test, he was forced to make the most extreme choice!" Gu Yuena's tone was tinged with anger. "Now is not the time to assign blame. Poseidon, what lies before you is no longer just your personal emotional entanglement, but a choice concerning the survival of Seagod Island and the lives of billions of people on the entire Douluo Star!"

Gu Yuena stepped forward, an invisible pressure enveloping Poseidon: "Now, Poseidon, you have no time to hesitate or be reserved anymore!"

Poseidon staggered backward, leaning against a cold palace pillar, her sea-blue eyes filled with struggle and fear.

She had guarded Poseidon Island for nearly a century, sheltering believers, and possessed a deep-seated, natural reverence for life. She could not imagine that apocalyptic scene.

"Consider it for the sake of the countless innocent lives that might have died because of him," Gu Yuena's voice was like a final judgment. "You must make a decision as soon as possible. Accept him, use your power and the qualification of the Sea God's inheritance to bind and guide him, or completely sever ties with him, let him give up his thoughts, and perhaps he can commit fewer atrocities."

"There is no third way, and there is no room for hesitation. Your decision may determine the life or death of millions of people."

Poseidon closed her eyes; the immense pressure was almost suffocating her.

On one side is their long-standing pride and reserve, as well as the complex and unspeakable emotions caused by the misunderstanding; on the other side is the heavy responsibility concerning the survival of the entire race.

After a long while, she slowly opened her eyes. Though struggle still lingered, her eyes held a newfound resolve born of being driven to the brink. She looked at Gu Yuena, her voice hoarse yet firm:
“I… understand. Please give me some time… I will go to him in person before dark and settle things….”

Gu Yuena gave her a deep look: "I hope your choice won't make everyone regret it."

Having said that, she didn't linger; a flash of silver light, and she vanished from the Temple of the Sea God. (End of Chapter)