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

……

The next moment, Gu Yuena appeared before Xue Di, Bing Di, Bi Ji, and Zi Ji. Sensing the unusual aura emanating from her, the four ferocious beasts abandoned their casual demeanor and became serious.

“My lord?” Brigitte called softly.

Gu Yuena's gaze swept over them, without any pleasantries, and she directly issued an almost cruel order:

“The situation has changed. Xuanming’s mentality is unbalanced, and he is showing signs of giving up the divine examination and forcibly attempting to break through to the divine realm.”

The four women's expressions all changed.

“If things cannot be accomplished, the path to divine trial will be severed,” Gu Yuena’s voice was as cold as iron. “I need you to prepare for sacrifice immediately.”

"What?!" Hyotei exclaimed in disbelief.

Gu Yuena's gaze left no room for doubt: "His Black Dragon Martial Soul is still missing four Soul Rings. If it is ultimately beyond saving, the four of you must immediately sacrifice yourselves to complete his last Soul Rings and help him break through to the God Realm in the most perfect state!"

This is not a consultation, but an order.

It was to secure a glimmer of hope for Xuanming in the final battle that might come, a battle where they would break ties with the divine realm, and also to... minimize his potential madness caused by his lack of power, which might lead him to take his anger out on all living beings.

“This is not a request, but a choice we must make.” Gu Yuena looked at them, a deep pain in her silver-purple eyes, but her tone remained resolute. “For him, and also to… avoid the worst possible outcome.”

The Snow Emperor remained silent, her icy blue eyes gleaming.

Hyotei gritted her teeth, a hint of reluctance flashed in Brigitte's eyes, while Murasaki's dragon eyes ignited with a resolute flame.

They understood that Gu Yuena was not joking. The situation had become so dire that they needed to risk everything.

……

The afterglow of the setting sun bathed Poseidon Island in a warm orange-red hue, and the Ice Crystal Castle appeared exceptionally tranquil in the twilight.

Poseidon took a deep breath, removed the ornate crown and part of her outer robe that symbolized her status as high priestess, and, dressed only in a simple red dress, walked step by step towards Xuanming's room deep within the castle. Her steps were no longer as graceful and steady as before, but instead carried a hint of resolute determination.

Inside the room, Xuanming had already woken up and was sitting up in bed. His face was still somewhat pale, but his breathing was much more stable.

The position that originally belonged to the Heart of the Sea God on the Ice and Fire Crown has now been replaced by a strange eye-shaped crystal that emits a sinister purple light and seems to have countless tiny evil eyes moving deep within its pupils—that is the external soul bone brought by the Evil Emperor's sacrifice, the Evil Eye!
At this moment, the Evil Eye has completely merged with the Ice and Fire Crown, which not only greatly amplifies his mental perception and attack power, but also gives him the terrifying ability to unleash the "Light of Destruction" at any time.

With his current spiritual power at the Divine Origin Realm as support, this light of destruction already possesses the power to kill gods!

However, having just merged, and with his divine consciousness still in a weakened state, Xuanming's spirit was somewhat drowsy, and his perception of the outside world was also slightly dull.

The door was pushed open gently.

Upon seeing Poseidon enter, a hint of surprise and subtle complexity flashed in Xuanming's icy blue eyes. He opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but found his mind still somewhat hazy, and for a moment he didn't know how to speak, especially facing Poseidon, whose expression was completely different from usual.

Poseidon walked to the bedside and, instead of keeping her distance as usual, sat directly on the edge of the bed, very close to Xuanming.

Xuanming was slightly taken aback and subconsciously tried to sit up straight.

"Don't move, rest well." Poseidon's voice was very soft. She reached out and gently pressed Xuanming's shoulder, stopping him from moving.

Her palms were warm, carrying the gentle aura of the Sea God's power. When they touched his cold skin, Xuanming's body stiffened for a moment.

Looking into Xuanming's still slightly bewildered icy blue eyes, Poseidon completely abandoned her last shred of reserve. After a moment's hesitation, she decided to stop beating around the bush.

“Xuanming,” she began, her voice calm yet clear, “I actually… already knew about Tang Chen a long time ago.”

Xuanming's pupils contracted slightly.

Poseidon did not avoid his gaze and continued, "When you were undergoing the divine test, the Sea God let me 'see' his end. I saw his downfall in the City of Slaughter, being corrupted by the Rakshasa's divine will and turning into a monster who only knew how to kill... I also saw your final battle with him."

Her voice trembled slightly, but more so with relief: "I saw with my own eyes that you ended his suffering. Although the method was cruel, it was the only relief for him."

Xuanming was completely stunned; he hadn't expected this at all. He opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but didn't know how to begin. Poseidon didn't give him time to think. She looked directly into his eyes, her tone becoming even more resolute: "So, I don't hate you. On the contrary, I want to thank you. It was you who completely freed me from that long and hopeless wait. I no longer have to live in illusory expectations; I can truly...live for myself now."

These words struck Xuanming like a thunderbolt, exploding in his still somewhat dazed mind.

He had imagined Poseidon's anger, sadness, and even hatred upon learning the truth, but he never imagined it would be... gratitude and relief?
This completely disrupted his logic.

However, Poseidon did not stop. Seeing Xuanming's clearly bewildered expression, she felt a surge of desperate courage.

Without further hesitation, she reached out her other hand and gently grasped Xuanming's hand, which was placed at her side.

Xuanming's body stiffened, and he subconsciously tried to pull his hand back, but Poseidon held it tightly.

“Xuanming,” Poseidon’s voice was more direct than ever before, her sea-blue eyes gleaming with a deep and fervent light like the depths of the ocean, “I have waited for Tang Chen for decades. That feeling has long since turned into an obsession over the long years. Now that obsession has dissipated, my heart… is empty.”

She paused, as if using all her strength, and said, word by word, "Now, I want to give you this empty heart."

"Are you willing to accept me? Not out of compensation, not out of guilt, but simply as a man, accepting a woman."

“Or,” her voice paused slightly, trembling almost imperceptibly, yet remaining firm, “you refuse. Tell me that between us, it is only a matter of High Priest and examiner, and there is no other possibility.”

"I can accept either one. But I don't want ambiguity or vagueness. I want a clear answer. Right now."

Xuanming was completely dumbfounded.

He stared blankly at Poseidon, who was so close to him, at the undisguised emotions in her eyes—a mixture of tension, determination, and even a hint of desperation—and felt as if his thoughts had stopped.

He had to admit that during his years on Poseidon Island, Poseidon, as the high priestess, had indeed taken good care of him.

He wasn't oblivious to the gentleness behind that composure, or the concern that went beyond his duty. In fact, at certain moments, he did experience a slight wavering.

But he always remembered that Poseidon harbored feelings for Tang Chen, whom she had waited for for decades. Therefore, he suppressed that wavering deeply, never revealing it, and never even considering overstepping his bounds.

But now, Poseidon told him herself that her obsession was over and her shackles were broken. She so directly and so bravely placed the choice before him.

reject?

Looking into those resolute, even desperate, sea-blue eyes before him, feeling the coolness and determination emanating from her fingertips, the word "no" felt like a fishbone stuck in his throat, impossible to spit out.

He knew all too well. Once such deeply hidden feelings were laid bare in the sunlight, there were only two paths to take—either to be honest with each other and walk hand in hand, or to sever all ties completely and not even be able to remain friends.

The so-called "pretend nothing happened" is nothing but a self-deceiving lie that will only cause each other to drift further apart in awkwardness and estrangement.

The room fell silent, with only the two of them breathing somewhat erratically.

The last rays of the setting sun shone through the ice wall, bathing their clasped hands in a warm hue.

Xuanming looked at Poseidon, at the unwavering determination in her eyes, and remained silent for a long time.

He took her slightly cool hand in his own, his grip light but carrying a sense of certainty, as if everything had finally settled.

He didn't speak.

But the silence at this moment, and the strength of that grip in return, was already the best answer.

In Poseidon's azure eyes, an unbelievable joy burst forth, and tears quickly welled up. But she stubbornly refused to let the tears fall, instead gripping his hand even tighter, a beautiful, relieved smile slowly curving her lips.

She was right.

Outside the Ice Crystal Castle, Gu Yuena, who witnessed all of this, breathed a sigh of relief.

That leaves only the final problem.

Qian Renxue, even she felt this trouble was far too difficult to handle… (End of Chapter)