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

……

"Cough... Ugh!"

Intense pain instantly swept through her body. Qian Renxue curled up on the ground, feeling as if her internal organs had shifted and her bones were breaking inch by inch. A mouthful of blood gushed out uncontrollably, staining the stone slab beneath her red.

She struggled to lift her head, but her vision was blurry. She could only see a blurry figure appear in front of her like a ghost.

Xuanming looked down at her disheveled state, his eyes devoid of any pity. He raised his foot and ruthlessly stomped on her back!

"Click..."

A sickening cracking sound faintly rang out, and Qian Renxue let out a painful groan, feeling as if her spine was about to be broken! The immense humiliation and pain almost made her faint.

"Go back to your angelic temple." Xuanming's voice came from above, cold and ruthless. "Want revenge? Fine. Come find me after you become a god."

After saying that, he withdrew his foot and then kicked Qian Renxue hard in the side!
"Ugh—!"

An irresistible force surged forth, and Qian Renxue, like a ball, transformed into a golden streak of light, flying uncontrollably towards the top of Papal Mountain, towards the Temple of Angels. She finally crashed heavily onto the plaza in front of the temple, raising a cloud of dust, and completely lost consciousness.

After doing all this, Xuanming stood quietly in the same spot, looking in the direction where Qian Renxue had disappeared, remaining silent.

The blood spear had long since disappeared, and the fierce killing intent around him instantly vanished, leaving only a deep, indescribable loneliness.

Bibi Dong had somehow appeared beside him, quietly watching him, her purplish-gold eyes filled with complex emotions. She didn't speak, but simply gently took his slightly cold hand in hers.

She knew it all too well.

It is clear how complex Xuanming's feelings for Qian Renxue are.

In those years in Tiandou City, two psychologically unstable children struggled in a quagmire of power, intrigue, and mutual probing.

Qian Renxue was one of the few people with whom he had a deep connection during that dark period of his life.

They were enemies, watchers, and perhaps... also, in a distorted sense, the only "friends" who could understand each other's situation.

They may be angry with each other, scheme against each other, and when they are angry they wish they could strangle each other, but they never really thought of taking each other's lives.

Xuanming has been tormenting Qian Renxue in his own way, while Qian Renxue has been determined to conquer Xuanming. Their twisted and peculiar relationship is difficult for outsiders to understand.

But now, Xuanming has severed all of this with his own hands in the most cruel and decisive way.

He doesn't want to hurt her, not in the past, and not now.

But right now, this is the only solution he can think of.

Cut off the tangled threads of affection, block all possibilities of ambiguity, and drive her to the extreme of hatred.

At least this way, Qian Renxue can hate him with a clear conscience, without having to struggle painfully with the abnormal relationship between the three of them, and without having to think about those "what ifs" that will never have a result.

Pure hatred, sometimes, is easier for people to live on than complex and unspoken love.

Qian Renxue's figure disappeared like a bird with broken wings in the direction of the Papal Mountain, leaving only the cold stone bricks on the square and a pool of glaring bloodstains.

Xuanming stood silently in place, the night wind ruffling the black hair on his forehead, yet unable to dispel the profound loneliness that permeated him. He slowly withdrew his gaze, and in the depths of his icy blue eyes, something seemed to shatter, or something seemed to be completely frozen.

Bibi Dong stood beside him, gently holding his hand, conveying silent warmth and support. She could feel the coldness of his fingertips and the slight tremor, but she said nothing, only holding his hand tighter.

Just then, a silver figure silently emerged from the shadows inside the hall.

Gu Yuena. Her silver-purple eyes gazed silently at Xuan Ming's back, her expression incredibly complex, containing shock, heartache, realization, and a hint of... indescribable palpitation.

She once again misjudged Xuanming's determination.

She initially thought he was merely expressing his dissatisfaction through passive resistance, that he was running away from the situation. She believed that by pressuring Qian Renxue, she was helping him break the deadlock.

But now she realized that everything she had done might have been part of his plan. He deliberately delayed and deliberately showed resistance, perhaps... waiting for her to lose her temper and force Qian Renxue to his presence.

Only then could he end it all himself in the most cruel and thorough way.

He wasn't running away; he was strategizing. He was using the most decisive method to sever all ties that might make him hesitate or soften his heart.

The Xuanming before me is completely different from the Xuanming of the past, who, though stubborn and ruthless, still retained a sliver of principle and warmth deep within his heart.

Under immense pressure, the constant scheming, probing, and the feeling of being manipulated by an invisible hand ultimately changed him completely. He became more ruthless, more decisive, and more... willing to pay any price.

Gu Yuena felt a pang of heart palpitation, for Xuanming's current state and for the pain he was enduring.

She couldn't imagine how much pain he must have felt, having pushed away, trampled on, and even nearly killed Qian Renxue—a person with whom he had a complex entanglement and who, in a sense, was a special mark on his past—in such a cruel way.

That cannot be concealed by mere superficial indifference.

But she couldn't say anything.

They cannot offer comfort, ask questions, or even show the slightest understanding or pity.

Because she knew that Xuanming didn't need these things. He had chosen this path, and was already prepared to bear all the pain and sins alone.

Any form of comfort would be a desecration to him, only tearing apart his forced composure and causing him even more pain.

Some roads, once embarked upon, offer no turning back.

Gu Yuena ultimately said nothing. She simply stood there quietly, like another silent statue, bathed in the cool moonlight alongside Xuanming and Bibi Dong, sharing this heavy and silent end.

The night wind blew by, carrying the scent of distant mountains and vegetation, but it could not dispel the thick, oppressive atmosphere and sorrow that permeated the three of them.

"The fourth test should be considered complete, right?"

Xuanming spoke, but it was unclear who he was asking.

Almost the instant his words fell, as if in response to his words, a gentle yet supremely majestic golden beam of light suddenly pierced through the clouds and precisely enveloped Xuanming!

The light wasn't dazzling; instead, it carried a warm, pure aura, contrasting sharply with the lingering, chilling aura around Xuan Ming. Within the light lay pure and vast divine power, and a clear intention:

[The Ninth Trial of the Sea God, Fourth Trial: Severing all emotional ties and achieving mental clarity. Passed.]

[Reward: One divinely bestowed spirit ring, increasing the age of all spirit rings by 50,000 years.]

Golden light, like mercury spilling onto the ground, rapidly merged into Xuanming's body. Beneath his feet, one after another, spirit rings flashed uncontrollably—

The already terrifying combination has now undergone a complete transformation! The red spirit ring, which represents the limit, has become even deeper and richer in color, as if it has been imbued with the sedimentation and power of countless years, and the pressure it exudes has caused the surrounding air to freeze!
The lifespan of all spirit rings was forcibly increased by 50,000 years at this moment! This is an improvement that would drive any spirit master crazy!
However, Xuanming showed no joy. He didn't even bother to carefully sense the surging power within his body. He merely glanced indifferently at the even more terrifying soul ring configuration beneath his feet, then turned and walked silently into the depths of the Papal Palace, leaving the golden light and the two silent women behind.

He needed a quiet place to absorb this divinely bestowed soul ring.

Bibi Dong and Gu Yuena watched his departing figure without stopping him. They knew that any words would be superfluous at this moment. (End of Chapter)