"Besides, I'm the only one who's truly suited to handle this, aren't I?"
Xuan Ming's relationships are indeed very complex; they can be simple to handle, or they can be very difficult.
Moreover, besides her, only Bibi Dong currently has the ability to handle this matter.
The bedchamber fell silent for a moment, with only the faint sound of the wind coming from outside the window.
Xuan Ming looked at her, a complex emotion flashing across his icy blue eyes.
He knew Gu Yuena's methods and shrewdness well; if she were to intervene, she could indeed untangle those complicated relationships clearly, perhaps even more "appropriately" than he could handle them himself.
But that "appropriateness" is often accompanied by her unique, almost ruthless efficiency and a certain unquestionable arrangement.
He could almost imagine that Ning Rongrong's grievances, Zhu Zhuqing's stubbornness, Dugu Yan's shrewishness, Ye Lingling's quietness... all these different emotions and demands would probably be calmly analyzed and categorized in front of Gu Yuena, and then a most "reasonable" solution would be given.
This solution might quell the storm, but wouldn't it also erase the warmth that should have been present in those emotions?
The brief but heavy conversation he had just had with Qian Renxue had left him feeling inexplicably weary.
Xuan Ming spoke, "What... do you plan to do?"
Gu Yuena smiled slightly and said softly, "That depends on you. What kind of outcome do you ultimately want? Do you want to cut the Gordian knot quickly and completely, letting them each live in peace and not disturb each other? Or... forcefully maintain a situation that seems balanced but is actually fraught with hidden dangers?"
" Xuan Ming, you need to think clearly about what you want. Otherwise, my actions might deviate from your true wishes."
Xuan Ming fell silent.
What did he want? All he wanted at first was to survive, then become strong, no longer be controlled by others, and be able to control his own destiny.
But without realizing it, more and more people gathered around me, and more and more emotions became involved.
These were unexpected variables, yet they were also a rare glimmer of warmth in his cold fate.
Completely sever ties? He found himself seemingly... unwilling.
But what good would it do if he kept going? His path ahead was destined to be fraught with thorns and bloodshed; he himself didn't even know how far he could go, so how could he promise others a future?
His initial plan was simply to cause a scene, leave, and leave the rest to Bibi Dong to handle, and that's why.
But now...
"I understand." Gu Yuena gently hugged Xuan Ming.
I'll take care of it for you.
Xuan Ming was silent for a moment, then said, "Have you ever thought about what would happen if... I failed, you...?"
Gu Yuena extended her cool fingers and gently stroked Xuan Ming's slightly furrowed brow, interrupting his unfinished words, which carried a hint of ominousness.
"There are no ifs."
Her voice was soft, yet carried an undeniable firmness, as if stating an established rule.
"I believe in you. You are the chosen one by the Lord of Soul Beast, the Ice Dragon King, and the one I have chosen. Your path will only lead to the highest."
Her fingertips slid down his brow bone, across his straight nose, and finally rested on his lips.
The touch was icy cold, yet strangely it ignited a restless flame within Xuan Ming's body.
The tension, killings, scheming, and the indescribable complex emotions he felt when facing Qian Renxue's departure all seemed to find an outlet at this moment.
Xuan Ming looked up and met her eyes, which were so close to his. They no longer held the usual coldness and aloofness, but rather something deeper and more domineering, like a surging undercurrent beneath the Ice Seal surface of the sea.
"As for now..." Gu Yuena's voice lowered, carrying a hint of seduction, "What you need is rest, to clear your mind, not to dwell on worries that haven't even happened yet."
Before he could finish speaking, she leaned down, her cool lips conveying an undeniable force, silencing all his unspoken words.
The kiss wasn't gentle; it even carried a hint of punishing biting, as if trying to drive away all his chaotic thoughts, leaving only the most primal sensory impact.
Xuan Ming groaned and instinctively tried to struggle, but Gu Yuena held him even tighter in her arms, completely enveloping him with her unique, cool yet rich fragrance.
A brute force emanated from her, and Xuan Ming was forced down onto the soft bed.
The cool touch of the brocade seeped through the thin fabric, but was instantly masked by the rapidly rising body temperatures of the two.
"Na..." Xuan Ming tried to turn his head away to get a chance to catch his breath, but his voice became muffled and hoarse because of the kiss.
Gu Yuena, however, gave him no chance to escape.
Her movements were swift and forceful; her slender fingers deftly slipped inside his shirt, and with a slight pull—
"Sizzle--"
The sound of clothes tearing was exceptionally clear in the silent bedchamber.
The cool air touched the exposed skin, sending a shiver down her spine, but it was quickly followed by a hotter touch.
Gu Yuena's hand roamed over his taut chest, with a domineering air of surveying territory, igniting clusters of undeniable flames wherever it passed.
Xuan Ming's breathing became completely disordered.
Reason told him that this might not be the right time, but his body honestly responded to this sudden, soothing invasion.
The struggle and resistance crumbled rapidly in the face of absolute power and surging emotions.
Xuan Ming closed his eyes, took the initiative, and gripped the back of her neck, deepening the kiss that carried the scent of blood and cold fragrance. With his other hand, he almost roughly tore open the belt around her waist.
His clothes slipped down in disarray, revealing large expanses of smooth skin, which intertwined with the old and new scars on Xuan Ming's body, creating a breathtaking contrast.
The temperature inside the bedchamber seemed to be rising rapidly; the sounds of panting and the rustling of fabric mingled together, creating a scene that was both alluring and anxious.
Just as they were lost in their passion, the shadow at the entrance to the bedchamber flickered almost imperceptibly for a moment.
A tall figure appeared silently there, her golden Pope crown still on, her magnificent robes making her appear dignified and cold.
Bibi Dong.
She was clearly there to handle some follow-up matters or to give some instructions, but she unexpectedly stumbled upon the scene inside the inner hall.
Her steps faltered, her cold purple eyes falling on the intertwined figures on the bed, her pupils contracting for a moment.
The bed curtains swayed, the light and shadows blurred, and the intense and primal scene crashed into her vision without any concealment.
She saw Gu Yuena's snow-white back and scattered silver hair, saw Xuan Ming's rare, wild, passive posture when he was pinned down by her, and heard his suppressed, broken breaths.
Bibi Dong's face was expressionless, as if covered by a layer of ice that would never melt.
But the fingers gripping the scepter tightened almost imperceptibly for a moment, the knuckles turning slightly white.
She stood there quietly, like a silent ghost, for about two or three breaths.
Then, without a word, she slowly, step by step, retreated, her figure disappearing back into the shadows of the entrance, as if she had never been there.
Inside the sleeping quarters, a fierce wind and rain were raging.
Gu Yuena seemed to sense something, glancing towards the entrance with her purple eyes, a faint, knowing smile curving her lips, before focusing even more intently on this sudden "soothing" session.
The sound of the wind outside the window seemed to be shut out, while the surging waves inside the palace continued unabated throughout the night.
Chapter 294 Slaughter City
Three days later, deep within the Pope's Palace.
Xuan Ming slowly opened his eyes, his icy blue pupils gleaming with a sharp light, and his aura had returned to normal.
He got up and stretched, feeling the renewed strength within him, and looked out the window.
Gu Yuena and Bibi Dong will handle the problems here; now... it's time to leave.
The palace doors were gently pushed open, Bibi Dong walked in slowly, followed by Hu Liena, whose expression was complicated.
"What do you mean?" Xuan Ming frowned slightly.
Hu Liena stepped forward. "The teacher told me everything, you're going to the Slaughter City... I'll go with you."
Xuan Ming was slightly taken aback and looked at Bibi Dong.
Bibi Dong's gaze swept between Xuan Ming and Hu Liena, and for a moment, only the faint sound of the wind outside the window could be heard in the hall.
She knew all too well the dangers of the Slaughter City; it was a true dog-eat-dog world, a place where the rules were so simple that only killing and survival mattered.
Sending Hu Liena along would be extremely risky.
However, she also knew her disciple's personality well. He seemed delicate and gentle, but he was incredibly stubborn at heart. Once he made up his mind about something, he was not easily stopped.
not to mention...
Bibi Dong looked at Xuan Ming, "I know your strength, but the Slaughter City isn't a place where you can run rampant just by being strong. Having another trustworthy companion can provide a bit more safety at times, and besides..."
She paused, then emphasized slightly, " Nana also needs this kind of tempering. The Golden Generation of the Spirit Hall cannot just be hothouse flowers. True strength must be forged in blood and fire."
"Having you all together means you can look out for each other."
These words were meant to explain to Xuan Ming, and also to address Hu Liena.
She agreed, but not in a way that condoned it; rather, it was based on a calm assessment of the two men's abilities.
Currently, due to Qian Renxue's exposure and the setbacks in the Soul Hunting Operation, there are undercurrents within the Spirit Hall. Although the Elder Hall has been temporarily suppressed, it will certainly not give up easily.
Sending Hu Liena away from the center of this vortex to a perilous place where even Qian Daoliu has difficulty intervening and can only exert influence slowly through rules, to undergo life-and-death training, is perhaps a form of protection.
At the same time, it will also allow her to truly grow.
After entering the Elder Hall, Qian Renxue disappeared without a trace, showing no intention of interfering in the affairs of the Spirit Hall. She even remained silent about the failed undercover operation. If she wasn't mistaken, Qian Renxue had already begun preparing for the God's Trial.
"I'll personally escort you there," Bibi Dong said.
"The situation in the Slaughter City is special. I need to personally meet the King of Slaughter. There are some rules that need to be explained in advance."
The greatest danger in the Slaughter City lies not in the Hell Slaughter Arena, but outside of Hell Slaughter Arena. Over the past thousand years, only a handful of Gods of Slaughter City have emerged from the City of Slaughter, largely due to the existence of the King of Slaughter. Unless one possesses the power to threaten the King of Slaughter in a place like the Slaughter City, that guy will not allow the birth of a God of Slaughter.
The next day, before dawn, three figures quietly left Spirit City.
Bibi Dong did not ride in a carriage, but instead activated her Eight-Winged Purple Light Wings, carrying Xuan Ming and Hu Liena, and flew swiftly towards the Slaughter City.
The situation at the Spirit Hall is tense right now, and she can't leave for long. After sending Xuan Ming and the other two to the Slaughter City and warning the King of Slaughter, she has to return as soon as possible.
As evening approached, the three arrived at a desolate and strange town.
The town didn't look big, but it had an unusually eerie feel to it. As soon as Xuan Ming entered the town, he sensed countless eyes watching him intently from the shadows.
" The Slaughter City a special little world, independent of our world, shrouded by a huge Slaughter Barrier," Bibi Dong said.
"In a sense, it is a kingdom of sin. No one knows how long this place has existed. Legend has it that a thousand years ago, when the Heaven Dou Empire had just been established, the army of another country accidentally discovered this place. In order to resist the army of the Heaven Dou Empire, they entered this place and established the first Slaughter City within the range of the Slaughter Barrier."
"Within the Slaughter Barrier, Soul Skill cannot be used, and Martial Soul will be suppressed to their initial state. Only those with the Divine Slaughter's Domain, and those protected by the Divine Slaughter's Domain, are unaffected."
"The birth of each God of Slaughter causes enormous losses to the Slaughter City, and the existence of a God of Slaughter is a huge threat to the Slaughter City. Those who possess the God of Divine Slaughter's Domain are unrestricted within the Slaughter City, and the special effects of the Divine Slaughter's Domain can be applied to others, making them unrestricted as well."
"Therefore, the King of Slaughter will do everything in his power to prevent the birth of the God of Slaughter."
As they spoke, the three of them arrived at the town center.
In the center of town stood a dilapidated black stone tavern, its crooked sign bearing a blurry skull pattern, and two lanterns emitting a dim, yellowish glow hanging at the entrance, like some kind of ominous sign.
Bibi Dong pushed open the creaking wooden door, and a stench of foul air mixed with cheap beer, sweat, and blood rushed out.
The tavern was dimly lit, with a few sparsely seated patrons who looked gaunt, with blank or fierce eyes. When they saw someone enter, especially three people whose demeanor seemed out of place in the tavern, their gazes instantly turned greedy and wary, like hyenas lurking in the dark.
Bibi Dong ignored them completely, her powerful aura subtly emanating from her. Those malicious gazes immediately recoiled as if burned, and the patrons lowered their heads, no longer daring to look.
She led Xuan Ming and Hu Liena through the filthy hall to an ancient well in the backyard that looked long since dried up.
Ancient runes are engraved on the edge of the well, which is stained with dark brown, indelible dirt.
"The entrance is right here." Bibi Dong raised her hand, and a stream of pure Soul Power flowed into the runes on the edge of the well.
Runes lit up one by one, emitting a dark red glow. The bottom of the well was not soil, but a swirling, twisting, bottomless dark vortex. A thick stench of blood and a frenzied killing intent surged out from it, a hundred times stronger than the atmosphere in the town!
"Let's go." Bibi Dong was the first to step into the dark vortex, her figure instantly swallowed up.
Xuan Ming followed without hesitation.
Hu Liena gritted her teeth and stepped inside.
A strong sense of weightlessness and spatial distortion washed over me, and all around me were countless distorted phantoms filled with painful screams.
A moment later, the feeling of solid ground came through, but the "ground" beneath my feet had a sticky and cold feel to it.
They now live in a completely different world.
The sky is a perpetually gloomy dark red, as if shrouded in congealed blood, obscuring the Sun Moon, and stars.