"Her assessment was not one of any of the ranking systems set by the Lord Sea God. It was a ring of contract, originating from an even more ancient rule."
"Her assessment consisted of only one thing: assistance. Assisting the successor of the Sea God Nine Trials in completing all of his trials."
Bo Saixi's gaze swept over the crowd, her tone calm yet carrying an undeniable authority. "The contract is in effect, we are bound together by life and death. His success is her success. And if he fails..."
Bo Saixi paused slightly, a hint of solemnity flashing in his weathered eyes. "... They will share the consequences of defeat."
We'll live and die together!
Those four simple words sent a jolt through everyone!
This means that Gu Yuena has completely bound her fate to Xuan Ming.
On Xuan Ming's path to godhood, she will be his most steadfast companion and protector, sharing both glory and loss!
Xuan Ming listened quietly, his face showing no surprise. This outcome seemed to have been within his expectations.
He turned his head to look at Gu Yuena, Gu Yuena was also looking at him. Her silver-purple eyes were calm, even carrying a faint trace of relief and composure.
This contract, which completely binds their fates together, is not a constraint for her, but rather the best possible outcome.
"Your aura is strange." Bo Saixi's gaze fell on Xuan Ming.
Can I see your Martial Soul?
Her tone was gentle; it was simply out of curiosity, not a demand.
Xuan Ming paused for a moment, then nodded.
He slowly raised his right hand, palm facing upward.
Buzz--!
An indescribable aura of ferocity and death suddenly spread out!
Dark red light gathered and condensed wildly in his palm. It wasn't the manifestation of Soul Ring, but rather the strange spear that seemed to be forged from solidified blood that appeared out of thin air!
The moment the Blood Spear appeared, the surrounding air seemed to freeze, the temperature plummeted, and a chilling killing intent that sent shivers down one's spine spread out as if it were a tangible force, even causing the skin of the surrounding Sacred Pillar Guardian to feel a bone-chilling cold.
The spear was dark red, as if countless souls were wailing and struggling within it, yet forcibly bound and fused together.
It hovered silently in Xuan Ming's palm, trembling slightly and emanating an extremely dangerous aura.
However, in stark contrast to his terrifying and ferocious appearance and aura, Xuan Ming's eyes remained calm to the point of indifference, showing no signs of being corrupted by the desire to kill, as if what he held in his hand was not a weapon to slaughter all living beings, but just an ordinary tool.
This extreme sense of contradiction sent a chill and dread through everyone who witnessed it.
A hint of undisguised surprise finally flickered in Bo Saixi's deep, calm eyes.
She stared at the dark Blood Spear, her brows furrowing slightly, as if trying to sense and identify something.
After a moment, she spoke slowly, her voice tinged with uncertainty and deep solemnity. "This Martial Soul... is truly peculiar. Its foundation seems to be built upon endless slaughter and death, condensing unimaginable ferocity and... fragments of resentment."
What did you do to it?
Soul Master's Martial Soul is intertwined with their own, serving as an extension of their soul and power. Its growth is closely related to the Soul Master's own cultivation, temperament, and experiences.
This young man only possessed level 70 Soul Power. Although it was incredibly thick and pure, far surpassing others of the same level, it was absolutely impossible and impossible for him to nurture such a "monster" filled with such enormous killing energy and chaotic will!
The power level contained in this Blood Spear and the violent desire that almost tore everything apart have far exceeded the scope of the Soul Saint realm, and have even touched the edge of a higher level.
This is something that cannot be achieved through natural growth; it must have involved some unimaginable, almost taboo, "forced ripening"!
Xuan Ming was silent for a moment, then said, "I used it to kill tens of thousands of people in the Slaughter City, and then I had it devour the blood pool that Slaughter City for thousands of years."
" The Slaughter City?" Bo Saixi repeated in a trembling voice.
The Sea Maiden Douluo and Xiao Bai behind her, as well as the other Sacred Pillar Guardian who had not yet left in the distance, all changed color upon hearing this, their faces filled with horror and disbelief!
Slaughter City!
Although they were far away on Sea God Island, they still had some understanding of that forbidden place on the Douluo Continent. In fact, as the High Priestess, Bo Saixi knew more about the Slaughter City on the Douluo Continent.
Bo Saixi stared intently at Xuan Ming, trying to find even the slightest sign of wavering, lingering fear, or being corrupted by power in his eyes.
But all she saw was an unfathomable calm and a chilling, absolute self-control.
He knew perfectly well what he was doing and what it meant, but he still chose this path and... successfully mastered it.
That seems to be the case, at least for now.
Bo Saixi took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing the turmoil in her heart.
She finally understood why this young man's aura was so peculiar, and why his Martial Soul was so ferocious yet so "calm."
He took an unprecedented and extremely dangerous shortcut!
Using the accumulated resources of the entire Slaughter City as nourishment, his Martial Soul was forcibly propelled to an extremely terrifying level!
This also explains why the Lord Sea God descended with nine trials... Perhaps only God Level power can truly purify or control this ferocious weapon that has drunk its fill of ultimate evil?
Bo Saixi's gaze became incredibly complex, containing shock, solemnity, worry, and even a very faint... admiration.
"You... are very bold."
In the end, all she could say was this.
The risks and costs involved are self-evident and need no further explanation from her.
Xuan Ming withdrew the Blood Spear, and the suffocatingly fierce aura dissipated. "I simply chose the fastest path."
Bo Saixi gave him a deep look and didn't ask any more questions.
Everyone has their own path and choices. Since the Lord Sea God has approved of him, then everything he has done may have its own reasons.
" The Sea God Nine Trials have begun, and your first trial is yet to come..." Bo Saixi's eyes looked somewhat unnatural.
As the Great Enshrined of Sea God Island and the Sea God's representative in the human world, she could naturally clearly perceive the content of the test that Xuan Ming was undergoing.
However, it was precisely because she knew the content of this First Trial that a doubt arose in her heart, and she even began to wonder—did the Lord Sea God truly fully approve of this young man?
Because Xuan Ming's first test was extremely unique, even... extremely harsh and dangerous!
[ Sea God Nine Trials First Trial: Reshape the Will, Absolute Control.]
[Content: Within three months, completely purify and reshape the chaotic pseudo-soul within the Blood Spear Martial Soul, formed from endless slaughter and resentment, endowing it with a new, absolutely loyal core will, achieving absolute control over the Blood Spear, and completely subjugating its ferocious nature, eliminating any risk of backlash.]
[Note: The Blood Spear's foundation has reached the limits of the mortal realm. The chaotic will within it is extremely dangerous. The slightest carelessness during the reshaping process could trigger its complete rampage, turning against its master and annihilating both body and soul. Success will establish a divine foundation; failure will lead to eternal damnation.]
Three months!
Not only must we purify the terrifying, almost tangible, murderous resentment that has accumulated over countless years, but we must also reshape the Martial Soul's will, endow it with a brand new core, and achieve absolute control!
Bo Saixi understood the difficulty and danger involved better than anyone else.
She had only sensed the ferocity and chaos of the Blood Spear a moment ago, yet she was already terrified.
That was practically a condensation of the filth and violence accumulated over a thousand years in a forbidden land! To completely purify, reshape, and control it within three months?
Even for a Demigod like her Peerless Douluo, this was an impossible task!
Moreover, Xuan Ming's current Soul Power is only level 70, and he has not yet obtained his Seventh Soul Ring, so he is still essentially at the Soul Saint realm.
To accomplish such a feat, bordering on divine, with the body of Soul Saint?
Bo Saixi even felt that the content of this First Trial was less like a trial and more like... a warning bordering on punishment? Or perhaps a correction and coercion against Xuan Ming's "shortcut" behavior?
Lord Sea God... does he truly think so highly of him? Or is there a deeper meaning behind this?
The Divine Realm.
Within the magnificent temple shrouded in mist and flowing with celestial light, six figures gathered before a massive mirror formed from pure Divine Power.
The mirror clearly reflected everything that happened on Sea God Island: the ferocious Blood Spear in Xuan Ming's hand, the shock and solemnity in Bo Saixi's eyes, and the golden trident mark that finally appeared on Xuan Ming's forehead and the contract ring between Gu Yuena's eyebrows.
Apart from Sea God Poseidon who rules Sea God Island, the other five are the Five Great God Kings who hold the order of the Divine Realm and possess boundless power: the Godess of Kindness, the God of Evil, the God of Life, the God of Destruction, and the Asura God.
" The Silver Dragon King's aura... though faint, and seemingly fragmented and reshaped by some force, remains unchanged in essence." The Goddess of Life's gentle voice carried a hint of worry, and her vibrant eyes revealed pity.
"Isn't it too... cruel to bind her fate to that child's in this way? The tragedy of the Dragon God should not be borne by his descendants."
She always felt remorse for the Dragon God incident and believed that annihilation was not the solution.
The God of Destruction, enveloped in a dark purple aura of Destruction, spoke in a deep, oppressive voice. "This hidden danger must be eliminated. The Dragon God's Power carries too great a risk of spiraling out of control."
He paused, his gaze sweeping over the Goddess of Life, his aura slightly subdued. "But... since Life deems it necessary to observe, then let us observe. If he can truly control this power and guide the Silver Dragon King towards order, it won't be a bad thing for the Divine Realm."
His stance remained firm, but he clearly placed great importance on the opinion of the Goddess of Life.
Chapter 312 The Sea God's Light
The Godess of Kindness's gentle gaze swept over the assembled God King, finally settling on Xuan Ming reflected in the mirror of light. "Arguments are pointless. Since fate has thrust them before us, it is a test. Observe him, test him, see if he can forge a new path in dire straits, see his character, whether he can wield this power, and whether he can shoulder this responsibility."
Her words were calm, yet carried a decisive tone. "This First Trial will be set by you, Asura. Since you believe his foundation is unstable and fraught with hidden dangers, let's see if he can personally eliminate these hidden dangers and rebuild his foundation."
A crimson glint flashed in the eyes of the Asura God, and a cold voice rang out. "Just what I wanted. If one cannot even fully control one's own Martial Soul, but is instead enslaved by it, how can one speak of inheriting Godhood, how can one speak of leading others? Let him taste the bitter fruit of his own actions. Three months to reshape his Martial Soul's will? Hmph, let's see how he overcomes this tribulation!"
Within the mirror of light, the scene shifted and then settled on Xuan Ming's [ Sea God Nine Trials First Trial: Reshape the Will, Absolute Control. Time Limit: Three Months].
"Devouring the essence of the Slaughter City and forcibly generating Martial Soul... That's ruthless and audacious." The Asura God's cold voice rang out, carrying a hint of scrutiny that was barely perceptible.
"Unfortunately, his Martial Soul is inherently a weapon of destruction. The chaotic will within that Blood Spear could easily backfire on him, causing his soul to be scattered."
"This First Trial is a warning and a correction to him! If he can't even tame the violence of his own Martial Soul, what right does he have to bear greater power? And what right does he have... to touch the mess left by the Dragon God?"
Just as Xuan Ming had guessed, the Divine Realm had already taken notice of him.
From the moment he first rescued Ah Rou and Xiao Wu from Bibi Dong by drawing upon the remnant soul of the Ice Dragon King in the Star Dou Great Forest, the familiar aura of Ultimate Ice and the fluctuations of the dragon soul had already caught the attention of the Asura God.
At the time, the Asura God didn't pay much attention; a mere wisp of a soul couldn't cause any significant trouble.
The real turning point came when Xuan Ming hunted the Dark Demon Evil God Tiger and was dragged into the Life and Death Arena.
That independent little world has rules that are subtly connected to the God of Evil.
The God of Evil used this to sense Xuan Ming's special nature, and even more so, the unique aura belonging to the Silver Dragon King that appeared afterward!
Despite Gu Yuena's unusual state, which resembled a fragmented soul vessel of the Silver Dragon King, the God of Evil still recognized her true nature.
Afterwards, the God of Evil sought out the Godess of Kindness to discuss how to deal with this sudden turn of events.
The Divine Realm does indeed harbor suspicion towards the Dragon Clan, especially the Silver Dragon King. However, the root of this suspicion lies not in the pursuit of power or dominion, but in a deep-seated fear of the devastating war that nearly Destruction the Divine Realm and its many subordinate worlds, triggered by the Dragon God's madness in the past.
A group of old gods, represented by the Asura God, believed that all potential threats to the resurgence of the Dragon God's Power must be thoroughly eliminated to prevent a repeat of the tragedy.
However, the Goddess of Life firmly opposed this indiscriminate approach of extermination, and the God of Destruction naturally sided with Life. The Godess of Kindness, on the other hand, preferred guidance and observation.
After much debate, a compromise was finally reached: observation and testing.
The gods of the Divine Realm do not show any favoritism towards humans, and the Five Great God Kings themselves have little to do with humans. What they are truly worried about is whether the Dragon God's insane power, capable of overturning order, will once again spiral out of control.
The problems left behind by the Dragon God must eventually be resolved; it's better to guide than to suppress. If a proper solution can be found, and it even adds new power to the Divine Realm, then everyone will be happy.
It was precisely because the higher-ups of the Divine Realm were debating this matter at the time that the Asura Divine Sense did not intervene when Xuan Ming left the Slaughter City; they were observing his choice.
Originally, the Asura God intended to personally bestow the Asura God Trial upon Xuan Ming, allowing him to lead the test. However, Xuan Ming unexpectedly came into contact with the Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud, and the shameless Sea God Poseidon beat him to it, directly tricking him into going to Sea God Island.
Thus, after Xuan Ming arrived at Sea God Island with the Ice and Fire Dragon Soul and the aura of the Silver Dragon King, triggering the Sea God's Light, this long-suppressed debate was brought back to the forefront.
The Asura God still insists on eliminating or at least sealing the Silver Dragon King.
However, the God of Evil developed a strong interest in Xuan Ming, a human who could "devour" the Slaughter City in a special way and seemed to be able to balance the power of the Ice and Fire Dragon Kings.
The Goddess of Life still opposes violence, while the God of Destruction remains noncommittal.
Finally, the Godess of Kindness proposed a joint test.
These Sea God Nine Trials are the vehicle for testing.
The content of the First Trial— [ Reshape the Will, Absolute Control]—was personally designated by the Asura God!
He wanted to see if this audacious young man truly possessed the ability to wield a deadly weapon and face his destiny, or if he was merely a pathetic wretch about to be devoured by the power itself!
The God of Evil looked at Xuan Ming's calm face on the light screen and laughed, "Three months to purify and reshape the soul of that ferocious spear that devoured the Slaughter City... Asura, you've really set a tough challenge for me. Even I think it's a bit too much."
The Asura God remained expressionless. "If he can't even pass this first test, it proves he's nothing but a slave to power, utterly unqualified to bear our expectations, and even less qualified to face the karma between the Silver Dragon King and the Dragon God. An early defeat is better than causing an even greater disaster in the future."
Sea God Island, early morning.
The soft golden sunlight spilled onto the pristine white sand and lush vegetation, filling the air with a sacred and refreshing energy that was truly invigorating.