Xuan Ming weighed the heavy, cold Asura Demon Sword in his hand, then looked at his own buzzing Blood Spear, which seemed to have some "thoughts" about the sword, before glancing at Gu Yuena, who looked disgusted and wary. A hint of mischief flashed in his icy blue eyes.
"How about I smash it to pieces? To vent your anger?"
Gu Yuena's silver-purple eyes widened slightly as she looked at Xuan Ming's expression that said, "This thing doesn't seem very sturdy." Even with her aloof nature, she couldn't help but twitch her eye.
"This is Super Divine Artifact," she took a deep breath, trying to make Xuan Ming understand its significance, "And it's Super Divine Artifact formed from the most domineering, judgmental, and murderous Asura Divine Power. Don't you want to listen to what you're saying?"
Shatter Super Divine Artifact? Even if God King himself were to come, destroying a Super Divine Artifact of the same level would be no easy task, let alone the fact that although Xuan Ming's strength has increased dramatically, he has not yet truly become a god in essence.
Upon hearing this, Xuan Ming raised an eyebrow noncommittally, and slightly tightened his wrist, seemingly considering how to break the sword in two.
Buzz--!
The Blood Spear in his hand seemed to sense its master's thoughts, emitting an even more excited hum. The spearhead was faintly aimed at the Asura Demon Sword, its murderous aura stirring, as if saying, "Let me do it! Let me do it!"
The Asura Demon Sword seemed to sense some kind of "malice." The dark red luster on its blade shifted slightly, and a hidden, sharp sword intent spontaneously spread out, subtly resisting the ferocious aura of the Blood Spear.
For a moment, a tense atmosphere arose between the two top-tier murder weapons.
"..." Gu Yuena was speechless as she watched this scene.
She found that sometimes she really couldn't keep up with Xuan Ming's train of thought. This guy's understanding of power was completely different from ordinary people. In his eyes, there might not be much difference between Super Divine Artifact and a hard rock. The main thing was whether it could be used to smash people or be fed to his spear.
Just like before, he actually thought of using Sea God Trident as a dumbbell for exercise!
"Wait, where's your Sea God Trident?" Gu Yuena asked.
When they arrived, Xuan Ming brought the Sea God Trident with him, most likely to guard against the Asura Demon Sword.
She was just looking at that thing a moment ago, how come it's gone?
Could it be that Xuan Ming really lost it?
Xuan Ming pointed to the golden trident mark on his forehead, "It got sucked in by this thing."
"Inhale it?" Gu Yuena asked, puzzled.
"Why?"
Divine artifacts cannot be stored using mortal Soul Tool, but the Sea God's Heart can. Xuan Ming tried it when he retrieved the Sea God Trident from the entrance of the Angel Temple.
"I was just about to use the Sea God Trident to test my skills against the Asura Demon Sword, but the Sea God's Heart simply took it back." Xuan Ming shrugged slightly.
"..." Gu Yuena.
"..." Bibi Dong.
Darling, sometimes you really leave me speechless!
Chapter 361 The Root Cause is You
The spatial fluctuations subsided, and the three found themselves in a strange place.
On one side is a blazing, boiling crimson spring, and on the other is an extremely cold, milky-white spring. These two opposing yet mutually exclusive extreme energies converge here, forming a magnificent valley shrouded in red and white mist— the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well.
The abundant Life energy and extreme environment here are of great benefit to Xuan Ming's recovery, and the natural conflict of energy fields here may also have a certain suppressive effect on the fluctuations of Divine Power, which is better than nothing.
Without a moment's rest, Bibi Dong immediately found a relatively balanced spot, sat down cross-legged, took a deep breath, and resolutely pressed the scarlet orb in her hand against her brow.
boom--!
The moment the Asura Divine Power entered her body, it was like pouring ice water into boiling oil, instantly detonating the Rakshasa Divine Power hidden deep within Bibi Dong's bloodline!
The dark purple Rakshasa evil energy and the dark red Asura killing Divine Power, like two enraged Ferocious Beast, engaged in a frenzied battle and collision in Bibi Dong's meridians, dantian, and even soul!
"Well--!"
Bibi Dong let out a painful groan, her delicate body trembling violently, and countless fine blood beads instantly appeared on her skin. Her purple eyes flashed wildly, Yin-Yang Complementary Dual Soul Cores operated at an unprecedented speed, attempting to harmonize and control these two completely different Divine Power.
However, the conflict between God Level powers was hundreds or thousands of times more intense than the conflict between her two Martial Soul Power! Her strong body, which had been tempered countless times, began to show signs of collapse under the tearing force of these two Divine Power, and her bones groaned as they could not bear the burden.
Xuan Ming had anticipated this. Without any further ado, he directly sank into the core of the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well converged. His four million-year-level Soul Ring shone brightly at the same time, frantically absorbing the extreme and boundless energy of this place!
The Dragon Emperor Devours the World was activated once again, and a massive amount of ice and fire energy surged into his body, forcibly pushing his slightly recovered state back to its peak. His aura briefly broke through the Mortal Realm and stepped into the God Level realm once more!
At the same time, the Colorless Domain is fully operational!
A gentle and pure healing power of light enveloped Bibi Dong, attempting to repair her damaged body, while the omnipresent absolute suppressive force acted like an invisible shackle, fiercely suppressing the two rampaging divine Divine Power!
Under the suppression of Xuan Ming's Colorless Domain, which was driven by God Level power and incorporated the essence of multiple God Level laws such as ice, fire, Thunderclap, Evil, and slaughter, the violent Rakshasa Divine Power and Asura Divine Power were indeed forcibly suppressed and became much quieter.
However, it was merely suppression.
Bibi Dong's body was still like a container about to burst, unable to withstand the fundamental conflict and immense energy that remained even after the two forces were suppressed. Blood began to spill from the corner of her mouth, and her breathing became extremely erratic.
"No! Stop it now!" Gu Yuena's expression changed drastically. Although her Power of Creation could continuously repair Bibi Dong's damaged body, the speed of repair was far from keeping up with the speed of destruction!
Moreover, she keenly sensed that the Asura Divine Power, which had entered later, was actually suppressing the treacherous and insidious Rakshasa Divine Power due to its pure nature of killing and judgment. This, in turn, intensified the Rakshasa Divine Power's frenzied counterattack!
This is not a simple conflict of Divine Power, but rather the Rakshasa Divine Sense will prefer to destroy Bibi Dong give her to the Asura Divine Power!
If this continues, Bibi Dong's foundation may be completely destroyed, and even her soul will be severely damaged!
"So that's how it is..."
Bibi Dong did not stop, nor did Xuan Ming stop her. Instead, she took out two items. One was Lovesick Heartbreak Red, which contained the power of deepest emotions and the ability to bring the dead back to life and heal the wounded. The other was a top-grade ginseng king, the Crystal Blood Dragon Ginseng, which could strengthen the body's foundation and stimulate potential.
The former was borrowed from Xiao Wu when he left Sea God Island, and the latter was given to him by Bi Ji when they were at the Lake of Life.
He had long known that Bibi Dong's current physical body was absolutely incapable of withstanding the clash between the two Divine Power.
The only solution is to introduce a more powerful new force amidst the Destruction caused by the conflict of Divine Power, and to rebuild from the Destruction!
The Life force of the Lovesick Heartbreak Red, combined with the abundant blood and energy of the Crystal Blood Dragon Ginseng, and further aided by Gu Yuena's Power of Creation, makes it the perfect material for "reconstruction"!
But this is still not enough. Reconstruction takes time, while the conflict of Divine Power is instantaneous Destruction. A "buffer" is needed, something that can temporarily share the pressure of the Rakshasa Divine Power!
Xuan Ming's Divine Power, like the most precise scalpel, pierced directly through Bibi Dong's physical defenses, ignoring the chaotic energy storm, and precisely penetrated the depths of the dark purple Rakshasa Divine Power, searching for a hidden existence.
"I've found you." Xuan Ming transmitted his thoughts to him.
At the core of that Rakshasa Divine Power, a languid and alluring nine-tailed fox phantom slowly coalesced. She seemed somewhat surprised, a hint of curiosity in her fox eyes. "Oh? When did you discover me?"
" Sister Bing told me," Xuan Ming replied directly.
The illusory image of the Nine-Tailed Heavenly Fox swayed slightly. "Since you know this, why don't you destroy me? With the power you currently wield, whether it's the Sea God or the Asura, erasing this remnant soul of mine would be a piece of cake."
"We have no grudge against each other, why would I destroy you?" Xuan Ming asked in confusion.
"No enmity whatsoever?" The phantom of the Nine-Tailed Heavenly Fox floated over.
"Didn't the Ice Dragon King tell you that I was the one who caused trouble back then in Spirit City and at the Pope's Palace?"
Xuan Ming paused for a moment, then said, "Thank you."
Xuan Ming's sudden "thank you" startled the languid and alluring Nine-Tailed Heavenly Fox phantom on the spiritual level, causing even its swaying fox tail to pause for a moment.
"... Thank me?" The Nine-Tailed Heavenly Fox's voice carried a strange, incredulous tone. "Thank me for what? Thank me for making Bibi Dong lose control in the Pope's Palace, almost causing you to be killed by her?"
She had assumed Xuan Ming had come to interrogate her, or at least with a wary and negotiating purpose. This "thank you" was completely unexpected.
"Although I don't quite understand why you did those things, Sister Bing told me, and I've thought about it myself, that so far, all those attempts to sow discord... seem to have been for my own good," Xuan Ming said.
"Whether it was Bibi Dong, Qian Renxue, or later Hu Liena, and... many times."
"Thanks."
Judging from the aura of the Nine-Tailed Heavenly Fox, the Ice Dragon King deduced that she was most likely chosen by the Rakshasa Divine Sense as a special vessel to incite Bibi Dong.
However, what the Nine-Tailed Heavenly Fox was doing was not driving Bibi Dong insane, but forcing her to face reality.
If the Nine-Tailed Heavenly Fox really wanted to harm Bibi Dong, she had countless opportunities, but she didn't seize any.
On the contrary, she has always been helping Bibi Dong.
Back in the Slaughter City, regarding Hu Liena, this girl also knew her limits. Although she pushed Hu Liena Hu Liena to the brink, she would pull her back when she reached her limit.
The Ice Dragon King didn't understand what the fox was thinking, nor did he, but judging from everything the Nine-Tailed Heavenly Fox had done so far, she had no ill intentions towards him whatsoever, and had even been helping him all along, only her methods were somewhat... provocative.
The Nine-Tailed Heavenly Fox phantom fell completely silent. The languor and playfulness in its fox eyes gradually faded, replaced by an extremely complex emotion: surprise, scrutiny, and a touch of being understood.
She remained silent for a long time before speaking Youyou, her voice no longer carrying any deliberate allure, but instead revealing a rare seriousness. "Little one... you see things more clearly than I imagined. That arrogant Ice Dragon King has certainly taught a sensible disciple."
She gently swayed her fox tail, as if sorting through her thoughts. "That's right, the Rakshasa Divine Sense did indeed want to use me, to use me as a tool to corrupt Bibi Dong's mind. But unfortunately, my Nine-Tailed Heavenly Fox Clan is best at manipulating people's hearts and... breaking contracts."
A glint of cunning and arrogance flashed in her fox-like eyes. "She wants to use me as a tool, but I won't let her have her way. Bibi Dong is too stubborn, too obsessed, there are some things she can't see clearly, and she can't let go of, yet she's exceptionally talented. It would be easy to drive her crazy, but that would be too boring, and... too wasteful."
"Of course, the root of all this..." The Nine-Tailed Heavenly Fox's voice carried an indescribable meaning, "... is you."
Chapter 362 Rebirth
"Me?" Xuan Ming, somewhat puzzled.
"Why?"
"Instead of taking the easy road, you insist on courting death. I'm really curious what will become of a madman like you," said the Nine-Tailed Heavenly Fox.
If he didn't concern himself with the Dragon Clan, Xuan Ming's future would be bright; he wouldn't have to suffer so much or face so many dangers.
The Sea God chose him, Asura God also intended to bestow his inheritance upon him—what a bright path to godhood!
This was so different from the humans she knew. Humans always said that there was nothing that couldn't be given up, it was just that the benefits weren't enough. But Xuan Ming had chosen a path where the risks and benefits were completely disproportionate.
What will you gain by helping the Dragon Clan? Trouble! You're just asking for trouble!
"I'd like to know too, why?" the Nine-Tailed Heavenly Fox asked.
"If you just ignore the Dragon Clan's mess, all these troubles will disappear, and you won't have to face this deliberate difficulty from the God's Trial. Even if you really can't let go of the Ice Dragon King's matter, you can always find a solution after you become a god."
Why did you insist on choosing this path?
Xuan Ming was silent for a moment, then said, "I'm afraid."
"Afraid? Afraid of what?" the Nine-Tailed Heavenly Fox asked.
"It's easy to go from frugality to extravagance, but difficult to go from extravagance to frugality," Xuan Ming said.
"It's easy to go from frugality to extravagance, but difficult to go from extravagance to frugality..." The Nine-Tailed Heavenly Fox repeated this sentence in a low voice, her fox eyes flickering with uncertain light. It seemed that for the first time, she was truly beginning to understand the way of thinking of the human in front of her.
Xuan Ming's spiritual will continued calmly, "I am not someone who enjoys hardship or craves adventure. If I had chosen that seemingly easy path, paved by God King, from the beginning, if I had become accustomed to relying on the arrangements and gifts of others, accustomed to gaining power without risking my life... I fear I would have become addicted to it."
"I'm afraid that when that time comes, when I learn that Sister Bing still has a chance to be resurrected, but it requires me to take huge risks and pay a heavy price to fight for it, I will hesitate, I will weigh the pros and cons, I will calculate the gains and losses. I'm afraid I will think, 'They've already waited so long, it doesn't matter if I wait a little longer,' or 'I'll try when I'm stronger and more confident.'"
"When will I become stronger and more certain? When will I become First-Level God? Or God King? Once I reach that position, there will be more constraints and more concerns. Can I still gamble everything for a slim hope like I do now?"
His thoughts lacked passionate fervor, replaced only by a cold, clear-headedness. "I don't know. I don't want to test my humanity. So, I might as well choose the most difficult path from the start. Put all the pressure and dangers in front of me, forcing myself to face them and solve them. That way, I'll have no way back, and I won't leave myself any excuses for future regrets."
The Nine-Tailed Heavenly Fox fell completely silent.
She had lived for countless years and seen too many people—greedy, cowardly, hypocritical, generous... but she had never seen anyone like Xuan Ming.
He didn't choose this thorny path for lofty ideals, for a great responsibility, or even to repay a debt of gratitude... The root cause of his choice was... fear?
Fearing that he would become weak in the future, fearing that he would become complacent, he simply cut off all possibilities of comfort from the very beginning, pushing himself into a desperate situation.
What a... fanatical, insane, yet extremely clear-headed logic this is!
After a long silence, the Nine-Tailed Heavenly Fox let out a soft, enigmatic laugh, a laugh that carried a mixture of amazement, helplessness, and even... admiration?
"A madman... truly a complete madman. But I think... I'm starting to understand why those two arrogant old geezers, the Ice Dragon King and the Fire Dragon King, would even give up their remnant souls for you."
She flicked her fox tail, as if trying to shake off these complex emotions and refocus on the problem at hand. "Alright, we can talk about your self-torture theory later. Now, let's deal with this problem!"
As soon as she finished speaking, the illusory image of the Nine-Tailed Heavenly Fox shone brightly once more. She held nothing back, absorbing and bearing the surging Rakshasa Divine Power with all her might, buying precious time for Bibi Dong's reshaping.
With the active guidance and sharing of the remnant soul of the Nine-Tailed Heavenly Fox, the originally violent, disorderly, and collapsing Rakshasa Divine Power seemed to have found its backbone and began to become orderly. Although it was still fiercely fighting against the Asura Divine Power, its destructive power suddenly decreased by a level!
Xuan Ming presented the Lovesick Heartbreak Red to Bibi Dong, but she had to remove it herself.
The reason he suddenly became a rogue on Sea God Island was because of this.
He had originally intended to ask Hu Liena to help him pick the plant, as the girl's feelings for him were beyond doubt. However, Gu Yuena told him that the Lovesick Heartbreak Red was very special, and only the person who picked it and the person loved by that person could consume it.
If Hu Liena were to pick this, only she and he could consume it.
If Bibi Dong wants to take this, either he or Bibi Dong himself has to pick it.
He was worried that Bibi Dong still couldn't let go, so he thought of taking the item himself. But as expected, this lovestruck, one-sided girl completely ignored him, this shameless scumbag.
Bibi Dong weakly opened her eyes and looked at the Lovesick Heartbreak Red in front of her. She had heard Yue Guan mention this thing countless times before.