This quietly growing, inappropriate feeling intertwined with her "responsibility" and "obsession" with Tang Chen, which had long since lost its edge over time, causing her immense pain and inner turmoil.
Tang Chen's death was like a sharp knife, severing the most stubborn thread in this tangled mess.
She no longer needed to agonize over whether waiting for Tang Chen was worthwhile, nor did she need to feel guilty or uneasy about the subtle changes in her heart.
But... this feeling of relief from the death of one person made her feel incredibly despicable and cold-hearted!
She didn't know how to face Xuan Ming.
Should she act like an elder who has lost a close friend, questioning him about why he was so ruthless? Or should she act like... a woman with ulterior motives, secretly rejoicing because his actions indirectly freed her from her mental constraints?
These two completely different emotions collided fiercely within her, leaving her feeling lost and confused.
She had no choice but to hide away temporarily, avoiding everyone, especially Xuan Ming. She needed time to sort out her chaotic thoughts.
"What... what happened to me..." Bo Saixi murmured to herself, her sea-blue eyes filled with confusion and pain. She reached out and gently touched the cold crystal ball, as if she could feel the lingering Destruction aura of that battle, and... the resolute figure of that boy.
Chapter 374 Trial of the Heart
Sea God Hall, just as Xuan Ming was about to force his way through the temple doors to talk things out with Bo Saixi, the golden trident mark on his forehead suddenly burst forth with an unprecedentedly brilliant light!
A vast and majestic flow of information surged into his mind, its contents causing him to freeze in place. Even Gu Yuena, who had always been calm and composed, showed a rare hint of surprise in her eyes.
[ The Sea God Nine Trials, Fourth Trial: Severing Romantic Ties and achieving mental clarity.]
[Content: Clarify and resolve your own emotional entanglements, and make a clear decision regarding the women involved (including but not limited to those who harbor feelings for the examinee, or those whom the examinee is interested in). Either establish a relationship and walk hand in hand; or sever all ties and have no further involvement. Do not remain ambiguous or indecisive, as this will only lead to confusion, added trouble, and negative karma.]
[Note: This is a crucial step in stabilizing the mind and clarifying one's true self. Without clear thinking, the spiritual path is difficult. Emotional entanglements are also obstacles to spiritual practice and must be resolutely severed or acknowledged. Time limit: One year.]
Xuan Ming: "..."
Gu Yuena: "..."
For a moment, both of them were speechless.
The content of this Fourth Trial, compared to the previous rigorous trials of reshaping the Martial Soul, ascending to the Heavenly Rank, and dealing with the Rakshasa inheritance, took a sudden turn, appearing exceptionally... eerie and personal.
Is this for real?
Just as Xuan Ming was stunned by this sudden and bizarre test, Sea God Poseidon's divine sense, tinged with a hint of mischief and undeniable authority, once again accurately entered his mind:
"You brat! Don't play dumb! I don't care about others, but don't tell me you didn't see how much my Bo Saixi has for you! She's waited for that blockhead Tang Chen for decades, and she was finally getting over it when you came along and ruined it! Now Tang Chen is gone, and she's even more confused! You have to handle this for me!"
"Either give me a straight answer and take responsibility, or cut ties cleanly and make her give up completely! Stop keeping her hanging on like this!"
"When did I string her along?" Xuan Ming asked, completely bewildered.
What kind of days did he spend every day after arriving at Sea God Island to begin his God's Trial?
Where does he find the time?
"I don't care, if you dare to bully her or make her sad, hmph..." Poseidon's divine sense carried a strong threat.
"Hmph, I'll make sure those little girls you brought don't even pass one of the God's Trial!"
This almost rogue threat made the veins on Xuan Ming's forehead throb slightly.
The reward for the First Trial was God-Given Soul Ring by the Asura God, so the content of the First Trial was most likely determined by the Asura God. The second round was God-Given Soul Ring by the God of Evil, meaning it was determined by the God of Evil.
Similarly, the third round is most likely ordained by the God of Destruction.
And now, this inexplicable Fourth Trial is definitely the work of that shameless old Poseidon!
Severing Romantic Ties? That sounds so noble! It's clearly a case of "Get rid of my High Priest, or you'll be in trouble!"
Xuan Ming felt a headache coming on.
He could certainly sense Bo Saixi's unusual concern for him and... perhaps feelings that she herself wasn't even fully aware of.
However, he deliberately avoided it, partly because of Tang Chen's presence, and partly because his own love life was already a mess, and he didn't want to get involved any more.
But now, Poseidon has brought this matter to the forefront, linked it to the God's Trial, and even threatened him with Hu Liena and the others' future!
This is absolutely shameless!
Just as Xuan Ming was getting a headache from Poseidon's almost shameless threat, and even began to wonder if the old man was just bored out of his mind—
Deep within the Sea God Hall, in Bo Saixi's chambers.
A golden divine light, equally vast yet carrying a completely different meaning, descended silently, enveloping Bo Saixi, who sat quietly on the edge of the bed.
Bo Saixi's delicate body trembled slightly, a hint of surprise flashing in her sea-blue eyes, before she focused her attention on sensing the assessment information that appeared in her mind.
[High Priestess of Sea God Island, Bo Saixi, triggers hidden God's Trial: Trial of the Heart.]
[Content: Obtain the Heart of Xuan Ming and successfully seize the Sea God's Heart from it.]
[Duration: One year.]
[Reward: Qualification for the Sea God Inheritance ]
[Note: This test is independent of the Nine Trials of Xuan Ming. Its success or failure will not affect your duties as High Priest, nor will it affect the progress of the Xuan Ming trials. However, this is your only path to Godhood.]
Bo Saixi: "..."
She was completely stunned, her dignified and beautiful face filled with disbelief.
To obtain the Heart of the Xuan Ming? To seize the Sea God's Heart?
What kind of assessment is this...?
Bo Saixi's heart suddenly raced, and her fingers tightened slightly as she gripped the scepter.
The test was far too... direct, and far too shocking. Obtaining the Heart of Xuan Ming meant she needed to get that deep-thinking, emotionally reserved young man to open his heart to her, and even... fall in love with her?
Obtaining the Sea God's Heart is even more difficult, as it is not only the key to the Sea God Inheritance, but is also deeply bound to Xuan Ming's soul.
But the words "qualification for the Sea God Inheritance " seemed to possess a magical power, stirring up a storm in her heart.
Becoming the Sea God means that she will no longer be the high priestess who is forever trapped on Sea God Island, waiting for others to return, but a deity who can truly control her own destiny and even protect this sea!
This temptation was too great for her, who had guarded Sea God Island for nearly a century.
But this assessment method... it's asking her to actively approach Xuan Ming and "win" his heart? This made her feel embarrassed and at a loss.
She had never experienced anything like this before, especially at this delicate moment when she had just confirmed that her obsession with Tang Chen had dissipated, and that special feeling for Xuan Ming was quietly growing.
This is almost like... like the Lord Sea God is deliberately bringing them together, or like conducting an extremely cruel test.
What should she do?
Should she follow her heart's stirrings, try to get closer to the young man who repeatedly touched her heartstrings, and use this opportunity to break free from the shackles of fate?
Or was it out of fear of failure and inherent pride that he chose to give up this only chance to become a god, continuing to be the eternally peaceful, yet eternally confined, high priest?
Along the Ring Sea, the waves gently lapped against the shore.
Hu Liena, Ning Rongrong, Zhu Zhuqing, Xiao Wu, and the others had just broken through the blockade of the Ring Sea, exhausted, and completed the Second Trial. They were slumped on the beach, panting. Bi Ji's gentle, healing green light enveloped them, repairing their fatigue.
However, before they could catch their breath, the marks on their foreheads that represented the assessment lit up simultaneously, and information about the Third Trial flooded into their minds without any refusal.
[ The Sea God Trial, Third Trial: Clarify the Mind and See One's Nature.]
[Content: Clarify the emotional entanglements with Xuan Ming and define the relationship's position. Whether as partners, close friends, or like-minded individuals, honesty is essential to end any ambiguity and ensure open communication.]
[Duration: One year.]
[Note: This hurdle tests your moral character and will also affect your chances of being assessed later.]
Everyone: "..."
For a moment, an eerie silence fell over the beach. Complex and indescribable expressions flashed across everyone's face—some shy, some struggling, some bewildered, some resolute—but without exception, they all tacitly refrained from revealing the content of the assessment, simply lowering their eyes, each lost in their own thoughts.
Bi Ji at the group of girls who had suddenly fallen silent, a knowing glint flashed in her emerald eyes. She looked up towards the magnificent temple Sea God Mountain, and she could clearly sense that Xuan Ming and the Lord had returned.
Moreover, judging from Xuan Ming's even deeper and more profound aura, he had clearly completed his Third Trial.
I just don't know if things are going well on the Lord's side...
As night fell, Sea God Island was enveloped in tranquility.
Xuan Ming stood alone on the Sea God Mountain, gazing at the Sea God Hall on the summit, its doors still tightly shut and shrouded in soft golden light, his brows furrowed.
Bo Saixi avoided meeting her, and this inexplicable Fourth Trial felt like a shackle. The Sea God's meaning was crystal clear—whatever choice you made, you couldn't hurt Bo Saixi's feelings.
But matters of the heart were precisely the area he was least adept at handling. The thought of facing Bo Saixi's sea-blue eyes, which seemed to encompass everything but were now perhaps filled with complex emotions, and having to give a clear "explanation," filled him with a sense of powerlessness.
"It seems I won't be getting the reward for this Fourth Trial..." Xuan Ming sighed inwardly, almost foreseeing the outcome of failing the test.
Since there was no hope of a reward, he decided to give up and focus on maximizing his own strength. In any case, he had already accumulated enough power to forcefully break through to level 100.
Now, Blood Spear's nine Soul Ring are complete, especially the Ninth Soul Ring, which is a million-year-level Ring of Destruction with immense power.
The Black Dragon Martial Soul currently possesses four Million-Year Soul Ring, but still has five vacant slots.
Completing these five Soul Ring would not be difficult for him.
He was quite confident that he could persuade the Snow Empress and the Ice Empress to make Sacrifice, given their close relationship and the fact that it was a way out for them.
Xiao Wu and Ah Rou... Xuan Ming hesitated slightly. But he quickly made up his mind. Anyway, he was now absolutely certain of becoming a god, and resurrecting them was only a matter of time. He was sure they would understand.
The last vacancy... perhaps we could discuss it with Bi Ji. As a healing-type Soul Beast that has been around for over 500,000 years, her Soul Ring are of extremely high quality, and their attributes also have a certain degree of compatibility with his Black Dragon Martial Soul.
Chapter 375 Be Brave for Yourself
Just as Xuan Ming began seriously planning how to "collect" the Soul Ring, abandoning the so-called Sea God Nine Trials and directly breaking through to level 100 --
Under the moonlight, a silver figure appeared silently in the Sea God Hall.
Gu Yuena looked at the tightly closed palace doors, a hint of helplessness and determination flashing in her silver-purple eyes.
In previous assessments, she mostly played a supporting role, and the First Trial was entirely handled by Xuan Ming himself.
But now, with this Fourth Trial... expecting that guy, who's practically "dead wood" when it comes to emotions, to solve Bo Saixi's problem on his own? He'd probably still be clueless by the time he fails the test.
Xuan Ming is very smart; he actually understands everything. If he were uninvolved, he could probably come up with a better solution than her. But once he's involved, he's helpless.
It's partly because concern leads to confusion, and partly because Xuan Ming always finds it hard to be ruthless in these matters.
Since he's not up to it, then she, the "official wife," will handle it herself.
She raised her hand and gently pressed it against the soft golden halo.
"High Priest, I'd like to speak with you."
The moonlight, like water, flowed quietly within the Sea God Hall.
The golden halo set up by Bo Saixi did not stop Gu Yuena. The moment her hand touched the halo, the barrier spread out like ripples, revealing a slightly haggard but still elegant figure behind it.
Bo Saixi glanced at the uninvited Gu Yuena, a flicker of panic crossing her eyes, but she quickly suppressed it, regaining the composure befitting a high priestess. "Your Excellency Gu Yuena, what brings you here so late at night?"
Gu Yuena made no attempt to beat around the bush. Her silver-purple eyes calmly gazed at Bo Saixi, and she went straight to the point. "I came for Xuan Ming, and for you."
She paused, then said, "I can see your feelings for Xuan Ming."
Bo Saixi's body trembled violently, her fingers gripping the scepter tightening instantly until her knuckles turned white. She instinctively wanted to deny it, to escape, her cheeks flushing uncontrollably. "I... I don't know what you're talking about..."
"There's no need to deny it," Gu Yuena interrupted her, her tone leaving no room for argument. "During my time on Sea God Island, I've seen it all clearly. The way you look at him has long exceeded the concern a high priest might have for an examinee."
Her gaze swept over Bo Saixi's slightly relaxed brows, and she continued, "As for Tang Chen... I have no intention of delving into your past obsessions. But I can sense that after his complete passing, you didn't feel much sadness; on the contrary... you felt quite relieved, didn't you?"
These words were like a sharp sword, precisely piercing the most hidden corner of Bo Saixi's heart, the corner that made her feel most ashamed.
She staggered back half a step, her sea-blue eyes filled with the embarrassment of being seen through and her inner struggle.
Yes, she did feel relieved, freed from that long and hopeless wait, and this sense of relief stemmed from the appearance of that young man, and... the end of Tang Chen.
"I..." Bo Saixi opened her mouth, but found herself speechless.
Gu Yuena gave her no chance to catch her breath or make excuses. She took a step forward, and her invisible aura made it impossible for Bo Saixi to look away.
"I'm not here today to question you, nor to contend with you for anything. I was already prepared for these things happening in Xuan Ming; you're not the first."
Her words were so blunt that they startled Bo Saixi: "I can tell you clearly, if Xuan Ming has feelings for you and is willing to accept you, I will not object."
Bo Saixi looked up abruptly, her eyes filled with disbelief.