Six Soul Ring floated silently around his body. The most eye-catching of all was the last Soul Ring.
It was not the usual brilliant gold of God-Given Soul Ring, but a more peculiar color—the main body was still a noble gold, but the edges of the gold were surrounded by a soft and continuous white halo, like a holy halo.
The Soul Ring itself does not emit pure power pressure, but rather a vast, inclusive, and compassionate aura that brings peace to the heart.
Million-Year Soul Ring – the Ring of Kindness!
The moment this unique Soul Ring completely solidified, Xuan Ming suddenly opened his tightly closed eyes!
"Buzz--!"
An indescribable, boundless pressure silently spread out from him! This pressure was not domineering or fierce, but it carried a supreme quality originating from the very source of Life, as if he himself had become a part of the law!
The space inside the secret room began to distort slightly, and the light around him became hazy, as if even time and space were bowing down to him!
He slowly raised his hand, feeling the surging, seemingly inexhaustible power within his body. This power was no longer merely Soul Power, but something more fundamental and advanced... Divine Power!
Level 100!
Without inheriting any Godhood position, he relied on his own accumulated knowledge, the help of the Dragon God's Heart, and the boost from the rewards of this God's Trial to forcefully break through the limits of the Mortal Realm and step into the realm of God Level!
A level 100 True God without Godhood!
"What's next?" Xuan Ming stood up, feeling the vast Divine Power flowing within him, as if he could control a portion of the rules of heaven and earth in an instant, but his face remained expressionless.
"So, what are your plans for the next part?"
In the Divine Realm, within a magnificent and solemn temple.
The figures of the five God King were shrouded in a hazy divine light, yet the atmosphere was unusually solemn. Their gazes, like invisible shackles, were firmly locked onto Sea God Poseidon standing in the center with a bitter expression.
Within the mirror of light, the scene in the Pope's Palace Douluo Continent was clearly reflected— Xuan Ming Ming's divine Divine Power was restrained, yet he had already stepped into the realm of a hundred-level True God, and the unique, million-year-old Ring of Kindness, flowing with white light, slowly rotated behind him.
His final words, calm yet icy inquisitive, struck the hearts of every God King like a whip of frozen ice.
"So, what are your plans for the next part?"
The nature has changed!
Everything has changed!
The Asura God's blood-red eyes gleamed with a chilling light, the God of Destruction was surrounded by restless, purplish-black energy, the Goddess of Life had worry in her eyes, and the Godess of Kindness had a furrowed brow.
Even the usually cynical God of Evil had lost his smile, his face now showing only solemnity.
The trigger for all of this was Poseidon's damned Fourth Trial!
" Poseidon!" The voice of the Asura God was as cold as ancient ice, filled with suppressed rage, "Look at the mess you've made!"
Poseidon felt even more wronged than the Deep Sea Demonic Whale King. He opened his mouth, trying to explain, his voice tinged with grievance. "I... I really didn't mean anything by it! I just saw how brutal the previous tests were for this kid! Soul stripping, Reshape the Will, dragon soul Sacrifice... which one wasn't a near-death experience? I just wanted to let him... let him relax a bit! And, incidentally, to set him up with Saixi, wasn't that good? Who knew he would... get the wrong idea? And get involved with that Angel God girl like that? I really didn't mean to force him!"
His original intention in conducting this test was indeed because he felt Xuan Ming was too tense, and the past was too full of blood and tears. He wanted to change to a relatively "gentle" way to let him sort out his emotions, so that he could find inner peace and ties, and integrate into the Divine Realm more smoothly in the future. In his opinion, bringing Bo Saixi together was the best of both worlds.
But despite his meticulous planning, he overlooked Xuan Ming's deep-seated suspicion and his self-contained, obsessive logic!
In Xuan Ming's view, what lay ahead was a test of life and death, a tempering of strength and will—he accepted it! But suddenly the tone shifted, turning into an inextricable emotional entanglement? Especially since he had just shed the Sea God's Heart, and his mindset was already sensitive, it was as if the Divine Realm was toying with him, testing his bottom line with the people he cared about, or even trying to bind him with "gentle embrace"!
Xuan Ming's vigilance was completely aroused!
The God of Evil rubbed his temples and sighed, "It's no use saying all this now. Explanation? Given that kid's suspicious nature, any explanation we give now will only sound like a cover-up and a scheme to him, making him even more wary."
The Goddess of Life nodded gently. "Indeed. The assessment must continue, but the subsequent assessments must be conducted with even greater care, and we must never again be as casual as Poseidon."
Her gaze towards Poseidon carried a hint of helplessness. What Poseidon saw as "relaxation" and "matchmaking" appeared trivial to Xuan Ming, who had endured the brutal trials of the first three tests. In Xuanming's eyes, this Fourth Trial seemed utterly childish and... an insult to his intelligence. This contrast would be even more pronounced after he had paid a heavy price to "settle things."
The Godess of Kindness remained silent for a moment, then spoke slowly, his voice gentle yet carrying an undeniable power. " Xuan Ming's mindset has already changed; forcibly guiding him will only backfire. If you want him to change, he must now experience it himself, make his own choices, and change."
His gaze swept over the other four God King: "Furthermore, you must not forget that if he can truly recreate the Dragon God's power, or even go further, then what he will face in the future will not be a battle for a single city or territories. What he will need is the ability and vision to rule over a region and maintain balance in the universe."
" The Xuan Ming of the past displayed more of the qualities of a top warrior—tenacity, decisiveness, an absolute desire for control over power, and even a Destruction force that spared no effort. That was good, but not enough. A god, especially the future leader of the Divine Realm, cannot be merely a warrior."
The Godess of Kindness paused for a moment, then offered his suggestion. "For the Fifth Trial, let him resolve the chaos on the Douluo Continent. The three great empires are locked in a standoff, riddled with internal conflicts, the old order has crumbled, and a new order has yet to be established. Let him face this chaotic situation, and see how he makes his moves, how he handles differing opinions, and how he... truly builds, rather than merely destroys."
"This concerns his decision-making ability, his vision, and whether he possesses the potential to transcend personal likes and dislikes and lead civilization forward."
A brief silence fell over the temple upon hearing this.
Immediately, the Asura God's icy voice rang out. "Very well. Let him lift his head from the mire of power and see how this real world should function."
The God of Destruction's aura calmed slightly. "Establishing order amidst chaos is itself an extreme test. I agree."
The God of Evil smirked, his eyes regaining interest. "Interesting. Let's see if this newly ascended True God chooses to overcome all skill with brute force, or finds a... more interesting path."
The Goddess of Life nodded gently. "Hopefully this will allow him to see more, not just hatred and Destruction."
Seeing that everyone had reached a consensus, Poseidon finally breathed a sigh of relief and quickly declared, "I will absolutely not interfere in the subsequent assessments!"
He was scared; this kid's thought process was completely on a different wavelength from his own.
The divine thought of the Godess of Kindness, like an invisible tide, pierced through layers of spatial barriers and precisely descended upon Xuan Ming's heart, who had just stabilized his level 100 True God realm.
A clear and majestic message, accompanied by a vast surge of Divine Power, resounded in his mind:
[ Sea God Nine Trials, Fifth Trial: Reshaping Order.]
[Content: To end the conflicts on the Douluo Continent, establish a new order, and eliminate the root causes of war. Timeframe: Three years.]
[Assessment Requirements: Genocide-style cleansing using absolute force is prohibited; a sustainable new order framework must be established.]
Xuan Ming slowly raised his head, his icy blue eyes piercing through the barrier of the secret chamber, as if gazing into the endless void, meeting the gaze that was watching him from the darkness.
" Reshaping Order... but not genocide..."
Just as he had expected.
The Divine Realm began to use more "advanced" methods to restrict and test him.
It was no longer just a test of strength, but a push into a more complex game. What they wanted to see was how he would "play the game" within the rules, whether this "warrior" possessed the mind of a "ruler".
They were scared.
I'm afraid he'll act recklessly, I'm afraid he'll overturn the chessboard.
So they drew a line for him—he couldn't kill them all.
very good.
Chapter 411 The Root of Chaos
Xuan Ming slowly stood up, and the vast, ocean-like Divine Power around him instantly receded, becoming unfathomable once more. He took a step forward, and his figure vanished from the secret chamber.
The next moment, he appeared in the main hall of the Pope's Palace.
Bibi Dong and Gu Yuena seemed to have sensed his emergence from seclusion and were waiting there. When they saw him appear, and especially felt the completely different aura emanating from him, which seemed to be one with the world, a hint of surprise flashed in the eyes of both women.
A level 100 True God! He actually did it!
" The Fifth Trial of the God's Trial," Xuan Ming said without mincing words, his voice calm and unwavering, "Is to reshape the order of the continent, with a three-year timeframe."
Bibi Dong frowned slightly. "What do they want you to do?"
"They want to see," Xuan Ming's gaze swept across the sky outside the hall, the sky belonging to the Spirit Hall Empire, "What else can I do besides Destruction? They gave me a framework, and told me to build the order they wanted within it."
A cold glint flashed in Gu Yuena's silver-purple eyes. "To restrict your power?"
"I suppose so," Xuan Ming said calmly. "We can't kill them all; it has to be sustainable."
Bibi Dong pondered for a moment. As the empress of the Spirit Hall Empire, she was well aware of how complex the situation on this continent was.
The three empires appear calm on the surface, but undercurrents are turbulent beneath. The Spirit Hall Empire is also riddled with internal conflicts, which are suppressed entirely by her and Xuan Ming's absolute military power.
To Reshaping Order within three years, while also satisfying the demands of the Divine Realm —that's a difficult task...
"What do you plan to do?" Bibi Dong looked at Xuan Ming. She knew that since Xuan Ming had come out, he must have already made a decision.
Xuan Ming did not answer directly. He walked to the huge continental sand table in the hall and looked down at the map representing the Heaven Dou, Star Luo Empire, and Spirit Hall Empire.
"The old rules were built upon the privilege of the supremacy of Soul Master, upon the hereditary imperial power, and upon endless plunder and war."
"These are the root causes of the chaos."
" The Spirit Hall Empire appears to have implemented new laws, with harsh punishments, suppressing the privileges of Soul Master, and introducing Soul Tool Technology."
"But with an unstable foundation, it's like a sandcastle, held together entirely by force. Once the power at the top disappears, the rebounding force will tear it apart instantly."
"This, too, is not order."
Xuan Ming's gaze remained fixed on the sand table, his voice steady and calm, as if he were stating a theorem that had been deduced countless times.
"The root of the chaos lies in several points."
"First, the basic survival guarantee is insufficient." His finger traced the areas representing farmland and towns on the sand table. "Most people, if they can secure enough food and shelter, won't take risks. A basic guarantee requires sufficient productivity. The Soul Tool of the Sun Moon Continent can solve this problem, greatly improving efficiency in farming, transportation, and basic manufacturing, thus meeting the needs for survival."
Bibi Dong nodded slightly; this was precisely one of her original intentions in introducing Soul Tool Technology.
"Secondly, ideology and law." Xuan Ming's fingertips tapped lightly, as if touching invisible rules. "The lack of reverence for the law stems from the deeply ingrained privileges of Soul Master. Not only do Soul Master themselves take it for granted, but even non- Soul Master tacitly accept this class difference. They believe that becoming Soul Master automatically places them above the law."
He looked at Bibi Dong: "The current laws of the Spirit Hall Empire are overly harsh, but rely too heavily on the deterrent effect of killing. Under such high pressure, the people either become numb or rebel, which is not a long-term solution. The laws need to be revised, with clear and fair restrictions and protections for both Soul Master and non- Soul Master. At the same time, there must be absolute military force as a backing to ensure that the laws are inviolable."
"Thirdly, and most importantly, are the privileges and advancement channels of Soul Master Soul Master. These privileges cannot, and should not, be completely eliminated. The differences in power are objective realities; forcibly erasing them will only stifle ambition and stagnate society. Without differences, without comparison, how can there be progress? If hard work and slacking off yield the same result, who would be willing to strive?"
"Therefore, the privileges of Soul Master can be partially retained as a form of recognition and encouragement for talent and effort. But the key is to break the rigid mindset that 'becoming Soul Master is the only way out.'"
"The innate talent of Soul Master leads many without Soul Power to despair and resignation, or to develop deep-seated jealousy and hatred towards the Soul Master class. A clear upward mobility channel, no less prestigious than that of Soul Master, must be established for non- Soul Master! Furthermore, this channel must have a clear positive impact on social progress, such as in Soul Tool development, administration, commerce, culture, and the arts."
He paused, then continued, "Furthermore, there are many other details, such as the allocation of educational resources, the wealth circulation mechanism, and balanced regional development... In many aspects, the Sun Moon Empire's system certainly offers valuable lessons."
Bibi Dong and Gu Yuena both fell into deep thought. Xuan Ming's points were indeed to the core, far more complex and profound than simply relying on military suppression.
"However, the most important point," Xuan Ming's voice deepened, "Is to eliminate that natural, power-based class divide between ordinary people and Soul Master."
His gaze deepened. "My idea is to limit the emergence of Soul Master from the very beginning."
Upon hearing this, both Bibi Dong and Gu Yuena were slightly taken aback!
Is there a restriction on the creation of Soul Master?
Soul Master are the foundation of the power system in the Douluo Continent for ten thousand years!
Restricting this thing? The Spirit Hall Empire would probably collapse instantly!
" Gu Yuena, is there any way to strip a human Soul Master of the Soul Ring they have already acquired?" Xuan Ming asked.
A hint of surprise flashed in Gu Yuena's silver-purple eyes. She frowned and pondered for a moment before slowly shaking her head, "I can't do it. Once Soul Ring is absorbed, it merges with the Soul Master's Martial Soul Origin. I can destroy the Soul Ring, but I can't completely strip it away."
"Moreover, even if we could, we couldn't possibly do it one by one, nor could we promote it widely."
This answer seemed to be within Xuan Ming's expectations; there was no disappointment on his face. "If Soul Bone, why can't Soul Ring?"
"This is merely a rule set by the Divine Realm. Since they can bestow Soul Ring and set rules for hunting Soul Beast to obtain Soul Ring, then... they must also have a way to reverse this process!"
"What if we could find a way to replace Soul Ring... or even change the rules for acquiring Soul Ring?"
"To eliminate the need for Soul Master to hunt Soul Beast to advance in rank! To fundamentally sever the chain of conflict between humans and Soul Beast!"
"This is... the true Reshaping Order! This is the fundamental solution to eradicate the root causes of war!"
Xuan Ming did not linger in Spirit City. After discussing his initial ideas with Bibi Dong and Gu Yuena, he needed to verify a more crucial issue.
He took a step, distorting space, and in the next moment he appeared above Sea God Island. Without alerting anyone, he landed directly in front of the Sea God Hall.
Bo Saixi seemed to have sensed his arrival beforehand, Sea God Hall slid open silently. She stood inside, her sea-blue eyes gazing at him with a complex expression.
She could sense that Xuan Ming's aura was completely different from what it had been a few months ago; it was a profound feeling that seemed to merge with the ocean, the sky, and the entire world.
Chapter 412 Position-Based Kidnapping
"You succeeded?" Bo Saixi asked softly.
Xuan Ming nodded, said nothing more, and walked directly towards the statue of the Sea God. "I need to contact the Sea God."
Bo Saixi didn't ask any further questions. She formed a mudra with her hands and prayed devoutly. The statue of the Sea God emitted a soft golden light, and a vast divine aura slowly descended.
"Kid, you're here to see me again so soon?" Poseidon's divine sense carried a hint of teasing, but when he sensed Xuan Ming's aura as a level 100 True God, his tone became noticeably more serious. "Tsk... a level 100 True God, you really are..."
"Is there any way to strip a human Soul Master the Soul Ring they have already acquired?" Xuan Ming interrupted his musings and asked directly.