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Xuan Ming looked at the extremely strange atmosphere before him, especially Zi Ji's undisguised gaze, as if she wanted to tear him apart and devour him, combined with Gu Yuena's vague phrase "future development"... A thought flashed through his mind like lightning.
That's it!
Gu Yuena must have thought of the same thing as him!
This damned fourth God Test, "Severing Romantic Ties," was simply an unsolvable problem. Instead of getting entangled in it and adding to their troubles, it would be better to simply give up.
The most urgent task was to quickly accumulate his own foundation to its peak, break through the realm with sheer power, and assault the God level!
And the fastest way to improve his strength was undoubtedly to complete the remaining five spirit rings for his Black Dragon Martial Soul.
Weren't these four in front of him—the Snow Empress, the Ice Empress, Bi Ji, and Zi Ji—the most suitable candidates? Their cultivation was profound, and their attributes had varying degrees of compatibility with his Black Dragon Martial Soul.
Gu Yuena gathered them, presumably to persuade them to sacrifice their spirit rings to help him. The strange atmosphere just now must have been due to their internal struggle upon hearing this news.
After all, everyone knew what sacrificing a spirit ring meant.
"Did you tell them?" Xuan Ming asked.
"Mm." Gu Yuena nodded lightly.
"Then you all..." Xuan Ming looked at the four women present.
"Who goes first?"
He didn't say any more superfluous words. At this point, the risk wasn't significant. Gu Yuena had the heart of the dragon god, and his Black Dragon Martial Soul had mastered the spatial-temporal power to traverse time and space. Even if the God Realm completely turned hostile now, they had the ability to escape the dominion of the Douluo God Realm.
Compared to staying here, being attached to him was actually safer.
Xuan Ming asked as a matter of course, his tone calm, as if he was merely asking who would be on night watch today.
However, this question, "Who goes first?" landed in the ears of the four women like a thunderclap!
"..."
The hall fell into a vacuum-like silence.
Gu Yuena's originally calm face instantly froze. She looked at Xuan Ming's serious, "let's get this over with" expression, almost choking. Her silver-purple eyes were filled with disbelief and a deep, almost despairing speechlessness.
"What... do you mean?" Zi Ji couldn't help but ask.
In her impression, Xuan Ming wasn't such a simple and crude person, was he? He couldn't hold back already?
"Sacrifice, of course," Xuan Ming said.
"Weren't you discussing this just now? Anyway, I don't have the ability to pass this inexplicable fourth God Test. It's better to directly adjust my state and charge into the God Realm. My Black Dragon Martial Soul still lacks the last five spirit rings. Ordinary hundred-thousand-year spirit rings are not very meaningful to me. Aren't you all... just right?"
Xuan Ming's words grew increasingly unconfident, because he saw that everyone's expressions were a bit... off!
Gu Yuena had completely turned away, her shoulders slightly trembling. It was unclear if she was sighing or suppressing laughter; in any case, she didn't want to look at him anymore.
The Snow Empress's cold, icy eyes suddenly widened, filled with shock and a sense of... severely offended absurdity. The chilling aura around her uncontrollably spread, causing the temperature in the entire hall to plummet, and a thin layer of ice even condensed on the ground.
The Ice Empress was so angry she laughed, hands on her hips, her scorpion tail dangerously swaying: "So in your eyes, we're just five walking hundred-thousand-year spirit rings, is that it?! And 'just right'? Xuan Ming! Has your brain been infected by that bug's sacrifice?!"
On Bi Ji's gentle face, the shy blush completely faded, replaced by a deep sense of helplessness and a wry smile. She sighed softly: "Xuan Ming... you... alas..." She seemed unable to even utter words of reproach.
She should have known. Xuan Ming's mind had always been quite proper; he never indulged in such fantasies.
In Zi Ji's aggressive dragon eyes, the previously blazing flames instantly extinguished, replaced by an expression mixed with anger, speechlessness, and a hint of... being choked. Her mouth twitched, "What in the world... is inside your head?!"
We are seriously, even with some shyness and determination, discussing a lifelong matter concerning personal happiness and the future of our race... and you're thinking about... having us sacrifice our spirit rings?!
Xuan Ming was even more bewildered by the Snow Empress and Ice Empress's fury. He subconsciously took half a step back, trying to explain: "I didn't mean that... I mean, this is the most efficient solution right now, and I can guarantee..."
"Guarantee what? Guarantee we die with great value?!" The Ice Empress shrieked, cutting him off. "Xuan Ming! Open your eyes and look! The four of us—the Snow Empress, me, Bi Ji, Zi Ji—are standing in front of you! Can you only think of spirit rings?! Don't you have any other thoughts?!"
Other thoughts?
Xuan Ming was even more confused.
Besides spirit rings, what other thoughts could he have?
They were all powerful Spirit Beasts, allies, friends. While sacrificing a spirit ring was a huge sacrifice, for a common goal and a safer future, wasn't this the optimal solution?
Were they reluctant to give up their cultivation? But he had already promised to try his best to revive them, hadn't he?
Anyway, given their current situation, it was impossible for them to achieve higher breakthroughs and accomplishments under the current rules of heaven and earth. Wouldn't it be more cost-effective to try again after he changed the status quo?
Looking at Xuan Ming's still clear eyes, filled with "isn't this right?", the four fierce beasts finally understood completely.
Talking romance with this blockhead was even more despairing than playing a lute to a cow!
Zi Ji was the first to give up. She glared fiercely at Xuan Ming, throwing down a line: "When you finally get a clue, come find this old lady to discuss 'who goes first'! But by then, it won't be like this!"
With that, she angrily transformed into a purple-black stream of light, directly crashing through the castle wall and leaving.
She was afraid that if she stayed any longer, she wouldn't be able to resist taking action.
Even though she couldn't beat this scoundrel anymore!
The Ice Empress also stomped her foot in anger, pointing at Xuan Ming's nose: "You! You idiot!" With that, she also transformed into a green light and vanished from the spot.
Bi Ji looked at Xuan Ming with complex eyes, finally just sighing softly, saying nothing. A gentle green glow emanated from her, and her figure slowly faded.
Finally, only the Snow Empress remained. She looked at Xuan Ming, the chill in her ice-blue eyes slightly receding, but replaced by an indescribable scrutiny. She spoke coldly, her voice like ice pearls falling onto a jade plate: "Xuan Ming, sometimes, power is not the only way to solve all problems. Some things are far more important than spirit rings..."
Leaving this profound statement, the Snow Empress's figure also transformed into countless ice crystals, dissipating into the air.
In the blink of an eye, only Xuan Ming and Gu Yuena, who had finally turned around, remained in the hall.
Xuan Ming looked at the empty hall and the large hole in the wall made by Zi Ji, his face bewildered and innocent: "What's going on?"
Gu Yuena looked at him in this state, and all her emotions finally coalesced into a long sigh, full of helplessness.
"It's nothing, it's my fault."
Ever since the God Test began, Xuan Ming's mind had been entirely focused on how to deal with the God Realm, even preparing at any moment for them to turn hostile and for them to flee. His thinking had completely entered "wartime mode," with everything prioritizing strength enhancement and crisis response.
Now, she suddenly shifted the topic from "life and death" to "romance." It seemed a normal stress response for Xuan Ming's taut string to not be able to bend.
"What exactly happened?" Xuan Ming frowned deeply; he truly didn't understand. "Weren't you all... discussing sacrifice just now?"
He carefully recalled the atmosphere just now and everyone's reactions, trying to find the basis for his misjudgment. The Snow Empress's coldness, the Ice Empress's anger, Bi Ji's helplessness, Zi Ji's... that phrase "it won't be like this"... Could it be... impossible. Absolutely impossible.
Not to mention Gu Yuena was right there, all four of them were fierce beasts who had lived for hundreds of thousands of years, proud and arrogant. How could they collectively feel that way about him... especially in a serious setting discussing "the future of Spirit Beasts"? That was too absurd.
He must have overthought it. Most likely, they had reservations about sacrificing, or thought his plan was too risky.