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After a brief moment of rest, suppressing the turbulent qi and blood within his body and the weakness brought on by the exhaustion of his spirit power, Xuan Ming turned and walked towards Gu Yuena's resting place.
After a day of recuperation, nourished by the heart of the dragon god and the Dragon Bone energy infused by Xuan Ming, Gu Yuena's aura had stabilized considerably.
Although she was still somewhat weak, her silver-purple eyes had regained their former depth and coldness.
The door opened, and before Xuan Ming could speak, Gu Yuena said, "Return to the Star Dou Great Forest and retrieve that belated gift."
Xuan Ming was silent for a moment, then nodded.
There was no immediate rush for Blood Spear's spirit ring; his next step was to attach a spirit ring to his Beast Spirit.
The Heavenly Dream Ice Silkworm, a special Spirit Beast with mental and ice attributes, whose cultivation was close to a million years, would, upon absorption, directly push his mental force realm to the same level as Bo Saixi, or even higher.
The qualitative change in mental force was crucial for resisting the mental impact of the later stages of Seagod's Light.
And once his mental force was strong enough to control his own power more precisely and withstand greater pressure, his next target would be to further increase the limits of his physical body and total spirit power—the Deep Sea Demon Whale King!
His current body was no longer sufficient to withstand the suppression of a stronger Seagod's Light, and needed to be upgraded.
The two no longer delayed.
Xuan Ming went to Bo Saixi to briefly explain the situation, only saying that he needed to go out to find a suitable spirit ring to cope with the assessment.
Although Bo Saixi was somewhat puzzled as to why he wouldn't obtain a god-bestowed spirit ring on Sea God Island.
Xuan Ming still had a god-bestowed spirit ring granted by the Sea God that he hadn't used, which was a special treatment for assessors above the Black Grade.
But seeing that Xuan Ming's intention to leave was firm, and Gu Yuena was accompanying him, she did not stop them excessively, only instructing them to be careful.
Soon, a bloody light and a silver-purple stream of light left Sea God Island, speeding towards the Star Dou Great Forest on the Douluo Continent.
In the God Realm, within the Divine Hall.
The light mirror followed the bloody and silver-purple streams of light leaving Sea God Island, and the eyes of the five God Kings were filled with scrutiny.
"Are they planning to hunt for spirit rings?"
The God of Goodness frowned slightly, somewhat puzzled, "Xuan Ming still has a god-bestowed spirit ring he hasn't used, why would he go to such lengths and risk hunting Spirit Beasts? Moreover, with his current strength and potential, a god-bestowed spirit ring is undoubtedly the safest and most suitable choice for his development."
The God of Evil's lips curled into a playful smile, and he shook his head: "Goodness, you are too naive.
This boy, and that little Silver Dragon, their target is probably not just an ordinary Ten Thousand Year Spirit Beast."
"Before, Xuan Ming was pulled into a life-and-death arena constructed by my evil rules by the Dark Demonic Evil God Tiger in the Star Dou Great Forest.
At that time, I sensed that beneath the Lake of Life, there was also an ice silkworm whose cultivation was close to a million years!"
"According to my divine sense, although that worm's combat power can be ignored, its immense mental force and ice attribute origin are a great tonic even for someone of Bo Saixi's realm.
If Xuan Ming were to obtain it, his mental force would likely skyrocket to an extremely terrifying level."
The Goddess of Life heard this, and a hint of understanding flashed in her eyes: "First obtain the ice silkworm, strengthen his mental force, to cope with the mental impact of the later stages of Seagod's Light.
A very wise choice.
Then what? Just one ice silkworm is probably not enough to support him to reach the peak."
The God of Destruction glanced at Poseidon: "After that? Naturally, he'll go find that whale lurking in the deep sea."
A cultivation close to a million years, the overlord of the ocean, the Deep Sea Demon Whale King's spirit ring and Spirit Bone, would be a great enhancement for Xuan Ming's body and spirit power.
The Asura God's cold voice rang out, pinpointing the most crucial point: "But the premise of all this is that he must be able to absorb and withstand it.
How could the energy of a million-year spirit ring be so easily controlled? Even with the Silver Dragon King's assistance, the risk is extremely high."
The God of Evil chuckled, his gaze turning to the light mirror, as if looking through it at the two sleeping presences within Xuan Ming's body: "So, this is the true meaning of the second assessment.
Haven't you noticed?
The rule I set—prohibiting the use of the residual power of the Ice and Fire Dragon Kings and the sealed Dragon Bone energy."
He paused, his tone carrying a hint of profound meaning: "This power, in essence, still belongs to the Ice Dragon King and the Fire Dragon King, it is merely temporarily stored within Xuan Ming's body.
Therefore, it would be judged as external force by the rules and sealed.
But..."
A sharp light flashed in his eyes: "What if the Ice Dragon King and the Fire Dragon King have enough determination, and are willing to completely sever their connection with this part of the Dragon Bone and Dragon Soul, fully and permanently gifting their ownership and control to Xuan Ming, making these powers fundamentally Xuan Ming's own strength?"
As soon as these words were spoken, the Divine Hall fell into a slight silence.
The Goddess of Life suddenly realized: "In this way, this power would no longer be an external force, and the rules would be unable to seal it!
When Xuan Ming climbs the nine heavens profound steps, he would be able to use this immense foundation!"
The God of Goodness also understood: "Evil, your second assessment, on the surface, tests Xuan Ming's limits, but in reality, it's forcing the Ice Dragon King and the Fire Dragon King to declare their stance?
To see if they are willing to pay such a huge price for Xuan Ming?"
Completely gifting the Dragon Bone and Dragon Soul meant that the residual souls of the Ice Dragon King and the Fire Dragon King would lose their greatest reliance and foundation, becoming incredibly fragile, and possibly even accelerating their dissipation.
This was nothing short of a huge gamble, completely staking their own existence on Xuan Ming.
The God of Evil spread his hands and laughed: "We can't let them keep hiding all the time, can we?
The heart of the dragon god has already appeared, and the Silver Dragon King has shown her attitude.
These two First generation Dragon Kings, our old friends, it's time for them to make an appearance and state their position."
"Will they continue to observe, or will they go all in? It depends on whether they are willing to help Xuan Ming take down those two Spirit Beasts this time, and... offer this bridal gown."
The Asura God was expressionless, but a hint of approval flashed in his blood-colored eyes.
This was the assessment method he approved of, forcing out all potential variables and seeing the true nature of everything.
"It seems that the good show about to unfold in the Star Dou Great Forest and the deep sea will be even more exciting than we anticipated."
The God of Evil looked at the light mirror with interest, "Ice and Fire, how will you choose?
Will you continue to linger on, or... go all out?"
Xuan Ming had already shown his determination, but the Spirit Beast clan was not like that.
This boy had almost gambled everything for a responsibility that had little to do with him, but the Spirit Beasts were hiding things.
He was almost certain that those two guys, Ice and Fire, had absolutely not revealed everything about the Dragon Clan, nor had they exposed their true strength to Xuan Ming!
Even now, they were still observing Xuan Ming, or to put it bluntly, if Xuan Ming failed, he would be finished.
But what about the Dragon Clan? At worst, they could just find someone else to start over.
Regarding Xuan Ming, he could see that Poseidon, Asura, and even the God of Goodness, had already taken an interest, and he himself had also taken an interest.
Therefore, regardless of the outcome of this assessment, they would find a way to keep this boy, and as for whose God Position he would inherit, that would be up to their individual abilities.
But for the Dragon Clan, if Xuan Ming failed, then they could only follow Asura's initial suggestion and seal the Silver Dragon King to prevent any accidents... Star Dou Great Forest core area, Lake of Life.
Months later, at the Lake of Life, sunlight filtered through the clear lake water, casting golden patches on the lakebed, like a dreamy galaxy.
On the lake surface, ripples shimmered, and a gentle breeze stirred up layers of ripples, completely different from the grandeur of Sea God Island, filled with a serene and primitive aura of life.
Xuan Ming and Gu Yuena's figures quietly appeared by the lake.
Their return did not cause much commotion, but Bi Ji, who had been guarding here, immediately sensed them, and her graceful figure emerged from the forest.
"Master, Xuan Ming, you've returned."
Bi Ji bowed slightly, her gaze lingering on Gu Yuena for a moment, sensing the increasingly profound aura within her, even carrying a hint of instinctive reverence, a flicker of surprise flashed in her eyes, but she did not ask further.
Gu Yuena nodded slightly, her gaze directed at the calm lake surface, a trace of recollection and determination flashing in her silver-purple eyes.
"Di Tian, bring up the ice silkworm."
A moment later, violent ripples appeared in the center of the lake, and a massive black dragon shadow broke out of the water, it was indeed the Beast God, Di Tian.
In his huge dragon claws, he carefully held an object wrapped in countless transparent energy roots, resembling a giant crystal silkworm cocoon.
Inside the cocoon, a giant silkworm, crystal clear throughout and emitting a faint blue-golden glow, was curled up, exuding vast mental fluctuations and pure ice-attribute energy like a sea.
Di Tian gently placed the ice silkworm on the lake shore, "Master."
Gu Yuena nodded, her gaze turning to Xuan Ming: "Begin.
I will help you stabilize its mental force origin and guide its power to merge with you."
Xuan Ming looked at this natural wonder, whose cultivation was close to a million years, and after a moment of silence, said, "Not enough."
Gu Yuena was slightly stunned, "Not enough?"
"It's only a hair's breadth away from a million years, I want... to let it break through first," Xuan Ming said.
"Break through?" Gu Yuena looked puzzled.
"We only have so little time, we can't wait."
Nine hundred thousand years and a million years, even if it's just a hair's breadth, the effect is vastly different!
If she had the chance, she would naturally do her best, but this ice silkworm was still some distance from a million years, and for this second assessment, they only had half a year.
Moreover, after this, they still had to find the Deep Sea Demon Whale King, and that guy was very troublesome.
"I have a way," Xuan Ming said.
"Or rather, it has a way itself."
Xuan Ming's words surprised both Gu Yuena and Di Tian.
To let this ice silkworm break through to a million years at this time? How could there be enough time?
Before Gu Yuena could ask, Xuan Ming's gaze fell on the crystal cocoon, and he spoke calmly: "Tell me yourself, how did you cultivate to your current realm?"
The Heavenly Dream Ice Silkworm in the cocoon seemed to tremble slightly, and a mental thought, carrying a hint of timidity and a bit of smugness, was transmitted: "I... I just ate something called Ten Thousand Year Profound Ice Marrow, I ate it and slept, woke up and found my cultivation had increased, so I kept looking for it, kept eating it... I kept eating, and... and that's how it happened..."
This thought clearly echoed in the minds of every strong person present.
Di Tian's mouth twitched slightly, and even the usually gentle Bi Ji's eyes flashed with a hint of speechlessness.
Zi Ji even snorted in laughter.
Which Spirit Beast's cultivation didn't involve countless years, fighting against fate, advancing with difficulty through battles and insights?
Especially the heavenly tribulation after one hundred thousand years, it was a near-death experience!
But this lazy worm in front of them, relying entirely on "eating" and "sleeping," had somehow reached the terrifying cultivation of nearly a million years!
This was simply the greatest mockery of all diligent cultivating Spirit Beasts!