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Shui Bing'er took a deep breath of the salty morning breeze and stepped forward. Huo Wu moved almost simultaneously with her, and the two walked side by side towards the castle that glowed in the morning light.
Gu Yuena stood at the entrance, looking at the last two with calm eyes, and stepped aside to clear the path.
Inside the room, Xuan Ming still stood by the window, as if he hadn't moved all night. The morning light outlined his tall yet slightly lonely back.
Shui Bing'er and Huo Wu walked behind him.
"Xuan Ming," Shui Bing'er spoke first, her voice, like her Spirit, carried a hint of crispness, "We know that we and you... actually don't have a very deep relationship."
Huo Wu interjected, her tone still carrying her characteristic straightforwardness, but with less of her usual competitiveness: "When we were in Heaven Dou City, we might have just been unconvinced, or... a little admiring of you. We thought you were very strong, very formidable."
Shui Bing'er nodded, her gaze falling on Xuan Ming's back, and continued, "But after coming to Sea God Island, watching you fight so desperately again and again, watching you shoulder so many things... we finally understood that Ning Rongrong was right."
Huo Wu took a deep breath, as if summoning all her courage: "You are a bottle of poison! Addictive! Now, in our eyes and hearts, we can no longer see or hold anyone else!"
Shui Bing'er's voice was soft yet firm: "So, we stand here. Not to ask you for any promises, nor to ask you to be responsible for us."
Huo Wu nodded vigorously, eagerly saying, "Yes! Just consider it our own initiative, our own foolishness! But we just want to stay, to be by your side! Even if... even if it's just watching from afar!"
Their voices echoed in the quiet morning room, carrying the unique, reckless courage of young girls, and also a hint of trembling fear of rejection.
They had no profound past to rely on, so they could only express their truest feelings in the most direct way.
This emotion, perhaps, began with admiration, but now, it had long since fermented into a more complex, more inseparable attachment in their day-today gazes.
Xuan Ming slowly turned around.
The morning light reflected in his ice-blue eyes, seemingly melting some of the usual coldness. His gaze calmly swept over Shui Bing'er's delicate Face, then rested on Huo Wu's eyes, which burned with a stubborn flame.
He didn't speak.
It was still his usual style.
But he slowly, towards them, extended his hands.
It was a silent invitation and acceptance, yet more powerful than any words.
Shui Bing'er and Huo Wu's eyes instantly burst with incredible surprise, and tears quickly welled up. They no longer hesitated, almost simultaneously pouncing on him, one on his left, one on his right, holding him tightly.
No more words.
The morning light filtered through the ice wall, gently falling on the three embracing figures.
Outside the castle, all the waiting girls saw this scene. No one spoke, but a strange, ineffable harmony and consensus quietly formed in the morning light.
Xuan Ming did not make any promises, but he showed his attitude through his actions—he accepted the existence of all of them, accepting this complex and heavy, yet warm, emotion.
The Fourth Test, "Ending the Emotional Entanglements, Achieving Clarity of Mind."
Perhaps, what was ended was not the emotional entanglements, but the past confusion and struggles. What was achieved was the mutual understanding, and a never-before-seen path they were willing to walk together... Golden sunlight bathed Sea God Island, as if drawing a temporary pause to this emotional storm that had lasted all night.
Just as Xuan Ming walked out of the Ice Crystal Castle with Shui Bing'er and Huo Wu to meet Ning Rongrong, Zhu Zhuqing, and the others waiting on the beach, a strange change occurred.
Ning Rongrong, Zhu Zhuqing, Xiao Wu, Dugu Yan, Ye Lingling, Shui Bing'er, Huo Wu—all the girls who participated in last night's "drawing lots"—had the assessment marks on their foreheads simultaneously light up with a soft glow.
A pure and gentle energy surged into their bodies, nourishing their spirit power and mental force. At the same time, a clear message appeared in their minds—
[Sea God Test Third Test: Clarity of Mind and Nature. Passed.]
[Rewards will be distributed based on individual performance and potential.]
Ning Rongrong's Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda glowed, faintly gaining a hint of glazed clarity; Zhu Zhuqing's aura became even more profound and unpredictable; Xiao Wu's spirit power fluctuations became more agile; the phantom of the Jade Phosphor Serpent around Dugu Yan solidified somewhat; the edges of Ye Lingling's Nine Heart Begonia petals glowed with a faint golden light; Shui Bing'er and Huo Wu's control over their ice and fire attributes also noticeably improved by a level.
They exchanged smiles, and the last trace of anxiety in their hearts vanished. The passing of the test seemed to be an acknowledgment of their courage in facing their inner selves and making choices last night.
The young girls' concerns seemed to be temporarily resolved. They gathered around Xuan Ming, chattering, their Faces beaming with ease and joy, as if a heavy burden had been lifted.
However, Gu Yuena, standing in the shadow of the castle, looked past the group of cheerful girls, towards a more distant place.
Her silver-purple eyes subtly shifted, first glancing at the temple on the Sea God Mountain Peak, whose doors remained tightly shut—Bo Saixi still hadn't appeared.
Then, her Divine Sense swept over the other side of the island, to the temporary dwelling constructed from extreme ice.
The auras of Snow Empress, Ice Empress, Bi Ji, and Zi Ji lay dormant there, a stark contrast to the lively atmosphere on the beach.
A hint of almost imperceptible solemnity flashed in Gu Yuena's eyes.
The problems of the young girls were resolved. They were young, passionate, and could abandon so-called Face and restraint for the sake of their beloved.
But what came next was the real big trouble.
Bo Saixi, the High Priest of Sea God Island, had guarded this place for nearly a hundred years. Her status was noble, her personality graceful and reserved, possessing the pride and self-esteem of a demigod powerhouse.
It was absolutely impossible for her to throw herself at him recklessly like Hu Liena, or to openly express her feelings like Shui Bing'er and Huo Wu.
Even though Gu Yuena had subtly hinted and even tempted her with the "Sea God Legacy qualification" over the past few months, Bo Saixi had always maintained a bottom line—she could wait, she could hint, but she would never take that first step herself.
This matter had to be initiated by Xuan Ming, who needed to present a clear stance to her.
Otherwise, she would rather bury that surge of emotion forever beneath her Sea God Priest robe, and continue to be that aloof and solitary High Priest.
The same was true for Snow Empress, Ice Empress, Bi Ji, and Zi Ji.
They were Vicious Beast overlords who had lived for hundreds of thousands of years, existing at the pinnacle of the Spirit Beast pyramid, ruling over countless Spirit Beasts in the Extreme North Land or the Star Dou Great Forest. They possessed an ingrained pride and majesty.
Asking them to compete for affection like human girls, or to lower themselves to beg for a relationship, was nothing short of a fantasy.
Even if Gu Yuena persuaded them with the greater good of the Spirit Beast Clan's future and Bloodline continuation, they would at most express "no objection," but they would never "take the initiative."
They could tacitly agree, they could wait for Xuan Ming's growth and choice, but for them to actively approach him like Ning Rongrong and the others? Absolutely impossible.
This matter also required Xuan Ming to show sufficient attitude and action.
Gu Yuena sighed softly.
She understood Xuan Ming's passivity and reservations in matters of emotion all too well. The difficulty of him facing these "older girls" who had deeper thoughts, more concerns, and more special identities...
"Oh, right, where's Mom?" Xiao Wu suddenly asked.
"Why didn't Mom come? Is her test not this one?"
"I already passed it," A Rou walked over from a distance, pushing a small cart laden with steaming hot breakfast.
Xiao Wu looked bewildered, "When?"
"Do you think I'm like you guys?" A Rou took out a small table and set out the breakfast.
"I completed this test on the very day it came down."
"???"
Everyone looked confused.
That amazing?