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..."However, the current situation..." The Goddess of Life's tone grew solemn. "Xuan Ming stripping away the Sea God's Heart, his intention is clear. If he believes the Fourth God Test has failed, becomes disheartened, and no longer follows the path of the test, instead forcefully attempting to Breakthrough to the God Realm... then the nature of the situation changes completely."
Gu Yuena's heart tightened; her worst fears had indeed been perceived by the God Realm.
"Breaking through independently, outside the God Realm Legacy system, and harboring resentment towards the God Realm..." The Goddess of Life's voice carried a hint of warning. "Such a new God is a huge variable the God Realm absolutely does not wish to see. At that time, for the peace and order of the God Realm, no matter how highly we thought of Xuan Ming before, the final choice... there will likely be only one."
Gu Yuena understood what that "choice" was—to destroy Xuan Ming before he succeeded!
She took a deep breath, her Divine Thought responding, "I understand your concerns. But now the Fourth God Test is a stalemate. If you suddenly announce the test passed at this moment, with Xuan Ming's personality, he would not only be ungrateful but would also feel mocked and insulted."
She knew Xuan Ming too well; he could accept any hardship, as that was the price he should bear after choosing his path.
But he absolutely could not accept charity or fickle decisions that changed like child's play; that was trampling on his will and efforts.
"We know," the Goddess of Life sighed. "That's why we haven't directly interfered with the test. Contacting you, we hope you can guide him and resolve this stalemate. Silver Dragon King, you are the person he trusts most now, and the only one who might be able to persuade him. He must be brought back onto the path of the test, at least... he cannot be allowed to take that most extreme path."
Gu Yuena was silent for a moment. She knew the Goddess of Life was speaking the truth.
Xuan Ming's current mental state was extremely unstable; the act of stripping away the Sea God's Heart was a dangerous signal.
If he truly decided to abandon the test and forcefully Breakthrough to the God Realm, with his obsessive personality, he would absolutely make the worst preparations before acting, and might even... in order to "fulfill his promise" and "clear obstacles," do something as insane as destroying the humans of Douluo Star!
"I understand," Gu Yuena finally responded, a trace of determination flashing in her silver-purple eyes. "I will do my best to stabilize him and guide him to complete the remaining tests."
"We're counting on you," the Goddess of Life's Divine Thought, carrying a hint of relief, slowly receded.
After the communication ended, Gu Yuena looked at the sleeping Xuan Ming on the bed and sighed softly.
"He's truly a troublesome fellow..." she murmured to herself, her fingertips brushing his cool cheek. "It seems I need to find a reason for you to continue the test."
Escaping this Star Domain was only a last resort from the beginning, as even she didn't know what would happen.
She also didn't know what this World outside the God Realm was like.
It hadn't come to that point yet, so she naturally had to try her best.
After communicating with the Goddess of Life, Gu Yuena looked at the sleeping Xuan Ming, a decision already made in her heart.
Time was short; she had to use a two-pronged approach, or even multiple approaches, to stabilize this stubborn donkey on the verge of going berserk.
She first left the Ice Crystal Castle, her figure transforming into a silver light, and once again descended upon the Sea God Temple.
Bo Saixi still stood in the great hall, tightly clutching the Sea God Trident that had already recognized its master, her expression complex as she gazed at the statue, lost in thought.
Sensing Gu Yuena's arrival, she turned around, a hint of doubt and vigilance in her eyes.
"Your Excellency Gu Yuena, what else is there?" Bo Saixi's voice carried a trace of weariness.
Gu Yuena didn't beat around the bush, her silver-purple eyes looking directly at Bo Saixi, her tone more serious than ever: "Bo Saixi, I've come to tell you some... real situations concerning Xuan Ming and what this World might face."
Bo Saixi's heart tightened, and she gripped her trident: "Please speak."
"Xuan Ming stripping away the Sea God's Heart is not simply repaying a debt," Gu Yuena's voice was cold. "This indicates that he may have lost patience with this God Test, or rather, he believes he has failed."
Bo Saixi's expression changed slightly.
Gu Yuena continued, "You should know his personality. If he believes this path is blocked, he will never sit idly by. He will choose another path—forcefully Breakthrough to the God Realm!"
Bo Saixi gasped, "Forcefully Breakthrough to the God Realm? Then... the success rate..."
"Very low, but not without hope," Gu Yuena interrupted her, her gaze sharp as a knife. "However, what's more terrifying is that, with his personality, before attempting to Breakthrough to the God Realm, he will definitely make the worst preparations, clearing away all potential threats and unfinished business."
She paused deliberately, allowing Bo Saixi to digest the meaning of this sentence, then said, word by word, "In his heart, what do you think are the greatest 'potential threats' and 'unfinished business'?"
Bo Saixi's pupils suddenly constricted, a terrifying thought uncontrollably surfacing, chilling her to the bone: "You... you mean... humanity?"
"Exactly!" Gu Yuena's voice was decisive, carrying an undeniable sense of oppression. "He will believe that the rise of human Spirit Masters is the greatest threat to the future of the Spirit Beast Clan. In order to 'fulfill his promise' and 'clear obstacles' for the Spirit Beast Clan, he will spare no effort, before he might fail and flee... to destroy the human civilization of this World!"
"Douluo Continent, Sun Moon Continent, Sea God Island... all human gathering places will become his targets of destruction! This is not an exaggeration, Bo Saixi! With your understanding of him, do you think he wouldn't do it?!"
Bo Saixi staggered back a step, her face ashen, barely able to hold the Sea God Trident in her hand.
Xuan Ming's past actions flashed through her mind—his ruthlessness towards enemies, his severity towards himself, his obsession with promises... She had no doubt that what Gu Yuena said, Xuan Ming would absolutely do!
A person who could tear apart his own Soul and skull with his bare hands, what else would he not dare to do?!
"Wh-why would this happen..." Bo Saixi's voice trembled.
"Because your God Test forced him to make the most extreme choice!" Gu Yuena's tone carried a hint of anger. "Now is not the time to assign blame. Bo Saixi, what lies before you is no longer just your personal emotional entanglement, but a choice concerning the survival of Sea God Island and the lives of billions of beings on the entire Douluo Star!"
Gu Yuena stepped forward, an invisible pressure enveloping Bo Saixi: "Now, Bo Saixi, you have no time to hesitate or be reserved anymore!"
Bo Saixi stumbled back, leaning against the cold temple pillar, her sea-blue eyes filled with struggle and fear.
She had guarded Sea God Island for nearly a hundred years, protecting believers, and deep down, she had a natural reverence for Life. She could not imagine such a doomsday scene.
"Just for the sake of the countless innocent lives that might die because of him," Gu Yuena's voice was like a final judgment, "you must make a choice quickly. Either accept him, using your power and the Sea God Legacy qualification to restrain and guide him, or completely cut ties with him, letting him abandon the thought, which might also lead him to commit less slaughter."
"There is no third path, and no room for hesitation. Your decision may determine the Life and death of billions."
Bo Saixi closed her eyes, the immense pressure almost suffocating her.
On one side was her long-held pride and reserve, and that complicated, inexpressible emotion stemming from a misunderstanding; on the other, the heavy responsibility concerning the survival of an entire race.
After a long while, she slowly opened her eyes. Though there was still struggle, there was more of a resolute determination born from being pushed to the brink. She looked at Gu Yuena, her voice hoarse yet firm:
"I... understand. Please give me some time... Before dark, I will personally go to him and make a... clean break."
Gu Yuena gave her a deep look: "I hope your choice won't make everyone regret it."
With that, she no longer lingered, a flash of silver light, and she disappeared from the Sea God Temple.