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The God of Evil looked at the silent crowd, a hint of mockery flashing in his crimson eyes, but more of it was a calm, almost cruel analysis: "Admit it, everyone. The reason we feel angry and uneasy isn't because he touched a taboo, but because he... exceeded our control. He made us, who pride ourselves as supreme God Kings, feel... powerlessness for the first time."
"This feeling is very unpleasant, isn't it?"
He tilted his head slightly, his tone playful, "But this is reality. This kid named Xuan Ming, he used the most direct way to tell us that he is not a pawn that can be manipulated at will. He is an opponent we must face squarely, or even... treat as an equal, or rather... a collaborator."
"Collaborator?" Poseidon repeated, losing his voice, finding the word absurd when used between a god and a mortal.
"Otherwise?" the God of Evil retorted, "We can't kill him, and even a single move could lead to complete loss of control. Besides trying to cooperate, guide, or even... trade, do we have any better options?"
"But with his current attitude, insisting on siding with the Dragon Clan, he is destined to become an enemy of the God Realm in the future," Asura God said in a deep voice.
"Enemy?" The God of Evil raised an eyebrow, "Who stipulated that? Just because he inherited the power of the Dragon King? Don't forget, he is still essentially human! And a human who understands responsibility and commitment more than most gods!"
He surveyed the gods, his tone becoming serious: "What did we establish the God Test for? Wasn't it to select sufficiently excellent successors who could maintain the order of the God Realm and even lead the God Realm to a more distant future? Now, a successor far exceeding our expectations has appeared, yet we hesitate, or even want to stifle him, because of the source of his power?"
"Don't forget, power itself has no good or evil," the God of Kindness gently echoed, "The key lies in the heart of the person wielding the power. And from Xuan Ming's performance so far, he may be stubborn, he may be crazy, but his original intention has never been lost."
Asura God's icy voice rang out: "You mean, we should continue to cultivate him?"
"Not cultivation, but guidance and investment," the God of Evil corrected, "Transforming a potential enemy into a future ally, or even... a new pillar guarding the God Realm. Isn't this much wiser than painstakingly trying to stifle an enemy who might not even be killable?"
Asura God couldn't help but interrupt: "But the Dragon God's rebellion back then..."
"The Dragon God is the Dragon God, Xuan Ming is Xuan Ming!" The God of Evil cut him off, "We cannot deny all future possibilities because of past shadows. What's more, do you think, with this kid's temperament and control, he would allow himself to become a second Dragon God?"
"Everyone, calm down. In fact, as early as when he completed the first test set by Asura in an almost self-destructive way, everyone was already thinking about this possibility, but you thought that if even the Dragon God failed, this kid would be even less likely."
"Didn't you think so too?" Asura God retorted.
The God of Evil shrugged, "Of course, but do we have any other choice now?"
The God of Kindness slowly spoke, "He is still willing to operate within the rules, within our rules, and even... he is striving for a happy ending for all."
"A happy ending for all?" Asura God frowned deeply.
"Isn't it?" the God of Kindness countered.
"Facing us, facing the God Test, how great is the risk? Even if he has the means to survive our hands, the cost will inevitably be extremely heavy. Yet he still chose to stand before us, rather than fleeing directly, taking the safer path for him, secretly developing."
"He is not only fighting for the Dragon Clan, but also striving for coexistence."
"If we make a move, it's equivalent to completely pushing him onto the most extreme path."
"It's either you die or I die!"
The last four words of the God of Kindness struck every God King's heart like a heavy hammer.
The atmosphere in the temple solidified to the extreme.
Asura God clenched his fists tightly. He had to admit that the God of Kindness was right.
Xuan Ming had every opportunity to choose a more hidden path—hiding with the heart of the dragon god and the Silver Dragon King, secretly accumulating power. With his talent and the Dragon Clan's heritage, given time, he might indeed become a serious threat to the God Realm.
But he didn't.
He chose the most dangerous, yet also the most "aboveboard" path—standing under the gaze of the God Realm, accepting the God Test, displaying his power, and even exposing his trump cards.
This was not foolishness; this was a stance, a willingness to solve problems within the rules.
If the God Realm chose to overturn the table at this moment, it would be tantamount to personally extinguishing the last glimmer of possibility for peaceful coexistence, forcing Xuan Ming completely onto the path of endless hostility with the God Realm.
"This kid isn't provoking; he's... seeking a new order. An order that can allow the remaining bloodline of the Dragon Clan, the people he cares about, and perhaps even... the God Realm itself, to find a way out," the God of Evil said.
"And do we choose to become a stumbling block on his path, forcing him to become an avenger who destroys everything, or do we choose to become a guide, or even... a future collaborator, to jointly shape a new future?"
The choice, it seemed, once again returned to the God Realm Committee.
But this time, they were no longer passively reacting to Xuan Ming's moves, but truly beginning to consider the long-term situation.
Asura God slowly sat back on his divine throne, complex light flickering in his cold eyes.
He had to admit that the analyses of the God of Evil and the God of Kindness hit the nail on the head.
Xuan Ming's actions, seemingly crazy provocations, were in fact carefully calculated, precisely grasping the God Realm Committee's weaknesses: internal divisions, the pursuit of stability and order, and the assessment of the potential value of an unprecedented "anomaly."
He was indeed... striving for coexistence.
In an extremely tough, extremely dangerous, yet within-the-rules manner!
A deep perplexity flashed in the crimson eyes of the God of Destruction. His low voice broke the silence of the temple: "I still don't understand... why would he take such a risk? Since he already possesses power sufficient to protect himself, and even enough to make us hesitate to act, he could have continued to disguise himself, secretly accumulating power, waiting for a better opportunity. Why choose this... almost self-destructive way, exposing all his trump cards before us?"
This did not conform to common sense! A person with such meticulous thought and profound planning should not make such "impulsive" and "unwise" choices.
Asura God was silent for a moment, then slowly spoke:
"Because he needs a reason."
"A reason?" The God of Destruction frowned, and the other God Kings also cast puzzled glances.
"A... reason sufficient to support all his future actions, and even sufficient to convince himself to completely oppose the God Realm... oppose us..." Asura God's voice was low and clear.
He paused, seemingly organizing his words, and continued to explain: "The sacrifice of the Ice and Fire Dragon King, the entrustment of the Silver Dragon King, the lingering hope of the Dragon Clan... these gave him sufficient reason to stand on the side of the Dragon Clan and fight with all his might for them. This is what his current identity and position should do."
"However," Asura God's tone shifted, his blood-red eyes sweeping over the other God Kings, "to oppose the God Realm? To be an enemy of the entire God Realm order? This reason, for him, is not enough."
"Not enough?" The God of Evil raised an eyebrow, as if he had thought of something.
"Yes, not enough," Asura God affirmed, "From the time he accepted the God Test until now, although every assessment has been inhumanly strict, even cruel, it has ultimately... left a glimmer of hope. The goal of the assessment has never been to push him into a desperate situation, to put him to death. What we truly want to see is the attitude of the Dragon Clan, and his attitude."
"And the content of the God Test, as well as the... certain degree of restraint and rules we displayed during the assessment, also allowed Xuan Ming to see the attitude of the God Realm, to see... our attitude."
"He saw that the God Realm is not monolithic, not entirely cold and ruthless, and not necessarily intent on annihilating the Dragon Clan."
"So... he also used this method to show his attitude."
"He disdains sneaking around, disdains lurking in the dark, waiting for some future opportunity to jump out and seek revenge. What he wants is an open and honest game, a clear confrontation, either coexistence, or a complete break of life and death!"
"He laid all his chips on the table, forcing us to make a choice. And also forcing himself... to make the final choice."
"If we choose to destroy him, then fine, he finally has a sufficiently ample, sufficiently tragic reason to oppose the entire God Realm without any psychological burden."
"For survival, for revenge."
The God of Evil clapped his hands and chuckled softly, his eyes full of admiration: "Splendid! Truly splendid! This kid is not only terrifying in strength and talent, but his temperament is also extremely proud! He would rather risk being obliterated by us than play his cards openly, telling us to either compete fairly within the rules, or be prepared to face a completely mad enemy!"
Poseidon murmured, "He truly is... a complete madman..."
"A proud, stubborn, yet with his own set of principles, madman," the Goddess of Goodness softly added, her tone carrying an indescribable emotion, "He chose the most difficult path, just to seek a... clear conscience."
Silence once again fell upon the temple.
The purple lightning around the God of Destruction subsided, and he fell silent. He finally understood the deep logic behind Xuan Ming's seemingly contradictory actions.
This was not foolishness; this was extreme madness under extreme pride!
He was not merely forcing the God Realm to take a stance, but also seeking a "reason" for himself!
An incredibly solid reason that would support his future path, whether it be destruction or coexistence!
He disdained compromise; what he wanted was an honorable duel, a desperate gamble with no retreat!
"In that case, the God Test..."
"Continue!"