At this moment, these ten brilliant golden spheres firmly surrounded the Grey Bead in the center.
As the golden light flowed, it faintly formed a subtle pressure that enveloped the Grey Bead.
This wasn't hostility, but rather a form of probing, a manifestation of the Heavenly Dream Ice Silkworm's domineering and forceful nature.
On its own territory, it naturally had to be the one in control.
Just then, the spiritual projection of the Heavenly Dream Ice Silkworm reappeared within the sea of consciousness.
It still had that white-jade, chubby appearance, though it was much smaller and more adorable than its physical body.
Its gaze landed on the quiet Grey Bead in Xu Tianhao's sea of consciousness, and its small golden eyes twitched slightly.
Then, it showed an indignant expression, speaking in a tone filled with thick anger and dominance, shouting loudly:
"Damned thing, how dare you try to snatch my territory and my Host!"
"Once I've completely merged into this little guy's sea of consciousness and gained a firm foothold, the first thing I'll do is kick this Grey Bead out!"
"Just wait and see how I'll deal with you then!"
As its voice fell, the Heavenly Dream Ice Silkworm no longer hesitated. Its spiritual projection swayed slightly, preparing to sacrifice its final power directly.
It would transform into the most compatible Intelligent spirit ring, completely merging into Xu Tianhao's Spirit to become his fifth spirit ring.
A Million-Year Spirit Beast sacrificing itself to become a fifth spirit ring was an unprecedented feat in the history of the Douluo Continent.
This way, Xu Tianhao's fifth spirit ring would directly reach the million-year level, and his combat power would undergo an earth-shattering transformation.
But at the very moment the Heavenly Dream Ice Silkworm's spiritual body was about to sacrifice itself completely, a familiar mental fluctuation came from the side, stopping it directly.
Xu Tianhao's spiritual body also slowly appeared within the sea of consciousness at this moment.
His spiritual body looked exactly like his physical self, with a calm expression and a faint smile. His gaze landed on the Heavenly Dream Ice Silkworm's spiritual projection as he spoke slowly:
"Tianmeng, it would be far too wasteful to use your million-year Origin directly as a fifth spirit ring."
Hearing Xu Tianhao address it directly by name, the Heavenly Dream Ice Silkworm's spiritual body was stunned, and its small golden eyes instantly widened with a look of displeasure:
"Hey! Little guy, how can you call me that? You should call me Brother Tianmeng! Brother Tianmeng! Do you have no manners?!"
Having lived for a million years, what it cared about most was its status and that chuunibyou, domineering Aura. How could it endure being called by its name directly?
Xu Tianhao didn't bother wasting words with this "late-stage chuunibyou" Million-Year Spirit Beast.
Its personality was naturally flighty and it cared too much about Face; rather than arguing over a title, it was better to settle on a plan directly.
Xu Tianhao's tone was calm as he continued, "In my view, using your million-year mental Origin as my Martial Soul True Body is the only way to maximize the effect and unleash the strongest combat power."
"For now, just stay quietly in my sea of consciousness and live here to help me stabilize my mental force and improve my Realm."
"Once I Breakthrough Level 70 in the future and reach the Spirit Saint Realm, you can then become my exclusive Million-Year Intelligent Spirit Ring. How about it?"
These words were clear and logically sound, perfectly combining the Heavenly Dream Ice Silkworm's investment with his own growth plan.
He had provided the Heavenly Dream Ice Silkworm with a plan that far exceeded the optimal solution of becoming a fifth spirit ring.
Listening to Xu Tianhao's detailed and long-term plan, the Heavenly Dream Ice Silkworm's spiritual body suddenly stiffened.
Its small golden eyes blinked repeatedly, and then the corners of its mouth couldn't help but twitch slightly.
A thought instantly flashed through its mind:
This isn't right!
Something is wrong!
Didn't I come here to invest?
Wasn't I supposed to be the Host's backer and big brother?
Why is it reversed now?
It feels like I've been perfectly managed by this little guy?
Is he the one calling the shots?
The Heavenly Dream Ice Silkworm's heart was full of complaints, but it wasn't stupid. It could clearly feel the sincerity and foresight in Xu Tianhao's words.
A Level 70 Spirit Saint was a qualitative leap.
At that Realm, the power of a Martial Soul True Body would be magnified to the extreme.
If the million-year mental Origin could be integrated into it, its combat power would likely far exceed the support of an ordinary Hundred-Thousand-Year or even several-Hundred-Thousand-Year Vicious Beast spirit ring.
Xu Tianhao's plan was indeed the best choice for both it and Xu Tianhao at present.
Without much hesitation, the Heavenly Dream Ice Silkworm nodded slightly, agreeing to the proposal.
However, it still muttered with a bit of dissatisfaction, "Fine, fine, I'll listen to you."
"But you're really too impolite! I've given you so many good things like my million-year Origin, and you're still unwilling to obediently call me Brother Tianmeng! Too much!"
Seeing the Heavenly Dream Ice Silkworm's "I'm unhappy, you need to coax me" look, Xu Tianhao smiled helplessly.
He understood this personality all too well. The Heavenly Dream Ice Silkworm seemed domineering and chuunibyou, but it was actually simple-minded and could be persuaded by kindness but not by force.
It just liked being praised and called "Brother" to satisfy a bit of its vanity.
This was no different from coaxing a child; it was very simple.
Xu Tianhao nodded slightly, going along with its wish and saying with a smile, "Alright, alright, it's my fault. Brother Tianmeng, I was wrong, okay?"
Calling it "Brother" didn't cost him anything. After all, having gained such a huge advantage for free, Xu Tianhao was the winner regardless.
This address of "Brother Tianmeng" was like stroking its fur the right way, instantly putting the Heavenly Dream Ice Silkworm in a great mood.
Its previously dissatisfied expression vanished instantly, and its small golden eyes narrowed into slits.
A smug smile appeared on the Heavenly Dream Ice Silkworm's Face, as if it had won a grand prize:
"Hehe, that's more like it! From now on, Brother will cover you!"
"If anyone dares to bully you, Brother will crush them with my million-year mental force! I guarantee you'll be able to walk as you please on this Douluo Continent!"
Although it talked about crushing others and doing as it pleased, the Heavenly Dream Ice Silkworm was actually far more composed than it appeared.
From its brief contact with Xu Tianhao, it could clearly feel that this little guy's thoughts were incredibly deep.
His meticulousness was by no means as simple as it appeared on the surface.
Xu Tianhao possessed a calmness and foresight that surpassed his peers, and he had a clear plan for his own growth, which it greatly admired.
Although it couldn't see Xu Tianhao's memories due to the protection of the Evil Gods Eye, and didn't yet understand his past or his true identity...
From the fact that Xu Tianhao was willing to lower himself to call it Brother Tianmeng, listen to its opinions, and cooperate as an equal, the Heavenly Dream Ice Silkworm was absolutely certain.
It had definitely not chosen the wrong person for its million-year investment!
It believed that by following such a far-sighted, shrewd, and sufficiently sincere Host...
It would surely open a brand new chapter on the Douluo Continent.
And its Host, Xu Tianhao, would surely step toward that unreachable Peak one step at a time with its support!
In the sea of consciousness, the ten brilliant golden suns flowed slowly, warm and majestic.
The Grey Bead remained silent and still, waiting for the moment of its awakening.
At this moment, the curtain had already risen on a brand new prologue for Xu Tianhao's legendary path.