: The Heartbreaking Red of Longing, the Restrained Poseidon

Not long after Ning Rongrong left Seagod Island, Xiao Wu finally woke up. However, unlike in the original story where she could condense a physical body, she could only be a phantom, semi-transparent soul now.

She wore a long pink dress, the hem of which resembled layers of newly blooming peach blossoms. The light gauze fabric swayed gently with her movements, giving her an ethereal and fairy-like appearance.

The cinched waist accentuates the girl's slender and supple figure, making her appear as light and graceful as a butterfly.

What's most eye-catching is her long, jet-black scorpion braid, which runs from the back of her head to her thighs. The braid is tight and neat, with a small pink hair accessory tied at the end, matching her dress.

A few stray strands of hair fell casually beside her ears, making her face appear even more exquisite—her eyebrows were curved, her eyes sparkling with liveliness and playfulness, and the corners of her lips were slightly upturned, as if she might burst into a bright smile at any moment.

She floated in mid-air, her figure ethereal, her skirt fluttering slightly, her long braid swaying gently, looking like a fairy who had stepped out of a painting.

When Xiao Wu woke up, her eyelashes fluttered slightly, like a little rabbit just waking up from a deep sleep, with a hint of confusion and tenderness.

She looked up and the first thing that caught her eye was Fang Yuan standing in front of her.

With her eyes curved and her smile sweet, she was just like that little rabbit who would timidly hide behind her mother back then.

"Fang Yuan..."

She spoke softly, her voice still weak, "Where...am I?"

Fang Yuan lowered his eyes, his tone calm to the point of indifference: "This is Seagod Island. I came here for the divine test..."

After recounting what happened while Xiao Wu was asleep, Fang Yuan offered no further words of comfort. He simply reached out and retrieved the long-sealed object.

It looked like a grayish-white stone, about the size of a palm, shaped like a flower bud, rough and hard, no different from the rocks by the roadside. It looked extremely ordinary, but it was harder than refined steel; neither knives, axes, nor soul power could damage it in the slightest.

"This is the Love-Sick Red," Fang Yuan explained calmly. "Before meeting a true lover, it seals itself as a stubborn rock. Only when there is genuine affection and deep-rooted love will it bloom for you."

He paused, his gaze falling on Xiao Wu's face: "This immortal herb can revive the dead and heal bones, and it is also the key to your resurrection."

It is also the key to whether Fang Yuan can use Xiao Wu as a vessel to activate the seed of the God of Destruction.

Fang Yuan knew the answer.

Given what he had done before, Xiao Wu should have hated him to the core.

But he still wanted to take a gamble.

After all, Fang Yuan had already witnessed the power of those obsessed with love on this continent, both in the original story and now.

Xiao Wu's fingertips trembled slightly. After hesitating for a moment, she finally reached out and gently took the cold stone flower.

The next moment, Fang Yuan raised his hand, took out the bright red heart's blood taken from Xiao Wu's body, and slowly dripped it onto the gray-white stone flower.

The blood didn't drip down; instead, it seeped into the stone little by little, as if swallowed by a sponge.

After a deathly silence, fine cracks suddenly appeared on the surface of the stone flower.

Pale pink light seeped out from the crack, gradually brightening and intensifying, like the dawn's glow, slowly tearing through the darkness.

Layer by layer, the stone shell peeled away, turning into dust and dissipating. With each piece that fell away, the light shone even brighter, a soft and warm halo spreading out, and a refreshing fragrance filling the surroundings, as if capable of melting away all the coldness in the world.

The petals unfold layer by layer.

The outer and inner layers are as thin as cicada wings, crystal clear, like white jade carvings, and have a lustrous pink glow, so delicate that they seem to break at the slightest touch.

On the translucent petals, vein-like patterns meander and intertwine, like the tears of a lover's longing, deeply imprinted within. The flower stem is slender yet resilient, drooping slightly, as if bearing a heart full of unspoken thoughts.

At the heart of the flower, a glistening drop, like a tear yet not quite, seems about to fall but hasn't yet.

The true red acacia blossoms, symbolizing heartbreak and longing, are in full bloom.

Xiao Wu stared blankly at the peerless fairy flower in her hand, her mouth slightly open, her eyes filled with amazement and love.

But when she subconsciously looked up at Fang Yuan, her clear eyes were instantly filled with complex emotions.

There was confusion, grievance, and a struggle that even she herself couldn't quite explain.

·············

Looking at Xiao Wu holding the Love-Sickness Heartbreak Red in front of him, Fang Yuan felt a slight easing of the tension in his heart.

He was a man who was calculating to the core, but at this moment, he was genuinely delighted.

His lips curved upwards uncontrollably, and a faint yet genuine smile spread across his eyes.

Despite this joy, he still couldn't understand what love was, and even felt a chill down his spine.

He knows better than anyone what he has done.

But Xiao Wu, upon receiving the Acacia Heartbreak Red, could still make the celestial treasure bloom.

"Is this what they call...being love-struck?"

too frightening.

This emotion, within his logic centered on interests and survival, is absurd, fragile, yet strangely frightening.

He suppressed the inexplicable fear in his heart, suppressed his smile, put on his calm and composed demeanor again, and said lightly, "Let's go, continue the assessment."

Xiao Wu gripped the still warm and fragrant Love Heartbreak Red in her hand, nodded gently, and obediently followed behind him.

·························

The moment he saw the two, Seahorse Douluo's gaze immediately fell on Xiao Wu.

His pupils contracted slightly, and he recognized it instantly—

This girl was the same illusory figure that appeared behind Fang Yuan when he underwent the Red-level assessment, also shrouded in the aura of the Red-level assessment.

Seahorse Douluo understood.

This woman's Red Trial is extremely special; there is no independent trial. She only needs to assist Fang Yuan in completing the Divine Trial, and they can pass together.

Therefore, he did not say much, but simply nodded slightly to Fang Yuan, saying respectfully, "Please continue, Your Excellency."

The other Great Pillar Douluos were naturally curious when they first saw Xiao Wu in this spiritual form.

She has no physical form but possesses a mind, and is inseparable from Fang Yuan, making her identity mysterious.

However, due to the extremely high level of the assessment and the high priest's orders, no one dared to ask any questions. They simply did their best to guide and guard the pass.

The assessment went smoothly all the way, but Fang Yuan's doubts grew stronger.

Poseidon.

The high priest of Poseidon Island.

In the original story, even towards Tang San, the great-grandson of her beloved, she would still set tests and secretly take action.

But Poseidon remained unusually calm towards him, who had also undergone the nine trials of Poseidon.

There was no harassment, no underhanded tactics, and no verbal abuse.

On the contrary, they treated him with great courtesy, often offering guidance and encouragement when he encountered bottlenecks in his assessments.

There must be a demon in the abnormal situation.

The calmer Poseidon appeared, the more vigilant he became.

What exactly is she planning? Is she observing, or is she setting up a bigger scheme?

But he ultimately didn't ask.

Some things are better left unsaid to maintain a semblance of peace.

Once that thin veil is pierced and they openly break off relations, his current strength is insufficient to confront Poseidon head-on.

This is just right.

She is a dutiful, gentle, and kind high priestess of the sea god, and he is a promising successor of the sea god, diligently undergoing the trials.

They lived in peace and each got what they needed.

With this in mind, Fang Yuan stopped being distracted and focused on dealing with the assessment at hand.

For ease of movement, he had already removed his upper body clothing.

The boy wasn't particularly burly, but his physique was lean and well-defined, with taut muscles that exuded explosive power. The icy seawater lapped against his skin again and again, creating fine droplets.

Her long, black hair was completely soaked by the seawater, with a few strands hanging down her forehead and a few strands clinging to her neck and shoulders, making her skin appear even whiter and more pale.

Not far away, Xiao Wu floated quietly in the seawater.

The seawater passed through her translucent spirit body, posing no threat to her whatsoever. She simply watched the boy on the silver pillar quietly, her eyes sparkling with undisguised focus and fascination, as if she were observing the most fascinating thing in the world.

Just then—

A figure, as bright red as a raging fire, slowly emerged from the surface of the sea.

The oppressive aura was silent and pervasive, yet it carried no trace of killing intent.

Poseidon has arrived.

Poseidon's gaze first lightly fell on Xiao Wu.

There was no sharpness, no oppression, it could even be described as gentle, yet Xiao Wu's hair stood on end in an instant.

A woman's intuition is never logical.

In an instant, she sensed a deadly threat emanating from this high priest of the sea.

It wasn't the pressure from a titled Douluo, nor the power of a god, but something more subtle and hurtful—the innate hostility and possessiveness between rivals in love.

Poseidon's gaze, demeanor, and tone were all perfectly proper, dignified, noble, and indifferent—so perfect that not a single flaw could be found.

But Xiao Wu could see it clearly.

This woman, as beautiful as a goddess, looked at Fang Yuan with a deep love hidden in the depths of her eyes.

Poseidon naturally recognized Xiao Wu.

When Fang Yuan obtained the Divine Trial, Xiao Wu's illusory figure simultaneously obtained the Special Red Trial. This fact could not be hidden from the High Priest who had been stationed on Seagod Island for countless years.

She also knew that Xiao Wu had already sacrificed herself, and now her spirit was attached to Fang Yuan and was connected to his life.

Unless Fang Yuan takes action himself, anyone who tries to eliminate Xiao Wu will inevitably affect Fang Yuan as well.

This is the only reason why Poseidon temporarily suppressed his murderous intent and did not take action against this "rabbit".

Xiao Wu felt a chill run down her spine under that indifferent gaze. She immediately took half a step forward, standing beside Fang Yuan, and looked up to question him, "Hey, who are you?"

Poseidon didn't even spare her a glance.

Her gaze settled steadily on Fang Yuan atop the silver pillar, her tone gentle, carrying just the right amount of concern: "How are you feeling? Is there anything you're missing?"

Fang Yuan shook his head, his voice calm and polite:

"Thank you for your concern, High Priest. The arrangements on Seagod Island are already excellent, and I have no need for them."

Poseidon nodded slightly, still ignoring Xiao Wu, whose cheeks were puffed out in anger, and continued, "Your Tidal Body Tempering is nearing completion. Are you confident for the next test?"

The next test is to assist the Demon Soul Great White Shark clan in annihilating the Demon Orca pod, with the infamous Demon Orca King being the first to be targeted.

Unlike the tempering and trials of the previous three tests, this test is a real battle and a life-or-death danger.

Moreover, this was Fang Yuan's own divine test, watched over by the Sea God. Even she, the High Priest, could not arbitrarily intervene to save him.

Fang Yuan nodded: "I already have a plan..."

After exchanging a few more words, Poseidon slowly departed in a gentle glow.

From beginning to end, she didn't look at Xiao Wu even once, completely ignoring her.

Only after the red figure completely disappeared above the sea did Xiao Wu finally lose her temper and stomp her foot in dissatisfaction.

She's so angry!

That woman completely ignored her the whole time!

Fang Yuan leaped down from the sunken silver pillar, casually grabbed some clothes from the side and put them on, then turned to look at Xiao Wu, his tone calm but undeniable: "Stay away from her from now on."

Xiao Wu immediately raised her head defiantly and retorted, "Why should I?"

She's not going to hide!

They are clearly rivals in love. If she backs down, wouldn't that be tantamount to admitting defeat?

Fang Yuan's eyes darkened slightly as he looked at her flustered appearance.

Just as Xiao Wu's intuition about her rival was unreasonably sharp, Fang Yuan's sensitivity to murderous intent was already ingrained in his very bones.

Just now, when Poseidon stood in front of him, he could clearly smell it.

Beneath that gentle and dignified exterior lay a faint yet chilling killing intent.

Especially when Xiao Wu got close to him, his killing intent was almost impossible to suppress.

"She wants to kill you."

Fang Yuan spoke calmly, and with just one sentence, he shattered all of Xiao Wu's resentment.

"It's not a joke, it's true."

···············

The divine realm is filled with a vast sea of ​​clouds, shrouded in divine light, and ancient and majestic temples float above the endless starry sky.

Sea God sat enthroned on a throne forged from deep-sea divine jade, his body shimmering with divine light interwoven with pale blue and golden radiance. His gaze pierced through layers of dimensional barriers, silently falling upon the azure Sea God Island in the lower realm.

He watched with great interest everything happening around him and Fang Yuan.

As the deity who rules the ocean, his spiritual power is strong enough that nothing in the mortal world can escape his eyes.

He could see it clearly, of course.

Poseidon, the high priestess of Poseidon Island, has a dignified and sacred appearance, but her heart, which has been dormant for a hundred years, is quietly beginning to stir.

A fluttering heart is like a silent undercurrent surging beneath the deep sea.

Poseidon was raised from childhood as the most devout follower of the sea god. From an innocent child to a powerful high priest, restraint, calmness, piety, and forbearance were ingrained in his bones and blood.

Throughout her life, she faithfully followed the divine decree, guarding the island of Poseidon and maintaining an inviolable dignity and distance.

What's more, there was once a Tang Chen in her heart.

That subtle and ultimately unfulfilled affection was the only time in her long life that she lost control, and it was also the reason why she desperately suppressed herself and Fang Yuan's feelings afterward.

The more you try to restrain yourself, the more that unwanted concern grows wildly in your heart.

She dared not admit it.

So they desperately tried to cover it up!

A playful smile curved the corners of Neptune's lips.

The gods, who usually observe the world's struggles with detachment, found this heart-fluttering moment with their most devout follower particularly intriguing.

A woman who upholds her faith; a high priestess bound by rules and status.

The sea god slowly raised his hand, his fingertips shimmering with shimmering divine light.

He was curious.

When one day, reason and restraint could no longer suppress the surging desires and obsessions in her heart, when Poseidon could no longer deceive herself, when that perfect and dignified shell shattered completely...

What kind of madness will this high priest of the sea god, who has suppressed and restrained himself throughout his life, unleash?