...
The sea princess's tightly clenched fist slowly loosened without her realizing it.
She stared blankly at the dazzling soul ring, then at the Pure Water Illusionary Spirit that was identical to her, and finally her gaze returned to Jiang Zhen's calm face, which contained endless confidence and sincerity.
The overwhelming anger and humiliation slowly dissipated like the receding tide, replaced by an unprecedented struggle, weighing of options, and... a stirring of the heart.
A long silence descended upon the hall once more.
The only sound was the faint sound of the surrounding seawater flowing.
The sea princess slowly leaned back against the cold back of the throne, closed her eyes, and her long, icy eyelashes trembled slightly.
After a long while, she finally opened her eyes again. The emotions in her eyes had calmed, leaving only a deep, solemn look, like the ocean. She looked at Jiang Zhen and asked, word by word:
How can you guarantee your promise?
Facing the deep, solemn gaze of the Sea Princess, Jiang Zhen knew that this was the final and most crucial step—gaining her trust.
His expression was extremely solemn as he slowly spoke, "My promise is not empty words. Does Your Highness know where my sixth spirit ring and spirit bone came from?"
The sea princess's gaze sharpened as it fell upon the deep, crimson soul ring that emanated a heart-pounding aura. She had already sensed the vast aura of the same ocean overlord within it.
There are guesses, but no certainty.
"It is none other than the supreme being of the ocean—the Demon Emperor, wife of the Deep Sea Whale King!"
Jiang Zhen's voice was calm, yet it resonated like thunder in the Sea Princess's heart: "She made the same agreement with the Deep Sea Whale King and their daughter, Lan Fuzi, as I have."
"The Demon Emperor sacrificed herself for me to help me grow, and her soul is now safely residing within the Pure Water Illusion I created."
The sea princess was utterly shocked!
Is that really true?!
She stared in disbelief at the blood-red spirit ring, then suddenly looked at Jiang Zhen.
The Deep Sea Whale King! That's someone with far more seniority and cultivation than her, practically standing at the pinnacle of Douluo Soul Beasts!
This whole family actually staked their future on this human being?!
At this moment, Jiang Zhen's words suddenly became incredibly heavy.
"My agreement with them is exactly the same as the one I made to Your Highness today," Jiang Zhen continued, his tone resolute. "I, Jiang Zhen, swear on my own martial spirit!"
He raised his right hand, and the aura of the Ultimate Water Martial Soul was released without reservation; it was the most primal core of power.
A profound and mysterious fluctuation of law rippled outwards, as if attracting the world's attention.
"If Sea Princess is willing to help me attain enlightenment and sacrifice herself as my eighth soul ring, I will do everything in my power to preserve her soul in the Pure Water Illusionary Spirit. On the day I ascend to godhood, I will reshape her divine body, help her advance to a divine beast, and enjoy eternal life and glory! If I break this oath, may my martial soul be shattered and my soul and spirit be destroyed."
As the vow was made, it was as if an invisible shackle was slowly forming, connecting him and the sea princess, and resonating with the world around them.
For a Soul Master, swearing an oath with their Martial Soul is the most serious and inviolable oath, directly related to the source of their power.
The main hall was deathly silent.
The sea princess stared blankly at the human boy before her, at the undeniable sincerity and almost arrogant confidence in his eyes.
Feeling the heavy weight of that martial spirit oath, and recalling the incredible spirit ring configuration, the absolute strength that defeated her, and the same choice made by the Deep Sea Whale King's family...
She fell silent.
The last trace of doubt and struggle in my heart finally dissipated slowly under the repeated impacts.
After a long silence, she took a deep breath of the icy seawater, her voice regaining its usual coolness, but now carrying a hint of determination:
"I... need to discuss matters with the clan elders and make some final arrangements. Please, both of you, go to the side hall to rest for a while."
"That's how it should be."
Jiang Zhen nodded and concealed his martial spirit and spirit rings.
Led by attendants assigned by the Sea Princess, he and the Bing Di left the main hall and went to rest in a side hall constructed of coral and ice crystals.
The side hall fell silent, leaving only Jiang Zhen and Bing Di .
Bing Di looked at Jiang Zhen's profile—though only eleven years old, it was already sharply defined, radiating composure and determination—and finally couldn't help but speak, his voice carrying a complex emotion:
"Hey, are you really that confident she'll agree?"
"Not much, about 98%!"
"..."
Jiang Zhen turned his head to look at Bing Di , smiled slightly, and said with a calm and composed air of control: "Nothing in this world is absolute; one should always leave room for caution."
"But the conditions I offered and the reality she witnessed left her with no other choice. Moreover, for her, this was not a dead end, but a high-stakes gamble towards eternity."
Bing Di paused for a moment, her emerald eyes flickering, and suddenly asked a question that had been buried in her heart for a long time:
"Ah Zhen, you... if you're so confident in becoming a god, why don't you let me sacrifice myself for you? My four hundred thousand years of cultivation... isn't that bad, is it...?"
Her tone carried a hint of awkwardness and inquiry that she herself was unaware of.
Jiang Zhen was taken aback by these words, then chuckled, shook his head, and his tone became exceptionally serious:
"That's different, Bing Di ."
Looking into her beautiful scorpion eyes, he said frankly, "My relationship with the Deep Sea Whale King and the Sea Princess is more about transactions and cooperation."
"And you and I, who fought side by side and traversed the far north together, are friends in my eyes. I, Jiang Zhen, may need power, but I will never let my friends sacrifice themselves to fulfill my purpose."
He paused, his eyes gleaming with powerful confidence and a sense of commitment:
"Moreover, once I truly become a god, I will have the ability to ascend with several of my followers and bestow divine positions upon them."
"If you are willing, I will take you with me into the realm of the gods. Wouldn't that be better than a sacrifice?"
Friends...family...ascension...divine position...
Bing Di felt a strange flutter in her heart as she listened to his words, especially the word "friend." A warm feeling and a strange bittersweetness washed over her.
She subconsciously avoided Jiang Zhen's gaze, lowered her head slightly, and unconsciously gripped the hem of her skirt, but still gave a defiant snort:
"Hmph! Well... at least you still have some conscience! Then I'll reluctantly have a glimmer of hope!"
However, the slight redness at the base of her ears betrayed a heart far more composed than her tone suggested.
About half an hour later, the door to the side hall was pushed open.
The sea princess reappeared, her expression now completely calm, carrying a sense of relief and resolve after making a major decision.
She looked at Jiang Zhen and said slowly but firmly, "I have finished discussing with my clansmen and have made arrangements for my affairs after my death."
She sighed softly.
" Jiang Zhen, I accept your conditions. Adjust your state, and I... am ready to begin the sacrifice at any time..."