Chapter 171 Qin Xiao Awakens_1
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"A year."
"Today marks a full year since we arrived on Sea God's Island, yet Qin Xiao shows no signs of awakening."
On Sea God's Island, in front of the Sea Horse Sacred Pillar, Ning Rongrong looked at the statue-like Qin Xiao with an incredibly complex expression.
It wasn't just her, on this day, Zhu Zhuqing, Meng Yiran, Dugu Yan, and others were present as well.
Looking at Qin Xiao, they all wore faces of anxiety and anticipation.
Indeed, it was anxiety because...
"Your Highness, if he does not awaken today, then he..." Dugu Yan's voice was filled with worry.
She didn't even finish her sentence...
But Dugu Yan also knew that even without her saying it, the others would surely understand her thoughts.
The words of the Sea Horse Douluo, no one could forget. If a soul master on land failed to complete a task given by His Majesty the Sea God within a year, they would be eradicated by the brand left by the Sea God Divine Power.
Normally, given Qin Xiao's strength, they would never worry. However, the situation was different than usual. Since accepting the task left by the Sea God, Qin Xiao had stood in front of the Sea Horse Sacred Pillar on Sea God's Island, turned to stone for a full year, and today was the final deadline.
Meng Yiran said, "Let's not worry too much, everyone. Don't forget, His Highness's trial is not the same as ours. He is undergoing the Sea God's Nine Quests, which are the trials of the Sea God for the inheritor of godhood; the restrictions may not be as strict as ours."
After hearing Meng Yiran's words, everyone's eyes slightly brightened.
To put it bluntly, Meng Yiran's thoughts had also crossed their minds, or rather, it was their wishful thinking for Qin Xiao.
"Idealism is sharp-edged, reality is skeletal."
"His Majesty the Sea God most likely wouldn't go easy on his own inheritor, and might even be more severe."
At that moment, an ethereal voice shattered everyone's illusions.
The group instinctively looked over, only to see a figure in a red dress, Bossi, walking gracefully towards them.
Following her were seven figures shrouded in black robes.
Their identities were the same as the Sea Horse Douluo's, guardians of the other sacred pillars.
Today was undoubtedly an important day. They all wanted to see what sort of fate His Majesty the Sea God's inheritor would meet.
Some even believed that even if he were to awaken today, he might not be able to complete the trials left by His Majesty the Sea God.
"What, could it be that His Highness is really going to fall here?"
"No, that's impossible."
"Your Highness, please wake up."
"..."
After hearing Bossi's words, people like Zhu Zhuqing could no longer control their emotions.
Deep sadness.
Immense sadness.
They couldn't bear the pain of seeing someone they liked, or rather loved, disappear before their eyes.
"Calm down and face reality."
Seeing this, Bossi frowned and said, "If he knew you were all so distressed, he would be troubled..."
But Bossi's comforting words were ineffective.
Zhu Zhuqing, Meng Yiran, and others didn't listen to a word she said.
Dugu Yan and Ning Rongrong fell to the ground as if they had lost all strength, scenes of their time with Qin Xiao flashing through their minds like a slide show.
Dugu Yan still remembered, it was this mysterious man who had saved her and Du Gu Bo's lives with a magical Immortal Herb, fulfilling Du Gu Bo's lifelong wish.
She was grateful.
With his strength, appearance, character, age, Qin Xiao was extremely attractive to a girl like her.
Unconsciously, they had fallen for their savior.
With Du Gu Bo's encouragement, she had boldly confessed her feelings to Qin Xiao.
It was only that Qin Xiao never accepted, but she thought this trip to the sea would be her chance; surely Qin Xiao had a place for her in his heart, didn't he?
But was this budding romance going to end before it could blossom?
She felt extremely unwilling and reluctant to let go.
Ning Rongrong, too, cried bitterly.
Unlike Dugu Yan, Qin Xiao had not saved her life, but she held feelings for Qin Xiao nonetheless.
Frankly speaking, from their first meeting, she had been drawn to Qin Xiao.
It wasn't love at first sight, just immense curiosity towards this mysterious man.
And curiosity is a vital ingredient in the development of sentiments for another person.
Only through a deeper understanding could she slowly come to like him.
Ning Rongrong found many commonalities with Qin Xiao and didn't even realize when she started to miss him whenever he wasn't around.
Upon learning of Qin Xiao's demise, she felt as if there was nothing left to live for.
That's when she knew she liked Qin Xiao.
She had silently made a wish that, as long as Qin Xiao returned, she would never leave his side again.
"I thought the journey to Sea God's Island was just the beginning."
"Could it be that this journey ends before it even starts?"
As Ning Rongrong thought this, her face turned deathly pale.
She felt as if an invisible hand had brutally squeezed her heart.
The pain was so intense, it almost left her breathless.
"Wu wu wu..."
"Wu wu..."
Zhu Zhuqing and Meng Yiran were much more straightforward.
No longer caring if they might disturb Qin Xiao, they each embraced him, sobbing.
Before long, their tears had soaked through Qin Xiao's clothing.
"It's such a pity, truly a pity."
"I thought we would witness the dawn of a golden age. In the end, it all turned out to be a disappointment."
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