Chapter 1091: A fight, the final decision…
Sylph said she wasn't expecting much from this trip to the Domain of Gods.
This stemmed from her belief that even without the Domain of Gods' help, she can still attain a cultivation height that others can only gawk at.
Call it pride or confidence, heck, call her delusional. The person herself couldn't care less about the rewards in the Domain of Gods. She's not even curious, she sure lived up to her name as the Ice Princess…
Even so, she's still the most talented youngster of her generation. She's stronger than the two other princes who stood on her level. As the shiniest talent of this generation, it would make the imperial families look bad if someone like her entered the Domain of Gods without coming out with anything to show for herself. The other nine major noble families would probably laugh their butts off.
Sylph would also fall from grace.
Knowing Sylph, all the slanderous remarks will probably fall on deaf ears, she had no time nor attention to spare for those she did not care about. Wu Yan, on the other hand, will not stand for this.
Sylph opened her heart to him and he accepted her as his fiancée. Even if she sort of forced this on Wu Yan, he needs to make sure they get through the trial and enter the core palace.
Finally, they are now in the core palace. Sylph is already inches away from her due rewards. Wu Yan isn't going to let Sylph give up the chance of a lifetime. He's not going to let her enter the violet pool because there might be no reward for her inside that place. It's his duty alone to find the key to the Ring of Power.
Sylph also read Wu Yan's mind. She resolutely spoke her mind.
"I don't mind."
"Well, I do."
Wu Yan raised his voice. He also stared at her sternly.
"Since we are already here, you should enter the yellow pool and increase your powers. You might even get a boost to your talent, don't throw this chance away for a key that might or might not be in the violet pool."
"This isn't something you should take on alone."
Sylph stared back.
"This matter concerns the safety of Silvaria. As a princess of the Ailu imperial family, I will not budge, I will not escape."
"Alright, what do you plan on doing after you go into that place?"
Wu Yan is vexed.
"We don't know what will happen inside. If there's a danger I can't manage, what will you do?!"
Sylph said nothing. She continued staring at Wu Yan with her strong-willed face. Wu Yan's objection didn't work on her.
Helpless and frustrated by her, Wu Yan gnashed his teeth. He said something that shook Sylph's heart.
"I know you don't care what others think about you, how about your own feelings?"
Wu Yan used a haughty tone on her.
"Don't you think you need a bit of strength to stand by my side? As you are right now… don't you feel inadequate?"
Sylph's eyes wavered. She lowered her head in silence.
"I may be a newbie in the tier 9 power strata, however, you can't find a single person on this world who can achieve tier 9 power at my age."
Wu Yan started saying some ridiculous things.
"I believe I can reach demigod status in less than 5 years."
Sylph raised her head in shock.
Demigod power in 5 years?
Does he know the significance of his words?…
If Demigod-level power was that easy to attain, why then, out of billions of this world's inhabitants are there only five demigods? Moreover, three of the five native demigods were products of the Domain of Gods' grant. The demigods themselves aren't sure if they can reach demigod-level power without the help of the Domain of Gods.
Where does Wu Yan draw his confidence from? How can he say he will reach demigod status in less than 5 years?
"Barring the unlikely scenario where I don't reach my target, I am still confident I will be saying that as a peak ninth tier fighter."
Wu Yan answered Sylph's silent question.
"Now, Sylph, are you confident you can reach tier 9 in 5 years?"
Sylph silently pondered.
In Silvaria's recorded history, the youngest cultivator to ever reach tier 9 was 35 when he achieved that feat.
Just a little over 20, Wu Yan broke this record by a wide margin. In terms of talent, he's already beyond the most talented cultivator to ever grace Silvaria's history.
Sylph is still young, even younger than Wu Yan who spent 3 years in SAO. But, she's not confident enough to say she can reach tier 9 power before she's 35.
She thinks it is more likely that she will reach tier 9 after she's older than 35.
She has about a dozen or so years ahead of her.
Can I breakthrough into the ninth realm in 5 years?
Sylph has her confidence. However, she knows where to draw the line between confidence and pride. She can't promise anyone she can do it as she is right now.
However, what if she reaped the benefits in the Domain of Gods? Now, that would throw the cards into the air.
Sylph didn't want Wu Yan to shoulder the burden of Silvaria's fate.
Even so, she didn't want to hide behind her partner in life, that's just not how she rolled.
How about the basic qualification to stand by Wu Yan's side?
To Sylph, the distance between herself and Wu Yan grew wider and wider.
Maybe the Domain of Gods is just the springboard she needs to at least be worthy of staying around Wu Yan?
Two choices, two objectives, Sylph can only choose one over the other…
Wu Yan's next sentence broke any hesitant thoughts in Sylph's mind.
"I will let you in on something, the weakest girl among my entourage is currently at peak tier 8 power."
Sylph balled her palms into fists.
The weakest girls around him are already at the zenith of the eighth realm?
But, she's only somewhere in the middle of tier 8 power.
Wu Yan's heart weakened when he saw Sylph's crestfallen expression. He grabbed her shoulders.
"Look, don't get me wrong, I never demanded my partners to keep up with me. I know you, you're going to beat yourself up if this continues, right?"
"That's one of the reasons. I know you don't mind it, but I can't stand to see you getting hurt…"
Wu Yan beamed at her after lifting her chin up.
"The chance is now in front of you. It would pain me to see you give up this opportunity."
Sylph finally nodded.
She headed towards the yellow pool. Before she entered the pool, she warned Wu Yan without turning her head around.
"Be careful…"
Sylph channeled her mana before jumping into the pool in a giant splash. She disappeared in front of Wu Yan.
Wu Yan sighed in relief. He also grumbled.
"Phew, I finally got through to her, I thought for sure she was going to bulldoze her way into the violet pool…"
"You should be happy, your little girlfriend wants to follow you around."
Natsuki chimed in.
"You have the System supporting you, right? Surely, you can find items that has the same effect as the Domain of Gods, why did you shoot her down so harshly?"
"She can get the rewards here for free, doesn't make sense to turn down free goods and then pay for it from my own pocket."
Wu Yan bitterly laughed.
"Again, we don't know what will happen in that pool. It won't make any sense to bring Sylph into a place of unknown dangers…"
"Well, as long as you're fine with it."
Natsuki nonchalantly replied.
"This is just as well, she can put her confidence to good use. I reckon she's going to improve rapidly after this trip. You should be careful or she might just catch up…"
"I am not one for excessive male chauvinism nor am I a fan of excessive pride…"
Wu Yan waved his hand without minding Natsuki's verbal blow.
"In any case, we grow stronger in a way foreign to Sylph's understanding. If push comes to shove, I will just challenge every tier 9 individual in this world to a duel."
Wu Yan looked at the sloshing violet pool. He jumped into the pool while holding the Ring of Power. As the ripples slowly settled, Wu Yan disappeared into the pool.
Wu Yan didn't know…
He's the first one to enter this pool since it was created ages ago.