This dark lake was the root cause of Nina's emotional turmoil. Daniel had co here specifically to address this issue.
The black lake waters rippled ominously.
"Headmaster, what… what should I do?" Nina asked.
"This depends on what you want to do," Daniel replied, his gaze fixed on the black waters.
"Good and evil, joy and anger, positive and negative emotions—all of them are just choices of the mind. At their core, they're no different," he explained.
"I can help you dissolve these emotions or even transform all the malice into goodwill. But whatever the solution, it's ultimately up to you. After all, this place is sothing you've constructed yourself."
Nina stood quietly, her eyes devoid of emotion as she stared at the lake.
After a long silence, she smiled faintly.
"Headmaster, you're right. Good and evil are just a matter of perspective. Wherever there is life, malice will inevitably arise. It's sothing we can't avoid."
"If that's the case, no matter what I do, I can't escape from this. Even if you cleanse these waters now and make them clear, it would only be a temporary solution."
As long as life continued, thoughts would persist. And where there was conflict, malice would always be born anew.
The lake would eventually return to its current state.
Nina couldn't rely on Daniel forever.
She turned to face him.
"Headmaster, is there a way for to truly accept these waters? Or perhaps, for them to fully accept ?"
Nina asked this with unwavering seriousness.
Seeing her determination, Daniel understood that Nina had already made up her mind.
She had chosen her path, no matter how difficult it might be.
No matter…
"Are you sure? Once you take this step, there's no turning back," Daniel said.
In truth, he didn't want Nina to choose this path.
But he also knew how deeply she cared about her convictions.
As her ntor and as the headmaster, all he could do was ask one last ti if she was certain.
"Headmaster, you know the kind of person I am. If I've made this decision, I won't look back," Nina replied firmly.
Daniel was silent for a long mont before he finally spoke.
"Alright, there is a way."
"Co with ," he said, taking Nina's hand—just as he had done years ago when she was still a little girl.
Now, Nina had grown up, becoming soone with her own aspirations and resolve.
The two of them stepped onto the lake's surface.
Walking across it as if on solid ground, they moved forward—Daniel leading, Nina following.
Though the lake appeared small from the shore, stepping onto it revealed its vastness. It seed to stretch endlessly.
After a long journey, they reached the center of the lake.
Daniel turned to Nina.
"I'm going to place you in the center of this malice. You'll beco entwined with it, rging with all of it until you are one."
"When that happens, you'll be able to bear it all, to contain it. Perhaps…"
"When you erge, everything will change—even you may beco unrecognizable."
"Are you ready for this?" Daniel asked, one final ti.
"Headmaster, I've thought it through," Nina said, closing her eyes.
She was ready to accept whatever would co.
Daniel noticed her eyelids trembling—clearly, she was nervous.
But she was smiling.
"Headmaster, no matter what I beco, you'll co to take away, won't you?"
"Yes, I will," Daniel reassured her.
"Good. Then let's begin," Nina said.
Daniel sighed, then gently supported her neck as he lowered her onto the surface of the lake.
Her long hair spread out over the water as he released her.
The black lake, like a swamp, began to engulf Nina's body, pulling her deeper and deeper.
As the waters began to cover her completely, a small glimr of light appeared on Daniel's fingertip.
The light shot into Nina's forehead.
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"I hope this will be your lifeline, Nina. Don't let down," Daniel murmured.
With that, he disappeared.
As soon as he was gone, the entire dreamscape began to shift.
The black waters of the lake started to overflow.
From the center of the lake, decay began to spread outward.
The vibrant colors of the dreamscape faded, replaced by withering and ruin.
Back in the real world, Daniel returned to Crossbridge Academy.
It was ti to start preparing for others now that Nina's path had been set.
First, there was Big White.
Big White's growth was uniquely tied to the advancent of Crossbridge World. As the world's level rose, so would Big White's strength.
When Crossbridge World eventually reached God King rank, Big White's power might even rival the domain's most powerful guardians.
At that point, Big White competing in the so-called under-hundred-year-old prodigy tournant would be an overwhelming display of dominance.
It would be a complete mismatch—no one could stand against him.
Of course, if he stood out too much, there was always the question of whether God Realm's Will of the World might intervene.
Next was Lily, the daughter of the 5-Elent God King and the Fox God King.
Lily was a significant figure—favored by the God Realm's Will of the World.
She could be described as the God Realm's chosen one, protected and nurtured by the realm itself.
She would undoubtedly ascend to the rank of a guardian in ti, her growth almost guaranteed.
For her, it was only a matter of when.
With these two, there was little to worry about.
That left Rose and the others.
The arrival of the Gold Board was likely within the next decade. Rose and her peers would undoubtedly et the criteria to compete.
The best course of action now was to continue cultivating their abilities.
Nina's situation would no longer require imdiate attention. Daniel would wait and observe how she integrated with the lake's malice before taking further steps.
For now, his focus shifted to the remaining four.
It was ti to call in so help.
Throughout the years, Daniel had mostly kept to himself, but now he needed insights into what ruins, secret realms, or artifacts might best suit their growth.
And he had connections.
The earlier transactions with La and the other guardians had gone exceptionally well. Daniel could still feel their eagerness.
If anyone knew about hidden treasures or opportunities, it would be them.
With his decision made, Daniel reached out to La and the others.
Months had passed since the peace talks concluded.
Yet the joy from that victory lingered, as though the celebration was still ongoing.
For the people of the God Realm, it was a ti of relief and healing.
The years of war had inflicted suffering on countless lives.
Now, with the top factions setting aside their differences and sharing resources—secret realms, training grounds, and more—the joy of peace had only deepened.
The mood across the realm was one of mutual support and harmony.
People no longer fought over resources or held onto old grievances. Instead, they worked together with kindness and understanding.
The atmosphere throughout the God Realm improved dramatically.
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