"Oh? You came here from Sea God Island?" Hearing Jixiang's words, Tang San looked at him with some surprise.
Jixiang nodded. "I was born on Sea God Island and lived there until I was ten. Both of my parents are from Sea God Island. But even they didn't understand why I was born with zero innate Soul Power. Everyone living on Sea God Island must undergo a trial when they turn eighteen. Those who pass are allowed to stay and serve the Sea God. Those who fail are sent away. With zero innate Soul Power, I had no chance of passing the trial at all. So last year, my parents brought me here and asked Captain Purple Pearl to look after me. Since I can't cultivate a Martial Soul, I learned some medical skills from the uncles and aunties on the island growing up, and after coming here, I became the resident doctor. My cousin was sent here as well. His situation is pretty much the same as mine."
Tang San had never imagined that the disciple he'd taken would turn out to be from Sea God Island. But regardless, this was good news for them. After the Deep Sea Demon Whale incident, both Tang San and the rest of the Shrek Seven Devils had developed a wariness toward the ocean. Sea God Island carried such a fearsome reputation—if they could learn something about conditions on the island in advance, it would undoubtedly be a great help when they landed there.
Seeing everyone looking at him with keen interest, Jixiang spoke up before Tang San could even ask. "Master, and all of you Senior Uncles and Aunts—Sea God Island is a very special place. May I ask what you're going there for?"
Tang San said, "We're heading to Sea God Island for training. From what our elders have told us, Sea God Island is a wondrous yet perilous place. Many powerful sea Soul Masters and sea Soul Beasts reside there. You can probably tell that among people our age, our Soul Power is relatively high. At our current level, it's becoming very difficult to keep advancing quickly. My teacher has studied the cultivation methods of many Soul Masters and discovered that Soul Masters are most likely to improve their strength, unleash their potential, and break through their limits under extreme pressure—or even in life-or-death situations. That's exactly why we're going to Sea God Island to train and push past our boundaries."
Jixiang looked at Tang San, then at everyone else, thinking to himself: Master, your Soul Power isn't "relatively high"—it's terrifyingly high. He hadn't yet seen the strength of the other Shrek Seven Devils, but anyone traveling alongside Tang San was surely no slouch.
"Master, if you're going to Sea God Island for training, I strongly urge you to abandon that idea," Jixiang said earnestly, his expression even carrying a note of urgency.
Tang San asked calmly, "Why?"
Jixiang replied, "Because outsiders who go there face only two possibilities: either they're turned away at the door, or once they enter, they can never leave."
Tang San nodded silently. "I've heard something about that. Can you explain the origins of this rule in detail?"
Jixiang said, "You could call Sea God Island a special Soul Master world—or more precisely, the world of sea Soul Masters. Sea Soul Masters are different from land Soul Masters. Only in the ocean can their power be fully brought into play. The ocean is essentially their domain. At the same level, a land Soul Master would stand virtually no chance against a sea Soul Master here. Just as land Soul Masters place their faith in Spirit Hall, sea Soul Masters have their own belief. Their belief isn't a religion or sect—it's a god. The Sea God."
Jixiang's words piqued everyone's interest, and no one interrupted as they listened carefully to his account.
"Every sea Soul Master believes that the Sea God truly exists. He governs all things within the ocean and is the ancestor of all sea Soul Masters. It is under the Sea God's protection that sea Soul Masters possess their formidable abilities and command the power derived from the sea. Perhaps for land Soul Masters, Spirit Hall doesn't necessarily count as an object of faith. But in the hearts of sea Soul Masters, the Sea God is their one and absolute belief. No sea Soul Master would ever dare blaspheme the Sea God."
"Sea God Island is the sacred ground of sea Soul Masters—the place where the Sea God is enshrined. Throughout the ages, the High Priests have served as the Sea God's envoys, leading the most powerful sea Soul Masters on the island to worship the Sea God. Any Soul Master who arrives on Sea God Island must undergo a trial. This trial isn't given by the Soul Masters on the island. It is given by the Sea God himself."
At this point, Dai Mubai couldn't help but ask, "Does the Sea God really exist? Are there truly gods in our world?"
Jixiang replied with solemn certainty, "Yes, he absolutely does. The Sea God truly exists. The majority of Soul Masters on Sea God Island have personally witnessed the Sea God manifest his divine presence."
Oscar said, "So when you say the Sea God gives trials—is that this manifestation?"
Jixiang shook his head. "Not exactly. It seems to be a way the Sea God communicates, conducting the trials through the High Priest. The High Priest is known as the Sea God's servant. He safeguards the Sea God's authority for life while also exercising the Sea God's power."
Tang San said, "So in that case, the trials still come from a human."
Jixiang's expression turned somewhat strange. "Master, I can't fully describe it. Only those who have truly experienced the trial can understand what it's like. Different people undergo completely different trials. For some, the trial is simple—so simple it might just be diving into the sea to retrieve a shell. But for others, the trial is extraordinarily difficult—they must withstand the High Priest's attacks. The trial varies from person to person. On the whole, it relates to the strength of the one being tested."
"The sea Soul Masters living on Sea God Island must all undergo a trial when they turn eighteen. Those who pass may stay on the island and serve the Sea God. Those who fail are expelled. If the trial is too difficult, one may even die during it. As for outsider Soul Masters, regardless of age, they must face the trial immediately. Fail, and they're expelled at once. Pass, and they must remain on Sea God Island. Anyone who has passed the trial—whether a native sea Soul Master of the island or any outsider Soul Master—is forbidden from leaving Sea God Island for the rest of their life. To do so would invite the Sea God's wrath."
"I'm advising against this because the Sea God's trial is extremely difficult for outsiders, especially land Soul Masters. You could very well die during the trial. And even if you pass, you'll never be able to leave. Sea God Island is a sacred ground for sea Soul Masters—it is not a suitable place for training."
Tang San smiled faintly. "We've already considered all of this. For us, entering Sea God Island and passing the Sea God's trial is one form of training. And figuring out how to leave Sea God Island through our own strength—that's another form of training. If we can't leave on our own power, then this training mission of ours is a failure. Jixiang, I understand your concern, but this trip to Sea God Island is something we must do."
Looking into Tang San's calm, unwavering eyes, Jixiang grew anxious despite himself. "But Master, you don't know how difficult the Sea God's trial really is. Forget land Soul Masters—even many sea Soul Masters from the outside world have died attempting it. I lived on Sea God Island for over a decade, and I've never once heard of a land Soul Master becoming a member of Sea God Island. The High Priest's strength is beyond imagination."
Tang San smiled gently. "I understand everything you've said. But if we shrink from difficulty, we can never become truly powerful Soul Masters. In my view, the Sea God you speak of most likely does exist. I believe that. When a person's power reaches a level that no one can match, they can truly be called a god. I believe this Sea God you describe is very likely a sea Soul Master who has broken through the limits of cultivation to an extraordinary degree—one who can fully harness the power of the ocean, even the power of all the world, so that no one can stand against him. That's what earned him the name Sea God. As Soul Masters, that is our goal as well. I've made my decision. In three days, we set off for Sea God Island."
Jixiang said no more. Though he hadn't been with Tang San for long, he already knew that once his master made up his mind, it would not easily change.
Three days passed quickly. The Shrek Seven Devils had fully recovered to their peak condition, their robust physiques having done their work. Bai Chenxiang's condition had essentially returned to normal as well.
The sea breeze blew gently, and sunlight scattered ten thousand glints of color across the undulating surface of the ocean.
A large seafaring vessel cut swiftly through the waters, its tall masts bearing enormous purple sails. This was the famous Purple Pearl—flagship of the Purple Pearl Pirates, commanded by the pirate captain Purple Pearl herself.
The Shrek Seven Devils stood in a line along the railing, gazing into the distance. After the Deep Sea Demon Whale incident, they had finally resumed their journey toward Sea God Island. The path had been winding, but facing the Deep Sea Demon Whale's attack had also brought them certain benefits under the pressure.
Over these past days, Tang San had successfully purified the impure energy within his Eight Spider Lances. He had fused the filtered energy with his own Soul Power, and just as he had predicted, his Soul Power had now reached the sixty-eighth rank.
As for the rest of the Shrek Seven Devils, all except Xiao Wu had also gained roughly half a rank. The one who had improved the most was the fatty.
When Dai Mubai and Zhu Zhuqing were gravely injured and Tang San's fate was unknown, the others had relied on Ma Hongjun alone to hold everything together. Ten days of constant tension on the ocean had allowed him to break through his limits and reach the sixtieth rank. Now he only needed to acquire one more Soul Ring to officially enter the Soul Emperor realm. Of course, he was also the last of the Shrek Seven Devils to reach that level.
"My ship is fast—we can reach the waters near Sea God Island in two days at most," Purple Pearl said, standing at Tang San's side. The moment she heard they were heading for Sea God Island, she had volunteered to escort them. Of course, when she made the offer, Tang San had clearly caught a hint of schadenfreude on the female pirate captain's face. She obviously knew about conditions on Sea God Island too, and was perfectly happy to watch them walk into trouble.
"But, Master, I can't take you all the way to the island. I can only drop you off near Sea God Island, and you'll have to make your own way from there. The waters around Sea God Island are teeming with powerful sea Soul Beasts. Any ship that approaches will definitely be attacked. Besides, I wouldn't dare offend the Sea God's dignity."
Tang San glanced at Purple Pearl. "Nearby is fine. As long as we can see the island, your job is done."
Purple Pearl looked at Tang San's composed expression and felt a twinge of irritation, but she genuinely respected his strength and didn't dare say too much. She had considered finding an opportunity to test herself against Tang San on the open sea, but the memory of being trapped within that blue light immediately killed the notion. This man was simply not someone she could handle.
Tang San didn't waste any time. During these final days before departure, he taught Jixiang the cultivation method of the Mysterious Heaven Skill along with important points to observe. He passed on the locations of the body's acupoints, the basic cultivation methods of Tang Sect's Hidden Weapons, as well as the four great Tang Sect techniques—the Mysterious Jade Hand, Ghost Shadow Phantom Trail, Crane Control Dragon Catch, and Purple Extreme Demon Eye.
Jixiang possessed excellent memory and comprehension. Though he couldn't possibly understand everything right away, force-feeding the knowledge into his mind was certainly within his capabilities.
At the same time, Tang San asked Purple Pearl to look after Jixiang and help him hunt the Soul Beasts he needed to grow stronger after they left.
Xiao Wu leaned against Tang San's chest, her beautiful eyes blinking as she gazed at the boundless ocean. Even Zhu Zhuqing and Ning Rongrong felt a touch of envy. Having lost her soul, she had no reservations whatsoever. She could nestle intimately in her lover's arms, enjoy the sea breeze, and relax without a care in the world.
The next two days of sailing passed without incident. Along the way, Purple Pearl carefully described the territories of various sea Soul Beasts they would pass through. Any territory belonging to a ten-thousand-year-level sea Soul Beast had to be circumnavigated. Though Purple Pearl herself could handle ordinary ten-thousand-year sea Souls, the Purple Pearl was another matter entirely. No matter how sturdy a ship was, it couldn't withstand the attack of a powerful sea Soul Beast.
According to Purple Pearl, no one could possibly know how many sea Soul Beasts inhabited the ocean, but she was aware of at least three at the hundred-thousand-year level. The Deep Sea Demon Whale that Tang San and the others had encountered was the most powerful among them. Beyond that, there was another sea Soul Beast that dwelled in the deep ocean. The third hundred-thunder-thousand-year sea Soul Beast lurked near Sea God Island itself. It was said to have once been the Sea God's mount, with strength second only to the Deep Sea Demon Whale—one of the ocean's overlords.
In the distance, a tiny black dot appeared on the horizon. Purple Pearl had been standing at the bow scanning the view, and upon spotting the dot, she immediately ordered her crew to drop anchor and halt the ship.
The Shrek Seven Devils already knew they were approaching their destination and had made their preparations.
Purple Pearl approached Tang San and said, "Master, this is as far as we can take you. Beyond here lies Sea God Island's territory. Any ship entering this range will immediately come under attack from the Island Guardian Beast—the hundred-thousand-year Soul Beast I told you about. When you cross the water in a moment, you must be extremely careful. That Island Guardian Beast is absolutely terrifying, and its aggression is extreme. Even the Deep Sea Demon Whale fears it."
Ma Hongjun chimed in from the side. "Hey, Captain Purple Pearl. You keep going on about the Island Guardian Beast, Island Guardian Beast. What exactly is this thing?"
Purple Pearl said, "The Island Guardian Beast is a shark that has cultivated for a hundred thousand years—and not just any shark, but the most ferocious species of all: the Demon Spirit Great White Shark. It's known as the ocean's apex predator. It's the most aggressive, most savage sea Soul Beast there is. Even a thousand-year-level Demon Spirit Great White Shark can hold its own against an ordinary ten-thousand-year sea Soul Beast. Its body isn't as massive as the Deep Sea Demon Whale—roughly twenty meters in length, I'd estimate. But its speed is something the Deep Sea Demon Whale can't even compare to. Escape from its attack is virtually impossible. Furthermore, ever since this Island Guardian Beast took up residence here, several hundred Demon Spirit Great White Sharks have gathered in the surrounding waters, forming a natural barrier."
Listening to Purple Pearl's words, Tang San couldn't help but say, "As I recall, approximately twenty years ago, a group of land Soul Masters came to Sea God Island and successfully made landfall. They clashed with the island's sea Soul Masters. Although they were nearly wiped out, there's no record of them being attacked before landing."
Purple Pearl blinked. "Master, you even know about that? I only heard about it from my elders. The truth is, Demon Spirit Great White Sharks have enormous appetites, and there are simply too many of them here. So every two weeks, they go out on hunting expeditions led by that hundred-thousand-year Island Guardian Beast. Each expedition lasts about three days. Twenty years ago, those land Soul Masters simply got lucky—the Demon Spirit Great White Sharks happened to be out hunting when they arrived."
Tang San nodded in realization. "So that's how it was. I wonder if we'll have the same luck today."
Purple Pearl shrugged. "I wouldn't know. Nobody can figure out the habits of the Demon Spirit Great White Sharks. Those who've tried have almost all ended up dead."
Ma Hongjun chuckled. "You're secretly hoping we get eaten by those sharks, aren't you?"
Purple Pearl glared at him. "What did you say? Fatty, you looking for a fight?" She might show some restraint around Tang San, but with anyone else, she held nothing back.