The
Before
The fatty gazed helplessly in the direction Bai Chenxiang had vanished, sighing. "Hard life, indeed! Why does this girl keep me at arm's length?"
Ma Hongjun perked up. "Really? She's often secretly watching me?"
Ning Rongrong laughed softly. "Of course it's true. Especially since you lost weight after getting your seventh Soul Ring, the number of times she's looked at you has increased by thirty percent. I have to say, while you're not exactly handsome now that you've slimmed down, at least you look like a normal person. She's probably decided, with some reluctance, that you're acceptable."
Ma Hongjun grumbled good-naturedly. "What? I wasn't a normal person before? What's wrong with being a bit fat? At least I don't have to shout about 'firmness, firmness, golden fly' just to use a soul skill." As he spoke, he mimicked someone's gestures with a deliberately lewd expression.
"Shut your face! Damn fatty, what did I do to you?"
"Uh... Big Brother, I was wrong." Ma Hongjun instantly realized he'd gotten carried away. The teasing look vanished from his face in a flash—his ability to change expressions was truly remarkable—and he looked at Oscar with a pleading gaze, as if to say he'd give anything for forgiveness.
"Go on, stop looking at me with those disgusting eyes. I'm not interested in you." Oscar gave Ma Hongjun a light kick. Ma Hongjun was about to retort, but he fell silent and his expression returned to normal. They had just emerged from the forest and once again beheld the familiar sight of the sea-within-the-sea.
Compared to the six previous sea-within-the-sea areas they had seen, this body of water was noticeably larger. The clear water was transparent to the seabed, and they could see small marine creatures swimming about. It seemed there were no sea Soul Beasts present. The entire sea-within-the-sea was circular, its shores lined with various plants. The blue sky, green trees, and azure sea wove together into a moving tableau.
In the center of the sea-within-the-sea, the pillar platform seemed to echo the water's shape, also being circular with a diameter of roughly thirty meters. The central pillar, over twenty meters tall, was entirely the blue of seawater, with fine scales carved so realistically they seemed alive. Coiled around the round pillar was a blue giant dragon.
Standing right at the edge of the pillar platform was a bare-chested man. Over two meters tall, he had his back to the Shrek Seven Devils. His physique was shaped like an inverted triangle, with broad shoulders and back muscles like granite. His deep blue, half-long hair just passed his shoulders, curling naturally. Tattooed onto his solid back muscles was a blue giant dragon design. Its form was nearly identical to the dragon coiled around the Sea Dragon Pillar. From behind, his age was impossible to guess. Without a doubt, he was the guardian here—the most powerful of the Sea God's Seven Sacred Pillar Guardians, the
At that moment, the golden light orb in the sky still shone, but it was now sustained solely by the Sea Dragon Pillar before them. Light surged straight up into the heavens from the round pillar's top, the golden radiance reflecting on the water's surface, shimmering brilliantly.
Just then, the Sea Dragon Douluo standing at the pillar platform's edge slowly turned around. Revealed to the group was an ancient, weathered face that appeared to be only in his mid-thirties. His thick chest and abdominal muscles gleamed with a healthy, bronze-like luster, like armor. His similarly deep blue eyes did not look at Tang San and the others, but gazed upward.
"You arrived faster than I expected. Less than a third of the time has passed."
From the start of their challenges until now, over nine two-hour periods had elapsed—from early morning until night had fallen. However, thanks to the golden light orb in the sky, there was no hint of darkness. The orb, condensed from the Seven Sacred Pillars, was like a second sun over Sea God Island.
Tang San did not fly directly to the island. Instead, he led
Seeing Tang San sit cross-legged, the Sea Dragon Douluo's ancient face showed no change in expression. He simply sat down on the pillar platform as well, his eyes half-closed. The moment he sat,
Besides Tang San, everyone else had already completed their fifth trial. The group also sat down, quietly awaiting this battle's commencement. They could certainly perceive this Sea Dragon Douluo's power, but they trusted even more in Tang San's strength. Especially since Tang San's fifth Soul Ring had just evolved to the hundred-thousand-year level. Although there was a gap in Soul Power ranks, four hundred-thousand-year Soul Rings were more than enough to compensate for it. The outcome could only be determined once they truly fought.
Tang San sat for a full two-hour period. Facing the final battle, he harbored no impatience. When he reopened his eyes, those blue eyes—seemingly deeper even than the Sea Dragon Douluo's—were filled with a terrifying calm.
He pulled Xiao Wu to her feet, embraced her, and pressed a gentle kiss to her forehead. Then, holding her hand, they took to the air, the flying skill of the Blue Silver Emperor Right Leg Bone activating as they flew toward the Sea Dragon Pillar platform.
As if responding to the shift in Tang San's aura, the moment he opened his eyes, the Sea Dragon Douluo also opened his own. He rose lightly to his feet, gazing at Tang San and Xiao Wu as they approached. He harbored no intention of belittling Tang San, nor did he consider a preemptive strike. He simply allowed Tang San and Xiao Wu to land smoothly on the pillar platform.
"Welcome to the Sea Dragon Pillar," the Sea Dragon Douluo's calm voice sounded. It was deep and resonant, carrying a humming vibration in the ear, as if it did not emanate from his vocal cords but rather from the resonance of the sea-within-the-sea itself.
"Greetings, Senior Sea Dragon." Tang San inclined his head slightly toward the Sea Dragon Douluo, still holding Xiao Wu's hand.
The Sea Dragon Douluo shifted slightly, not accepting the full gesture of respect. "I am not worthy of such courtesy from you. Tang San, do you know why your fifth trial is to challenge all seven Titled Douluo?"
Tang San frowned slightly. "I do not. This must be the Sea God's decree."
The Sea Dragon Douluo nodded. "Correct, it is indeed the Sea God's decree. But simultaneously, it is also the process by which you earn the recognition of the Seven Sacred Pillar Guardian Douluo. I am already aware of your experiences in the previous trials. Though you performed well, you were still wrong."
A glimmer passed through Tang San's eyes as he sighed softly. "Yes, I was wrong. I should not have relied on my companions' strength. Perhaps the title of Titled Douluo held by you seniors affected my confidence."
The Sea Dragon Douluo spoke flatly. "Among the previous six, you only earned the recognition of the Sea Horse, Sea Illusion, Sea Star, and Sea Maidens. You did not gain the recognition of the Sea Spear or the Sea Devils in those two battles. That was not the original intent of the fifth trial. However, this will not affect your current fifth trial. I am your final examiner for the fifth trial. Let us begin now."
"Please, Senior." The light in Tang San's eyes instantly sharpened. The Sea Dragon Douluo's words had not affected his emotions. After an hour of adjustment, he was now fully rested and in peak condition. Regardless of whether he had earned the recognition of all the Sea Douluo, he had to complete this Sea God Fifth Trial first. At worst, his final reward would simply be diminished.
A blue-gold radiance instantly spread from his body. Following that, eight Soul Rings emerged from within him: two yellow, one purple, one black, and four red. Strands of
Xiao Wu and Tang San shared an unspoken understanding. Her figure flickered, and she vanished behind Tang San.
Seeing Tang San release his Martial Soul, the Sea Dragon Douluo's body began to transform. The blue dragon tattoo on his back blazed with intense light. A powerful blue radiance instantly enveloped his body, and violent energy fluctuations surged outward. In an instant, the seawater surrounding the pillar platform simultaneously surged up into a towering wave.
His bare torso was rapidly covered by blue scales. The scales were round, each with a raised ridge. Soon, all of his exposed skin was covered in them. His already imposing body swelled even larger. At the center of his chest, a dark blue crystal resembling an eye emerged. Faintly, the spectral image of a giant blue dragon appeared behind him.
Without a doubt, the Sea Dragon Douluo before them was a powerhouse-type Battle Soul Master. Among the Shrek Seven Devils, Dai Mubai's abilities were the most similar to his.
Deep blue ripples spread outward from the Sea Dragon Douluo's body. Nine Soul Rings rose from beneath his feet, enveloping him: two yellow, two purple, five black. To the eye, they seemed no different from those of the other Sea Douluo. This was precisely the optimal Soul Ring configuration for a Titled Douluo, excluding the consideration of hundred-thousand-year Soul Rings.
The Sea Dragon Douluo's arms were exceptionally thick and powerful. His sharp dragon claws resembled five short spears fused together. Judging from the energy fluctuations of his Martial Soul, the Sea Dragon Martial Soul possessed by the Sea Dragon Douluo was in no way inferior in quality to the Blue Lightning
Blue light blossomed from beneath Tang San's feet. Although he did not immediately unleash his seventh soul skill, the Blue Silver Avatar, he directly activated his Blue Silver Domain. Facing a ninety-fifth-rank powerhouse-type Titled Douluo with a top-tier Martial Soul, a direct confrontation was clearly unwise. The Golden Threads of Devouring, formed by the fusion of the Myriad Manifestations and the Eight Spider Lances, were obviously the best tool against the Sea Dragon Douluo.
The Blue Silver Domain's range was already vast, and especially after the evolution of Tang San's fifth Soul Ring, he could clearly feel his Blue Silver Emperor evolving as well. With a thought, the Blue Silver Domain enveloped the entire sea area.
The Sea Dragon Douluo did not panic because of the domain Tang San released, nor did he launch an attack. He simply stood there quietly, seemingly oblivious to the layers of phantom trees appearing around his body.
"Tang San, among the Sea God's Seven Sacred Pillar Guardian Douluo, only I and the Sea Illusion possess a domain. I know that you have two domains—it is something I have never heard of nor witnessed. However, in my presence, no matter how many domains you have, they are useless. Because my domain is called Domain Shattering. Its effect is singular: to nullify all domain abilities."
As he spoke, a strange blue ripple spread from the eye-like blue crystal on his chest. A bizarre scene unfolded: Tang San felt no impact whatsoever, yet his Blue Silver Domain silently vanished amidst those spreading blue ripples. The illusory landscape created by the Myriad Manifestations dissipated in the blink of an eye, revealing the true scene atop the Sea Dragon Pillar platform.
Domain Shattering? Tang San took a deep breath. The world was indeed vast and full of wonders—such a peculiar domain that could shatter all others actually existed. Though it offered no enhancement effects of its own and was utterly useless against opponents without a domain, all powerhouses who possessed a domain were subject to its suppression. For someone like him, who had two domains, it was an absolute tragedy. Stripped of his domains, Tang San's strength could be said to have dropped a huge tier. Not only were his enhancement and suppression abilities useless, but he also lost many tactical options. Facing a powerhouse like the Sea Dragon Douluo, he would have no choice but to engage in a brutal head-on clash, which was far from comfortable.
Watching the Blue Silver Domain crumble and fade, the light in the Sea Dragon Douluo's eyes blazed intensely. "Watch out."
With a heavy thud, the Sea Dragon Douluo's right foot slammed into the ground, propelling his body like a cannonball toward Tang San. As he launched himself, one could clearly see all the scales on his body bristling, like sharp sawteeth. Intense blue light erupted explosively, merging with the effect of his first soul ring, dyeing every inch of his body in a blue radiance. His body leaned forward, almost parallel to the ground in its lunge, maintaining a perfect streamlined form. His right claw shot straight for Tang San's chest.
The Sea Dragon Douluo attacked. Tang San's eyes also lit up. A formidable opponent ignited his intense fighting spirit. He did not dodge or evade. Using the Ghost Shadow Phantom Trail, his body flickered, and his right hand twisted slightly in the air before slapping against the Sea Dragon Douluo's claw from the side.
In that instant, Tang San's right hand turned the color of white jade. He used no soul skill, but this seemingly light palm strike condensed several of the Tang Clan's supreme techniques.
With a soft thud, Tang San's body brushed past the Sea Dragon Douluo. The Sea Dragon Douluo's upper body swayed slightly. He planted his left hand on the pillar platform, flipped his body, and thrust out another claw, grabbing toward Tang San's face.