When Tang San heard the words spoken by Sea God Douluo Bo Saixi, he felt his mind reel as though turned upside down, as if countless explosions of energy were detonating inside his skull. His vision went blank and he stood there in a daze, completely unable to speak.
The examiner for the sixth trial had changed from the Sea God's Seven Sacred Pillar Guardians to Sea God Douluo Bo Saixi herself? The news was simply too shocking for him to process. Though his companions' expressions had all turned grim, none of them truly understood just how terrifying a pinnacle Titled Douluo was the way Tang San did.
Who was Bo Saixi? She had once been one of the three most powerful beings in the entire world. And here on Seagod Island, even if his own great-grandfather or Spirit Hall's Grand Priest Qian Daoliu were to come, they would stand no chance of defeating her. One could say that Bo Saixi, on Seagod Island, was the undisputed number one Soul Master in the world. A true supreme powerhouse.
If the Shrek Seven Devils had all already reached the Titled Douluo rank, perhaps Tang San would have had some measure of confidence in challenging her. But right now, only he himself possessed an eighth Soul Ring. How were they supposed to fight this battle?
It was obvious that though Bo Saixi stood alone, she was far more terrifying than all seven Sacred Pillar Guardians combined. It was not difficult to imagine what the situation would look like when Bo Saixi displayed her full power. Forget the six of them — even if all seven Sacred Pillar Guardians attacked together, they still wouldn't be able to withstand her! A ninety-ninth-level Titled Douluo — for people like them, the gap between her and a god was negligible. Forget lasting a full incense stick's time; whether they could even withstand a single blow from Bo Saixi was a serious question. Most likely, a casual strike from her would be enough to annihilate them all.
Standing off to the side, Sea Dragon Douluo's expression had become extremely peculiar. He, too, knew just how powerful Sea God Douluo Bo Saixi truly was. Surviving her attacks for the duration of an incense stick — how could such a trial possibly be passed? If it were the seven Sacred Pillar Guardians facing her, they might have had a slim chance. But only if Bo Saixi did not draw upon the power of the Seagod Temple. On Seagod Island, her reputation as the world's strongest was no empty boast.
"Elder, is this real? Why would you give us a task that is fundamentally impossible to complete?" Tang San's eyes flashed with anger. He would not retreat, but could such a trial truly be accomplished?
Bo Saixi smiled faintly. "Be patient — I haven't finished. During the trial, I will not use the power of the ocean or the temple to attack you, nor will I use my domain. I will only use my first six soul skills. Furthermore, as long as even one of you six is still standing when the incense stick has burned out, you will have passed the trial. However, you only have one chance. Given that the difficulty of the fifth trial was lowered, your preparation time is three days. In three days, you will face my trial."
Hearing Bo Saixi's explanation, Tang San's expression recovered somewhat. Indeed, if they had to face the Sea God Douluo at her full strength, they would have absolutely no chance. But with these restrictions in place, they might not be entirely without fighting power. Being unable to use her seventh, eighth, and ninth soul skills meant Bo Saixi could not employ her three most powerful abilities — including her Martial Soul True Body. Her strength would naturally drop considerably. Not using the ocean or the Seagod Temple's power was also an excellent constraint. Most importantly, the Sea God Douluo would not use her domain.
Tang San's thoughts raced as he rapidly deliberated. At that moment, Dai Mubai, standing behind him, spoke to Bo Saixi: "Elder, three days from now — will Zhuqing be allowed to fight alongside us?"
Bo Saixi smiled serenely. "She may. However, all previous restrictions on me will be lifted. Weigh your options."
"Uh... then let's forget it." No calculation was needed — adding one more Zhu Zhuqing, even accounting for the Netherwhite Tiger, would be nowhere near enough to compensate for the abilities Bo Saixi had just agreed to give up.
Tang San pondered for a moment. "Elder, I have one final request. May we choose the location for the challenge?"
Bo Saixi smiled. "Anywhere within Seagod Island — choose as you wish."
Tang San answered without hesitation. "Then we choose the base of Seagod Mountain. Three days from now, please guide us, Elder."
Bo Saixi nodded with a smile. "Three days from now, I will be waiting for you at Seagod Mountain." Her red figure drifted upward. Without any visible effort, she rose like a wisp of crimson cloud and vanished in an instant.
After Bo Saixi departed, the six members of Shrek's group felt no relief whatsoever. They had just passed the fifth trial, and now in only three days they would face the grueling sixth trial. They certainly didn't think that Bo Saixi, restricted to only her first six soul skills, would be easy to deal with. After all, her Soul Power was still at level ninety-nine. Her battle experience, her mastery and control of her abilities, and her vast Soul Power — which far exceeded their combined totals — were none of things they could handle lightly.
Sea Dragon Douluo, standing off to the side, let out a somewhat helpless laugh. "I truly don't know whether to congratulate you or worry for you. Receiving guidance from Lady Bo Saixi will undoubtedly benefit your future cultivation — that much is certain. You've probably noticed that among us, the Sea God's Seven Sacred Pillar Guardians, only my Martial Soul is anything close to impressive. The rest are, at best, above average. The only reason any of us were able to reach the Titled Douluo level was because of Lady Bo Saixi's guidance. In a sense, without Lady Bo Saixi, we wouldn't be who we are today. But in our eyes, Lady Bo Saixi is utterly unfathomable — she is the true boundless ocean. With her on Seagod Island, whether it's the mighty hundred-thousand-year Soul Beasts of the sea or the land-based Soul Masters, none dare offend the dignity of the Seagod. She is the one who preserves this paradise for us. You really should prepare yourselves mentally. If Lady Bo Saixi were to use even fifty percent of her Soul Power, I wouldn't be able to withstand a single soul skill she throws at me."
The Shrek Seven Devils had already been feeling somewhat disheartened, and hearing Sea Dragon Douluo's words only deepened their unease. They exchanged glances, and every one of them — Tang San included — felt a measure of uncertainty settle in.
"Thank you for the warning, Elder. We still have three days. We'll make our plans carefully. Farewell."
Leaving the Sea Dragon Sacred Pillar Platform, the group returned to the forest surrounding the Sea Siren Sacred Pillar Platform to rest while waiting for Zhu Zhuqing to absorb her god-granted Soul Ring. After selecting a resting spot, Tang San immediately sat cross-legged in meditation without saying a single word. Those who knew him well understood this was his habit when deep in thought. No one disturbed him — they simply sat down quietly to cultivate. The battle three days from now would be the final hurdle for Oscar, Dai Mubai, and Ma Hongjun. Passing or failing this trial would determine everything. If they failed, then as Sea Horse Douluo had warned, the consequence would be...
In other words, this trial at the hands of Sea God Douluo Bo Saixi was a matter of life and death for all six of them. Bo Saixi had said they would have only one chance — there was no room for even the slightest error. But the fact that such a trial had been granted at least proved that if they performed perfectly, there was a genuine chance of success.
What Tang San was pondering now were the precise words Bo Saixi had spoken, analyzing them over and over, cross-referencing them with the Shrek Six Devils' own strength to perform meticulous calculations. Bo Saixi's power was essentially an unknown quantity to them. Therefore, Tang San's calculations could only determine how to bring their own strength to its absolute peak — to achieve the best possible effect. The key was also to exploit the rules: six against one. This wasn't about cutting corners — it was about strategy.
Zhu Zhuqing completed the absorption of her god-granted Soul Ring two days later, becoming the second member of the Shrek Seven Devils — after Tang San — to reach the Soul Douluo realm. She had obtained a formidable single-target offensive skill that significantly bolstered her personal combat power. Unfortunately, this ability would not be of any use in the sixth trial the following day.
At the same time that Zhu Zhuqing finished absorbing her god-granted Soul Ring, Tang San also ceased his deliberations. The final day was for arranging tactics and rehearsing their strategy.
An incense stick's worth of time was not short. If it burned normally, it could last roughly half a shi — enough time for a great deal. For a peak powerhouse like Bo Saixi, half a shi was more than sufficient for her to accomplish many things.
How to use that window of time, leveraging the Six Devils' own abilities to find every possible way to withstand Bo Saixi's assault — that was what Tang San had been considering for the past two days. On this final day, he needed to confer with his companions, pooling their ideas. A single plan would never be enough; only with multiple contingencies would their chances improve.
Though the sixth trial had not yet begun, the pressure had already descended. Facing a matter of life and death, everyone's minds had grown remarkably sharp, their hidden potential quietly stirring to life.
"If it comes down to it, I'll have Xiao Bai take me out to sea. I'll find some ten-thousand-year Soul Beast, absorb its ring, and push my level up to Soul Douluo at least. One more ring — our overall strength will go up some," Dai Mubai said firmly.
"No." Tang San rejected the proposal immediately. "The sixth trial is dangerous, but we can't gamble your future. You know how important the eighth and ninth soul skills are for any Soul Master. They're the most direct measure of strength when comparing cultivators at the same level." If they passed the sixth trial, Dai Mubai's current situation would earn him an additional god-granted Soul Ring reward — granting him the ideal eighth Soul Ring. How could that possibly compare to randomly absorbing some sea Soul Beast?
Dai Mubai frowned. "But what if we fail the sixth trial and die here? Then what's the point of any of this? I'm the oldest among us Seven Devils. If boosting my strength some can help everyone survive, then it's absolutely worth it. Besides, wasn't your eighth Soul Ring also from a sea Soul Beast? It worked out perfectly well! It's not that sea Soul Beasts aren't suitable for us — it just depends on which ones. I've thought this through over the past two days. As long as it's not the kind of god-granted Soul Ring that pushes your body to its absolute limit, one final day is more than enough for me. Xiao San, don't try to stop me. For everyone's survival, let me do this. Everything is for survival."
As he spoke, Dai Mubai had already risen to his feet and was turning to leave. Tang San shot up and seized him by the shoulder. "No, Boss. You—"
The others stood as well. Apart from Zhu Zhuqing, Oscar, Ning Rongrong, and Ma Hongjun all stepped forward and blocked Dai Mubai's path.
Dai Mubai patted the hand gripping his shoulder. "Xiao San, Xiao Ao, Rongrong, Fatty — none of you try to stop me. As the team's leader, and the only one who's hit a bottleneck right now, this choice is about all of us staying alive. What good are the finest soul skills if the person is dead? Besides, I'm doing this for Zhuqing too. I don't want her becoming a widow before she's even married me. Compared to death, what does it matter if a soul skill is slightly less optimal? And besides, Xiao Bai is a hundred-thousand-year Soul Beast and the ruler of the seas — are you really afraid she won't find me a suitable Soul Ring? When we have active trials assigned to us, we're free to leave Seagod Island at any time. The trial system itself is the constraint — if we don't show up when the time comes, we die automatically. Let me ask you this: if any of you had hit your own bottleneck right now, would you make the same choice? If the answer is yes, then stop trying to hold me back. We are one unit. I am your big brother, and no one is going to die. We've trained here on Seagod Island under such punishing conditions, all the way to today — for what? So that when we return to the continent, we can destroy Spirit Hall."
At these words, Dai Mubai's gaze blazed with commanding authority. His indomitable aura and the commanding presence of a leader froze Tang San and the other three in their tracks, silencing their objections.
Zhu Zhuqing smiled softly. There was not a trace of worry in her beautiful eyes — only pride. Pride in her man. "I'm going with you." She stepped forward, took Dai Mubai's hand, and the two of them soared into the air, vanishing into the depths of the forest.
"It's fine. If Boss Dai wants to go, let him go. After we pass the trial, our levels will be high enough anyway. I'll save my god-granted Soul Ring reward for him — he can use it for his ninth Soul Ring," Ma Hongjun said, punching his own fist for emphasis.
Oscar's eyes went wide. "Damn it, Fatty, you just stole the words right out of my mouth. You're number four, I'm your second brother. This kind of thing isn't even your turn yet. I'm telling you — don't compete with me. Wait until it's actually your turn."
Tang San sighed softly. "It's fine. This is a matter for all of us — no single person should bear it alone. The next time we encounter a suitable Soul Bone, we'll give priority to Boss Dai. If it doesn't suit him, we'll find a way to trade for one that does. As for other forms of compensation, we'll figure those out only after we've passed all the trials. For now, let's continue planning tomorrow's battle. Mubai has made such a great sacrifice for us — we have to give it everything we have."
A short while later, Zhu Zhuqing returned. She told the group, somewhat helplessly, that because she had already passed all her trials, she was no longer permitted to leave Seagod Island. Xiao Bai had explained to her that while their relationship was close, she could not defy the Seagod's decree. If Zhu Zhuqing attempted to leave the island, she would immediately be attacked by all the Spirit-Devouring Great White Sharks, and the Sacred Pillar Guardians would be dispatched to pursue her as well. Left with no choice, she had simply come back.
At dawn, when the first ray of sunlight fell upon Seagod Island, it struck the magnificent Seagod Temple crowning the summit of Seagod Mountain. Sacred golden light bathed the entire mountain, as though every plant and tree here had been infused with vibrant new life.
The Ring Sea remained as clear as ever, but its surface was far from calm. Seven white lines of water surged from the shore toward Seagod Mountain. They were seven figures standing upright, and without any visible exertion, their bodies cut across the Ring Sea at astonishing speed.
Only upon closer inspection could one see that beneath each person's feet, a massive white shark glided through the water. They were none other than the ocean's overlords — the Spirit-Devouring Great White Sharks.
Xiao Bai had learned that the Shrek Seven Devils were challenging Sea God Douluo Bo Saixi today, and had come personally with six of her kin to see them off. In her own words, this would very likely be the last time. Though she had not offered any words of encouragement, the Seven Devils could read plenty of support in her eyes.
"I'm heading back. If any of you somehow manage not to die this time, remember to come to the shore and let me know." Xiao Bai gave the group one last deep look, then turned and departed with her six kin, never looking back.
Watching Xiao Bai's silhouette fade into the distance, the Shrek Seven Devils' gazes grew steely with resolve. Bai Chenxiang descended from the sky and landed among them.
Dai Mubai smiled and turned to Zhu Zhuqing. "Wife, how about a little motivation?"
Zhu Zhuqing's cheeks flushed crimson, but remarkably she did not retort. She stepped forward and wrapped her arms around his thick neck. Their lips met, and the woman who had always been so cold was unexpectedly passionate — as though she had transformed from ice into water, determined to melt Dai Mubai completely.
Oscar immediately turned around and gazed tenderly at Ning Rongrong. "Wife, I want some too."