When Tang San revealed the contents of his seventh trial, everyone fell silent. The gazes directed at him were filled with utter disbelief. A divine artifact — pulling out the Sea God's Trident. Though it was only ten short words, what kind of significance did that carry?
Ma Hongjun voiced the question on everyone's mind. "Third Brother, these Nine Sea God Trials of yours — are they really going to turn you into the Sea God? This divine artifact… is it a weapon used by gods?"
Although Tang San had already guessed some things, now that the moment had actually arrived, his heart couldn't help but race. No wonder — no wonder the Guardian Douluo of the Seven Sacred Pillars and Bo Saixi had all said that after the first six trials, things would be different. It seemed his guesses had been correct.
At a time like this, Dai Mubai stepped up with the steadiness befitting an eldest brother. "Let's not overthink this yet. Let's wait until Little San actually attempts the seventh trial before we talk. Regardless, this seventh trial is of immense importance."
Oscar said, "The most important thing right is whether, after that trident is pulled out, it belongs to Little San or if it's merely part of the trial. Based on everything we've seen and heard on Sea God Island, the Sea God's Trident should be a true divine artifact. If we could get our hands on that thing, what would Spirit Hall have to fear?"
Tang San said, "Mubai is right. No matter what this trial represents, we won't understand until we pass it. Let's not set our hopes too high — otherwise, if we've guessed wrong, the disappointment will be all the greater."
Oscar lowered his voice. "Four out of the seven of us have already completed our trials. After Little San passes the seventh trial, Rongrong will have completed hers too. Shouldn't we start thinking about how to get out of here? Little San, tell us about what it felt like fighting Sea Douluo Bo Saixi the other day. Zhuqing was only an observer — an onlooker may see clearly, but since she didn't experience it firsthand, she can't truly grasp Bo Saixi's real strength. Do you think that after you finish all nine trials, the seven of us combined would have what it takes to leave?"
Watching Oscar's furtive, conspiratorial manner, everyone couldn't help but crack a slight smile. Only Tang San's expression remained grave. He said seriously, "Before we came here, we still underestimated things. Even though I'd always rated Sea Douluo Bo Saixi's strength very highly, once I actually faced her, I realized just how enormous the gap between us truly is — how terrifying the strength of a level ninety-nine Titled Douluo really is. In my eyes, she's already no different from a god. If we tried to force our way out with raw strength alone, even if every single one of us reached Titled Douluo level, it would be absolutely impossible."
That final statement, he delivered with absolute conviction.
The group exchanged uneasy glances. Ma Hongjun couldn't help but protest, "No way, Third Brother. She's powerful, but she's still just one person. If you reached Titled Douluo level with all those hundred-thousand-year Soul Rings, surely you wouldn't need to fear her?"
Tang San sighed. "You don't understand. I can't say for certain how strong I'd become after reaching Titled Douluo level myself, but I can tell you one thing for sure — with my current strength, if I went head-to-head against her, a single collision would be all it took for her to crush me to dust. The fact that I passed the sixth trial was entirely due to calculation and luck, not strength. And Bo Saixi was fighting me under numerous restrictions. If she went all out, she could absolutely annihilate a city in a single move. If she activated her domain, then none of us would be able to escape it. So if we want to leave Sea God Island, brute force is completely off the table. All I can hope for now is that my guess is correct — that once I pull out that Sea God's Trident, everything will become clear. If things don't go the way I think, then the only option is for all of us to train here together until everyone's strength reaches level ninety-five or above, and perhaps then we'd have a chance. Or, if both of my Martial Souls reach the nine-ring stage and I have a complete set of Soul Bones, I might have one last shot at fighting."
As he spoke these words, images of Bo Saixi's attacks flashed through Tang San's mind — the effortless, almost casual way she had turned her hand and changed the very sky. Those light, almost gentle strikes, launched without even using her Martial Soul, had been enough to leave him completely powerless. If not for the cheat-like skill that was his Invincible Golden Body, that single palm would have ended his life. In the face of strength at her level, even if his body had been forged from solid gold, it would have been slapped to fragments.
Tang San understood that after Dai Mubai, Oscar, and Ma Hongjun had each reached the Soul Douluo realm, their confidence had ballooned. He needed to make sure they understood the reality of the situation.
Sure enough, after hearing Tang San's words, the expressions on everyone's faces grew solemn. With his Soul Power having already reached level eighty-three thanks to a string of rewards, Dai Mubai said, "Strength is what matters. Let's not waste any more time — everyone, start training. Little San, you absolutely must pull out that Sea God's Trident!"
Tang San rested for another full three days — not only to let his body and mind recover to their peak state, but also to organize all the thoughts that had accumulated since arriving on Sea God Island. On the morning of the sixth day after passing the sixth trial, he finally set out for the Sea God Temple, accompanied by Ning Rongrong and Xiao Wu.
When they climbed the one thousand and one steps and arrived before the magnificent Sea God Temple, the seven Guardian Douluo of the Sacred Pillars were already standing there waiting for them, as if they had known all along that today was the day.
Sea Dragon Douluo stood in the center, with the other six Sea Douluo flanking him on either side. Tang San led the two women up to Sea Dragon Douluo and stopped, offering a slight bow. "Greetings, seniors."
Sea Dragon Douluo turned slightly to the side, declining the courtesy. His eyes carried a complicated mix of emotions as he looked at Tang San. "The three of you, please follow me."
With that, he turned and led the way into the Sea God Temple.
They had been on Sea God Island for four years now, but this was the first time they had come so close to the Sea God Temple itself.
The massive stone pillars in front of the temple were carved with all manner of designs. Some depicted sea Soul Beasts they had seen before, but many more showed creatures they had never encountered — no doubt inhabitants of the deep ocean.
Stepping inside, the interior was pitch black. The entire hall had not a single window, and naturally no light from outside could penetrate. The hall felt vast and empty, with no visible structures. The word "ancient" could describe it, or perhaps "austere." Tang San had never imagined that the Sea God Temple — the very seat of a god — would contain no decorations whatsoever, and would be so utterly dark.
After only a few steps, Sea Dragon Douluo stopped and called respectfully into the darkness within. "My Lady, Tang San, Ning Rongrong, and Xiao Wu have arrived."
"Mm. You may leave," came Bo Saixi's voice from inside.
"Yes." Sea Dragon Douluo bowed deeply toward the interior, then stepped aside to clear the path, exiting through a side passage. As he passed Tang San, he gave a slight nod before disappearing.
With Sea Dragon Douluo's towering frame no longer blocking his view, Tang San could finally see the scene within the hall. Inside, there were no superfluous structures — only eight platforms. Seven outer platforms formed a ring, each one designed differently, matching the shapes of the platforms where the Seven Sacred Pillars stood. They looked like miniature versions of the Sacred Pillar platforms. But here, there were no pillars — just the seven platforms themselves.
And right in the center of those seven platforms stood a single enormous platform, visible through the gap between the two frontmost outer platforms. This central platform had three tiers, rising several meters above the outer seven. It was circular overall, with each successive tier smaller than the one below. Due to the darkness of the hall, one could only barely make out a tall staff standing upright at the very center of the topmost tier. It wasn't perfectly regular in shape — the top was wider, tapering into a conical point, and the entire thing was pitch black.
Bo Saixi sat at the front center of the first tier, legs crossed, palms facing upward, each hand forming a peculiar mudra. Her eyes were closed. Had Tang San not possessed his extraordinary eyesight, he wouldn't have been able to make out any of this.
"Tang San, come forward." Bo Saixi's calm voice rang out, echoing through the empty hall.
"Yes." Tang San strode forward with a clear gaze, meeting Bo Saixi's eyes directly. His heart was as still and calm as an ancient well. If Bo Saixi wanted to deal with him, it would require no more than a wave of her hand — having come here, there was no point in worrying. And yet, deep down, Tang San did not enjoy the feeling of having his fate placed in someone else's hands.
Passing through the outer ring of platforms, Tang San walked with Ning Rongrong and Xiao Wu until they stood five meters before Bo Saixi, where they stopped.
"Greetings, Senior." All three bowed.
Bo Saixi received their salutation. Tang San noticed that this Bo Saixi seemed somehow different from the one he had seen during the sixth trial. If the Bo Saixi of that encounter had felt as deep and vast as a boundless ocean, then this Bo Saixi seemed more like a kind and gentle elder. Her appearance was still as young, noble, and beautiful as ever, but those eyes — those eyes filled with the weight of ages — now radiated nothing but warmth and benevolence. If the last time they met she had been an insurmountable mountain, then what she exuded now reminded Tang San of the way the Great Master would look at him — regarding him as one of his own.
Bo Saixi smiled kindly. "Before you undertake the seventh trial, allow me to tell you the story of the great ocean. Do you know how vast the sea truly is?"
Tang San shook his head, puzzled. This question lay well beyond his knowledge.
Bo Saixi continued. "The ocean's surface area is four times that of the land. In other words, the sea is equivalent to four entire Soul Land continents. And across that vast, boundless ocean live far more creatures than on all the land combined. If those sea creatures were left unrestrained and wars broke out constantly, the result would be even more chaotic than anything on land."
"Many, many ages ago, the sea was exactly that chaotic. As the saying goes, troubled times breed heroes. Among the countless sea Soul Masters, a peerless genius arose. He traveled to every corner of the ocean, wielding a trident. Relying on his formidable strength and his unparalleled charisma, he conquered one race after another across the deep. It took him one thousand and one years, but he finally unified the ocean, and was venerated as the Sea God by all the sea races. He forged a legend that would endure for eternity."
"Sea Soul Masters are human, Senior. Can a human really live for a thousand years?" Tang San asked.
Bo Saixi smiled gently. "Call me High Priestess. An ordinary human certainly cannot live that long. But once a person's strength breaks through to the Titled Douluo level, they can live for roughly three hundred years. After that, for every level they advance, they gain an additional hundred years of life. So someone at my level can live for over a thousand years. And the Sea God of old conquered the ocean using his level ninety-nine strength. Speaking of which, I must mention your great-grandfather — apart from the Sea God himself, he is the person I admire most in this world."
"My great-grandfather? But… your strength…"
Bo Saixi laughed with a trace of self-deprecation. "What? You think I reached level ninety-nine entirely on my own? No, you're mistaken. I didn't have that ability. I'm only a little over a hundred years old — how could I possibly have cultivated to level ninety-nine by myself? Don't assume that just because you've all broken through level eighty now, the road ahead will be easy. Once Soul Power exceeds level ninety-five, each subsequent level requires time measured in centuries. Going from ninety-five to ninety-six takes a hundred years. Ninety-six to ninety-seven takes another hundred. Unless you encounter some extraordinary opportunity, reaching level ninety-seven would require at least two hundred years. But that's still not the hardest part. Your mainland must have its share of powerful cultivators, but I can guarantee that aside from Qian Daoliu and your great-grandfather, not a single one has ever broken through level ninety-seven. That is an absolute bottleneck. By all normal calculations, a human simply cannot cultivate to level ninety-nine. Going from ninety-seven to ninety-eight alone requires a full three hundred years, and ninety-eight to ninety-nine demands an unbroken six hundred years of bitter cultivation. As for Qian Daoliu and myself, we owe our current strength to the grace left behind by our predecessors. Only your great-grandfather — like the Sea God of old — cultivated to level ninety-nine entirely through his own power. I don't know how either he or the Sea God managed it, but when your great-grandfather reached level ninety-nine, he was three years younger than the Sea God had been at the same milestone. He is the only person who might have the potential to ascend to godhood through his own strength alone."
To Tang San, every word Bo Saixi spoke was the deepest of secrets. He did not interrupt, simply listening in silence.
Bo Saixi went on. "After I passed the Supreme Eight Trials, I was bestowed the honor of becoming High Priestess by the Sea God. The vast majority of the strength I possess was granted to me by the Sea God, which is why I was able to cultivate to level ninety-nine in a mere fifty years. Qian Daoliu's situation is similar to mine — only the grace he received came from the God of Angels. You could say that the three of us possess roughly equal strength. But on a truly fair battlefield, the most powerful among us was your great-grandfather, because every ounce of his strength was self-cultivated. Of course, a truly fair contest between us could never happen. On the ocean, they are no match for me. On land, your great-grandfather reigns supreme. And in the sky, Qian Daoliu holds a slight advantage."
"Do you know where my great-grandfather is now?" Tang San couldn't help asking.
Bo Saixi sighed and shook her head. "It has been many years since I last saw him after our parting. When he left, he told me that if one day he could break through level one hundred and become a true god, he would come back to see me." At this, Tang San noticed a faint blush rise to Bo Saixi's cheeks.
"Senior, you…"
Bo Saixi's gaze quickly steadied, and she offered a small smile. "You are his descendant. There's no harm in telling you. Your great-grandmother had already passed away at that time. Both your great-grandfather and Qian Daoliu had courted me. But I rejected them both. I told them — whichever of you breaks through level one hundred first, that is the one I will give my heart to."
Tang San paused in thought. "Senior… the one you love is my great-grandfather, isn't it?"