The Sea God's Light, reaching a full seventy percent, played an enormous role. Under Tang San's relentless efforts, the handle was slowly rising. The blood flowing from his palm coated more and more of the mystical patterns along the shaft, transforming them into a mixed golden-red glow.
Gradually, Tang San caught sight of where the handle connected to the trident head — a series of ring-shaped joints, tightly interlocked. The closer to the trident head, the thicker they became.
As the junction rose above the ground, the edges of the triangular trident head appeared, each side bearing a crescent-shaped pattern. By now, Tang San's blood had spread to that point, dyeing both crescents red. From this vantage, it was clear the trident head was massive. And the higher he pulled, the heavier the shaft grew. In such a short time, he was already beginning to feel weak. At the same time, he sensed that while his palm had been bleeding before, it now felt as though his blood was being actively sucked — greedily devoured by the patterns on the shaft.
Gritting his teeth, Tang San drove his legs with all his strength. His two hundred-thousand-year leg bones gave him tremendous assistance. A grating screech rang out as the trident rose inch by inch. From the triangular edge, broad base sections roughly three inches wide with sharp, well-defined angles extended outward on both sides — the true bulk of the trident head was emerging from the ground.
The trident, naturally, was divided into three prongs. The left and right ones were relatively slender, but the central blade was exceptionally wide, almost like a greatsword. At the junction between this wide central blade and the base below it, there was a large rhombus-shaped hole, making the whole trident appear as though something was missing. By this point, the trident head had been pulled out one-third of the way.
Nourished by the blood flowing from Tang San's palm, the patterns along the Sea God's Trident's handle had all been awakened. Though the light wasn't particularly intense, the golden tracery was far more magnificent than its previous pitch-black appearance. As the blood continued to flow downward into the trident head, the golden color kept spreading. The two crescent-shaped patterns at the base of the trident head blazed with radiance. It felt as though a volcano of golden light was erupting from the center of the Sea God Platform, bathing Tang San's entire body in a golden sheen.
But Tang San discovered that the trident in his hands was growing ever heavier. No matter how desperately he pulled, he couldn't raise it even half an inch further. And the rate at which his blood was being drained continued to increase. This was obviously not a good sign.
Suddenly, something flashed through his mind — a strange instinct compelled him to lower his head. The dark-gold trident brand on his forehead emitted Sea God's Light that gradually shifted downward along the shaft, traveled the roughly ten-foot length of the handle, and landed in the rhombus-shaped hole exposed above the ground.
Humm—
In that instant, the air seemed to freeze. A ring of intense golden light exploded outward from the trident head. Tang San and the Sea God's Trident appeared to truly connect, as identical golden mystical patterns erupted violently from his body. Xiao Wu and Ning Rongrong were simultaneously blown away by the tremendous force, thrown off the Sea God Platform.
Below the platform, Bo Saixi reacted in time, catching them both.
The two women simultaneously spat out a mouthful of blood, but Ning Rongrong didn't abandon even a fraction of the boost she was providing to Tang San. Instead, the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Tower blazed even brighter, pouring everything into strengthening him.
Xiao Wu stared at Tang San with anxious eyes. She hated this — hated that she couldn't help him the way Rongrong could. But right now, there was nothing she could do. She could only watch Tang San struggle in agony.
Just then, the Sea God's Light shooting from Tang San's forehead suddenly shifted from gold to blue — the deep, profound blue of the ocean. Flecks of gold gradually vanished from the blue, leaving behind only that pure color.
A blue triangular prism slowly floated out from between Tang San's brows, spinning as it went. Through a bridge of blue light, it approached the rhombus-shaped hole in the Sea God's Trident's head. It was the Clear Sea Sky Cover.
Even Tang San himself didn't understand why this was happening — he hadn't activated the Clear Sea Sky Cover at all. It had flown out of his body entirely on its own. But from it, Tang San sensed an intense feeling of excitement, as though at this moment, this supreme treasure obtained from the Tian Dou Empire had come alive.
A miraculous sight unfolded. When the Clear Sea Sky Cover flew to within three inches of the trident's rhombus hole, it stopped. Then, the light within it twisted. The triangular prism doubled in size, as though two Clear Sea Sky Covers had merged together. Its shape transformed simultaneously, becoming a deep blue rhombus gemstone — precisely the same size as the hole in the Sea God's Trident. The intense blue light at this moment even overpowered the golden radiance. Tang San clearly felt his Soul Power, spiritual energy, Sea God's Light, and the blood in his body all draining at an astonishing rate. Powerful waves of weakness battered his brain. Even with Ning Rongrong's support from behind, he felt himself on the verge of collapsing.
How could this be happening? Could it be that the Clear Sea Sky Cover...? No matter how brilliant Tang San was, he could never have anticipated this scene unfolding before him. But in that very moment, a kind of dawning clarity rose in his mind.
Ever since obtaining the Clear Sea Sky Cover, his body had been undergoing subtle, gradual changes — especially the frequent burning sensations in his spirit bones, all of which had been caused by it. After arriving here, according to Sea God Douluo Bo Saixi, he should have received at most a top-tier eightfold trial, but instead he'd been given the Sea God's Nine Trials. Could all of this have been because of the Clear Sea Sky Cover?
The Tian Dou Empire's royal family couldn't possibly have known such a secret. Otherwise, no matter how highly they valued him, they would never have given away the Clear Sea Sky Cover. If everything he'd experienced on Sea God Island — every privilege and every trial — had been drawn here by this seemingly small treasure, then suddenly, everything made sense.
The question that had lingered in Tang San's heart was finally resolved by the Clear Sea Sky Cover's transformation. If passing the Sea God's Six Trials had been accomplished primarily through his own strength and wisdom, then this seventh trial — and the appearance of the Nine Trials — could only be explained by fortune.
Perhaps ninety-nine percent of any person's achievements came from hard work, but that remaining one percent of luck and opportunity was often more important than the ninety-nine percent of effort. When opportunity knocked, those who seized it would succeed. Those who didn't would languish for a lifetime.
Without question, Tang San was someone who could seize and hold opportunity. Even though his body was now completely spent and his blood loss had reached dangerous levels, he had no intention of giving up. He knew that without the Clear Sea Sky Cover, even someone of Bo Saixi's caliber couldn't have pulled out this Sea God's Trident. This was his chance — not just a chance to survive, but a chance to reach divine-level power. How could he possibly let it go?
With a soft ding, the Clear Sea Sky Cover — now in rhombus form — finally settled into the rhombus-shaped hole on the Sea God's Trident. A grating friction sound accompanied an eruption of overwhelming energy that swept through the entire hall in an instant.
The pitch-black hall was ignited by the golden light. Whether floor or ceiling, walls or the seven other platforms guarding the Sea God Platform — everything was baptized by layers of golden mystical patterns. The hall, which had looked ancient and simple before, was now entirely suffused with gold. The massive golden radiance transformed it into something impossibly grand. An unprecedented surge of divine presence burst forth from the Sea God's Trident, forming a colossal pillar of light that shot skyward, piercing through the ceiling.
"Ahhh—" Tang San roared at the heavens. The exertion caused the muscles across his back and arms to tear almost simultaneously. But the trident — symbol of the Sea God's divine authority — finally loosened once more, slowly, slowly lifting free of the ground.
On Tang San's upturned face, the dark-gold trident brand reverted to brilliant gold. Its fierce divine radiance merged with the light emanating from the Sea God's Trident.
The trident's main blade — shaped like a longsword — rose steadily, flanked by the two side prongs. Tang San's blood cascaded down it, as if washing away the layers of black grime and dust. The golden light, rippling like water, was dazzlingly bright. A resonant hum like a dragon's roar continually emanated from the trident.
The Sea God Platform began to quake violently. And it wasn't just the platform — the Sea God Temple trembled, and the entirety of Sea God Island shook with it.
At the foot of Sea God Mountain, Dai Mubai, Oscar, Ma Hongjun, Zhu Zhuqing, and Bai Chenxiang all stared wide-eyed toward the mountain's peak.
Overhead, dark clouds had gathered thick, dimming the light across the entire island. But just then, the Sea God Temple blazed to life. The magnificent sanctuary erupted with blinding golden light, the radiance cutting through the darkness and illuminating the mountain — and indeed, all of Sea God Island. A massive golden pillar of light soared straight into the sky, piercing the dark clouds.
At the same time, the Sea God's Seven Sacred Pillars across the island all lit up simultaneously. Seven beams of golden light, varying in thickness, surged from different directions. They converged with the golden pillar erupting from the Sea God Temple into a single unified force.
The radiance lasted a full ten seconds before subsiding. The dark clouds overhead had been transformed into golden luminous masses by the light. Those golden spheres drifted slowly through the sky, gradually taking human shape. Vaguely, one could make out a figure — translucent, clad in golden armor, with deep-blue hair cascading over the shoulders. The armor covered nearly every part of the body. Most importantly, clutched in the figure's hand was a single golden trident that seemed capable of splitting heaven and earth.
Before the Sea God Temple, the seven Sacred Pillar Guardian Douluo gazed upward at the sky. Almost in unison, they dropped to their knees, their devout eyes blazing with fervent light as they worshipped the ethereal image above.
The same scene played out wherever people stood on the island. The inhabitants, witnessing the celestial phenomenon, walked out of their homes without hesitation and knelt in open spaces, bowing low before the colossal divine image.
The might of the Sea God — visible for a thousand miles. In the ocean, every living creature seemed to sense the aura of that golden specter. In that moment, the sea itself went still. Raging waves subsided. Every creature in the water ceased moving, their bodies involuntarily turning toward Sea God Island, trembling in reverent worship. Even the Deep Sea Demon Whale King — on the verge of transforming into a dragon — opened its enormous single eye, and in its gaze there was nothing but horror and unwillingness.
Countless fine golden motes appeared from every direction. Some emanated from Sea God Island, but far more rose from the ocean itself. Had Sea God Douluo Bo Saixi been present, she would have recognized it at once — this was the power of faith she had spoken of. The faith that all things of the sea held for the Sea God.
Bathed in that light of faith, the enormous Sea God phantom in the sky gradually grew clearer — as solid and defined as if carved from reality. Dai Mubai and the others suddenly noticed with astonishment that the face hidden within the golden armor was remarkably familiar.
"Little San — that's... that's Little San." Yes. The clear features were identical to Tang San's — only the expression was one of untouchable, sacred majesty.
Inside the Sea God Temple, atop the Sea God Platform, Tang San's right hand was raised high. The Sea God's Trident — over twelve feet in total length and blazing with infinite golden light — was clutched in his grip.
Now, every trace of black had vanished from the trident. All that remained was brilliant gold. Each golden line was perfectly distinct, extending all the way to the tip. The trident's central blade measured two feet long and half a foot wide. The enormous rhombus gemstone that the Clear Sea Sky Cover had become was set into its lower-middle portion, and its original blue had completely transformed into gold — a golden crystal now fused inseparably with the Sea God's Trident.
The two side blades gleamed with the same rippling golden light as their wielder's. Each had a barb on its outer edge. All three blades appeared to have no visible edge, because those edges had been entirely replaced by golden radiance.
Yes — Tang San had succeeded. He had pulled out the Sea God's Trident. He had passed the seventh trial. Golden light burst from the center of his brow, forming a curtain of light that shattered. Simultaneously, a patch of red light appeared on the foreheads of both Ning Rongrong and Xiao Wu below the platform before breaking apart.
Xiao Wu received her notification: "Accompanying the completion of the Sea God's Seventh Trial — reward stacked."
Ning Rongrong's was different. This was her final trial, and the notification she received was considerably longer: "Top-Tier Sevenfold Trial — Seventh Trial Complete. Through outstanding supportive abilities, you have helped your companions overcome one trial after another, demonstrating astonishing talent and exceptional boosting capabilities. All seven trials passed. Granted Sea God Island red-tier privileges. Granted the authority of Second Priest. Reward: three levels of Soul Power, all Soul Ring cultivation increased by five thousand years. Due to reaching a bottleneck in level upon completion of the trial, an additional God-Granted Soul Ring is specially awarded. Top-Tier Sevenfold Trial completion reward: one God-Granted Soul Ring."
Hearing the notification, even Ning Rongrong herself found it somewhat incredible. She had only one more trial than Dai Mubai and the others, but that single extra trial had elevated her rewards several tiers above theirs. Two God-Granted Soul Rings! The implications were staggering. She was already at level seventy, and she needed only two more Soul Rings. With the increase in cultivation years, her own capacity to bear them would grow substantially. These last two God-Granted Soul Rings could very well each have the potential to reach the hundred-thousand-year level!
Ning Rongrong hadn't yet withdrawn her Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Tower. Her seven Soul Rings still floated around her body. Originally, their colors had been purple, purple, purple, purple, black, black, black. But after the final trial's reward, her Soul Ring colors shifted once more — now purple, purple, black, black, black, black, black. Two thousand-year Soul Rings and five hundred-thousand-year Soul Rings. Now she finally understood why Sea God Douluo Bo Saixi's Soul Rings had been eight black and one red — it was the reward from the top-tier trials. Bo Saixi had undergone the top-tier eightfold trial, so the boost to her Soul Ring cultivation must have been even greater than Ning Rongrong's, resulting in the spectacular sight of all hundred-thousand-year-or-above Soul Rings.
Tang San was by now completely immersed in the golden radiance. The Sea God's Trident in his hand felt as though it weighed only a little over a hundred jin — no heavier than the forging hammer he'd used in the past. But in this moment, with the trident raised high, Tang San could no longer move. He stood there, looking like a man made of blood. Nearly every muscle in his body had torn from the exertion. All he could do was maintain this posture and remain standing.
Just before consciousness finally slipped away, he faintly heard a notification within his mind: "Sea God's Seventh Trial — Pull out the Divine Artifact, the Sea God's Trident — Passed. Reward: Sea God Affinity increased by fifteen percent, total affinity eighty-five percent. Recognition of the Sea God's Trident obtained. Usage rights of the Sea God's Trident granted."
Outside the Sea God Temple, the colossal golden apparition suddenly contracted. After absorbing countless prayers of faith, it compressed into a single streak of light that plunged through the temple's peak, passing directly through the ceiling and pouring into the Sea God's Trident in Tang San's hand. And in that same moment, Tang San finally could hold on no longer. With a heavy thud, he collapsed to the ground, unconscious.
As he fell, the brilliant light filling the hall dimmed considerably. The most dramatic change was in the Sea God's Trident itself — in nearly an instant, it reverted to its previous pitch-black appearance. The bulk of it lay across Tang San's body, the tail of the handle striking the Sea God Platform with a thunderous impact that shook all of Sea God Island.
"Third Brother."
"Brother—"