Dai Mubai shook his head and chuckled. "I'll tell you the truth. When I brought Zhuqing out, I had no intention of going back. Although my elder brother has always wanted to harm me, he is still my brother, and his wife is Zhuqing's sister. I don't want to experience the feeling of family turning on each other again. I'll just disappear and let my brother inherit the throne. Little San, you've seen the situation in the Tian Dou Empire—being an emperor isn't easy. Besides the endless daily matters, there's immense pressure to bear. How could it compare to my current freedom? Although Zhuqing once said I wasn't making progress, the truth is, I love being with my brothers like this. Zhuqing and I have already decided—we won't go back. Everything can wait until my brother inherits the throne. If we don't return, they'll naturally assume we're dead. Even if they find out later, so what? With our current strength, even the royal family wouldn't be able to do anything to us."
Tang San looked at Dai Mubai with some surprise and said helplessly, "Countless people dream of becoming the ruler of a nation, yet you cast it aside like worn-out shoes. Boss, perhaps only you can view power so lightly."
Tang San smiled faintly and held the trident horizontally, offering it to Ma Hongjun.
Ma Hongjun reached out to take it but realized Tang San wasn't letting go. He glanced at Tang San, secretly wondering if the trident was a divine weapon and Third Brother was reluctant to let him hold it. No way! Third Brother had never been attached to material possessions.
Tang San saw through the big fellow's confusion. "It's not that I won't let you hold it; it's that I'm afraid you can't lift it. This trident is very heavy."
Ma Hongjun was somewhat disbelieving. "Third Brother, you're underestimating me too much. I'm level eighty-one. I'm a Soul Douluo after all. Even if it's a divine weapon, I shouldn't be unable to lift it."
Tang San stopped walking and said with a smile, "Alright, try it then." As he spoke, he bent down and placed the trident flat on the ground, then gestured for Ma Hongjun to go ahead. Once free from Tang San's grasp, the Sea God's Trident's true weight was immediately revealed. Although Tang San placed it on a boulder, the rock immediately sank into the ground, with about half its volume quickly swallowed by the soil.
"It does look pretty heavy! I'll try." The fat fellow stepped forward in disbelief, grabbed the trident with both hands, and suddenly exerted his force to lift it.
The Sea God's Trident, weighing a hundred and eighty thousand pounds, naturally didn't budge. No matter how hard Ma Hongjun tried, he couldn't move it even a fraction of an inch.
"It's really heavy." Ma Hongjun straightened up, gave a loud shout, released his Martial Soul, and then tried to grab the trident again.
The result was, of course, no different. Although he had reached level eighty-one Soul Power, his strength was nowhere near the level of a hundred and eighty thousand pounds.
Dai Mubai and Oscar were both eager to try, but Oscar was stopped by
Dai Mubai was about to try as well when Tang San stopped him. He didn't want to see his brothers embarrass themselves. Ma Hongjun was the youngest and the first to try, so it was somewhat acceptable. But Dai Mubai was, after all, the eldest among them. If Tang San didn't explain the situation about the trident now, it would be letting his brother down.
"No need to try. The Sea God's Trident weighs one hundred and eight pounds in my hand, but for anyone else, its weight increases a thousandfold, reaching a hundred and eighty thousand pounds. For you to lift it, you'd need at least level ninety-five Soul Power. And only Boss Dai might have a chance to lift it with his strength."
Then, Tang San candidly recounted Bo Saixi's explanation of the Sea God's Trident.
Hearing his words, everyone looked at each other and uttered the same two words in unison: "Monsters."
Actually, Tang San himself had felt the same way when he first learned about the trident's weight. What he was thinking now was how to make the Sea God's Trident his own weapon in the future and how to wield it. The
Soon, the group arrived at the seaside. Tang San found a piece of gray cloth from his Twenty-Four Bridges Moonlit Night and wrapped the Sea God's Trident. After all, although the trident was entirely black, its shape was too conspicuous. In the world of the ocean, who didn't know that the Sea God's weapon was a trident? Even if no one suspected Tang San was holding that divine weapon, it wasn't good to be mistaken for an imposter.
Without needing Tang San to say anything, Ma Hongjun once again released his Phoenix Flames on the sea surface to summon Little White.
Little White arrived even faster than they expected. In a short while, she appeared in their view, accompanied by over a dozen Spirit Soul Great White Sharks. With a flash of gray-blue light, Little White transformed into human form and walked onto the beach.
Although they had seen her human form many times, upon seeing her slender, graceful figure again, Dai Mubai, Oscar, and Ma Hongjun still couldn't help but swallow discreetly. However, their hearts were already taken, and they didn't dare show it too obviously, lest they face a jealous roar.
"Lord Tang San, was the unusual phenomenon in the sky a few days ago related to you?" Little White asked eagerly as soon as she came ashore.
Tang San nodded and said, "Little White, we've come this time to bid you farewell. I've completed the seventh trial and will be leaving here. The High Priest said that as long as we are shrouded in the Sea God's Light, we won't be bound by the rules of Sea God Island."
Before Tang San could finish, Little White's gaze grew intense. She dropped to one knee. "Greetings, Lord. Congratulations on drawing the Sea God's Trident."
Tang San handed Xiao Wu to Ning Rongrong beside him and quickly stepped forward to help Little White up. "Little White, don't do this. We've long considered you a friend."
Little White said firmly, "No, Tang San, it's different. The Sea God is supreme to us ocean creatures. As his successor, you will be the future ruler of the ocean. Although you haven't passed all nine
Tang San smiled, "Since I am your master, then I order you not to bow to me when we meet in the future. We'll address each other as friends. That should be acceptable?"
Little White's big eyes immediately lit up. "Lord, your word is golden. Then it's settled. Hehe."
Oscar leaned over from the side and said, "Little White, you didn't plan this in advance, did you?"
Little White snorted. "Plan this yourself. Since you're leaving, I'll see you off. It'll be faster that way. We know the sea routes well. Wherever you want to go, traveling by sea will save a lot of time."
Tang San said, "We're returning to Tiandou City in the Tian Dou Empire. Can we go there by sea?"
Little White replied, "We can take you to a closer point, saving at least half the journey. Let's set off now. Anyway, you have that fellow Xiao Ao's sausages for food. It will take about three days on the sea."
The group didn't stand on ceremony and climbed onto the backs of Little White's kin. This wasn't their first time riding sharks. With the speed of the Spirit Soul Great White Sharks, the return journey would certainly be greatly shortened. At Little White's insistence, Tang San had to take Xiao Wu onto her back. As Little White said, being able to carry the Sea God's successor and the Sea God's Trident for a ride made her the luckiest of the sea soul beasts. Of course, the trident had to be in Tang San's hand; otherwise, she couldn't bear that terrifying weight.
Under the shroud of the Sea God's Light, the Spirit Soul Great White Sharks set off, finally leaving Sea God Island where they had trained for over four years.
Since it was a long voyage, everyone sat on the sharks' backs. With their physical constitution, the long journey was no problem. Tang San held Xiao Wu with one arm and the Sea God's Trident with the other, feeling the sea breeze and an indescribable sense of freedom.
It had been over four years since they left the continent. Now on the journey back, the Shrek Seven Devils all felt an eagerness to return home.
Smelling the faint fragrance in Xiao Wu's hair, Tang San couldn't help but think of his disciple, Jixiang. Jixiang was skilled in medicine, and Tang San had considered bringing him back to the continent. But after careful thought, Tang San gave up on the idea. When the eight of them left Tiandou City, the Soul Land was already showing signs of chaos. After four years, Spirit Hall certainly hadn't been idle, and the situation on the continent could be anything by now. Jixiang was kind-hearted, pure as a blank sheet of paper. Letting him be tainted by the chaos and darkness of the world wouldn't be good. Spirit Hall's power was vast. Even though the eight of them had experienced a qualitative leap in strength, Tang San had no confidence in being able to rival Spirit Hall. He would let Jixiang stay on Purple Pearl Island and be his doctor. For him, life might be a bit plain, but at least it was safe and happy.
When he first arrived at Sea God Island, Tang San's Soul Power was only at the sixty-something level. But now, as they left, aside from Xiao Wu whose Soul Power level was unknown, everyone else in the Shrek Seven Devils had reached the threshold of level eighty. After his battle with Sea God Douluo Bo Saixi, combined with the overload of drawing the Sea God's Trident, Tang San's Soul Power was extremely close to level eighty-five. The breakthrough would happen within a few days.
Dai Mubai had the highest Soul Power after Tang San, reaching level eighty-three, just one level behind Tang San. Apart from him, the next highest was Ning Rongrong. During her fifth trial challenging a Titled Douluo, her Soul Power rose from level seventy-seven to seventy-eight. Passing the sixth trial raised it another level to seventy-nine. The final top-tier seventh trial awarded her three levels of Soul Power. Not only did she break through level eighty with a god-granted Soul Ring, reaching level eighty-one, but she also attained level eighty-three, tying with Dai Mubai.
This showed that the higher the trial, the greater the rewards. Ning Rongrong was merely an auxiliary Soul Master, yet she could catch up to Dai Mubai in Soul Power, demonstrating the immense benefits she received. Her Soul Ring cultivation had changed astonishingly—apart from the first two, all her rings had become ten-thousand-year level or above. It was worth mentioning that during the period Tang San was unconscious, Ning Rongrong, using the improved physical constitution from her enhanced Soul Rings and a god-granted Soul Ring, finally broke through the hundred-thousand-year limit, obtaining her first hundred-thousand-year Soul Ring. In terms of Soul Rings and Soul Power, she was now the strongest in the Shrek Seven Devils after Tang San. Not only did she have an impressive level eighty-three Soul Power, but her Soul Ring combination was also terrifying: two purple, five black, and one red.
With her eighth Soul Ring, Ning Rongrong didn't disappoint her companions. Her eighth ring added two powerful auxiliary abilities, and all her Soul Skill boosts were now overall enhanced to ninety percent, causing the Shrek Seven Devils' strength to surge.
After Ning Rongrong, Oscar and Ma Hongjun, thanks to having one more trial than Zhu Zhuqing, caught up in Soul Power level with the Nether Spirit Cat. Now all three of them were at level eighty-one.
Of course, the greatest gains were Tang San's. Although the nine Sea God Trials hadn't granted him any Soul Power rewards, his level was still the highest among them. The Sea God's Trident and the Sea God's Light were undoubtedly the biggest gains. Additionally, his Purple Extreme Demon Eye reached the Vast level, he obtained two extra hundred-thousand-year Soul Rings, a hundred-thousand-year Soul Bone, and his fifth Soul Ring evolved to the hundred-thousand-year level. Although his level was only eighty-five, even against a level ninety-five Titled Douluo, he would have the strength to fight, and the odds of winning would be much greater.
If the Shrek Seven Devils had only been outstanding among the young generation of Soul Masters before going to Sea God Island, then now, they were a powerful team capable of taking on any group of equal numbers. With everyone having reached the Soul Douluo realm, Tang San's two domain abilities, Ning Rongrong's ninety-percent-plus boost, Dai Mubai and Zhu Zhuqing's Martial Soul Fusion Technique, Oscar's powerful enhancement sausages, and Ma Hongjun's Seven-Headed Fire Phoenix, they had become a near-perfect team. Even if they encountered the same number of Titled Douluos, they would absolutely have the strength to fight.
Now, only Xiao Wu's revival remained. Tang San could clearly feel that Xiao Wu, also having undergone the top-tier seven trials like Ning Rongrong, would receive rewards no less than Ning Rongrong's, possibly even surpassing her with cumulative bonuses. Once back on the continent, Tang San had already planned to first find suitable Soul Rings for his Clear Sky Hammer as soon as possible. By absorbing them, he could further increase his Soul Power. Once the Clear Sky Hammer's Soul Rings were complete, he could then begin the process of reviving Xiao Wu. Matters on the continent would have to wait until Xiao Wu was revived. With the eight-ringed Clear Sky Hammer as backup, his Blue Silver Emperor being weakened by five rings didn't matter much. He could just find new ones. The power of an eight-ringed Clear Sky Hammer would, no matter what, not be weaker than the Blue Silver Emperor. After all, Tang San planned to assign at least ten-thousand-year level or above Soul Rings to his Clear Sky Hammer.
Having organized his thoughts, Tang San tightened his arm around Xiao Wu. Her waist was still as slender as before, and perhaps even more elastic. He kissed her temple, feeling a surge of contentment. Xiao Wu was his most precious treasure.
The Spirit Soul Great White Sharks' speed in the sea was truly terrifying. Under Little White's lead, as the King of the Spirit Soul Great White Sharks, she was one of the ocean's overlord species. Although they had left their territory and were passing through the domains of various sea soul beasts, all those creatures scattered and gave way, opening a clear path, for fear of angering these ocean overlords.