His mind raced at breakneck speed. Combining this with the illusion that had appeared first, Tang San gradually came to understand. What he was seeing must be everything that had occurred when Qian Renxue inherited the Angel God's divinity. And where he currently stood must be the deepest reaches of Qian Renxue's consciousness. But what was the explanation for that version of himself that had appeared within her mind? Was it perhaps her trial?
Before Tang San could think much further, Qian Renxue before his eyes had already walked over to that other him.
Qian Renxue practically threw herself into "Tang San's" embrace without the slightest hesitation. Her alluring figure wrapped around that "Tang San's" body like a serpent. And that "Tang San" embraced her in return, the two holding each other tightly as though trying to merge their bodies into one. Moreover, the clothes on that "him" had silently vanished. The perfect physique was no different from Tang San's own.
Tang San was indeed powerful, but this was a scene he had never witnessed before. He and Xiao Wu had been committed to each other for many years, yet between them they had always remained pure. Tang San himself was still entirely inexperienced. For a virgin to witness an explicit scene unfolding before his eyes — the intensity of the stimulation could be imagined, especially when one of the participants was himself and the other was a god. Both the visual and the psychological stimulation surged to their absolute peak in a single instant.
Even though Tang San was merely witnessing all of this within his consciousness, he immediately felt his blood begin to boil, a scorching heat spreading throughout his entire body.
Qian Renxue's slender figure writhed ceaselessly in that "Tang San's" embrace, locked in desperate, passionate entanglement. An act of lovemaking that Tang San had never seen before was playing out right before his eyes. Every detail drilled vividly into his consciousness, every exquisite sight laid bare, and the overwhelming stimulation left Tang San's consciousness stunned into stillness.
"Ahhh—" With a cry from Qian Renxue that was equal parts ecstatic release and infinite seduction, her long legs locked tightly around that "Tang San's" waist, her body convulsing violently.
Stimulation — far too much stimulation. A virgin watching an explicit scene — this level of intensity was entirely unprecedented for Tang San.
And just then, everything before his eyes suddenly turned ethereal. The scene of lovemaking gradually faded, leaving only emptiness around him. A trace of lingering regret lingered in Tang San's heart, yet the scorching heat within him had only intensified.
Suddenly, Tang San discovered that his own body had appeared, as though his consciousness had returned to his physical form — and his body too was unclothed. Just as he was momentarily stunned, a soft, supple body suddenly melded into his embrace. Golden hair cascaded through the air — it was none other than Qian Renxue.
The scene unfolding now was identical to the moment Qian Renxue had first thrown herself into that "Tang San's" arms. One of her long, elegant legs was already raised, pressed flush against Tang San's hip, her calf hooking around his waist, her entire figure plastered against him.
Based on everything he had witnessed earlier, what would follow next was unquestionably the same scene — only this time, he had gone from spectator to direct participant. The overwhelming stimulation of a woman's body on a virgin was amplified tenfold. A faint rose-colored flush spread across Tang San's skin. The intense arousal made his breathing grow heavy, and golden threads of blood began to appear in his eyes. Qian Renxue's sweet-scented, scorching breath washed over him continuously, and her bewitching whispers sounded at his ear: "I want it… give it to me…"
Sea God Mountain. Sea God Island. Sea God Temple.
The six Shrek monsters, their entire bodies bathed in golden light, stared in dumbfounded astonishment at the scene of inheritance playing out in that other world. Dai Mubai, Oscar, and Ma Hongjun all cried out almost in unison: "It's over."
They were men too. They had all been with women. They knew all too well just how intense the stimulation Tang San was facing truly was. They told themselves honestly that in this situation, they would absolutely be unable to hold back — to say nothing of the fact that Tang San was still a virgin who had never known a woman.
Ning Rongrong and Zhu Zhuqing had gone crimson with embarrassment, closing their eyes and refusing to look. In this moment, they could not even manage to pray for Tang San.
Xiao Wu's gaze had gone blank. Tears slid slowly down her face. She said nothing, but her heart ached so badly she could barely breathe. Watching Tang San entangled by another woman's naked body — even if it was only an illusion — she could not accept it. Brother… could it really be that you…
In that moment, Xiao Wu felt utterly powerless throughout her entire body. She could fight to the death to help Tang San when his life was in danger, but facing this scene — as a young woman — there was absolutely nothing she could do.
But in the very next instant, Dai Mubai, Oscar, and Ma Hongjun all widened their eyes, staring in utter disbelief at the scene of inheritance.
Tang San was still standing there quietly. He had not moved. But the gaze that had turned heated just moments ago had suddenly gone ice-cold. A single word left his lips, cold as frost.
"Scram."
The naked Qian Renxue clinging to Tang San's body shuddered violently. She stopped her movements. Tears surged from her eyes, and she looked up at Tang San, her voice desolate: "Why?"
Tang San said flatly: "Because you are not her. My body belongs to Xiao Wu alone."
Boom— Qian Renxue's body instantly burst into a shower of golden flames, blazing before Tang San's eyes, consuming the illusion and everything within it to ash.
Indeed, carnal desire was a trial few men could overcome. But when the illusion appeared, when Tang San had watched that explicit scene unfold, he had been silently repeating four words in his heart. Even as he watched, his blood boiling with desire, those four words had remained ever-present in the depths of his mind. And at the final moment, it was those four words that pulled his heart back.
The four words Tang San had been silently reciting were the very ones Xiao Wu had sent to him through their spiritual bond earlier: That is not me.
Yes — Qian Renxue was not Xiao Wu. This was not his love. No matter how powerful desire grew, it could not surpass Tang San's love for Xiao Wu. At the critical moment, he had snapped back to awareness and forcibly wrenched himself free from the grip of desire. Aside from Xiao Wu, no other woman would ever receive anything from Tang San but four words — his heart was hard as iron.
Within Sea God Mountain and the Sea God Temple, Xiao Wu was weeping. Her heart trembled, and her soul trembled with it. All that escaped her lips was one word repeated over and over: "Brother… Brother…"
The scene returned to normal. Above the seventh circular platform, the left arm bone floated in the air, and within the nourishment of the golden waves, it took on the form of the Titan Giant Ape. Though far smaller in size, the Titan Giant Ape had now turned entirely golden. Its gaze upon Tang San held nothing but gentleness.
With a silent sigh in his heart, Tang San finally understood why Qian Renxue had been so tolerant at the beginning of her pursuit of him. If he was not mistaken, the scene he had just witnessed must have been real. During her inheritance, a vision of union with him had appeared within Qian Renxue's consciousness. And since she had already become a god, that vision must have played a role in her ascension. No wonder she had been so lenient with him.
Seven of the eight trials had been passed. Tang San's right hand swept across the Ruyi Treasure Purse, and the soft, elastic whale pearl appeared in his grasp. He had not forgotten what the Sea God had told him — to pass the eighth trial, the whale pearl would serve an unexpected purpose. Having come this far, a faint smile finally surfaced on Tang San's face.
Joy, anger, sorrow, fear, love, disgust, desire — all seven emotions had been overcome. If not for the damage to the Sea God's Heart, he should have already completed the Sea God's inheritance. And the final step before him now was the one he most wanted to perform: to restore the divine might of the Sea God's Trident.
The eighth platform drifted before Tang San. Along with it came the dark Sea God's Trident.
The Sea God's Trident still looked as profound and mysterious as ever. Only that hollow in the center made Tang San's heart ache with a dull pain.
With utmost care, he pressed the soft whale pearl against it. Tang San removed the Twenty-Four Bridges Moonlit Night from his waist and upended without reservation the whale brain it contained — more than a cubic meter's worth. He seized the first piece and used it to affix the whale pearl, now slightly deformed from being pressed into the trident's hollow, into place. Then he slowly planted the Sea God's Trident upright in the pile of whale brain.
A brilliant blue light shot from the Sea God's Trident mark on Tang San's forehead. The intense blue radiance illuminated the Sea God's Trident as he released his mental power without reservation, without technique — Tang San merely gazed at the Sea God's Trident with a calm, steady look, continuously channeling his Sea God's Light. In his heart, there was only a devout plea.
"Come back, my partner. Even if it costs me everything I have, I will bring you back."
The Sea God's Light grew ever more intense. The dark Sea God's Trident had been enveloped in a cocoon of blue. As though influenced by the Sea God's Light, the whale brain from the Deep Sea Demon Whale King gradually turned blue as well, slowly, drop by drop, merging into the Sea God's Trident.
The whale pearl, under the fusion of the now-blue whale brain, was truly seated into the hollow, gradually absorbing the Sea God's divine radiance emanating from Tang San.
The process stretched on for what felt like an eternity. The golden ocean surrounding the platform grew calm as well — no more waves, as though it had transformed into a boundless golden lake.
No matter how formidable one's mental power might be, it was ultimately finite. What was more, Tang San had already expended enormous amounts of energy during the seven emotions trial. Gradually, his mental power approached the point of exhaustion — he was even beginning to push beyond his limits. Yet Tang San continued to channel the Sea God's Light, repeating the process. The only change in his entire body was perhaps his eyes, which shifted from their earlier calm to something resolute and unwavering.
The words he had spoken to the Sea God's Trident were a man's promise. He had endured so many hardships to reach this point. At this final moment, there was no way Tang San was going to give up.
Time ticked by, second by second. Tang San's body began to tremble, his face as pale as snow. The Sea God's Trident mark on his forehead grew dimmer and dimmer. Yet still he gritted his teeth and held on, refusing to stop the output of Sea God's Light. A feeling persisted in his heart: if he stopped now, he might never be able to restore the Sea God's Trident again.
Just then, the platform beneath Tang San's feet suddenly began to glow. Of the eight small circular platforms that had surrounded the central one, the seven platforms representing the emotions — all except the eighth, which had come before Tang San — began slowly revolving around his body. The golden mist upon each platform transformed into intense golden radiance, making everything around Tang San shine all the brighter.
The first to activate was the Eight Spider Lances, which had long since reached the divine level and, through Tang San's efforts, had been transformed into the Sea God's Eight Wings. The Sea God's Eight Wings rose into the air. Under the pillar of golden light, they expanded further, and a faint blue luminescence rippled across the wave-patterned cloud motifs, dyeing the entire Sea God's Eight Wings in a magnificent blue-gold.
The circular platform that supported them shot upward, positioning itself above Tang San's head. A searing beam of golden light descended from above, enveloping Tang San's body. The blue-gold Sea God's Eight Wings rose into flight as well, dancing through the air before descending to land upon his back.
A scalding sensation washed through him. Tang San, who had been on the verge of complete exhaustion, felt as though he had been given a shot of adrenaline. His body shuddered again, but this time it was a shudder born of rebirth and euphoria. The searing energy soaked into his parched meridians, and his mental power surged back to life. The Sea God's Light, which had grown feeble to the point of extinction, blazed strong once more. Tang San felt a vast ocean of energy pouring into his body from behind, surging wildly through every channel and fusing with his being. The sensation was unparalleled — exhaustion and weakness had vanished entirely.