"Old Jing, let's go over that linked defense soul tool array again!" Qian Duoduo pulled Jing Hongchen towards the lab.
Jing Hongchen could only give a wry smile.
Really… he's suffering in old age.
Su Wen twitched a smile.
A full-blown reversal.
He still remembered Qian's days of worry, now transformed into wild scientific enthusiasm.
Qian's business with Su Wen this time, though, was about the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda.
Since ten thousand years ago, Ning Fengzhi had renamed it.
Henceforth, every few generations, a new Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda user would appear—in this era, it was Ning Hao.
Ning Tian remained at seven tiers, but, with Su Wen's help and Beautiful Silk Tulip, broke through to the ninth, earning the whole pagoda's friendship…
But this "Nine Treasure" was not the old "Nine Treasure."
Now, the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda had become a true giant, rivaling sects across the continents and overseeing a vast business empire.
Meanwhile, after Spirit Hall's downfall, its remnants fled to the Star Luo Empire and blended into the nobility. For ten thousand years, there remained old followers trying to "restore Spirit Hall," only to be crushed by Shrek Academy.
After the divine war—
Bibi Dong died, but Qian Renxue ascended.
Thus angel worship persisted, becoming the "Holy Angel" organization, where those with the purest Angel Spirits held the highest rank.
"Tsk…"
Su Wen sighed in wonder.
No wonder things nearly went off the rails—too much had changed. He could already imagine the chaos to come in the All-Continent Soul Master Tournament to be hosted by the Sun Moon Empire.
Who'd have thought Spirit Hall, Shrek, and the great empires would all end up at the same table?
Tsk, tsk…
But overall, nothing else had changed.
The Sun Moon Empire was still an undeniable leader in soul tool tech—especially mecha and militarization.
Back to business—Ning Hao was here for Su Wen about "Battle Armor" investment.
Though the Nine Treasure Glazed Sect elites weren't weak in soul tool science, they were just investing purely in Su Wen as a person, pouring resources in.
Su Wen was happy to accept.
After all, Shrek was his, and the stronger it was, the better for him.
———
In Azure Luan's Poke Ball.
"What's this?" Wang Dong'er's pink eyes sparkled as she eagerly examined the Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud and Sea God's Trident in Su Wen's hands.
"Feel anything?" Su Wen asked.
"Yes..." Wang Dong'er gently touched the Sea God's Trident, pausing, then nodding.
The trident gave off another gentle hum.
Faint blue light shone.
It felt like it was acknowledging her. The Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud also responded, becoming a blue orb and sinking into Wang Dong'er's smooth forehead. She felt dazed for a moment, then surprised.
"Su Wen, I…"
"Don't speak."
Su Wen's mouth twitched.
His own status was suddenly drastically raised, as if he was viewing things from the perspective of a god, overseeing his… inheritor. Wait, inheritor? What the heck…?
I became the Sea God?!!
Only now did he realize how inexplicably massive his Sea God faith had become.
Far higher than before.
But that alone shouldn't allow him to wield the two divine artifacts—normally only the Sea God could control them.
Yet he could now use them as extensions of his will.
"Tsk…"
Su Wen narrowed his eyes in thought.
Perhaps, if the shield meets its proper inheritor, it tries to "contact" Sea God, but since this place is cut off from the God Realm, the "phone line" got diverted to him?
No matter—it was a rare chance.
Su Wen took a deep breath.
Maybe… he could snatch the Sea God position from Tang San, without anyone knowing.
Turning to Wang Dong'er, he pointed at her forehead gently. A mini trident symbol surfaced, followed by the artifact becoming blue light and entering her.
Su Wen: "…"
It actually work…?!!
He had secretly used the Sea God's "authority" to pass Wang Dong'er into the "Divine Trial".
Meaning, as soon as Wang Dong'er left, she could go to Sea God Island for the divine test.
And this wasn't some side challenge for soul masters on the island; this was the true Divine Trial! Practically a guaranteed god-ascension.
The same path Tang San once walked.
"Dong'er, do you want to become the Sea God?"
Su Wen looked oddly at her.
"Sea God?" She hesitated, "But… isn't that his position?"
"Would he really pass it to me?"
She knew—if he passed it to anyone, it would be his own real daughter, not her, a mere "tool."
"Hehe. Don't think about whether you can—just say, do you want it?" Su Wen grinned.
"Of course! That's a god position, the dream of countless people..." Wang Dong'er nodded after a moment's thought.
"Once you become a god, you can even forge the trident into something you like—say, an axe or whatever." Su Wen smiled mischievously.
"Why an axe?" Wang Dong'er tilted her head, puzzled.
"Probably feels more powerful to swing…" Su Wen shrugged.
Wang Dong'er: "…."
"In any case, head immediately to Sea God Island. If you don't know the way, have Bai Xiuxiu go with you."
"Blub blub—"
Bai Xiuxiu surfaced from the lake.
"You wish to transfer the Sea God's position to her?" She looked from Su Wen to Wang Dong'er.
"Yes."
"As you command, milord." Bai Xiuxiu slipped back underwater.
Wang Dong'er stared in shock: "You're the Sea God?!!"
Su Wen spoke calmly: "Perhaps…"
In this timeline, Wang Dong'er would get the true "divine artifacts" of the Sea God. Tang San… seemed to have ended up with fakes.