"You really met the Sea God?!" Xiao Bai looked incredulously at her utterly transformed daughter, hesitating to speak.
"Yes," Bai Xiuxiu's enormous dragon form circled around Xiao Bai's comparatively "petite" body, eyes full of familial joy.
Xiao Bai: "..."
She opened her mouth, but swallowed her words.
Last time Bai Xiuxiu claimed to have met the Sea God, she and her husband had both scolded her for blasphemy—after all, her only reason was that the Sea God was... "handsome, human, that's all"...
Who'd have thought?
This silly girl was right after all.
It really is the Sea God!!!
She exchanged awkward glances with her husband.
"First trial: Reach Pearl Island..." Ling Jing's voice faltered, looking dazed.
The seven sacred pillars grew anxious: "Priest Whale, what happens after arriving? Do we need to intervene?" Eager to show off, they hoped to create trouble for the candidates.
But Ling Jing just stayed silent.
After the seven pillars nearly jumped with impatience, he finally said quietly, "Nothing more."
"Nothing more? What do you mean, nothing?" Sea Dragon Douluo asked blankly.
"That's it. Just arrive at Pearl Island," Ling Jing repeated.
"So... that's the end?!" the sea pillars were stunned.
"That's right!" Ling Jing nodded.
"But..." Seahorse Douluo's mouth twitched.
"These are the Sea God's Nine Trials—the ultimate trials more dreadful than even top-tier divine trials. Once started, there's no quitting! They're said to be necessary to become the Sea God—how could it be so easy?" Sea Star Douluo's eyes gleamed.
"So you mean—?"
"There must be countless traps and difficulties around Pearl Island set by the Sea God in advance..."
"Ah, I understand!"
The sea pillars suddenly realized, lavishing praise.
Hours later—
They watched helplessly as Wang Dong'er, carried by Bai Xiuxiu, lightly placed a foot on Pearl Island's sandy shore...
Ling Jing checked his list—the first item now had a big checkmark.
Everyone: "..."
"Grandpa Ling Jing, I've completed the first trial! What's next?" Wang Dong'er ran over, her face aglow with excitement.
Ling Jing's mouth twitched: "First... your reward. Six levels of progression…and a spirit bone."
As he watched her cultivation soar from rank 54 to 60, Ling Jing checked the next trial:
"Trial Two: Bathe in the Sea God's Light, climb the 333 steps! (External help permitted.)"
External help?
At first, Ling Jing paid it little mind.
That is, until Wang Dong'er, after reaching the 133rd step, was about to collapse—when a spatial fluctuation teleported her in an instant straight to the 333rd step. The crushing divine pressure reduced her body to bloody mist, but then a magnificent azure phoenix appeared in the sky, reviving her...
"Trial Two: Passed."
Su Wen stopped monitoring Wang Dong'er.
Even with his cheats maxed out, the Sea God's Nine Trials still had some limits—especially the final ones, which required months even at top speed.
He turned his attention to the continental situation.
Where peace had once reigned, conflict now burned. The trigger: a quarrel between the patrols of the Sun-Moon Empire and the Star Luo Empire in the Mingdou Mountains—a long-smoldering powder keg, and the Sun-Moon Empire was clearly ready.
Troops stationed in the mountains far exceeded the Star Luo Empire's expectations, including two beast spirit master regiments and eight soul engineer battalions, which attacked Duke White Tiger's line.
Unlike the original timeline, this time, thanks to more widespread soul tool technology, the ten thousand-strong army held out longer. They lost over 40,000 soldiers, but still managed to hold the Mingdou Mountains...
Until Shrek Academy and reinforcements from the original empires arrived.
Meanwhile, the Sun-Moon Empire advanced on all fronts.
Two additional beast spirit master regiments landed from the coast, attacking both east and west of the mountains—one marching north through Star Luo Empire territory, another breaking through Heavenly Soul Empire's Mapleleaf City en route to join forces with the other regiment.
"Tch. The link-up defensive soul tools have already been developed..." Su Wen frowned.
But the real rulers weren't Xu Tianran, but the old emperor...
Xu Tianran, struck by over 20 rays from soul tools, had committed suicide in his palace.
The Holy Spirit Sect had become the Sun-Moon Empire's state religion.
Evidently, these two forces had become entwined.
But the Sun-Moon Empire's real confidence for starting this continental war was not the Holy Spirit Sect, but... the remnants of Spirit Hall?!
Back when Tang San had cracked down on the Spirit Hall,
The Worship Hall, led by Qian Daoliu, cut ties. The rest of Spirit Hall were driven across the sea and ended up by chance within the Sun-Moon Empire.
Coincidentally, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan had published advanced soul tool crafting methods, fueling a technological boom there. The Spirit Hall remnants quickly adopted the name and doctrine anew, becoming close allies of the Sun-Moon Empire.
Saint Angels, however, remained active on the original continent—irreconcilable foes.
"The top combatants are around level 98 Super Douluo... tch," Su Wen mused.
"Spirit Hall still has its tricks—spreading their doctrine to the commoners, granting free martial spirit awakenings. Now, talents are abundant, the strong even more so."
"But they lean more on soul tool users."
"Whatever—let's check it out."
Su Wen decided.
He didn't want to miss the excitement.
Especially as the war approached the gates of Shrek Academy...
One beast spirit master regiment, attacking from the Mingdou Mountains' eastern flank, was already advancing toward Shrek Academy with strong logistical support.
"Meeting now!"
Su Wen coughed softly.
"Yes!"
Behind him, Nana nodded and ghosted away to summon everyone. Dozens of elders rushed to Sea God Pavilion, sitting solemnly in rows.
The doors opened.
Su Wen entered, and all talk ceased. Qian Duoduo, Yan Shaozhe, and other younger members rose to greet him.
"Have a seat, everyone," Su Wen gestured, sitting at the main seat.
Eyes sharp, he scanned the room.
"Let me keep it brief," Su Wen said.
Shrek Academy's foundation was overdue for a major overhaul...
....