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The four women stepped out of the light portal. They looked around at the unfamiliar environment in a daze before their eyes fell on Tang Chen, welling up with surprise and excitement.
Tang Chen, are you alright?
The four of them crowded forward, asking questions all at once. They had been protected by the Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud for several days and knew nothing of what had happened outside. They only knew that after that storm, Tang Chen had taken them into the shroud to face everything alone.
Tang Chen smiled slightly and raised his hand to signal them to be quiet. Don't worry, I am fine. The Deep Sea Demon Whale King is dead, and we are now on Sea God Island.
The Deep Sea Demon Whale King is dead? Sea God Island?
The four women looked at each other, unsure which piece of news to be shocked by first.
Bo Saixi, however, paid no attention to their reactions at all. Her gaze was fixed intently on the Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud in Tang Chen's palm and the four figures that had emerged from the light shroud. She wondered how a spatial spirit tool could accommodate living beings.
Even as the High Priestess of the Sea God, she had only heard of the true power of the Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud. It was said that the Sea God Poseidon had once used this shroud to carry thousands of troops across the vast ocean. And now, this Divine Artifact was right before her eyes, in the hands of a young man who was not even twenty years old.
Tang Chen, where did you get this Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud?
Bo Saixi took a deep breath, trying to calm the stormy waves in her heart.
Tang Chen looked at her and spoke in a calm voice. This was bestowed by the imperial family of the Heaven Dou Empire.
Bo Saixi frowned slightly but did not press further. She only gave Tang Chen a deep look, her shock and curiosity deepening.
It does not matter. Since you have companions, let them also accept the trials together. The Seagod Nine Trials are an opportunity meant for all Spirit Masters in the world. Are you willing to try?
She waved her hand, suppressing the turmoil in her heart as she looked at the four women with a gentle yet scrutinizing gaze.
Ye Lengleng, Dugu Yan, Ning Rongrong, and Xiao Rui'er looked at each other and then all turned to Tang Chen.
Tang Chen nodded to them. Since we are already here, you should give it a try.
Only then did the four women bow to Bo Saixi. Thank you, High Priestess.
Bo Saixi nodded and turned back to the Sea God Sacred Pillar. Her hands formed seals again, and the azure pillar of light continued to soar into the sky.
Since it is a group trial, step forward one by one and place your hand on the sacred pillar. The sacred pillar will determine your trial level on its own. Remember, whatever the result is, do not force it. You go first, Tang Chen.
Tang Chen shook his head. Let them go first. I will be the finale.
Bo Saixi raised an eyebrow slightly but did not object, simply looking at the four women. Who wants to go first?
Ye Lengleng took a deep breath and stepped forward. I will go.
She walked to the sacred pillar and reached out her slender hand, gently pressing it against the stone. Instantly, the sacred pillar burst into bright light. Azure light enveloped Ye Lengleng, and a gentle yet vast power began to flow through her body. It felt as if it was searching every inch of her meridians, every spirit ring, and every bit of her potential. A moment later, four large characters appeared on the sacred pillar.
Black Rank Fifth Trial.
Bo Saixi nodded slightly. A Black Rank Fifth Trial is already superior. Those who can reach the fifth trial have a chance to receive the gifts of Lord Sea God.
Ye Lengleng withdrew her hand, a flash of surprise in her eyes, and stepped aside.
The second to step forward was Dugu Yan. The purple-haired woman had a cold expression as she pressed her hand against the sacred pillar. The light shone again, and this time, it was even more dazzling than the light for Ye Lengleng. The characters that appeared on the sacred pillar were clear.
Black Rank Sixth Trial.
A flash of admiration appeared in Bo Saixi's eyes. Your Jade Phosphorous Serpent Spirit and your Dao of Poison conflict with Lord Sea God's Dao of Inclusion. Yet you still reached the Black Rank Sixth Trial. Your talent is quite good.
Dugu Yan's lips curled slightly, and she stepped aside.
The third was Ning Rongrong. The petite girl swallowed nervously and carefully pressed her hand against the sacred pillar. In an instant, the light became completely blinding. A light that was several times stronger than the previous two soared into the sky, and the entire Sea God Sacred Pillar trembled slightly. The Sea God patterns on the pillar moved frantically, as if they were excited by some special resonance. Bo Saixi's pupils constricted. On the sacred pillar, four large characters slowly emerged.
Red Level Seven Trials.
Red Level?
Bo Saixi blurted out the words, her eyes full of absolute disbelief. The Red Level Seven Trials were second only to the top-tier trials. In the entire history of Sea God Island, the number of people who could reach the Red Level did not exceed five. And this little girl, who looked no more than fifteen or sixteen years old, actually managed to trigger it. She suddenly looked at the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda in Ning Rongrong's arms, and a flash of understanding crossed her eyes.
The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda is the number one support spirit in the world. So that is why it happened. Lord Sea God was also a powerhouse skilled in the Dao of support back then. No wonder he has such a strong resonance with the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda.
Bo Saixi murmured these words, her eyes full of emotion. Ning Rongrong felt a bit embarrassed by her intense gaze and retreated to Tang Chen's side with a red face.
The fourth was Xiao Rui'er. The short-haired woman strode forward and pressed her hand against the sacred pillar decisively. The light shone, steady and bright. The characters that appeared on the sacred pillar showed her results.
Black Rank Sixth Trial.
Xiao Rui'er nodded without much expression and stepped aside. With the four women finished, everyone's gaze fell on Tang Chen.
Bo Saixi took a deep breath, suppressing the anticipation and curiosity in her heart. Tang Chen, it is your turn now.
Tang Chen stepped forward slowly and stood before the Sea God Sacred Pillar. He did not reach out immediately but looked up at the hundred-meter-tall giant pillar and the azure light that pierced the clouds. The Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud glowed slightly at his brow, and the Asura Demon Sword trembled gently in his spirit sea. He felt a strange resonance. It was the resonance between the Sea God and the Asura God. It was the resonance of water and slaughter, the resonance of life and destruction.
He took a deep breath, reached out his right hand, and pressed it gently against the sacred pillar. In an instant, the entire world changed color. The sea breeze stopped, the waves stilled, and even the clouds in the sky froze in place. Then, a low and distant hum sounded from deep within the sacred pillar. It sounded like a giant beast that had been sleeping for ten thousand years was slowly waking up, or like a heavy sigh from an ancient deity. The humming grew louder and brighter, shaking the entire Sea God Island.
The next moment, all seven sacred pillars burst into light simultaneously. The deep blue of the Sea Dragon Pillar, the golden yellow of the Sea Spear Pillar, the emerald green of the Sea Horse Pillar, the purple-red of the Sea Star Pillar, and the ink black of the Sea Ghost Pillar all reacted. Seven colors of light intertwined and rose, turning into seven pillars of light that soared into the sky and converged at a single point a thousand meters high. That point was dazzlingly bright, like a second sun in the sky.
The world changed color completely. The originally clear sky suddenly darkened, and boundless dark clouds surged from all directions. They converged into a massive vortex that blotted out the sun over Sea God Island. The center of the vortex was exactly where the seven-colored lights converged. Thunder roared loudly in the clouds, and purple electric snakes slithered frantically through the darkness. The sea began to churn violently, and the waves rose higher and higher. They went up ten meters, fifty meters, and then a hundred meters. Finally, they turned into towering waves hundreds of meters high, roaring toward Sea God Island.
However, at the very moment the giant waves were about to swallow the island, a holy golden light descended from the heavens. That golden light fell from the center of the vortex, looking dazzling and pure. The moment it fell, the hundred-meter waves suddenly became calm, the wind and rain quietly dissipated, and even the dark clouds in the sky began to retreat. The golden light enveloped the Sea God Sacred Pillar, Tang Chen, and the entire Sea God Island.
Within that golden light, a massive phantom slowly emerged. It was a grand figure that towered between heaven and earth. He was hundreds of meters tall, and his entire body was shrouded in brilliant golden light. His face could not be seen clearly. One could only vaguely discern that he wore magnificent divine armor and held a massive fifty-meter-long trident. Behind him floated a golden halo that was as bright as the sun.
It was the phantom of the Sea God Poseidon. A true deity had descended upon the mortal world.
On Sea God Island, all the Sacred Pillar Guardians, all Sea Soul Masters, and all servants stopped their actions at this moment. No matter what they were doing, they all knelt toward the giant phantom.
Sea God above! We welcome Lord Sea God!
Countless people prostrated themselves on the ground, their foreheads pressed against the earth, their bodies trembling with intense excitement. They had guarded Sea God Island their entire lives, and their greatest wish was to see the Sea God's true face with their own eyes. And now, their lifelong wish had come true.
On the fishing boats around the island, the fishermen who were out fishing saw this incredible scene. They saw the phenomenon in the sky, the golden phantom standing between heaven and earth, and that massive trident.
It is the Sea God! Lord Sea God has manifested!
The fishermen knelt on the decks, kowtowing desperately toward Sea God Island with tears blurring their eyes. They had worshipped the Sea God for generations. To finally see his true face today meant they could die without any regrets.
And beneath the sacred pillar, Bo Saixi, the High Priestess of Sea God Island and the Sea God's spokesperson in the mortal world, also knelt on the ground. But she did not lower her head. Instead, she looked up at the phantom, her beautiful face completely covered in tears. It had been over a hundred years. She had guarded Sea God Island for over a hundred years, and she had waited for the Sea God's successor for just as long. She had seen this figure countless times in her dreams, and she had called this name countless times in her prayers. Today, she finally saw him in reality.
And within that golden light, Tang Chen still stood exactly where he was. It was not that he did not want to kneel, but he simply could not move his body at all. The golden light enveloped him like a warm ocean. He felt a vast and gentle power pouring into his body, searching his meridians, cleansing his spirit, and resonating strongly with the Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud inside him. The Asura Demon Sword trembled slightly in his spirit sea, seeming somewhat repulsed by this power, but it eventually settled into calm.
The golden light grew stronger and brighter until finally, an even more brilliant golden pillar of light crashed down from the center of the vortex, shining directly onto Tang Chen. At that moment, Tang Chen only felt a burning, stinging pain at his brow. He subconsciously closed his eyes and gritted his teeth, letting the stinging pain spread across his forehead. The stinging pain lasted for about three breaths before turning into a warm current that slowly dispersed.
When he opened his eyes again, cries of surprise rose all around him from his companions.
Look at his forehead! That is the Seagod Mark!
Ye Lengleng, Dugu Yan, Ning Rongrong, and Xiao Rui'er widened their eyes, looking at Tang Chen's brow in absolute disbelief. There, a golden trident mark was slowly taking shape. The trident had three blades, with the middle one slightly longer and the two side ones shorter. Its entire body flowed with golden light, reflecting the original Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud mark on Tang Chen's brow before they finally merged into one, becoming an even more complex and holy pattern.
It was the Seagod Mark. Only a true Sea God successor was qualified to possess such a holy mark.
In the sky, the massive Sea God phantom slowly lowered its head as if it was watching the young man below. He did not speak or move, he just watched him quietly. But everyone could feel the gratification, anticipation, and a faint sigh in that gaze. Then, the phantom began to dissipate into the air. Starting from the feet, it slowly turned into countless golden points of light, drifting between the sea and sky like fireflies. Then the legs, torso, arms, and finally that face which had always remained blurred disappeared.
When the last trace of light vanished, a faint whisper came down from the sky.
The successor has finally arrived. I have waited for so long.
The golden light faded away, the dark clouds retreated, and sunlight once again spilled over the calm sea. Everything returned to peace, as if the celestial phenomenon from just now had never happened at all. But everyone knew that everything had changed completely because the successor of the Sea God had finally appeared.
Bo Saixi slowly stood up, her gaze fixed on the golden mark on Tang Chen's brow. Her body was trembling slightly, her eyes full of excitement, gratification, and a hint of complex emotion. Over a hundred years had passed. She had guarded this island for over a hundred years, waiting for that person to appear. She had waited from her youth until her hair began to turn gray, moving from boiling blood until her heart was as still as water. Finally, she had waited long enough.
She took a deep breath and walked toward Tang Chen, each step carrying an indescribable solemnity. Under the shocked gazes of everyone present, this high and mighty High Priestess of the Sea God actually bowed slowly to Tang Chen. Her voice rang out across the entire Sea God Island, carrying uncontrollable excitement and deep piety.
Young man, I have waited for you for over a hundred years, and finally, I have found you.
The entire place fell into an uproar. The Sacred Pillar Guardians widened their eyes, watching this scene in complete disbelief. But no one dared to speak a word, because the one the High Priestess was kneeling to was not just that young man, but the holy mark on his forehead and the Sea God standing behind him.
Tang Chen was also completely stunned by this action. He had not expected Bo Saixi to perform such a great rite and quickly reached out his hands to support her.
High Priestess, what are you doing? Please stand up.
Bo Saixi rose with the help of his hand, her eyes filled with tears but her face wearing a warm smile.
This is the rule of Sea God Island. Every Sea God successor must receive a bow from the High Priestess. The mark on your forehead is the proof personally selected by Lord Sea God himself. From this day forward, you are the Young Lord of Sea God Island, and you are the true future master of this place.
Tang Chen opened his mouth, unsure of what to say for a moment. Just then, an old and gratified voice sounded from behind him.
Good, this is very good.
Tang Chen walked over slowly, supported by two Sea Soul Masters. His face was pale and his steps were unsteady, but the light in his eyes was brighter than ever before. He looked at Tang Chen and the golden mark, his eyes full of intense pride and deep emotion.
I did not expect this. I really did not expect my direct descendant to have such an incredible opportunity. A Sea God successor is excellent. Chen'er, you are much more excellent than your great-grandfather ever imagined. With you leading the Clear Sky Sect, your great-grandfather can die in peace.