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Fifteen minutes later.
The Sea Dragon Douluo withdrew from the Academic Realm, his face a canvas of pure amazement. Were those the Spirit Masters of the Continent? In that brief window, he had achieved something once thought impossible: seamless communication and exchange between Sea God Island and the mainland. He was equally staggered by the existence of the "Mountain of Books and Sea of Learning" and the Spirit Battle Arenas within that mental space.
"Truly worthy of the title 'Grand Scholar'," he remarked, his tone shifting noticeably. The skepticism was gone, replaced by a sincere thread of respect.
"I intend to establish an Academy on Sea God Island," Su Wen stated, revealing his purpose. "I want to provide Spirit Imprints for the sea spirit masters here, allowing them to enter the Academic Realm without leaving the island."
This was the task assigned by the Sea God, so Su Wen wasn't particularly worried about being accused of competing for the power of faith or anything of the sort. Perhaps his title as Grand Scholar would garner its own faith from the sea spirit masters, but the Academic Realm's existence created a network of connectivity. Spirit Masters on isolated islands would no longer be cut off from the world; the entire ocean would be linked as one. The benefits to the sea were undeniable.
Even if a new figure appeared in the prayers of the sea spirit masters, the total faith harvested by the Sea God would likely increase, not decrease, as the population thrived and connected. This was a win-win scenario, much like the cooperation between Su Wen's Academic Realm and the Spirit Battle Arenas back home.
"Build an Academy on Sea God Island?" The Sea Dragon Douluo frowned, clearly considering the implications of faith.
However, Su Wen was undergoing a Divine Trial. Although the nature of these trials differed from what they knew of the Sea God's traditional succession, it was a divine mandate nonetheless. After a moment's hesitation, the Sea Dragon Douluo nodded in approval.
Firstly, if this was a Divine Trial, even if Su Wen wasn't destined to take the Sea God's seat, his progress had certainly caught the God's eye. As long as the Sea God remained silent, it meant the construction was permitted. Secondly, the Academic Realm was a leap forward for the island itself. Sea God Island was isolated by geography, not by a desire to remain primitive.
The Sea Dragon Douluo himself was a prime example—he had been cooped up on the island for so long with no worthy opponents that his hands were practically itching for action. If he could interact with mainland masters while maintaining a degree of anonymity, he was more than willing. The Academic Realm provided exactly that platform.
"Very well. I will contact the other six Guardians. Once they agree, you may begin construction in the seven major cities," the Sea Dragon Douluo said. Turning to the Battle Heaven Douluo, he added, "Brother Battle Heaven, I've asked Xiao Bai to help scout the surrounding waters for your target. We should have word within the month. When the time comes, I'll join you to hunt down that Bloodthirsty Mad Shark that's on the verge of becoming a Great Beast."
"Good," the Battle Heaven Douluo replied, patient as ever. Finding a specific target in the vast ocean was a needle-in-a-haystack task. Even though he was eager for the reward—a five-hundred-year boost to his nine spirit rings—he knew how to wait.
"You can start your construction here in Sea Witch City. They've already experienced it, and the Sea Witch Douluo shouldn't object. I'll fly over to Starfish City to break the news to the others," the Sea Dragon Douluo finished, taking to the skies in a blur of blue light.
Su Wen turned to the residents who had just returned from their mental journey. "Everyone, I shall have to trouble you with the construction of the Academy." He cupped his hands in a respectful salute.
"Grand Scholar, rest easy! We will build it with the utmost speed!"
"That's right!"
Su Wen's first trial proceeded with remarkable smoothness. In just one month, Academies were completed in all seven cities. Under the organized leadership of the Guardian Douluos, the sea spirit masters of the island all received their own Spirit Imprints.
Su Wen sat quietly, holding a golden bead in his hand. It looked like a crystal carved from pure light, transparent and flawless, save for a faint, swirling golden mist trapped inside.
He observed this God-Bestowed Spirit Ring closely, probing it with his mental power. He could feel a terrifying force gestating within.
Is this divine power? Or is it the Power of Faith? Su Wen wondered. He shook his head almost immediately; he could sense faith, and this felt... different. Similar, but not identical.
"I hope to learn more when I finally absorb it," Su Wen murmured, stowing the bead away. He focused his consciousness on the mark on his forehead, receiving the information for his second trial.
As the details flooded his mind, Su Wen's expression shifted significantly.
"Divine Nine Trials. Second Trial: Awaken a Second Martial Soul—a Body Martial Soul. Reward: Divine Power Body Tempering."
The content of the trial was both shocking and perfectly aligned with his previous theories.
Having entered the Life-and-Death Arena twice and experienced the sensation of "re-awakening" his martial soul, Su Wen was intimately familiar with the feeling of a soul breaking out of its shell. During his second stay—the time he dealt with Tang Chen—he had felt a strong impulse to attempt a self-awakening of his own body as a martial soul.
He had known back then that it wasn't a standard procedure. Awakening a gestating soul is one thing; awakening one's own self as a soul is a different beast entirely. It was a project he had sidelined as a "major undertaking." He had hoped the Sea God would provide assistance in this area eventually.
He just hadn't expected it to be Trial Number Two.
Does the Sea God believe that awakening a Body Martial Soul isn't actually that difficult? Su Wen felt a surge of confidence. If the Sea God placed this so early in the sequence, it meant Su Wen should be able to complete it in short order with his current foundation.
Shortly after receiving the mission, the Sea Dragon Douluo approached him.
"Grand Scholar, we have received instructions from Lord Sea God to assist you with your second trial."
"Oh?" Su Wen was surprised. Support?
"While we do not know the exact details of your task, Lord Sea God has given us a prompt: you are to traverse the Sea God's Light using nothing but your physical body," the Sea Dragon Douluo explained.
Su Wen's eyes flashed with calculation. He began to deduce the Sea God's intent. Is the plan to use the pressure of the Sea God's Light to crush the physical shell, allowing me to better sense the latent changes within my own anatomy?
(End of Chapter)