Sea God Island.
Ye Lingling and the others had already completed the third trial, Tidal Body Refining.
Unbeknownst to them, they had already been on Sea God Island for over three years. In these three years, everyone's strength had made a qualitative leap.
The high-pressure training also led everyone, just like in Tang San's original work, to choose to rest after the third trial ended.
Less than a month after the third trial began, Ye Lingling was the first to Breakthrough to Rank 80. After the Snow Empress evolved her last spirit ring, her spirit power reached Rank 81. After more than a year of training through the third trial, her strength increased by another Rank, reaching Rank 82.
As for Zhu Zhuqing and Dugu Yan, they followed closely behind Ye Lingling, breaking through to Rank 80 about a month later. After Chi Wang and Xiong Jun evolved their spirit rings, they reached Rank 81. They also improved by one Rank after more than a year of training, but with the end of the third trial, they both received the Rank rewards from the assessment.
Therefore, their current spirit power has surpassed Ye Lingling's, reaching Rank 83.
The Shi Family Brothers and Yu Feng have all reached above Rank 70.
Oscar, Ning Rongrong, and Ma Hongjun are still Spirit Emperor, a certain distance from Spirit Saint.
Shi Quan's parents have the lowest strength, both at Rank 59 Spirit King.
Upon reaching the fourth trial, everyone's assessments finally differed.
Shi Quan's parents' fourth trial was to defeat a ten-thousand-year Devil Spirit Great White Shark.
As for the others' assessments, they were the same as in the original work: the Shark Whale Battle.
Ye Lingling needed to assist the Devil Spirit Great White Shark group in slaying the Xie Mo Tiger Whale King from the Xie Mo Tiger Whale group, while the others were to slay a varying number of Evil Spirit Orcas. Dugu Yan and Zhu Zhuqing's numbers were both above twenty.
More than two months had passed since the end of the third trial. This period of rest allowed everyone's bodies and minds to recover greatly.
During this rest period, their own cultivation speed did not slow down because their constantly tense minds and bodies were able to relax, bringing about the benefits of a turnaround from adversity.
However, at the Spirit Saint and Spirit Douluo Ranks, it is not possible to improve in just a few months of arduous cultivation.
After some discussion, everyone decided to rest for another two weeks before starting the fourth trial.
Shi Quan's parents planned to start their fourth trial after Ye Lingling and the others completed theirs.
Sea God Island Waters.
Xiao Bai's massive head emerged from the sea. "Someone foolish enough to trespass on Sea God Island again. Little ones, follow me!"
The gigantic figure spun in the sea, instantly turning into an afterimage and rushing towards a certain direction.
"Is that a hundred-thousand-year Spirit Beast? And two of them?" Xiao Bai, sensing the fluctuations from the surface, looked puzzled and quickly led her clan members to the surface.
Almost instantly, huge splashes erupted on the surface, and the powerful aura unique to a hundred-thousand-year Spirit Beast instantly burst forth, blocking the two Spirit Beasts.
"Xiao Bai, long time no see." Xiao Bai, who had just surfaced, froze for a moment before noticing a familiar figure sitting on the head of one of the Spirit Beasts.
"Shi Quan!?" Xiao Bai subconsciously asked, "What's going on with these two hundred-thousand-year Spirit Beasts?"
It was indeed Shi Quan, who had returned from Dragon Ascending Continent.
Shi Quan had been away from Sea God Island for over two years, and his first thought was to return to Sea God Island to see the three girls and his parents.
"Oh, them? They are mounts I brought for Zhuqing and Yan Yan." Shi Quan patted Juntian beneath him.
"Mounts?" Xiao Bai's expression paused, then she was surprised to find that from just now until now, she had been unable to specifically observe Shi Quan's aura. He was clearly right in front of her, yet he gave her a sense of illusory etherealness.
"I thought there was an enemy invasion." Xiao Bai didn't think much and asked directly, "You haven't forgotten what you promised me, have you?"
"Of course not." Shi Quan lightly tapped his finger, and a faint light entered Xiao Bai's head.
After a brief moment of stunned silence, Xiao Bai's eyes immediately lit up. "You kept your word."
"They are all in Sea Horse City. Keep those two in check on Sea God Island."
With that, Xiao Bai spun around and disappeared into the seawater.
"Let's go." Shi Quan patted Juntian's head.
The one person and two beasts continued to rush towards Sea God Island.
Outside Sea Horse City.
"Is that a land Spirit Beast?"
"How can a land Spirit Beast appear on Sea God Island?"
Juntian's appearance immediately caused a considerable commotion, and many Sea Spirit Masters in purple robes quickly gathered.
"No need to panic."
Shi Quan's voice, mixed with mental force, spread out like a spring breeze, instantly calming and focusing these slightly panicked Sea Spirit Masters.
As the voice came, Shi Quan's figure descended from the sky. Seeing a person fly down from the Spirit Beast, everyone was stunned. Everyone's gaze subconsciously looked at Shi Quan's forehead, but they did not see the mark they wanted to see on his forehead.
But a few people recognized Shi Quan. "Are you a friend of the VIPs?"
The Sea Spirit Masters of Sea God Island still had a very deep impression of Shi Quan, the only land Spirit Master who did not undergo the Sea God assessment.
"That's right." Shi Quan nodded and explained with a smile, "You don't have to worry, they won't harm anyone."
One of the purple-clad middle-aged men stepped forward and said, "VIP, I'm sorry, but your two Spirit Beasts are too large. If they enter the city, they might cause unnecessary panic. Could you please leave them outside for now? We will help you look after them."
"Then I'll put them away for now. Don't worry, I won't casually release them in Sea Horse City."
"Then we'll trouble you." The purple-clad middle-aged man nodded in agreement.
A faint light flashed across Shi Quan's brow, and the two Spirit Beasts instantly disappeared. "Then I'll go first."
Outside Sea Horse City, Shi Quan had already locked onto everyone's aura. After entering the city, Shi Quan's figure did not pause at all and went straight to the outside of the City Lord's mansion.
It was just past noon, and everyone seemed to have just finished lunch and were all inside the City Lord's mansion.
"Dad, Mom, Lingling, Yan Yan, Zhuqing..."
Shi Quan's voice came from outside the door.
The people inside the house were first stunned, then reacted with pleasant surprise.
Zhu Zhuqing's movements were undoubtedly the fastest. A blur of shadows flashed, and she had already opened the door. Seeing the familiar figure outside the door, she immediately threw herself into Shi Quan's embrace.
"Shi Quan."
Everyone was excited and thrilled to see Shi Quan.
Zhu Zhuqing didn't stay in Shi Quan's embrace for too long. After all, there were so many people watching, and there were also Lingling and Yan Yan, as well as Shi Quan's parents. Of course, she couldn't monopolize Shi Quan by herself.
"Did you suffer outside?" Li Meili's eyes welled up with tears as she looked Shi Quan up and down. Two years of separation inevitably brought some lengthening.
"Don't worry, Mom." Shi Quan chuckled and patted Li Meili's back. "Your son is amazing now. No one can bully your son anymore."