Chapter 439: First Encounter with Bo Saixi
Across the endless sea, a golden pillar of light pierced the heavens, radiating a divine aura that seemed to calm all disturbances in the world. The ocean grew serene, and countless sea soul beasts leaped from the water, delighting in an inexplicable joy welling up from within.
On Seagod Island, Dai Yao feigned astonishment as he gazed at the awe-inspiring spectacle before him, making sure to react like any ordinary person. The warm golden light felt soothing, as if his body was submerged in warm water, relaxing his taut muscles. Then, nine golden beams, like meteors, flew into Dai Yao's brow, forming the majestic symbol of a trident.
A flood of information filled his mind. His first trial's content was identical to that in the original story for Tang San: passing through the Seagod's Light. Dai Yao didn't dwell on the trial itself; instead, he found himself contemplating that by accepting the Seagod's Nine Trials, he had officially embarked on the path to divinity.
After all his wandering, he had found himself following a journey similar to Tang San's. Exhaling a steadying breath, he absentmindedly touched his brow, feeling no tangible difference. He turned to Seahorse Douluo, who stood frozen, like a statue. Smiling, Dai Yao pointed to his brow and asked, "Senior Seahorse, what is this?"
Snapping out of his daze, Seahorse Douluo met Dai Yao's gaze and felt a jolt run through him. Dai Yao's golden pupils exuded a powerful aura that was both dignified and imposing. Now, with the trident symbol on his brow, Dai Yao appeared even more noble and divine.
Seahorse Douluo quickly looked down, avoiding his gaze, and respectfully replied, "To be honest, I am unsure myself. I can assure you that no one has ever received a trial like yours in the history of Seagod Island."
Feigning resignation, Dai Yao nodded.
At that moment, a gentle, ethereal voice echoed from afar, enveloping the area around the Seahorse Sacred Pillar. The voice was serene yet powerful, carrying a sense of tranquility and compassion.
"No need to press him further. Since the creation of Seagod Island, this is indeed unprecedented. What you have received is not just any top-level trial; it is the Seagod's Nine Trials."
The voice drew closer as it spoke, and as the last word was uttered, the space around the Seahorse Sacred Pillar shimmered. Then, a breathtaking figure appeared before them.
All eyes were immediately drawn to her beauty.
The woman was tall, with a cascade of long white hair falling to her waist, dressed in a flowing red gown that subtly revealed her mature, alluring figure. Her presence was regal and refined, exuding an elegance as profound as the ocean.
In her hand, she held a scepter adorned with precious stones, her long gown trailing gracefully as she walked. Her flawless face was both noble and gentle, as if an untouchable goddess had taken on the warmth of a kind elder sister.
The woman's deep eyes, like the sea itself, held the weight of countless experiences.
Dai Yao's gaze brightened upon seeing her. He had heard of Bo Saixi, the High Priestess of Seagod Island, renowned for her breathtaking beauty, and she was indeed as magnificent as the legends claimed.
Throughout his life, Dai Yao had encountered many outstanding women. Though his four wives might have been slightly more beautiful than Bo Saixi in terms of pure appearance, her aura was unmatched. The only one who could compare might be Bibi Dong, the Pope of the Spirit Hall. However, Bo Saixi's serene and gentle dignity differed greatly from Bibi Dong's cold aloofness, a product of her harrowing past.
Dai Yao mused over his past with Bibi Dong in the Spirit Hall, almost as if it had all been a dream.
Yet, he also knew that Bo Saixi had her heart set on Tang Chen. His admiration for Bo Saixi was only that—admiration. Having embarked on the path to divinity, he knew her fate would ultimately lead to her sacrificing herself to unlock the divine legacy. Unlike Tang San, Dai Yao was no descendant of Tang Chen, meaning Bo Saixi would show him no mercy.
If he became a god, it would inevitably mean Bo Saixi's death. Though Dai Yao was well-prepared with his Chaos Lotus Martial Spirit, he intended to stay alert in case she used the trials as an opportunity to eliminate him.
"Greetings, Great Consecrator." Seahorse Douluo bowed deeply and said, "I failed to properly carry out Seagod's instructions. I await your punishment, Great Consecrator."
Bo Saixi smiled gently, and it seemed that even the ocean itself responded to her presence.
"It's not your fault. I, too, am witnessing this for the first time," she replied.
Bo Saixi turned and fixed her gaze on the golden trident on Dai Yao's brow, her previously calm expression finally revealing a hint of emotion. Dai Yao sensed a deep and complex feeling in her look.
He understood. Here was someone who had stood at the pinnacle of mortal power, yet her destiny was to sacrifice herself for a stranger she had never met. That would be hard for anyone to accept. Still, his Chaos Lotus Martial Spirit held the soul power of a rank ninety-nine Titled Douluo, meaning he could save her if he wished.
Ultimately, whether she lived or died lay in his hands alone.
"Young man, I have waited a long time, and finally, in my twilight years, you've arrived. The fate of Seagod Island rests in your hands. The Seagod's Nine Trials allow for no failure—failure is worse than death itself," she declared solemnly, her gaze steady.
The air seemed to freeze. Dai Yao felt an overwhelming pressure bearing down on him, as vast as the ocean, making it difficult to breathe. He understood that if Bo Saixi hadn't restrained herself, he might not have been able to move.
"So, this is the power of a rank ninety-nine ultimate Douluo? It appears I may have become overconfident," Dai Yao thought, alarmed. It was only after experiencing Bo Saixi's strength that he recognized the true gap between himself and the continent's most formidable experts.
Just as suddenly as it had arrived, the pressure lifted. Dai Yao maintained a perfect mask of confusion, honed from years of survival in the Spirit Hall. Respectfully, he asked, "Great Consecrator, what exactly are the Seagod's Nine Trials?"
Bo Saixi held his gaze. "I cannot explain the Nine Trials to you, nor can anyone else. Every year, you must complete a trial. After passing each one, you will gradually come to understand their significance."
"And from now on, no one on Seagod Island shall receive any formalities from you, including myself."
Seeing Dai Yao nod in understanding, Bo Saixi extended her hand, revealing a small, luminous golden orb.
"This is a Divine Bestowed Spirit Ring. Anyone on Seagod Island who receives a black-level or higher trial has the right to claim one when reaching a bottleneck," she explained.
"The Divine Bestowed Spirit Ring is exactly as it sounds—a spirit ring bestowed by the gods themselves, granting the most fitting soul skill and the highest achievable ring level based on the soul master's capacity. Each person has only one chance to use it."
"Dai Yao, I sense that your aura is exceptionally stable, as if you have surpassed the seventy-level mark without obtaining a new ring. This Divine Bestowed Spirit Ring will transform into the optimal ring your body can handle," Bo Saixi continued.
Accepting the orb, Dai Yao's gaze grew intense. After all, this Divine Bestowed Spirit Ring was one of his primary reasons for coming to Seagod Island. He had previously killed the Dark Devilgod Tiger, but it had unexpectedly transformed into his third martial spirit.
"Thank you, Senior," Dai Yao said gratefully.
The women beside him exchanged glances. It was their first time hearing of such a thing as a Divine Bestowed Spirit Ring. The ability to conjure a spirit ring perfectly suited to a soul master's needs without killing a spirit beast… Was such a thing truly possible? Perhaps it was indeed a gift from the gods, as its name implied.
Could gods truly exist in this world?
"No need to thank me; this is all due to Seagod's grace," Bo Saixi said as she turned her gaze to the four women surrounding Dai Yao. An unusual look flickered across her face. The sight of four disciples simultaneously receiving top-level trials was beyond even her imagination.
What's more, these four were all Dai Yao's wives. Even with her century-long experience, Bo Saixi found this bizarre. Four exceptional women, each the epitome of talent, had devoted themselves to a single man and were at peace with one another. She felt this defied logic! Her perspective on relationships was limited, given her solitary existence on Seagod Island, and her only romantic experience was her unspoken connection with Tang Chen. In short, she had little experience with love.
Sighing, thinking to herself that she didn't understand the youth of today, Bo Saixi turned to Seahorse Douluo with a command:
"Oya, spread my orders. Until these six have completed Seagod's trials, they are esteemed guests of the island. They are not to be mistreated or disrespected. Aside from helping them complete their trials, fulfill their requests as much as possible. Let them stay in Seahorse City. Summon the other six tomorrow for a council in Seagod Hall."
"Understood," Seahorse Douluo responded respectfully.
Without a trace, Bo Saixi's figure gradually faded, vanishing into the air. Everyone exhaled in relief. Despite the lack of visible pressure, her presence alone had made it difficult to breathe.
"She's incredibly powerful! Even if my Grandfather Jian had my father's assistance, I doubt he could match this senior," Ning Rongrong said, gazing at the place where Bo Saixi had stood.
Seahorse Douluo offered a respectful smile and replied, "Miss Ning Rongrong, though I'm unaware of this 'Grandfather Jian' you mentioned, I'm certain he could not stand against the Great Consecrator. She is a rank ninety-nine Ultimate Douluo, and there are few in this world who can rival her."
"Everyone, please follow me."
Seeing these individuals, each except for Bai Chenxiang, had received top-level trials, including someone who had attained the Seagod's Nine Trials. This humbled Seahorse Douluo, making him put aside his Titled Douluo pride to treat them with reverence.
Dai Yao held onto the Divine Bestowed Spirit Ring. They were newcomers, and the priority was to settle in and rest before the time came to absorb it.
"Let's go," he said, gesturing to the women following him.
The five followed Dai Yao as Seahorse Douluo led them across the Sea Within Sea on a water bridge he conjured. As they crossed, he pointed out various cultural highlights and customs of Seagod Island.
Once they reached land, dozens of yellow-robed soul masters and a purple-robed soul master followed at a respectful distance. Before long, they emerged from the forest and came upon Seahorse City. Though small compared to Vast Sea City, Seahorse City's centerpiece was a grand seahorse statue, radiating a sense of nobility and steadiness.
"Welcome to Seahorse City!" Seahorse Douluo introduced the city's history with pride. Along the way, every soul master they passed looked on in awe and lowered their heads in respect upon seeing the marks on Dai Yao and his companions' brows.
After escorting them to the city lord's mansion, Seahorse Douluo left to gather the other Titled Douluos for the council meeting in Seagod Hall.
Inside the mansion, Dai Yao took the main seat, with Ning Rongrong and Zhu Zhuqing seated on either side. Feng Wutong stood silently behind them, while Dugu Yan crossed her legs, glancing playfully at the group. Bai Chenxiang, sitting alone to the side, seemed uneasy, as if trying to remain unnoticed. All four wives of the Sect Master had received top-level trials, and Dai Yao himself had earned the Seagod's Nine Trials.
Only she, Bai Chenxiang, had received a mere yellow-level trial.
The trial's content… was also so strange! Part of her wanted to quit. She genuinely wanted to grow stronger, but the gap between her and these true geniuses felt insurmountable. Still, her heart raced at the thought of the Divine Bestowed Spirit Ring. She couldn't match Dai Yao and his wives, but Seagod Island was a rare opportunity she couldn't let go to waste. She hadn't come here to compete with them but to surpass herself.
Her gaze lifted slightly, sneaking a glance at Dai Yao. At the thought of her trial's content, her cheeks reddened.
"It's been days rocking on that ship, finally time for a proper rest," Dai Yao said, lying back on the couch, staring at the ceiling.
Dugu Yan rolled her eyes at him and said, "Get up already. We need to talk."
Clearing his throat, Dai Yao straightened up. "My first trial is to cross the Seagod's Light," he said. "What about yours?"
Both Ning Rongrong and Zhu Zhuqing concentrated on the marks on their brows, which revealed the details of their trials. They spoke up in turn:
"Mine is the same."
"Same here."
"What about Wutong?" Dugu Yan asked, looking over at Feng Wutong.
After a moment's pause, Feng Wutong replied, "Crossing the Seagod's Light, just the same."
"And you, Dai Yao?"
"Mine is crossing a doubled Seagod's Light."
Dai Yao knew the details of the Seagod's Light trial, and it was one of the main reasons he had come to Seagod Island. Training under the pressure of the Seagod's Light would dramatically increase their cultivation speed. However, he chose not to reveal all of this just yet.
As the control-type soul master, Dugu Yan, often the strategist and leader in battles, was especially focused on gathering information about the Seagod's Light trial.
With a concerned look, she spoke in a low tone, "My first trial also involves crossing the Seagod's Light. We need to reach two hundred and twenty-eight steps in Seagod Island's core restricted area. We're allowed to retreat if necessary, and the time limit is one year."
Judging by Seahorse Douluo's sympathetic look earlier, this trial won't be easy, and we'll likely face increasing pressure as we ascend. It's hard to predict exactly how it'll play out until we're there."
Feng Wutong murmured, "My trial requires only one hundred and thirty-six steps within the same time limit, so it's not as challenging as yours."
Dai Yao stood up, wrapping a comforting arm around Feng Wutong's shoulder. He knew how strong her personality was and could tell she felt frustrated that she had received the top-level seven trials while the others received eight.
"Don't worry," he reassured her softly. "I believe it's because of your martial spirit's element. Seagod governs the seas, while your spirit has a fire attribute, which might have influenced your trial level."
Zhu Zhuqing, Ning Rongrong, and Dugu Yan all moved closer to offer their support as well. Dugu Yan smiled and added, "Wutong, don't worry about it. None of us would judge you for having a different trial."
As Feng Wutong looked at the smiles of encouragement around her, her heart grew warm, and she returned a smile. "Don't worry, everyone. A trial won't determine my fate—I'll prove my strength in my own way."
Bai Chenxiang, sitting quietly on the side, was struck by Feng Wutong's words.
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