Chapter 444: One Year Later
The next morning, after a simple breakfast, Bai Chenxiang was about to go to Seagod Island to check with Dugu Yan about the previous day's discussion when Dugu Yan stopped her.
"Chenxiang, hold on a moment," Dugu Yan said with a grin. "We talked about your situation last night and decided to help you. Today, there's no need to head to the Seagod's Light for training. Instead, you'll focus on completing your assessment. Dai Yao, she's all yours today."
Bai Chenxiang froze, blushing deeply as she realized what was happening. Though she had prepared herself for this possibility, her heart raced with embarrassment under the knowing looks of the others. She kept her head down, her face hot, too shy to meet Dai Yao's gaze as she stammered, "I… I… thank you… all of you."
Dai Yao smiled encouragingly. "Good luck with your training, Chenxiang."
Dugu Yan gave Dai Yao an exasperated smile, shaking her head. "You're so lucky. Alright, we'll leave you to it." With a last teasing glance, she and the others took to the air, heading toward Seagod Island.
Watching Dai Yao's eyes linger on their departure, Bai Chenxiang felt an urgent need to clarify things. She turned to him quickly. "Sect Master, I only intend to complete the assessment. Once I do, I promise not to linger or cause any conflict between you and your wives."
Dai Yao turned back to her, amused. "Don't worry; they're more understanding than you think."
Bai Chenxiang felt a wave of confusion as he laughed and began walking toward the shore of the Sea Within the Sea.
"Why don't we complete your assessment here?" he suggested. "The view is lovely, and I'd say it's a romantic setting too."
Bathed in the early morning sunlight, the sea shimmered with a golden glow, while the majestic Seagod Mountain towered across the waters. The gentle breeze was cool and refreshing, and the peaceful scenery made Bai Chenxiang feel that perhaps giving her first kiss here wouldn't be so bad.
She walked over to Dai Yao, hands clenched nervously, unable to meet his gaze. "Sect Master," she murmured, "the task requires a kiss for the duration of an incense stick. We can't… stop halfway."
Dai Yao chuckled and reached out to gently wrap an arm around her waist, feeling her body go rigid with tension. Seeing her shy expression, he reassured her, "Relax, follow my lead. And don't call me 'Sect Master'—just use my name."
His reassurance calmed her, and she gathered her courage. "Then… can I call you Brother Yao, like Sister Zhuqing and Sister Rongrong?"
Dai Yao paused for a moment, then smiled. "Of course."
Although he was actually younger than both Zhu Zhuqing and Ning Rongrong, his own pride—and memories of his previous life—had led him to keep his true age hidden. Little did he expect Bai Chenxiang to want to be his "younger sister," too.
"Then… let's begin…" she murmured, finally meeting his gaze.
As he leaned in, she felt her heart race, her body warming under his touch, especially where his hand rested at her waist. When their lips finally met, her mind blanked for a moment, realizing that her first kiss was gone.
Caught up in the moment, she froze, unsure what to do. But then, Dai Yao's persistence slowly melted her defenses, and she found herself responding instinctively, even beginning to enjoy the warmth.
After what felt like an eternity, a soft voice sounded in her mind. "Yellow-Rank First Test completed. Reward: Soul Power increased by one level."
Bai Chenxiang's dazed eyes slowly cleared, and her face flushed as she processed the sudden bonus. She had completed her assessment, but she hesitated. If she pulled away now, she'd likely never have another chance to be this close to Dai Yao. Yet, thinking of Dugu Yan's trust in her, she gently pressed against Dai Yao's chest, breaking their kiss and taking deep breaths as she turned her face away, embarrassed.
"Thank you, Brother Yao… I… I've finished my assessment. Please, let me go…" she murmured, her voice barely a whisper.
But Dai Yao's arm stayed around her, his voice gentle. "How about one more?"
Surprised, Bai Chenxiang instinctively shook her head. "No, Sect Master… we shouldn't…"
Before she could finish, Dai Yao leaned in again, and once more her resolve weakened. As his kiss deepened, her defenses crumbled until she found herself leaning into his warmth, her limbs relaxing as her heart fluttered. She only broke away when she felt herself growing lightheaded from lack of air.
"Chenxiang, would you give yourself to me completely?" Dai Yao's voice was soft, like a soothing melody, yet it stirred something deep within her.
Her heart leapt with joy, though a small voice in her mind warned her to hold back. Even as she felt herself melting, she answered, "No… Yan-jie wanted me to complete my assessment, but I can't betray her trust…"
Dai Yao chuckled softly. "She already agreed. Not only her—everyone else approved too. Will you still say no?"
"What…?" Bai Chenxiang's eyes widened in shock.
Now that he had her firmly within his grasp, Dai Yao had no intention of letting her go. He drew her close, their bodies pressing together, his voice coaxing her, "Give yourself to me, will you?"
Bai Chenxiang's heart filled with joy. Though she felt a lingering sense of unease, she could no longer think clearly, consumed by her emotions. She gazed into Dai Yao's eyes, the rest of the world fading into nothing, and asked softly, "Brother Yao… have you ever… loved me?"
Dai Yao paused, understanding her hesitation. He knew she needed a reason, something that would help her justify this moment to herself. If he answered no, she might turn away and leave.
In truth, he did have feelings for her—not as intense as those he held for his wives, but there was a certain fondness. He even felt a sense of pity when he thought of how, in the original story, she had lived out her days alone. This, he decided, was something he could change.
"Not quite love," he replied honestly, "but I do have feelings for you."
Her eyes softened, and after a brief moment, she whispered one word.
"Yes."
Far above, in the Divine Realm, Poseidon watched the events on Douluo Continent with interest. Seeing Dai Yao's romantic pursuit, the god allowed himself a rare smile, a glimmer of youthful mirth in his ancient eyes.
"Well, well, it seems my successor has quite the charm. Reminds me of myself back in the day."
Poseidon's sly grin lingered as he watched the group of women training under the Seagod's Light. He chuckled to himself as a mischievous thought crossed his mind:
"Each of these women has immense potential for godhood, and they won't settle for anything ordinary. If I let the others up here know, they'll scramble to recruit these ideal candidates as their successors. I'll have to extract a favor or two from them for this tip!"
Poseidon's laughter echoed through the Seagod Temple, filling the halls with mirth.
On Seagod Island, at dusk, the women returned from training to find Dai Yao and Bai Chenxiang standing by their room, waiting for them. Dai Yao was smiling, while Bai Chenxiang looked both shy and a bit uneasy.
"Well, well, Dai Yao, looks like you pulled it off!" Dugu Yan teased with a raised eyebrow, giving him a knowing look.
The blush from Bai Chenxiang's face hadn't faded yet, and at Dugu Yan's comment, her cheeks flushed even more. A slight movement made her wince, nearly causing her to stumble. Dai Yao quickly reached out to steady her.
Zhu Zhuqing moved to Bai Chenxiang's other side, offering her support with a gentle smile. "Come on, Chenxiang, let's get you inside to rest."
Dugu Yan threw Dai Yao a look of mock disapproval. "Couldn't take it easy, could you, Dai Yao? Chenxiang isn't as resilient as we are, you know. Look at her—she'll need a few days to recover."
Dai Yao gave an awkward laugh. "I was careful, I swear."
Just then, a warm, multicolored light fell upon Bai Chenxiang. Ning Rongrong's Ten Treasures Glazed Tower hovered beside her, casting a soft glow as she smiled. "Don't forget I'm here. My spirit doesn't just enhance; it has some restorative effects as well. How do you feel now, Chenxiang?"
The relief was immediate, and Bai Chenxiang smiled, feeling much better. She felt both grateful and humbled in their presence, uncertain of what to say. Yet they were all so attentive and kind to her, making her feel more welcome than she'd expected.
"Thank you, Sister Rongrong… Thank you, everyone," she said softly.
Hearing Bai Chenxiang's polite address, Dugu Yan glanced at Zhu Zhuqing, who then leaned closer and said, "You don't need to be so formal with us anymore, Chenxiang. You're part of our family now. Call us sisters."
Bai Chenxiang's eyes widened. Hearing Zhu Zhuqing, the first among Dai Yao's wives, call her "sister" was a relief and an acceptance of her place within their circle. Her heart filled with gratitude, and she replied, "Thank you, Sister Zhuqing."
Though slightly older than Zhu Zhuqing, she willingly took the position of a younger sister as a way of showing respect and humility within the family dynamic.
With a nod, Zhu Zhuqing continued, "Now that you're one of us, there are some things you deserve to know."
Bai Chenxiang looked at her, a bit puzzled.
"Come inside; we'll explain there," Dugu Yan said with a smile.
That evening, under the soft glow of the room's lights, Bai Chenxiang listened intently as the others shared some of Dai Yao's secrets. They left out the core details of the Chaos Green Lotus, but everything else gave her an insight into their lives. Despite her newfound closeness with Dai Yao, the others felt it wise to give her more time before sharing every secret, a precautionary measure that Dugu Yan thought prudent.
Dai Yao agreed, realizing it would be best not to overwhelm her too soon. Although he trusted her fully, as he did all women in the original story who had fallen in love, he respected the others' caution.
For Bai Chenxiang, however, what she learned was astonishing. She could feel their trust and was deeply moved by the openness they offered her.
To Dai Yao's surprise, the days that followed were filled with near-endless training sessions. On Dugu Yan's suggestion, they focused intensely on refining their skills, hardly pausing to rest.
The next day, within the Seagod's Light, Bai Chenxiang was seated on the third step of the staircase, looking upward at the others as they each trained at higher levels. Ning Rongrong, Dugu Yan, Feng Wutong, and Zhu Zhuqing sat in sequence, meditating ahead of her. And there, much higher on the steps, Dai Yao sat upon the ninetieth level, his silhouette seeming godlike in the light from the Seagod's Temple.
"I know I can't keep up with them," Bai Chenxiang thought, clenching her fists as determination filled her eyes. "They're all extraordinary talents, but I won't let that discourage me. I'll give it my all and become stronger! And especially for you, I'll prove my worth so that you never regret having me by your side."
She closed her eyes, resuming her meditation with renewed resolve.
One Year Later
At the base of Seagod Mountain, six figures stood in a line, gazing at the long staircase leading to the Seagod Temple. Reflecting on the year that had passed, Dai Yao spoke up, a hint of nostalgia in his voice:
"Today marks the final day of our assessment."
The year had flown by, and with it came the end of their trials. Although they had only one final attempt left, they were filled more with excitement than with worry. Their training under the intense pressure of the Seagod's Light had worked wonders, and all but Ning Rongrong and Bai Chenxiang felt confident they would succeed.
Over the year, each of them had grown, and Bai Chenxiang especially had shed her youthful naivety, her gaze now steady and unwavering. She radiated newfound confidence and poise.
One month prior, Ning Rongrong had finally broken through to the seventieth level and, with the gift of the Seagod's bestowed spirit ring, joined the others in reaching the rank of Spirit Sage. Their current spirit power levels were as follows:
Dai Yao: Level 80, Power Attack Spirit Sage, Holy White TigerZhu Zhuqing: Level 73, Power Attack Spirit Sage, Nether LordDugu Yan: Level 72, Power Attack Spirit Sage, Azure DragonFeng Wutong: Level 72, Power Attack Spirit Sage, Vermilion BirdNing Rongrong: Level 72, Support Spirit Sage, Ten Treasures Glazed TowerBai Chenxiang: Level 50, Agility Attack Spirit Master, Sharp-Tailed Swift
Though Dai Yao had reached the eightieth level a month prior, he had not yet obtained his eighth spirit ring, thus stopping just short of becoming a Spirit Douluo. Bo Saixi had reassured him that the Seagod had already prepared a suitable spirit ring for him, so Dai Yao agreed to wait.
Over the course of this final month, the women had also made remarkable strides, each one breaking past the sixtieth level and entering the ranks of Spirit Sages. At first, Dai Yao was astonished by their rapid growth, but then he remembered how Ma Hongjun had leaped from sixty to sixty-eight over the course of a single trial. Given that, the progress of his team was nothing short of expected.
Reaching the level of Spirit Sage and achieving the ability to use a Martial Soul True Body represented a qualitative leap in power for each of them.
Though Bai Chenxiang still remained at level fifty, she had reached that milestone ten months prior but hadn't yet obtained her fifth spirit ring. Over the course of her training, she'd shown relentless resolve, tackling the Seagod's Light monthly, climbing a bit higher each time and giving every attempt her all. Her effort had not gone unnoticed by the Seagod, who granted her the rare privilege of a Purple Rank assessment.
In a way, she was following her original path, but Dai Yao would ensure that her story ended far better than it had in the original tale.
"Brother Yao," Bai Chenxiang said, her voice soft but resolute, "you go ahead with the assessment. I'll wait here and cheer you all on."
Her face was still pale, having pushed herself to the limit the day before and reaching the sixty-sixth step, her highest yet. Dai Yao nodded, his eyes lifting to take in the long stretch of stairs ahead of them.
"Let's begin," he said.
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