Sea Horse Douluo's eyes swept over Li Chang'an from head to toe, his expression cooling noticeably. The boy's earlier words still stung a little too much. Clearing his throat, he commanded evenly,
"Stand according to the order in which you ascended the platform."
As his hands pressed lightly downward, an unseen ripple spread through the air. The once-turbulent seawater grew calm at once, and the shimmering light barrier atop the Sea Horse Sacred Pillar faded into nothingness.
Slowly, Sea Horse Douluo stepped up to the sacred pillar, his gaze reverent.
"The first one, step forward."
Everyone tensed. The true Sea God's Trial was about to begin.
Naturally, the first to advance was Zhu Zhuqing. Her face was calm, unreadable, as she halted a single step behind Sea Horse Douluo.
Raising his hands reverently, he pressed them together before his chest. A faint blue glow bloomed between his palms, growing steadily brighter until the light filled his hands. Suddenly, the glow burst outward—illuminating the entire Sea Horse Sacred Pillar in pure azure brilliance.
A beam of blue radiance shot down from beneath the sacred pillar, running swiftly up the etched lines that climbed its length. In the blink of an eye, the pillar was fully alight.
Sea Horse Douluo turned toward Zhu Zhuqing and extended one finger toward her.
Instantly, a column of blue light descended from above, enveloping her body. Zhu Zhuqing blinked in confusion, feeling nothing at all—but the light around her began to shift.
From blue to white.
From white to yellow.
From yellow to deep violet.
Then the violet deepened further—slowly, deliberately—until it became pure black. Within moments, the dark light covered her entirely, swallowing her slender figure whole.
Behind her, the carved lines on the Sea Horse Sacred Pillar turned black as well, spreading upward at a steady pace.
The yellow-robed sea spirit masters who had led them here paled in shock. The middle-aged leader even sighed softly, murmuring to himself:
"I warned them not to come. The Sea God's trial for land-dwellers truly is merciless…"
But the black light did not stop. It climbed higher—past one-third, halfway, two-thirds—until the entire pillar gleamed pitch-black.
And then, the impossible happened.
The black glow abruptly shifted, turning into a brilliant crystalline red.
A beam of red light erupted skyward, piercing through the clouds like a spear of fire.
For an instant, the clear blue sky was dyed with the color of blood.
Across Sea God Island, thousands of eyes turned upward in shock. At six other sacred pillars scattered throughout the island, six black-robed elders all looked skyward, their eyes wide with awe. In perfect unison, they cried out the same words—
"The Supreme Seven Trials!"
Even within the central Sea God Temple, where a figure had sat unmoving for ten long years, two eyes—closed for a decade—finally opened. Surprise flickered there first, followed by unmistakable delight. The figure rose slowly to their feet, robes rustling in the divine wind.
As the red light faded, seven scarlet sigils coalesced and sank into Zhu Zhuqing's forehead, merging into a crimson seven-pointed star that shimmered faintly against her fair skin. A soft red aura lingered about her, like the breath of flame and divinity intertwined.
Sea Horse Douluo stood frozen. Red—the color of the Supreme Trials. The highest possible level of divine assessment. Unlike the deadly black trials, the red signified transcendence, destiny, and divine favor. Its appearance was so rare that even he had never witnessed it before.
Finally, he found his voice. Straightening his robes, he bowed deeply.
"Honored lady, may I have the privilege of knowing your full name?"
Sea Horse Douluo—Titled Douluo, guardian of one of the Seven Sacred Pillars—was not a man easily moved. He was normally calm, aloof, proud. But now, in front of Zhu Zhuqing, his tone carried reverence.
Even the cold, quiet Zhu Zhuqing was taken aback.
"Senior, my name is Zhu Zhuqing. Why are you being so respectful?"
Sea Horse Douluo swallowed hard before speaking again.
"It is my honor to serve as your examiner. I do not understand why the Sea God himself has chosen to bestow the Supreme Seven Trials upon you—but from this moment forth, should you require anything on this island, I will do everything in my power to assist you."
"S-Senior, what does this mean exactly?" Xiao Wu asked, puzzled by his attitude.
Sea Horse Douluo's eyes softened, his respect deepening further.
"Unlike the black-level trials, which often carry a fatal risk, the Supreme Seven Trials are unique. Since their first appearance, no one who has received them has ever failed. The last person to bear this level of trial… was our island's Grand Priest."
He took a slow breath before continuing, voice low and reverent.
"That means—if Miss Zhu Zhuqing completes her seven trials—she will become the successor to the Grand Priest, and future ruler of Sea God Island."
The revelation left everyone stunned. The group exchanged glances of disbelief, eyes flickering between Zhu Zhuqing and the now-glowing sacred pillar.
Only Li Chang'an remained calm, quietly amused. So that's how it is.
He knew exactly why Zhu Zhuqing's test had reached such divine heights. With his aid, her martial soul had evolved beyond its original form—into the Midnight Shadow Cat, a perfect fusion of speed, stealth, and ultimate darkness. The Sea God's recognition was only natural.
Hu Liena frowned slightly.
"Senior, does that mean the Supreme Seven Trials are easier than the black-level ones?"
Sea Horse Douluo shook his head immediately.
"No. The Supreme Trials are far more difficult—beyond comparison. But every time they appear, they herald someone destined to succeed, no matter how impossible the challenge may seem."
His words confirmed what everyone already sensed: Zhu Zhuqing's future was now limitless.
Sea Horse Douluo exhaled slowly, still awed, and then looked toward Xiao Wu. His tone had softened noticeably.
"Your turn, young lady."
Xiao Wu nodded and skipped forward lightly.
The light enveloped her as well—white, yellow, purple, black—then stopped abruptly.
Five beams of black light burst forth, merging before her into five dark square panels etched with faint golden script. Only the first panel glowed brightly; the remaining four shimmered faintly, ominously dim.
Sea Horse Douluo's expression twisted into a pained smile.
"A black-level fivefold trial… one more than mine when I first took it. Sea God above, have these land-dwellers angered you somehow?"
The five dark panels dissolved into streaks of black light, sinking into Xiao Wu's forehead and forming a five-pointed black star, as dark as ink.
Something flickered in her eyes—bewilderment giving way to deep focus. Without a word, she retreated several steps, sat cross-legged, and closed her eyes, brows furrowed in thought as she began to comprehend the trial's will.
And so, the true testing of the Sea God's chosen had only just begun.