Next came Hu Liena and Meng Yiran. Both received black-level assessments—five and four trials respectively—none below that threshold.
Ning Rongrong, whose martial soul had not yet evolved, still drew the highest tier among the black-level trials: six tests, the hardest category beneath the red-level divine trials.
As for Ah Rou and Ah Yin, due to their identities as spirit beasts, they were ineligible to be chosen for divine inheritance. However, Sea Horse Douluo announced that by the Sea God's decree, the two of them could still accompany the others through the trials and share in their benefits—though they would have no right to compete for a god position.
Li Chang'an considered that more than fair. In truth, he could already guess the Sea God's intent—the deity clearly wanted him to inherit the mantle of Sea God.
When all but Li Chang'an had completed their tests, Sea Horse Douluo sighed softly.
"In honor of Miss Zhu Zhuqing's status, I must warn you all—the black-level assessments are extremely dangerous."
Everyone fell silent, waiting for him to continue.
"The Sea God's trials are divided into five levels of difficulty, like the colors of spirit rings—white, yellow, purple, black, and red, in ascending order of challenge. Each person receives a trial tailored to their strength and potential, as decreed by the Sea God himself. The nature of each test is revealed only to the examinee and the examiner. As your examiner, I can only guide you through them."
"Completing each level grants a corresponding degree of authority here on Sea God Island. Success or failure will determine your status—and sometimes, your life."
He continued methodically, as if reciting doctrine.
"The white and yellow trials each consist of one challenge. Pass it, and you succeed."
"At the purple level, you may face one to three challenges. The more you receive, the greater the difficulty, and the higher the honor if you complete them."
"For black-level assessments, there are at least four trials, and up to six—the same as Miss Ning Rongrong's case."
He paused, voice growing solemn. "The black-level sixfold trial is the most difficult of them all. In the past century, there have been thirty-one black-level assessments. Only seven succeeded. The other twenty-four… perished."
"I am one of the seven who succeeded," he added quietly. "Those seven survivors now serve as the guardians of the Seven Sacred Pillars. Among us, only the Sea Dragon Douluo, guardian of the Sea Dragon Pillar, completed the sixfold trial. He is the strongest among us—his spirit power has already surpassed level ninety-five."
Sea Horse Douluo's explanation was not meant to frighten them—only to convey the gravity of what awaited. To pass a black-level test was to earn the power of a pillar guardian; to fail was to die.
For a moment, no one spoke. The women exchanged uneasy looks. Only Li Chang'an smiled faintly and sent a calm spiritual message to each of them—including his "mother-in-law."
'Don't be afraid. I'm here.'
Sea Horse Douluo continued, "Once you accept the Sea God's assessment, it begins immediately. Each year, you must complete one trial. Only when one is cleared will the next appear. If you exceed the time limit—or attempt to flee—the Sea God's seal imprinted upon your foreheads will detonate, erasing you completely."
"The black-level trials have no failures—only the living and the dead. Hence, they are called Heaven and Hell. I never expected the Sea God to impose such severe tests upon land spirit masters."
He looked up at them, expecting fear—but was met instead by unwavering resolve. Not one face faltered. The sight left him speechless.
"Very well," he said at last. "You, come forward."
He gestured toward Li Chang'an.
Li Chang'an smiled. "I'm ready, Senior."
When he stepped beneath the sacred pillar, the blue light fell upon him—and immediately began to shift.
Unlike the others, whose light had changed colors gradually, Li Chang'an's transformed in sharp, blinding jumps. Blue, white, yellow, purple—each flickered for only an instant before flashing to the next. Even the transition from purple to black took barely a heartbeat.
Then the black markings began their climb—faster than any before him.
"Impossible…" Sea Horse Douluo's heart pounded painfully. "Another top-tier assessment?"
Even as the thought struck him, the markings surged higher, racing up the Sea Horse Pillar. Within moments, they had reached two-thirds of its height. Then the black light flared red—blood-red—and shot upward with explosive force.
It didn't stop. The crimson glow surged straight to the top.
A deep hum reverberated like the voice of the ocean itself. The entire Sea within the Sea erupted—towering waves a hundred meters high rose vertically, glowing blue from within.
And then, the impossible occurred once more.
Across the whole of Sea God Island, tremors rippled outward as the pillar's scarlet beam pierced the Sky. Six more pillars blazed to life, each sending its own blood-red column skyward.
Seven beams converged above the island, merging into a single blinding point of crimson. Then, as the color faded, the sky split open—and from that convergence descended a brilliant golden light, radiant beyond measure.
Time seemed to stop. The world turned to gold—sea, forest, mountains, even the bodies of those watching shimmered beneath divine radiance.
And that golden light—its focus, its destination—was one man: Li Chang'an, standing calm and smiling faintly beneath the Sea Horse Pillar.
He felt it before he understood it. The divine resonance within his body stirred, something deep in his spirit core responding instinctively.
Nine golden square panels appeared before him, each etched with flowing runes. The first blazed with intense brilliance; the remaining eight glowed faintly, awaiting his call.
Before he could even react, the panels shot forward, merging into his brow like golden meteors.
If he hadn't known better, he would have sworn the light was afraid he might refuse the offer—afraid that he might not want to become the next Sea God.