The Sea God's sudden divine message left everyone completely stunned—including Bo Saixi herself. It was as if the Sea God had personally said, "Go ahead, young man, don't worry—I'll even open the back door for you."
Bo Saixi gave a small, wry smile before saying softly, "In any case, the Sea God has placed great expectations on you. Do your best."
As soon as her words faded, a burst of red light flared before their eyes. When it dissipated, the Sea God Douluo had vanished—gone as silently as she had appeared.
Hu Liena exhaled slowly, her heart still pounding. "What a terrifying aura… she's the strongest human I've ever seen."
Xiao Wu nodded in agreement. Though she had met a few individuals even more powerful, they were few indeed—perhaps two or three at most. "Human strength," she murmured, "truly defies imagination."
Just then, Sea Horse Douluo's respectful voice broke the silence. "Honored guests, please follow me."
A vivid blue radiance glowed from his palm. With a wave of his hand, the sea before them surged upward and solidified, forming a bridge of shimmering water. It did not lead back toward the shore they had come from, but deeper into the heart of Sea God Island.
Sea Horse Douluo's manner was deeply deferential—understandably so. After all, even the Sea God himself had just spoken on Li Chang'an's behalf, practically begging him to accept divinity. How could the guardian of the Sea Horse Pillar dare act casually?
'No wonder he's already a Spirit Saint at his age,' the man thought privately. 'He really is different from ordinary people.'
When the group stepped onto the water bridge, they were startled to find it felt as solid as land beneath their feet. The translucent surface shimmered under their steps, lending a surreal yet steady sensation.
Upon reaching the opposite shore, ten yellow-robed sea spirit masters approached, lining up respectfully on either side to escort them.
Sea Horse Douluo did not lead from the front. On the contrary, at his insistence, Li Chang'an walked at the head of the procession.
As they advanced, the Douluo smiled warmly. "Honored guests, welcome to Sea God Island. You may be living here for quite some time. There are few formal rules. Once we reach Sea Horse City, you may decide freely when to begin your respective trials."
"Each year, you must complete one test. The Sea God's trials must be taken in order—when you finish one, the next will automatically appear. Only after all are complete will the assessment be deemed successful."
"If you need anything, you may ask. I will do my utmost to provide it. But one rule must be followed: within Sea God Island, you may go anywhere except the central forbidden grounds. Also, never conceal the mark on your forehead—it is the symbol of your status."
Li Chang'an nodded politely. "Thank you, Senior, for your guidance. We will rely on your assistance in the days to come."
Sea Horse Douluo smiled. "You are too courteous, Mister Li. You were personally named a guest of the Grand Offering—and the Sea God's chosen successor. Whatever you require, simply give the word."
After about fifteen minutes of walking, they emerged from the forest and found themselves overlooking a small but vibrant city.
A modest wall, barely five meters high, surrounded it. From their elevated vantage point, the group could clearly see the city's centerpiece—a large building resembling the Sea Horse Pillar, but far broader, crowned with an immense stone sculpture of a sea horse.
"That," Sea Horse Douluo explained, "is Sea Horse City, one of the seven cities of Sea God Island, each guarded by a sacred pillar. The building you see is the City Lord's Mansion. Sea Horse City is home to about a thousand residents—all devoted followers of the Sea God."
Hu Liena asked curiously, "We've heard that Sea God Island has only around three thousand sea spirit masters. If your city alone holds a thousand, are the others much smaller?"
Sea Horse Douluo chuckled. "Not quite. The so-called three thousand refer specifically to the Sea God Warriors, three thousand five hundred in total. Each city maintains five hundred of them. When these warriors surpass seventy years of age, they retire and live out their remaining days peacefully."
"Children under eighteen who have not yet passed the island's tests aren't counted among them either. So, in truth, each city has over a thousand inhabitants. Mine is actually on the smaller side—the largest, Sea Dragon City, has more than two thousand."
He gestured ahead. "Please, follow me inside."
The "city" was small and orderly, its gates simple and unadorned. Four guards—two in white, two in yellow—stood watch. The moment they saw Sea Horse Douluo in his black robes, they bowed deeply and opened the gates.
Though modest in scale, Sea Horse City was neat and lively. The streets, though narrow, were spotless, lined with low wooden and stone houses. A few modest shops dotted the roads, lending a familiar warmth.
It was easy to forget they stood on an isolated island; for a moment, it almost felt like they had returned to the mainland.
Sea Horse Douluo spoke as they walked. "You'll stay at the City Lord's Mansion for now. I must remain near the Sea Horse Pillar most of the time, but if you need anything, my attendants can assist."
"We live self-sufficiently here—growing simple crops and relying on the bounty of the sea. Sea God Island has no currency system; most trade is conducted through bartering. However, we do have merchant fleets that periodically trade with nearby coastal cities to acquire essential goods."
Zhu Zhuqing asked coldly, "I've heard the spirit masters of Sea God Island are forbidden from leaving. How do these fleets operate, then?"
Sea Horse Douluo nodded. "The trading crews are not official members of Sea God Island. They consist mostly of unaffiliated sea spirit masters—or those who failed their trials and chose to remain near the island. Periodically, they bring supplies in exchange for the island's unique resources."
As they entered the city, countless curious gazes followed them. The celestial phenomena that had erupted earlier were already the talk of the island—especially since they originated here, at Sea Horse City. And with the group's glowing forehead marks so visible, they could hardly go unnoticed.
The City Lord's Mansion was smaller than expected. Apart from Sea Horse Douluo himself, it housed a dozen sea spirit masters who had completed the purple-level trials—the backbone of Sea Horse City's defenses.
The mansion had three floors. To Li Chang'an's mild surprise (and satisfaction), Sea Horse Douluo insisted on vacating his own quarters—the entire third floor—for him.
The top floor was spacious, largely open, dominated by a single vast chamber nearly two hundred square meters wide, with only one enormous bed at its center. The second floor was set aside for the women.
Li Chang'an could hardly hide his pleased expression. The entire third floor to himself—and such a large bed—what more could he ask for?
He didn't need to say it aloud. Everyone knew what it meant.
Even if there were no formal invitations for "nightly visits," a few quiet steps up the stairs in the dark of night would be more than enough to keep him… occupied.