The new year passed, and by mid-February, an unusual situation arose.
Tang Yuehua never emerged from the Clear Sky Sect after her return. This deviation from routine immediately drew suspicion from Spirit Hall's spies, who hurried back to Spirit City to report. The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan's scouts also relayed the news, and soon after, Yang Yunhai, Qian Renxue, and the others received it secondhand.
With Heaven Dou City closer than Spirit City, they received the intelligence even earlier.
"Let's go see for ourselves." Yang Yunhai wasted no time, departing immediately with Dugu Bo and Sword Douluo.
Chrysanthemum Douluo and Ghost Douluo followed quietly in the shadows.
A few days later—
Shoosh, shoosh, shoosh!
Figures tore through the skies, bypassing outer villages and descending directly toward the Clear Sky Sect's encampment.
What greeted them was emptiness.
"Damn it, they ran." Dugu Bo's expression darkened.
"For them to migrate so discreetly, there must be a secret passage," Yang Yunhai said calmly. "Find it. Track it. A migration this large will always leave traces."
Sword Douluo nodded. "Indeed. Let's search."
The group scattered and began their sweep.
Yang Yunhai activated his spiritual eyes and swept across the back mountain. Soon, he detected irregularities in the snow. Though freshly covered by snowfall, his perception revealed faint linear disturbances beneath. He landed to investigate.
Vines spread, scraping away the snow to reveal hardened tracks from countless footsteps.
Yang Yunhai immediately took to the air, summoning the others. Following the trail, they soon reached a collapsed section of ice near the mountain's base.
"This should've been a tunnel. It's caved in." Sword Douluo's gaze swept the site.
Yang Yunhai glanced upward. Avalanches from the peak had completely buried the passage.
After a moment's thought, he turned back. "Teacher, return and inform Xue'er and Salas. Arrest who needs arresting, and spread the word. The Clear Sky Sect has sheltered fallen soul masters, abandoned their branch clans, and fled in guilt. That's treason—issue a warrant."
"Also, use this as leverage against the Star Luo Empire under the charge of harboring fallen soul masters. Let's see how they respond."
"The Clear Sky Sect is migrating in force. To avoid notice, they'll avoid cities."
"That means their best path is north, skirting the fringes of the Extreme North before traveling northeast to reach the eastern coastline. From there, they'll take to the sea."
"And their possible destinations?" He narrowed his eyes. "Two. Either they vanish into the Star Luo Empire, or they flee overseas. If overseas, the most likely options are nearby islands—or even the Sea God Island region."
Yang Yunhai knew well that Tang Hao and Tang Xiao had once accompanied Tang Chen to deliver a letter to Sea God Island.
"In any case, they won't risk exploring unknown waters. Not until they've secured a foothold."
"We can dispatch scouts to check Star Luo and nearby islands directly. As for Sea God Island…"
He turned. "Grandfather Dugu, Teacher, Uncle—later, let's go there together. Tracking them won't be difficult. Hire pirates familiar with the seas. I happen to know one. If we locate them, we'll wipe them out. And it'll give us the chance to visit Yan'er and the others as well."
"Alright." Chrysanthemum Douluo nodded and flew off immediately.
Sword Douluo, thoughtful, glanced at Yang Yunhai. 'What a terrifyingly meticulous mind…' He couldn't help but suspect that the destruction of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan and the ambush on Tang Hao had also been orchestrated by this youth.
He silently rejoiced that the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan had chosen the right side. Otherwise, they would've long since been crushed by Dugu Bo, Chrysanthemum Douluo, and Ghost Douluo.
"I'll come along as well," Sword Douluo added. "I can lend a hand—and visit Rongrong."
"Good." Yang Yunhai nodded. "Let's move. We'll follow their trail as far as it goes. Even if they've already set sail, confirming their route is still useful."
By his estimate, the sect had begun migrating as soon as Tang Yuehua returned. It had already been half a month. Most likely, they were at sea by now. Still, searching the coastline might reveal their course.
'I wonder if Tang San went with them. The ocean teems with sea soul beasts—plenty to hunt, and easier to conceal devouring. Not a bad choice for him.'
Shoosh, shoosh, shoosh—the group soared along the mountain ridges in pursuit.
Meanwhile, on Sea God Island—
"The Black Rank Six Trials, first trial complete. Reward: one soul rank. Bottleneck surpassed—reward: one god-bestowed soul ring."
As Ning Rongrong set foot on the stair, her body abruptly relaxed. Panting heavily, an ancient voice resounded in her mind.
"Congratulations, you have completed the trial."
Bo Saixi descended gracefully at that moment.
"Greetings, Senior Bo Saixi," Ning Rongrong said respectfully.
Smiling faintly, Bo Saixi lifted a finger. Ning Rongrong's body floated gently and descended with her to the foot of the mountain.
Opening her palm, a golden bead appeared. "For all who undertake Black Rank or higher trials, the first bottleneck breakthrough grants a god-bestowed soul ring. No need to hunt soul beasts—the ring will grant you the soul skill you most need, at the maximum age your body can bear. But only once."
At this, Dugu Yan couldn't help but ask, "Senior Bo Saixi, then why didn't Zhuqing and I receive one when we broke through?"
"The Sea God's will is beyond our guessing," Bo Saixi replied serenely.
'Don't mistake me, I'm only curious. Testing the Child of Nature, that's all,' the Sea God mused in the God Realm.
After all, with Zhu Zhuqing's body, absorbing a 100,000-year soul ring should've been impossible—yet she bore one, the result of a 100,000-year soul beast's sacrifice.
And Dugu Yan? Even more incredible—she had inherited the sacrifice of a 990,000-year soul beast.
So the Sea God had withheld the god-bestowed rings, to observe how these chosen would proceed.
The answer came quickly: the Child of Nature himself captured the Azure Bull Python, delivering it to Dugu Yan, perfectly suited as her seventh ring.
Now, after she slew it, absorbed its ring, and expelled its soul, the Sea God's curiosity was satisfied. He concluded that Zhu Zhuqing's fifth ring must have been formed by the Soft Bone Rabbit, subdued by the overwhelming mental pressure of a 990,000-year spiritual beast—the Tianmeng Iceworm—before it sacrificed itself.
As for Dugu Yan, when she reached rank 70, her body alone was sufficient to absorb a 100,000-year ring. She no longer needed a god-bestowed one.
Thus, he had held back.
'But now, I can grant what was delayed. I am the Sea God, not a miser.'
"Rongrong, keep this god-bestowed ring," Dugu Yan advised with a smile. "Wait until your cultivation is higher. You might obtain a 100,000-year soul ring directly."
"As for your fifth ring, we'll ask Senior Ou Ya for help later."
"Mm!" Ning Rongrong carefully tucked the bead away.
Dugu Yan then turned to Ye Lingling. "Lingling, it's your turn. Go."
The trial's deadline loomed. For safety, they no longer planned to temper their bodies under the Sea God's Light. Today, all three would attempt together.
Ye Lingling stepped forward, nerves eased by Rongrong's success. If her friend could do it, she could too. She inhaled deeply and ascended the steps.
At last, she reached the designated stair. A heavy voice echoed in her mind:
"The Top Seven Trials, first trial complete. Reward: one soul rank. All soul rings increased by 500 years."
Red light descended, enveloping her. Her soul rings flared, shifting before their eyes—yellow, yellow, purple, purple, black became yellow, purple, purple, purple, black. The light faded.
"They can even increase ring years?!" Ning Rongrong gasped, her gaze dimming slightly.
Her trial was a rank lower—the Black Six. Clearly, only the Top Seven and above received this boon.
'Be content,' she reminded herself. 'Without Yang Yunhai, I wouldn't even be here.' She glanced at him in her mind's eye, then at Dugu Yan and Zhu Zhuqing, lowering her gaze quietly.
Both Dugu Yan and Zhu Zhuqing were equally astonished. They hadn't expected such rewards.
"Lingling, congratulations."
Joy still filled their voices. When Bo Saixi brought her down, both offered warm smiles.
Ye Lingling smiled softly in return, feeling her debt to Yang Yunhai deepen. She silently vowed to cultivate harder, to repay him one day.
"My turn." Zhu Zhuqing stepped forward, smiling faintly.
Time passed, then the voice came:
"The Top Eight Trials, first trial complete. Reward: one soul rank. All soul rings increased by 500 years. One god-bestowed soul ring."
Red light fell, her rings shifting into yellow, purple, purple, black, red, black. A golden bead formed before her.
"…So now it appears? Is this compensation?" Dugu Yan muttered, baffled.
Bo Saixi herself was equally puzzled, but could only reply, "The Sea God's will has its reasons."
Zhu Zhuqing descended safely, and then Dugu Yan strode forward.
At length, the voice resounded again:
"The Sea God Nine Trials, first trial complete. Reward: 5% Sea God affinity. One god-bestowed soul ring."
No new ring appeared. Instead, the trident mark on her brow shone, and a golden bead coalesced before her.
Dugu Yan caught it, then descended as Bo Saixi returned her to the ground.
"Senior Bo Saixi, why no increase in my ring years?" she asked.
"You've already received the best reward," Bo Saixi said gently.
"Sea God affinity?" Dugu Yan pressed.
She nodded. "The Sea God has arranged everything. Once you complete the Nine Trials, you will understand. But the trials will only grow harsher. You must face them with your whole heart."
"…Understood." Dugu Yan nodded. Her gaze then shifted, as glowing panels unfolded before their eyes.
"The second trial has been issued. What are your tasks?" she asked the others.
"Infiltrate the Ring Sea blockade without killing any sea soul beasts, and reach the other shore," Ning Rongrong said.
Ye Lingling and Zhu Zhuqing echoed her words, their versions nearly identical save for increasing difficulty and some sealed rings.
"Mine is the same, but with one added clause—no soul skills allowed," Dugu Yan said.
"That sounds impossible," Ning Rongrong muttered.
"Not really." Dugu Yan smiled. Her greatest strength lay in soul bones and Martial Soul powers—especially the newly awakened Dragon Transformation. With her mastery of secondary development, skills were not her weakness.
"Rongrong, Lingling, don't worry. Your big sister Yan will carry you through this trial."
Zhu Zhuqing chuckled softly. She wasn't lacking in skills either.
"Come. Let's regroup and plan strategy," Dugu Yan said.
"Mm." Ning Rongrong and Ye Lingling nodded together.
"Senior Bo Saixi, we'll take our leave," Dugu Yan added politely.
Bo Saixi nodded, watching the four depart. Her gaze lingered on Dugu Yan. Such vitality, boldness, and popularity among the islanders—she admired the girl. But at the thought of the Ninth Trial, a trace of sorrow flickered in her eyes.
Turning toward the mainland, grief shadowed her gaze before she vanished in light.
(End of Chapter)
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