Chapter 260: Sea God Hall
After passing the exam in Seahorse City, everyone appeared extremely excited, but there was also a hint of unease on their faces.
So far, Oscar, Feng Xiaotian, Huo Wu, Yang Wei, and Qin Shuang had all completed the trials, but everyone knew that the real challenge was only just beginning.
Sea God Island was an extremely isolated place. Except for the native residents of the island, outsiders could not enter. Even the supply ships from Hanhai City could not truly enter the island, only able to interact with the residents at the periphery.
Moreover, no one who had joined Sea God Island had ever been known to leave. Surrounding Sea God Island were not only the Soul-devouring Great White Sharks, but the island itself had very few ships, and whenever people went to hunt soul rings, they were always accompanied by Soul-devouring Great White Sharks.
One could say that Sea God Island was a fanatical religious organization, and it was extremely difficult to leave.
This was the greatest issue faced by Yang Xiong and the others. They would never truly join Sea God Island, and they certainly would not spend their whole lives there.
In the original story, Tang San and the others were able to leave Sea God Island. On one hand, it was because Tang San inherited the Sea God's legacy, and on the other hand, it was because the Spirit Hall's ambitions were far too great. If the Spirit Hall were allowed to unify the entire Douluo Continent, they would likely attack Sea God Island sooner or later.
Just like Sea God Island, Spirit Hall was also a religious organization, and these kinds of organizations were extremely hostile to each other, even to the point of life-and-death struggles.
As for secretly leaving Sea God Island, that was simply unrealistic. Once on the sea, there was a huge disparity between land soul masters and sea soul masters. Take the Seven Sacred Pillars of Sea God Island, for example. If they truly fought on the sea, Yang Xiong's group would not easily win, not to mention the extremely powerful Poseisi.
Seeing the troubled expressions on everyone's faces, Yang Xiong spoke up to comfort them.
"It's still early, and I have two more trials to complete. If I'm not mistaken, Spirit Hall won't allow Sea God Island to exist. Similarly, Sea God Island has a religious conflict with Spirit Hall. If Sea God doesn't want the Angel God to rule the world, he should allow us to return and resist Spirit Hall's control."
Upon hearing this, everyone felt relieved. After all, after completing the trials, they were all aimless, and having too much free time was almost starting to cause problems.
After organizing his thoughts, Yang Xiong, along with Ning Rongrong and Shui Bing'er, prepared to head to the Sea God Hall to participate in the seventh trial.
At the base of Sea God Mountain, the three of them stood in front of the towering and magnificent Sea God Hall, their expressions all extremely serious.
Both Ning Rongrong and Shui Bing'er seemed a bit moved. Although they now had certain levels of strength, gods were still beings far beyond their reach, and they felt an immense awe towards gods.
"Little Bear, do you really think we can take up the Sea God Trident? That's the legendary divine artifact."
Yang Xiong gave a comforting look to Ning Rongrong and Shui Bing'er on both sides.
"Rongrong, Bing'er, maybe you think gods are distant, but the so-called gods are really just the ultimate limit of a true soul master. As long as a soul master can break through level ninety-nine and reach the true level of a hundred, they can become a god."
"For you, it may seem distant now, but I believe that with your talent, your efforts, and your opportunities, becoming a god at level one hundred is not out of reach."
"Don't forget, Rongrong, you're the most talented disciple in the history of Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School, and the only other one with the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda. Your potential is far stronger than you think."
"Bing'er, your Ice Phoenix has already become perfect after consuming the Ice Crystal Phoenix Spirit. The phoenix is the king of birds, as powerful as a dragon. In terms of martial souls, you are already perfect. With your will and talent, becoming a god at level one hundred is not impossible."
After hearing Yang Xiong's words, Ning Rongrong and Shui Bing'er, whose eyes were previously filled with confusion, now became filled with confidence. Just as Yang Xiong had said, their martial souls were unprecedentedly powerful, and with all the opportunities they had, they would certainly reach the pinnacle of soul masters.
Ning Rongrong spoke first: "Xiao Xiong, I believe you will succeed. I will definitely follow in your footsteps. The Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda will shine across the entire Douluo Continent."
Shui Bing'er smiled slightly: "Yang Xiong, thank you for everything. I hope you succeed, and I will do everything I can to help you. I hope we can both succeed."
The three of them exchanged a smile, and the tension from earlier vanished.
Yang Xiong, accompanied by Ning Rongrong and Shui Bing'er, stepped back onto the Sea God Island steps.
Now, the Sea God's light no longer repelled the three of them, and they walked step by step up the stairs.
But as they climbed higher, the Sea God Hall became clearer, and the gap between gods and mortals became increasingly obvious. Even the three of them felt how insignificant they were as mere mortals.
Only in the presence of a god could one truly feel the difference between god and man, and the invisible aura between them.
When the three of them crossed the thousand and eleventh step, they all breathed a sigh of relief.
In front of them stood an extraordinarily grand palace. This was the first time Yang Xiong and the others had come so close to Sea God Hall.
The entire Sea God Hall was magnificent, especially with large stone pillars at the front, each intricately carved with images of various sea creatures, including the soul beasts they had seen before, such as the Soul-devouring Great White Shark and the Evil Magic Tiger Whale King, along with many others they had not seen.
The Seven Sacred Pillars of Sea God Island were already standing in front of Sea God Hall, seemingly waiting for the key moment.
Yang Xiong and the others slightly bowed: "We greet Sea Dragon Douluo and the esteemed seniors."
Sea Dragon Douluo's expression was a bit complicated: "Come with me, the Great Offering has been waiting for you."
Under Sea Dragon Douluo's guidance, the three of them entered Sea God Hall.
Yang Xiong and the others were on high alert, following Sea Dragon Douluo into the Sea God Hall. The hall was unlike what they had imagined, lacking extravagant decorations, and it appeared very ancient.
After entering, Sea Dragon Douluo left, and only Poseisi, the Sea God Douluo, remained.
It was then that the three of them saw the interior of Sea God Hall clearly. There were eight platforms, one of which was the largest. Sitting on it was Poseisi, the Sea God Douluo. The other seven platforms were smaller, likely corresponding to the Seven Sacred Pillars of Sea God Island.
In the center of Sea God Hall was a massive throne, but it was empty.
In front of the throne was a gigantic trident, over three meters long, emitting a golden light that made it impossible to look directly at it, as if it were a divine weapon.
Poseisi spoke softly: "You've finally arrived. Have you decided to participate in the seventh trial?"
Yang Xiong and the others nodded: "Senior, please lead us in the trial."
Poseisi nodded: "Alright, but before we begin, I have a few questions for you. I hope you can speak from the heart."
Yang Xiong and the others exchanged glances, feeling somewhat puzzled. In the end, Yang Xiong spoke: "Senior, please speak your mind."
Poseisi said: "Yang Xiong, Ning Rongrong, Shui Bing'er, you three are the red-level trial candidates, the future inheritors of Sea God Island's Great Offerings. I know you were born on the mainland, so I must ask, are you truly willing to dedicate everything to the Sea God, even your lives?"
Hearing this, Yang Xiong and the others' expressions changed slightly, and the entire room fell into a moment of silence.
Yang Xiong thought for a moment before speaking: "Senior, I have always admired Lord Sea God and am willing to dedicate my life to him. I will never betray him."
Ning Rongrong and Shui Bing'er quickly spoke: "Senior, we are willing to dedicate our lives to Lord Sea God."
Poseisi's face changed slightly, showing a hint of helplessness, but she didn't know how to respond to Yang Xiong and the others.
"Yang Xiong, Ning Rongrong, Shui Bing'er, I know that you three were born on the mainland and have your own families and concerns. But since you've arrived at Sea God Island, and since you are the future offerings of Sea God Island, I must make a few things clear."
"Perhaps you don't know much about Sea God Island or Lord Sea God, but he is far greater than you can imagine."
"In the vast ocean, it was once filled with bloodshed and slaughter, and countless races perished in the process."
"Lord Sea God pitied the creatures of the ocean. With the Sea God Trident in hand, he spent his life traveling to every corner of the sea, conquering one race after another with his immense power and unmatched charisma. After one thousand and one years, he finally unified the oceans and became the Sea God, revered by all sea creatures as a singular, unparalleled god."
"Without Lord Sea God, there would be no peace in the sea, nor peaceful coexistence between humans and soul beasts."
Yang Xiong seemed to realize something: "Senior, did Lord Sea God truly travel the entire ocean? After all, the ocean is endless, and legends say no one can reach the end of the sea."
Poseisi's eyes changed, and a flash of anger appeared on her face: "What? Do you dare question Lord Sea God?"
Yang Xiong quickly spoke: "Senior, of course I would never question Lord Sea God. I just have a bit of doubt. Is the world round or square? Besides our Douluo Continent, are there other places where humans live?"
Poseisi was taken aback by Yang Xiong's question.
Eventually, Poseisi shook her head: "I'm not sure about that. Lord Sea God became a god tens of thousands of years ago, and many things have been lost in the passage of time. If you're interested, you could ask Xiao Bai. He traveled the entire sea with Lord Sea God during the conquest."
"You've distracted me, but I almost forgot the main point. After Lord Sea God unified the sea, Sea God Island has been devoted to worshiping him for generations, maintaining peace in the sea. But to maintain peace, strength is required."
"That's why Lord Sea God has given his legacy and trials, to select those who will inherit the Sea God's faith and the peace of the sea. As my successors, I hope you three will help maintain the peace of the oceans in the future."
"Yang Xiong, I know you have incredible talent. At such a young age, you've already reached Title Douluo level. Given time, you will certainly reach my level. I hope you never forget your original intention."
(END CHAPTER)
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