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As the pillar of light solidified into a deep yellow, Liu Hai and the surrounding residents of Sea God Island let out a collective breath of surprise.
On Sea God Island, yellow trials were the most common occurrence, but reaching a deep yellow shade meant the individual possessed respectable talent. Typically, a Purple trial was reserved for those deemed geniuses, while a Black trial—provided one could complete it—signified the potential to become a Guardian Douluo, standing watch over one of the seven sacred pillars.
Of course, these standards applied primarily to the Sea Spirit Masters of the island. For outsiders, especially Land Spirit Masters, the difficulty of the Sea God's trials would normally skyrocket. Since the sailors were technically Sea Spirit Masters, their difficulty was only slightly higher than that of the island's natives.
The true challenge would lie with Su Wen and the Battle Heaven Douluo. For them, the difficulty of the trials could be ten times—or even more—than that of a commoner.
One by one, the sailors stepped forward to receive their divine evaluations.
Most received Yellow trials, but to the shock of the onlookers, five of the sailors managed to trigger Purple trials. The locals' expressions began to shift from curiosity to genuine wariness. By Sea God Island standards, this group was exceptionally elite.
When Emperor Xu Jiawei had selected these sailors for Su Wen, he hadn't just looked for technical skill; he had factored in age and latent potential. He knew that if they followed Su Wen into the unknown, they might stumble upon a fortuitous opportunity that would allow them to soar, and the Xu Imperial Family would reap the rewards of that gratitude.
As it turned out, he was about to collect a massive amount of "gratitude."
If a Spirit Master could pass a Purple-level trial, they were practically guaranteed to reach the rank of Spirit Sage, and a powerful one at that. Even those with Yellow trials would receive enough divine benefit to break through to the Spirit King level without issue. Normally, any outsider who stumbled upon the island would be forced to live there for life, but because they came with Su Wen, these men might actually have a chance to return to the Continent with their new strength.
Then, it was Hai Da's turn. Even Su Wen watched with interest.
Hai Da's talent was undeniable. Even without the opportunities provided by this journey, he would have been considered a first-tier genius in the Spirit Master world. Now, having fully mastered the Oceanic Intent and refined it into a proto-domain, his potential had reached a pinnacle.
At twenty-eight years old, he was a Rank 54 Spirit King. During the two-and-a-half-month voyage, he had broken through again. This rapid progress was a result of his newly opened Spiritual Sea and the fact that the deep ocean served as the ultimate mimetic environment for his martial soul.
The pillar of light engulfing Hai Da bypassed white and yellow instantly, flashing through purple and deepening at a terrifying speed. Within three breaths, it shattered the purple barrier and surged into a profound black.
The deep, obsidian pillar seemed to swallow the surrounding light. The Sea Witch Douluo's eyes widened in shock. The light didn't stop until it reached the absolute limit of the Black level: Black Class Six Trials.
And yet, there was something more. Within that void-like black light, there were faint, flickering sparks of red.
The Sea Witch Douluo suspected that if Hai Da had been born on Sea God Island, that flicker of red wouldn't be just a spark—it would have consumed the entire pillar. While the trials tested talent, one's origin often acted as a ceiling. In the eyes of the islanders, the Red trials were on a different plane entirely.
Historically, every islander who received a Red trial had passed and attained a status of supreme reverence. Red Class Eight Trials meant becoming the High Priest and the direct spokesperson for the Sea God. The current High Priest, Bo Saixi, had attained her position exactly this way. To the Sea Witch Douluo, the Red trials were reserved for the Sea God's "inner circle," which was why she assumed Hai Da's mainland origin was holding him back.
Su Wen was also surprised. Black level, nearly touching Red? This was already superior to several of the original Shrek Seven Devils before they had consumed immortal herbs in the original legends.
Hai Da opened his eyes, his heart pounding with excitement. He knew from Su Wen and Liu Hai that a Black trial meant reaching the Title Douluo realm was no longer a distant dream!
The fifteen sailors looked on with envy; their highest was only a mid-tier Purple.
"Senior, you go first," Su Wen said, yielding to the Battle Heaven Douluo.
The Battle Heaven Douluo, who had been itching for his turn, stepped onto the platform. The Sea Witch Douluo hesitated momentarily before beginning the ritual. This was her first time officiating for a Title Douluo—especially one who served as the guardian for another God. However, the High Priest had assured her that the Sea God had permitted this.
As the ceremony concluded, a pillar of light enveloped the Battle Heaven Douluo. It turned black instantly and then... stopped. It didn't deepen or fluctuate; it remained at the entry-level of Black.
The Battle Heaven Douluo looked confused. Compared to Hai Da's intense display, his seemed muted. However, as the Guardian of the God of War, he realized his situation was unique. He didn't dwell on the color, as a burst of blue-gold light began to swirl around the God of War mark on his forehead, and a flood of information poured into his brain.
Finally, Su Wen stepped onto the stage as the grand finale.
The Sea Witch Douluo opened her mouth to speak, then closed it. She was genuinely conflicted. Su Wen's talent was leagues beyond Hai Da's. If he exceeded Hai Da's rank, he would step into the forbidden territory of the Red Trials. This contradicted everything she knew about "outsiders."
She had a gut feeling that something unprecedented was about to happen.
"Senior, please begin," Su Wen said with a calm smile, offering a bit of reverse-encouragement. "Don't worry. If there are no surprises, my trial shouldn't be too outrageous."
The Sea Witch Douluo took a deep breath, crossed her hands at her chest, and channeled the faint blue light.
The light on the Sacred Pillar didn't just rise; it exploded toward the heavens. The resulting shockwave was so powerful it shook the entire island, awakening every Spirit Master on its shores.
In the Great Temple at the very center of Sea God Island, a seated figure opened her eyes and looked sharply toward the Sea Witch Sacred Pillar.
(End of Chapter)