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The radiance erupting from the Sea Witch Sacred Pillar was far more violent than any of the previous reactions. A powerful surge of energy swept across the entire expanse of Sea God Island like a tidal wave.
A massive pillar of light descended from the heavens, completely engulfing Su Wen—and the sacred pillar itself—within its diameter.
The light bypassed white and yellow with such velocity that, had one not known the sequence, the human eye would have failed to register the transition entirely. Even purple was but a fleeting spark. To the onlookers, it appeared as if the blue had transmuted directly into a deep, abyssal black.
The black grew increasingly profound, threatening to swallow every stray photon in the vicinity. But just as the darkness reached its zenith, thin, thread-like veins of crimson began to flicker within the void. The moment those red lines appeared, a brilliant blood-red glow surged, reclaiming the entire pillar.
Yet, it did not stop there.
As the blood-red intensity peaked, a sliver of gold pierced through. At the sight of that golden shimmer, the Sea Witch Douluo's pupils contracted violently, and her breath hitched in her throat. Her gaze turned incredibly complex. For the guardians of the island, the appearance of gold represented a liberation, yet it was a reality that was difficult to process in the moment.
The crimson pillar gradually transitioned into a radiant, pale gold.
At the center of Su Wen's forehead, the golden light swirled. Curiously, it did not form the traditional pattern of the Sea God's Trident. Instead, after shimmering for a long time, it settled into the distinct shape of a Book.
As the light dissipated, the complexity in the Sea Witch Douluo's eyes vanished, replaced by sheer bewilderment. She stared at the symbol, lost.
Where is the Trident? she wondered. Where is the golden mark of the successor? Why is this so different from the legends?
Her confusion didn't last long. A moment later, a private transmission from the High Priest echoed in her mind. Her expression shifted several times—from shock to realization—before she finally looked at Su Wen with newfound reverence.
"Your talent is extraordinary; you have received the recognition of Lord Sea God himself. He will guide you on the path ahead," she said, unconsciously adopting a formal, respectful tone.
Su Wen slowly opened his eyes. Sensing the subtle changes in his state, a flash of understanding crossed his mind. He touched the mark on his brow. He finally understood how the Sea God had maintained the theoretical age limit of a Spirit Master while conquering the vast oceans.
As it turned out, Divine Trials were not limited to the "Succession Trials" meant to pass on a godhood; there were also "Assistance Trials" designed to bolster a candidate.
A voice resonated deep within his consciousness:
"Divine Nine Trials. Complete nine trials to attain Godhood."
"First Trial: The First Step of Pioneering. Spread the brilliance of knowledge to Sea God Island. Reward: One God-Bestowed Spirit Ring!"
This was fundamentally different from the missions Su Wen remembered from the original legends. This felt like a custom-tailored support system—the Sea God was effectively acting as a mentor, planning out Su Wen's path to divinity. It was similar to the God of War's support, but it seemed the God of War lacked the "authority" to see Su Wen through the entire process, whereas the Sea God was stepping in to provide the heavy lifting in terms of resources and destiny.
Su Wen could feel a unique power within the mark, slowly accelerating the fusion process between himself and his Martial Soul. Previously, Su Wen had used various methods to push his fusion rate to incredible heights, but those methods had plateaued around Level 60. He had assumed he would have to wait for his final three spirit rings to see any further progress, but the Sea God's mark was already doing the work.
"You should all have received your respective trials from Lord Sea God," the Sea Witch Douluo said, addressing Hai Da and the sailors. "Next, I will take you to the 'Sea God's Light,' where you may begin your cultivation."
She lingered on Hai Da for a moment before turning to the Battle Heaven Douluo. "Your trial is different. You do not have cultivation tests; instead, you are tasked with purging certain malignant sea spirit beasts. The Sea Dragon Douluo will arrive shortly to lead you into the ocean for your missions."
Finally, she looked at Su Wen, her eyes still clouded with mystery. "As for your trial... I do not know its details. But since the Sea God has given you guidance, you are free to carry out your tasks anywhere on the island. If you have any requirements, simply ask."
Su Wen nodded. His task was simple: open the "Academic Realm" on Sea God Island. He had already taken the first step by letting Liu Hai experience it.
As the Sea Witch Douluo led the sailors away, Su Wen and the Battle Heaven Douluo remained on the platform.
"Ahem... everyone," Su Wen said, looking down at the gathered residents of Sea God Island. "I hope you all can cooperate with me on my task."
The islanders looked at each other, confused. Why would an outsider's trial require the help of an audience? None of the Sea God's previous trials worked like this. Furthermore, this "Grand Scholar's" trial was a never-before-seen gold. What did gold even signify? To them, it felt more "divine" than even the red trials, and they felt an instinctive urge to obey.
"Grand Scholar, what do you need us to do?" one of them asked.
Because the sailors and the Sea Witch Douluo had consistently used the title, the residents had followed suit, though they didn't yet understand the weight of the name. They were about to find out.
"Please, do not resist. I am going to take you somewhere interesting," Su Wen said. His mental power enveloped every resident present, and he activated his illusionary technique. Usually, he issued Spirit Imprints to regulate the process, but for this, he chose to pull them in directly.
As the residents became immersed in the Academic Realm, a powerful surge of soul power approached. The intensity was at the Title Douluo level—and a high one at that. Su Wen estimated it to be around Rank 95.
The newcomer was unmistakable: the strongest of the Seven Guardians, the Sea Dragon Douluo.
He was shirtless, standing over two meters tall with a rugged face that looked to be in its thirties. His thick pectoral and abdominal muscles gleamed like bronze armor, and a massive blue dragon tattoo snaked across his back.
Even before he reached the platform, the Battle Heaven Douluo felt a wave of pressure. It was jarring; despite being a rank higher than the Sea Dragon Douluo and being the guardian of the God of War—a martial soul born for slaughter—he still felt the weight of the man's presence.
Pressure, however, did not mean defeat.
"You must be the Battle Heaven Douluo," the Sea Dragon Douluo said, his deep blue eyes burning with an ascending battle intent.
(End of Chapter)