"These nine children who received top-tier red trials, they all came from the same teacher?"
"Reporting to the Great Priest, these nine Geniuses who received top-tier assessments all claim to have studied at Peach Garden Academy. Although their spirit power is between level fifty and sixty, after verification by the Sea Horse Saint Pillar, their Physiques are even stronger than ordinary Spirit Emperors, which is quite incredible."
"Peach Garden Academy, a Spirit Master Academy I've never heard of. What kind of person can simultaneously teach nine students approved by the sea god?"
"Could it be… their teacher is the sea god?"
"Or perhaps… Peach Garden Academy, Peach Garden?"
In the sea god Hall, the Great Priest Poseidon received the message from Sea Horse Douluo. Sitting on the Great Priest's throne, she gazed at the conditions across Sea God Island reflected in the Sea God's bubble mirror, and something suddenly came to her mind.
Just a while ago, Tang Chen's remnant soul came to Sea God Island, seeking a final meeting with her, his 'old friend'. After only a brief conversation, his remnant soul dissipated into the world.
During that brief conversation, Tang Chen mentioned the existence of a Peach blossom immortal. In his words, this Peach blossom immortal possessed unparalleled beauty, and her Peach Blossom Branch wielded the power to split the heavens. She was the greatest he had ever seen, and even at his Peak, he found it difficult to contend with her.
It was that Peach blossom immortal who helped him escape the control of the Blood-red Bat King, allowing him to see her one last time before he died.
At the time, her thoughts were still immersed in the sorrow of her friend's passing, a 'friend' who was more than a friend but less than a lover, and she hadn't paid much attention to this Peach blossom immortal.
But recalling it now, Tang Chen had never been inferior to anyone in his life, never bowing his head or admitting defeat, even when facing her and Qian Daoliu, the two strongest individuals below a god.
Yet, at his final departure, he didn't hesitate to praise that Peach blossom immortal, showing admiration and even awe, which proved her extraordinary nature.
"Whether they are the sea god's Disciples or students of that ethereal Peach blossom immortal, as long as they can successfully pass the assessment, then my mission will be complete…"
Thinking this, Poseidon sent a telepathic message to Sea Horse Douluo:
"Always keep an eye on their safety. Whatever they need, as long as it doesn't involve helping them pass the assessment or crossing a bottom line, fulfill their requests."
"And try to treat Tang San favorably as well."
Poseidon hesitated for a moment, then added.
"As you command."
"No! Great Priest, Sea Horse cannot monopolize all nine Great Priest potential candidates! We want to see them too! Perhaps some of them are even guardians destined to inherit our positions."
At this moment, the guardian Douluos of the other six Saint Pillars of Sea God Island also arrived outside the hall, respectfully saluting the Great Priest, then voiced their dissatisfaction.
It's truly infuriating when people compare themselves to others!
Their other six Saint Pillars hadn't seen a black level six trial potential candidate in years, yet the Sea Horse Saint Pillar alone produced nine red and one black trial takers.
Sea Horse Douluo took all the credit!
"Alright, if they can successfully pass the assessment, they will eventually come into contact with all of you."
Poseidon said indifferently to the other six guardian Douluos.
These six Saint Pillar guardians were: Sea Dragon Douluo, Sea Lance Douluo, Sea Illusion Douluo, Sea Ghost Douluo, Sea Star Douluo, and Sea Maiden Douluo.
...
Sea God Hall, the ascending steps to the hall were like a jade belt hanging on Sea God Mountain.
Below the stairs, everyone who had received the Sea God's assessment gathered, preparing for their first attempt to climb the Sea God steps.
"Teacher, I received a red level eight trial! Our first trial is to cross the Seagod's Light and climb the Sea God Hall steps."
"My sister, Yaner Senior Sister, and I all need to reach the 555th step within one year to pass the first trial."
"Meng Yiran Senior Sister and Xue Wu Senior Sister are 488 steps."
"Hai Rou Senior Sister, Ruoshui Senior Sister, Yu Senior Sister, Qingbo Senior Sister's first trial is to climb 399 steps."
"That annoying guy Tang San, I don't know how many steps he has, hmph!"
Shui Yueer was the teacher's little clingy bug, using the sound-transmitting conch to talk to her teacher whenever she had a chance.
"Everyone, don't be careless. I just asked a purple-robed Spirit Master on Sea God Island. In past Seagod's Light assessments, an ordinary Spirit King who could reach sixty or seventy steps was already considered strong. Genius Spirit Masters at the Spirit Emperor Realm, around level sixty, usually wouldn't exceed two hundred steps. But our assessment requires us to climb at least four hundred steps, which even a top-tier Spirit Saint might not be able to do. And we are mostly at the Spirit King Realm."
Shui Bing'er said.
At the same time, as the eldest Senior Sister among the nine Disciples, Meng Yiran had already started climbing the steps, feeling the power of the Seagod's Light, and quickly summarized:
"Junior Sisters, I've felt it. This Seagod's Light is similar to a negative pressure resistance force, making us move forward with a burden. We have all undergone the teacher's medicinal bath tempering in the Academy, so our Physiques are stronger than Spirit Masters of the same Realm. But this negative pressure from the Seagod's Light can further stimulate the potential of our bodies. So, everyone can use Spirit Ability enhancements and techniques after reaching their physical negative pressure limit. This will benefit our Cultivation."
"Hmm, then let Teacher see our potential! Only success, no failure!"
The other Junior Sisters encouraged each other and, after cheering, also began to climb the steps, testing their current limits.
Soon, led by Meng Yiran, Dugu Yan, and Shui Bing'er, they had already reached beyond the fiftieth step in a short amount of time!
Following them were Shui Yueer, Shen Liuyu, Yu Hairou, Qiu Ruoshui, Gu Qingbo, and Xue Wu.
But even Xue Wu, as a support system Spirit Master, was close behind, quickly ascending thirty steps, and her speed was not inferior to her classmates from the attack system and agility-attack system.
Upon hearing Shui Bing'er reveal the information about their first trial, Tang San's face changed. He quickly pulled out his own trial badge, on which was written:
"First Assessment: Crossing the Seagod's Light. Hint: Proceed to the core Forbidden Land of Sea God Island. Reaching the 156th step before the Forbidden Land is considered passing the trial. Time limit: One year."
One hundred and fifty-six steps, not even a third of Shui Bing'er's?!
Not only could he not compare to Shui Yueer, but even Qiu Ruoshui and Gu Qingbo, who were just making up the numbers in the Soul Master Competition, had nearly double his trial!
How was this possible?!
"Does the Sea God believe their talent and strength far surpass mine?!"
"I don't believe it!"
"Sea God, you've misjudged!"
Tang San was somewhat unconvinced and unwilling to believe that he would fall so low as to be inferior to even Shui Yueer and Qiu Ruoshui.
His foot sank, and he also stepped onto the Forbidden Land steps.
As soon as his foot landed, he felt a pressure and a pushing force surge over him.
Unlike the effortless progress of Shui Bing'er and Dugu Yan, at only twenty or thirty steps, Tang San's face turned ashen, finding it difficult to move forward. His Spirits, Blue Silver Emperor and Clear Sky Hammer, erupted, and his five spirit rings—yellow, yellow, purple, black, black—appeared.
He could only grit his teeth and push on.
Upon reaching the fortieth step, Tang San could barely move. The Eight Spider Lances Spirit Bone on his back extended, bracing against the steps below, supporting his body to catch his breath for a moment. Then, using the leverage, he climbed a few more steps, but even the Eight Spider Lances began to tremble.
Immediately, the Blue Silver Domain and the Blue Silver Emperor Right Leg Bone came into play, allowing him to reach the fifty-fifth step. His body finally could not bear it any longer, and he was violently flung backward, crashing heavily onto the platform in front of the Forbidden Land, lying prostrate like a toad.
Tang San coughed violently, then looked at the nine students from Peach Garden Academy.
He saw that Dugu Yan and Shui Bing'er, who were leading the Peach Garden Academy group, were emitting a faint glow and had already reached the hundredth step!
And that didn't seem to be their limit; they were still climbing higher.
Even Xue Wu, the support system Spirit Master at the very end, and Qiu Ruoshui and Gu Qingbo, who had lower spirit power, had reached the seventieth step!
"Pfft—"
Seeing this, Tang San's blood surged, and he spat a mouthful of jealous blood into his palm:
"Has the gap between us already become this great?!"
"I… am I really not even as good as any of them?!"
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