Chapter 174: Bo Saixi's Past
"Come inside with me."
After a long silence, it was Bo Saixi who spoke first. Without waiting for a response, she turned and walked into the hall. Neptune followed closely behind.
As soon as they entered, Bo Saixi waved her hand, and a gentle soul power carried the massive double doors shut, sealing off the outside world. The Sea God's Temple remained as dark as ever, its seven platforms unchanged.
Once inside, she did not venture further into the hall but instead sat cross legged by the door, gesturing for Neptune to sit across from her.
Neptune could tell that, at this final moment, she wished to speak with him. Naturally, he wouldn't refuse especially considering that soon, she would sacrifice herself to complete his divine inheritance. The least he could do was respect her final request.
Following her silent instruction, Neptune sat down. He looked at Bo Saixi but said nothing, waiting for her to speak first.
Her gaze grew distant, her thoughts drifting far into the past. Then, in a calm, detached voice, she began to speak.
"My family has served the Sea God for generations. Every thousand years, one fortunate soul is chosen by the Sea God and granted a divine martial soul… My Sea God Martial Soul comes from this lineage."
"When I was six, I awakened my martial soul and, following family tradition, came to the Sacred Pillars for a trial… I was granted a Red Level Trial and bestowed a Divine Martial Soul. From that moment on, my destiny changed."
She recounted her life story, her voice as steady as still water.
Neptune listened silently.
Bo Saixi's story wasn't dramatic it was a tale of a girl chosen by the gods, who trained relentlessly and completed every divine trial until, in her fifties, she reached Rank 99 and officially became the Great Priest of Sea God's Island.
Had things continued normally, her fate would have been like her predecessors' serving as Sea God's High Priest for a thousand years before peacefully passing away, awaiting her successor.
But then two unexpected visitors arrived on Sea God's Island.
One of them, like her, was a priest chosen by the gods.
The other a genius who had reached the Rank 99 limit purely through effort.
They came to Sea God's Island searching for a path to divinity.
At the time, Bo Saixi was over fifty, but because she had spent most of her life training, she had never experienced love. Emotionally, she was as innocent as a young girl.
Then love struck suddenly, like a whirlwind.
Over time, Bo Saixi fell in love with the Rank 99 genius.
However, the other man the one who was also a priest confessed his love to her as well.
All three had grown close during their time together.
As a shy young woman, Bo Saixi struggled to express her feelings. The man she loved never openly confessed either meanwhile, the priest boldly pursued her.
At last, unable to decide, Bo Saixi gave them a challenge:
"Whoever becomes a god first I will marry him."
To anyone with insight, her meaning was obvious.
The priest could never become a god. The genius, however, had a real chance.
This was her way of telling him she had already chosen him.
But
"If I don't become a god, I won't return."
With those final words, the man turned and left.
His determination was so absolute that Bo Saixi couldn't even call him back.
She hesitated too long.
And then he was gone.
From that day forward, she waited.
At first, she believed he would return.
Even if it took 900 years, she would keep waiting.
After all, Titled Douluo had long lifespans she could afford to wait forever.
But then Neptune appeared.
Bo Saixi knew that once the Sea God's Inheritance began, she would have to sacrifice herself to complete the ritual.
And yet
She still hadn't seen him again.
Neptune listened quietly, absorbing her story.
Finally, after a moment of silence, he asked:
"But judging by your demeanor… you've already let go. What changed your mind?"
Bo Saixi's eyes darkened.
"I've waited too long…"
"Decades have passed. If he succeeded, he should have returned by now. If he failed knowing his pride, at the very least, he would have come to see me one last time."
"But he never did."
"Whether he's dead… or whether he abandoned me… I'll never know. But one thing is certain I will never see him again."
She sighed, looking at Neptune with calm acceptance.
"If this were the past, I might have tried to hinder your trials in every way possible."
"But now your ascension determines the future of the ocean."
"That meteor from beyond the heavens… the catastrophe it will bring… only a god can stop it."
"As a servant of the Sea God I cannot be selfish."
Neptune was silent.
After a long pause, he spoke solemnly:
"Once I become a god I will try to bring you back."
Bo Saixi was momentarily stunned.
Then
She smiled.
"There's no need."
"I've lived long enough."
"I do not fear death. If my sacrifice allows the birth of the next Sea God that is the greatest honor."
"Now that I've let go of my regrets… I have no more attachments to this world."
Her words were light as the wind.
But Neptune couldn't ignore them.
To her, this sacrifice was natural, inevitable, necessary.
Neptune exhaled slowly.
"We'll see."
There was no need to argue now.
If he became a god, he would find a way.
Bo Saixi stood.
"Come."
She walked forward.
"Stand upon the platform I will begin the final ritual."
Neptune leapt into the air, landing upon the same platform where he had once drawn the Sea God's Trident.
At that moment
A unique energy enveloped him.
The golden trident emblem on his forehead shone brilliantly, illuminating the dark temple.
Bo Saixi raised her golden scepter.
The three meter long staff, covered in intricate carvings, gleamed with divine power.
At its tip a diamond shaped golden gemstone.
When Bo Saixi lifted it high
A radiant golden light erupted from the gem
Illuminating the entire temple!
(End of Chapter.)
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