"Rongrong, Zhuqing, let me introduce you. This is the guardian of the Sea Maiden's Sacred Pillar, the Sea Maiden Douluo. She's from the mermaid clan, you know," Huan Yin introduced the two.
"Hello there! Are you here to challenge me as well?" The Sea Maiden Douluo was quite outgoing, flying over to greet the two of them.
Ning Rongrong bowed slightly. "We are here to learn from you, senior. Please show mercy."
"Of course, I'll go easy on you," the Sea Maiden Douluo smiled. "I'm really happy that such beautiful sisters have come to challenge me. This is the first time I've met girls as pretty as myself!"
Ning Rongrong couldn't help but ask, "Sister? Senior, if I may ask, how old are you?"
The Sea Maiden Douluo naïvely counted on her fingers. Her long fish tail rose from the sea and landed on the pillar, transforming into a pair of legs covered by a long black skirt. "Why do you ask the same question as Sister Huan Yin? I can't really remember… maybe ninety-six or ninety-seven? Wow, sister, why do you look so shocked? I'm not calling you old! Our mermaid clan lives five times longer than humans. By your standards, I'm not even twenty yet. So calling you 'sister' isn't wrong, right?"
"My grandfather is the current mermaid clan chief. He says I have extraordinary talent, a genius rare in ten thousand years, so he sent me here to guard the holy pillar. But it's really boring here. I don't like this monotonous life, but I can't leave. Sisters, you're so pretty, let's not fight, okay? How about I play you a tune—if you listen to it, you'll pass the trial. How's that?"
As she spoke, she gently moved her left hand and a black flute appeared in her palm. With a twirl, she brought it to her lips.
"Rongrong, Zhuqing, don't let her play! Attack immediately!" Huan Yin shouted. She knew firsthand how terrifying the Sea Maiden's flute could be.
"Hmph, Sister Huan Yin, you're so unfair! We're all your sisters, but you only care about them!" The Sea Maiden Douluo pouted. "I don't care, I want to play!"
"Nine Treasures, Second: Speed!"
"Spirit Cat True Body!"
By now, Ning Rongrong and Zhu Zhuqing were both experienced in battle. They saw the flute was the Sea Maiden Douluo's spirit, and, just like Huan Yin's, it used music as the main method of attack.
So, they had to stop her from playing at all costs. With Ning Rongrong's speed boost and Zhu Zhuqing's spirit body, Zhu Zhuqing's speed rivaled that of a Titled Douluo, and she charged at the Sea Maiden Douluo.
"First soul skill: Nether Spike!"
Zhu Zhuqing's sharp cat claws aimed for the Sea Maiden's flute and wrist.
The Sea Maiden frowned slightly, the light around her body turning ethereal. Her figure flickered unpredictably. Though she couldn't dodge every attack, her black flute tapped Zhu Zhuqing's claws three times, deflecting her.
After all, she was a Titled Douluo. Even though her soul skills relied on music, her reflexes alone far surpassed a standard Soul Douluo.
Ning Rongrong's trial was different from the others—there was no 60% power limit, so the Sea Maiden Douluo could go all out. If she started playing, the situation would become dire.
Most importantly, she also had a mermaid talent: mind reading. Previously, Huan Yin was protected by the Divine Music Imprint, so she couldn't read her thoughts. But against Zhu Zhuqing, this ability worked perfectly.
She could read Zhu Zhuqing's intentions: where she would attack, with which move—everything was anticipated and countered, so however fierce Zhu Zhuqing's attacks, they were always blocked.
Finally, during one attack, the Sea Maiden Douluo caught a flaw. Dodging Zhu Zhuqing's strike, she tapped the water's surface with her toes, her long legs transforming back into a fish tail. Spinning, her massive tail lashed out at the unprepared Zhu Zhuqing.
Zhu Zhuqing was sent flying. Seizing the chance, the Sea Maiden Douluo lifted her flute and prepared to play. At that moment, a new light burst from Ning Rongrong, enveloping Zhu Zhuqing, and her forehead glowed.
Zhu Zhuqing's flight abruptly halted. She landed on the head of a surfacing octopus soul beast, using it as a springboard, and shot toward the Sea Maiden Douluo like an arrow.
This time, her speed was nearly doubled. With Ning Rongrong's "Second: Speed" boost and an additional "Sixth: Increase", her burst speed was even greater.
Even the Sea Maiden Douluo couldn't react in time. Her attempt to play was blocked, and she had to dodge Zhu Zhuqing's relentless attacks.
More frustratingly, she suddenly couldn't read Zhu Zhuqing's movements.
Ning Rongrong smiled. Of course, this was her doing, with a gift from her Sword Brother—an Illusion Skull. Although it seemed insignificant compared to the soul bones and rings from the Ice and Snow Empress', it was proving very useful now.
This soul bone skill, "Illusion Space", let her link her spirit with teammates, sharing thoughts and weakening the opponent's mental power by 10%.
And with Ning Rongrong's Seagod's Imprint, the ability could be shared once linked. Protected by the Divine Imprint, the Sea Maiden Douluo's mind reading was useless.
Now Zhu Zhuqing's speed soared again. Using Nether Shadow Clone and Nether Shadow Link, she attacked the Sea Maiden Douluo from three directions with Titled Douluo-level speed, leaving her no chance to play her flute.
"All right, all right, please stop, sisters! I surrender, okay?" the Sea Maiden Douluo cried. Without her flute, she had no chance of winning.
The two immediately stopped, cupping their hands in thanks. "Thank you for your mercy, senior."
"Hmph! I told you my flute sounds great, but you wouldn't let me play! I'm ignoring you!" The Sea Maiden Douluo pouted and sat in front of the holy pillar, muttering to the wall.
The two were at a loss how to apologize for this.
Huan Yin chuckled, "Don't worry, Sea Maiden just has a child's temper. She'll be fine after muttering for a bit. Go on to your next trial."
The two nodded and left together. Ning Rongrong whispered to Zhu Zhuqing, "This Sea Maiden senior's love of muttering is just like my Sword Brother. Maybe they'd get along well."
Zhu Zhuqing agreed, "Could be. Both have a bit of a childish streak."