Tang Yin trailed behind the girls, climbing at a leisurely pace as he observed their progress. All of them were performing remarkably well, requiring no support from him.
Ahead, Xiao Mei, Dugu Yan, and Bai Chenxian climbed steadily, their expressions resolute as they reached the 130th step. Their pace began to falter as fatigue set in, strength fading from their limbs, but they gritted their teeth and, at last, touched the 136th step.
The Sea God's deep voice boomed, echoing across the trial ground as he announced:
"Dugu Yan, Bai Chenxian, and Xiao Mei, Top-Tier Level 7 Test—first trial completed."
[Reward: Soul Power +1 level, age of all soul rings increased by 500 years]
Dugu Yan: Soul Level 78 → 79, second yellow soul ring turned purple. Rest unchanged.
Bai Chenxian: Soul Level 78 → 79, second soul ring turned purple. Rest unchanged.
Xiao Mei: Soul Level 77 → 78. She was only here for the soul level gain; her six black soul rings required no upgrade.
Soon after, the three supports—Rongrong, Lingling, and Yuehua—crossed the 144th step and completed their trial. The immortal herbs had clearly strengthened their foundations, ensuring their success.
"Ning Rongrong, Ye Lingling, & Tang Yuehua, Top-Tier Level 7 Test—first trial complete."
[Reward: Soul Power +1 level, age of all soul rings increased by 500 years]
Ning Rongrong: Soul Level 77 → 78, second soul ring turned purple. Others unchanged.
Ye Lingling: Soul Level 77 → 78, second soul ring became purple. Others unchanged.
Tang Yuehua: Soul Level 75 → 76. Just like Xiao Mei, she was here mainly for the level increase. She also had six black soul rings.
Next up were Huo Wu, Yiran, Bing'er & Yue'er, reaching the 145th step as they kept their eyes on the final goal at the 160th. However, by the 155th step, Xiao Wu and Zhuqing had already pulled ahead, still engaged in their unspoken competition with each other.
Their duel ended without a clear winner; both stepped onto the 160th step simultaneously, much to the complaints of the others trailing behind about their "perverted antics."
"Xiao Wu, Zhu Zhuqing, Meng Yiran, Huo Wu, Shui Bing'er, and Yue'er, Top-Tier Level 7 Test—first trial complete within 365 days."
[Reward: Soul Power +1 level, age of all soul rings increased by 500 years]
Xiao Wu: Soul Level 75 → 76, second soul ring transformed purple. Others unchanged.
Zhuqing & Yiran: Soul Level 78 → 79, second soul ring turned purple. Others unchanged
Huo Wu, Bing'er & Yue'er: Soul Level 76 → 77, their second soul ring also turned purple.
All of them were satisfied with their gains. Tang Yin, however, frowned. The repeated rewards felt underwhelming—what was the point of the differentiated trials if the rewards were same?
Next up was Zhuyun, struggling at the 175th step and crouching slightly as she climbed, her curves subtly catching Tang Yin's attention. He gulped dryly as he steadied her when she was faltering near the 180th step.
Tang Yin's hands lingered for a moment before he restrained himself, guiding her safely. Zhu Zhuyun blushed and shot him an angry glare, but he quickly looked away, careful not to meet her eyes.
Tang Yin then turned his gaze to Erlong, who was climbing the 200th step, her ample chest heaving with exertion, sweat glistening across her skin, making her even more alluring.
"Zhu Zhuyun and Liu Erlong, Top-Tier Level 7 Test—first trial complete within 365 days."
[Reward: Soul Power +1 level, age of all soul rings increased by 500 years]
Zhuyun: Soul Level 79 → 80, second yellow soul ring turned purple. Others unchanged.
Erlong: Soul Level 87 → 88, second soul ring turned purple. Her face radiated satisfaction.
Finally, it was Tang Yin's turn. The girls nodded encouragingly, and he returned their smiles before beginning his trial in earnest. From the 180th step, he surged to the 440th step in just ten minutes.
The Sea God's Trial was simple enough—endure and reach the 444th step.
Tang Yin did just that, stepping calmly onto the 444th, his face serene, his breathing steady. That alone should have been the end. The test was already complete.
But he didn't stop.
His feet kept moving. 445… 460… 470… 480. His expression never changed, though a bead of sweat began to appear. By the 490th step, his chest heaved. At the 500th, he was huffing and puffing, blood surging wildly in his veins.
Still, he climbed. 510… 520… 530. His spirit strained with every step, his mental power was draining like water through a sieve—yet his will only hardened, sharp and unyielding, as if the crushing pressure only forged his resolve to be the strongest in this world.
Blue Silver Domain released—
At the 540th, his body convulsed violently. At the 550th, streams of blood ran freely from his nose, spattering down the steps. By the 554th, his head buzzed like a thousand war drums, vision dimming.
Death God Domain released—
He knew he had already gone far beyond the requirements. He knew the trial demanded no more. He could stop and none would demand more from him.
And yet—he climbed.
One final surge of sheer will carried him onto the 555th step. For a heartbeat, Tang Yin just stood there, defying the heavens themselves.
Craack—
Then the crushing pressure descended upon Tang Yin, hurling his battered body back and shaking his fading consciousness; yet even as he fell, defiance burned brighter than pain, a bloodied smirk tugging at his lips.
Boom—
He hadn't just passed the Sea God's trial—he had shattered his own limits. Someone had once said that limits and rules are made to be broken. Maybe it was his friend? Didn't care.
This will be my catchphrase from now on!
"Plus Ultra—!" muttered Tang Yin in a typical chunboyo style before he was showered by a golden divine light from the sky that started to heal his ruptured insides in Seconds.
"Refusing to give up in the face of danger and pushing beyond the normal limit by significant margin. Unyielding Heart and Tenacious spirit. Tang Yin, God of Ocean's Level Nine Test. The first trial completed exceptionally beyond limit. [Rewards: closeness to Sea God increased by 10%, the reward will be superimposed later]"
Haiz—
Tang Yin shook his head regretfully. He hadn't even gained a single level, but at level 80, the meager reward didn't interest him much. He was, however, expecting the superimposed reward once he completed all nine of his trials.
Bo Saixi was momentarily at a loss for words, her gaze lingering on Tang Yin's back. There was admiration—and a tangle of complicated emotions—within her. She knew that he was destined to become the future heir of the God of the Ocean, without any twists or turns.
"Tang Yin, what exactly is the superimposed reward?" the girls asked, circling him with curiosity. Before he could even answer, Bo Saixi stepped forward.
"Once Tang Yin finishes the God of Ocean's Level Nine Test, you'll find out then," Bo Saixi said, her gaze meeting his.
Her eyes swept over the others as she smiled,
"Congratulations on passing the first trial, but the harder challenges are still ahead. Never forget the importance of teamwork—"
She paused, realizing that Tang Yin alone was more than enough to carry them through the test, and let out a soft, amused chuckle.
"Zhuyun, I'll now give you your God-given soul ring," Bo Saixi said, a flicker of light leaping from her scepter and settling onto her.
Zhuyun sat cross-legged, absorbing the soul ring. With her strong physical fitness, obtaining a 100,000-year soul ring was no challenge.
Still, Tang Yin released his Blue Silver Domain and gathered some vitality to provide support. Within three hours, Zhu Zhuyun had already obtained her eighth soul ring, which exceeded 100,000 years.
Zhuyun stood and tested her soul level along with her new soul skill, a bright smile lighting her face. "My soul level has reached 83, and my new soul skill is called Dark Body. It lasts for an hour, increases dark attribute by 200%, boosts speed and penetration by 100%, and blocks 50% of blunt attacks."
Tang Yin's brow shot upward in amazement. Was the darkness attribute always this cool and overpowered? He wondered, especially since both Zhuqing's and Zhuyun's soul skills were downright envy-inducing.