Heart-Fluttering Moments at SeaEveryone sat down again.
Dugu Yan continued her analysis: "We're both taking the top-tier Eight Trials, and Zhu Qing and I are fine, but Rongrong is a support-type Soul Master, and her physical abilities are far inferior to ours. Isn't it a bit too difficult for her to reach the same level as us?"
All eyes were on Ning Rongrong. Dai Yao was also a little worried. In the original work, Ning Rongrong obtained the top-level seventh test, which only required climbing 136 steps. However, the top-level eighth test required climbing 228 steps, doubling the difficulty.
Although Ning Rongrong's physical attributes had undergone a qualitative leap after her martial soul was sublimated, 228 steps were still too difficult for her.
Ning Rongrong frowned slightly, unsure of what to do. According to Seahorse Douluo, the current Grand Elder had also obtained the top-level Eight Trials, which required climbing 228 steps. Even the Grand Elder back then had to go through a lot to complete the test.
"Don't worry, Rongrong, with me here, I'll carry you up 228 steps, even if I have to carry you."
Dai Yao assured him.
If he didn't have absolute certainty, how could he dare to come to Seagod Island? His current setup is far more impressive than that of the Shrek Seven Devils.
Zhu Zhuqing, Feng Wutong, and Dugu Yan, each of them, in terms of physical attributes alone, were no weaker than Tang San in his prime. Tang San's spirit rings were indeed older than theirs, and he even had a 100,000-year spirit ring, but the quality of Zhu Zhuqing and the others' spirits far surpassed Tang San's.
Moreover, they accepted Dai Yao's advice early on and began to absorb spirit rings that exceeded their limits. Now, their physical strength can be said to be on par with Tang San's back then.
Even Ning Rongrong is not much different.
"Hold me while you complete the assessment? No way! I want to complete the assessment on my own merits!"
Hearing Dai Yao's boastful words, Ning Rongrong wrinkled her nose and gave a disgruntled snort. However, the slight upturn of her lips betrayed her inner joy.
Dugu Yan clicked her tongue twice. Since getting married, Ning Rongrong has really become more and more like the little witch she used to be, and has completely lost the graceful and generous demeanor she had when she was in charge of the finances of the Qinglian Sect.
He teased Ning Rongrong a couple of times, making her hide behind Dai Yao. Then, looking at Dai Yao, she said with some concern:
"Dai Yao, you need to traverse the double Sea God's Light. How many steps exactly do you need to climb? Can you complete it?"
After a moment's thought, Dai Yao said casually:
"My test involves traversing a double dose of Poseidon's Light and climbing 333 steps to complete the test. But don't worry, I'm confident I can finish it."
In the original novel, Tang San completed this test. If he failed, how could we talk about suppressing Tang San? Compared to Tang San in the original novel, he not only has a powerful attack-type martial soul, but also a higher age of his soul rings, and he has the Chaos Green Lotus as a trump card. How could he possibly fail?
Zhu Zhuqing couldn't help but tighten her grip on Dai Yao's hand, her large, watery eyes revealing undisguised worry. Although she didn't speak, she had conveyed all her feelings to Dai Yao.
Dugu Yan rolled her eyes at Dai Yao, crossed her arms, and said irritably:
"You rascal, ever since we got together, you've been making empty promises, telling us not to worry. But how can we not worry? Failing the assessment has consequences..."
Dugu Yan didn't finish speaking. She sighed softly. Having been with Dai Yao for so long, she knew what kind of person he was. If he said he would succeed, he would succeed. But how could they not worry about Dai Yao? Dai Yao was their husband!
"Forget it, all you'll do is try to brush us off with something like 'we'll definitely get it done,' so I'm not going to bother talking to you."
Immediately, Dugu Yan turned her head, her beautiful eyes looking at Bai Chenxiang who had fallen silent, and smiled:
"By the way, Xiangxiang, what is your assessment task? You didn't want to tell me before, can you tell me now?"
Startled from her reverie, Bai Chenxiang noticed the gazes directed at her and stammered:
"I...I..."
Bai Chenxiang glanced at Dai Yao, gritted her teeth, lowered her head, and said:
"Sister Yan, I still don't want to say..."
The women exchanged glances, but Dugu Yan had already guessed what was going on with Bai Chenxiang's inexplicable look at Dai Yao, and comforted her with a smile:
"It's alright, Xiangxiang. If you don't want to talk about it, then don't. We won't make things difficult for you. We are all from the Qinglian Sect, and Senior Baihe is our common elder. We will take good care of you since you came to Seagod Island. Don't feel too burdened. If you encounter any trouble or have something on your mind, you can tell me quietly."
He winked at Bai Chenxiang, and said meaningfully:
"I won't tell that man."
Bai Chenxiang's expression changed. She glanced at Dugu Yan with a complicated expression, pursed her lips, and slowly said:
"Thanks······"
······
After eating and drinking their fill and resting for a while, Dugu Yan looked at the sky and suggested:
"It's still early. Should we head to the assessment site first, see what's going on, and then make a decision? The way Seahorse Douluo looked at us yesterday suggests the assessment is going to be very difficult. We need to hurry."
The women couldn't help but look at Dai Yao, the pillar of the group. Dai Yao pondered for a moment, then stood up and said:
"Let's go. Since we're here to gain experience, let's not stay in this comfortable place for too long, or we'll lose our fighting spirit sooner or later."
The women nodded, invited a purple-clad Soul Master over, and after explaining their purpose, they prepared for a moment before following the purple-clad Soul Master to the forbidden area of Seagod Island.
The journey from Seahorse City to Seagod Mountain is quite long, nearly two hundred miles, and according to the purple-robed Soul Master, it would take at least an hour. Therefore, the group activated their Martial Souls to speed up their journey.
When Dai Yao and the others summoned their martial souls, the purple-robed soul master was nearly startled into falling. What kind of martial souls were these?
Every bit of pressure he faced felt like encountering a divine beast! His own martial spirit was wailing in despair.
"They didn't even use their soul skills, yet they kept up with my speed. They're a bunch of monsters. No wonder they were able to pass the top-level assessment."
The purple-robed soul master silently pondered this, his attitude becoming even more respectful.
An hour later, after passing through the jungle, a stunning view appeared before us.
Ahead lay a calm and peaceful expanse of water, its surface shimmering in the sunlight. A small island appeared in the center of the water.
The island is extremely high, like a mountain peak. A white jade palace stands prominently atop the peak, seemingly built above white clouds, radiating a sacred and peaceful glow. The path leading to the white jade palace is a long staircase with thousands of steps, stretching from the foot of the mountain all the way to the summit.
"This is the forbidden area of Poseidon Island?"
Everyone looked at Poseidon Mountain with curiosity, their eyes filled with amazement.
The purple-robed Soul Master gazed reverently at Seagod Island and proudly introduced it:
"Yes, this is the real Poseidon Island, also known as the island within an island. The white jade building on the mountaintop is called the Temple of the Sea God, where the Sea God is enshrined. The steps leading up to the Temple of the Sea God are where the adults are tested, with a total of 1,001 steps."
"If you adults wish to undergo the test, you may do so now. I will be waiting for you here. However, please remember not to make any noise, lest you disturb the Sea God."
"Also, if you reach your physical limit while climbing the mountain, please do not push yourself. Come down immediately. As long as you descend the sacred mountain quickly, you will not be injured."
After a moment's thought, Dai Yao, whose understanding of the plot was largely consistent with the original work, bowed and thanked him:
"Thank you, senior. We'll head over there now."
Immediately, Dai Yao turned around, grabbed Zhu Zhuqing and Ning Rongrong by the waists of their arms, and with a flap of his wings, took to the air and flew towards Seagod Island. Feng Wutong and Dugu Yan exchanged a glance. Feng Wutong took Dugu Yan's hand, spread her fiery wings, and Dugu Yan gave Bai Chenxiang a look before following suit.
Zhu Zhuqing, Ning Rongrong, and Dugu Yan are unable to fly, so they need help to cross the Sea Within a Sea.
Bai Chenxiang gritted her teeth, summoned her Swift Spirit, and her spirit rings flashed as she followed.
As they flew over the sea, an invisible force enveloped them, as if they were being drawn together. Except for Bai Chenxiang, all the women had a faint red glow on their foreheads, while Dai Yao had a golden glow.
"not good!"
Upon seeing the yellow light emanating from Bai Chenxiang, the purple-robed Soul Master cried out anxiously.
But it was too late. A terrifying pressure suddenly surged out from beneath Bai Chenxiang, and a huge black shadow burst out of the water, heading straight for Bai Chenxiang!
It was a gigantic swordfish, its sharp beak resembling a spear, its aura incredibly solid, indicating it was at least tens of thousands of years old! Its tail slapped the air hard, increasing its speed even further, striking Bai Chenxiang like a bolt of lightning.
Although Bai Chenxiang didn't know what was happening, the sudden pressure beneath her feet sent alarm bells ringing in her heart. Her expression changed, and her beautiful face was filled with fear. How could she, a mere four-ring Soul Master, possibly possibly defeat a soul beast that had existed for tens of thousands of years? But her instinct for survival still overcame her fear of death.
His soul power surged wildly, and with a twist of his body, he narrowly dodged the swordfish's attack.
But the swordfish showed no sign of giving up. Its tail twisted as if pointing into thin air, and it chased after Bai Chenxiang. Bai Chenxiang had barely managed to dodge the attack, having exhausted all her strength, but she had no ability to dodge again.
Looking at the swordfish's cold, spear-like beak hurtling towards her, she turned pale with fright, already anticipating the scene of being pierced through.
"Zhuqing, Rongrong!"
Sensing Bai Chenxiang's danger, Dai Yao shouted softly.
Although there was no communication, Zhu Zhuqing understood Dai Yao's thoughts through years of tacit understanding. She exchanged a glance with Ning Rongrong, grasped Ning Rongrong's hand, and the Netherworld Overlord Martial Soul instantly possessed her.
The moment Zhu Zhuqing summoned her martial soul, Dai Yao released his grip, and the two wings on his back instantly transformed into eight wings. His external soul bone was suddenly released, and with a gentle wave, a violent current of air stirred up huge waves in the sea below. A burst of air explosion rang out, and Dai Yao disappeared instantly.
Zhu Zhuqing and Ning Rongrong plummeted under the force of gravity. As they landed on the water, a speck of ice formed on Zhu Zhuqing's toes. With each step forward, more ice automatically formed beneath her feet. Holding Ning Rongrong, Zhu Zhuqing traversed the sea as if it were flat ground, like a black lightning bolt, swiftly hurtling towards Seagod Island.
At this moment, Dai Yao had already appeared beside Bai Chenxiang.
He gently embraced Bai Chenxiang's slender waist, shielding her behind him. With a quick glance, he used his other hand to block the swordfish's attack.
Faced with the attack of a ten-thousand-year-old soul beast, Dai Yao dared not be too careless. As his soul power surged, six soul rings slowly rose from the soles of his feet.
Yellow, purple, black, and red.
The moment it was released, an indescribable sense of oppression surged forth, but it was different for Bai Chenxiang. Looking at Dai Yao's broad back in front of her, it was as if a mountain had stood in front of her, bearing all the dangers. Bai Chenxiang's tense heart finally relaxed.
The thought of the test she was about to face made her heart skip a beat, and she stared at Dai Yao, momentarily lost in thought.
"White Tiger Protective Barrier!"
The first spirit ring lit up, a flash of light appeared, and a transparent membrane suddenly appeared in front of Dai Yao's palm. The swordfish crashed heavily into it, making a muffled sound. When it saw the trident mark between Dai Yao's eyebrows that emitted a faint golden light, it quickly retreated and jumped into the water, disappearing from sight.
Seeing the swordfish spirit beast return to the water, Dai Yao exhaled a slight breath of stale air.
He couldn't help but curse himself inwardly; he had been so careless as to forget about this. In the original story, when the group was heading to the Sea God's Temple and flying over the Sea within the Sea, Bai Chenxiang was attacked by the soul beasts of the Sea within the Sea because her assessment level did not meet the requirements for landing on the Sea God's Island.
The incident happened so suddenly that Dai Yao couldn't react in time. If Bai Chenxiang hadn't dodged the swordfish's first attack, he wouldn't have been able to save her.
If Bai Chenxiang had met with misfortune on Seagod Island, Bai He might have actually been able to harden his heart and betray the Green Lotus Sect, joining Tang San of the Heaven Dou Empire. Fortunately, Bai Chenxiang survived.
"Xiangxiang, are you alright?"
Dai Yao turned around, looked at Bai Chenxiang who was still shaken, and asked her with concern.
Upon seeing Dai Yao's face, Bai Chenxiang's pale face flushed slightly. Although her body still trembled from the ordeal, her mind was now occupied by another emotion.
She was certain that Dai Yao was the most outstanding man she had ever met in her life. He was exceptionally talented, built a renowned sect across the continent from scratch, and his only flaw was that he was somewhat of a womanizer, having married four wives and seemingly having several other female confidantes outside the marriage.
But for a nobleman, these are all minor matters.
Initially, Bai Chenxiang didn't have a good impression of Dai Yao, thinking that although he had some strength, he was too much of a womanizer. It wasn't until later, through casual conversations within the sect, that she learned about some of Dai Yao's past and began to understand him. If she were in his shoes, she wouldn't be able to choose between Zhu Zhuqing, Feng Wutong, Dugu Yan, and Ning Rongrong either.
Therefore, she no longer harbored hostility towards Dai Yao, but instead treated him as a subordinate would treat their sect leader.
But the trials on Poseidon Island left her confused and somewhat shy. Her test was to kiss Dai Yao for the duration of an incense stick burning!
She and Dai Yao were completely innocent; how could she kiss Dai Yao? Besides, it was her first kiss!
Torn between her innocence and the rewards of the trial, she had come to become stronger, and the rewards were incredibly tempting. She didn't know what to choose. However, after being attacked at sea and rescued by Dai Yao, her heart was pounding. She didn't know if it was the tension of surviving the ordeal or if she had fallen for Dai Yao.
But one thing is certain: the way she looked at Dai Yao had changed.
The gaze emanating from Dai Yao's brilliant golden eyes seemed to burn with unparalleled intensity, deeply searing Bai Chenxiang's heart. She lowered her head shyly and replied:
"No...it's nothing..." (End of Chapter)