"Up, up?"
Bai Chenxiang glanced at Xiao Wu and Tang San, who had already broken through the 150th level, and a bitter emotion welled up in her heart. She said dejectedly, "I... I can't go that high. Even if I try my best, I can only reach level 54..."
The rest of her words were interrupted by a sudden cool touch against her lips.
Tang Sui, without a word, took Bai Chenxiang's hand. Black and red demonic energy flowed from their clasped hands into Bai Chenxiang's body, transforming into a protective light membrane that strictly separated her from the pressure of the Sea God's Light.
"Let's go, Xiangxiang, I'll take you up."
Bai Chenxiang's body leaned forward with Tang Sui's pull. She stepped onto the stairs and, in the blink of an eye, passed through that transparent barrier. Miraculously, Bai Chenxiang didn't feel the pervasive, powerful resistance she had experienced before.
"This... how is this possible?" Bai Chenxiang was dumbfounded, pulled by Tang Sui, as they rushed upwards at a running pace, closing the distance between them and their companions.
Hearing Bai Chenxiang's confusion, Tang Sui turned her head to explain, "Don't be surprised. I've just covered you with my domain, temporarily isolating you from the Sea God's Light so you won't be affected. However, from now on, Xiangxiang, you'll have to hold my hand continuously, without letting go."
Beneath the seemingly ordinary words lay the effects of multiple processes working simultaneously.
Tang Sui herself was simultaneously operating demonic energy, soul power, and mental power. Other tasks, such as bearing pressure, converting energy, applying buffs, and absorbing energy, were handled by Ape Face and the others. Finally, the system integrated everything, acting as a bridge to complete the power transfer of the perpetual motion machine, maintaining the balance between consumption and recovery at a parallel state, and providing a continuous energy cycle to sustain their equilibrium.
Like a closed-loop workshop, each component was performing its own task.
Unaware of the complex principles involved, Bai Chenxiang looked at Tang Sui's earnest and determined profile. Her nose twitched, and she lowered her eyes, using the shadow of her bangs to conceal her slightly reddened eyes. Her gaze inadvertently fell on their clasped hands, and her heart was filled with both emotion and complexity.
Ning Rongrong, who was holding up the Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Pagoda to maintain buffs for Xiao Wu and Tang San, also noticed the two dark horses rushing up from behind. She was momentarily stunned. "Huh? Xiangxiang, how did you..."
Ning Rongrong's voice stopped abruptly as her gaze fell upon the black and red light membrane on Bai Chenxiang. Realization flickered in her eyes. Seeing that Tang Sui clearly had the ability to easily bring someone up over a hundred levels but hadn't appeared or helped before, the astute Ning Rongrong naturally understood the reason. She skillfully moved past the question, smiling as she looked at Bai Chenxiang and Tang Sui catching up. "Great! Now our Shrek Seven Monsters are all here. Let's all accompany Xiao Wu and Third Brother to the summit!"
Oscar, who had nearly died climbing the 120th level, was filled with joy. "Yes, you've come at the perfect time. Let's all accompany Xiao San and Xiao Wu to the top!"
"Xiao San, Xiao Wu, keep going!"
Dai Mubai raised his hand to his mouth, cupping it like a megaphone, to cheer on the two who were still struggling.
Ma Hongjun also clenched his fist and made a gesture of encouragement. "Shrek, never give up!"
Even Xiao Wu and Tang San, who were still in a tough battle, didn't feel any dissatisfaction or resentment towards Tang Sui for observing from the sidelines.
This was because they all knew that with Tang Sui present to accompany them to the summit and complete the assessment, it was the greatest help they could receive.
Taking shortcuts might feel good, but it could lead to significant disadvantages in the future.
Xiao Wu and Tang San, who had climbed to the 180th level, glanced back. Meeting the trusting and encouraging gazes of their companions, they paused on their current level and then continued to climb upwards, slowly and steadily.
Upon entering the 200th level, Xiao Wu, like Ning Rongrong, fell into a spiritual illusion, which stirred up her deepest fears and most regretful memories.
Tears mixed with sweat dripped onto the ground, making it impossible to distinguish between them.
When the sun reached its zenith, casting its scorching radiance, Xiao Wu moved.
She overcame the fear in her heart and stepped onto the stairs above the two-hundred mark, one step at a time.
A golden pillar of light descended from the sky, and Xiao Wu's first trial came to an end.
Tang San, who had stopped at the 220th level, turned his head. Seeing his beloved who had passed the first trial, the heavy stone in his heart finally lifted. From then on, he would focus all his attention on the assessment before him.
"Hoo..."
He let out a long sigh, then held his breath and quickened his pace, actually beginning to sprint towards the upper levels with astonishing speed, stunning Ma Hongjun and the others who had been exhausted just climbing to level 120.
"My heavens, Xiao San can actually speed up..."
As he said this, Dai Mubai cautiously glanced at Tang Sui, who was still being resisted by the Sea God's Light but only had a thin layer of sweat on her forehead, and had even brought someone up to the 200th level.
At that moment, Dai Mubai was truly convinced of the monstrous capabilities of this brother and sister.
Ma Hongjun also wore a look of dullness.
Sometimes, it wasn't that he wasn't trying hard enough; it was just that his companions were inhuman.
Bai Chenxiang looked at the numb expressions on the faces of the other monsters, and her complex feelings deepened with a hint of subtlety.
So... everyone was the one being overwhelmed...
With a peculiar sense of comfort, Bai Chenxiang's last trace of unwillingness vanished.
She finally understood. In this family, comparison was the most foolish thing.
Relaxing her mindset and facing things with a Buddhist-like detachment was the best approach.
Time ticked by. In the blink of an eye, the fierce sun in the sky had set, leaving only half of its crimson body visible on the horizon.
With Tang San's final trump card, the ultimate evolved skill of the Asura Purgatory within his Asura Domain, he broke through the chasm of the last few steps and stood on the 333rd step, completing his assessment.
Golden light reappeared from the clouds in the sky, shining brightly, and a golden pillar of light descended upon Tang San, resonating with the light golden Sea God's Trident imprint on his forehead and unleashing a powerful surge of energy.
The grotesque wounds on Tang San's back healed at a speed visible to the naked eye.
The curtain of golden mist in front of Tang San shattered, turning into specks of golden light that, along with the light flowing from the golden trident, poured into Tang San's body.
Tang Sui's dark blue pupils reflected Tang San accepting the divine light. In her vision, Tang San's soul aura was silently enveloped by a divine dao intent that even she envied.
Sensing the trace of divine dao intent belonging to the Sea God, the system's voice immediately sounded with an indefinable tone: [As expected of this world's Child of Destiny. The path to godhood, which is incredibly arduous for others, is frankly too simple when passed down in this manner. You know, some people can't achieve godhood even if they spend their entire lives and endure long ages. Truly enviable.]
'Envious?'
'Perhaps.'
Tang Sui didn't deny her slightly sour feelings, but they passed in an instant.
'Actually, I'm more fortunate that my brother is this world's Child of Destiny. Although his path ahead is exceptionally rough, he is destined to reach the summit and will not perish along the way.'
'From a family member's perspective, there is no stronger backing or more reassuring harbor than this.'