Seven months had passed unknowingly since Tang Sui entered the whirlpool.
But Tang Sui knew she had spent a much longer time in another world, as time flowed differently in each realm.
Much had happened in these seven months.
Under the pressure of the Sea God's Light and everyone's almost frenzied training methods, everyone's strength had seen a qualitative leap.
Bai Chenxiang, through her astonishing perseverance and hard work, not only advanced her assessment to Purple level but also successfully broke through level fifty, her current Spirit Power being level fifty-four.
Tang San's strength had broken through to the Spirit Sage level, his Spirit Power at level seventy-three, with his seventh Spirit Ring being of a hundred thousand year caliber.
In his Martial Soul True Body form, his Blue Silver Domain had also completed its third evolution, named Sen Luo Wan Xiang.
Xiao Wu's progress was slightly slower, stuck at level sixty-six.
Dai Mubai, level sixty-eight.
Oscar, level sixty-four.
Ning Rongrong, level sixty-five.
Ma Hongjun, level sixty-five.
Zhu Zhuqing, level sixty-three.
Most of the first trial was spent climbing stairs, climbing stairs. Training, training.
Boring, yet lively.
Because her companions were all here.
After discussing everyone else, the conversation naturally turned to Tang Sui.
"Before you left, Senior Poseidon said the other side of that whirlpool might be another space. Seeing as you've returned safely, that space should not be dangerous?" Tang San thought for a moment and said.
Tang Sui paused, then replied, "For me, it was indeed not very dangerous."
But for the Heavenly Dao consciousness of that world, it was hard to say how far those grown mutated beings could ultimately go.
"Going there was mainly about tempering the heart," she summarized.
Oscar, looking at Tang Sui, who seemed even more detached than before, curiously asked, "Sui Sui, your Spirit Power level was already at the Spirit Douluo level before you left, so what about now?"
This question instantly lit up everyone's eyes.
"Yeah, yeah, Sui Sui. Brother San's seventh Spirit Skill, that Sen Luo Wan Xiang he uses in his Martial Soul True Body form, is amazing! It can devour golden threads and even extract Spirit Power! Your eighth Spirit Skill must be awesome too?" Ma Hongjun's eyes twinkled with eager stars.
Even Tang San, accustomed to being surpassed by his sister's talent, looked at Tang Sui with anticipation.
"This..." Under the expectant gazes of her companions, Tang Sui, to their surprise, shook her head: "Actually, no. My current Spirit Power level is still stuck at level eighty from when I left."
"Ah?!"
Everyone was greatly shocked, and they all asked why in unison.
Tang Sui calmly deflected their questions, picking up the sea fish speared on a branch and placing it on the small bonfire to roast the other side: "That's why I said it. The trial in that space was mainly about tempering the heart, it had little to do with Spirit Power levels."
Because besides Spirit Power, after gaining faith power, her other personal panel attributes had all seen significant growth.
Well, if Spirit Power couldn't increase, then demon power could.
Even though she was ultimately kicked out, it wasn't a loss.
Impatience leads to disadvantage.
Tang San pondered for two seconds and suggested, "Then... now that Sui Sui is back and everyone is here, how about we hunt a suitable Spirit Beast for you tonight?"
The others also nodded, looking at the final decision-maker.
As expected, she received a negative answer.
"No need. The ninth month is almost over. You still have less than three months to climb. It's more important for you to focus on continuing upwards," Tang Sui thought to herself that she needed more than just one Spirit Beast, she would handle it herself later.
"But..." Tang San frowned slightly, Xiao Wu pursed her lips, and suddenly got up from the sandy ground, "Sui Sui, come with me for a moment, I have something private to tell you."
The phrase "something private" extinguished the desire of others to step forward.
Tang Sui, seeing Xiao Wu's conflicted expression, nodded and followed Xiao Wu away from their gathering around the bonfire, stepping into the dense forest.
"Sui Sui, can we talk inside your domain?" Xiao Wu, who had previously vowed not to step into Tang Sui's domain again, made the request.
Tang Sui was slightly surprised, but realizing that everything on Sea God Island was monitored by the Sea God Great Enshrined Poseidon, she felt relieved.
"Okay."
Under the curious gazes of the crowd by the bonfire, Tang Sui and Xiao Wu performed a vanishing act on the spot.
Tang San, like a startled bird, sprang from the ground. His eyes, covered in a layer of purple-gold light, relaxed their tense expression and became tinged with helplessness as he glimpsed the "black mud" churning like a swamp where the two had disappeared.
He had a rough idea of what Xiao Wu was going to tell Sui Sui.
Really, he was Sui Sui's brother, couldn't she have included him and let him use his Blue Silver Domain?
"What's wrong, Little San?"
"Nothing, they've gone into Sui Sui's domain." Tang San sat back with a helpless expression.
Dai Mubai understood, and as if he thought of something, he moved closer to Tang San, his elbow resting on his shoulder, and teasingly said, "The three of you together, but you're not included. Little San, it seems the private talk Xiao Wu wants to have is about you?"
Ning Rongrong also covered her mouth and chuckled.
Tang San: "..." No, it was actually about Sui Sui.
But Tang San, who inexplicably felt a bit disheartened, pushed Dai Mubai's hand away, pulled out the grilled fish skewer stuck in the sand, and shoved it into Dai Mubai's hand: "Quick, eat it while it's hot, Boss Dai, stop gossiping."
Dai Mubai raised an eyebrow and accepted Tang San's bribe of food.
On the other side, Xiao Wu, entering Tang Sui's domain with the domain owner once again, felt only a slight chill, without repeating her previous experience.
"Sister Xiao Wu, what did you want to tell me?" Tang Sui asked proactively after confirming their safety.
Xiao Wu looked at Tang Sui with a solemn expression, "Sui Sui, tell me honestly, are all your current Spirit Rings self-condensed?"
Tang Sui paused, met Xiao Wu's serious pink eyes, and nodded: "Yes, all of them."
Upon hearing this, Xiao Wu's brow furrowed with worry, "As expected... this is why you've been refusing."
After they transformed from Spirit Beasts into humans, for each level of advancement, they could convert their cultivation into the most suitable Spirit Ring years and attach it to themselves. Therefore, before her background was revealed, she had a troubled look when Mother Er Long took her to hunt for Spirit Rings.
Tang Sui lowered her eyes, "Well... not exactly. My situation is a bit special. Perhaps because I'm a hybrid, transforming Spirit Rings myself requires equally powerful forces to convert into Spirit Rings. Spirit Beasts, perhaps high-year medicinal plants."
She didn't tell the whole truth.
Xiao Wu was not surprised, as the ways Spirit Beasts survived and grew stronger were naturally through mutual combat, interdependence, or by devouring and evolving.
This was also the main reason she worried about Tang Sui, "But within Sea God Island, everything is under the surveillance of the Sea God Great Enshrined. If you were to acquire your eighth Spirit Ring, it would inevitably expose your special nature..."
---
Then Sui Sui won't climb the ladder anymore.
It's fun to watch others climb the ladder! Let's go fish blasting~