The clear sky was disturbed by the towering blue light emanating from the Sea Horse Sacred Pillar.
The wind and clouds shifted, and a sacred atmosphere filled the air, calming the heart and inspiring an involuntary urge to worship.
A glint of black light flickered in Tang Sui's dark blue eyes. Amidst this immense power, as vast and profound as the sea, she tilted her head, looking towards the blue beam that stretched to the heavens. Her ear-length hair was ruffled by the sudden gust, and her aura was slowly changing.
However, this change went unnoticed by anyone, not even by Tang San, who stood before Tang Sui.
While bathed in the same sacred atmosphere, Tang Sui saw something different from Tang San and the others.
The moment the Sea Horse Sacred Pillar lit up, her attention, along with that of the mask in her spiritual space and the system seemingly residing within her soul, was drawn.
Her companions beside her, the strongly present Sea Horse Douluo, and the surging waves of the sea all vanished as the world suddenly darkened.
A more profound sense enveloped her, the feeling of being watched, of being locked onto.
The gaze felt familiar, as if she had encountered it before, but that past encounter was filled with hostility, whereas this one was more peaceful and vast.
In Tang Sui's vision, everything became transparent, and the world seemed to consist solely of the colossal, deep blue celestial pillar standing before her.
Countless rays of light overflowed from the sacred pillar, like stars falling from the sky, surging towards her.
Suddenly, Tang Sui turned her head as if sensing something, and saw a golden prism, as transparent as crystal, appear in the west, emitting a sacred and unsettling light.
Before she could even frown, a strong malice, stirring a bloodlust within her heart, came from another direction.
Turning her head, she saw a black-green prism standing beneath a mass of dark clouds, its malice radiating a spiritual pollution stronger than her own domain.
"Boom—!"
A sudden thunderclap exploded in her ears, and another blood-red light, filled with the aura of slaughter, ignited in another direction, standing in opposition to the black-green prism, creating a sense of two opposing peaks.
And she, pitiable as she was, was squeezed in the middle by these prisms situated in various directions, with no choice.
However, they made no other moves, signifying their presence, and while mutually belittling each other, they also seemed to be wary of...
the gaze from above.
Sharing the same profound apprehension towards that gaze, Tang Sui felt as if she were being scrutinized by that existence.
Subconsciously, she straightened her back, her body rigid, allowing that presence to examine her. Even the faint black-red light that illuminated her body went unnoticed.
"...Sui Sui? Sui Sui, why are you spacing out?" Su Dan Fiction Network
Xiao Wu's voice approached from a distance, and the deep blue prism emitted a strong blue light.
When the blue light died down, her eyes reflected the familiar environment again.
"Sui Sui?"
Xiao Wu curiously waved her hand in front of Tang Sui.
The faint light enveloping her disappeared silently. Tang Sui blinked slowly, met Xiao Wu's questioning gaze, thought about what Xiao Wu had just asked, and found her voice to reply, "You and brother go first, I'll go last."
Tang San's brow furrowed slightly as he looked at the distracted Tang Sui, feeling a touch of confusion. However, since he detected nothing unusual, he attributed her daze to the shock of Ning Rongrong having just obtained her top-tier Seven Trials.
Tang Sui, watching Xiao Wu bathed in a faint red light and having obtained three top-tier trials, let her thoughts drift further.
'System... and everyone, did you just see that...'
The masks remained eerily silent, only the system gave a faint "Mm." The cold mechanical voice shed some of its distorted illusory quality, becoming more real, and said, [It has noticed you.]
[Your actions in the Slaughter City were very dangerous. It...]
'No, this is the opportunity I wanted.'
Tang Sui thought silently, her voice heavy on the last two words, suppressing the system's warning.
The system remained silent for two seconds before saying, [You have less than ten minutes left to decide. If you had chosen another path until now, to gain the favor of other gods and become one, it would have been the best choice.]
'But that is not the path I desire.'
She craved recognition, but she did not want to follow a path dictated by others, to take the place of another person or god, and fulfill already predetermined responsibilities.
Tang Sui watched as her brother Tang San, after being assessed by the Sea Horse Sacred Pillar, triggered a phenomenon of heaven and earth.
The vast Sea God Island was alarmed, and countless people prostrated themselves, kneeling before the sky-piercing sea-blue light. Endless faith power surged, converging in the sky, merging into another vast force, all of which fell upon Tang San.
Even the legendary Great Enshrined of Sea God Island—Bo Saixi—was alerted.
—She was never one to be content with the status quo.
Tang Sui looked at Bo Saixi, the Sea God's Great Enshrined, known as the Sea God Douluo, her gaze gradually deepening.
Perhaps, deep down, she was like a true demon race, filled with a propensity for the strong, pursuing even greater power.
And so...
Having instructed her confidante Ou Ya to treat them all as distinguished guests from today onwards, Bo Saixi turned and looked at Tang San, her gaze distant and grave. "Tang San, remember this: you must complete at least one of your Nine Sea God Trials every year. Otherwise... all your efforts will be in vain."
As she spoke the last four words, Bo Saixi's tone was laced with a sigh, as if the consequences of Tang San failing his Nine Sea God Trials were more dire than mere death.
Xiao Wu, understanding the implication, pursed her lips, clasped Tang San's left hand with her right, her fingers interlaced tightly, silently declaring her unwavering stance to be with him no matter what.
Encouraged by his lover, Tang San's mood was also calm. He countered, "If I fail, will the outcome also be death?"
The Sea God Douluo had just elevated their entire group's treatment to the highest level and stated that even she was not qualified to accept his courtesy, clearly implying that the "expectations" were more than superficial and that she had other plans.
Tang San's words caused a chill to creep onto Bo Saixi's gentle expression. Her benevolent eyes turned as cold as a drawn sword, and a vast pressure immediately descended upon Tang San.
"If you fail, the consequences will be far more terrifying than death."
Tang San, pinned in place, gasped for breath.
"Because your trial concerns the survival of Sea God Island. So remember, never entertain the thought of failure."
Bo Saixi's warning cast a heavy mood over the Shrek Eight Monsters.
Ma Hongjun, wanting to say something to ease the atmosphere, tried to speak, but under Bo Saixi's formidable aura, all his words shrunk back in fear.
It was only after Bo Saixi retracted her aura that Tang San could breathe again. He let out a silent sigh and turned to look at Tang Sui amidst her companions. "Senior, my sister has not yet undergone her trial. Please assess her."
After all, Bo Saixi had personally taken over their observation and assessment rights from the Sea Horse Douluo earlier.
"Sui Sui, come forward."
Tang San called out to Tang Sui.
—Interlude—
See you tomorrow~