As Tang Sui’s consciousness withdrew from the depths of her soul, the long night came to an end. The sky was already faintly lit, and the trials of a new day officially began.
Half a month passed in the blink of an eye. From having severe dark circles under their eyes daily to being full of vigor, the Shrek Seven Devils’ demeanor grew increasingly steady, as if they had shed their skin and undergone another metamorphosis.
To be safe, Tang Sui ultimately did not extend the time the others could spend in the domain beyond two hours, not even Tang San.
Once everyone could stay in the domain for a full two hours, Tang Sui announced that her trials were officially concluded.
After half a month of mental exertion, the group finally showed the joy of being bathed in sunlight again.
After three days of rest, all nine of the Shrek group woke up early.
They used the surrounding resources to briefly wash and tidy themselves up before joining the waiting Xiao Bai to head towards the familiar Seagod Island’s Sea of Seas where the Sea Horse Sacred Pillar was located.
The sky was still a dim blue, but the sun’s outline could already be seen, indicating it would be a bright and sunny day.
Sea Horse Douluo, as usual, sat quietly beneath the Sea Horse Sacred Pillar, bathing in its radiant glow.
As if sensing their arrival, Sea Horse Douluo slowly opened his eyes.
The brilliance and deterrence that accompanied his opening eyes no longer had any effect on the current Tang Sui and the others.
“Senior Sea Horse Douluo.”
Tang San stepped forward and cupped his hands towards Sea Horse Douluo, who sat before the Sacred Pillar as they had when they first arrived.
Sea Horse Douluo swept his gaze over the greatly changed individuals, his eyes finally resting on Tang San at the forefront. Respect flickered in his eyes, and a faint smile touched his stern face. “Three years have passed, and all of your strengths have grown significantly. Have you come today for the fifth trial?”
Tang San nodded. “Indeed. We humbly request your guidance, Senior.”
With that, Tang San suddenly soared into the air, leaping towards the triangular platform beneath the Sea Horse Sacred Pillar and landing steadily.
Sea Horse Douluo nodded and reiterated the rules of the fifth trial: “Once the trial begins, you must defeat us Seven Sacred Pillar Douluo one by one within thirty-six hours.”
He flipped his right hand and injected soul power energy into the Sea Horse Sacred Pillar behind him.
“During the trial, we will not rely on the Sacred Pillar’s Sea God power; we will only assess you with our own strength.”
The Sea Horse Sacred Pillar, which had been circulating with a soft brilliance, suddenly lit up with a deep blue light, ascending from bottom to top and illuminating the entire pillar.
“Whoosh–!”
A dazzling golden light shot up into the sky, transforming into a pillar of light connecting heaven and earth, becoming the only bright spot in this chaotic world. Su Dan Novel Network.
The pillar of light from the Sea Horse Sacred Pillar acted like the starting whistle before a match. The other six Sacred Pillars on Seagod Island also lit up with towering golden pillars of light.
The illuminated pillars signaled the official start of the fifth trial’s timer, and these flames represented the duration of Tang San’s assessment. When they all extinguished, it would signify the thirty-six hours allocated for the fifth trial had elapsed.
“Thank you, Senior.”
After hearing the explanation, Tang San cupped his hands towards Sea Horse Douluo. In the next second, a blue-gold light erupted from Tang San’s body, and he had already charged directly towards Sea Horse Douluo in front of the Sea Horse Sacred Pillar!
“Boom boom—!”
Fierce battles and deafening explosions echoed incessantly.
When Sea Horse Douluo’s ninth spirit ring lit up, that circle of dark light rapidly expanded like an unfurled curtain, forming a circular black curtain that enveloped Sea Horse Douluo.
The immense energy surging madly through the air caused space itself to distort violently, and even the seawater in the Sea of Seas was stained black, signifying its extraordinary destructive power.
Even though they were merely spectators, Dai Mubai and the others were awestruck by Sea Horse Douluo’s ninth spirit skill.
Tang Sui watched the two combatants with sparkling eyes. When she saw Sea Horse Douluo, by himself, unleashing his spirit power to transform all the seawater in the vicinity into countless vortexes akin to meat grinders, she began to make mental notes.
Converting the power of seawater into demonic power, he could materialize it into vortexes like meat grinders, shredding enemies, whether he deployed his domain or not. Apart from immense consumption, there were no other drawbacks. As a finishing move, it wasn’t bad. Ah... not quite, this move took too long to charge, and it was interrupted by Brother. It seemed it still needed improvement.
Tang Sui, who was observing, raised her hand, and a black-red barrier instantly enveloped everyone.
In the next second, Sea Horse Douluo’s ninth spirit skill collided with Tang San’s more domineering hundred-thousand-year spirit bone skill. Amidst the colossal tremor that shook the entire Seagod Island, Sea Horse Douluo, whose spirit skill was interrupted halfway through its execution and whose energy mobilization was forcibly broken, choked out a large amount of blood, with blood even seeping from his nose and eyes. He retreated several meters, only regaining his balance after crashing into the Sea Horse Sacred Pillar.
“Splash splash—!!!”
The massive whirlpools formed by the collision of their spirit skills in the Sea of Seas crashed down. The splashing seawater transformed into roaring tidal waves that struck the shore. If Tang Sui had not erected a barrier beforehand, they would have been thoroughly soaked by the seawater, turned into drowned rats.
The Blue-Silver Domain: Myriad Phenomena, which was a blue-gold light, quietly receded. Tang San, with only a slightly pale complexion and no bleeding, landed on the triangular platform where he started. He bowed to the unsteady Sea Horse Douluo:
“Senior, I concede.”
Now, even Sea Horse Douluo lacked the strength to avoid Tang San’s bow. As for why he would avoid it, it was naturally due to Tang San’s status as the Sea God’s successor. Not even the Great Enshrined Elder was qualified to receive Tang San’s respects. Although he had already told Tang San not to bow previously, Tang San still adhered to etiquette, maintaining the act of bowing and returning salutes.
The unusually disheveled Sea Horse Douluo looked at the composed Tang San and sighed inwardly. He waved his hand at Tang San and said, “No need for formalities. Congratulations on completing the Sea Horse Sacred Pillar trial.”
Saying this, Sea Horse Douluo turned around, and a small amount of blood seeped from the pad of his right index finger, which he used to draw a peculiar pattern on the Sacred Pillar. The Sea Horse Sacred Pillar, symbolizing one-seventh of Tang San’s trial being passed, emitted a dazzling light. Golden light flew from the Sacred Pillar and entered the golden trident imprint on Tang San’s brow.
Seeing this, a look of respect appeared on Sea Horse Douluo’s face, and he was filled with emotion. He knew very well that the extent of his injuries was the result of Tang San holding back. Under Tang San’s peculiar mental-type dizzying attack, the three-second mandatory stun, combined with the immense energy expenditure of his ninth spirit skill, rendered him unable to maintain its operation, thus he naturally suffered some backlash. If Tang San had truly wanted to kill him at that time, he could have easily done so. Even though he still had the strength to fight, Tang San did not continue his attack. Alas, the waves behind the Yangtze River do indeed push the waves before them.
—Author’s Notes—
Fixed a bug. Mo Li had previously confused Sea Ghost Douluo and Sea Delusion Douluo. The one skilled in illusions should be Sea Delusion Douluo.
PS: The first wave of updates will be dropped starting tomorrow at 12:30 PM.