The silence after Tang San's departure lasted only about half an hour.
The moment a red and a blue light erupted from the thick fog, the expansion of the dual domains even affected Tang Sui and the others outside the fog's range.
The illusion that had bound Tang San melted away like ice and snow, and Tang San, standing on the hexagonal platform with a chilling aura, was exposed to everyone's sight.
Not far from Tang San stood a tall, slender, and straight hexagonal pillar, about fifteen meters high.
Its surface was intricately carved with complex, shifting demonic patterns, and it was the Sea Illusion Saint Pillar.
Before the Saint Pillar stood a middle-aged man with an astonished expression, appearing to be around fifty years old. He was reasonably handsome, but his face was now extremely pale.
He bore two yellow, two purple, and five black spirit rings, arranged neatly on his body, totaling nine.
He wore a black robe, and a snake-like band of light hovered around him, representing his spirit, the Phantom Serpent. It was a peculiar spirit that could manifest as both beast and weapon.
"It seems Xiao San has broken free from the illusion. I just wonder what exactly Sea Delusion Douluo showed him within that illusion," Dai Mu Bai sighed.
Tang Sui let out a shallow sigh of relief as she looked at Tang San, whose face was extremely grim and his eyes filled with murderous intent, yet he remained relatively composed.
The very next second after her sigh of relief, Tang San, standing on the hexagonal platform, began to counterattack Sea Delusion Douluo.
"Boom—!!"
The spirit skill attacks, each possessing terrifying might, collided, and the entire Sea Illusion Island trembled.
Tang San's Slaughter God Domain, the Asura Hell, erupted to its maximum.
The Asura Hell surrounding him deepened its crimson hue, dyeing the air a faint red.
The strong scent of rust assaulted the nostrils, and Sea Delusion Douluo felt as if his mind had been struck by a heavy hammer. The Phantom Serpent spirit avatar he had manifested began to tremble violently within the Slaughter God Domain.
While attempting to break free from the suppression of Tang San's Asura Hell, Sea Delusion Douluo's spirit avatar felt as if it were being constantly hammered by an invisible smithing hammer. With each heavy blow, the ten-meter-long Phantom Serpent would shrink slightly in size.
Furthermore, the damage inflicted by the Purple Demon Divine Light from the vast domain caused Sea Delusion Douluo's mental world to tremble. Blood trickled from the corners of his mouth uncontrollably, and his face contorted in pain.
"Crash!"
Accompanied by a mournful roar from the Phantom Serpent, its form contracted. Its spirit avatar was directly shattered, reverting to its original size and posture.
This was something even Tang San had not anticipated.
Seizing the opportunity, Tang San, on the offensive, unleashed the second skill of his eighth spirit ring, the Blue Silver Overlord Whale's Demon Capture, a proactive control skill.
Meanwhile, Sea Delusion Douluo, his head splitting with pain and still reeling, was seamlessly plunged into a new three-second stun.
Tang San, who had teleported into mid-air, his eyes gleaming with cold light, then unleashed his demon whale spirit bone skill.
As the red light on his left leg intensified, the battle-axe-shaped red light solidified, descending towards Sea Delusion Douluo like Pangu's axe cleaving the heavens.
"Whale Demon Axe!"
With a thunderous roar, Sea Delusion Douluo's body was violently sent flying.
Blood splattered, and in the terrified gazes of the other purple and yellow-robed soul masters guarding the Sea Illusion Saint Pillar, the flying Sea Delusion Douluo crashed heavily onto the Sea Illusion Saint Pillar. He coughed up a mouthful of blood and slid down the incredibly sturdy pillar to the ground, falling into a prolonged coma, utterly unable to stand.
Sea Delusion Douluo's blood stained the illusory demonic patterns on the Sea Illusion Saint Pillar a vibrant and eye-catching red.
Tang San, hovering in mid-air, flipped and landed steadily. However, when he raised his head, his eyes were filled with an ominous dark red, his whites completely obscured, appearing utterly abnormal.
Seeing that Tang San had not reined in his aura and spirit power even after severely injuring Sea Delusion Douluo into unconsciousness, and was continuing to advance towards the fallen Sea Delusion Douluo, Tang Sui and the others' expressions drastically changed.
"Xiao San!"
Xiao Wu immediately wanted to rush over, but Dai Mu Bai, who was more rational, raised his hand, stopping Xiao Wu from rushing forward and said sternly, "Xiao San hasn't completed this trial yet."
Tang Sui, suppressing her impulse, also pursed her lips tightly, watching Tang San in his abnormal state with a grave expression. She echoed, "Brother Dai is right. Until Sea Delusion Douluo declares that brother's assessment is complete, none of us can act rashly."
Hearing this, Xiao Wu could only suppress her anxiety and break out in a cold sweat for Tang San.
On the other side, Tang San, walking towards Sea Delusion Douluo on the hexagonal platform, took each step with difficulty and slowness. The residual rationality and his subconscious acted as heavy shackles, making his progress incredibly slow.
Over a long ten seconds, Tang San was still less than two meters away from Sea Delusion Douluo.
Sea Delusion Douluo, now unable to resist, could feel the bone-cracking pain even when trying to move a finger. He could only lean against the Sea Illusion Saint Pillar, clinging to consciousness, his eyes fixed on Tang San, who appeared to be consumed by inner demons, as he drew cold breaths.
He had thought his domain had no effect on Tang San.
He hadn't expected the aftereffects to manifest now...
Having lost all ability to resist, Sea Delusion Douluo simply watched Tang San, who was still struggling with himself, silently counting the seconds until the final outcome.
He could tell that Tang San was a deeply emotional person.
However, if one couldn't control their emotions well, it would be the most fatal flaw in future battles.
Seconds ticked by.
At this moment, countless eyes were focused on Tang San.
There were Tang Sui and the others, Poseidon's Grand High Priest Bo Saixi, watching from the Poseidon Temple through the projection in the crystal ball, Sea Delusion Douluo, the chief examiner of Tang San's trial, and the Sea Soul Masters guarding the Sea Illusion Saint Pillar.
"Thump, thump,"
"Thump, thump,"
Seeing Tang San less than half a meter away from Sea Delusion Douluo, yet still not back to normal and shrouded in a terrifying crimson mist, Xiao Wu's heart pounded faster and faster.
Sea Delusion Douluo, looking at Tang San standing so close and feeling the suffocating pressure radiating from him, subtly pressed his back tighter against the Sea Illusion Saint Pillar, as if seeking a sense of security.
Then.
Just as Sea Delusion Douluo was wondering if Tang San had reached his limit, he stopped.
The intense crimson that filled his vision gradually receded, leaving only scattered traces of red in Tang San's whites.
"Drip,"
Large beads of sweat rolled down his forehead and down his cheeks, falling to the ground.
Tang San's chest heaved violently for a few seconds before slowly returning to its normal rhythm.
"Senior Sea Delusion Douluo... I concede..."
A hoarse voice, as if he hadn't drunk water for days, emerged from Tang San's lips.
But it made everyone else sigh with relief.
Especially Sea Delusion Douluo, who had just walked back from the brink of death. Looking at Tang San standing rigidly before him like a statue, he twitched the corner of his mouth:
"Congratulations, you have passed."