"Click, click."
The sound of interlocking gears.
Within the murky red light, a series of ancient aerial pavilions and winding corridors materialized in the void, twisting and layering across Tang San and the others' sight, reorganizing themselves in this bizarre world.
"This is... Sui Sui's Twin Spirits Domain?!" Xiao Wu exclaimed, her eyes wide as she recognized the familiar architecture.
They had, after all, formed extremely deep memories within the Twin Spirits Domain when they were on Sea God Island.
"Be careful, this domain feels very dangerous," Tang Hao warned, his gaze filled with concern.
Tang San grunted in response, his vigilant eyes scanning their surroundings, lest any black tentacles suddenly burst from a corner. He, more than his father or Xiao Wu, understood the malice of this domain that seemed to possess a consciousness of its own.
However, as a brilliant light, starkly different from the murky red glow, once again shone upon the Vast Sea Universe Cover, Tang San keenly sensed something amiss.
How to describe it...
It was as if—someone was watching them from above.
Tang San looked up, his eyes, suffused with purplish-gold light, meeting another pair of ethereal blue eyes. His breath hitched, his pupils constricting sharply.
"Sui Sui?!"
Tang San's surprised cry drew Xiao Wu and Tang Hao to look up in his direction, their eyes widening in astonishment. Above them, Tang Sui's attire was different from when Tang Hao had watched her begin her seclusion to form spirit rings. A moon-white haori draped her shoulders, its wide sleeves dangling in the air, gently swaying in the wind. From her knees downwards, slender, fair legs stood shrouded in a circle of black mist, obscuring her full form. Her raven-black hair cascaded down to her ankles. Strands on either side of her ears were braided and swept back, while a sun-disc-shaped golden ornament was worn on her head like a divine crown.
As her gaze fell upon them, her ethereal blue eyes momentarily transformed, appearing like those of a deity, filled with divine indifference and emptiness. Though she looked at them, at the world, no trace of the world seemed to linger in her eyes.
Sui Sui...
Xiao Wu wanted to call out Tang Sui's nickname, but her lips couldn't move. An invisible force seemed to have pinned them in place, rendering them immobile. Tang Hao and Tang San, also noticing this invisible restraint, their pupils contracted. They simultaneously began to circulate their spirit power or mental energy, attempting to break free.
"Heeheehee—"
A high-pitched giggle emanated from the undulating black tides surging through the space, as if mocking their plight as trapped beasts.
"Roar—!"
A sacred, pale-gold light suddenly radiated from within the Vast Sea Universe Cover. It was Tang San, holding the Sea God Trident, who had infused his mental energy into it, activating its divine might.
Tang Hao, regaining control of his body, stumbled forward. Feeling the change in his power, his expression shifted. "My mental power is draining, and my physical defense has weakened. What about you two?"
Xiao Wu, leaning against Tang San, exclaimed in surprise, "Mental power and defense? Isn't that Sui Sui's domain suppression effect?"
"Exactly. So, the most urgent task now is to wake Sui Sui up, lest she mistakes us for enemies and consumes us," Tang San realized the gravity of the situation. Tang Sui had previously explained that only enemies marked by her would be suppressed upon entering her domain. Allies recognized by Tang Sui, on the other hand, would have their attributes enhanced, and could even absorb mental energy from enemies, converting it for their own use or returning it to Tang Sui.
No sooner had he spoken than a very faint, cold snort, carried by the whistling mist, mingled with the surrounding mocking laughter. Had Tang San's mental power not advanced to the level of "vast," he wouldn't have been able to capture that fleeting snort amidst the chaotic cacophony of sounds.
This is?
A peculiar emotion flickered in Tang San's heart. Before he could ponder it further, the agitated black tide abruptly changed its arrogant demeanor. The mental pollution and black mist permeating the space began to thin, and the solidified, twisting aerial pavilions started to become ethereal. High above, Tang Sui slowly closed her eyes. Her form, like the dissipating spatial points, flickered and became insubstantial.
Tang Hao and the other two felt a blur before their eyes. The scene reverted to the Sunset Forest, a landscape of scorched earth and overgrown black wood. They looked closely; the black and red energy cocoon that had obscured their vision had vanished without a trace. Only a faint black mist lingered on the ground, revealing Tang Sui, her attire now refreshed, standing alone. Her lowered eyelashes trembled slightly as she opened her familiar, spirit-gleaming blue eyes once more.
A glance confirmed it: this was the Sui Sui they knew. The tense nerves of Tang Hao and the other two finally relaxed, their furrowed brows smoothing as they realized Tang Sui had succeeded.
"Sui Sui, how are you feeling now?" Tang San asked, approaching her.
Tang Sui blinked, the reflections of the three deepening in her eyes. She subconsciously replied, "Quite good." After answering, she paused and looked down as if sensing something. The moon-white haori, so familiar and yet so long unseen, appeared in her gaze. Crimson silk threads outlined the hem, bordering the white, like lines woven from fate and bonds, imbued with a mysterious aura. This is... Menritsu's form... Her true demon form?
As this thought arose, Tang San followed up, "Sui Sui, what are you wearing?"
"Um... it's a type of Martial Soul True Body, I suppose?" Tang Sui looked up, the tassels hanging from the end of the golden divine crown behind her head trembled, emitting a clear, bell-like chime. "Legend has it that when a spirit master reaches a certain level of power, their spirit power and spirit bones condense to form the spirit master's armor. But I am not human, nor a spirit beast, so the form of my armored true body is not conventional."
Tang Sui spoke half-truthfully. Tang San, who had undergone spirit bone fusion and evolved into armor four years ago, was startled. "Then quickly deactivate your 'armor state'! This state consumes an immense amount of mental power and spirit power. When I first condensed my armor four years ago, within half a minute, my spirit power and mental energy were nearly drained."
Tang Sui nodded. Closing her eyes, she began to withdraw her solidified demon power. The garment on her body gradually reverted to its original state before their eyes. Tang San carefully observed Tang Sui's complexion. Unlike his own weakness after first condensing his armor, she appeared perfectly fine, which was rather strange... He suppressed his doubts, thinking that now that he and his sister were of different races, it was understandable. Smiling, he said, "Congratulations, Sui Sui. I never thought your brother would be surpassed by you. But, I am still proud of you this time!" In the current situation, the stronger Sui Sui was, the more at ease he could be, striving forward without hesitation.
Tang Sui's eyes curved into a smile. "Mm! Thanks to you all for guarding me, I was able to successfully advance. You've all worked hard during this period." Although her consciousness had been mostly chaotic during the spirit ring formation, she now recalled everything that had happened after she drew Tang San and the others into her demon power domain. She had to admit, to enjoy the show, one had to be strong enough to see it through to the end.