Tang San's whole body shook. "Great-Grandfather?!"
"That's right!"
Yu Xiaogang nodded with certainty. "With that connection, when you reach Sea God Island you might just win the High Priest's protection."
"After your strength rises you can chase other goals; there's no hurry."
"Right now, heading to Slaughter City would be suicide. On Sea God Island you can grow stronger and have the chance to befriend the High Priest."
"You already know—thanks to the heavenly reward, she's become a god, and like Spirit Hall's Qian Daoliu she's now a First-Rank God!"
Dai Mubai, Oscar and the others at his side chimed in, urging the same.
A moment later.
Tang San glanced at the Asura Demon Sword shimmering temptingly in the heavenly screen, then clenched his fists in frustration.
"Fine."
"Teacher, I'll follow your advice."
"We're going to Sea God Island!"
Losing the Asura God Position hurt, but he trusted his teacher's judgment. Not long after.
As the portal in the heavenly screen opened, countless streaks of light tore across the sky and converged toward the boundless ocean.
Sea God Island, that mysterious isle secluded for ten thousand years, suddenly bustled with life.
Yet where there are crowds, there is chaos.
The visiting Spirit Masters were a mixed bag: courteous nobles rubbed shoulders with ruthless desperadoes.
"Damn it! What lousy rules?"
A burly Spirit Douluo, unwilling to queue the moment he landed, kicked aside a Sea Spirit Master guiding newcomers.
"I'm a Spirit Douluo! On the mainland no one dared stop me—you think I'll line up on your crummy island?"
"Get your leader out here!"
Many surrounding Spirit Masters joined the jeers; the scene nearly spiralled out of control.
But the next second—
Boom!
A sea-like divine might poured down from Sea God Mountain without warning.
No words, no warning.
Pfft!
The arrogant Spirit Douluo hadn't time to scream before his body exploded into a mist of blood.
The troublemakers who'd cheered him on dropped to their knees, blood streaming from their eyes, noses and mouths—dead in an instant.
"The sacred ground of Sea God Island: disturb it and die!"
Bo Saixi's cold, majestic voice rang across the island.
Silence like death.
Every outsider turned ashen, remembering that the island's master was a true First-Rank God.
Gulp…
Swallowing hard, the crowd behaved, lining up meekly, more obedient than grandchildren.
Order was swiftly restored under this iron hand.
Then, led by the seven Guardian Douluo of the holy pillars, the visitors were split among Sea God Island's seven cities.
Of course, Sea God Island was no charity.
Food, drink, lodging?
No problem—pay in gold coin!
Prices on the island soared, and the once self-sufficient Sea Spirit Masters grinned at the heavy purses of gold coins. Before Sea Horse Holy Pillar…
A long queue had formed for the crucial rite: the Pillar Trial.
Countless Spirit Masters stepped up full of hope, only to shuffle back disheartened.
"White-rank, first trial… trash."
"Yellow-rank, first trial… still trash."
"Purple-rank, first trial? Not bad, brother!"
Most received white or yellow trials; a purple one caused a stir.
At that moment the crowd parted of its own accord.
A striking group walked forward.
The man in white, surpassing snow in purity, was Lin Yuan.
Behind him several women—each a dazzling beauty—drew every eye.
"It's Canglan Academy!"
"Look! That's Poison Douluo's granddaughter, Dugu Yan!"
Sea Horse Douluo's pupils shrank; his manner instantly respectful.
"Director Lin, please."
Though he had never met Lin Yuan, the godly aura, the beauties behind him, and the whispers of the mainland Spirit Masters made it obvious.
He guessed the man's identity at once.
Lin Yuan inclined his head and signalled to his disciples.
"Go, show the world your gifts."
Dugu Yan stepped forward first, smiling confidently as she pressed her palm to the pillar.
Light shot skyward!
White, yellow, purple… the glow leapt past them and settled on deep black!
Black-rank, sixth trial!"
Sea Horse Douluo gasped; an uproar swept the onlookers.
Next came Ye Lingling, Snow Dance and the others.
"Black-rank, sixth trial!"
"Black-rank, fifth trial!"
All of them black-rank trials.
But the real shock was yet to come.
Xiao Wu and Ning Rongrong stepped forward hand in hand.
The instant their hands touched the pillar—
Boom!!
The sea around the pillar boiled.
A blinding blood-red beam, like a pillar supporting the sky, pierced the heavens and dyed the whole sea scarlet.
"R-red-rank?!"
Sea Horse Douluo nearly dropped to his knees, eyes bulging.
"Top-tier, seventh trial?!"
"That… that's the qualification of a future High Priest!"
Dead silence.
Everyone stared at the two girls as if they were monsters.
Lin Yuan stood nearby, smiling calmly; it was all within his expectations.
After all, with super-grade Spirits, if Xiao Wu and Ning Rongrong hadn't achieved red-rank, that would've been unbelievable. While the crowd was still reeling from Canglan Academy's display—
Another group finally arrived.
"Little San, look! Red light!"
Oscar pointed at the crimson glow still fading in the sky, excitement written across his face:
"This island really is full of opportunities!"
The Shrek party looked travel-worn, yet confidence sparkled in their eyes.
Yu Xiaogang, hands behind his back, nodded appreciatively at the red light. "Impressive; the Pillar Trial seems fair."
"With your gifts—especially Little San's twin spirits—you should easily secure a red trial, maybe even the legendary top-tier, eighth trial."
Tang San straightened slightly, pride flashing in his eyes.
He possessed twin spirits, innate full spirit power, and the secret arts of the Tang Sect.
There was no reason he should lag behind anyone!
Unlike in the original story, they chose to let talent speak first rather than seek out Bo Saixi's favour.
"Let's go! Queue up!" Dai Mubai took the lead. "I'll go first!"
He strode to the pillar, heterochromatic eyes gleaming, and slammed his palm down.
Light flared.
White, yellow… everyone expected the glow to turn black, but after struggling at purple for a long while it finally… stopped.
"Purple-rank, third trial."
Sea Horse Douluo announced the result without expression.
After so many black and red trials, the appearance of purple now seemed mediocre, nothing worth noting.
"What?!"
Dai Mubai's confidence froze; he stood as if struck by lightning.
"Impossible! How could it be only purple?!"
(End of Chapter)
[Get +30 Extra Chapters on - P@tr3on "RinBlaze"]
[Every 15 Power Stones = 1 Bonus Chapter Drop]
[Thanks for Reading!]