Chapter 262

In just over two years, Ning Rongrong and her group have already completed the Fifth Trial, which means they have finished more than half of the assessments.

Of course, Ning Rongrong is an exception, because she has earned the favor of the Sea God; if she can complete all the assessments, she will become the next Sea God, a true deity.

Gu Xuan himself is also very pleased about this, because with Ning Rongrong as a divine inheritance holder, the Seven Treasure Glazed Sect's future ambition to unify the continent will proceed more smoothly.

However, a heavy worry follows, because the inheritance of a deity is not a smooth road; a slight misstep could endanger one's life.

Generally, a Black‑grade assessment must be completed within ten years, since the original test of the Seven Sacred Pillars on Sea God Island was to finish each item within ten years, but given Ning Rongrong and her group's extraordinary talents, their assessment time basically never exceeds a year.

Now, in just over two years they have already completed the Fifth Trial, and Ning Rongrong had already discussed with Poseci that if they finish the Fifth Trial, they can have three months of rest to return to the continent and accomplish what they wish.

What Ning Rongrong and her group did not expect was that Gu Xuan actually came to Sea God Island in person to fetch them back, which made them extremely delighted.

After resting on Sea God Island for one night, the next day Gu Xuan set out with Ning Rongrong and her group on the journey back to the continent.

It is worth mentioning that the island‑guardian spirit beast, the Demon Soul Great White Shark, now has a very close relationship with Ning Rongrong and personally came to escort her and her group back to the continent.

If so, their journey back to the continent will be greatly shortened, because the Demon Soul Great White Shark is a hundred‑thousand‑year‑old soul beast, and its speed in the sea is even faster than that of a Titled Douluo‑ranked agile‑attack Soul Master in the human world.

If escorted by the Demon Soul Great White Shark, it would take roughly only three days to bring them back to the continent.

What Gu Xuan did not anticipate was that, on their way back to the continent, a hundred‑thousand‑year soul beast blocked their path.

This hundred‑thousand‑year beast, called the Evil Demon Tiger‑Whale King, is a major ruler of these seas and also an enemy of the Demon Soul Great White Shark's clan.

One has to admit, sometimes Gu Xuan can only marvel at fate's strangeness—he just broke through to level 80, and a Soul Ring actually came knocking on his door?

As for the Demon Soul Great White Shark, Gu Xuan never considered killing it; after all, Ning Rongrong is now the heir to the Sea God position, and those will become his in the future, so there is no need.

But this Evil Demon Tiger‑Whale King that came knocking is different; it is a hundred‑thousand‑year soul beast, and its attributes actually match his own.

Of course, the more important point is that the Evil Demon Tiger‑Whale King should be part of Ning Rongrong and her group's future divine trials; if he kills it now, their future divine trials might become easier, right?

After all, with their current strength, facing a hundred‑thousand‑year soul beast, even if they could kill it, it would likely require an enormous price.

Considering this, Gu Xuan told Ning Rongrong to order the Demon Soul Great White Shark to guard them, while he himself would go hunt the Evil Demon Tiger‑Whale King.

Evil Demon Tiger‑Whales are social; the whole herd numbers about two hundred individuals, with over fifty reaching the ten‑thousand‑year level, and more than ten above the fifty‑thousand‑year level, plus the Evil Demon Tiger‑Whale King, a hundred‑thousand‑year soul beast. The herd's strength is enough to confront the assault of at least three Titled Douluo‑ranked elites, which is why Gu Xuan does not want Ning Rongrong and her group to take the risk.

The Demon Soul Great White Shark, Xiao Bai, originally intended to bypass this group of Evil Demon Tiger‑Whales, since she is escorting the Sea God heir, and the heir and her companions' current strength is still insufficient to handle the Tiger‑Whale herd; if the Sea God heir were to fall into danger, she would be held accountable.

Because she is the matriarch of the Demon Soul Great White Shark clan, and the Evil Demon Tiger‑Whale King is her nemesis.

But when Xiao Bai heard that this outsider human actually intended to hunt the Evil Demon Tiger‑Whale King alone, the whole shark was stunned—how could that be possible?

Even with her own hundred‑thousand‑year cultivation, she is no match for the Evil Demon Tiger‑Whale King, and now this Sea God heir's fiancé stands before her?

What gives him that right? His mysterious confidence?

That's a hundred‑thousand‑year soul beast! Moreover, the Evil Demon Tiger‑Whale King is here with the entire herd feeding; you think you can take on the whole Tiger‑Whale clan by yourself?

If you want to die, at least don't drag us along, okay?

Xiao Bai was at a loss for words, but Ning Rongrong and her group trust Gu Xuan completely; after hearing his words they not only offered no objection, but instead seemed to be looking forward to something!

Isn't that puzzling? It's just that Ning Rongrong and her group didn't explain much to Xiao Bai, because there was no need.

When Xiao Bai saw Gu Xuan resolutely set out to kill the Evil Demon Tiger‑Whale King, she couldn't help but offer to help Gu Xuan in the kill, but Gu Xuan refused.

Because Gu Xuan told her she only needed to protect Ning Rongrong and her group, and he would go alone!

This is what kind of arrogance? I admit you must have some talent—after all, earning the Sea God heir's favor means you're no ordinary person, but you're way too cocky!

Gu Xuan didn't have a chance to address Xiao Bai's rant; he simply whispered to Ning Rongrong, "Rongrong, give me support."

Ning Rongrong nodded seriously, and then Gu Xuan's back unfolded the restored eight‑winged Sword Dragon, propelling him straight upward; he arrived less than thirty meters in front of the Evil Demon Tiger‑Whale King.

"Wretched beast, why block the way?" Gu Xuan said softly.

Hearing Gu Xuan call it a wretched beast as soon as he arrived infuriated the Evil Demon Tiger‑Whale King; it let out a roar and, speaking human words, said, "Despicable humans, this is the territory of my Evil Demon Tiger‑Whale King clan; you have trespassed into my domain—what crime have you committed?"

The Evil Demon Tiger‑Whale King's claim is obviously baseless, because Xiao Bai could not lead Ning Rongrong and her group through the Tiger‑Whale King's territory back to the continent; the king's words are simply nonsense.

Upon hearing this, Gu Xuan realized that the blood‑thirsty soul beast, the Evil Demon Tiger‑Whale King, could not be reasoned with, so he decided not to say any more.

Originally, Gu Xuan intended to turn the Evil Demon Tiger‑Whale King into his own soul spirit; once it became his soul spirit, the creature could attain immortality in the future.

But now it seems there is no need, because this beast refuses to reason!

Nevertheless, becoming a soul spirit is still the best, because a soul spirit of this hundred‑thousand‑year caliber, even if it exists as a Soul Ring, retains powerful strength in its soul state and can become a valuable aid.

Thus Gu Xuan plans to first subdue this little thing, then attempt to bind it as a soul spirit; if that fails, the only option left is to kill it and absorb its Soul Ring and soul bone.

"Kua Zao!" Gu Xuan spat, then his martial soul merged, and Soul Rings rose on his body one by one.

Seven dazzling Soul Rings—yellow, yellow, purple, black, black, red, red—rose, and whether it was the Evil Demon Tiger‑Whale King, the Demon Soul Great White Shark king Xiao Bai, or Ning Rongrong and her group, all were stunned.

Especially the Demon Soul Great White Shark king Xiao Bai and the Evil Demon Tiger‑Whale King, both hundred‑thousand‑year soul beasts, are well‑versed and rarely witness such a scene; moreover, this human, up to now, was at most comparable to Ning Rongrong in their eyes.

And Ning Rongrong is a Sea God heir!

The Sea God heir only has one hundred‑thousand‑year Soul Ring—how the heck do you have two?

Even Poseci, the great master, has at most one hundred‑thousand‑year Soul Ring, right? Although Poseci possesses eight ten‑thousand‑year Soul Rings and one hundred‑thousand‑year Soul Ring, you, an ordinary human without divine inheritance, somehow have two hundred‑thousand‑year Soul Rings?

At this thought, Xiao Bai and the Evil Demon Tiger‑Whale King were suddenly taken aback—could this human also be a divine inheritance holder? If so…

Demon Soul Great White Shark: "If that's the case, then he truly deserves Rongrong…"

Evil Demon Tiger‑Whale King: "If that's the case, this is a real dead‑end! I only wanted to kill Xiao Bai, and I didn't expect to run into a divine inheritance holder!"

Meanwhile, Ning Rongrong and her group were equally surprised; although Gu Xuan had previously told them that the seventh Soul Ring is also a hundred‑thousand‑year Soul Ring, specifically the Soul Ring of the Sky‑Blue Ox‑Python, and now the Sky‑Blue Ox‑Python has become Gu Xuan's soul spirit.

But when they actually saw Gu Xuan's Soul Ring configuration, they couldn't help but feel a surge of excitement.

After all, even Ning Rongrong only reached the hundred‑thousand‑year level with her seventh Soul Ring! Gu Xuan, on the other hand, already possessed a hundred‑thousand‑year sixth Soul Ring from the start!

Moreover, Gu Xuan has no divine inheritance at all, which surprised them the most; after all, they have only just caught up to Gu Xuan in the Sea God divine trials.

Gu Xuan hovered in mid‑air, and as his martial soul released a terrifying dragon aura that pressed toward the Evil Demon Tiger‑Whale King, the king, being a beast‑soul beast, naturally harbored a fear of the dragon aura.

At this moment the Evil Demon Tiger‑Whale King was already considering escape; even though the human before him only has seven Soul Rings, the pressure Gu Xuan exerts is greater than that of an ordinary Titled Douluo.

Moreover, the Evil Demon Tiger‑Whale King has already concluded that Gu Xuan possesses a divine inheritance; facing such an opponent, the king knows that even with a hundred‑thousand‑year cultivation, he may not be a match.

But Gu Xuan will not give him time to think; silver‑white light blossomed in his eyes, the Killing‑God Domain erupted instantly, enveloping the entire Evil Demon Tiger‑Whale clan.

Feeling the chilling aura of the Killing‑God Domain, the Evil Demon Tiger‑Whale King reacted instantly; although suppressed by the domain, in the sea this suppression effect seemed...

Moreover, it also has a domain! The Evil Demon Orca King roared angrily, and its domain unfolded, protecting the clan.

"Orca Domain!"

The next moment, Gu Xuan broke free of the six dragon swords behind him, flying toward the Evil Demon Orcas among the Evil Demon Orca King's clan that had over fifty thousand years of cultivation, while Gu Xuan himself descended toward the Evil Demon Orca King.

At the same time, not far away, Ning Rongrong already held aloft a gorgeous nine-colored pagoda before her, and seven splendid soul rings—two yellow, two purple, two black, and one red—rose from her body.

"Nine-layer nine-colored, Nine Treasure Glazed Pagoda!"

Immediately, the seven soul rings on Ning Rongrong's body lit up instantly, and the nine treasure glazed pagoda before her instantly transformed into a huge pagoda; six streams of flowing light flew out from the pagoda and entered Gu Xuan's body.

"Seventh Soul Skill: Martial Soul True Body!"

The Martial Soul True Body unfolded, Ning Rongrong's inner soul power surged, and the support effect reached its maximum.

"One is strength, two is speed, three is soul, four is control, five is attack, six is increase!"

The six streams of flowing light descended, and Gu Xuan's strength, speed, soul power, defense, attack, and attributes all increased by eighty percent, nearly a doubling.

Moreover, not only that, Gu Xuan's own first Soul Ring and second Soul Ring lit up simultaneously, with a forty percent boost to all attributes plus a one hundred percent boost to attack and strength, Gu Xuan's own amplifying soul skill plus Ning Rongrong's assistance, in merely an instant, Gu Xuan's strength had already risen from level eighty to the terrifying level ninety.

This is the terrifying effect of multi‑directional amplification! Even without using his martial soul true body, Gu Xuan's strength has received a terrifying boost!

Compared to the Evil Magic Tiger Whale King's colossal body that reached a hundred meters in size, the merely two‑meter‑tall Gu Xuan appeared as insignificant as an ordinary ant before it.

But at this moment, this human, who was as insignificant as an ant to it, posed a deadly threat!

Only a pair of sword wings propelled Gu Xuan downward onto the Evil Magic Tiger Whale King's massive body; the black fifth Soul Ring on his body's surface had already lit up, and an incomparably terrifying and profound dark energy surged upon his right bone claw. Under the amplification of his own soul skill and Ning Rongrong's boost, the power of this strike actually reached the level of a Titled Douluo.

If it were an ordinary person, this strike of Gu Xuan's would have caused their body and spirit to perish.

"Fifth Soul Skill: Evil God Annihilating Thunder!"

Sensing the terror and overbearing nature of Gu Xuan's attack, the Evil Magic Tiger Whale King no longer dared to be even slightly careless.

"Tiger Whale Shatter‑Tooth Slash!"

As the soul skill was used, the Evil Magic Tiger Whale King's massive body mobilized endless soul power to act upon the seawater; only to see its huge tail suddenly slap the water surface, condensing countless crimson‑red slashes from the seawater that struck toward Gu Xuan.

What the Evil Magic Tiger Whale King did not expect was that, amidst such dense and terrifying slashes, Gu Xuan's right claw, with the force of breaking bamboo, completely annihilated the incoming slash, not hindering him in the slightest, let alone injuring him.

The next instant, as Gu Xuan's attack power struck the Evil Magic Tiger Whale King, its eyes suddenly burst forth two terrifying crimson beams of light.

"Tiger Whale Domain Convergence — Evil Demon Mirror Annihilation!"

This is a skill the Evil Magic Tiger Whale King unleashes by condensing its entire domain and mobilizing spiritual power; in the original work, Tang San's Blue Silver Emperor eighth soul skill, Blue Silver Evil Demon Mirror Annihilation, is derived from this very skill of the Evil Magic Tiger Whale King.

Two crimson beams of light locked onto Gu Xuan, and the annihilating power of his fifth soul skill erupting from his right claw was directly assimilated by this skill of the Evil Magic Tiger Whale King; the two terrifying energies collided on the sea surface and then exploded.

In merely an instant, the point where Gu Xuan and the Evil Magic Tiger Whale King's attacks met on the sea surface seemed to become the center, as a terrifying red crystal ripple spread outward, reaching a size of over a hundred meters.

Then, in the next moment, accompanying the collision and scattering of the annihilating power and the Evil Magic Tiger Whale King's red crystal power, the two powerful forces actually turned into flying ash at the same instant, and a touch of red appeared on the azure sea surface.

In that recent clash, the Evil Magic Tiger Whale King and Gu Xuan were nearly evenly matched, but the Evil Magic Tiger Whale King had to use two powerful hundred‑thousand‑year abilities just to block Gu Xuan's attack!

This is Gu Xuan's current strength: with the amplification of his own soul skill and Ning Rongrong's assistance, even without using his martial soul true body, he already possesses the ability to match an ordinary Titled Douluo in a wrist‑wrestling contest.

ps: Correct the typos first, then revise.

(End of chapter)