Chapter 235: Crossing the Sea Within Sea

Just as everyone was getting excited, seven people suddenly burst out of the forest, looking extremely angry.

"Who dares to trespass onto Sea God Island!"

The seven had different appearances, all appeared to be Soul Grandmasters, each wearing bright yellow robes, and judging by their ages they seemed to be middle‑aged.

From the situation, they must be stewards of Sea God Island, and yellow‑rank stewards.

Facing the seven's questioning, Yang Xiong stepped forward: "Esteemed seniors, we have long admired Sea God Island's reputation and wish to join Sea God Island."

The leading middle‑aged man paled: "Are you Land Spirit Masters?"

Yang Xiong said: "We come from the Heaven Dou Empire; we traveled thousands of miles to join Sea God Island."

The middle‑aged man shook his head: "Sea God Island does not welcome outsiders, nor Land Spirit Masters. Leave this place at once, or don't blame us for being impolite."

Yang Xiong quickly replied: "If my information is correct, Land Spirit Masters can pass the trial to join Sea God Island; please, esteemed senior, make an exception."

The middle‑aged man snorted coldly: "You know a lot about Sea God Island. Know that I speak for your benefit; although Land Spirit Masters can pass the trial to join Sea God Island, it is basically impossible for ordinary people to succeed."

"Even in the past hundred years, very few Land Spirit Masters have passed Sea God Island's assessment; the Sea God Lord's test for you Land Spirit Masters is countless times harder than that for us Sea Soul Masters."

"A while ago a group of Land Spirit Masters tried to join Sea God Island; now they are merely struggling, and they will likely be punished by the Sea God Lord—death is inevitable sooner or later."

Yang Xiong was startled as well; it seemed the group the middle‑aged steward mentioned was Tang San and his party, though he didn't know what their trial entailed, only that they would face the Sea God's punishment.

Yang Xiong hurriedly said: "Esteemed senior, now that I'm here I won't leave; whatever the test, even this trouble we can pass."

The middle‑aged steward shook his head: "It's not that I refuse you a chance. If you leave now I can pretend nothing happened and let you depart safely, but once you join the assessment, the only outcomes are passing or death."

"Moreover, the Sea God Lord's test is extremely perilous; you may even be forced to challenge a Ten‑thousand Year Soul Beast. Do you truly have such courage and the resolve to die?"

Yang Xiong glanced at the others: "Are you afraid of death? Or between death and mere survival, which would you choose?"

Ning Rongrong's group all wore solemn expressions: "We are not afraid of death; we wish to undergo Sea God Island's trial."

Yang Xiong nodded, turned to the middle‑aged steward and said: "Esteemed senior, you have seen that we can die, but we must not die out of cowardice; we hope you will grant us this."

The middle‑aged steward, seeing Yang Xiong's party's resolute faces, finally sighed: "Very well. Since you revere the Sea God so much and wish to join our Sea God Island, I will grant it; you must bear any consequences yourselves."

Yang Xiong smiled: "Thank you, esteemed senior. We can naturally bear any consequence, even death itself."

The middle‑aged steward nodded: "Alright then, follow us."

Immediately, under the group's guidance, the eight led by Yang Xiong walked into the forest.

Yang Xiong led at the front of everyone, while Feng Xiaotian was at the rear; the eight moved in formation behind the middle‑aged steward into the woods.

Yang Xiong walked among the trees, looking at them and feeling something odd.

These trees seemed more than ordinary; they appeared to bear a special energy that not only blocked human detection but also repelled everyone from approaching.

Yang Xiong was also surprised; his spiritual power had already reached Title Douluo level, yet this invisible energy, though seemingly slight, was of an extremely high tier and could not be broken through.

Moreover, Yang Xiong felt the energy was vaguely familiar; in tier it resembled the pervasive energy of Killing City, though Killing City's aura is far fiercer, while the whole Sea God Island feels exceedingly gentle.

The middle‑aged steward turned back to glance at Yang Xiong.

"Young man, your spiritual power is strong, even far surpassing mine, but Sea God Island is the Sea God Lord's domain, under his protection; mortals cannot reach it."

Yang Xiong nodded: "Thank you for your guidance, esteemed senior."

Under the middle‑aged steward's lead, the group quickly passed through the forest, but the scene before them left everyone in awe.

Ahead lay a massive pool; within it the water seemed tumultuous, and at the center of the pond stood a triangular platform, atop which rose a stone pillar soaring into the clouds, engraved with countless ancient simple patterns, appearing exceedingly old.

Especially, the pillar emitted a special energy that seemed fused with the entire Sea God Island; the forest's energy likely emanated from the pillar.

The middle‑aged Soul Grandmaster now looked exceedingly solemn, his eyes filled with reverence.

"Eight Land Spirit Masters, welcome to Sea Within Sea; this is one of Sea God Island's Seven Sacred Pillars, the Seahorse Sacred Pillar."

"The Seahorse Sacred Pillar is one of the Seven Sacred Pillars of Sea God Island; the Sea God Lord bestowed divine power upon the Seven Sacred Pillars, and through them spreads the deity's will. Here you will undergo the assessment to join Sea God Island."

The eight led by Yang Xiong bowed: "Thank you, esteemed senior, thank you, Sea God Lord."

The middle‑aged steward nodded in response to Yang Xiong, then emanated soul power, simultaneously summoning his martial soul and Soul Ring.

Unexpectedly, the middle‑aged steward's martial soul was a sea lion, and his Soul Ring comprised two yellow, three purple, and one black.

The group was again shocked; they didn't expect an ordinary steward to be a Soul Emperor‑level Soul Grandmaster. Even though this is just a regular yellow‑clothed steward, on Sea God Island such a rank is relatively low; the power and foundation of Sea God Island must be extremely terrifying.

The middle‑aged steward used soul power to emit an unusually loud voice.

"Reporting to the Seahorse Lord, more foreign Land Spirit Masters have arrived for the trial; please grant permission, Lord."

The black‑clad figure seated beneath the Seahorse Sacred Pillar suddenly opened his eyes, exuding a strong soul power; the aura of a Title Douluo was unmistakable.

"Why are Land Spirit Masters coming to Sea God Island again? Aren't you afraid of death? Very well, Land Spirit Masters wishing to undergo the Sea God Lord's assessment must cross Sea Within Sea alone."

A beam of light flashed from the black figure, seemingly corresponding to the Seahorse Sacred Pillar; then the entire pillar radiated a deep blue light that instantly enveloped the whole Sea Within Sea.

It appears that for Land Spirit Masters, the basic test is to be able to walk normally within Sea Within Sea, and the black figure's action serves to restrict everyone's Flight.

Yang Xiong glanced at the others: "This should be a test of whether we can undergo the assessment; everyone must pass through Sea Within Sea one by one."

Feng Xiaotian was overjoyed and immediately stepped forward, seeming eager to show off.

"Brother Yang, let me try first, to see what differences Sea Within Sea truly has."

Before arriving at Sea God Island, Yang Xiong had already discussed with the group that inside Sea God Island they should not call themselves Sect Leader; they should use ordinary friendly terms.

Otherwise it would be easy to cause misunderstandings; if many Sea God Island masters thought we were leading a sect, inexplicable trouble could arise.

Yang Xiong nodded: "Be careful; the Sea God Island assessment is not that simple."

Feng Xiaotian let out a great roar, a massive twin‑headed wind demon wolf possessed him, and six Soul Rings appeared; beneath the enormous twin‑headed wind demon wolf, countless Wind Blades seemed ready to fly out at any moment.

The Seahorse Douluo waved casually, and the previously calm Sea Within Sea instantly roiled, with waves towering dozens of meters, completely blocking the forward path.

Feng Xiaotian leapt forward, diving straight into Sea Within Sea while activating the First Soul Skill: Wind Blade Array.

Countless Wind Blades shot out, slicing the oncoming waves into fragments; each Blade seemed far more powerful than those of years past.

Remarkably, all the Wind Blades combined, forming a path directly ahead of Feng Xiaotian.

Feng Xiaotian moved at extreme speed, racing along the path as if he were a storm.

At that moment, the waves seemed to gain sentience, swiftly recombining into a brand‑new massive wave.

Feng Xiaotian still walked forward at a breakneck speed, as if he were not at all afraid of the wave's impact.

At that moment, Feng Xiaotian's Fourth Soul Ring suddenly flashed, the surrounding sea water was swiftly sliced, and he barreled straight into the wave—this was Feng Xiaotian's Fourth Spirit Ability: Demon Wolf Storm.

The massive swift‑wind demon wolves, like a storm, crashed through the wave and finally arrived directly before Hai Ma Douluo, while Feng Xiaotian seemed completely unaffected by the wave.

Hai Ma Douluo couldn't help but nod, "Not bad, your combat talent is impressive; you possess the speed of an Agility Attack System Soul Grandmaster and the strength of a Strong Attack System Soul Grandmaster. You are qualified to undergo the Sea God proxy's assessment."

As Feng Xiaotian passed through the Sea Within Sea, everyone breathed a sigh of relief, having basically understood the rules for traversing the Sea Within Sea, and each even formed their own thoughts.

The second to take the stage was elder brother Yang Wei. Compared with Feng Xiaotian's domineering aura, Yang Wei's Profound Iron Sword emitted sword qi in full, and under successive sword qi strikes he split the wave in two, ultimately breezing through the Sea Within Sea.

Hai Ma Douluo still nodded, "Not bad, your sword technique is highly proficient, especially your mastery of sword qi. Among Soul Emperor‑ranked instrument Soul Grandmasters, you are among the elite. You are qualified to face the Sea God's trial."

The third to take the stage was Shui Bing'er.

Compared with others who employ various soul skills, Shui Bing'er appeared unusually graceful, walking directly on the water's surface.

The raging waves, under Shui Bing'er's influence, rapidly coalesced into ice, becoming as flat as ground.

Even the biggest wave, under the ice phoenix aura emanating from Shui Bing'er, was instantly frozen into a block of ice, making the entire sea surface feel like level ground.

Even Hai Ma Douluo was speechless: "Little girl, whether it's your martial soul ice phoenix or your command of the ice attribute, they are probably the strongest among the Soul Emperors I've seen. I can only say your future is boundless."

In fact, Hai Ma Douluo had another remark: Shui Bing'er is essentially the nemesis of all Sea Soul Masters, especially since she can condense water into ice, making her overwhelmingly powerful in the sea.

Next came Huo Wu; after Huo Wu entered the water, a massive fire shadow appeared behind her.

Facing the oncoming massive wave, the fire shadow was ferociously fierce, instantly vaporizing the wave, and even the hundreds‑meter stretch of Sea Within Sea began to boil under the fire shadow's illumination.

Huo Wu then seized the moment the wave was vaporized and sped through the Sea Within Sea.

Hai Ma Douluo was again speechless: "Little girl, your martial soul is highly unique, and your flames are extremely potent. Given time, your future will surely be boundless, but think carefully—you are a Fire Attribute Soul Master, and in the sea you are naturally restrained. Your assessment will likely be more difficult than others'."

(End of Chapter)