Chapter 245: Changing Thoughts

Time flew by; soon Yang Xiong and his party had spent a full nine months on the circular island, each person's strength had improved to some extent, but compared to under the Sea God's Light, their cultivation speed was much slower.

Under the Sea God's Light, each person's soul power increased by an average of five or six levels, not to mention a great boost in physical condition.

However, during this time in Huanxing Hai, Tang San and his party generally increased their soul power by two levels.

In comparison, Yang Xiong's group also rose by a full two levels of soul power, and even Qin Shuang absorbed a Divine Gift Soul Ring, reaching Level 72 in soul power.

The most troublesome is Huo Wu, whose soul power is now at Level 70, but because she has already absorbed a Divine Gift Soul Ring, the examination leaves no time to obtain a new Soul Ring.

At Yang Xiong's request, everyone's ability to fight in water improved greatly; even Huo Wu has fully adapted to underwater combat. Although seawater suppresses her fire‑shadow martial soul to some extent, she can still exert about eighty percent of her strength.

However, the biggest problem facing Tang San and his party now is not the soul power increase, but how the six of them will pass the examination.

Tang San's group has tried countless times, yet there is no way to get through Huanxing Hai, let alone compare with the Hundred‑Thousand‑Year Demon Soul Great White Shark.

Now Tang San is only at Level 73, while Xiao Wu, after absorbing a Divine Gift Soul Ring, has reached Level 72 in soul power; these two are the only Soul Saints among the six.

As a Hundred‑Thousand‑Year Transformed Soul Beast, Xiao Wu can self‑condense the first six Soul Rings, but after reaching Level 70 she enters a full maturation phase, indistinguishable from ordinary Soul Masters; thereafter advancement requires absorbing Soul Rings.

It remains unknown what Xiao Wu's attitude toward Hundred‑Thousand‑Year Soul Beasts is, and whether she will later wish to absorb a Hundred‑Thousand‑Year Soul Ring.

Dai Mubai, Zhu Zhuqing, Yu Tianheng and Dugu Yan are all Soul Emperors, with Zhu Zhuqing having broken through to Soul Emperor after receiving a reward from the first‑stage examination.

Not only does Tang San's group appear unusually dejected, but Ning Rongrong and the others are also very worried; if they cannot pass the examination, all six will die, and the Sea God Trials show no mercy.

Even if Xiao Wu and the Hundred‑Thousand‑Year Demon Soul Great White Shark Xiao Bai are close, Xiao Bai cannot lower the difficulty for her; Xiao Bai would not dare to desecrate the Sea God's majesty.

Dai Mubai and Yang Xiong have always gotten along fairly well; now he looks at Yang Xiong, who is meditating with his eyes closed, and hesitates to speak.

During the first‑stage examination, although the real assistance came from Oscar and Ning Rongrong, it was all arranged by Yang Xiong.

Now that they've reached the second stage, it seems to far exceed everyone's abilities, bringing them to a life‑or‑death moment.

Even if Oscar and Ning Rongrong assist Tang San's six, with their strength they still cannot pass the Demon Soul Great White Shark examination.

Yang Xiong, though he harbors a slight grudge from that earlier conversation with Tang San and Xiao Wu, can only be considered ordinary classmates; meanwhile Ning Rongrong and Xiao Wu are extremely close, the group of girls having trained together for a year, their bond growing tighter.

Yang Xiong looks at Dai Mubai's expression and can't help shaking his head: "Dai Mubai, we've been classmates for so many years; just say what's on your mind."

Dai Mubai's face shows a hint of bitterness: "Yang Xiong, we were too arrogant; given our strength and the difficulty of the Sea God Trials, we probably simply cannot pass."

Over the past year, Tang San's six have also trained diligently and tried to fight Xiao Bai more often in Huanxing Hai; their underwater combat ability has improved somewhat, but the gap with Xiao Bai remains huge, and even when they unleash the Nether White Tiger it has little effect.

Surprisingly, Yu Tianheng and Dugu Yan, after many years together, have even created a martial soul fusion technique, somewhat similar to the Dragon‑Snake Combined Strike of the Dragon Lord and Snake Matron, but unfortunately a Soul Emperor‑level martial soul fusion technique has little effect on a Hundred‑Thousand‑Year Soul Beast.

Yang Xiong helplessly says: "Dai Mubai, although the second stage is said to be a group examination where everyone can help each other, if you later encounter an individual test, what method will you have to pass it?"

In fact, over this year the small team of Tang San's six has shown signs of splitting; although everyone still respects Tang San's strength, their mindset has subtly shifted, and at least Tang San can no longer maintain absolute leadership.

Meanwhile, Ning Rongrong suddenly interjects: "Xiao Xiongzi, I think Xiao Wu, Zhu Qing and Yanyan are all too pitiful; if you don't help them, they might all die."

"As for that Dai Lao Hu, although he's been a playboy, over the years he's been devoted to Zhu Qing, his character has changed a lot; you should help them."

Dai Mubai, hearing this, looks extremely embarrassed and doesn't know how to retort, after all these were his own embarrassments back then.

Yang Xiong looks at Ning Rongrong and the others, sighs: "Rong Rong, the Sea God Trials aren't that simple; each stage's time and difficulty are meticulously designed, leaving us no slack at all. If you help them now, you'll lose three months of training, and the subsequent difficulty will rise considerably. Do you all not care about that?"

Ning Rongrong and the others exchange glances, each looking thoughtful; finally Ning Rongrong speaks: "Xiao Xiongzi, no matter how hard the trial, we can pass it. Xiao Wu and I are sisters after all; even if it's a bit tougher, what of it?"

Yang Xiong, who had been cross‑legged on the ground, stands up: "Very well, since you all have this resolve, let's pass the trial today."

Everyone instantly rejoices; they've been tangled over this trial for a while, and with Yang Xiong stepping in personally, the trial should encounter no problem.

Yang Xiong continues: "Rong Rong, Oscar, Shui Bing'er, Huo Wu, I hope you remember today's decision; it may change your lives."

Tang San, Dai Mubai and the others are thoughtful, yet unsure what to say, as this concerns their very lives.

…

From then on, whether Ning Rongrong's group or Tang San's, everyone gathered together; in total there were thirteen people.

Yang Xiong, based on everyone's condition, including each person's soul skill, devised a relatively rigorous tactic.

At Yang Xiong's command, everyone shifted from attack stance into the sea, swiftly summoning their martial souls and Soul Rings.

Except for Yang Xiong, the others have no restrictions on martial soul or soul skill usage; only Tang San and Ning Rongrong are limited to the Seventh Soul Skill.

Ning Rongrong and Oscar immediately provide support to everyone; all strengths increase markedly, having all consumed Oscar's Fourth Soul Skill: Excitement Pink Sausage.

A figure darts swiftly through the seawater—that is the Demon Soul Great White Shark Xiao Bai.

Xiao Bai roars: "You shameless slayer of Hundred‑Thousand‑Year Soul Beasts, you still dare to try passing my trial—dream on!"

Yang Xiong lets out a cold snort and, facing the rapidly swimming Demon Soul Great White Shark, throws a full‑strength punch at it.

The Demon Soul Great White Shark collides with Yang Xiong, sending him several meters flying.

Although in the open sea neither Yang Xiong nor Xiao Bai can overcome the other, Xiao Bai's speed is greater and more agile in the vast ocean—this is the true advantage of Sea Soul Beasts over Land Spirit Masters.

Tang San's group also reacts swiftly, and countless Blue Silver Grass sprouts rapidly in the sea.

Xiao Bai roars, a water column shoots skyward, shattering the Blue Silver Grass, and even Tang San himself takes a heavy blow.

Feng Xiaotian, Xiao Wu, Yang Wei and Qin Shuang immediately employ their Martial Soul True Bodies; especially Feng Xiaotian and Qin Shuang, whose power is immense, they forcefully launch a full‑strength attack at Xiao Bai.

Especially Feng Xiaotian, whose speed is extreme, uses the Fourth Soul Skill Demon Wolf Storm; a massive swift demon wolf creates a tornado in the seawater, forcibly breaking the incoming water column.

Qin Shuang, having the strongest physical condition among all, slams the Vajra Bear hard, staunchly resisting Xiao Bai's attack.

Yang Wei's Profound Iron Sword slices out countless sword qi, as if the seawater itself is being cut.

Even though Xiao Bai's strength and speed are formidable, facing the full‑force attacks of so many Soul Saints...

Dai Mubai and Zhu Zhuqing immediately activate the martial soul fusion technique Nether White Tiger; the massive Nether White Tiger grabs with full force, as if the water surface is torn apart, and a Soul Emperor‑level Nether White Tiger possesses top‑tier Soul Saint attack power.

…

Yang Xiong's party doesn't seem eager to break through Huanxing Hai; instead they wish to fully battle the Demon Soul Great White Shark Xiao Bai, both sides essentially pushing their strength to the limit.

However, Xiao Bai's speed in the sea is truly excessive; among Sea Soul Beasts, he is the fastest in the water, far surpassing Yang Xiong's group's speed.

According to Yang Xiong's plan, rather than desperately trying to break through Huanxing Hai, it's better to fully fight Xiao Bai; this may raise the odds, and besides, Yang Xiong has killed Hundred‑Thousand‑Year Soul Beasts before.

Although Xiao Bai is powerful and extremely fast, against Yang Xiong's party he doesn't hold a great advantage; especially since Yang Xiong can directly withstand Xiao Bai's attacks, the two sides are closely matched. If the Soul Ring skill usage weren't restricted, Yang Xiong alone could defeat Xiao Bai.

The battle across the sea is intensely fierce; everyone attacks Xiao Bai with full force, and the most troublesome for Xiao Bai are not Yang Xiong but Huo Wu and Shui Bing'er.

From the martial soul perspective, Shui Bing'er and Huo Wu strongly counter Xiao Bai; Huo Wu's massive fire shadow raises the seawater temperature dramatically, causing parts to evaporate, and even some of Xiao Bai's soul skills are limited.

Meanwhile, Shui Bing'er instantly condenses water into ice, continuously using her first soul skill: Ice Seal. Even though Xiao Bai can break free from the ice's control at once, the surrounding ice everywhere greatly restricts her movement, making her far less agile.

Seeing the two sides fighting fiercely, the situation in the sea began to shift, turning into everyone besieging Xiao Bai; even the Ten-thousand Year Soul Beast, no matter how formidable, is now constrained everywhere.

Moreover, Yang Xiong, intentionally or not, is steering the battlefield gradually toward the other side of Huanxing Hai, and the distance to break through Huanxing Hai is also drawing nearer.

At that moment, Xiao Bai seemed to notice something off about the surrounding environment; if it continued, she would become unusually helpless, while Yang Xiong's group would easily pass the assessment.

"You bunch of humans, how dare you scheme against me? I'll show you my true strength."

A special radiance emanated from Xiao Bai; under its illumination, she seemed to merge with the entire sea surface as one, and the seawater instantly roared into towering waves, continuously assaulting Yang Xiong's group. This is Xiao Bai's Demon Shark Domain,

(End of chapter)