Chapter 271: Tang San's Seventh Trial

On Sea God Island, under Bo Saixi's personal supervision, Tang San undertook the final test of the Red Level Seven Trials.

Facing the onslaught of the Demon Soul Great White Shark in the sea, Tang San exhausted every method, not only employing Enclosing Gold Silk, but also using various Hidden Weapons, and even deploying every soul skill.

But the ferocity of the Demon Soul Great White Shark exceeded his imagination; especially after the first injury, as blood poured into the sea, all the Demon Soul Great White Sharks seemed to go mad, becoming extremely blood‑thirsty and desperately crashing into Tang San.

Second by second, the blood in the sea increased, and even Xiao Bai became somewhat blood‑thirsty.

Tang San had no idea how many wounds he had sustained, how many times the sharp teeth had bitten him, nor how many bones he had broken from the collisions.

Tang San went berserk, swinging the Clear Sky Hammer with all his might, each strike aimed at the attacking Demon Soul Great White Shark.

Bo Saixi watched Tang San brandishing the Clear Sky Hammer, and a trace of reluctance appeared on her normally placid face, as if she saw a former figure; but since it was Divine Examination time, she could not intervene.

In the final, crucial moment, Tang San's Clear Sky Hammer finally reached eighty‑one strikes.

But opposite him, Xiao Bai also attacked full force, turning into a black shadow that seemed ready to tear Tang San apart.

At this last instant, Xiao Bai's and Tang San's final blows collided, and both appeared to have unleashed their full strength.

However, looking closely, at the crucial moment Xiao Bai seemed to have been interfered with, and his final strike's power was slightly weakened.

The entire sea seemed to undergo a massive tremor, but soon returned to calm.

Tang San himself was drenched in blood, looking very disheveled, yet he managed to walk out of the sea step by step.

Just after emerging from the water, Xiao Wu swiftly lifted Tang San, who immediately collapsed, clearly badly injured.

This trial was extremely perilous for Tang San, literally teetering between life and death, but fortunately he ultimately passed.

When Tang San regained consciousness, his body had been bandaged, his whole frame aching as if every bone had been crushed and all his blood drained.

Yet Tang San was startled by the surroundings; the place was unusually rustic, with only a single pole stuck in the center and nothing else noteworthy.

A voice suddenly came from ahead.

"Tang San, this is the Sea God Temple. Congratulations on completing the Red Level Seven Trials. It is precisely because you passed the trial that you are qualified to be here in the Sea God Temple."

Tang San then realized he had actually arrived at the Sea God Temple; the temple on Sea God Island is sacred and inviolable—no one may ascend it except at the Seven God Pillars.

Tang San gritted his teeth, mustering his pain to sit up upright.

Bo Saixi continued, "Your wounds have been bandaged by your friend, so there should be no serious problem. As the successor of the Great Supplicant of Sea God Island, I must tell you the specifics of Sea God Island, hoping it will help you in the future."

Then Bo Saixi roughly narrated the path of the Sea God's ascension, even covering how some Soul Grandmasters cultivated after reaching Title Douluo, for the Great Supplicant of Sea God Island must possess absolute strength.

After hearing Bo Saixi's words, Tang San said solemnly, "Senior, do gods truly exist in this world? Can Soul Grandmasters really cultivate to Hundred Level?"

Bo Saixi smiled, "Soul Grandmasters can certainly cultivate to Hundred Level, but the process is extremely perilous; even the Sea God spent a full one thousand and one years, and the suffering and loneliness exceed everyone's imagination."

Tang San showed a hint of doubt, "But I've never heard of a Soul Grandmaster living to one thousand and one years; at least in Soul Master history there seems to be no such record."

Bo Saixi shook his head, "You are only looking at ordinary Soul Grandmaster records. The Angel God on the continent and the Sea God on the sea both underwent countless trials, gained everyone's faith, and ultimately attained Divine Position."

"After a Soul Grandmaster reaches Title Douluo, each increase in soul power markedly extends lifespan, but both perseverance and opportunity are indispensable; otherwise the endeavor fails. Know that beyond Ninety‑Five, each soul power level consumes far more time than you imagine."

Tang San fell silent upon hearing this; he possesses dual martial souls, and theoretically after reaching Title Douluo, he can quickly advance by absorbing Soul Rings, which is the greatest advantage of dual martial souls.

Tang San seemed to recall something: "Senior, did you help me during the Seventh Trial?"

Bo Saixi said nothing, evidently conceding.

Tang San asked with doubt, "Senior, the Sea God Trials were set by the Sea God himself; does that affect you in any way?"

Bo Saixi showed a faint smile, "I understand the Sea God's will; he aims to cultivate true strong ones. Your talent and combat power are both excellent, even I feel a sigh of admiration."

"Moreover, I did not act directly; otherwise the Sea God would have punished me."

Tang San quickly expressed gratitude, "Thank you, Senior, for your kindness. I will strive to cultivate and become a true strong one as soon as possible."

But Tang San also showed a hint of doubt, "Senior, you care for me so much; I wonder if there is another reason?"

Bo Saixi, looking at Tang San, couldn't help shaking his head, "It's so alike; you and your great‑grandfather Tang Chen are truly identical."

Tang San was startled inside, "Senior, did you know my great‑grandfather? He has been missing for over fifty years."

Bo Saixi sighed, "Back then your great‑grandfather and the Spirit Hall Great Offering Qian Daoliu came to Sea God Island together. The three of us sparred there; although I defeated your great‑grandfather and Qian Daoliu, I had the advantage of being at sea—on land I might not have been their match."

"In fact, your great‑grandfather had the highest talent among the three of us; even I deeply admire him."

Tang San hurriedly said, "Senior, in terms of strength, you and my great‑grandfather are both Level 99 Ultimate Douluo."

Bo Saixi sighed, "Although our Soul Power Levels are equal, both Qian Daoliu and I enhanced our strength through Divine Examination, whereas your great‑grandfather cultivated solely by his own talent."

"Otherwise, in terms of cultivation, I'm only a little over a hundred years old; how could I have reached Ultimate Douluo? Normally, moving from Ninety‑Seven to Ninety‑Eight takes three hundred years, and from Ninety‑Eight to Ninety‑Nine requires six hundred years."

"Only your great‑grandfather cultivated to Ninety‑Nine on his own; his cultivation speed even surpassed the Sea God's, making him the strongest among us three in talent."

Tang San seemed to recall something and quickly asked, "Senior, I now have information about my great‑grandfather; could you rescue him?"

Bo Saixi showed a hint of doubt, "With Tang Chen's strength, who in this world could possibly trap him?"

Tang San's face showed a trace of pain, "Senior, I received news that my great‑grandfather is lost in Killing City, but my father could not rescue him."

Bo Saixi murmured, "No wonder. Killing City is said to be a human forbidden zone; anyone who enters never returns. Only those possessing the Killing God Domain can freely come and go. If I recall correctly, Yang Xiong has the Killing God Domain."

Tang San nodded, "The information about my great‑grandfather came from Yang Xiong; my father has confirmed it, but my great‑grandfather's strength is too great, and we have no means."

Bo Saixi sighed, "I have no solution either. You know I am the Great Supplicant of Sea God Island; without special circumstances I cannot leave the island. To truly rescue your great‑grandfather, perhaps only a Hundred Level strong one could accomplish it."

Tang San's face showed a hint of disappointment, "Senior, Hundred Level strong ones are too elusive. As you said, none have appeared in the Soul Master world for tens of thousands of years. Even with confidence in my talent, I dare not hope to become a god in the short term."

Bo Saixi showed a trace of conflict, but finally spoke, "Xiao San, actually with your talent, failing the Red Level Seven Trials would be normal, yet there are some exceptional cases in this world; perhaps a Hundred Level strong one could appear."

Tang San showed a hint of doubt, "Senior, you don't happen to be talking about Yang Xiong, do you? Though Yang Xiong is powerful, he only achieved the Red Level Eight Trials, still far from true maturity."

Bo Saixi shook his head, "That's incorrect. Yang Xiong and the other three have outstanding strength; their talent surpasses all our imaginations, and they are remarkably resilient. When he entered the examination, he could have attained the Top-level Nine Trials, but something happened at the final moment, and the trial never became a true Ninth Trial."

Tang San seemed to recall something, "Senior, could Yang Xiong have a problem?"

Bo Saixi said, "Yang Xiong should possess the Sea God's Heart. When the Sea God's Heart returned to Sea God Island, I sensed it, so the Sea God could impose the highest trial on him, but the trial was interrupted at the final moment."

"However, the Sea God has already set a trial for Yang Xiong; his Eighth Trial is to find a true Sea God's Successor. If you possess the Sea God's Heart, you might still attain the Top-level Nine Trials."

Tang San felt a stir inside; he hadn't expected Yang Xiong to be so deeply hidden, fearing he had underestimated him.

…

After their discussion, Tang San decided to convalesce on Sea God Island for a while before preparing to return to the continent.

Now Tang San's soul power has already reached level 87, and his Soul Rings have become two purple and six black, especially the final Soul Ring now shows a faint blood‑red tint.

(End of chapter)