Those Taking the Trial
On the morning of the fifth day, before it was fully light, a thin layer of morning mist covered the sea.
Tang San woke up at the agreed time.
He turned his head and glanced at the four girls who were still fast asleep beside him.
Dugu Yan's short purple hair was scattered messily on the pillow, and an arm was draped over his chest.
Xiao Wu curled up on his other side, her lips slightly pouting.
Shui Bing'er and Ye Lingling leaned against each other, their long blue hair intertwined like two intertwined streams.
Tang San got up and walked to the window. He opened the window, and the sea breeze, carrying a salty and fishy smell, rushed in, along with the unique coolness of the morning.
Dugu Yan sat up in bed and rubbed her eyes. Her short purple hair was a little messy, and the strap of her nightgown had slipped down to her arm, revealing a glimpse of skin.
After washing up and changing their clothes, the five people had a simple breakfast and headed towards the pier.
On the dock, Captain Bulus was directing the sailors in making final preparations.
Bulus grinned as he saw Tang San and his group approaching.
"Young Master Tang, you've arrived. The ship is ready and waiting for you."
"Captain Bulus, you've worked hard."
Tang San took out a large bag of Gold Soul Coins from his Storage Soul Tool and tossed it to Bulus, "This is the final payment, you count it."
Bulus took the money bag, weighed it in his hand, and his smile widened even further.
Bulus stood at the bow of the ship, and after confirming that everything was ready, he suddenly waved his hand.
"Put anchor! Set sail!"
The heavy anchor rose from the water, the sailors pulled the ropes, the sails filled with the sea breeze, the ship rocked slightly, and then slowly sailed away from the dock.
The outline of Vast Sea City grew smaller and smaller, more and more blurred, until it finally disappeared where the sea met the sky.
Tang San companions stood at the bow of the boat, the sea breeze blowing in their faces, carrying a salty and fishy smell, and ruffling the hems of their clothes and strands of hair.
Looking at the boundless, deep blue sea, a sense of awe flashed in the eyes of all five of them.
A month-long flight is neither long nor short.
Life at sea is completely different from life on land.
During the day, sunlight pours down from overhead, and the seawater shimmers with a deep blue light.
At night, the Star Dou stars, and their reflection on the sea looks like a floating galaxy.
The journey was smooth sailing, without any major storms.
We encountered several groups of pirates along the way, but as soon as they saw the Sea God Island flag flying from the bow, they all turned around and fled.
As for Zi Zhenzhu or anything like that, I didn't see any.
Sea God Island wields greater power and influence in this sea area than any military force.
After the initial novelty wore off, Tang San and his companions spent most of their time meditating and cultivating in the cabin.
The month-long voyage passed quietly in peace and tranquility.
On this morning, the sun slowly rose from the eastern horizon, turning the entire sea into a golden-red hue.
A clear outline appeared on the distant horizon.
It was an island, shrouded in a faint, seven-colored halo, dreamlike and ethereal, like a gem embedded in the sea.
"We've arrived at Sea God Island!"
Bulus's voice came through, carrying a sense of relief and excitement.
Tang San and the others simultaneously turned their gazes to the island shrouded in a seven-colored halo.
From a distance, there is a mountain in the center of the island. It is not high, but it is very steep.
A massive building, shaped like Trident, can be vaguely seen on the mountaintop, pointing straight to the sky.
As the ship drew closer, the details of the island became increasingly clear.
The pier was wide and flat, and some people dressed in white and yellow robes could be seen patrolling it.
The ship slowly approached the shore, and the sailors threw down ropes to secure the ship firmly to the dockposts.
Tang San and his companions disembarked one by one and set foot on the land of Sea God Island.
Just as Tang San and his group walked out of the dock, a patrol team blocked their way.
The leader was a middle-aged Soul Master, dressed in a yellow robe, with a stern face and sharp eyes.
His Soul Power fluctuations were roughly at the Soul Emperor level; on Sea God Island, such strength was only considered average.
"Halt! Who are you? What are you doing on Sea God Island?"
Tang San bowed slightly, his posture respectful. "We admire the reputation of Sea God Island and hope to participate in its trials."
The yellow-robed Soul Master's gaze swept over the five people, his brows furrowing slightly.
Do you know the rules of Sea God Island?
Tang San nodded. "We understand. Please lead the way."
The yellow-robed Soul Master looked at him for a moment, then turned around and said, "Come with me."
Tang San and his companions followed the yellow-clad Soul Master, crossing the dock and heading deeper into the island.
After walking for about 15 minutes, the view ahead suddenly opened up.
What appeared before Tang San was actually a pool of water.
In the very center of the pool, there is a triangular platform, upon which stands a strange stone pillar.
The stone pillar is shaped like a pointed cone, with a unique sculpture carved at the very top.
Tang San could clearly see a person sitting under the stone pillar, with their eyes closed and their back to the pillar, seemingly meditating and cultivating.
This person should be Sea Horse Douluo.
"Reporting to Lord Sea Horse, a foreign land-based Soul Master has arrived to undergo a test."
The yellow-robed Soul Master stopped on the shore and respectfully called out towards the stone pillar in the center of the pool.
Sea Horse Douluo slowly opened his eyes and replied calmly.
"Land-based Soul Masters wish to accept His Majesty the Sea God's test? Only by crossing the Sea Within the Sea and arriving before the Sea Horse Sacred Pillar will you be qualified to accept the test."
Tang San naturally knew the rules involved.
Along the way, he had shared all his knowledge of Sea God Island with Shui Bing'er and the others without reservation.
This includes undergoing Divine Examination through the Sacred Pillars, as well as related precautions and Divine Examination content, such as the content and effects of trials like traversing the Sea God's Light, passing through the Ring Sea, and Tidal Body Tempering.
The content of the first six tests in the Sea God Trial is basically fixed, only the difficulty varies. The assessment level also varies depending on the examinee's talent and potential.
"Bing'er, it's up to you now." Tang San turned his head and glanced at Shui Bing'er.
Shui Bing'er nodded, a hint of confidence flashing in her icy blue eyes.
She walked to the edge of the pool, and on a whim, an ice bridge stretched from the shore to a triangular platform in the center of the pool.
Tang San and his companions stepped onto the ice bridge and steadily walked to the triangular platform, arriving in front of Sea Horse Douluo.
Sea Horse Douluo looked at Shui Bing'er in surprise, clearly not expecting her to have such strong control over the water element.
But he didn't say much, only stood up from in front of the stone pillar, his gaze sweeping over the five people. "Which of you wants to accept His Sea God's test?"
Shui Bing'er, Dugu Yan, and Xiao Wu stepped forward simultaneously.
Shui Bing'er bowed slightly. "Senior, there are three of us."
Tang San and Ye Lingling did not intend to accept the Sea God Trial; they had their own Divine Examination waiting for them.
Dugu Yan also Divine Examination, but her Divine Examination involves entering the Life and Death Arena and completing nine life-or-death battles. As long as one is strong enough, one can take the test anywhere.
The Sea God Island trials can quickly improve one's strength, so Tang San arranged for Dugu Yan to participate in the Sea God Trials with Shui Bing'er first. After greatly improving their strength, they would then take the Evil God Divine Examination.
As for Xiao Wu, since she didn't take the Divine Examination, she naturally participated in the Sea God Trial with Shui Bing'er.
Sea Horse Douluo nodded, his gaze sweeping over the three in turn. "One of you, come up first."
Dugu Yan was the first to walk up to Sea Horse Douluo and stand in front of him.