The Forest of Life
Tang San shook his head. "No, we each have our own missions. Please trouble the Great Enshrined to arrange a quiet place for us."
Bo Saixi didn't ask any further questions, simply nodding and turning to Sea Horse Douluo: "Ou Ya, pass on my orders. These five are all honored guests of this island; no one is to neglect or offend them. Aside from not helping them complete their trials, meet their demands as much as possible. They can stay in your Seahorse City."
"Yes," Sea Horse Douluo replied respectfully.
Bo Saixi's gaze finally settled on Shui Bing'er, and he smiled and nodded, saying, "Very good, very good. I believe you will be able to pass the Lord Sea God's test. Remember, you must complete at least one of the first seven trials of the Sea God’s Nine Trials each year. Otherwise, all your previous efforts will be in vain."
Upon hearing this, Shui Bing'er glanced at Tang San, then turned to Bo Saixi and replied firmly, "Thank you, Great Enshrined! This junior will certainly not disappoint you."
Bo Saixi smiled, then her figure flashed, transforming into a red streak of light, flying towards Sea God Mountain, and disappearing into the horizon in the blink of an eye.
Seahorse Douluo Ou Ya let out a long breath, turned around, and faced Tang San and the others. The expression on his face changed from shock to respect.
"Distinguished guests, please follow me. I will take you to Seahorse City to settle in."
Tang San nodded. "Thank you for your trouble, senior."
The five followed Sea Horse Douluo towards the southeast of Sea God Island.
Sea Horse Douluo led the group to a courtyard in the center of the city.
"This is a courtyard in my Seahorse City specifically for receiving VIPs. It's usually uninhabited, quiet, and suitable for cultivation."
Tang San walked into the courtyard, glanced around, and nodded. "Very good, thank you, senior."
Sea Horse Douluo waved his hand. "No need to be polite. If you need anything, just send someone to the Sea Horse Sacred Pillar to find me. I'm usually there."
He paused, then added, "Furthermore, each test in the Sea God Trial has a different venue and requirements. Miss Shui Bing'er and the others' First Trial will be held at the foot of Sea God Mountain. I will arrange for someone to wait at the entrance; you can go anytime you are ready."
Shui Bing'er nodded. "Thank you for informing me, senior."
Sea Horse Douluo gave a few more instructions before taking his leave.
The gate closed, and the courtyard became quiet.
"Finally settled in."
Dugu Yan stretched out a big yawn.
Tang San smiled and pulled all four girls into his arms.
"From now on, it's up to you. I plan to start the secret realm assessment with Lingling tomorrow."
Shui Bing'er, Dugu Yan, and Xiao Wu nestled in his arms and nodded vigorously.
Tang San hugged the group even tighter.
"This departure may mean we'll be apart for a year, or even several years."
Shui Bing'er said earnestly, "Third Brother, don't worry about the assessment. There are three of us here on Sea God Island, so everything will be fine. You and Lingling should also be careful in the secret realm, and don't forget we're waiting for you."
Tang San smiled and nodded, "By the time I finish the First Trial, I hope you will have made good progress in the Sea God Trial as well."
He walked and talked, pulling the group towards the room.
"Tonight, I must empty the magazine!"
The four girls, blushing, followed him into the room and closed the door.
Nothing more was said that night.
The next day, Tang San entrusted Xiao Wu with the Ruyi Hundred Treasures Purse for safekeeping. Inside was the Seventh Soul Ring she needed, since Xiao Wu was about to break through to level 70.
After seeing the three of them off, Tang San and Ye Lingling entered the secret room in their residential courtyard.
The two sat facing each other in the center of the secret room, their hands clasped together.
"Are you ready?" Tang San asked, looking at her.
"Ready." Ye Lingling nodded slightly, her blue eyes calm as still water.
The two closed their eyes simultaneously, their thoughts sinking into their bodies, activating their respective Divine Imprint.
Tang San's Divine Imprint is on his right palm; it is the pattern of the Tree of Life.
Ye Lingling's Divine Imprint was on her forehead, a pale golden flower mark.
The two Divine Imprint lit up simultaneously, their light growing brighter and brighter, the emerald green and pale gold rays intertwining and completely enveloping the two of them.
Tang San felt his body lighten, his consciousness seemed to be rising and sinking at the same time, and everything around him was rapidly moving away.
That feeling lasted for a moment.
When he opened his eyes again, he found himself no longer in that stone chamber.
The sight before them made them gasp for breath.
This is a boundless forest.
Above us was a canopy of overlapping trees, with layers of emerald green leaves.
The tree trunks are thick and tall, each one like a small tower, piercing straight towards the sky.
Tang San took a deep breath and sensed everything around him.
He could sense that the vitality here was dozens of times stronger than that outside.
With each breath, warm energy flowed into his body through his nasal cavity, then along his meridians to his limbs and bones, making him feel an unprecedented sense of comfort.
Ye Lingling stood beside him and said softly, "This place is very similar to the Blue Silver Forest, but it's even more... deep. The Blue Silver Forest is a forest of Blue Silver Grass, but this is a forest of all life."
Tang San nodded, his gaze sweeping over his surroundings.
His Blue Silver Domain received an unprecedented boost here, expanding his perception range several times over compared to the outside world. Nothing within a radius of dozens of miles could escape his perception.
Just then, a voice rang in their ears.
The voice was ancient and slow, like the voice of an old tree that had lived for tens of thousands of years.
Welcome to the Forest of Life.
The sound came from all directions, omnipresent.
"This is the capital of paradise, a world brimming with life. Here, you can feel the grandeur of life. Have a wonderful journey."
As soon as he finished speaking, Tang San could feel some kind of force guiding them, pulling them in a specific direction.
"Let's go, let's head into the forest."
Tang San took Ye Lingling's hand, and the two followed the directions, heading deeper into the forest.
The soil beneath our feet was soft and damp, making almost no sound when we stepped on it.
The trees on both sides grew taller and denser, their canopies almost completely obscuring the sky.
After walking for about fifteen minutes, the trees ahead suddenly became thinner, revealing a relatively open space.
In the center of the open space, there are two depressions, shaped like two shallow pits, just big enough for one person to sit cross-legged.
Tang San and Ye Lingling exchanged a glance.
He walked to one of the indentations, sat down cross-legged, and his body fit perfectly into the indentation, as if it had been tailor-made for him.
Ye Lingling sat down in another indentation, fitting perfectly as well.
The moment they sat down, they felt their bodies suddenly sink, as if something was gently pressing down on them.
Then, roots emerged from the soil and gently and slowly wrapped around the two men's legs, knees, thighs, and waist, eventually completely enveloping their lower bodies.
Tang San could feel a warm energy flowing into his body through the roots and the soil beneath his feet.
Tang San closed his eyes, letting the roots guide him, gradually sinking his consciousness into the soil.
He could feel countless tiny roots extending, branching, and intertwining in the soil, like a giant net connecting the entire forest.
The feeling was strange, as if one's entire consciousness was broken down into countless tiny fragments, each fragment attached to a root, extending as the root extended and contracting as the root contracted.
Tang San's consciousness weaved, leaped, and merged among the countless roots, gradually becoming one with the forest.