Becoming a Father Out of the Blue
Six hours later, the energy fluctuations on the ice surface finally subsided completely.
After absorbing the energy of the Deep Sea Demonic Whale King, Shui Bing'er's Soul Power increased from level 95 to the peak of level 97.
At the same time, a solemn voice resounded in her mind.
"The Eighth Trial of the Sea God has been completed. The Sea God Affinity has increased by 30%, and the total affinity has reached 120."
The content of the Ninth Trial followed immediately.
"The Sea God Ninth Trial: Cultivate to Level 99 within five years and proceed to the Sea God Hall to inherit the Sea God Godhood."
Dugu Yan's Soul Power reached the peak of Level 98, Xiao Wu broke through to level 96, Ye Lingling broke through to level 95, and Shui Yue'er jumped from level 74 to level 80.
After absorbing the Soul Rings and the bones in his torso, Tang San's feet were surrounded by nine Soul Rings —eight red and one crimson gold—radiating an aura of destructive power.
His Soul Power broke through the final bottleneck of Level 99 and successfully stood on the threshold of level one hundred.
Logically speaking, relying solely on cultivating Soul Power, human Soul Masters will never be able to break through the level 100 barrier.
To break through level 100, one needs to accumulate faith power and break free from the constraints of dimensional rules.
However, after undergoing the trials of the Dual Divine Tests, Tang San's body was baptized by divine power, and his life level underwent a qualitative change, giving him the qualification to break through to Level 100.
Although Tang San has now broken through Level 100, he is unable to absorb the tenth Soul Ring at this moment.
The tenth Soul Ring is a god-level Soul Ring. It is not obtained by hunting Soul Beasts, but is a divine ring formed after inheriting a god's position and integrating divine power. It is the carrier of the power of the god's position.
Therefore, Tang San needs to truly inherit the Life and Destruction Godhood before he can obtain his tenth Soul Ring.
The ninth Soul Ring of the Deep Sea Demonic Whale King, Soul Skill one: Destruction Barrier.
Once activated, it expands into a large-scale barrier domain, merging and overlapping with its own Destruction Domain. Against opponents far weaker than itself, it directly seals their cultivation. Against stronger opponents, it significantly weakens their strength while enhancing its own.
The ninth Soul Ring of the Deep Sea Demonic Whale King, Soul Skill 2: Demonic Whale Annihilation Strike.
A finishing move that combines long-range burst damage with area-of-effect suppression. The user raises the Clear Sky Clear Sky Hammer high, activating the power of the ninth Soul Ring, and a large area of dark purple thunderclouds instantly condenses in the sky. As the Clear Sky Hammer falls, countless purple lightning orbs infused with destructive power pour down, unleashing a devastating attack on the target area.
After absorbing the torso bone of the Deep Sea Demonic Whale King, Tang San's physical strength was greatly enhanced, breaking through to the god-level.
The torso bones did not generate Soul Bone Skills, but instead interacted with Tang San's entire body of Soul Bones, evolving into a god-level Soul Bone set.
Soul Bone Set Skill: Indestructible Divine Armor. When activated, Tang San can withstand three attacks of divine power.
Tang San and his companions immediately set off back to Heaven Dou City.
On the way, he helped Shui Yue'er hunt a 70,000-year-old water-attribute Soul Beast as her Eighth Soul Ring.
After absorbing the Soul Ring, Shui Yue'er's Soul Power reached the peak of level eighty-one.
Ten days later, the group returned safely to Heaven Dou City.
After returning to the palace, Tang San barely stopped and immediately plunged into the inner chambers of the backyard, immersing himself completely in the task of the Eighth Trial.
One night, half a month later, Tang San, who had just completed a test, was resting on his back, with one arm around Shui Yue'er and the other around Shui Bing'er.
Suddenly, that very familiar voice echoed in my mind.
"The Eighth Trial of the Dual Divine Test Assessment: Inheritance, passed. Dual God Affinity increased by 10%, Total Affinity 100%. Because the partner is not yet complete, the Ninth Trial will be conducted after the partner is completed."
Tang San suddenly sat up in bed.
"Third Brother, what's wrong?" Shui Bing'er asked lazily.
Tang San sat there for a moment, stunned, and then said, "It's nothing, I just have something to ask Lingling."
After saying that, he quickly got out of bed, put on an outer robe, and strode towards Ye Lingling's room.
Ye Lingling had been exhausted by Tang San an hour ago and had just fallen asleep.
Tang San strode to her bedside and shook her awake urgently. "Lingling, are you pregnant?"
Ye Lingling replied sleepily, "How did you know? I just discovered it when I was doing my internal examination. I was planning to tell you tomorrow."
Upon hearing this, Tang San asked, "Did you hear the divine message just now? Did you pass the Eighth Trial?"
Ye Lingling shook her head. "No, isn't the assessment only considered complete after it's completed? I haven't received the divine decree that the Eighth Trial is finished."
Tang San froze instantly, his expression a mixture of joy and surprise. He was happy that Ye Lingling was pregnant, but surprised that he hadn't passed the Eighth Trial because of Ye Lingling.
Ye Lingling noticed his unusual behavior. "What's wrong?"
Tang San opened his mouth, but for a moment he didn't know how to start speaking.
Ye Lingling didn't receive a notification, which means that it wasn't Ye Lingling who helped him complete the Eighth Trial.
Shui Bing'er, Dugu Yan, Xiao Wu, Shui Yue'er...
Even if they were pregnant, they couldn't possibly give birth so quickly.
Could it be Qian Renxue? Impossible. We agreed to finish the Divine Examination as soon as possible that day. She wouldn't be so impulsive.
That leaves only one possibility.
A terrifying thought arose. A figure with a seductive smile and short orange hair appeared in Tang San's mind.
Hu Liena!!
Tang San thought that the events of that night in the Spirit Hall Empire's military camp, that absurd night, were all in the past.
At this moment, Tang San was completely dumbfounded, his head spinning.
Should we go to Spirit City to confirm?
How should I present myself if I go? How awkward would that be?
After thinking it over, Tang San eventually suppressed his plan to go to Spirit City to find out what was going on.
In Spirit City, Hu Liena's courtyard was brightly lit.
The midwife and maid had already left, and Xie Yue had just turned around and closed the door, leaving only three people in the room.
Bibi Dong canceled all her other engagements and personally stayed by Hu Liena's bedside.
Hu Liena leaned against the pillow, the sweat on her forehead not yet completely dry, a few strands of short orange hair sticking damply to her cheeks, her face somewhat pale.
But a smile lingered on her lips as her gaze fell upon the small figure wrapped in soft cloth in Bibi Dong's arms.
Bibi Dong gently cradled the baby in her arms, her movements surprisingly skillful.
She carefully adjusted the angle of the swaddle so that the child could lie more securely in her arms.
The baby was quiet, only crying a few times shortly after birth, and was now asleep.
It was a girl, with a wrinkled little face, a slightly open mouth, and rosy cheeks.
Bibi Dong looked down at the baby in the swaddling clothes. Her usual cold and hard temperament seemed to melt away after she picked up the child.
Hu Liena said softly, "Teacher, you are not only my teacher, but also a mother to me. Please help me give her a name."
Bibi Dong did not refuse, and remained silent for a moment, as if she was thinking seriously.
After a long pause, she slowly spoke, "Let's call her Tang Yao. Yao represents beautiful jade, and also preciousness."
Bibi Dong didn't Tang San's name, but when the surname "Tang" was used in the child's name, it seemed like she had made a great decision, as if it was the result of careful consideration.
Hu Liena paused slightly when she heard the surname, her gaze lingering on Bibi Dong's face for a moment before she whispered, "Teacher, I don't want anything to do with him. Yao is a nice name, let's call her Hu Yao. She's only my child."
Bibi Dong gently placed the child back beside Hu Liena, tucked the edge of the swaddling clothes in, then stood up and said, "Alright, let's call her Hu Yao."
Hu Liena reached out and gently touched her daughter's cheek with her fingertips.
The little life sleeping peacefully had a gentle smile playing on its lips.