[To make a name for yourself while young and become a Titled Douluo—this whole story sounds just like the protagonist of a novel!
If I could have a life like that, it'd be amazing!]
[That said, to have made those earlier remarks, Sea Spear Douluo must have gone through some extraordinary experiences later in life, right?
Otherwise, given his own experiences, how could he say that a genius's moment was an ordinary person's entire lifetime?]
[Could it be... Sea Spear Douluo was injured, making it difficult for him to advance any further in cultivation, and that was why he became so despondent?]
[Come on, man. With your age and cultivation, maybe take a look at what you're saying!
I actually think that proud as Sea Spear Douluo was, the most likely reason he became so modest was that he met someone even more talented!]
[Someone even more talented than Sea Spear Douluo?
If that person were still alive, with their aptitude, wouldn't they be ranked near the very top of the list?]
[I'm not concerned about that. What happened to Master Yu, who was just introducing Sea God Island? I'm just curious what Black Tier Four Trial means.
Sea Spear Douluo passed the Black Tier Four Trial and became a Titled Douluo at a young age.
By that logic, can I assume that if I went to Sea God Island and passed the trials, I could become a Titled Douluo too?]
[Holy crap! Good point, bro!]
[Master Yu, can you see this? Explain it to everyone!]
Inside the Instructor Dormitory at Shrek Academy.
Watching the comments and bullet screens on the Heavenly Dao Golden Ranking, Yu Xiaogang's expression grew darker and darker.
It was true that his earlier retort to Bo Saixi had earned him everyone's approval, and he'd gotten a little carried away.
As one "Grandmaster" after another came flying his way, there had been a moment when Yu Xiaogang felt as if he really had become a Grandmaster.
This seemed to be exactly what he had always dreamed of!
Unfortunately, that feeling hadn't lasted long before Sea Spear Douluo's appearance left Yu Xiaogang feeling rather awkward.
Black Tier Four Trial?
How the hell would I know?
But since he'd already been put on the spot with the title "Grandmaster," staying silent would inevitably damage his reputation.
If that was the case...
Rubbing his chin, Yu Xiaogang composed a message under Tang San's admiring gaze.
[As far as I know, the Black Tier Four Trial should be a trial Sea God Island gives to certain special individuals.
Passing the Black Tier Four Trial lets you become a level 94 Titled Douluo. The more difficult the trial, the greater the achievement!]
After posting the message, Yu Xiaogang couldn't help giving himself a mental thumbs-up.
That deduction was well-founded and perfectly logical. It was freaking brilliant!
"Just as you'd expect from me, a Grandmaster. Without my supposedly profound knowledge, how could I have made such a reasonable deduction?
"And if I'm not mistaken, this should be the correct answer!"
[So that's how it is! No wonder he's the Grandmaster!]
[The Black Tier Four Trial corresponds to a level 94 Titled Douluo. Does that mean that if you trigger the Black Tier Nine Trial, you can become a level 99 Titled Douluo?]
[Sea Woman: Bullshit!]
As he watched the praise scroll across the Golden Ranking, Yu Xiaogang was just starting to feel self-satisfied again, basking in his identity as a Grandmaster, when a special comment appeared.
His face immediately turned black as the bottom of a pot!
Tang San: "Teacher, what's with this person? Why would she say that?"
"Heh. Probably some fame-hungry, self-aggrandizing nobody who came out of nowhere!
"Xiao San, you know me. I've never cared about empty titles like 'Grandmaster.'
"But some people just can't see that.
"All I did was give everyone a few casual explanations. I earned a little fame, and now, before long, someone's already trying to get popular by slandering me!"
As he spoke, Yu Xiaogang clasped his hands behind his back, looking as though life had left him lonely as snow.
The sight made Tang San furious.
His teacher was such a noble and upright person, and yet people were still slandering him!
Sea Woman... I'll remember you!
You'd better pray I never run into you in real life. If I do, you'll have brought your death on yourself!
"Don't worry, Teacher. I'll go explain things on the Heavenly Dao Golden Ranking right now, so everyone can see how shameless that person called Sea Woman is!"
With Tang San getting involved—or, rather, with Bibi Dong and her people deliberately defending Yu Xiaogang—Sea Woman's words weren't believed by many for the time being.
At Qingyun Sect in Sunset Forest.
Watching the argument on the Heavenly Dao Golden Ranking, Dugu Bo stroked his beard. His thoughts had been thrown into disarray, and he asked in confusion,
"Sect Master, so which one of them is telling the truth?
"One says this, the other says that. I honestly can't make heads or tails of it!"
Qin Yun took a light sip of tea, then poured a little hot tea over the Pixiu Tea Pet he had made earlier to tend to it. He spoke calmly.
"You can believe one-tenth of what Yu Yuanzhen's son says. Listen to too much of it, and you'll fall into a trap without even realizing it!"
The one who had just posted a comment insulting Yu Xiaogang was probably Sea Woman Douluo, one of the Sea God Island Seven Sacred Pillars.
Unfortunately, she was only level 92 or 93, not even as strong as Sea Spear, so she hadn't made it onto the rankings.
If the Heavenly Dao Golden Ranking didn't display names without identities, Yu Xiaogang wouldn't dare run his mouth like that in the real world, even if he had all the courage in the world.
Then again, Bo Saixi had already been on the receiving end of his retorts. Sea Woman Douluo was no exception.
As for the Black Tier Four Trial they were arguing over...
It wasn't just Sea Spear Douluo. Every Sea Soul Master living on Sea God Island had to undergo a trial when they turned eighteen.
The trials weren't given by Sea God Island, but by the Sea God, so there was no avoiding them!
The trials varied in difficulty according to their tier.
Like Spirit Rings, they ranged from lowest to highest: White Tier Trial, Yellow Tier Trial, Purple Tier Trial, Black Tier Trial, and Red Top Tier Trial!
The trials for mainland Soul Masters were much harder than those for Sea Soul Masters. Sea Soul Masters had ten years to complete a trial, while mainland Soul Masters had only one.
Those who passed the trial could stay on Sea God Island and serve the Sea God.
Those who failed would be expelled from Sea God Island.
If a trial was too difficult, it could even lead to death.
The trials varied completely from person to person.
Some people had very easy trials. They could complete one just by diving into the sea and retrieving a shell.
But others had very difficult trials, and had to withstand an attack from the Great Enshrined, Bo Saixi.
The trials varied from person to person, but overall, they were related to the examinee's strength and aptitude.
In the original story, the highest trial was naturally Tang San's Sea God Nine Trials, followed by Bo Saixi's Top Tier Eight Trial and Ning Rongrong's Top Tier Seven Trial.
Even Zhu Zhuqing, the weakest member of the protagonist group, had triggered the Black Tier Five Trial.
In fact, that showed that Sea Spear Douluo's aptitude was nothing special.
Dugu Bo: "I see!"
"With a son like that, I hope that old dragon Yu Yuanzhen doesn't end up ruining his reputation in his later years!
"But Sect Master, why did someone as proud as Sea Spear Douluo suddenly change his ways and become so low-key?"
Turning over the teacup that Qian Renxue had specially made at great expense, Qin Yun didn't explain. Instead, he made a pointed remark.
"If you're not a Titled Douluo, seeing me is like a frog in a well gazing at the moon in the sky!
"If you become a Titled Douluo, you'll be like a mayfly beholding the blue heavens!
"He became modest simply because he met someone even more extraordinary than himself."
Before you continue