Sea God Island, Sacred Pillar Inheritance Altar.
The huge statue of Sea God overlooks the center of the altar, surrounded by seven towering Sacred Pillars, including three representing Begonia Douluo, Halberd Douluo, and Sea Cucumber Douluo. The light has been relit. Although it is a little stiffer than before, it has finally continued the inheritance.
The newly appointed Crayfish Douluo, Dolphin Douluo, and Leaf Sheep Douluo, who had just passed the test and successfully succeeded Sacred Pillar, wore brand new Sacred Pillar Guardian robes, stood in front of the altar, and accepted High Priest's final blessings and admonitions.
The solemnity of the ceremony barely covered up the trauma caused by the recent Demon Soul Great White Shark rebellion and the successive assassinations of Sacred Pillar. However, in the eyes of the new Sacred Pillars, in addition to honor and responsibility, there is inevitably vigilance and doubt.
Especially Crayfish Douluo, who furrowed his thick eyebrows and glanced at the sea area outside the altar that still had some traces of cleaning from time to time, as if he was thinking about something.
At the end of the ceremony, High Priest held the scepter, and the blue divine light enveloped the three new Sacred Pillar, performing the final soul resonance and handover of power to Sacred Pillar. When the light shines Gradually, Crayfish Douluo calmed down and the moment the ceremony was officially completed, Crayfish Douluo finally couldn't help it, took a step forward, and faced High Priest, who had just completed the ritual and looked slightly tired, clasped his fists and asked in a deep voice:
"High Priest, I have something unclear, please feel free to ask for advice!"
High Priest turned his eyes to him and said calmly, "Speak."
Crayfish Douluo raised his head, his bell-like eyes looked directly at High Priest, and his voice was loud, with undisguised confusion and a hint of dissatisfaction. "I heard that the deep-sea evil beast Kraken who repeatedly invaded my holy land and assassinated my Sacred Pillar candidate has only more than twenty Ten-Thousand-Year!"
He paused, and his tone became more passionate. "Of course, the more than twenty Ten-Thousand-Year is an incredible Ferocious Beast, but I, Sea God Island, have been inherited for thousands of years and have a profound foundation. Among the High Priest and Sacred Pillar Guardian of the past generations, there is more than one Limit Douluo!
With the combined efforts, it is not impossible to kill a Soul Beast with two Hundred-Thousand-Years! Why... why has this beast been repeatedly provoked, attacked, and escaped unscathed for thousands of years, and has even caused such a catastrophe now? Why didn't our ancestors work together to eradicate it completely to avoid future troubles?!"
This question is obviously also in the minds of several other Sacred Pillar. Dolphin Douluo looked thoughtful, Leaf Sheep Douluo's eyes moved slightly, and even the three Coral Douluo, Sea Swallow, and Conch Douluo standing aside " "Old" Sacred Pillar also raised his head slightly and looked at High Priest. Especially Coral Douluo and Sea Swallow, as undercover agents, they wanted to hear how the "official" would explain this history that has been entangled with Kraken for thousands of years.
High Priest was silent for a moment. He did not answer immediately. His eyes slowly swept across the altar, across the seven Sacred Pillar, and finally towards the distant sea level. His eyes revealed an extremely complex emotion, mixed with reminiscence, solemnity, and a hint of... indescribable helplessness.
After a long time, he slowly spoke. His voice was no longer full of absolute majesty as before, but instead carried a heavy sense of history:
"It's a good question you asked. This is also a question that our ancestors, including me, have pondered hard over the past generations, and even... paid a heavy price to find the answer."
He paused, as if he was organizing his words, or as if he was uncovering a dusty and less glorious history:
"The first time Kraken was clearly recorded to have harassed our Sea God Island surroundings was about... six thousand years ago. At that time, according to records, his cultivation level was not as good as Hundred-Thousand-Year."
"Six thousand years ago?!" Crayfish Douluo lost his voice. This time span was far beyond his imagination.
"Yes, six thousand years ago." High Priest nodded, "Since then, this dog has been like a gangrene attached to the bone, and it has been entangled with me, Sea God Island, to this day. During this period, there have been no less than a hundred conflicts, attacks, and harassments, large and small. Naturally, I, Sea God Island, have tried to eradicate it completely."
His voice deepened. "About six thousand years ago, High Priest at that time was also an extremely talented person. His cultivation reached the peak of level 99, and his subordinate Seven Sacred Pillars was also full of talents.
As Kraken's activities became increasingly rampant and caused a lot of losses, that High Priest was determined to complete his efforts in one battle and completely eradicate future troubles. He personally led all seven Sacred Pillar Guardian at that time, laid a dragnet, used himself as bait, lured Kraken into a desperate place, and launched a thunder siege!"
Everyone held their breath and concentrated, as if they could imagine the earth-shattering battle that year.
"That battle..." An imperceptible lingering fear and bitterness flashed through High Priest's eyes, "The specific process has been lost in history, and many details have been lost in inheritance. But the result is clearly recorded in the oral history of High Priest throughout the ages. Among the core secret scriptures passed down - the one High Priest was seriously injured and on the verge of death, and the seven Sacred Pillars, three died and four were seriously injured! And Kraken... although he also suffered heavy injuries, he finally... escaped."
"What?!" Crayfish Douluo's eyes widened with disbelief on his face. Level ninety-nine High Priest plus Seven Sacred Pillars, surrounded and killed a Soul Beast who was probably less than fifteen Ten-Thousand-Year at the time, and was defeated so miserably?! How is this possible?!
Dolphin Douluo covered his mouth and shouted softly, and Leaf Sheep Douluo also showed a look of shock. Coral Douluo and Sea Swallow showed shock and fear appropriately.
"It's incredible, isn't it?" High Priest smiled bitterly, "The surviving ancestors at that time were also unable to understand. They carefully reviewed every detail of the battle, analyzed all of Kraken's abilities, and finally... came to a conclusion that was equally unbelievable at the time, but seemed to be the only one that could explain the strange results of the battle and the entanglement with them for thousands of years."
He took a deep breath and his eyes became extremely deep, as if he was repeating some kind of sacred and heavy motto:
"The ancestors believe that the existence of Kraken, its weird and unpredictable talents, ultimate control of power, and the ability to predict danger and always find a glimmer of hope in desperate situations... are not simply caused by Soul Beast mutation or chance. Behind it, it is likely to be related to... Lord Sea God's Godhood Inheritance test!"
"Lord Sea God inheritance test?!" This time, even the most composed Sacred Pillar couldn't help but exclaim in a low voice. This guess is too shocking!
"Yes." High Priest nodded heavily, with a firm tone, "The ancestors speculated that Kraken was most likely set up by Lord Sea God to test the future successor of Sea God... a 'living trial'! He is not an ordinary Soul Beast, but a special being who carries some kind of oracle or law.
Its existence itself is one of the ultimate tests for the heir's character, wisdom, strength, and even understanding of the ocean. Therefore, he was able to save himself from danger many times under the encirclement and suppression of Sea God Island, and he could be entangled with our Holy Land for thousands of years. Because... his mission has not yet been completed, and the true successor of Sea God has not yet appeared!"
There was deathly silence in the side hall, with only the whimpering of the sea breeze passing through the pillars. This explanation, like thunder, exploded in the hearts of every Sacred Pillar.
Kraken is not a simple enemy, but... a component of God Trial? Is it a level that Sea God set up to select his successor? It must be crossed but cannot be easily "destroyed"?
"So..." Crayfish Douluo's voice was dry, and the previous anger and dissatisfaction was replaced by huge shock, "Our ancestors of all generations, including you... actually knew it all along, but were unable to really kill it. To a certain extent, we were 'cooperating' with this...'test'?"
"It's not cooperation, but... helplessness and awe." High Priest slowly shook his head, his eyes full of complex emotions, "We tried to eliminate him completely, but the cost was heavy, and it seemed... to trigger some kind of hidden backlash. Since that fiasco, all High Priests have become extremely cautious in dealing with Kraken.
Our primary responsibility is to protect the Holy Land and pass on the faith, rather than... to forcibly destroy the layout that may belong to Lord Sea God. All we can do is to resolutely fight back when he attacks, protect the people, and at the same time... wait, wait for the true successor of Sea God to appear to complete this 'trial' that spans thousands of years."
He looked at the three new Sacred Pillar, especially Crayfish Douluo, and said earnestly, "Nowadays, the mainland is undergoing drastic changes, beliefs are turbulent, and evil spirits are breeding. Kraken's activities are also becoming more and more rampant and weird. This may mean... that critical moment of the 'test' is approaching.
As the new Sacred Pillar, you need to understand the weight of the responsibilities on your shoulders. What we face is not only a powerful enemy, but also a God's Chess Game that lasts for eternity. You need to be brave, more strategic, and have awe of Lord Sea God's supreme will."
Crayfish Douluo opened his mouth, but in the end he didn't say anything. He just clasped his fists heavily and lowered his head, which was never easy to admit defeat. This truth was so impactful that the killing intent and fighting spirit in his heart seemed to have been poured into a basin of ice water, leaving only a deep confusion and a sense of powerlessness in the face of the vast divine power.
Dolphin Douluo and Leaf Sheep Douluo also looked solemn and thoughtful.
Coral Douluo and Sea Swallow lowered their eyes, covering up the almost uncontrollable, extremely weird and ridiculous look in their eyes. Test? Trial of God? They know Kraken's true position and purpose better than anyone else! That "sir" is the deep sea overlord who really wants to subvert Sea God Island, and even disturb the order of the entire continent!
This so-called "secret of inheritance" is actually a "myth" woven by High Priest in the past generations in order to save face and stabilize people's hearts after the tragic defeat.
In any case, this "official explanation" undoubtedly puts a reasonable and sacred cloak on the existence of Kraken and the thousands of years of "tolerance" of Sea God Island. It appeases the doubts of the new Sacred Pillar, and also gives a seemingly noble "reason" to Sea God Island, which has suffered successive setbacks recently.