God Trial Begins

A Soul Master raised a shield-like Soul Tool, channeling Soul Power into it, and a pale golden energy shield instantly unfolded. Tang San's ordinary Hidden Weapon, such as the Bone-Piercing Bone-Piercing Needle and Willow Leaf Blades, struck the shield, but were only deflected by ripples, unable to penetrate it at all!

"This Defensive Soul Tool can actually block most of my ordinary Hidden Weapon?" Tang San was slightly surprised.

What surprised him even more was the opponent's attack Soul Tool.

The Soul Tool Soul Master raised their "pistols," pulled the triggers, and bullets condensed from their Soul Power hurtled towards them at incredible speed!

In Tang San's perception, its single-shot power was no less than that of his Sleeve Arrow! Moreover, it had a longer range and faster speed, but its flight trajectory was not as concealed as that of the hidden Sleeve Arrow, and it required a short period of Soul Power charging.

What Tang San found most troublesome and frustrating was that these low-level Soul Master, who were only in their twenties or thirties, each had one of these Soul Tool called "Pistols"!

This means that the Spirit Hall Empire has achieved mass production of this powerful Soul Tool!

On the other hand, his own Sleeve Arrow and Godly Zhuge Crossbow were complex to make and required high-quality materials. More importantly, in order to maintain the uniqueness and advantages of the Tang Sect Secret Arts, he had to keep the technology strictly secret, making large-scale production impossible.

More powerful Hidden Weapon, such as the Rainstorm Pear Blossom Needles and the Yama's Invitation, require extremely rare materials and are extremely complicated to produce, making them impossible to mass-produce.

A strong sense of disparity and crisis welled up in Tang San's heart.

"How exactly does the Divine Realm operate?!" Tang San thought angrily to himself as he dodged the gaps in the Soul Power bullets using his Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track. "Why do they allow the Spirit Hall to research and develop Soul Tool so recklessly? Have they forgotten the lesson of the Soul Tool civilization going out of control ten thousand years ago?!"

In his view, the Spirit Hall's actions were undoubtedly playing with fire and repeating past mistakes! And the Divine Realm's indifference was an unforgivable dereliction of duty!

Fortunately, the Spirit Hall members on patrol did not have high Soul Power Level, so even though they were carrying Soul Tool, their threat to Tang San was limited.

After injuring two people, Tang San dared not linger in the fight. Taking advantage of the enemy's disarray, he quickly used his movement technique to disappear into the mountains outside the town and successfully escaped.

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Tang San's conflict with the patrol team was like a pebble thrown into a lake, quickly reported up through the Spirit Hall Empire's efficient intelligence system.

Initially, the report was categorized as a "counterattack by remnants of the Heaven Dou Empire." However, after cross-referencing the internal wanted posters and the behavioral characteristics of Fallen Soul Master, the intelligence personnel were surprised to find that this boy, who used strange Hidden Weapon and had unpredictable movements, seemed to highly match the characteristics of a previously recorded Fallen Soul Master wanted criminal!

This verified report, along with dozens of other battle reports from all over the empire, was compiled and presented to Emperor Qian Xunji of the Spirit Hall Empire.

Qian Xunji's gaze swept over the report that read, "Yesterday, there were 32 attacks by Fallen Soul Master within the Empire's borders, resulting in 27 deaths, 3 captures, and 2 escapes (including one in a small town on the Star Luo Empire border)." His eyes remained unmoved. To him, this was merely one of the countless data points he had to review every day.

The rapid expansion of the Spirit Hall Empire, along with its strict household registration management and carpet-like searches, swept across the entire continent like a comb, forcing those Fallen Soul Master who had originally hidden in the shadows and quietly developed their lives by devouring the Soul Power of others to have nowhere to hide.

They either had to fight to the death, attacking isolated Imperial Soul Master or civilian strongholds, or they had no choice but to keep fleeing to more remote and dangerous areas.

Therefore, the frequency of conflicts with Fallen Soul Master has increased significantly recently, but most of them have been swiftly wiped out by the Empire's elite forces. Those who manage to escape successfully, like Tang San, are few and far between.

Qian Xunji didn't pay much attention to any particular name in the report; his attention was quickly drawn to something else— the Sea God Island envoy, the Sea Maiden Douluo, had arrived in Spirit City to redeem people.

Inside the main hall of the palace, Qian Xunji received the high priest representative from overseas.

The exchange between the two parties proceeded quite "pleasantly" on the surface. Of course, this pleasantness mainly stemmed from Qian Xunji's one-sided feelings.

Following the decree of the Sea God and the instructions of Bo Saixi, the Sea Maiden Douluo, though filled with humiliation and vigilance, maintained proper etiquette on the surface, directly stated her purpose, and presented the ransom gift list prepared by Sea God Island.

Qian Xunji looked at the items listed on the gift list, a barely perceptible smile curving his lips.

Although Sea God Island is located in a remote corner, it is far from poor, thanks to the endless treasure trove that is the sea. On the contrary, in terms of accumulating rare marine resources, they can be described as "nouveau riche".

The gift list includes: dozens of bushels of flawless deep-sea pearls, five thousand catties of rare minerals with beautiful colors and containing pure water energy, and several complete Soul Bone from ten-thousand-year-old Sea Soul Beast, each with different attributes, but all of them are exquisite.

What intrigued Qian Xunji most was a complete skeleton of a ten-thousand-year-old Sea Soul Beast. Its bones were enormous, with a texture comparable to refined gold, yet incredibly light, and possessed a natural affinity for and resistance to corrosion from seawater. Qian Xunji immediately recognized it as the perfect material for constructing the keel of an ocean-going soul-guided warship!

Faced with such a generous ransom, the Sea Maiden Douluo remained calm, her eyes as still as a deep well, as if she were giving away nothing more than an ordinary gift, without even blinking.

This "arrogance" not only demonstrates the profound heritage of Sea God Island but also shows their determination to redeem the hostages.

Qian Xunji nodded in satisfaction.

Then continue bargaining.

That's incredibly generous; there must be more. Give us a little more.

He only cared about practical benefits. These resources, especially the skeleton of the Sea Soul Beast, were crucial to his seafaring plans and the development of Soul Tool.

Just before the Sea Maiden Douluo was about to change her expression, Qian Xunji nodded.

"Sea God Island is indeed showing great sincerity," Qian Xunji said calmly. "You can take the people with you now."

The Sea Maiden Douluo's beautiful, captivating eyes gazed at the handsome blond man, but there was not a trace of affection or attraction, only gritted teeth.

She finally understood why the high priest hated this guy so much.

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Light streamed in at the end of the dark, damp dungeon passage.

Sea Spear Douluo was escorted out by two Spirit Hall guards, staggering as he walked out. He subconsciously squinted, and after a long time, he saw the blue sky and white clouds and felt the warm sunshine on his face, feeling a sense of unreality, as if he had been transported to another world.

His Soul Power was completely suppressed by the drugs, making it impossible for him to mobilize even a fraction of it. He could only be silently escorted forward in this powerlessness.

When his gaze swept across the courtyard and he saw that familiar figure— Sea Maiden Douluo standing there— Sea Spear Douluo's tense heartstrings finally relaxed, and he let out a long sigh of relief.

Sea God Island hasn't given up on us!

Following that, Doria, Luochuan, and other members of the Sea God Island Team who had been separated and imprisoned were also brought out one after another.

They all looked haggard and were dressed in rags, clearly indicating that their time as prisoners had been difficult. But upon seeing the Sea Maiden Douluo, a glimmer of hope rekindled in their eyes.

An elder from the Spirit Hall, wearing a formulaic smile, stood to the side, his tone calm yet carrying an undeniable authority, and said to the Sea Maiden Douluo, "Your Excellency Sea Maiden, as you have seen, all personnel from Sea God Island have been safely brought back without injury. Please confirm."

The Sea Maiden Douluo's gaze swept over the tired yet resolute face of the Sea Spear Douluo, over the grievances and expectations in the eyes of Doria and the others, and finally landed on the hypocritical smile of the Spirit Hall elder. Her face was so gloomy it could drip water, and anger surged in her chest.

She witnessed firsthand how the Sea Spear Douluo needed assistance to stand, and saw the pale faces of her young disciples.

Is this what the Spirit Hall calls "safe" and "without a single loss"?

But she knew that the situation was beyond her control. Sea God Island was far overseas, isolated and helpless, while the Spirit Hall Empire was at the height of its power, aiming to unify the continent.

Sea God Island has already paid a heavy price to save these people; it cannot afford to cause any more trouble.

She forcefully suppressed the anger that was about to burst from her chest, and squeezed out a few words through gritted teeth:

"... Confirmed."

Every word carried a sense of humiliation.

The elder of the Spirit Hall smiled slightly and nodded, "In that case, the person will be entrusted to you. May Sea God Island and the Spirit Hall Empire live in harmony in the future."

Ignoring the high-sounding words, the Sea Maiden Douluo quickly stepped forward, supported the weakened Sea Spear Douluo, and whispered to Doria and the others, "Let's go."

She didn't want to stay in Spirit City a moment longer.

The people of Sea God Island, supporting each other, followed behind the Sea Maiden Douluo, silently leaving the place where they had been imprisoned for many days.

The elders of the Spirit Hall watched them leave, their smiles unchanged, showing not a trace of displeasure at the Sea Maiden Douluo's hateful gaze.

A bunch of idiots...

Chapter 261 The Divine Test Begins

The elder who happened to be in charge of escorting her was the one who knew about the secret delivery of Doria to Sea God Island, and he was also aware of the importance of this mermaid girl to Sea God Island and even to Sea God.

He watched as Doria, carefully led by the Sea Maiden Douluo, walked away into the distance, and dared not be negligent in the slightest. He immediately turned around and returned to the Pope Palace to report.

Inside the hall, after listening to the elder's detailed report, Qian Xunji simply waved his hand, signaling him to leave. His golden eyes were calm and undisturbed; all of this was already within his expectations and calculations.

Releasing Doria back was part of the plan; a pawn planted overseas, aimed at the Sea God, has already been laid.

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On the other side, the Sea Maiden Douluo, following the instructions of High Priest Bo Saixi, dared not linger in Spirit City for even a moment longer. She led Doria, Sea Spear Douluo, and the other members of the Sea God Island team, setting off immediately and rushing back to Sea God Island at full speed.

They came and went in a hurry!

On her return journey, the Sea Maiden Douluo did not simply rush on her way. She deliberately observed the towns and regions along the way that were now under the actual control of the Spirit Hall Empire. What she saw set off alarm bells in her heart, raising her vigilance against the Spirit Hall Empire to its peak.

Before her unfolded a picture of order, peace, and prosperity. Wide, smooth roads allowed for highly efficient travel of vehicles and horses; a soul-guided barrier surrounded the city, effectively isolating it from the intrusion of wild Soul Beast; the city was brightly lit, the markets were bustling, and the faces of the people showed little sign of hunger, but rather an expectation for the future.

Various practical low-level Soul Tool have been developed and put into the market by the Spirit Hall Empire, and seem to be gradually becoming more widespread, changing the lives of ordinary people.

The Spirit Hall Empire is meticulously guiding and reshaping the development direction of human civilization on the continent with its powerful strength and advanced technology.

Large areas of dangerous Soul Beast habitats have been clearly demarcated and isolated, and the human living environment has been protected and optimized like never before, presenting an overall thriving and prosperous scene.

This scene formed a stark contrast to the Sea God Island she guarded.

Sea God Island, which has long been located overseas and almost isolated from the world, is like a different world in terms of development compared to the rapid changes on the mainland, despite the protection of the Sea God faith and its unique Sea Soul Master system.

Sea God Island is isolated, with limited resources, making expansion difficult. It constantly faces unpredictable marine disasters and the threat of powerful Sea Soul Beast. Even Titled Douluo risk their lives if they leave the Sea God Island's protective area and venture into the open sea.

As Sacred Pillar Guardian, the Sea Maiden Douluo deeply understands the difficulties of managing a sea city. Resisting tsunamis, ensuring food and supplies, and preventing attacks from Soul Beast... each task requires immense effort. Maintaining the status quo is already a challenge, let alone development.

Along the way, Doria also described in detail her experiences in Spirit City, especially the sudden attack at the final award ceremony of the Advanced Soul Master Tournament, to her teacher, the Sea Maiden Douluo.

As she listened to how the Spirit Hall used the tournament as a trap to wipe out the core forces of various factions across the continent, the Sea Maiden Douluo's brows furrowed deeper and deeper, her face filled with solemnity and disdain.

"This Spirit Hall... is utterly despicable!" Sea Maiden Douluo couldn't help but mutter in disapproval. "To commit such a treacherous and openly violent act during their own Advanced Soul Master Tournament!"

However, amidst the reprimand, a deeper chill rose from the depths of her heart.

The Spirit Hall Empire not only displayed formidable military strength, but also instilled in people a sense of ruthlessness in achieving its goals.

With the mainland now ruled by such a force, can the peace on Sea God Island continue?

She gazed at the boundless blue sea before her, but her heart felt heavy.

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Upon returning to Sea God Island, the Sea Maiden Douluo immediately went to the Sea God Temple and reported in detail to High Priest Bo Saixi what she had seen and heard on her trip—the continent had been unified and renamed the Spirit Hall Empire, the order, strength and potential displayed under its rule, and the despicable attack that occurred at the awards ceremony, which was truly mind-blowing.

As she listened to the Sea Maiden Douluo's narration, a deep sorrow settled over Bo Saixi's beautiful face, eventually culminating in a long sigh.

"Alas... As far as I know, Qian Daoliu is not a man with such ambition and courage." Bo Saixi's voice carried a complex and unreadable emotion, an understanding of an old rival, or even a former acquaintance. "He is rigid in his ways, yet he values promises and integrity above all else. The one capable of such... reckless and ruthless actions must be his son, Qian Xunji."

She recalled Qian Daoliu's ambiguous letter, which carried an air of guilt and explanation. At the time, she didn't understand it, but now it seemed more like Qian Daoliu expressing his helplessness and apology for his inability to control his son and even for the Spirit Hall's deviation from the traditional path.

This time, when the Sea Maiden Douluo personally came to Spirit City, Qian Daoliu didn't even show his face once. This in itself was a silent statement—perhaps, he could no longer influence the decisions of the Spirit Hall Empire.

You should know that his son, Qian Xunji, was capable of killing Tang Chen...

Bo Saixi was not surprised that Qian Daoliu this way.

Bo Saixi slowly walked to the Sea God Temple, gazing at the seemingly calm, boundless blue sea before her.

This Sea God Island was her lifelong guardian, but also a prison she could never escape. As the High Priestess of the Sea God, she possessed power comparable to Peerless Douluo on the sea, but the price was that she could never leave Sea God Island for the rest of her life.

This powerful protective force has now become her greatest constraint. Faced with the threat from the Spirit Hall Empire on the continent, she possesses immense power but is utterly passive.

The Spirit Hall Empire can develop steadily, integrate resources, and even extend its reach to the ocean in the future. But she can only be confined to an isolated island, watching helplessly as the other side continues to grow stronger.