Above the island, the seven Sacred Pillars that had stood for ten thousand years all blazed with light at once, and azure Sea God's Power surged into the sky.
Not only that, but even the Sea God Hall at the island's center released dazzling blue-gold light.
Ye Qing, who had still been sensing the power of his Seraphim Martial Soul, suddenly felt himself enveloped by the vast Sea God's Power.
A gentle yet powerful force widened his meridians, and deep in his soul, he seemed to form a wondrous connection with the sea.
He opened his eyes instinctively and raised a hand to touch his forehead.
A small yet distinct golden trident mark was appearing there, its light rippling with the unmistakable aura of the Sea God Inheritance.
Ye Qing slowly withdrew his Angel Martial Soul, lowered his head, and looked at his small, fair hands, which still bore a hint of searing power. He fell completely into thought.
It wasn't just him. Even the gasps and cries of astonishment around him seemed to slow to a crawl when everyone saw this.
Only when the humming from the horizon drew closer and closer did figures tear through the clouds and descend from the sky, carrying an overwhelming pressure of Soul Power.
The first to land was a man in a black robe.
On the back of his hand, visible beneath his broad sleeve, a Sea Horse-shaped soul mark shone with a deep blue light. He was the lord of this city and one of the seven Sacred Pillar Douluo, Sea Horse Douluo.
His gaze was sharp as lightning as he swept his eyes over Ye Qing, who was shrouded in golden and blue light.
When his gaze fell upon the small Golden Trident, this Sacred Pillar Douluo, who had weathered countless storms, shuddered all over. Tears instantly welled in his cloudy eyes, and his voice choked beyond recognition. "The Sea God Inheritance... It's real... We've waited ten thousand years, and at last, it's here..."
He stumbled forward and carefully crouched in front of Ye Qing. His usual dignified bearing had vanished, leaving only indescribable excitement and reverence. "Child, what is your name?"
Despite having been a Sacred Pillar Douluo for so long, he had never even seen a red trial. Yet now he had encountered the Sea God Inheritance, unseen for ten thousand years.
"Ye Qing." Ye Qing steadied himself and answered honestly.
Sea Horse Douluo nodded again and again, then urgently asked, "And what is your Martial Soul? With such an extraordinary phenomenon, it must be something exceptional!"
Ye Qing's cheeks grew slightly hot. He pressed his lips together, unsure how to begin.
How could he tell them that the one chosen for the Sea God Inheritance they had awaited for ten thousand years had awakened an Angel Martial Soul, something utterly unrelated to the Sea God?
If he said that out loud, it might infuriate the Douluo before him, who was so moved he had nearly wept, until he fainted.
Seeing him hesitate, the smile on Sea Horse Douluo's face faded a little, and his brows furrowed. "What's wrong? Is something the matter?"
Could a six-year-old child not even recognize his own Martial Soul?
Surely not.
Puzzled, he turned to look at the middle-aged Awakening Master beside them, who had long since been scared out of his wits. His voice unconsciously took on the pressure of a Sacred Pillar Douluo. "You tell me. What is this child's Martial Soul?"
The Awakening Master's legs went limp, and he nearly fell to his knees. Sweat beaded on his forehead, his lips trembled, and he couldn't manage a complete sentence for a long while.
How could he dare say it?
The Sea God Inheritance had gone to someone with an Angel Martial Soul. Who would believe that?
If he angered the Sacred Pillar Douluo, he might well leave his life here.
"What are you waiting for?!"
Sea Horse Douluo's patience gradually ran out. The Soul Power around him surged, and even the air seemed to freeze as he pressed, "This Douluo asked you a question. Are you deaf?"
"S-Sacred Pillar Sir..."
The Awakening Master squeezed his eyes shut, steeled himself, and shouted through gritted teeth, "The Holy Son's Martial Soul... i-is an Angel!"
"What did you say?"
Hearing those words, Sea Horse Douluo's eyes flew wide open, as if he had heard an absurd fairy tale.
He even began to suspect that his excitement had made him hallucinate. "Say that again! What is his Martial Soul?!"
"It's an Angel!" the Awakening Master practically screamed. Then he collapsed to the ground, waiting for his punishment.
Sea Horse Douluo stood frozen in place, every trace of color draining from his face.
He slowly turned to look at Ye Qing, disbelief filling his eyes.
Seriously?
The Sea God Inheritance had gone to someone with an Angel Martial Soul?
What a ridiculous joke!
Could Lord Sea God have... gone blind with age?
Ye Qing felt his scalp prickle beneath that stare. All he could do was steel himself and nod slightly.
"Gasp—"
A moment later, Sea Horse Douluo drew in a sharp breath, clutched his chest, squeezed his eyes shut, and looked utterly resigned to his fate.
Fine. There was nothing more to say. He'd wait for the Grand Pontiff to arrive. He couldn't handle this, and he couldn't make sense of it either.
Before long, several even more powerful auras descended.
At the head of the group was a woman in a red dress with a high slit. The hem swayed gently in the sea breeze, revealing legs as fair as jade. Her silver high heels touched the ground, yet each step seemed to bring forth a lotus.
She was Bo Saixi, Grand Pontiff of Sea God Island and a Peerless Douluo whose cultivation had reached level ninety-nine.
Her gaze fell on Ye Qing. When she sensed the pure power of the Sea God Inheritance, she grew so excited that even her breathing quickened. "My good child, at last, we have waited for you."
She walked up to Ye Qing, her voice as gentle as a spring breeze sweeping over the sea. "Child, what is your name? And what is your Martial Soul?"
Here we go again...
Ye Qing felt a wave of helplessness and replied, "My name is Ye Qing, and my Martial Soul is Seraphim."
"Seraph...im?"
The smile on Bo Saixi's face froze instantly. Her eyes, which could see into people's hearts, were filled with astonishment.
She had lived for hundreds of years and had never heard of the Sea God Inheritance having anything to do with an Angel Martial Soul.
Though the Angel God and the Sea God were both powerful beings in the Divine Realm, their systems of inheritance were entirely different. How could this...
The other Sacred Pillar Douluo gathered around too. When they heard Ye Qing's answer, they all looked as if they had been struck by a stillness spell, their faces marked with the same word: absurd.
"Grand Pontiff, w-what exactly is going on?"
One Sacred Pillar Douluo couldn't help speaking up, his voice full of confusion. "How could the Sea God Inheritance go to someone with an Angel Martial Soul?"
"Could there have been a mistake with the inheritance?"
Another chimed in. "Should we examine him again?"
"Or could it be that Lord Sea God and the Angel God got together?"
"Wouldn't that make us and Spirit Hall in-laws?"
"Silence!"
Hearing their guesses and confusion, Bo Saixi whipped around, her gaze sharp as a blade, and rebuked them. "How dare you question Lord Sea God's will?!"
Her voice was not loud, but it carried an unquestionable authority that instantly silenced every Sacred Pillar Douluo.
"No matter what this child's Martial Soul is, he is the heir chosen by Lord Sea God. There is no doubt about that!"
Bo Saixi's gaze swept across the group, and she warned them sternly, "Anyone who dares to speculate even one more word will answer to me!"
Everyone quickly lowered their heads, not daring to say anything more.
Only then did Bo Saixi turn back and take Ye Qing's hand again, her face returning to a gentle smile. "My good child, come with me to Sea God Hall. From now on, that will be your home."
Ye Qing nodded and followed Bo Saixi toward the magnificent Sea God Hall in the distance.
Behind them, the seven Sacred Pillar Douluo stared after the pair, looking from one to another. In the end, they could only sigh helplessly.
So be it. What did it matter what his Martial Soul was? If he was chosen by Lord Sea God, they would accept it.
Still...
An Angel Martial Soul paired with the Sea God Inheritance. No matter how they looked at it, the combination seemed strange.