"Younger Bo Saixi pays her respects to Senior Qian Pocheng." Bo Saixi bowed slightly and saluted Qian Pocheng.
At the sight of Bo Saixi, a smile appeared on Qian Pocheng's face.
"Haha, it's little Xi! We haven't seen each other in years, and your strength has grown so much. It looks like it won't be long before you surpass us old bones."
"You flatter me, Senior," Bo Saixi said modestly. She held Qian Pocheng in some regard.
"Come now, you don't need to be modest. Your talent surpasses even your teacher's and mine. Given time, you'll surely become one of the continent's top experts." Qian Pocheng felt a certain fondness for the talented junior from Sea God Island.
Qian Daoliu looked at Bo Saixi and couldn't help staring. He asked, "Father, she is...?"
"Oh, she's Bo Saixi, the Holy Maiden of Sea God Island in this generation, and the personal disciple of Haimala, the High Priest. She's the next candidate for High Priest." Qian Pocheng briefly introduced Bo Saixi.
"Oh..." Qian Daoliu nodded and said no more, but his gaze never left Bo Saixi.
Qian Pocheng sighed and said to Bo Saixi, "Little Xi, stand aside. This old man doesn't want to hurt you. I'm only here for Haimala."
Bo Saixi was taken aback, but still shook her head and bowed slightly. "Thank you for your kindness, Senior. But my teacher is behind me. I cannot yield."
Hearing Bo Saixi's words, Qian Pocheng shook his head. "Sigh, I truly don't know how that fellow Haimala managed to find such a fine disciple."
After a moment's reflection, Qian Pocheng said slowly, "Let's fight."
As soon as the words left his mouth, Soul Power surged around Xinghe and Murong Chayue, and nine Spirit Rings appeared around each of them: two yellow, two purple, and five black.
A long blue-violet spear appeared in Xinghe's hand. Glowing runes flowed along its shaft, twinkling like the night sky. It was his Martial Soul—the Star River Emperor Spear.
Black flames sprang up around Murong Chayue. A colossal dragon appeared, its body winding like a mountain, its whole form black and wreathed in terrifying flames. It was his Martial Soul, the Demonic Flame Heavenly Dragon.
Seeing this, crystal-blue Soul Power surged around Bo Saixi. A sacred figure in a crystal-blue robe appeared behind her. It was Bo Saixi's Martial Soul, the divine-grade Sea God.
Then nine Spirit Rings appeared: three purple, five black, and one red. Her Level 97 Soul Power surged outward. Bo Saixi had yet to undertake the Sea God's Eighth Trial, so her Spirit Rings had not yet reached the later configuration of eight black and one red.
At this sight, Xinghe and Murong Chayue were a little surprised, but they quickly recovered and attacked Bo Saixi. Two streams of energy, one blue and one black, shot toward her. She raised a hand and released Soul Power to resist them.
"Daoliu, the Sea God Martial Soul is far stronger than those of the same rank when used over the ocean. She can take on several opponents at once. You stay here, too," Qian Pocheng instructed Qian Daoliu.
"Understood, Father," Qian Daoliu replied with a nod.
After speaking, Qian Pocheng transformed into a streak of light and headed for the Sea God Hall. The other three held Bo Saixi back. Her talent was indeed formidable; with the Sea God Martial Soul and the power of the ocean bolstering her, she was only slightly outmatched despite fighting three opponents at once.
"Angel Holy Sword!"
"Star River Emperor Spear!"
"Heavenly Dragon Wild Dance!"
"Raging Waves!"
The four fought fiercely.
Sea God Hall.
Qian Pocheng soon reached the Sea God Hall atop Sea God Mountain. Just as he was about to step inside, a blue barrier shielded the entire hall.
Qian Pocheng wasn't surprised. With the power of angels, he could withstand the pressure of Sea God Mountain, but the Sea God's Power inside the hall was dense. Haimala seemed to have foreseen this and prepared a defensive barrier in advance.
"Heh, Haimala, you're as meticulous as ever."
After a brief sigh, Qian Pocheng summoned the Angel Holy Sword and focused his sword intent. A Six-Winged Angel appeared behind him, holding the holy sword as it attacked the barrier.
The barrier Haimala had formed was as strong as a Level 98 expert's defense. Anything below Level 98 couldn't damage it at all. Even with Qian Pocheng's strength, breaking through would take some effort.
Meanwhile, on the battlefield at sea.
"Sixth Soul Skill, Fierce Golden Crocodile!"
A gigantic Golden Crocodile rose up, its enormous maw opening as it charged at the Demon Soul Great White Sharks in the sea.
With a thunderous boom, Raging Waves surged, and countless Demon Soul Great White Sharks were sent flying, their bodies drenched in blood.
Then Golden Crocodile controlled his Martial Soul and lashed out with a powerful tail strike, sending the Demon Soul Great White Shark King flying. Blood spilled from its abdomen.
"Hmph, you overestimate yourself!"
As a Peak Douluo at Level 97, Golden Crocodile was strong enough to contend with Ferocious Beasts of around 200,000 years. The Demon Soul Great White Shark King had only recently reached 100,000 years and was no match for him. Without the strength of its clan behind it, it would soon be defeated.
The Demon Soul Great White Shark King roared furiously and led its people in another attack on Golden Crocodile.
Boom! Boom! Boom!!!
The Red Barbarian Cannons fired shells without pause, blasting Sea God Island's soldiers into chaos and leaving many dead or wounded as they plunged into the sea.
The Seven Sacred Pillars of Sea God Island were also covered in injuries. The seven already had to face nine Titled Douluo at once, and the Black Flame Army's battle formation supported them as well. Spears and arrows struck at crucial moments, leaving the seven unable to guard against them.
Blood streamed from their arms and shoulders as they retreated again and again.
"Cough, cough! Damn it, why does Spirit Hall have so many Titled Douluo?"
"And that strange battle formation..."
"I wonder how the Holy Maiden and the High Priest are doing!"
"Whatever happens, we have to hold them back!"
While the others fought desperately, Qian Xunji led the Spirit Master Legion in a bloody assault on Sea God Island's forces.
"Fourth Soul Skill, Angel Light Feather!"
In an instant, thousands of golden-feathered swords shot toward the enemy forces, leaving a swath of casualties.
"Kill them!"
Led by Qian Xunji, the Spirit Master Legion advanced like a breaking tide, driving back the Sea Spirit Beast Legion and the enemy forces. Fewer than three thousand enemy soldiers remained.
However, the fighting at sea was extremely difficult. If Spirit Hall's soldiers fell into the water, they were practically unable to fight, while the Sea Soul Beasts beneath the waves would seize any chance to attack.
Sea God Hall.
"Sixth Soul Skill, Angel Destruction Slash!"
Soul Power surged around Qian Pocheng, and the sixth Spirit Ring on his body pulsed. The Six-Winged Angel behind him gleamed with golden light, while the Angel Holy Sword in his hand blazed. Boundless sacred sword intent gathered along the blade, carrying the power to annihilate evil, and he swung it down.
With a bang, the barrier Haimala had set up shattered, revealing the scene inside the Sea God Hall.
Haimala sat cross-legged on the ground, seemingly without a trace of aura. At the sight, Qian Pocheng's expression grew grave.
"Haimala, you've actually reached this stage!"
The next moment, Qian Pocheng conjured the Angel Holy Sword and thrust it toward Haimala's brow. If it struck, Haimala would surely die in her current state.
Before you continue