Tang Hao: I Can't Swim

The waters surrounding Sea God Island.

"It's land..."

"Wuu wuu..."

On the deck, the members of the Clear Sky Tang Clan were overcome with excitement at the sight of land.

Having set sail for the first time, they had been stuck on the ship for dozens of days. The first thing they did every morning upon waking was to leave their cabins and head to the deck to gaze at the scenery outside.

Seawater, seawater, and more seawater.

The blue, green, and muddy yellow waves rising and falling, combined with the swaying of the ship and the salty sea breeze, left them feeling nauseous every day—in a constant state of wanting to vomit but being unable to.

Tang Hao: Being on this ship feels like being a pregnant woman.

Tang Xiao: I feel sick and want to retch, but nothing comes up.

Clear Sky Tang Clan members: We feel the same.

But as the ship drew closer and Sea God Island was no longer just a black speck, revealing its full appearance, the members of the Clear Sky Tang Clan saw a massive crater, trees leaning in every direction, and houses whose facades had been shattered by shockwaves.

This bizarre sight piqued Tang Hao's curiosity, and he asked, "What happened here?"

Sea God Island was, after all, the place of inheritance left behind by the great Sea God Poseidon.

Why were there traces of a battle between powerhouses?

Furthermore, what kind of powerhouse could leave behind such a massive crater?

The area of this pit was larger than an entire bustling Soul Hunting Town.

"Why do you ask?" Bo Saixi's face darkened, her tone as cold as shards of ice.

She began to pant, her breathing growing heavier. The mere thought of how she had mistakenly believed Qian Xunji was the Sea God's successor and had been the first to strike, leading to the catastrophe on Sea God Island, caused her heart to ache. Countless Sea God believers had died, and even the Old Sea Witch and the Demon Soul Great White Shark King Xiaobai had perished.

The more she thought about it, the redder her eyes became, until they were bloodshot.

With bloodshot eyes and heavy, bovine-like breathing, the characters from the original work associated with the Clear Sky Tang Clan were all susceptible to catching Tang Syndrome.

"..." The members of the Clear Sky Tang Clan, seeing that Bo Saixi was acting strangely, felt their bodies tremble.

Tang Xiao, possessing the highest emotional intelligence, stepped forward. "My apologies, Your Excellency Sea God Douluo. My brother is still young. I will educate him properly later. Please, calm your anger."

"Hmph." Sea Dragon Douluo let out a cold snort, warning, "Speak less, cultivate more. Do not ask about other matters."

These damned men of the Clear Sky Tang Clan were so tactless, angering his goddess. Bo Saixi, the Sea God High Priestess, was upset. Thinking back to that nightmarish day, ten thousand deaths would not be enough to atone for their sins!

Sea God Island had suffered such a disaster, with countless casualties. The one at fault was not Bo Saixi, but that bastard Qian Xunji!

"Sea Dragon, there is no need to hide it from our guests. Answer their question truthfully," Bo Saixi said after forcing herself to regain her composure, casting a warning glance at Sea Dragon Douluo.

"Yes, High Priestess." As a loyal sycophant, Sea Dragon Douluo lived to serve his goddess; he obeyed her every word and shared her burdens.

Besides, he himself did not want Bo Saixi to have much contact with men like Tang Hao.

The goddess might be unattainable, but she certainly couldn't belong to other men.

"This was left behind about five years ago, when Qian Xunji first arrived at Sea God Island and engaged in a battle with the High Priestess..."

Sea Dragon Douluo omitted some details and embellished others, his words heavily smearing Qian Xunji while painting Bo Saixi in a better light.

After all, he couldn't exactly tell Tang Hao and the others the truth, could he?

Where would the goddess's face be?

Where would the faces of the Sacred Pillar Douluo be?

And where would the face of the great Sea God Poseidon be?

They were the ones who had struck first, resorting to a righteous gang-up, only to still lose to the man.

What was even more humiliating was that the man had only used one offensive move throughout the entire battle.

That single Convergence Cannon descending from the heavens had nearly wiped out all the high-level combatants of their Sea God Island.

Five years ago, Qian Xunji's strength was already on par with Bo Saixi's?

And looking at her exasperated expression just now, it seems she lost to Qian Xunji in that battle.

Tang Xiao's mind raced, and the more he thought, the more terrified he became.

If Qian Xunji had obtained a great opportunity after leaving Spirit City, and had gone from an 81st-rank Soul Douluo to a 99th-rank Limit Douluo in five or six years, that speed of soul power advancement would have shocked him to the point of envy and jealousy, wishing he could take his place.

But to go from 81st to 99th rank in just one year after leaving Spirit City?

Tang Xiao was filled with horror.

He's cheating, he's definitely cheating!

If he isn't using a cheat, then no one is!

"Before Qian Xunji turned forty, he was already a Limit Douluo."

"He only spoke of it after he had achieved it. You all must remember that."

Seeing the "I don't believe you, you're lying to me" expressions on the faces of the Clear Sky Tang Clan members, Bo Saixi added those two sentences.

She felt that these men of the Clear Sky Tang Clan were all arrogant and conceited, yet possessed no real substance.

Sea Dragon had spoken quite tactfully, and the content was much easier for people to believe.

If he had told the truth, this group of people would likely have retorted: "Such an outrageous and illogical thing, I don't believe it."

Yet, reality was just that outrageous, illogical, and unexpected, while simultaneously being within the realm of reason.

"Whatever Qian Xunji can do, I can do as well!"

"Hmph, isn't it just using a soul skill to smash a big crater?"

"Once I cultivate to level 99, achieve the rank of Limit Douluo, and master the Clear Sky Hammer martial soul, I will definitely smash an even bigger crater!"

Tang Hao was unconvinced and competitive, declaring this in front of everyone.

He was the hope of the Clear Sky Sect, the future Clear Sky Douluo, the successor to the Sea God, the one destined to inherit the Sea God Position and ascend to the God Realm as Lord Sea God.

There was no reason he couldn't accomplish what Qian Xunji could.

Bo Saixi's face turned black the moment she heard that.

Of all people to mention, he had to mention Qian Xunji.

Of all people to emulate, he had to emulate Qian Xunji.

Of all things to learn, he had to learn how to smash craters.

With fair skin, beauty, and long legs, they were meant for kicking kidneys.

"Ah!" Tang Hao was kicked and sent flying.

With a splash, he fell into the sea.

"I can't swim!" Tang Hao thrashed against the seawater to increase his buoyancy, keeping his head above the surface as he shouted loudly.

A Demon Soul Great White Shark caught the scent and swam over, preparing to take a bite to taste him.

"This is a guest of Sea God Island," Bo Saixi said in a cold tone, issuing a warning.

She could beat Tang Hao up to teach this loud-mouthed, boastful fellow a lesson.

But as the man favored by Lord Sea God Poseidon, he could not suffer irreversible harm, and certainly could not die in front of her.

Of course, if Qian Xunji were to strike and kill Tang Hao, she would have no ability to stop it, but that would be a different matter entirely.

Bo Saixi: I am not failing to save a life, but rather I am unable to defeat him and thus cannot save him. Lord Sea God, you won't blame me, will you?

Tang Xiao jumped into the water and pulled Tang Hao into his arms, and the rest of the Tang family worked together to haul them both onto the boat.

Sea Dragon Douluo watched as Tang Hao, having drunk his fill of seawater, began to retch violently upon reaching the deck, his face turning pale.

He sneered inwardly: "Serves you right for running your mouth; you deserved that lesson."

But then, a second thought crossed his mind, and he began to envy Tang Hao.

Sea Dragon Douluo: I wouldn't mind being kicked by Bo Saixi's long legs myself, hehe.