What, This Is the Trial?
Sea Horse Douluo remained seated cross-legged beneath the Sea Horse Sacred Pillar, his back to the crowd.
His black clothes clung to his body, yet showed no signs of being soaked by the seawater, as if an invisible force field had kept the moisture out.
He slowly turned around, like a giant beast awakening from its slumber.
That face, with its sharp, angular features as if carved by a knife and axe, carried the vicissitudes and fortitude of someone who had weathered many storms.
His gaze was no longer the pure indifference he had shown from a distance, but rather held a hint of... indescribable inquiry.
Those deep, ocean-like eyes swept over Lin Xia, over Venusaur, then over Xie Yue, Hu Liena, and the others, finally settling on Lin Xia.
Silence spread across the Sacred Pillar Platform, broken only by the roar of the waves. This silence carried a heavy pressure, causing the hearts of those who had just escaped danger to tighten once more.
A moment later, the unique voice of Sea Horse Douluo, a blend of the roar of a tsunami and the Tackle of rocks, finally broke the silence, resounding clearly in everyone's ears:
"Interesting, really interesting."
His tone was flat, revealing neither joy nor anger.
The fact that this Titled Douluo- level Sacred Pillar Guardian found their sea-crossing method interesting clearly indicated that it was quite astonishing.
Sea Horse Douluo's gaze passed over Lin Xia, seemingly Infiltrator time and space, landing on his companions behind him, before finally returning to Lin Xia's face, and he slowly said:
"However, your purpose in coming to Sea God Island is not simply to join it, is it?"
His voice was calm, yet it carried a power that seemed to see into people's hearts. Lin Xia met the Sea Horse Douluo's gaze, which seemed to see through her soul, without flinching.
He nodded, his voice steady and powerful, carrying an unwavering determination, and clearly replied:
"That's definitely not it! Senior Sea Horse, we're here to train! To break through our limits and surpass ourselves on the edge of life and death! This is the path we've chosen!"
This answer was consistent with the belief Lin Xia had expressed to Jixiang on Purple Pearl Island, and the determination she showed when facing the leader of the Yellow-Clad Soul Master at the edge of the forest; it was resounding and powerful!
Upon hearing this, Hu Liena, Xie Yue, and the others' eyes hardened, silently supporting Lin Xia's answer.
Sea Horse Douluo looked at Lin Xia's deep and determined purple eyes, then at his companions behind him, who, though disheveled, each had sharp eyes and a composed aura. His expression remained unchanged, as if he had already anticipated this.
He remained silent for a few moments, then slowly stood up.
As he stood up, an even more powerful and terrifying pressure, seemingly integrated with the entire Sea within Sea, naturally emanated, causing everyone on the platform to hold their breath.
The majesty of Titled Douluo was on full display at this moment.
He didn't look at Lin Xia and the others again, but slowly walked towards the center of the platform, to the Sea Horse Sacred Pillar that symbolized the majesty of the Sea God.
Facing the Sacred Pillar, Sea Horse Douluo's eyes shone with an unprecedented and utterly devout light, as if he were gazing upon the incarnation of a god.
He slowly raised both hands to his chest, palms facing each other with a half-foot gap between them, the movement solemn and slow.
As he circulated his Soul Power, a faint blue light, like a newly born star in the deep sea, slowly appeared in the center of his palms.
The blue light was pure and deep, carrying the scent of the sea and a sacred majesty. As soon as it appeared, it attracted everyone's attention.
Lin Xia's heart skipped a beat!
This blue light... this feeling of purity, vastness, and the sacred will of the ocean—why does it feel so familiar?
Almost subconsciously, the mark of the Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud in his Sea of Consciousness lit up slightly, and a similar but weaker aura resonated with it!
Indeed, the aura of this blue light shares the same origin as the power of the Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud, both stemming from the great Sea God!
The blue light in Sea Horse Douluo's palm was even purer and more powerful, as if it directly communicated with the Sea God's original will!
When the blue light filled the palms of Sea Horse Douluo, making them resemble two dazzling sapphires, the light suddenly burst forth!
A dazzling azure light erupted instantly, like a miniature ocean born on the Sacred Pillar Platform. The soft yet irresistible light instantly enveloped the entire triangular platform, enveloping Lin Xia and the others, Venusaur, and the ancient Sea Horse Sacred Pillar in a sacred blue halo!
The fishy smell that filled the air seemed to have been purified, leaving only the pure, vast, and awe-inspiring aura of the Sea God.
Immediately afterwards, a flash of light appeared beneath the Sea Horse Sacred Pillar!
A more condensed and profound blue beam of light, like a giant dragon awakening, suddenly shone along the dense, complex, and mysterious patterns on the surface of the Sacred Pillar!
The blue light rose rapidly from bottom to top at a speed imperceptible to the naked eye, along the runes that seemed to contain the ultimate truths of heaven and earth!
In the blink of an eye, it spread from the base of the Sacred Pillar to the top of the stone pillar, which was tens of meters high!
The entire Sea Horse Sacred Pillar seemed to be fully activated at this moment, its entire body flowing with a sacred blue halo, and the half-human, half-fish Sea Horse sculpture at the top radiated a majestic divine light. An invisible energy field enveloped the platform, more powerful than ever before!
Sea Horse Douluo slowly turned around to face Lin Xia and the others.
His gaze, almost tangible, swept over the crowd, finally settling on Xie Yue, who stood at the very front, the pale pink fresh flesh scar on his chest still faintly visible.
"One person step forward."
Sea Horse Douluo's voice, carrying an undeniable majesty, echoed within the light of the Sacred Pillar.
Everyone's hearts tightened!
They knew that this was the real test, the ultimate test of the Lord Sea God, the one they had sought after all the hardships they had endured to reach Sea God Island!
Hu Liena, Yan, and the others looked at Xie Yue with encouraging eyes.
Lin Xia nodded slightly to him.
The purpose of this trip to Sea God Island is precisely to gain the opportunity to improve one's strength under pressure.
Whatever the challenge may be, they must face it!
A resolute glint flashed in Xie Yue's silver eyes.
As the leader of the Golden Generation, and the most composed and powerful member of the team besides Lin Xia, he naturally took on the responsibility of being the first to be tested.
He took a deep breath, suppressing the fatigue from the churning blood and Soul Power within him, and stepped forward, standing before the Sea Horse Douluo. His posture was as upright as a drawn blade, and he said in a deep voice:
"Junior Xie Yue, please grant me a test, senior!"
Sea Horse Douluo looked at Xie Yue with a face full of piety.
He slowly raised his hands, maintaining the posture of holding up the blue light, and extended his right index finger, gathering an extremely dazzling blue light at the tip of his finger. He pointed at Xie Yue's body from a distance!
"Buzz--!"
A blue beam of light, purer and more condensed than the light of the Sacred Pillar, descended from the sky without warning!
It seemed to Infiltrator the barrier of space, precisely enveloping Xie Yue's body completely!
The beam of light was about one meter in diameter, as clear as the purest seawater, and exuded a sacred and gentle aura.
Bathed in the pillar of light, Xie Yue trembled slightly, a look of bewilderment on his face.
He didn't feel any pain or pressure. Instead, he felt warm all over. The Soul Power he had used up crossing the sea seemed to be slowly recovering. Even the wound on his chest, torn apart by the Sawtooth Poison Eel, gave him a comfortable tingling sensation.
This... is this the test?
There seems to be no danger?