Thirty-Sixth Level!

In the marketplace, the young man's face went pale. Though he was not a Soul Master, he had still heard of a top-tier force like the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.

He could not afford to offend the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, so when he saw Haiming rubbing the Jade Pendant in his hand, he shook his head repeatedly.

"Take it! Take it!"

With that, the young man prepared to pack up and leave.

"Hm?"

A wave of pressure pinned the young man in place. He looked up and saw the kindly smiling Sea Dragon!

"How could my grandson take your things for free?" Sea Dragon narrowed his eyes and directly stuffed a bag of money into the young man's hands.

What a joke. It had not been easy for him to see his grandson take a liking to something. If this fellow gave it away for free, what would he have left to give Haiming? He might as well stuff the money into his hands and treat it as a purchase. Haiming clearly liked it, and as for the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, Sea Dragon did not give it a second thought.

They would never come to Sea God Island to cause trouble for Sea Soul Masters, and Haiming would not be going to the mainland. What could possibly happen just because he carried a Jade Pendant?

"You're really cunning."

Watching the young man flee with the money in a daze, Haiming rolled his eyes at his grandfather. Was this really how one bought a birthday present?

Still, Haiming lowered his head and pinched the Jade Pendant, a faint smile appearing at the corner of his lips.

The gift itself was not important. What mattered was his family's feelings. In the years since Haiming had transmigrated here, he had felt nothing but his family's selfless love.

It moved him deeply.

After finishing their outing, Haiming returned to Sea God's Mountain after having a meal with his father and mother. This time, he would challenge his limits!

Over the past year, Haiming had no idea how many times he had fallen into the Ring Sea, nor how many times he had bitten his gums until they bled as he charged upward with Sacred Barrier and Meditation active. Yet just like his Soul Power, he remained stuck at the thirty-fifth level.

His third Soul Ring had given him two powerful offensive skills, neither of which helped him climb Sea God's Mountain in the slightest.

Hydro Pump: It condensed water into a terrifying impact with immense destructive force.

Aura Sphere: Using Soul Power as a guide, it released a Water Aura Sphere. As long as it was not shattered, it would definitely strike the enemy!

When he obtained his third Soul Skill, Haiming had no idea how many times he had cursed Kyogre inwardly. If it had been another combination of one attack and one support skill like before, he might have already reached level fifty.

Though Sacred Barrier enhanced toughness, its subtle boost to physical attacks was what truly made it terrifying!

Smack, smack~

After patting his cheeks, Haiming ignored Bo Saixi standing at the foot of Sea God's Mountain. He felt in excellent condition today and could try to make a push for the thirty-sixth step!

Soul Power circulated as a pale blue glow emerged from Haiming's body. A suit of blue armor condensed around his left arm!

Riiiing!

The Soul Power within him surged, and his second Soul Ring suddenly lit up. With the boosts from Meditation and Sacred Barrier, Haiming easily jogged up the first ten steps. When he stepped onto the eleventh, his body noticeably sank lower.

But that was still within his tolerance. Before the break, he had trained on the thirty-fifth step for nearly half a month!

With steady steps, Haiming climbed one step at a time until he reached the thirtieth. Sweat gradually beaded across his forehead. The Soul Power recovery speed granted by Meditation could no longer keep up with the expenditure required to resist the obstruction of Sea God's Light. Haiming took a deep breath and, in one burst, charged several steps ahead to reach the thirty-fifth level!

After staggering slightly, Haiming lifted his foot and placed it at the edge of the thirty-sixth step. The immense pressure prevented even the sweat on his head from falling, pinning it tightly against his skin and making him itch unbearably.

Keep going!

Within the ocean world, Kyogre watched its trainer and silently cheered him on.

At Haiming's suggestion, Kyogre had gone to fight Groudon. Before Rayquaza arrived to mediate, Groudon had nearly been drowned by Kyogre.

It was also the first time Kyogre had defeated Groudon head-on, so it had developed a strong fondness for its trainer!

Soul Power raced madly through his body. Even the special meditation method he had learned from Bo Saixi, combined with the recovery speed provided by his second Soul Skill, could not keep up with the rate at which his Soul Power was being consumed.

Damn it!

Haiming let out a low growl. The pressure of the thirty-sixth step was far stronger than that of the thirty-fifth!

His knees bent. The right foot Haiming had placed on the thirty-sixth step began to exert force, and his left foot rose and stepped forward.

Thud!

His unsteady footing caused Haiming to stop. His breathing became exceptionally ragged, while the Soul Power within him began to boil!

The Jade Pendant hanging at his waist emitted a warm white glow. As the light seeped into his body, Kyogre, far away in another world, decided to offer its trainer some help.

Blue light flashed in its eyes as immense water energy tore through space and was transmitted to an unknown destination.

Gah!

It felt as though his heart were burning!

Everything before Haiming's eyes became blurry. He wanted to sit down cross-legged to recover his Soul Power, but he could not even calm his mind and focus.

The Sacred Barrier covering his body had not dissipated, and Sea God's Light continued to squeeze his Soul Power dry. Yet he did not have a single drop left!

At the foot of Sea God's Mountain, Bo Saixi frowned. Her hand had already risen, but she lowered it again moments later.

A streak of blue light emerged from Haiming's body, accompanied by his Martial Soul!

Kyogre!

Riiiing!

Crack!

An indescribable sound of something shattering echoed out. Haiming opened his eyes, his gaze utterly clear.

Level thirty-six!

His Soul Power had broken through!

"Hah!" Haiming shook his head and slowly rose to his feet before retreating to the thirty-fifth step. Then he gradually backed down from the thirty-fifth step. The moment he left Sea God's Light, he immediately dismissed Sacred Barrier and collapsed onto the ground.

"Your Soul Skill is quite special, but it has also brought you an inconvenience." Bo Saixi came to Haiming's side. The scepter in her hand emitted a blue radiance that shone upon his body, making him feel a wave of comfort.

"Sacred Barrier strengthened my body, but my Soul Power couldn't keep up. Sea God's Light released pressure based on the limits of what I could endure, but it did not account for how utterly disproportionate my Soul Power was to my physical endurance... I was careless."

Haiming gave a bitter smile. He had charged through the trial with Sacred Barrier active before, so why had he not suffered from it then?

If he had learned that lesson before, he definitely would not have been so reckless!

Still, misfortune had turned into fortune. His Soul Power had broken through. After resting, he should be able to step onto the thirty-sixth level with his own strength. He still had a long road of cultivation ahead of him!