The Little Sea God's Name Rang Throughout Vast Sea City!

"Damn it! Don't underestimate us brothers!"

"Sharks Rise from the Sea!"

With the cheers ringing in their ears, Shaxing and Shabi struggled to their feet. Gritting their teeth against the pain wracking their bodies, they summoned two enormous sharks of energy that burst from the water and lunged at Lin Hao from either side.

For the first time since the fight began, Lin Hao summoned his Martial Soul.

Dazzling golden light blazed as the Sea God Trident took shape. Lin Hao unleashed the Shock Character Art, and before the brothers' despairing eyes, he ran both energy sharks through with a single thrust.

A true Fish-Spearing Boy!

"Raging Sea Waves!"

While the brothers were still reeling in shock, purple light flashed around Lin Hao. He unleashed his second Soul Skill, turning all the water in the Soul Fighting Arena into a weapon in his hands.

The once-calm surface surged into a hundred-meter wave. Before countless horrified eyes, it crashed down and knocked the brothers unconscious.

The outcome was decided!

At the sight of Lin Hao's effortless composure, the entire Soul Fighting Arena fell silent—then erupted in frenzied cheers.

"I knew it! I knew it! Going all in takes wisdom. Tonight, every one of you will bow to my brilliance!"

The fat man who had bet everything on Lin Hao sprang to his feet, shouting himself hoarse.

Over the days that followed, Lin Hao grew ever more audacious.

He went from facing two Soul Kings at once to taking on a seven-member team of Soul Kings alone, and still won decisively.

Lin Hao had fought practically every Soul Master in Vast Sea City.

No one had ever forced him to use his full strength. Even now, the spectators had yet to see all his Soul Rings.

With his formidable strength, handsome face, and trident Martial Soul like the one wielded by the Sea God of legend, Lin Hao earned himself a new nickname.

The Little Sea God!

For so many Sea Soul Masters to embrace the name showed just how deeply Lin Hao had shaken the Soul Masters of Vast Sea City.

With that, Lin Hao's training in Vast Sea City came to an end.

Among the cities of the Heaven Dou Empire, Vast Sea City was only middling. Lin Hao had already been surprised that it could field a seven-member team of Soul Kings.

He would find no stronger opponents there.

Lin Hao sat cross-legged in his room, the Sea God Trident standing silently behind him. It was no longer the same as when he had first left Sea God Island.

A fierce aura of slaughter now radiated from it.

After a long while, Lin Hao opened his eyes and looked at Sea Horse Douluo, who had been keeping watch beside him.

"Senior Sea Horse, we've spent enough time in Vast Sea City. It's time to leave."

"As you wish, Young Master." Sea Horse Douluo nodded. He usually kept to the shadows, appearing only when Lin Hao was in danger or needed someone to guard him during cultivation.

Early the next morning, Lin Hao left the city and headed for Heaven Dou City, the capital of the Heaven Dou Empire.

As he walked, his steps slowed. At last, he stopped in the middle of the road.

"I'm just a somewhat handsome man, not some ravishing young beauty."

"So why are you grown men following me?"

A cold gleam flashed in Lin Hao's eyes as he looked toward the distant woods. Figures stirred there, and several black-robed men emerged from the trees.

"No wonder you're the prodigy who single-handedly subdued every Soul Master in Vast Sea City. Such keen senses—and no shortage of nerve."

There were six of them, all dressed in loose black robes with hoods concealing their faces.

But Lin Hao sensed their cultivation precisely: two Soul Emperors and four Soul Kings.

The moment they appeared, they moved with practiced ease to surround him in the middle of the road.

"So which faction are you from?"

"The Heaven Dou Imperial Family? Spirit Hall? Or the Great Soul Arena?"

Lin Hao stood calmly among them, his tone even.

"No need to guess. Come with us. Once you meet our lord, you'll understand."

The black-robed man in the lead fixed Lin Hao with a sinister stare and spoke in a low voice, chuckling darkly.

"Rest assured, our lord values talent. If you come along quietly, then naturally—"

"Fine! I'll go with you!"

Lin Hao agreed before the man could finish, leaving him momentarily stunned.

That's it?

Where's your pride as a prodigy?

"Smart boy. Come with us."

Lin Hao followed them back toward Vast Sea City. They did not enter it, however, instead turning into a secluded valley.

An old man in red robes had long been waiting inside.

"Hall Master, we've brought the Little Sea God." The black-robed man addressed the elder respectfully.

The elder waved a hand and gazed at Lin Hao as though he were a rare treasure. "I am Cyrus Black, master of the Spirit Hall Branch in Vast Sea City."

"What does Spirit Hall want with me? I don't believe our paths have crossed."

Lin Hao swept his gaze over the valley. Steep walls rose on every side, leaving only one exit. It was easy to defend and hard to attack, and beyond the seven people he could see, more than a hundred Soul Masters lay hidden nearby.

Cyrus stepped closer to Lin Hao and began his performance.

"I investigated you. You appeared in Vast Sea City out of nowhere a month ago, with no record of your life before that."

"That was hardly normal, so I sent people to dig further. At last, they uncovered something interesting."

"A Soul Grandmaster serving as an attendant actually recognized you. You've grown, of course, and you look different from when you were a child, but there's still a resemblance around the eyes. Following that thread to Ju Zi Village, I finally learned who you are from its villagers."

"Your name is Lin Hao!"

"So? Why go to all that trouble investigating me? Are you trying to invite me into Spirit Hall?"

Lin Hao was not surprised that Cyrus had uncovered his past. He had lived beneath Vast Sea City for six years and left countless traces behind. Anyone who investigated carefully enough could follow those clues.

One should never underestimate the intelligence-gathering power of a nation—or of a top organization spread across the continent.

"We can set that aside for now."

"What interests me more is how someone born with a mere 0.5 levels of Soul Power became a prodigy capable of sweeping aside Soul Kings in just four years."

Cyrus finally revealed his aim. He stared at Lin Hao with burning eyes. "Tell me, and you can have money, beauties—even my position as hall master."

"You old bastard. Dream on!"

Lin Hao stared at Cyrus in disbelief. As if he had the power to conjure up a God-Level Martial Soul.

Once he became a god, perhaps he could give Cyrus a taste of his trident.

"So you're refusing me?"

Cyrus's gaze turned icy. The air around them seemed to freeze, and the black-robed men fixed Lin Hao with cold, menacing stares.

"Old bastard, look behind you. Then think about what tone you should use with me."

Cyrus frowned and turned, puzzled. His pupils contracted sharply, and his body began to tremble before he could stop it.