Sea God Empire, the Grand Sacrificial Ceremony!

"As the saying goes, bite off more than you can chew and you'll never swallow it. Inherit the Sea God's position first. I'll ask around in the Divine Realm and see if there's a god suited to that sword."

"Once you've completed the Sea God's inheritance, you can inherit another divine position."

After giving his advice, Poseidon seemed afraid Lin Hao might raise another objection and was already preparing to slip away.

Before leaving, Poseidon added, "Oh, and your idea of founding a Sea God Empire was excellent. Go ahead with it. Whatever happens, I'll support you from the Divine Realm."

To keep Lin Hao as his successor, Poseidon was going all in.

The Divine Realm forbade gods from interfering in the affairs of the lower world?

To hell with that!

No one would stop the Sea God's glory from descending upon the sea once more.

"Thank you, Senior Sea God!"

Lin Hao happily saw Poseidon off. When he looked at Bo Saixi, who had clearly received the message, he felt even better.

It's settled!

From now on, my word will be law on Sea God Island.

Even Bo Saixi will have to obey my orders.

"Great Enshrined, how long has it been since a divine miracle appeared at sea?"

"Since the Sea God ascended, no one has seen a divine miracle at sea for ten thousand years." Bo Saixi sighed. She had never imagined she would see the Sea God in her lifetime.

Compared with the other Great Enshrined, she was undoubtedly far luckier.

And unfortunate, too.

Lin Hao nodded, then explained his idea.

"People need to be reminded of divine miracles. Only when a miracle appears will they believe gods exist, and their faith will naturally grow more devout. The more faith Lord Sea God receives in the Divine Realm, the better off he'll be."

"I plan to hold a ceremony for the entire sea. Sea Soul Masters and Sea Soul Beasts alike can come to Sea God Island to witness it."

"In fact, anyone who believes in the Sea God can come to the ceremony, even if they aren't a Sea Soul Master."

"But... Sea God Island has no precedent for this!" Bo Saixi hesitated before speaking.

"The Sea God had never appeared before, either!"

Lin Hao shrugged and stared at Bo Saixi. Before that old Sea God showed up, you wouldn't listen to me. Now that he has, you still won't listen?

Then he came for nothing!

Faced with Lin Hao's unwavering gaze, and with the Sea God himself having just appeared to back him, Bo Saixi finally nodded and agreed to hold the Sea God Festival.

The order went out from the Sea God Hall. Sea Dragon and the other members of the Seven Sacred Pillars were puzzled. Why hold a ceremony all of a sudden?

But the high priest and the young master of Sea God Island had decided together. All they had to do was obey.

The island's seven cities erupted with excitement. News spread aboard ships to islands across the sea and onward to the mainland.

This time, Sea God Island placed no restrictions on visitors. As long as they believed in the Sea God, they could land and join the celebration, whether or not they were Sea Soul Masters.

The news shook countless Sea Soul Masters beyond Sea God Island. Unwilling to miss such a grand ceremony, they raised their sails and set course for the island.

Countless others were overcome with excitement. For the first time, they were going to the legendary holy land.

The people of Sea God Island would notify the human Soul Masters, while the Demon Soul Great White Shark Clan and the Mermaid Clan would notify the Sea Soul Beasts.

Lin Hao also had Xiao Bai send members of the Demon Soul Great White Shark Clan to watch the shipping routes from Douluo Continent, preventing powerful Sea Soul Beasts from encountering humans and causing needless deaths.

From that day on, the sea was in an uproar. From high enough above, one could see countless powerful, mysterious Sea Soul Beasts surfacing and swiftly migrating toward Sea God Island.

Such a stir in the coastal cities naturally drew the attention of the Two Great Empires, Spirit Hall, and other powers.

When they learned the Sea Soul Masters were setting out for their holy land, Sea God Island, to attend the Sea God Festival, countless people were shaken.

Did gods really exist?

Atop Spirit City, in the heart of the continent.

Inside the Worship Hall, an old man in a white robe cultivated before a towering Angel God Statue, attending it with reverence.

Below him sat six more old men, their auras immense and powerful Soul Power radiating from their bodies.

The seven Enshrined were Spirit Hall's true foundation.

Seven Super Douluo, each above level ninety-five!

In the silence, hurried footsteps rang out. A hall guard approached and handed a report to Golden Crocodile Douluo, who ranked second among them.

"Enshrined ones, an urgent report from the Papal Hall!"

Golden Crocodile Douluo opened it and glanced over the contents. His pupils contracted sharply, and ripples stirred in a heart that had been calm for decades.

"Great Enshrined, Sea God Island is holding a grand Sea God sacrificial ceremony!"

As Golden Crocodile Douluo slowly read out the report, Qian Daoliu's tightly shut eyes flew open, disbelief filling them.

"Sea God Island? It hasn't made a move in years, and now it's holding a ceremony with such fanfare?"

"Sea God Island lies deep in the sea, far from the mainland. This is their affair. We should keep an eye on it, but there's no need to mobilize in force, is there?"

"Exactly. Let them do as they please at sea. They won't come ashore, so it won't affect Spirit Hall."

The Enshrined offered their views one after another, weighing what might lie behind the news.

Qian Daoliu, however, was thinking on a higher level.

Whose idea was this Sea God Festival?

Would the Sea God respond when the time came?

His thoughts in turmoil, Qian Daoliu finally turned to Azure Luan Douluo. "Third Offering, the sea is vast, but your Martial Soul won't be greatly hindered there. Sorry for the trouble, but I'd like you to make this trip."

"Record everything you see and hear on Sea God Island."

"After all, this concerns a god's inheritance. We must pay attention to the slightest rustle of wind or grass."

Though puzzled by Qian Daoliu's decision, Azure Luan Douluo rose and accepted the assignment.

"A Sea God Festival? Do gods really exist?"

At the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, Gu Rong looked skeptical. As a Titled Douluo, he had his doubts about whether gods existed at all.

Beyond Titled Douluo, every level was another heaven to climb. Every era of Douluo Continent produced level ninety-nine Limit Douluo, yet not one person had reached level one hundred and become a god.

The only rumor was that the founder of Spirit Hall might have become a god.

But how many years ago had that been? Who knew whether it was true?

"I don't know whether gods exist. But where is this Sea God Island? Why have I never heard of it?" Chen Xin frowned and turned toward Ning Fengzhi, who was lost in thought.

Ning Fengzhi replied quietly, "Sea God Island is well hidden. Sea Soul Masters have long spoken of it as their holy land."

"I always thought it was a myth. But after hearing this news, I checked the sect's secret records and discovered that Spirit Hall once attacked Sea God Island—and suffered a crushing defeat!"

"What!"

Chen Xin and Gu Rong stared wide-eyed, stunned to their cores.