Strike the Douluo Continent!

Lin Hao withdrew the Sea God's Light.

As its warmth faded, Ye Lingling felt a sudden sense of loss.

"It really works! Lin Hao, could you help me..." For the first time, Ye Lingling looked this excited. She gazed at Lin Hao, about to make her request, but then realized she had nothing that might persuade him.

After hesitating for two and a half seconds, Ye Lingling met his eyes with resolve. "Lin Hao, I know the Ye Family has nothing you want. We can't ask you to do us such a great favor for nothing."

"The only thing I can offer is myself. If you can lift the curse on my father and me, I'll serve you as a slave or a maid. Lingling will do whatever it takes."

Dugu Yan stared at Ye Lingling, stunned by her willingness to stake everything on this. Then she thought of herself. If she had known back then that Lin Hao could save her grandfather, wouldn't she have done the same?

Lin Hao studied Ye Lingling thoughtfully, making both women nervous.

"Let's set the slave-or-maid business aside. For now, we only know that the Sea God's Light can suppress the Nine Heart Begonia's curse. No one knows how long it would take to cleanse it completely."

"The Sea God's Light is the Sea God's power, not mine. I'm not strong, and I can only wield so much of it. I can't keep using it to lift your curse."

"So it won't work after all?"

The light in Ye Lingling's eyes dimmed. Despair crept into her voice.

Her whole life seemed to turn gray.

"Don't despair yet. Could you let me finish?"

Young people these days. So impatient.

They wouldn't even let someone finish speaking.

"I can't release the Sea God's Light indefinitely, but there's a place on Sea God Island filled with it. You can try going there."

"Where?"

Ye Lingling's world lit up again. She fixed Lin Hao with a burning gaze.

"Right beneath our feet—Sea God Mountain!"

Standing at the foot of Sea God Mountain, Ye Lingling and Dugu Yan stared at the transformed steps in confusion.

During the Sea God Festival, everything had seemed normal. Now a solemn, imposing aura hung over the stairway.

Some strange energy seemed to press down on them from all sides, leaving a heavy weight in their chests.

"Why does it feel different from before?"

"The Sea God's Light around here temporarily dispersed for the Sea God Festival. This is what Sea God Mountain is really like."

"Lingling, sit on the steps and cultivate. See whether you feel anything different."

"Remember, the Sea God's Light pushes back anyone who tries to approach Sea God Mountain. Don't try to force your way through."

Ye Lingling nodded and headed toward the steps, full of hope.

The moment her first foot touched a step, she seemed to collide with something. An instant later, she was thrown back more than ten meters.

Luckily, Lin Hao caught her from behind in time. Otherwise, she would have made a fool of herself.

"Circulate your Soul Power. Take it slowly."

Lin Hao wasn't surprised. He spoke gently.

Ye Lingling drew a deep breath, circulated her Soul Power, and approached again with care. This time, she managed to stand on the step without being thrown back.

But an immense pressure came crashing down on her from every direction.

It squeezed against her body, and a faint golden mist appeared around her. Ye Lingling could clearly feel her Soul Power draining rapidly.

At the same time, though, she felt her Martial Soul respond with a freedom it had never known before.

"I can feel it. It really works."

"Lin Hao, I want to join the Sea God Empire!"

Ye Lingling's eyes shone brighter than ever. Now she was certain the Sea God's Light had an effect on the Nine Heart Begonia. She didn't know when it would completely lift her Martial Soul's curse.

But she had truly found hope.

"You can join the Sea God Empire. Anyone who passes the assessment can."

"But you'd be better off cultivating elsewhere first. Come for the assessment when your Soul Power becomes difficult to improve."

"Can I stay here and cultivate?" Ye Lingling looked at Lin Hao expectantly.

"Yes. As crown prince of the Sea God Empire, I'll grant you special permission to cultivate within the Sea God's Light." Lin Hao nodded. This much was within his authority.

"Good. I'll go find my father right now."

As Ye Lingling trotted off to find Ye Xinglan, Dugu Yan looked at Lin Hao hesitantly. "Lin Hao, can I join the Sea God Empire too?"

"Of course. You wouldn't even need an assessment. I'd personally approve your membership."

Lin Hao smiled broadly at Dugu Yan.

She was his angel investor. For the immortal herbs at the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well alone, if Dugu Yan wanted to become a Sacred Pillar of Sea God Island, Lin Hao would even discuss it with the Sea God.

"Good. It's settled, then. Lingling and I will come take the Sea God Empire's assessment together."

Dugu Yan beamed at Lin Hao.

The visitors from Douluo Continent returned to the mainland, but before news of Sea God Island's founding of an empire could spread,

Sea God Island had already assembled the Sea God Legion: ten thousand Sea Soul Masters and five thousand Sea Soul Beasts.

There were no ordinary people on Sea God Island to begin with. Everyone was a Sea Soul Master with Soul Power. With the Sea God Crossbows bolstering them, it was no exaggeration to call this a formidable legion whose every human member was a Soul Master above level forty.

In just one month, led by three level-ninety-six Titled Douluo, the Sea God Legion swept through every territory in the waters west of Douluo Continent like a gale scattering dead leaves.

Their advance went absurdly smoothly. They encountered no resistance worth mentioning.

Most people living on those islands were Sea Soul Masters, children of the sea.

Their faith in the Sea God was unshakable. What's more, the recent Sea God Festival had only strengthened his standing throughout the ocean.

Apart from a few desperate fugitives who had fled the mainland, no one stood against the army. It united the waters west of Douluo Continent in a sweep that crushed everything before it.

Across the sea lay the Demonic Whale Sea, home of the Deep Sea Demonic Whale King.

Just as Azure Luan Douluo, Qian Renxue, Ning Fengzhi, and the others carried word of Sea God Island back and everyone debated how to deal with the Sea God Empire,

the Sea God Empire's forces were already pointed straight at Vast Sea City on the western edge of the Heaven Dou Empire.

Vast Sea City was built around a mountain by the shore. A tall watchtower stood on its summit.

At the top of the tower were a bright lamp and a fine spyglass.

From there, one could take in the magnificent sweep of Vast Sea City, while the spyglass brought even the distant reaches of the sea into clear view.

Today, the soldier on watch leaned against the wall, half asleep.

It was midsummer. A warm, damp sea breeze washed over him, carrying the ocean's distinctive salty tang. It felt so pleasant that the soldier on duty was nearly lulled to sleep.

Through his haze, he thought he saw countless black dots appear at the edge of the sea.