The battle soon came to an end.
Within the Sea Within the Sea, the Sea Horse Douluo's Ninth Soul Ring shone brightly, and the black halo rapidly expanded, forming a circular black curtain that surrounded him in the center. The enormous energy fluctuations surged wildly, and the surrounding air distorted violently.
The entire ocean boiled. This time, without the obstruction of the light from the Sea Horse Sacred Pillar, the seawater rose straight up, reaching a height of hundreds of meters.
His Ninth Soul Skill is called Whirlwind Giant Wave Annihilation Fist, which can use all the surrounding water elements to form a giant vortex, causing area-of-effect damage.
Being situated in the middle of the Sea Within the Sea is undoubtedly the best place to unleash the Whirlwind Giant Wave Annihilation Fist.
However, the Sea Horse Douluo is now caught in an unprecedented dilemma.
Because his condition was greatly affected by Ye Lingling's poisonous milk, he was in a half-crippled state. Even if he released his Ninth Soul Skill, he would not be able to take down both of his opponents in one go.
The release of the Ninth Soul Skill will put the user in a state where the old power has been exhausted and the new power has not yet been generated, causing the barely suppressed mutation within the body to erupt in a short period of time.
This is something Sea Horse Douluo absolutely does not want to see.
Although he didn't know exactly what the consequences would be, he could imagine that it would be anything but a good thing.
This made him start to struggle with whether or not to cancel his Ninth Soul Skill.
However... things have come to this point, and whether or not to cancel is no longer up to him.
This little girl's Evil Spirit Orca Soul Skill is far too effective against them, the Sea Soul Master.
Especially that Soul Bone Soul Skill; even the Ripple Shield of his own Sixth Soul Ring couldn't stop its power from erupting.
Sea Horse Douluo felt the abnormality within his body that was barely suppressed by his Soul Power, gritted his teeth, and looked up at Ye Lingling was floating in the air.
Ye Lingling remained calm as the Nine Heart Begonia bloomed quietly in her palm, its pinkish-white light still enveloping the entire battlefield.
The light was healing on Shui Yue'er, but poisonous to him.
This was the first time he had ever seen such a bizarre ability.
Just as Sea Horse Douluo was still struggling with his decision, Shui Yue'er, who had transformed into Luminous Jade Dolphin, rushed forward once again.
Her body traced a graceful arc in the water, moving with incredible speed, a flash of red light on her tail.
The Soul Bone Soul Skill " Orca Shattered Tooth Slash " is activated once again.
The attack suddenly struck the chest of the Sea Horse that the Sea Horse Douluo had transformed into. Even though he was in the Stockpile state of his Ninth Soul Skill and possessed a pseudo-super armor ability, he was still interrupted by this attack.
The red light exploded the moment it hit its target, transforming into countless tiny blades of light that frantically slashed at the Sea Horse Douluo's body.
The sudden backlash from the Soul Power within his body caused Sea Horse Douluo to spit out blood, and even his nose and ears were filled with blood.
Blood dripped from the corner of his mouth, spreading in the seawater and staining a small patch of water red.
He stumbled backward several steps, each step creating huge splashes on the sea surface, until Tackle into the Sea Horse Sacred Pillar and regained his balance.
Sea Horse Douluo leaned against the Sea Horse Sacred Pillar, panting heavily, his chest heaving violently. His injuries and the mutations within his body caused him immense pain.
"I lost." Sea Horse Douluo Blood One and said with a sense of relief.
For him, this battle was frustrating. From beginning to end, he was unable to unleash his full fighting power, and he couldn't even release his strongest Ninth Soul Skill.
But he accepted defeat wholeheartedly against such an opponent.
Just as Sea Horse Douluo chose to concede defeat, that familiar voice rang in Shui Yue'er's mind once again.
" The Fifth Trial, the challenge, the Titled Douluo, completed. The Black Level Five Trials is completed. With extraordinary Guts and unremitting efforts, he overcame numerous difficulties and completed all the tests."
Special reward: Black Level access to Sea God Island, two-level increase in Soul Power, and a God-Given Soul Ring.
The black light surged and transformed into a beam of clear black light that condensed in front of Shui Yue'er, and the mark on her forehead gradually disappeared.
When the black light completely solidified, a divinely bestowed soul ring that had once appeared in the hand of the Sea God Douluo Poseidon appeared before Shui Yue'er.
The golden bead floated in mid-air, slowly rotating, its surface shimmering with a faint halo, within which a layer of golden mist undulated continuously.
Upon witnessing this scene, everyone, including Lin Mo and Sea Horse Douluo, was stunned.
Another God-Given Soul Ring?
Shui Yue'er scratched her head, looking at Sea Horse Douluo with a puzzled expression, and asked, "Didn't you say that only those who participate in the Black Level Assessment will receive an extra reward of a God-Given Soul Ring when they reach a bottleneck in their level?"
Her voice carried a clear sense of confusion, along with a hint of excitement.
Sea Horse Douluo shook his head and said, "Your situation is too special. I'm not entirely sure either. Under normal circumstances, you do only have one God-Given Soul Ring."
In addition to the level one Soul Power you received in the Fifth Trial, the final reward for the Black Level Assessment is an extra level increase as an overall reward.
Additionally, you will be rewarded with a support skill. For example, when your Soul Power reaches a critical point and requires Soul Ring to help you increase it, the rewarded skill will be transformed into God-Given Soul Ring.
"But this is the first time I've seen someone receive God-Given Soul Ring without reaching the bottleneck... Has the reward for recently passing the Black Level Assessment been changed?"
Sea Horse Douluo muttered to himself that it had been many years since anyone had passed the Black Level Assessment, and he was unsure whether the rewards for passing it had changed.
He could only offer a rough guess based on what he knew.
"We lost an extra support Soul Skill, but gained a new God-Given Soul Ring. This is incredibly good news!"
Although she didn't understand the current situation, Shui Yue'er accepted the God-Given Soul Ring without hesitation, and turned to face the direction of the Sea God Mountain, muttering incantations.
She clasped her hands together, closed her eyes, and moved her lips rapidly, presumably praising the Sea God's generosity and mercy.
His devout appearance made everyone present feel both amused and exasperated.
Lin Mo took everything in, and formed a rough guess in his mind.
Perhaps the Sea God was in a hurry to leave, and changed the reward to give Dugu Yan more motivation to complete the Sea God's Nine Trials.
The rewards for passing the Black Level Five Trials are already so generous; one need not say more about passing the Sea God's Nine Trials.
After this matter was resolved, Ye Lingling's healing light was not canceled, but the light that had terrified Sea Horse Douluo fell on him again.
This time, however, the healing light that fell upon him was no longer the horrifying distortion that terrified him, but the purest form of healing.
A gentle pinkish-white light enveloped Sea Horse Douluo's body, seeping into his wounds and repairing his damaged flesh and bones.
These warm and comfortable feelings stand in stark contrast to the pain of being eroded by distortion.
Soon, the injuries he suffered from the backlash of his Soul Power, as well as the aberrations he had temporarily suppressed, were completely healed under the light of the Nine Heart Begonia.
Sea Horse Douluo let out a long breath, stretched his body, and felt the renewed Hustle within him, a relaxed expression appearing on his face.
He looked at Ye Lingling, his eyes filled with complex emotions.
Before long, Ye Lingling had already retrieved the Nine Heart Begonia, and at the same time, there was a hint of apology in her eyes when she looked at Sea Horse Douluo.
She bowed slightly, her purple eyes filled with sincerity. "Senior, this time I've come all this way, and it's also in preparation for passing the Fifth Trial."
If I have offended you in any way, please forgive me, senior.
"It's alright, it's alright." Sea Horse Douluo waved his hand, appearing nonchalant, but his gaze swept over himself.
Only after confirming that there were no lasting effects did he finally feel completely relieved.
Then, he asked, "Judging from this healing ability, you are undoubtedly the most authentic healing-type Soul Master."
Although you haven't obtained all eight Soul Ring yet, in terms of healing ability, even some Titled Douluo are not as good as you.
Your Nine Heart Begonia is the most powerful healing-type Martial Soul I've ever seen, bar none!
He paused, a thoughtful look in his eyes, and said, "What I find even better is... how did you manage to induce such a negative state in me earlier?"
Ye Lingling smiled and didn't hide anything, "By chance, I gained this special ability in my healing abilities."
"I have some means of self-defense, but against Titled Douluo like you, these methods can only serve as interference and cannot determine the outcome." Her tone was very humble.
Hearing Ye Lingling's modest words, Sea Horse Douluo did not press the matter further.
As the first Titled Douluo to personally experience Ye Lingling's "poisonous milk" ability, he knew very well that this ability was far more complex than Ye Lingling described.
Ye Lingling's current cultivation level is far inferior to his; he can only barely suppress the changes within his body with his powerful Soul Power.
But what if someone with a cultivation level lower than Ye Lingling, or someone of similar level, faced this situation?
It probably won't be long before they lose their fighting ability due to this poisonous milk.
Losing combat ability is a minor issue; the most terrifying thing is the uncontrollable mutation. If one were to mutate, they would likely be trapped in a living hell.
Sea Horse Douluo took a deep breath, suppressing the surging thoughts in his heart.
He looked at Ye Lingling and said solemnly, "You are very capable and your future is limitless. It is a blessing for Sea God Island Sea God Island to have you join it."
Ye Lingling bowed slightly. "You flatter me, senior."
On the other side, Lin Mo and the others resumed their conversation.
Lin Mo looked at Ye Lingling and asked, " Sister Lingling, how are you feeling right now? Can you continue?"
Upon hearing this, Ye Lingling shook her head. "I still have about 50% of my Soul Power left. If I were to fight, I could barely manage to do so."
But when facing an opponent of the Titled Douluo level, it's best to play it safe. Let's rest for the night and fight again tomorrow."
Everyone agreed with Ye Lingling's words.
Feng Xiaotian nodded. " Lingling said it's not a big deal to take one more day. Let's proceed steadily, one step at a time."
Huo Wu chimed in, "Exactly! We have a year, what's the rush?"
Shui Bing'er said softly, " Lingling, you've worked hard. Let's call it a day."
Shui Yue'er hugged her sister's arm and said with a grin, "Then I'll rest well today and cheer for Zhu Zhuqing tomorrow!"
The Fifth Trial lasts a full year, so there's no need for them to rush; they should prioritize stability.
The order in which everyone would participate in the assessment had already been decided before the Fifth Trial officially began.
First Shui Yue'er, then Zhu Zhuqing, followed by Feng Xiaotian, and finally Shui Bing'er and Huo Wu.
As for Dugu Yan and Lin Mo, their assessments were scheduled for last.
On the way back to Seahorse City, Shui Yue'er hugged her sister's arm and shook it constantly, her face full of excitement and joy.
Her eyes sparkled, and her face beamed with undisguised joy. "Sister, my Soul Power Level has caught up with yours now! I'm level seventy-seven too!"
As she spoke, she jumped up, radiating joy.
Shui Bing'er, however, adopted a more mature, older sisterly tone, saying, "This is only temporary. After I receive the rewards from the Fifth Trial and Sixth Trial, I'll be close to reaching the Soul Douluo."
You're still a long way from surpassing me!
At this point, Shui Bing'er raised her hand and flicked her finger on Shui Yue'er's smooth forehead.
Even so, her eyes were full of doting affection when she looked at her younger sister.
Shui Yue'er stuck out her tongue and made a face. "Then I'll wait and see how you surpass me, sister!"
Everyone watched the two sisters interact with smiles on their faces.
However, they harbored a subtle sense of anticipation for the challenges ahead.
A hint of excitement flashed in Lin Mo's eyes. If he remembered correctly, the examiner Zhu Zhuqing was about to face, the Sea Witch, was quite special.
Time flew by, and the next day arrived quickly.
The morning sun shines on Sea God Island, its golden rays enveloping the entire island in a peaceful glow.
Although only Zhu Zhuqing and Ye Lingling participated in the assessment today, everyone else was present, just like during the First Trial, and accompanied them to the Sea Witch Sacred Pillar Platform.
Compared to the Sea Horse Sacred Pillar, the Sea Witch Sacred Pillar Platform are very simple in design, consisting of just a square platform.
The platform is made of white stone, with a smooth, mirror-like surface and exquisite patterns carved along its edges.
However, the Sacred Pillar in the very center of the platform is different from the others; unlike the other pillars, this sacred pillar resembles a statue.
The Sacred Pillar is entirely white like jade, and is a statue of a young girl kneeling on the Sacred Pillar platform, with her hands clasped together in front of her chest, worshipping in the direction of the Sea God Hall.
The statue is so lifelike that even the folds of its clothing are clearly visible, and its eyes seem to be gazing into the distance with piety and expectation.
At the edge of the Sea Witch Sacred Pillar Platform, a young girl sat there. Surprisingly, she had a huge fish tail, with a beautiful arc that stretched all the way to her waist.
The scales on the fish's tail shimmered with iridescent colors in the sunlight.
At this moment, her fish tail was gently slapping the surface of the Sea Within the Sea, splashing up tiny droplets of water.
She wore a black top that didn't even cover her navel, revealing a section of her fair and slender waist.
She has a pair of large, sky-blue eyes with crystal-clear pupils, and a faint smile always hangs at the corner of her mouth. Her fish tail splashes the water, full of playful interest.
Upon seeing this scene, everyone except Lin Mo, who was prepared, was stunned.
The Sea Witch, also known as the Sea Maiden Douluo, is not human?
The same thought simultaneously popped into their minds.
Shui Yue'er's eyes widened, she opened her mouth and stuffed an egg inside, muttering softly, "A mermaid... is she a mermaid?"
Huo Wu was also stunned, her gaze lingering on the fish tail for a long while.
A look of surprise flashed in Shui Bing'er's eyes, but she quickly regained her composure.
Dugu Yan and Ye Lingling exchanged a glance, and both women saw the same emotion in each other's eyes.
"Are you here to challenge me?" A silvery voice, tinged with laughter, rang out; the melodious voice made it impossible for anyone to feel any hostility.
The Sea Witch tilted her head, her large, sky-blue eyes sweeping over the crowd, her smile deepening.
"Senior, we're here to take the Fifth Trial!" Zhu Zhuqing remained indifferent and didn't say much.
She stood at the edge of the Sacred Pillar, her cold eyes staring directly at the Sea Witch, without any extra expression.
As the words fell, the two rode the waves and arrived at the Sea Witch Sacred Pillar Platform.
Zhu Zhuqing landed lightly on the platform without making a sound, followed closely by Ye Lingling, Nine Heart Begonia was already appearing in her palm.
Seemingly sensing the goodwill in everyone's hearts, the Sea Witch smiled and explained, "Are you all here? No need."
I am not human, but Mermaid Clan, a half-human, half- Sea Soul Beast. We female mermaids never grow old.
I'm not a monster, hehe.
As she spoke, she deliberately flicked her fishtail, splashing water everywhere, looking completely innocent and carefree.
Lin Mo observed the scene with great interest, and bluntly pointed out the Sea Witch's innate ability. " Zhu Zhuqing, Sister Lingling, you two need to be careful. This Sea Maiden Douluo's innate ability should be mind reading."
His voice reached everyone's ears clearly.
"Not bad."
Despite Lin Mo's pointing it out, the Sea Witch Douluo showed no displeasure. Instead, her beautiful eyes scanned Lin Mo with great interest, her exquisite face displaying great admiration.
She tilted her head, her sky-blue eyes fixed on Lin Mo, a thoughtful look flashing in them. "Little guy, your mental strength is quite remarkable."
My mind-reading ability failed me in front of you! No wonder the Fifth Trial was so extreme, it was a direct battle with the High Priest!
Little guy, I have high hopes for you!
"Thank you for the compliment, senior," Lin Mo said without batting an eye.
It was obvious to anyone with eyes that the Sea Witch was very interested in him, and correspondingly, Lin Mo was equally interested in the mermaid princess.
To be precise, they were very interested in the mermaid clan behind her.
Soon, the Sea Witch's long fish tail rose from the seawater and landed on the Sacred Pillar, where it truly transformed into legs, covered by a long black dress.
The process of the fish tail transforming into legs was beautiful; the scales disappeared one by one, revealing fair and slender legs. A long black skirt hung down from the waist, covering all the spring scenery.
She stood up, barefoot on the Sacred Pillar platform, her toes slightly raised, exuding a light and agile aura.
"Sisters, you are both so beautiful! This is the first time I've ever seen girls as pretty as me."
Let's not fight and kill each other, okay? I'll play a tune for you. If you finish listening, you'll pass the test, how about that?
As she spoke, she subtly moved her left hand in front of her, and a black flautist appeared in her grasp. With a quick spin, she brought it to her lips under the control of both hands.
The flute was entirely black, with a cold, eerie luster flowing across its surface, and nine Soul Ring encircled its body.
Zhu Zhuqing and Ye Lingling were initially becoming increasingly disoriented by the Sea Witch's words, but the moment they clearly saw the black short flute, they unleashed their respective Martial Soul Avatar without hesitation.
Based on Xiao Bai's previous explanation and the nine Soul Ring that appeared on the black flute, there is no doubt that this is the Sea Witch's Martial Soul.
Zhu Zhuqing instantly transformed into a nimble black cat, rushing out reflexively, leaving a trail of afterimages behind her. Her cat paws flashed, aiming directly at the Sea Witch's wrist and the flute in her hand.
She was incredibly fast, leaving behind several afterimages in the air, each one seemingly real.
Facing Zhu Zhuqing's attacks, the Sea Witch effortlessly raised her flute and deflected them one by one.
Her movements were elegant and composed, the flute twirling in her hands, each parry perfectly timed, without a single unnecessary movement.
The clanging of metal against metal echoed across the sea, Fire Star flying everywhere.
Ye Lingling resorted to her old tricks again, using the flight Soul Skill granted by the Blue Silver Emperor Right Leg Bone to levitate in the air and temporarily retreat, leaving the front line of the battlefield.
Her figure rose gracefully, her robes fluttering, and the Nine Heart Begonia bloomed in her palm, its pink and white light enveloping the entire Sacred Pillar Platform.
Before long, under the deliberate lure of the Sea Witch, Zhu Zhuqing chased her to the other side of the sea.
Before Zhu Zhuqing could launch an attack, the Sea Witch smiled at her, then her legs transformed back into a fish tail, and she seemed to melt away, disappearing into the sea.
By the time Zhu Zhuqing realized something was wrong, the Sea Witch, who had merged into the seawater, had already used her incredible speed to circle around to the other side of the platform.
Upon seeing this, everyone gasped, realizing the Sea Witch's intentions behind this action.
This is a strategy to capture the leader first, eliminating Ye Lingling, Auxiliary System Soul Master who appears to have little combat power on the surface.
Without Ye Lingling's support, Zhu Zhuqing, with her seventh-ring cultivation, was no match for the Sea Witch.
The Sea Witch burst forth from the sea at incredible speed, instantly reappearing in the air, her Third Soul Ring on the black flute in her hand quietly lighting up.
The Sea Witch planned to capture Ye Lingling quickly without harming her.
To her surprise, she was met with Ye Lingling's extremely calm expression.
Ye Lingling seemed to have anticipated this scene.
Today, Ye Lingling was wearing a light purple gauze dress with a hem that reached her knees. Her slender legs were tightly wrapped in white stockings, with faint marks left by the edges of the stockings.
At this moment, her left leg was Illuminate faintly, and the Soul Skill attached to the Azure Wave Spirit Vine Left Leg Bone suddenly activated.
Azure Wave Spirit Bind.