Dugu Yan took a deep breath and stepped forward.
The blue mark left by the Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud on her forehead was now faintly warm, as if something was awakening within it.
The temperature wasn't scorching, but it had a warmth that went straight to her soul, causing her to involuntarily hold her breath.
Sea Horse Douluo activated the Sacred Pillar once again.
Blue light enveloped Dugu Yan's entire body.
Just like everyone else before, the blue light began to change: white, yellow, purple, black, red!
Just when everyone thought it was another Top Level Assessment, an unexpected change occurred.
The soaring red light did not dissipate; instead, it began to surge violently.
As if summoned by some force, all the red light converged from all directions to a single point, condensing into a dazzling little sun above Dugu Yan's head.
The next moment, the blood faded.
A brilliant golden light descended from the sky!
That golden light was unlike any other light before it. It did not descend from above, but rather appeared out of thin air, carrying an indescribable majesty and holiness.
The entire sky above Sea God Island seemed to be tinged with a faint golden halo by this golden light.
Immediately afterwards, nine square golden light screens appeared out of thin air, one after another, in front of Dugu Yan.
Ancient runes flowed across each light screen. These runes were not any kind of writing, yet they conveyed a sense of vastness and solemnity at a glance.
The nine light screens trembled slightly, then transformed into golden meteors, which floated one after another into Dugu Yan's brow.
The golden light gradually faded, settling in the center of her forehead, ultimately leaving a golden trident mark.
The mark was only the size of a fingernail, yet it exuded an aura of dignified nobility that made people afraid to look directly at it.
Dugu Yan slowly opened her eyes.
She subconsciously raised her hand and touched her forehead, where something seemed to have been added, warm and with a faint pulse.
She looked at Sea Horse Douluo and asked, full of doubt:
"Senior, red is the Top Level Assessment, so what about gold? I think... I need to complete nine assessments."
Sea Horse Douluo opened his mouth, but found that he couldn't say anything.
"I don't know either. I've guarded this Sea Horse Sacred Pillar for decades... and I've never heard of a golden assessment."
He shook his head with a wry smile, a hint of bewilderment in his voice.
Just then,
"Don't make things difficult for him."
A gentle yet authoritative voice echoed from the void.
A person suddenly appeared in front of the Sea Horse Sacred Pillar.
She looked to be in her early thirties, about the same height as Dugu Yan, and wore a long red robe that fluttered gently in the sea breeze. Her long, sea-blue hair cascaded down her back like a waterfall, reaching her waist.
She held a three-meter-long golden scepter in her hand, with a fist-sized sapphire set at the top, from which the faint sound of ocean waves could be heard.
Noble, elegant, warm, and gentle.
Yet it also inspires awe in people.
"What you are about to endure is not the Top-Level Nine Trials, but the Sea God Nine Trials."
She looked at Dugu Yan, her gaze falling on the golden trident mark, and a relieved smile appeared on her lips.
Sea Horse Douluo trembled and bowed respectfully. "Greetings, Great Enshrined!"
Bo Saixi, the Great Enshrined Sea God Island, Level 99 Peerless Douluo, and the Sea God's representative on Earth.
Everyone was deeply shocked and bowed respectfully.
Bo Saixi, however, did not look at them. Her gaze remained fixed on the golden trident mark on Dugu Yan's forehead, her deep blue eyes swirling with complex emotions: relief, reminiscence, and a hint of... relief that was difficult for others to detect.
"Young man, I've finally waited for you. May I ask where you come from?"
Her voice was soft, yet it reached everyone's ears clearly.
Dugu Yan took a deep breath, suppressing the shock in her heart, and bowed respectfully:
"Junior Dugu Yan greets Senior. I come from the Clear Sky Sect. My grandfather, Dugu Bo, is a guest elder of the Clear Sky Sect."
"No need for such formalities; no one here can bear your politeness." Bo Saixi stepped forward and personally helped her up, her voice gentle.
She paused, her gaze lingering on Dugu Yan as if trying to confirm something.
After a moment, she nodded slightly, seemingly finally relieved, and suddenly asked, "Since you come from the Clear Sky Sect, do you know a young man named ' Tang Feng '?"
Upon hearing this, Tang Feng stepped forward and respectfully bowed, saying, "This junior is Tang Feng. Greetings, Senior Bo Saixi."
He raised his head, meeting those deep blue eyes, and continued, "This junior has come to Sea God Island on the orders of my ancestors... to bring him home."
When the words "take him home" reached Bo Saixi's ears, a flicker of barely concealed pain flashed across her deep blue eyes.
Bo Saixi paused for a moment, her voice slightly hoarse, before slowly saying, "Three years have passed, and you've finally come."
She looked at Tang Feng with a complex expression. "After you successfully complete and pass the test bestowed by the Lord Sea God, I will hand him over to you."
She paused, her tone becoming unusually serious. "From now on, you only need to focus on completing the test."
"Yes, thank you, Great Enshrined!" Tang Feng bowed respectfully.
Bo Saixi nodded slightly, regaining her usual composure, and turned to Sea Horse Douluo: " Ou Ya."
Sea Horse Douluo immediately bowed. "Your subordinate is here."
"Pass on my orders. These eight are honored guests of the island until they complete Lord Sea God's test. No one may neglect them. Apart from not helping them complete the test, fulfill their requests as much as possible."
She paused, then continued, "Stay in your Seahorse City. Also, summon the other six Sacred Pillar Guardian for a meeting at the Sea God Hall tomorrow."
"Yes," Sea Horse Douluo replied respectfully.
Bo Saixi's gaze returned to Dugu Yan. Looking at the golden trident mark, a hint of indescribable satisfaction flashed in her eyes, and she said softly:
"Very good, very good. I believe you will be able to pass the Lord Sea God's test."
She then looked at everyone and instructed them, "If you need anything, you can ask Ou Ya. Remember, you must complete at least one assessment each year. Otherwise, all your previous efforts will be in vain."
Everyone bowed in unison and said in unison, "Yes, we will definitely succeed."
Bo Saixi nodded slightly.
The next instant, her figure vanished into thin air, as if she had never existed.
Only the faint, lingering pressure in the air proved that what had just happened was not an illusion.
Sea Horse Douluo straightened up and let out a long breath.
His gaze towards the group of young people was completely different from before; it was filled with reverence as he said, "Gentlemen, please follow me."
He led everyone to the city lord's mansion in Seahorse City, personally arranged for several superior rooms to be prepared, and instructed the servants to prepare food before taking his leave, as he could not leave the Sea Horse Sacred Pillar for too long.
The group gathered in the living room, sitting in a circle. The initial shock and excitement gradually subsided, replaced by a solemn sense of apprehension about the unknown challenges ahead.
Tang Feng looked around at everyone and said, "Although we have successfully entered Sea God Island, the key is whether we can pass those tests. The lowest level we have is Black Level Four Trials. We need to plan everything carefully. What is everyone's First Test?"
Tai Long said in a deep voice, "My First Test is called ' Cross the Sea God's Light.' You must travel to the forbidden area of Sea God Island and climb one hundred and eight steps to pass the test. You may withdraw midway, and the time limit is one year. What about you?"
Niu Zhen and Bai Chenxiang both nodded; the three of them had the same number of steps.
Oscar nodded. "Me too, but I need to reach level 122."
Ye Lingling and Tang Jian replied, "Me too."
"I have 136 steps," Ning Rongrong said, her voice carrying a rare hint of nervousness.
Zhu Zhuqing nodded slightly and said, "I have 156 steps."
All eyes fell on Dugu Yan.
Dugu Yan frowned slightly and slowly said, "I also Cross the Sea God's Light, but it was double the speed; I climbed the three hundred and thirty-three steps before the forbidden area."
Tang Jian's eyes widened. "Double? 333 levels? How come they have so many more than us?"
Dugu Yan shook her head, her expression unusually solemn.
She didn't know the specific reason, but the golden trident mark between her eyebrows told her that this trial would be anything but easy.
Tang Feng remained silent.
Oscar noticed his silence and couldn't help but ask, " Brother Feng, what about yours?"