Time flies, and seven months later...
At the foot of Sea God Mountain, everyone looked up, their eyes fixed on the top of the steps.
Because Gu Wuchen is about to complete his First Trial.
Gu Wuchen's figure had already appeared on the 330th step.
He was soaked in sweat, his clothes clinging to his body, yet he still maintained an upright posture.
The pressure of the doubled Sea God's Light reached its peak in the last ten levels, compressing and distorting even the air.
He took a deep breath and simultaneously channeled the full power of the Ice God and the Sea God.
The two marks between their brows simultaneously erupted with dazzling light, and blue and gold Soul Power intertwined to form a barrier, resisting the overwhelming pressure.
One step, two steps, three steps.
His steps grew heavier and heavier, and with each step, the stone steps beneath his feet made a slight cracking sound.
The moment he lifted his foot and firmly placed it on the 333rd step.
A sudden clap of thunder echoed in the sky, and a golden beam of light descended from the heavens, enveloping Gu Wuchen's figure.
" Sea God's First Trial: Traversing Double the Sea God's Light, Completed!"
A majestic voice resounded throughout the entire Sea God Island.
Instantly, a deafening cheer erupted at the foot of the mountain.
The Seven Sacred Pillar Douluo bowed deeply, their faces filled with disbelief and shock.
"Seven months! It was completed in just seven months!"
"Incredible! Double the Sea God's Light! For anyone else, let alone seven months, it might not even take two years to complete!"
Bo Saixi was completely stunned. "It really only took seven months! I thought it would take a year, but it was done in just seven months!"
Within the pillar of light, Gu Wuchen felt an unprecedented sense of comfort and ease, as if his body had been cleansed.
Tang San took a year, and I took seven months, and my Soul Power broke through to level 60 Soul Emperor. All that was left was to acquire Soul Ring.
As the beam of light gradually dissipated, Gu Wuchen slowly opened his eyes.
He felt the surging Soul Power within him, and his body, which had become even more resilient after being tempered by the Sea God's Light.
He turned around and walked down the steps one by one.
Bo Saixi quickly went to meet him and patted him on the shoulder:
"Well done, Chen'er! Auntie knew you could do it!"
Congratulations, son!
Gu Linchuan also stepped forward, his tone filled with pride.
Shen Su looked him up and down. "Not bad at all, as expected of my son, he's really impressive."
After completing the First Trial, the only option left is to return to the Far North to obtain the Sixth Soul Ring.
"I want to go back and rest first, I'm too tired."
Gu Wuchen shrugged; he really wanted to take a nap.
Bo Saixi smiled and said, " Chen'er, go and rest in my palace. Your aunt will make you some soup to nourish your body."
Gu Wuxin agreed to come and went to the palace. The familiar fragrance was still there, unchanged from before.
Arriving at the palace gate, Gu Wuchen pushed open the door, then closed it behind him. The familiar fragrance remained unchanged.
Seven months of intense testing had exhausted him completely. He didn't even have the strength to change his clothes and collapsed into a chair.
My shoulders felt as heavy as lead, and all the muscles in my body ached. Even raising my hand to rub them was a struggle.
Two streaks of light flew out from between his eyebrows, and the figures of the Snow Empress and the Ice Empress landed behind him.
Before Gu Wuchen could speak, the two men stood behind him, one on each side, and simultaneously reached out and gently placed their hands on his shoulders.
Gu Wuchen was slightly taken aback and turned around in surprise:
" Sister Xue, Sister Bing, why are you massaging my shoulders?"
Snow Empress chuckled softly, her fingertips carrying a faint chill as she gently massaged his stiff shoulders and neck:
"Of course, it's to help you relax. For the past seven months, you've been climbing stairs before dawn and not coming back until dark every day. We've all seen it, and it pains us to see you like this."
"That's what I should be saying," Ice Empress immediately interjected, applying a little more pressure with her hand. "It's clearly me who cares more about Little Wuchen, Xue'er, you always interrupt."
"I was the one who said it first." Snow Empress glared at Ice Empress defiantly, and tightened her grip on him.
"I felt heartbroken first."
"Me first!"
The two bickered back and forth, but their hands never stopped moving.
Snow Empress's technique was gentle, yet carried an extreme chill, instantly relieving the muscle soreness.
Ice Empress's pressure was slightly greater, but it precisely targeted the stiffest spots, gradually relaxing the tense muscles and bones.
Gu Wuchen couldn't help but sigh comfortably, closing his eyes and leaning back in his chair. "Alright, alright, Sister Xue Sister Bing both feel sorry for me, stop arguing."
"If we weren't worried about disturbing your assessment, we would have come out to help you already."
Snow Empress said softly, her voice full of heartache, "Those last ten steps were so stressful. With every step you took, our hearts were in our throats. Several times I wanted to rush up and help you, but Bing'er stopped me."
"That was the Sea God's test; you couldn't cheat," Ice Empress said. "But I was also worried you wouldn't be able to hold on. Luckily, you did well and finished in seven months, much better than that Tang San."
"By the way, Little Wuchen," Snow Empress whispered in his ear, "Your body has been tempered by the Sea God's Light for seven months, and now it can withstand more of the Ice God Power. Once we return to Heaven Dou City, we can begin the Ice God's assessment."
After a short rest, both Snow Empress and Ice Empress stopped what they were doing.
"Someone's here."
"Snow Empress said softly.
The two exchanged a glance, then transformed into two streaks of light and re-entered Gu Wuchen's brow.
Gu Wuchen had just opened his eyes when the door was gently pushed open.
Bo Saixi entered carrying a large tray with several light side dishes and a bowl of steaming black chicken soup.
" Chen'er, the soup is ready, hurry..."
She suddenly stopped speaking, her gaze fixed on Gu Wuchen.
Gu Wuchen found his wet shirt sticky and uncomfortable, so he had already taken it off.
Seven months of tempering by the Sea God's Light transformed his originally slender physique into a lean and muscular one.
A smooth-lined back, well-defined abdominal muscles—every muscle is perfectly proportioned, without an ounce of excess fat, gleaming with a healthy glow in the sunlight.
Bo Saixi's heart skipped a beat, and a faint blush instantly spread across her cheeks.
She quickly looked away, pretending to tidy up the bowls and chopsticks on the tray, but her fingers were a little unruly, and she almost knocked over the soup bowl.
"Auntie?" Gu Wuchen looked at her in confusion.
"Ah, it's nothing, it's nothing." Bo Saixi composed herself and placed the food on the table, trying to appear calm. "Come and eat, this soup took me three hours to simmer, it's the most nourishing soup."
Gu Wuchen nodded and casually picked up a clean shirt from the side and put it on.
As Bo Saixi watched his movements, the panic in her heart gradually subsided.
She sat to the side, watching Gu Wuchen wolf down his food, her gaze softening unconsciously.
Eat slowly, no one's going to take it from you.
Bo Saixi chuckled softly.
"Okay." Gu Wuchen swallowed the food in his mouth and replied.