After absorbing his Eighth Soul Ring, Tang San also successfully obtained a Soul Bone. At the same time, everyone received information about the Fifth Trial and gathered together to discuss it.
While everyone was discussing, Qi Ling went back and brought Xiao Wu, Zhu Zhuqing, Ning Rongrong, and Yu Tianyi back to Sea God Island. According to the Sea God's instructions, the power that Tang San could ultimately rely on was the group of people who had come to Sea God Island with him.
After not seeing each other for more than half a year, everyone naturally had a lot to say. What was even more surprising was that Zhu Zhuqing and Yu Tianyi had also reached the Soul Douluo level and had also obtained 100,000-year Soul Ring.
"My God, Xiao Ao, I have a feeling that apart from Boss Qi, we're about to be left behind by everyone else?" Ma Hongjun said, looking at Yu Tianyi and Zhu Zhuqing's Hundred Thousand Year Soul Ring.
Oscar nonchalantly replied, "Give up, Fatty. I've already seen through it all. There are differences between people. If you keep dwelling on these things, it'll only cause you trouble."
"As you all probably know, the trials that Xiao San and the others are about to participate in are almost impossible to complete without Rongrong's help," Qi Ling said to everyone. "Therefore, from now on, you all need to work together to deal with all the Sacred Pillar Guardian."
Xiao Wu then said, "But, Brother Qi, Rongrong can help Brother San and the others increase their power, but what can we do? It seems like we can't be of much help either."
"You don't understand, Xiao Wu. There are so many things you can do," Qi Ling laughed. "Although Xiao San's assessment says he needs to challenge all the guardians, if the guardians are already unable to fight before that, wouldn't it be easy to win?"
Upon hearing Qi Ling's words, everyone immediately understood. Qi Ling meant that they should challenge the guardians first, so as to minimize the pressure on Tang San and the others.
"I see, Brother Qi, you're so clever!" Xiao Wu exclaimed.
After a night's rest, the group officially began their challenge against the island's guardians early the next morning. However, Qi Ling did not travel with the group when they set off.
"Big brother, aren't you coming with us?" Tang San couldn't help but ask.
"No, I promised Bo Saixi I can't help you anymore, and we'll meet again soon," Qi Ling said with a smile. "Remember to conserve your energy, and all of you too."
Hearing Qi Ling's words, everyone felt puzzled, but they also thought it made sense. After all, with Qi Ling present, his aura alone would probably make the guardians afraid to move.
After everyone left, Qi Ling stretched and said, "Alright, now I should go wait for them at the last spot. Hopefully, they won't be too surprised when they see me."
A day passed quickly, and everyone successfully passed the tests of the first six guardians without losing much energy; they were all in excellent health.
"Haha, only this last guardian is left. It seems this test is ridiculously easy," Ma Hongjun couldn't help but laugh. "I originally thought that after Boss Qi helped us so much before, this test would be very difficult."
Dai Mubai replied, "That's not necessarily true. We haven't witnessed the strength of this Sea Dragon Douluo yet, so everything is still uncertain."
"Even if he's incredibly strong, how strong can he be? With so many of us, we can defeat him in a tag-team battle," Ma Hongjun couldn't help but laugh. "This test is extremely easy."
"Fatty, you'd better stop talking. The more you talk, the more uncertain it seems to me," Oscar said. "I'm afraid this final hurdle won't be easy to overcome."
"Don't worry, how difficult can it be? Do you think everyone is as terrifying as Boss Qi?" Ma Hongjun laughed.
So, when everyone arrived at the Sea Dragon Sacred Pillar and saw Qi Ling sitting beneath Sacred Pillar, playing with Xiao Hei, they were all dumbfounded. Ma Hongjun, with great effort, forced a smile and said, "Heh, heh, Boss Qi, what are you doing here? Where's Sea Dragon Douluo?"
"Oh, the Sea Dragon Douluo." Qi Ling stood up and said to everyone, "Look, can my dragon be considered Sea Dragon? I can swim too, you know."
Everyone was stunned. What was going on? Qi Ling was here, and he was all alone. Could it be...? The worst-case scenario involuntarily rose in everyone's minds.
" Boss Qi, you wouldn't be saying that you're the one guarding this final checkpoint, would you?" Ma Hongjun boldly guessed.
"Yes, that's right. Fatty, you've improved! You even guessed it." Qi Ling laughed. "That's right, I'm temporarily the Acting Sea Dragon Douluo of Sea God Island. The last challenge you have to take is to challenge me!"
"During this period, the ten of you can fight together. You can use any tactics or methods you like, as long as you can defeat me, you will pass the test," Qi Ling said with a smile.
Everyone was speechless, exchanging bewildered glances, seemingly unsure how to react.
To be Qi Ling's enemy? Just thinking about it was terrifying enough. Although everyone knew that Qi Ling would definitely not kill them, the thought of Qi Ling standing opposite them already dampened their fighting spirit by more than half.
At this very moment, in the Sea God Hall, the six Titled Douluo who had been defeated were gathered together, along with Sea Douluo Bo Saixi, who was observing the situation of everyone there through a special means.
After all, as the Great Enshrined, Sea Douluo needed to know whether Qi Ling had fulfilled his duties properly, and the others also wanted to know how Qi Ling would deal with these people.
"Do you think Tang San and his group have any chance of defeating Qi Ling?" the Sea Witch, one of the Titled Douluo, asked, her Middle God filled with curiosity.
"Chances of winning? Heh, let alone chances of winning. If it were a real battle, they'd be lucky to even survive." Sea Horse Douluo chuckled helplessly. "Otherwise, can you imagine if we all attacked Lord Bo Saixi together? Would we have any chance of winning?"
The Sea Witch thought for a moment, then shook her head and said, "How could that be? We have absolutely no chance against Lord Bo Saixi."
"That settles it then. The gap between Qi Ling and them will only widen further," Sea Horse Douluo said helplessly.
After all, everyone witnessed Qi Ling saving the entire island that day. Now, Qi Ling is even more powerful than Lord Bo Saixi, and no one can imagine that he could possibly lose.
"But what can we do then? If Tang San and the others can't pass, won't they fail the test?" the Sea Witch said. "In that case, the Lord Sea God's successor won't be able to inherit his power."
Bo Saixi then said, "No, the condition for passing this level is not defeating Qi Ling, but rather that their progress earns Qi Ling's approval."
But even so, is Qi Ling's approval really so easy to obtain?