Raging Waves of the Vast Sea, the Deep Sea Forbidden Land and the Key to the Seal

The coastline of the Vast Sea Empire was more eerie than they had imagined.

Black reefs jutted through the murky gray sea like the fangs of a monstrous beast. The salty, fishy sea wind whipped cold rain against their faces, cutting like knives. Tang San and his companions stood atop the highest reef, gazing at the waters shrouded in thick fog in the distance-the legendary Deep Sea Forbidden Land. The energy trail from the Proof of Balance pointed clearly into the mist.

"This place... it's suffocating." Oscar pulled his cloak tighter and couldn't suppress a shiver. "The sea wind's about to turn my sausages into popsicles."

Golden Crow Fire danced in Lin Ye's palm, barely holding back the surrounding chill. "Golden Crow Perception senses powerful energy fluctuations in the fog. It's like... a mixture of flowing water and darkness, and it's very unstable."

Tang San's Blue Silver Grass spread along the reef and probed into the seawater, but suddenly curled up when it reached the edge of the fog, as if it had encountered something terrifying. "There's corrosive dark energy in the seawater. It's purer than the Shadow Sect Master's power, and it probably leaked from the Shadow Gate."

Tang Xiao tightened his grip on the Clear Sky Hammer. Its head gave off a faint golden light, warding off the assault of the sea wind. "According to the Vast Sea Empire's ancient records, a rift connecting to the Dark Plane was suppressed beneath the Deep Sea Forbidden Land. That rift is the Shadow Gate itself. Ten thousand years ago, a Sea God sealed it with his trident, stopping the darkness from spreading."

"Sea God?" Xiao Wu asked curiously. "Is his trident still there?"

"I don't know." Tang Xiao shook his head. "The ancient records say the trident vanished after the seal weakened. Some say it sank to the bottom of the sea; others say it was stolen by an ancestor of the Shadow Pavilion."

Tang San looked at the lingering energy trail of the Proof of Balance. It formed a vortex-shaped point of light in the center of the fog. "The Proof of Balance must have sensed the trident's presence. If we can find it, perhaps we really can seal the Shadow Gate for good."

"Then how do we get in?" Dai Mubai looked at the churning fog. "This mist blocks Soul Power probes. If we rush in, we could easily get lost."

Tai Long suddenly pointed at the sea. "Look over there!"

Everyone looked in the direction he pointed and saw a battered fishing boat at the edge of the fog. A strange symbol was painted on its sail, somewhat resembling the Chaos Azure Lotus design on the Proof of Balance. An old man in a straw raincoat stood at the bow, holding a bone oar and watching them silently.

"He seems to be waiting for us," Xiao Wu said softly.

Tang San pondered for a moment. "Come on, let's take a look."

The group stepped onto vines woven from Blue Silver Grass and carefully descended onto the fishing boat. Its planks were old and rickety, creaking underfoot as if they might fall apart at any moment. The old man in the straw raincoat slowly turned, revealing a face covered in wrinkles. His eyes were clouded yet deep, as if they held the secrets of the entire ocean.

"The Sea God's heir has finally arrived." The old man's voice was hoarse and aged, yet it carried a strange piercing quality that cut through the howling sea wind.

"You know us?" Tang San asked in surprise.

"I am the guardian of the Deep Sea Forbidden Land. I've waited a long time for this day." The old man raised his bone oar and pointed deep into the fog. "The Shadow Sect Master is in there. He's already found fragments of the trident and is trying to open the Shadow Gate completely."

"The trident broke?"

"Yes." The old man nodded. "During the sealing battle ten thousand years ago, the trident shattered into five pieces while suppressing the rift. They scattered throughout the forbidden land. The Shadow Sect Master has already found three. Of the two remaining, one is at the Sea God Altar, and the other... is beneath my boat."

As he spoke, he tapped the deck with his bone oar. A dull sound came from beneath the boat, as if something really were hidden there.

"Why are you helping us?" Lin Ye asked warily, Golden Crow Fire dancing at his fingertips.

The old man smiled, revealing a mouthful of yellowed teeth. "Because what I guard isn't the forbidden land, but balance. If the Shadow Gate opens, the entire ocean will be swallowed by darkness, and those of us who make our living from the sea will suffer too." He handed the bone oar to Tang San. "Take this. It will guide you to the Sea God Altar, where the fourth fragment is. As for the fifth..."

The old man took a palm-sized blue crystal from inside his robe. Seawater-like light flowed within it, resonating strongly with the Proof of Balance in Tang San's hand. "This is the fragment I've been guarding. I'm entrusting it to you now. Only by gathering all five fragments can you reforge the Sea God Trident and seal the Shadow Gate again."

Tang San accepted the blue crystal. It was icy cold to the touch, and a current of pure water-element energy surged into his body, merging perfectly with the power of the Chaos Azure Lotus. He bowed solemnly to the old man. "Thank you, senior."

"Go on." The old man waved his hand and gave a light push at the stern with the bone oar. The fishing boat shot toward the depths of the fog like an arrow loosed from a bow. "Remember, the Sea God Trident chooses its master. Only someone who holds balance in his heart can wield it. The Shadow Sect Master has been consumed by darkness. Even if he gets the fragments, he won't be able to reforge it."

The fishing boat passed through the fog, and the view before them suddenly opened up-

A vast undersea canyon appeared before them. A ruined altar stood in its center, with half a golden trident embedded in its top-the third fragment! The Shadow Sect Master stood before the altar, his black robes whipping in the sea wind. Several Deep Sea Soul Beast corpses lay at his feet; he had evidently just fought a battle.

Seeing Tang San and the others, the Shadow Sect Master turned, a glint of greed flashing in his golden eyes. "You came at just the right time. The last two fragments have delivered themselves to my door, saving me the trouble of looking for them."

In the black mist behind him, two other trident fragments could dimly be seen flickering. Dark energy poured into them, attempting to corrupt their power.

"Your time to die has come!" Tang Xiao roared, smashing the Clear Sky Hammer toward the Shadow Sect Master with a force of ten thousand jun.

The Shadow Sect Master neither dodged nor retreated. With a wave of his right hand, he conjured a wall of black energy that blocked the Clear Sky Hammer's attack. Countless tentacles reached out of the wall and coiled toward Tang Xiao's arm.

"Watch out!" Tang San's Blue Silver Grass arrived just in time, wrapping around Tang Xiao's waist and pulling him back. The tentacles struck empty air and hit a stone pillar of the altar, corroding it to powder in an instant.

"You think you can stop me?" The Shadow Sect Master sneered, spreading his black wings once more. "Today, I'll show you the true power of the Dark Plane!"

He formed a seal with both hands, and the seawater around the altar suddenly began to boil. Countless black bubbles rose from the seabed, each containing a twisted dark creature. As the bubbles burst, the creatures roared and charged at Tang San and the others, their numbers endless as the tide.

"Dai Mubai, Tai Long, hold the sides of the boat!" Tang San acted decisively, handing the blue crystal to Lin Ye. "Go to the top of the altar and get the third fragment! Xiao Wu, cover him with Teleportation! Oscar, get your defense sausages ready!"

"Right!"

With their roles assigned, everyone sprang into action. Dai Mubai and Tai Long stood on opposite sides of the fishing boat, unleashing Netherworld Thrust and giant fists to drive back the approaching dark creatures. Oscar's sausages fell like raindrops, bolstering everyone's defense and strength. Xiao Wu's Teleportation flashed across the battlefield, and she used Charm from time to time to disrupt the dark creatures' movements.

Tang San and Tang Xiao, meanwhile, held off the Shadow Sect Master's main attacks. Blue Silver Grass and the Clear Sky Hammer worked seamlessly together, one defending and restraining, the other striking with overwhelming force. For the moment, they stopped his assault.

"Lin Ye, hurry!" Tang San shouted.

Lin Ye nodded. Golden Crow Fire gathered into a pair of wings, allowing him to fly low over the sea. Xiao Wu activated Teleportation just in time, bringing him to the top of the altar in an instant.

"You want the fragment? Did you ask me first?" the Shadow Sect Master roared, lashing a black energy whip at Lin Ye.

Xiao Wu activated Teleportation again and pushed Lin Ye aside, but the energy whip grazed her. Her shoulder corroded instantly, and black blood seeped from it.

"Xiao Wu!" Lin Ye's eyes nearly split with fury. Golden Crow Fire burst forth, forcing back the energy whip as he snatched up the trident fragment from the top of the altar.

"Go, quickly!" Xiao Wu shouted to him through the agony.

Lin Ye gritted his teeth and infused Golden Crow Fire into Xiao Wu's body, temporarily suppressing the corrosion. Then he turned and flew toward the fishing boat.

Seeing this, the Shadow Sect Master broke off his fight with Tang San. With a beat of his wings, he caught up to Lin Ye in an instant, his black claws reaching for the fragment in Lin Ye's hand.

"Don't even think about it!" Tang San's Blue Silver Grass coiled toward the Shadow Sect Master's wings like a spirit serpent. He infused it with the power of the Chaos Azure Lotus, staining the vines with seven-colored light.

The Shadow Sect Master's wings were bound, and his movements stalled. Lin Ye seized the chance to escape back to the fishing boat.

"You're courting death!" the Shadow Sect Master roared. Black energy erupted wildly, forcibly tearing through the Blue Silver Grass binding him, and the golden markings on his wings grew even more sinister. "Since you refuse the toast only to drink the forfeit, you can all become sacrifices to the Shadow Gate!"

He hurled the two fragments in his hand toward the altar, infusing them with dark energy at the same time. The altar shook violently, and a tremendous boom rang out through the undersea canyon. A massive black rift slowly opened, and countless thick tentacles reached out, coiling toward the fishing boat.

"The Shadow Gate... it's about to open completely!" Tang Xiao's expression changed drastically.

Tang San looked at the ever-widening rift, then at the three fragments in his hand. A flash of resolve crossed his eyes. "Lin Ye, give me your fragment!"

Lin Ye immediately handed him the fragment. Tang San put the three fragments together and infused them with the power of the Chaos Azure Lotus and the Proof of Balance. "In the name of balance, I summon the Sea God's Power to reforge the trident!"

The three fragments gave a hum and slowly merged in the light, forming an incomplete trident. Though it was only half a trident, it radiated a pressure that made their hearts tremble.

"This is... the Sea God Trident?" Xiao Wu stared at it in surprise.

"It's not finished yet!" Tang San gripped the half-trident tightly and looked at the last two fragments in the Shadow Sect Master's hand. "We have to get the rest!"

The Shadow Sect Master stared at the half-trident in Tang San's hand. A flicker of fear crossed his eyes, only to be replaced by greed. "That's mine!"

He lunged at Tang San, his black wings carrying enough force to tear space apart.

"Stop him!" Tang San handed the half-trident to Lin Ye. "Protect it!"

Tang Xiao, Dai Mubai and Tai Long charged forward at the same time, using all their strength to hold the Shadow Sect Master back. Oscar threw out all his defense sausages, forming a huge dome of light around the fishing boat.

Tang San seized the opportunity to rush toward the altar. Blue Silver Grass formed a bridge of vines beneath his feet, allowing him to move swiftly through the chaos.

"Little San!" Xiao Wu activated Teleportation again, appearing beside Tang San and charging toward the Shadow Sect Master with him.

The Shadow Sect Master was entangled by Tang Xiao and the others and couldn't break free for the moment. He could only watch as Tang San drew closer. With a furious roar, he hurled the two fragments in his hand toward the rift. "Even if I can't have them, I won't give them to you!"

The fragments flew toward the rift, about to be swallowed by the dark energy.

Just then, the Proof of Balance suddenly flew from Tang San's robes and turned into a streak of light. It caught up to the two fragments, enveloped them and forcibly pulled them back, landing in Tang San's hand.

"How is that possible?!" the Shadow Sect Master cried out.

Tang San grasped the last two fragments, sensing the energy within them. Understanding flashed in his eyes. "The Proof of Balance can not only sense the fragments, it can also purify the dark energy on them!"

He put all the fragments together and infused them with power once more. "Reforge!"

The five fragments fused completely in the light, and a whole Sea God Trident appeared in Tang San's hand. The trident was golden from end to end, with a blue gemstone set at its tip. It radiated the power of balanced light and darkness, perfectly matching the presence of the Chaos Azure Lotus.

"This is... the true Sea God Trident!" The old man's voice came from afar, carrying a pleased smile.

Tang San tightened his grip on the trident, feeling a vast power surge into his body, as if he had formed a connection with the entire ocean. He looked at the Shadow Sect Master, no fear left in his eyes. "Your end has come."

Looking at the complete trident, the Shadow Sect Master finally showed despair. "No-!"

Tang San raised the trident and swung it at the Shadow Sect Master. A wave of golden light surged out like the tide, swallowing him in an instant. The Shadow Sect Master let out a piercing scream. His black wings broke apart inch by inch, and his body melted away in the light, finally turning into a wisp of black smoke that the trident absorbed.

With the Shadow Sect Master's death, the Shadow Gate began to contract, and the dark creatures also dissipated one after another. Tang San seized the chance, raised the trident and thrust it fiercely into the rift. "In the Sea God's name, seal the Shadow Gate!"

The trident plunged into the rift with a deafening boom. The rift steadily shrank in the light and finally closed completely, leaving only the tip of the trident exposed like an eternal seal.

It was all over.

Everyone breathed a sigh of relief and collapsed onto the fishing boat. Tang San held the trident and looked at the sea as it grew calm. He was filled with exhaustion, yet he also felt a peace unlike any he had known before.

The old man's fishing boat slowly drew near. He looked at the trident in Tang San's hand and smiled with satisfaction. "Balance has finally been restored. Thank you, young man."

Tang San planted the trident in the altar, leaving it to continue guarding the seal. "It's what it should do."

He knew that although the Shadow Gate had been sealed, the threat of the Dark Plane had not been eliminated completely. But he was no longer afraid, for he understood the true meaning of balance and had gained the power to protect it.

"Let's go home," Tang San said to his companions.

"Yeah!"

The fishing boat carried them slowly away from the Deep Sea Forbidden Land, heading in the direction of Heaven Dou City. The thick fog over the sea gradually dispersed, revealing a deep blue sky and warm sunlight.

Tang San stood at the bow, gazing at the distant horizon, his heart full of hope. No matter how many challenges lay ahead, as long as his companions remained by his side and their belief in balance endured, they would surely be able to protect this world.

Their story was still unfolding.