Chapter 393: Traversing the Seagod's Light! The Crisis of Star Luo City?
At the foot of Sea God Mountain, the sea breeze blew in with a salty and fishy scent.
Tang Chuan looked up; this giant mountain standing in the very center of Sea God Island wasn't particularly tall, only about a thousand zhang, yet it gave off an overwhelming sense of pressure.
The entire mountain was deep blue, as if carved from a single massive sapphire, refracting a dreamlike halo under the sunlight.
At the base of the mountain, a faint golden light screen poured down from the summit like a waterfall, enveloping the entire mountain. The light screen wasn't dazzling, yet it radiated a heart-palpitating majesty.
That was the Seagod's Light, the first trial of the Seagod Nine Trials.
High Priestess stood at the foot of the mountain, her red robes fluttering. Her gaze swept over the five, finally landing on Tang Chuan: "Seagod Nine Trials, first trial: Traverse the Seagod's Light and reach the summit of Sea God Mountain."
"You need to start from the base and climb upward against the pressure of the Seagod's Light until you reach the summit. For every zhang you ascend, the pressure increases. Only those who reach the top pass."
As she spoke, she looked at Tang Chuan, a flash of complexity in her eyes.
"Ordinary examinees endure the standard Seagod's Light. But as the Sea God's successor, your trial is double the Seagod's Light."
"Double?" Ning Rongrong cried out, her small face turning pale.
Ye Lengleng and Dugu Yan exchanged a glance, worry flashing in their eyes.
Tang Chuan's expression remained unchanged as he said indifferently, "Double it is."
High Priestess nodded, a hint of admiration flashing in her eyes:
"Remember, the Seagod's Light is not just a test of the body, but a baptism of the will and the soul. The higher you go, the greater the pressure, it may even trigger your deepest fears and desires. If you can't hold on, retreat immediately; do not force it."
"Understood."
High Priestess said no more. With a wave of her hand, a deep blue light flew from her palm and merged into the mountain. Suddenly, the golden light screen trembled slightly, seemingly responding to her call.
"Begin."
The five looked at each other and stepped into the light screen simultaneously.
In an instant, Tang Chuan felt a pressure as vast as the ocean surging from all directions, like an invisible giant hand pressing him down firmly!
That was the pressure of double the Seagod's Light, enough to make even an ordinary Titled Douluo find it difficult to move an inch!
But he only paused for a moment before continuing to step upward.
One step, two steps, three steps...
Every step was as heavy as a mountain, leaving deep footprints on the smooth stone stairs.
Yet Tang Chuan's pace remained steady and his breathing even, as if the force capable of crushing a mountain peak was merely a light breeze to him.
Ye Lengleng and the others were not as relaxed as him.
As soon as Ning Rongrong stepped into the light screen, she groaned, her face turning pale. She was a support system Soul Master, and her physical constitution was far inferior to that of a battle Soul Master; the ordinary Seagod's Light was already a massive ordeal for her.
"Rongrong, stay behind me." Ye Lengleng reached out to pull her, the emerald green light of the Nine Heart Begonia flowing in her palm, sharing a portion of the pressure for Ning Rongrong.
Serpent shadows moved around Dugu Yan, the poisonous mist of the Jade Phosphorous Serpent Martial Soul forming a thin barrier around her to offset some of the pressure. Though her steps were heavy, they were still steady.
Xiao Rui'er walked at the back, a vertical eye faintly visible on her forehead, a layer of faint golden light flowing over her body—that was her Origin power as a Hundred Thousand Year Spirit Beast. The Seagod's Light seemed particularly repelled by her; every ripple of light would stir a layer of ripples on her body.
Tang Chuan walked at the very front but suddenly slowed down to walk side-by-side with Xiao Rui'er.
Suddenly, he turned his head and lowered his voice, saying, "Rui'er, I want to ask you something."
"Hmm?"
"Your talent, logically speaking, shouldn't just be the Black Rank Fifth Trial."
Tang Chuan's gaze swept over her face with a hint of inquiry.
Hearing this, Xiao Rui'er fell silent for a moment.
She looked up at the endless stone stairs ahead, then at High Priestess's blurred figure behind them, and said softly, "Perhaps it's because of... my identity."
"Identity?"
"I am a Soul Beast." Xiao Rui'er's voice was very low, so low that only Tang Chuan could hear: "Although the Sea God is the god of the ocean and protects all things, there is ultimately a chasm between Soul Beasts and humans. The Seagod's Light is particularly repelled by me; you should have felt it too."
Tang Chuan had indeed felt it.
The moment they stepped into the light screen, he noticed that the light ripples on Xiao Rui'er were more intense than the others. It wasn't just a matter of pressure, but more like a kind of... rejection.
As if the Seagod's Light was resisting her existence.
"So when the Sacred Pillar judged my talent, it might have lowered my trial level for this reason." Xiao Rui'er's voice was calm, showing little emotion.
"The Black Rank Fifth Trial are already very good. At least I can finish the first trial with you."
Tang Chuan looked at her and suddenly reached out to pat her shoulder: "Don't think too much. Whether it's Black Grade or Red Grade, how far you can ultimately go depends on yourself, not the judgment of the Sacred Pillar."
Xiao Rui'er looked up into his deep eyes, the corners of her mouth curling slightly:
"I know."
The two stopped talking and continued their ascent.
The stone stairs grew steeper, and the pressure increased.
Fifty zhang, one hundred zhang, two hundred zhang...
Ning Rongrong's breathing began to quicken, and fine beads of sweat broke out on her forehead.
The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda in her arms glowed slightly, supporting her own body, but the pressure of the Seagod's Light wasn't just physical weight; it was an all-around crushing force on Soul Power, Spiritual Power, and willpower. The support effect of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda was greatly diminished here.
"Rongrong, hold on." Ye Lengleng gripped her hand, the emerald light of the Nine Heart Begonia continuously flowing into Ning Rongrong's body, healing the tiny injuries caused by the constant pressure.
Dugu Yan walked ahead of the two, the poisonous mist of her Jade Phosphorous Serpent Martial Soul having thickened to a visible degree, enveloping her in an emerald green halo.
Although her face was pale, her steps remained steady.
Xiao Rui'er still walked at the back, the golden dragon spear held horizontally in front of her, the faint golden light on her body growing stronger, constantly clashing with the golden Seagod's Light and producing a faint humming sound.
Tang Chuan walked at the very front, his pace still steady, but his speed had slowed down.
The pressure of double the Seagod's Light was no easy feat even for a Rank 96 Super Douluo like him. He could feel the weight on him increasing with every zhang he ascended, as if the entire Sea God Mountain was his enemy.
But he didn't stop; he didn't even use his Martial Soul or release his Soul Rings, relying solely on physical strength to climb step by step.
Because High Priestess had said that the Seagod's Light was not just a test of the body, but a baptism of the will and the soul. He wanted to use this opportunity to temper his Foundation and hone his state of mind.
Three hundred zhang.
Four hundred zhang.
Five hundred zhang.
The pressure grew so immense that Ning Rongrong could no longer stand; she could only kneel on the stone stairs, panting heavily, the light of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda flickering, having reached its limit.
"I can't... I can't go on," Ning Rongrong said with a sob.
Ye Lengleng was also covered in sweat, her Nine Heart Begonia's healing power nearly exhausted, but she still gritted her teeth and persisted, refusing to let go.
Dugu Yan stopped and looked back at the two, her brow furrowed.
"Rest first. There's no rush; the first trial has no time limit. Take it slow, one step at a time," Tang Chuan suddenly stopped, turned around, and walked back to them.
"Rongrong, you're only fifteen; being able to reach five hundred zhang is already remarkable. Take a break, then we'll continue."
Hearing this, Ning Rongrong nodded with red-rimmed eyes.
The five stopped at the five-hundred-zhang mark, sitting cross-legged to regulate their Soul Power and recover their strength.
Tang Chuan sat on the outermost edge, facing down the mountain, watching the sea area dyed golden by the Seagod's Light, silently calculating in his heart.
The first trial was just the beginning.
The road ahead was still long.
At that moment, Tang Chuan closed his eyes, and the golden trident brand on his forehead glowed slightly, creating a subtle resonance with the Seagod's Light.
The pressure seemed... to have lightened slightly?
Tang Chuan's brow twitched as he had a sudden realization.
Perhaps this was the difference between a Sea God's successor and an ordinary examinee—not just enduring double the pressure, but... finding resonance within the pressure and seeking Fusion within the rejection.
He opened his eyes, a sharp light flashing within them, and said to the four:
"Let's go. I'll lead the way; you follow behind me."
"Rongrong in the center, Lengleng and Yan Zi on the left and right, Rui'er in the rear."
"Understood!"
The five reformed their line and continued their ascent.
Five hundred and fifty zhang.
Six hundred zhang.
Seven hundred zhang.
Tang Chuan's pace grew slower and slower, but he never stopped. He gradually figured out the trick to resonating with the Seagod's Light: not resistance, but compliance; not confrontation, but acceptance.
He opened his mind and body, allowing the Seagod's Light to pour into him, merging with his Soul Power, resonating with his Spiritual Power, and echoing with the mark of the Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud.
The pressure was no longer a burden, but a baptism.
His Soul Power became more condensed under the pressure, his Spiritual Power became purer through the baptism, and the trident brand on his forehead grew brighter and brighter.
Behind him, the four women also felt the change in Tang Chuan.
That change was hard to describe in words, but they could all feel the pressure on Tang Chuan seemed to have lightened, and consequently, the pressure they endured had also decreased.
"Brother Chuan... are you absorbing the Seagod's Light?" Ning Rongrong asked in a low voice.
"It's not absorption; it should be resonance. He has resonated with the Seagod's Light, so the effect of the pressure on him has weakened. And being behind him, we are also benefiting," Ye Lengleng said, shaking her head.
"Doesn't that mean... as long as we follow Tang Chuan, our chances of reaching the top are much higher?"
A look of joy flashed in Dugu Yan's eyes.
"Theoretically, yes," Xiao Rui'er nodded. "But the premise is that Tang Chuan can maintain this state. And the higher we go, the greater the pressure, his resonance effect will also be weakened."
They stopped talking and followed closely behind Tang Chuan, climbing step by step.
When Tang Chuan's foot stepped onto the final stone stair, the golden light screen enveloping the entire Sea God Mountain suddenly jolted and then began to slowly dissipate.
The summit appeared before the five.
It was a platform several hundred zhang wide. In the center stood a small Sea God Temple with its doors tightly shut. In front of the temple stood a three-zhang-tall golden Sacred Pillar, with a fist-sized golden light orb floating at the top, radiating a warm light.
Meanwhile, in Star Luo City.
In the grand hall, the young Star Luo Empire Marshal Marshal of Star Luo sat in his chair, his face ashen.
He was only in his early forties, in his prime, but at this moment, his brow was full of exhaustion and anxiety.
After Dai Mubai killed Dai Weisi a few months ago, he had fled overseas with that Evil Soul Master named Tang San, and his whereabouts remained unknown.
"Marshal, the Spirit Empire's army has broken through Yanmen Pass, and their vanguard is pointing directly at Star Luo City!" The messenger knelt in the center of the hall, his voice trembling. "Golden Crocodile Douluo is personally leading a thirty-thousand-strong Soul Master Legion. The cities along the way are surrendering at the mere sight of them... In three days at most, the enemy will be at our gates!"
Instantly, the court was in an uproar.
"Three days?!" The Minister of War stood up abruptly, his face deathly pale.
"Yanmen Pass has eighty thousand defenders and over twenty Soul Saints stationed there. How could it fall so quickly?"
"Replying to Milord..." The messenger swallowed hard and continued, "The Spirit Empire's vanguard... consists of several Titled Douluo. The defenders... the defenders simply couldn't resist..."
A dead silence fell over the hall.
Even with the full strength of the nation, the Star Luo Empire could only muster a few Titled Douluo. They hadn't expected the Spirit Empire to still possess such terrifying strength even after Bibi Dong's death.
"Marshal!" An old general stepped forward and knelt, shouting loudly, "I request to defend Star Luo City to the death! We sons of Star Luo would rather die than surrender!"
"Defend to the death?" another civil official sneered. "With what? There are fewer than eight thousand Soul Masters in the city, and the ordinary soldiers number only a hundred and fifty thousand. The Spirit Empire has a thirty-thousand-strong Soul Master Legion, and there are six Titled Douluo alone! How is this battle supposed to be fought?"
"You—"
"Enough!"
Marshal of Star Luo slammed his hand onto the armrest, his voice like thunder, making the hall hum.
He took a deep breath, suppressing the anger and fear in his heart, and said solemnly:
"Pass the order: the entire city is under martial law. Conscript all Soul Masters, regardless of Rank, into the city defense legion. Open the armory and distribute all weapons. Requisition grain from the populace and distribute it per capita."
He paused, his gaze sweeping over the officials in the hall. "Send someone... to seek peace with the Spirit Empire."
"Seek peace?!" The old general looked up abruptly, his face full of indignation.
"It's not surrender," Marshal of Star Luo said coldly. "It's seeking peace. It's merely to buy time. As long as we can stall them for a month... in a month, the Heaven Dou Empire to the north might send troops to help."
After all, if the Spirit Empire truly destroyed Star Luo, the Heaven Dou Empire would be next, like lips and teeth; they shouldn't be able to sit idly by.
The officials fell silent.
Everyone knew that seeking peace was merely a stalling tactic.
Since the Spirit Empire had already fought their way to the doorstep, how could they easily stop?
But they also knew that there was no other way.
Three days later.
Star Luo City, South Gate.
As the first light of dawn appeared and the eastern sky just began to turn pale, the earth started to tremble.
It wasn't an earthquake; it was the sound of footsteps.
The sound of countless pairs of feet hitting the ground simultaneously, in unison, like muffled thunder rolling across the plains. Atop the walls of Star Luo City, the defenders gripped their weapons, their faces deathly pale.
On the horizon, a black tide slowly surged forward.
That was the Soul Master Legion of the Spirit Empire.
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