Star Luo Royal Academy, Central Martial Arena.
Dai Mubai knelt on one knee, panting heavily. Blood streaked the corner of his mouth, his white clothes were torn in several places, revealing purplish bruises underneath. Standing next to him, Zhu Zhuqing looked pale and was breathing hard too. Her black bodysuit accentuated her beautiful curves, but now she appeared rather disheveled.
Opposite them, Dai Weisi stood with calm composure, just a slight sheen of sweat on his forehead as he slowly lowered the right hand covering his face. Standing by his side, Zhu Zhuyun gracefully tidied her slightly tousled hair. Cat-like phantom shadows danced at her fingertips, and a victorious smirk played across her lips.
Striding forward, Dai Weisi looked down at his younger brother with an arrogant, condescending air.
"Hey, little brother," he sneered, "So much time has passed... but it seems your strength hasn't improved much."
"Do you really think you can compete for the starting position with such half-hearted skills? That's... far too presumptuous."
Despite his defeat, Dai Mubai showed little irritation. Without flinching, he wiped the blood from his lips. Seven years younger than Dai Weisi, it was only natural there'd be a clear gap in both their soul power and combat experience.
Losing wasn't a surprise. Not only was Dai Mubai unfazed, he even flashed a sardonic smile and met Dai Weisi's gaze head-on.
"So what?"
"Brother, I can fail as many times as I need to. Maybe I'll lose today, maybe tomorrow, and maybe the day after that as well... But I have more than enough time and opportunity to sharpen my skills, to catch up, and... to wait."
He paused there, the corners of his mouth curling into a broad grin, his eyes carrying a satisfied but slightly unsettling gleam, as though hiding a trump card.
"But you? You only get—one chance."
"No." Dai Mubai shook his head lightly, his tone turning even more mocking. "To be exact, there's not even a single possibility for you to fail."
With that, he ignored Dai Weisi's face, which had darkened in an instant. He tipped his chin toward Zhu Zhuqing at his side, turned on his heel, and strode flamboyantly from the soul arena—almost arrogantly.
Zhu Zhuqing quietly followed behind him, her icy gaze sweeping over the pale-faced Dai Weisi and Zhu Zhuyun without any hint of fear.
Watching Dai Mubai's fading figure, Dai Weisi slowly clenched his fist, the knuckles whitening. His expression grew even darker, as though water might drip from his face.
Just a few days before, when the legendary Sea God Douluo herself visited Star Lou City, Dai Mubai seemed to have acquired a formidable new supporter overnight. His attitude grew brash, and he now openly provoked and taunted Dai Weisi.
However, wary as he was of the Clear Sky Sect backing Dai Mubai—and especially the mysterious Bo Saixi—Dai Weisi hadn't dared go all out, and every attack was forcefully restrained at the last moment.
Dai Mubai's repeated, arrogant provocations laid his true intentions quite bare.
Clearly, Tang Xiao and the Clear Sky Sect manipulating Dai Mubai meant to use Bo Saixi's power to shove Dai Mubai forcibly onto Star Luo Empire's main stage—to aim for its highest position.
Even Dai Weisi, a prince, keenly felt the pressure. There was no way the emperor, Dai Liang, was oblivious, but for now he could only provide secret support; he could no longer act according to the Star Lou royal house's old rules.
By his side, Zhu Zhuyun's face was just as cold, her eyes brimming with resentment. In the past, she'd often suppressed Zhu Zhuqing in their family's internal strife, but it wasn't that she hadn't any sisterly affection—on the contrary, she showed mercy often, rather than applying harsher means. In her mind, drawing Zhu Zhuqing away from Star Lou had always been a form of "protection" and "accomplishment."
Who would have expected that Zhu Zhuqing's return would result not in gratitude, but in her uniting with Dai Mubai, treating her elder sister as an enemy, and showing no mercy in their battles.
"Don't worry," Dai Weisi noticed her anxiety and gently patted the back of her hand. He spoke in a low voice, "This is far from over."
He lifted his head, gazing beyond the noisy training area towards the inner courtyard of the academy, where Sea God Douluo had recently taken up temporary residence.
"The result's not decided yet," Dai Weisi's lips curved into a chilly smile, his eyes brimming with calculation and undaunted fighting spirit.
"That Sea God Douluo—along with the Clear Sky Sect—maybe they can't really overturn this situation after all. Perhaps… this impressive display is just their last burst of energy."
…
Deep within the Star Luo Royal Academy lay a secluded courtyard where Bo Saixi temporarily resided.
Soft blue-gold light slowly receded like the tide, eventually gathering into a pale-gold trident mark on Bo Saixi's right wrist. The vast, sacred aura that filled the quiet room gradually dissipated.
Bo Saixi withdrew her right hand and let out a long breath. Though always graceful, there was an unspoken weariness etched on her face.
Repeated use of Sea God's power to purify the impure energies in Tang San's body was quite taxing, even for her.
"Let's stop here for today." Her voice was gentle and composed as she looked at Tang San, who was seated cross-legged in the center of the quiet chamber.
Tang San slowly opened his eyes. A fleeting purple light flashed through them before being replaced by clarity. He moved his limbs, feeling his soul power circulating within more smoothly than ever before, and was relieved to sense the fierce chill within himself had lessened once again.
He quickly rose and bowed respectfully.
"Thank you for your help, Senior."
Throughout this period, Bo Saixi employed the Sea God's Light every few days to cleanse and wash away the evil aura within him.
Bo Saixi nodded slightly, regarding Tang San with a hint of concern.
"No need to be so polite. I'm merely following the will of the Sea God to assist you."
Since finding Tang San at Shrek Academy, Bo Saixi had detected a hidden danger within this "chosen one." This child possessed extraordinary talent, but his body was shrouded in a filthy, chaotic, and wicked aura.
Though that aura harmonized well with Tang San's martial spirit and soul power, Bo Saixi, as a vessel of Sea God's might, still sensed its alien nature clearly. It reminded her of the depraved sea spirits and spirit beasts that dwelt in the ocean, beings who knew only killing and fighting.
Still, the power within Tang San was purer and more deeply hidden.
"In your future cultivation, you must be especially cautious," Bo Saixi said, her tone grave as she watched Tang San. "External forces may offer a quick path to strength, but ultimately, that's a castle built on unstable foundations. Become overly dependent or lose control, and you may never achieve true greatness."
She looked at him with a complex expression. This youth wasn't just the Sea God's successor; he was also the great-grandson of Tang Chen, the one who best exemplified the Tang clan's illustrious bloodline. From every perspective, she hoped Tang San wouldn't be enticed by evil power, but would walk a brighter, more promising path.
Bo Saixi didn't actually mind Tang San's "fallen" aura too much. Sea God Island was fundamentally inclusive and flexible in nature. In their philosophy, power in itself was neither inherently good nor evil. All depended on the wielder's character and faith in the Sea God.
Otherwise, the Great White Shark clan—born fierce, violent, and fond of hunting other sea soul beasts—would never have been permitted to guard Sea God Island for generations, nor would their core members have been allowed to bathe in the Sea God's Light.
So in Bo Saixi's view, as long as Tang San ultimately chooses to believe in the Sea God and accepts his baptism, such small issues would be resolved naturally—on the condition, of course, that he truly is willing to believe.
If not, regardless of a person or beast's status, Sea God Island would show them no mercy should they defy the divine radiance.
Listening to her, Tang San felt a chill in his heart and bowed his head again, "This disciple will remember your teachings and proceed with caution."
Bo Saixi said nothing more, waving her hand. "Digest what you have learned today. The Sea God's Light cannot be absorbed overnight. You must build it up, step by step."
…