After a long while, the Asura God King left, grumbling as he went.
Gu Xuan understood Asura's point of view perfectly, but he had his own considerations. Before the God departed, Gu Xuan managed to secure a God-Bestowed Soul Ring for Dugu Yan; after all, she was already at Rank 80 and had yet to obtain her eighth ring.
According to Asura, besides Gu Xuan and Dugu Yan, two other young people had inherited the Death God Domain. Among them was a youth with decent talent whom Gu Xuan surmised must be Tang San. Aside from Tang San, it was unlikely anyone else would venture into Slaughter City during this period.
What surprised Gu Xuan was that even without his original opportunities, Tang San had managed to emerge from Slaughter City. Then again, since Gu Xuan and Dugu Yan had already killed the Dark Golden Three-Headed Bat King and the Ten-Headed Fierce Yang Serpent, the difficulty of the Hell Road must have decreased significantly. It was within expectations that Tang San and Hu Liena could make it out.
'So Tang San and Hu Liena are involved now? Did he use the alias Tang Yin again, just like in the original story?'
Gu Xuan shook his head, pushing the thought aside. With his current strength, Tang San was no longer a concern. If he wished, he could kill Tang San with a flick of his wrist—provided he could find him.
With the matter of the Asura God settled, Gu Xuan headed toward Sea God Island. Having visited once before, he had already left spatial coordinates there, making the travel time negligible. With his current power, he could practically reach the island with a single thought.
Two yellow, one purple, two black, three red, and one gold rings—nine brilliant soul rings—rose around Gu Xuan's body. The moment they appeared, the surrounding sea seemed to freeze. His dark black fourth soul ring lit up, and a Spatial Portal appeared before him.
Gu Xuan stepped through. In the next heartbeat, the portal opened on the shore of Seahorse Douluo's island. As he stepped out, he was met by the sight of Seahorse Douluo looking as though he were facing a formidable enemy.
"Senior, we meet again," Gu Xuan said with a slight bow and a smile.
Seahorse Douluo looked at Gu Xuan with uncertainty. After two years, he found himself completely unable to see through the youth. Furthermore, that display of spatial manipulation was enough to leave him astounded.
"Gu Xuan? Are you here to see Lady Ning Rongrong?" Seahorse Douluo asked, lowering his guard.
Gu Xuan nodded. "I've come to see Rongrong and the others."
Seahorse Douluo's expression turned somewhat helpless. "You've come at a bad time. Her Ladyship's trials have entered a critical stage; I'm afraid you won't be able to see her right now. However..."
As Seahorse Douluo spoke, a powerful intent swept across them, transmitting clearly into their minds. "Gu Xuan, come to the Sea God Temple."
The voice was beautiful, making one feel as though they were bathed in a spring breeze. Yet, it was a voice Gu Xuan had never heard before. On Sea God Island, only one person possessed such power: the High Priestess Bo Saixi, a Rank 99 Peerless Douluo.
Hearing the transmission, Gu Xuan smiled at Seahorse Douluo. "Senior, I shall take my leave then."
Seahorse Douluo nodded. He was certain Gu Xuan's strength far surpassed his own, yet he sensed no arrogance or complacency from him. Instead, there was a steady, indescribable aura; facing Gu Xuan, he felt as if the youth's words were absolute and beyond question.
The distance between the islands of Sea God Island was much shorter than the distance from the Demon Whale sea region, so Gu Xuan didn't use any specific skills. He stepped forward, and through absolute control over spatial force, his figure vanished. When he reappeared, he was already standing on the massive circular platform outside the Sea God Temple.
Gu Xuan stood at the edge of the platform. In the center stood a woman of unparalleled grace. She was tall and elegant, her beauty on par with Ning Rongrong and Dugu Yan. She held a two-meter-long scepter, radiating majesty in all directions. Even seeing her for the first time, Gu Xuan knew who she was. Who else could it be but High Priestess Bo Saixi?
"Junior Gu Xuan greets the High Priestess," Gu Xuan said with a slight bow.
Bo Saixi studied Gu Xuan for a moment before nodding. "No need for formalities. Rongrong has excellent taste. She told me you should only be twenty this year, yet your strength is already no weaker than mine. It seems my worries were truly unnecessary."
Gu Xuan was somewhat puzzled by her words, but he could hear the care and affection she held for Ning Rongrong.
"The High Priestess overpraises me. I have simply had a few more opportunities than most," Gu Xuan replied with a smile.
"Fortune is a part of strength. To achieve such results at your age... even the most brilliant man of my era could not compare to you. For Rongrong to be willing to marry you alongside other women, you truly possess extraordinary talent," Bo Saixi said as she turned and began walking into the Sea God Temple. "Follow me. Your companions are inside."
Gu Xuan followed Bo Saixi's pace into the temple. As the inheritance ground of the Sea God, the temple's scale was truly admirable. Various rare treasures were arranged here simply as decorative scenery. Gu Xuan even spotted more than a dozen pieces of precious ten-thousand-year whale glue.
'I really want to take all of this with me,' Gu Xuan thought with a surge of heat in his heart.
Entering the temple, he followed Bo Saixi to a central room of about fifty square meters. Ye Lingling, Ma Bao, and the others were all there. Seeing Gu Xuan, they were overjoyed.
"Gu Xuan!"
"Brother Gu Xuan!"
"Boss..."
Ye Lingling, Li Li, Zhu Zhuqing, and Xue Ke threw themselves directly at Gu Xuan, completely ignoring Bo Saixi's presence. After enjoying only a single day and night as wives following the wedding, they had been separated for two years. Heaven only knew how deeply they had missed him. Seeing him now, they couldn't help but feel a certain physical reaction; the memories of that night two years ago were still vivid.
Gu Xuan drew them into his arms and said softly. "You've worked hard these past few years."
He then looked at Ma Bao, Yang Pojun, Zhan Yu, Zuo Yan, and Shui Bing'er. "It seems your progress has been excellent; you can all hold your own now."
Ma Bao chuckled at the praise. "Boss, I'm already at Rank 85. I feel like I can break through to Rank 90 and become a Titled Douluo within three years!"
Seeing Ma Bao report his level for praise, the others couldn't help themselves either. Gu Xuan listened intently, discovering that their progress over the past two years was significant, averaging an increase of four ranks per year. Two years ago, Ma Bao was at Rank 76; now he was at Rank 85. Excluding the rank gained from a soul ring, he had gained eight ranks in two years.
The others were similar. Zhan Yu, Yang Pojun, and Zuo Yan had risen from Rank 75 to Rank 84. Xue Ke was slightly behind, rising from Rank 71 to Rank 79, just one step away from Rank 80—but this talent was already peak-level, as she was only nineteen! Li Li had also reached Rank 84 from Rank 75.
Zhu Zhuqing and Shui Bing'er had risen from Rank 74 to Rank 83. The highest among them, aside from Ning Rongrong, was Ye Lingling, who had gone from Rank 79 to Rank 88. Her progress was no less than the others, leaving her only two ranks away from the Titled Douluo realm.
Ning Rongrong was not currently in the room, but her level was the highest of all. While the others had completed their trials, her ninth trial was still ongoing. Due to the Sea God inheritance trials, she had received more rewards than the rest, making her progress the greatest over these two years. Two years ago, she was at Rank 77; now she was at the same level as Ye Lingling at Rank 88. She had gained eleven ranks in two years—truly terrifying!
Hearing their levels, Gu Xuan nodded with great satisfaction. "Good. It seems everyone has truly worked hard. I'll reward you once we return."
Everyone looked excited, as Gu Xuan's rewards were usually substantial treasures. The fact that he gave each of his fiancées a soul bone in the past was proof enough.
Gu Xuan looked at Ye Lingling and said. "Your ninth soul ring is already prepared. I've been making preparations since you left two years ago, and they should be complete now. I believe no soul ring will suit you better than that one."
Ye Lingling was stunned for a moment before asking with a smile. "Is this also a gift?"
Gu Xuan lightly pinched her nose and replied. "What do you think?"
Ye Lingling smiled but didn't answer.
At this point, Bo Saixi, who had refrained from interrupting their reunion, spoke up. "Rongrong's trial is complete. She should have received the contents of the eighth trial by now. You are all temporarily free."
Gu Xuan was overjoyed and asked. "High Priestess, where is Rongrong?"
Just as he spoke, Ning Rongrong appeared, holding the Sea God Trident, emerging from the massive blue crystal sphere above the ceiling. Seeing Gu Xuan, she was ecstatic—far more than she had been upon pulling out the trident!
"Brother Gu Xuan!"
Ning Rongrong flew down and threw herself into his arms, squeezing Ye Lingling and the others aside. They didn't mind, as they had already had their turn.
Gu Xuan looked at the valiant Ning Rongrong in his arms and patted her head. "Not bad. You've completed the seventh trial. It seems it won't be long before our Rongrong becomes the Sea God."
He then looked at the trident in her hand. "This must be the legendary divine tool, the Sea God Trident, right?"
At his teasing, Ning Rongrong's face flushed. She handed the trident toward him. "If Brother Gu Xuan wants it, I can let you experience it."
As she handed the trident over, she slipped out of his embrace, a mischievous glint in her eyes, as if waiting to see him make a fool of himself.
Gu Xuan instinctively took it. He suddenly felt a massive force in his hand. Fortunately, his physical constitution had already reached the Demigod level. Even the Sea God Trident, weighing one hundred and eight thousand catties, was merely a slightly heavy weapon in his hands.
Gu Xuan took it with his left hand. Once he saw her slip away, he realized her little scheme, but she was destined to be disappointed. With a slight exertion of force, Gu Xuan began to play with the trident in his hand. The weapon, weighing over a hundred thousand catties, seemed to lose its divine weight in his grasp. If there weren't a lack of space, he would have demonstrated his harpoon techniques.
"Wh... What?!" Ning Rongrong and Bo Saixi cried out in shock simultaneously.
The others might not have known the trident's weight, but the two of them knew it perfectly well. Even a Rank 99 Peerless Douluo would need to use most of their strength to barely lift it, let alone toy with it as casually as Gu Xuan was doing.
Ning Rongrong actually thought the trident only weighed one hundred and eight catties in his hands! Otherwise, how could her brother lift it so easily?
Gu Xuan played with it for a moment, then looked at a curious Ma Bao and held it out. "Xiao Ma, want to try?"
Ma Bao stepped forward excitedly. This was a divine tool! Given the chance to touch it, he wasn't going to be polite. However, to his shock, the trident that looked so ordinary in Gu Xuan and Ning Rongrong's hands changed the moment it hit his palms.
Ma Bao suddenly felt as if he were holding up a mountain. He stumbled and fell forward toward the floor.
Rumble!
The trident pinned Ma Bao's hands to the ground with a thunderous boom. The sound alone was enough to convey how terrifying the weight truly was.
"Argh! Boss, save me! My hands are broken!!!" Ma Bao screamed in pain like he was going mad.
Seeing his exaggerated expression and reaction, the others couldn't help but giggle. Zhan Yu, Yang Pojun, and Zuo Yan were doubling over with laughter.
"Dammit, Brother Ma, you're too funny! Is this thing really that heavy?"
Ma Bao glared at them. "Stop talking trash! Come try and lift it yourselves if you've got the guts!"
Gu Xuan stopped teasing him. With a light flick of his toe, the trident that was crushing Ma Bao's hands was tossed into the air, caught by Gu Xuan's right hand. With the weight removed, Ma Bao scrambled up, vigorously rubbing his hands. If he hadn't reacted quickly and circulated soul power to protect them, his hands truly might have broken.
Though even if they had broken, it wouldn't have mattered much beyond the pain, since Ye Lingling, the Rank 88 Nine Heart Begonia, was right there to heal him.
After the pain subsided, Ma Bao said to Gu Xuan. "Boss, just how strong are you now? This trident is way too heavy! I think I'd need to use my full strength just to lift it, yet you're just holding it like a common weapon?"
Hearing this, everyone finally took note of the situation. They didn't doubt Ma Bao was acting; his scream of pain hadn't been faked. They realized then—if Gu Xuan could toy with something that heavy, just what level had his strength reached?
(End of Chapter)
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