Chapter 459: State of the Continent, Qian Renxue and Bibi Dong
"Everyone, please follow me."
Sea Dragon Douluo's gaze was complex as he looked at Dai Yao and the others arriving before the Sea God Temple, but he kept his emotions in check, stepping aside to lead the way.
Dai Yao nodded, holding Zhu Zhuqing's hand as they followed him slowly toward the temple that all spirit masters on Sea God Island held sacred.
Outside the Sea God Temple, hundreds of jade pillars encircled the structure, each engraved with countless depictions of sea spirit beasts in varied, majestic forms, seemingly bowing in reverence to the deity enshrined within the temple.
Zhu Zhuqing and the others took in their surroundings in awe. Though they had been on Sea God Island for years, this was their first time standing so close to the Sea God Temple.
"Everyone, I cannot go beyond this point." Sea Dragon Douluo bowed slightly, speaking respectfully. "This is as far as I can take you."
"Thank you, Elder," Dai Yao said, bowing in gratitude, joined by Zhu Zhuqing and the others, who offered a respectful thanks in unison.
As Sea Dragon Douluo turned to leave, the stone doors of the Sea God Temple opened slowly, and a cool voice echoed from within. "Enter."
The group moved forward into the temple. To the women's surprise, the interior of the legendary Sea God Temple wasn't grand or ostentatious as they expected, but instead simple and austere. There were no windows, and the darkness and lack of decoration made the space seem timeless.
Before them were seven raised platforms, with an eighth, larger platform towering above them all. On that platform stood a dark, rod-like object embedded in the stone.
Seated before it, Bo Saixi wore a flowing red dress, her graceful figure facing the dark "rod."
"You're here?"
Bo Saixi floated gently into the air, turning to face them with a slight smile.
"Greetings, Elder."
Dai Yao and the others lowered their voices in reverence, not wanting to disturb the tranquil atmosphere, and bowed solemnly.
With a warm smile, Bo Saixi said, "Before you begin the seventh trial, let me tell you a story…"
The group quieted, listening closely to her tale.
"The ocean is four times the size of the land, vast and boundless, home to countless spirit beasts. Many sought to unite the ocean, but none possessed the absolute power to do so. This led to endless battles and chaos.
"In this turmoil, one individual rose above. Alone, wielding a trident, they subdued countless powerful spirit beasts and ultimately united the seas. This individual was revered by all ocean dwellers as the Sea God.
"Now, millions of years later, the Sea God has become a legend. Yet, his weapon, the Sea God Trident, remains in the human realm. To gain its recognition is to gain the chance to inherit his mantle. And this… is your seventh trial."
Her words landed in their minds like a boulder dropped into a still lake.
While Dai Yao showed no reaction, having anticipated this, the others stared in shock. If the seventh trial was for Dai Yao to draw the Sea God Trident, didn't that mean he had a chance to… become a god?
Dugu Yan looked at the dark "rod" behind Bo Saixi, trembling slightly as she asked, "Elder, could the Sea God Trident you mentioned be the… the one behind you?"
Bo Saixi smiled and nodded, glancing at the weapon embedded in the stone. "Yes, you are correct. That is the Sea God Trident."
She went on, "A spirit master who reaches level ninety-nine wields the greatest power within the limits of the world's rules. However, taking the final step—surpassing these rules to become a god—can be done only in two ways."
"The first way is to gather the faith of all living beings, drawing on the power of their wishes to break through to level one hundred. This path is incredibly difficult, and only a few in all history have succeeded. The Sea God took this path."
"As I am a believer in the Sea God, I am ineligible to receive others' faith. In my centuries of service, I've only encountered one other who might have had the potential to become a god, but he disappeared many years ago and may no longer be alive." At this, a fleeting sorrow crossed Bo Saixi's face.
Dai Yao knew exactly who she referred to: Tang Chen, the ancestor of Tang San. Yet he held back from revealing Tang Chen's fate, lest it rekindle her will to survive and lead to unwanted complications.
The four women were enthralled by Bo Saixi's tale. Such secrets were beyond what they could have hoped to learn.
"The second path is to receive an existing god's approval. By passing their trials, one can inherit their divine position. And, Dai Yao, your Sea God Nine Trials serve precisely this purpose. Once you complete them, you will inherit the Sea God's mantle, becoming the next Sea God, ruler of the vast ocean."
Bo Saixi's voice rose, echoing through the temple, her eyes shining with fervor. To see the Sea God reappear in the world had been her lifelong dream.
The women were left speechless, glancing at one another in awe. When they looked again at Dai Yao's back, he seemed almost unfamiliar, as if he'd become something unreachable.
Their husband was about to become a god, an exalted being who watched over the human world from above.
Bo Saixi rose and spoke solemnly, "Dai Yao, I'm telling you this because you've completed the first six trials, the foundational steps of the Sea God's Nine Trials. The final three can either be near-impossible or easy to overcome. It all depends on you."
"The Sea God Trident behind me is his sacred weapon. To draw it forth is the key step in your path toward godhood."
"Go ahead—draw it."
Dai Yao nodded, leaping lightly onto the raised platform. He looked at the dark "rod" in front of him, unsure how to describe the emotions stirring within him.
He had spent over twenty years on the Douluo Continent, journeying through Xingluo, Tian Dou, the Spirit Hall, and enduring countless trials. After founding his own sect, reclaiming Xingluo, avenging blood debts, and coming to the Sea God Island for training, he had gained many advantages once meant for Tang San. Now, he was on the verge of taking the very position of god that had originally belonged to Tang San. Yet, he felt no guilt.
He didn't presume to give Douluo a better future than Tang San could have, but he knew that by inheriting the Sea God's power, he could better protect his cherished family amid the continent's growing unrest.
Slowly, Dai Yao reached out to grasp the trident, his eyes shining with determination.
In that moment, Zhu Zhuqing, Dugu Yan, Feng Wutong, and Ning Rongrong released their martial souls, each activating their respective domains to support Dai Yao.
Under their focused gaze, the golden light of the trident mark on Dai Yao's forehead intensified. With a grinding sound that grated on their ears, streaks of molten gold flowed from the black surface of the trident, restoring its original golden brilliance…
Spirit City, Hall of Consecration.
In the resplendent Angel Shrine, beneath the dignified statue of the Angel God, Qian Daoliu gazed down at the kneeling Qian Renxue with a cold look in his eyes that barely concealed a trace of satisfaction.
"Xiaoxue, after successfully drawing the Angel God's weapon and earning its recognition, all that remains is for you to fully absorb the spirit bones of the Angelic Armor. Once your spirit power reaches level ninety-nine, you'll ascend as the new Angel God!"
Qian Daoliu's deep, resounding voice echoed within the hall.
Qian Renxue knelt on the ground with the Angelic Sword resting across her legs. Her cold eyes sparkled with faint joy as her fingers traced the seemingly living surface of the blade. Yet, she had no one to share this joy with.
A faint image of a figure with flowing golden hair surfaced in her mind. She smiled bitterly, thinking of him—he had vanished long ago.
"Thank you, Grandfather," she said, her voice cool.
Throughout her trials, Qian Daoliu had been stern, granting her no exceptions, demanding only relentless training. There had been no familial warmth, and perhaps because they had been separated for years, her grandfather seemed a stranger to her.
With his hands clasped behind his back, Qian Daoliu gazed up at the angelic statue, a hint of sorrow in his eyes. "Sigh… if Xun Ji could see you now, he would be so proud…"
Qian Renxue said nothing in response.
After a moment, Qian Daoliu returned to himself, stepping over to her side with a softer tone. "Xiaoxue, get up. Walk with me." He hesitated before adding, "Don't blame me for being strict with you. If I hadn't, our angel bloodline might have already vanished from the continent."
Qian Renxue rose slowly, the Angelic Sword resting on her back, following beside Qian Daoliu. She asked, uncertainly, "Grandfather… does that woman really make you so uneasy?"
"Three years ago, she established the Wuhun Empire, launching an invasion that struck both major empires. She defends against Xingluo Empire's onslaught on one front while advancing against Tiandou Empire on another, achieving tremendous success on both fronts.
"The Wuhun Hall has effectively become her domain now. According to Elder Xiongshi, the power of the Supreme Pontiff's Hall is entirely disregarded, and even Serpent Spear Douluo Elder She Long and Thorny Dolphin Douluo Elder Ci Xue no longer heed the commands of the Hall of Consecration."
"If you came out of seclusion, Grandfather, that woman wouldn't dare act so brazenly!" Qian Renxue said with conviction.
Standing at the cliff's edge and gazing over Spirit City, Qian Daoliu's golden eyes revealed a hint of helplessness. He sighed, "Xiaoxue, you don't understand. Bibi Dong's strength has completely changed. She's reached my level, and she's just one step away from becoming a true deity."
"If it weren't for her demanding standards for spirit rings and the difficulty of obtaining a hundred-thousand-year ring, she might have already taken that final step. Against her current strength, even I must proceed with caution."
"This is why I have to push you so hard to become the Angel God as soon as possible. If Bibi Dong achieves the Rakshasa God position first, our Angel lineage will vanish from history…"
The revelation left Qian Renxue shaken. She gripped the Angelic Sword tightly, her lips pressed together, before saying, "I understand, Grandfather."
Qian Daoliu nodded, satisfied. He had never spoken to her about this before, fearing it might interfere with her cultivation. Now that she had completed the seventh trial, he could finally tell her the full truth without fear of distraction. After a while, Qian Daoliu left, leaving Qian Renxue alone at the cliffside.
The mountain wind tousled her soft golden hair, and she smiled bitterly as she thought to herself, "Dai Yao, you urged me to reconcile with her, to understand her, but you never could have known that she… would never let me go…"
After a long time, a hint of uncontrollable longing appeared in her golden eyes.
"Where are you now?" she murmured. "If I were to die, would I see you again?"
Bibi Dong was only a step away from godhood, and Qian Renxue had only completed the seventh trial, with two more remaining. To surpass Bibi Dong and ascend first was a dauntingly slim chance. If Bibi Dong achieved divinity before her, she knew all too well what her fate would be…
Spirit City, Supreme Pontiff's Hall
Bibi Dong sat high on the Supreme Pontiff's throne, her purple and gold crown on her head, holding the Pontiff's staff. With one arm propping up her head, her eyes were half-closed, her long legs wrapped in purple silk crossed elegantly. Her voice was cool as she spoke. "Nana, what's the current status of the battle?"
Below the throne, hundreds of red-robed bishops knelt in silence, each one absolutely still. Every one of them was a Spirit Douluo level or higher, and in the Wuhun Hall, only Bibi Dong could command such respect.
As soon as Bibi Dong's words fell, a graceful figure stepped forward from among those standing closest.
Hu Liena's orange hair fluttered as the clear sound of her heels striking the floor filled the hall. She stopped and reported respectfully, "Teacher, on the Xingluo Empire front, we seized Wuguan, and despite several hundred counterattacks from Xingluo, we repelled every one. On the Tiandou front, our spirit master forces supported allied kingdoms and dealt a significant blow to Tiandou's troops at Jialing Pass."
"Our Empire's forces have also pushed as far as the Fasino administrative highlands," she added.
As both the Holy Maiden of Wuhun Hall and the Empire's second-in-command, Hu Liena was responsible for reviewing all wartime reports before presenting them to Bibi Dong.
Satisfied, Bibi Dong nodded slightly. "Good. What about the Clear Sky Clan within Tiandou Empire?"
Hu Liena's expression tightened as she replied, "Within Tiandou, the Clear Sky Clan's spirit masters have been relentlessly harassing us, especially the few Titled Douluo among them. Their strength has proven difficult for our elders to handle."
Hearing this, Bibi Dong opened her eyes slowly. Her beautiful gaze turned icy as her fingers tapped rhythmically on the throne, the clear sound echoing in the spacious hall. After a pause, her voice rang out coldly.
"Direct the Empire's army to advance steadily toward Tiandou City. Draw reinforcements from the Xingluo front to strengthen the forces pressing Tiandou. By year's end, I want them at Tiandou City's gates. At that point, I will personally eliminate the Clear Sky Clan from the continent!"
"If you all meet my goals, I will reward you generously. But if you fail and disrupt my plans, prepare to answer with your lives!"
Her frigid voice resonated throughout the hall, and the hundreds of bishops responded in unison. "Yes, Your Holiness!"
Like a receding tide, the red-robed bishops exited the Supreme Pontiff's Hall, leaving it silent once more.
As Bibi Dong gazed over the empty hall, a faint flush of feverish color appeared on her face. Since Dai Yao's departure, her illness had worsened, and she had resorted to self-punishment for solace, as if to atone for her past decisions.
After a long while, she murmured to herself, "Dai Yao, when you return, I will have a grand gift prepared just for you…"
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