Chapter 102: The Missing Piece
In the video.
After briefly recounting the glorious deeds of the Sea God, Bo Saixi looked up and said, "What is embedded here upside down is the weapon that accompanied the Sea God throughout his life and is also a vessel for part of his divine power. Pulling it out is your only trial. Only with its recognition can you truly take the key step toward becoming the Sea God."
Neptune lifted his head, his gaze locking onto the black staff standing upright at the center of the Sea God's platform. No wonder it looked like a rod turns out it was the inverted handle of the Sea God's Trident.
Fixing his gaze on the Trident, Neptune did not hesitate as he stepped forward toward the platform. The spot where the Trident was embedded was not only the center of the platform and the Sea God's Palace but also the very heart of Sea God Mountain itself. It was as if the entire mountain existed solely for this weapon.
Upon stepping onto the third level, he finally faced the weapon left behind by the Sea God. The exposed portion of the Trident's handle was about three meters long and as thick as a child's arm. It was pitch black and dull, with only faint, intricate patterns barely visible on its surface.
Without hesitation, nine soul rings emerged around Neptune, and at that moment, his spirit, energy, and focus reached their peak. Letting out a deep shout, he took a bold step forward, arriving right in front of the Trident. Lifting both hands, he gripped its handle tightly.
At the same time, the golden Trident insignia on his forehead shone brightly. A concentrated beam of divine light illuminated the handle in front of him.
Boom
Starting from where Neptune grasped it, a faint golden hue began to spread. The originally dark handle became laced with thin golden lines, glowing as waves of golden energy radiated outward.
Suddenly, the scene in the video jumped.
The perspective now shifted to what appeared to be a storage room, filled with numerous seemingly valuable treasures.
Viewers in the live broadcast were puzzled.
The screen zoomed in on one of the boxes, which trembled violently before its lid popped open, revealing its contents.
Inside was an incredibly peculiar object completely translucent blue, shaped like a three dimensional triangle. It seemed to be carved from sapphire, only about the size of a palm. The shimmering blue light it emitted gave off a sacred aura, and waves of strange energy continuously pulsed from within.
On the surface of the blue triangular object, ripples like flowing water could be seen. These patterns were not carved in but appeared to be alive, pulsating with blue light that filled the storage room with an ethereal glow.
[Huh? What is that…?]
[Isn't that the Heaven Dou Empire's national treasure, the Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud?]
[So this place must be the empire's treasure vault?]
[This artifact's origins have always been mysterious, but now it seems to be connected to Sea God Island?]
[Wait a second! Could this be the so called Heart of the Sea God?]
[Not sure… but it's highly likely!]
A flood of comments scrolled past.
In the video, the Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud suddenly activated on its own, slowly levitating before transforming into a golden beam of light that shot upward.
Bang!
The thick, solid ceiling of the treasure vault offered no resistance as the golden light easily pierced through it.
After leaving the vault, the golden light soared into the sky, speeding toward the ocean at an astonishing pace.
The scene shifted again, returning to the Sea God's Palace.
Neptune remained in his stance, gripping the Trident's handle, his entire body glowing with a brilliant blue light. Under his effort, the Trident was slowly rising.
Gradually, the viewers could see the connection between the handle and the Trident's head a series of circular joints interlocked tightly. The closer it got to the top, the wider the segments became. As the embedded portion rose, the edges of the triangular Trident head came into view, each side featuring a crescent shaped pattern.
From this angle, the Trident head was massive. The higher it was pulled, the heavier the handle felt in Neptune's grip. In just this short span of time, exhaustion had already started creeping into his body.
Gritting his teeth, he mustered every ounce of strength!
A sharp, grating sound echoed as the Trident continued its slow ascent. From the triangular base, two sharp, heavy edges extended outward, forming the bottom of the mighty weapon's head.
As expected of a Trident, it had three prongs the two outer prongs were relatively slender, while the central one was particularly broad, resembling a sword. At the core of the wide central blade, right where it connected to the handle, was a large diamond shaped hole. It made the Trident look as if it was missing something.
Seeing this, the live viewers suddenly realized something.
[I get it now! The Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud must have been originally embedded in the Trident!]
[So that's what the Heart of the Sea God is!]
[But something doesn't add up wasn't this artifact supposed to be Sea God Island's greatest treasure? How did it end up lost, only to become the Heaven Dou Empire's national treasure?]
[That probably happens in the future. Do you think someone could take the Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud to Sea God Island ahead of time and inherit the Sea God's position?]
[You're overthinking it! The Heart of the Sea God is just one of the prerequisites for inheriting the Sea God's power. Just possessing it doesn't mean you can become the Sea God's successor. The key factors are one's qualifications and whether the deity acknowledges them.]
[If someone took it there, the most likely outcome would be the Heart of the Sea God simply being reclaimed. You saw in the video despite being thousands of miles away, the Sea God was able to summon it back from the mainland. This proves that its true owner has always been the Sea God, not whoever happens to possess it.]
[So, the Sea God can call it back whenever they wish.]
[That makes sense I hadn't thought about that!]
The comment section buzzed with discussion as people shared their thoughts. Because everyone was anonymous, many so called "secrets" were casually revealed.
Back in the video.
Despite Neptune's efforts, he had only managed to pull out a third of the Trident's head. The intricate patterns on the handle had all been activated. Though the light wasn't dazzling, the golden engravings were far more magnificent than the previous dull black appearance.
Yet, it felt as if he had reached an impasse. Or perhaps, something crucial was still missing.
The Sea God's Trident could no longer be lifted any further.
Neptune and the weapon remained locked in this stalemate.
[Why does it look like he can't pull it out any further?]
[Could it be because the Heart of the Sea God is missing?]
[Without it, is pulling out the Trident impossible?]
[No way… is he about to fail at the final moment?]
A string of worried comments flooded in.
Fortunately, after a brief standoff, the missing "piece" finally arrived.
A golden streak of light shot in from the distance.
As it neared, the light faded, revealing the blue triangular artifact the Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud. It rotated rapidly in mid air, exactly the same object that had previously flown out of the Heaven Dou treasure vault.
Then, something miraculous happened.
The Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud stopped in front of the diamond shaped hole in the Trident's head. Its form shifted, transforming into a deep blue gemstone. Its size was a perfect match for the hole in the Trident. It fell precisely into place.
Buzz
The air seemed to freeze. A powerful golden aura burst forth from the Trident's head. At that moment, Neptune and the Trident truly connected. Identical golden engravings exploded from his body, mirroring those on the weapon!
(End of Chapter)
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