"Hmm? What's that pillar, Uncle?" Meng Yiran asked, pointing at the towering Sacred Totem.
"The Sea God uses the Sacred Totem to send messages," the muscular guard explained. He and several others began performing a ritual, bowing deeply in gratitude for the Sea God's protection.
"You'll receive your challenge here," the man added reverently, eyes fixed on the totem in awe before bowing once more.
A disciple hurried forward. "Master Seahorse, some foreign soul masters are here to accept the challenge from the Sea God."
Tang Yin followed the man's gaze and saw a figure meditating beneath the Sacred Totem—a fish-like man with shimmering scales and eyes that glowed like the ocean's depths. He recognized him instantly as Sea Horse Douluo.
"Land soul masters wish to take the Sea God's challenge?" the fish-man asked, his tone a blend of curiosity and skepticism. With a rapid series of hand signs, glowing runes spiraled into the sky. The Sacred Totem pulsed with a deep blue light, and in an instant, a transparent barrier sealed the entire area.
"You may only proceed with the Sea God's Test if you cross the Sea Within the Sea and stand before the Sacred Totem," Sea Horse douluo declared. To demonstrate, he raised his hand, conjuring a towering wall of water that roared forward, agitating the soul beasts beneath into a frenzy.
Tang Yin only smirked. With a flick of his telekinesis, he levitated himself and several of the girls, while Bai Chenxiang, Xiao Me, and Bing'er soared upward on their martial souls.
"Tang Yin, let me handle this!" Shui Yue'er's eyes gleamed with anticipation as she stepped ahead. She certainly had the confidence.
Seeing her determination, Tang Yin gave a small nod. "Go ahead—but don't kill any of the soul beasts. Just stun them."
As they approached the raging torrent, Shui Yue'er released her martial soul. The Azura Jade Dolphin manifested in a burst of azure light, six dazzling soul rings rising around her. Her sixth ring flared brilliantly, and an energy dome expanded outward, radiating her water domain.
"Water Domain?!" Sea Horse Douluo's brows shot up, his composure faltering as he felt the oppressive aura. The dome wasn't just water—it pulsed with the essence of ultimate Water control and manipulation.
"Sixth Soul Skill—Eternal Frost Domain!"
Her domain surged, amplifying her water attribute by 180 percent and her ice attribute by 90 percent. In an instant, the raging sea froze solid. Churning waves crystallized into jagged ice, while the soul beasts were locked mid-motion, suspended helplessly inside the frozen tide.
Without resistance, Tang Yin and his lovers advanced until they stood before the Totem itself. Meanwhile the onlookers were in awe watching how effortlessly they passed Sea horse Douluo's test.
Sea Horse Douluo's expression was one of disbelief. "Are you 100% certain you are not an Ocean Soul Master? That domain… it carries the power of Ultimate Water. How can this be?"
His gaze hardened in confusion as he asked,
"Talents like you can only be cultivated by the great forces. You're not from Martial Soul Hall, are you? Tell me—where do you all hail from?"
Yue'er smiled sheepishly at the praise and replied earnestly, "I'm not really an Ocean Soul Masters. We came from the Douluo Continent. I'm from Tianshui Academy—so is my sister."
She pointed toward Bing'er, who also nodded politely to Seahorse douluo.
Zhuqing then stepped forward, introducing both herself and Zhuyun as hailing from the Xing Luo Empire. Rongrong proudly declared her status as the next patriarch of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.
Erlong announced her Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon lineage, while Tang Yuehua gracefully introduced herself as the owner of the Moon Pavilion. Meng Yiran puffed out her chest and declared her heritage from Unrivaled Dragon Serpent Clan.
One by one, Dugu Yan, Ye Lingling, Huo Wu, and Bai Chenxiang each began revealing their deep backgrounds.
Finally, Tang Yin pointed to Xiao Wu and Xiao Mei before introducing himself with confidence
"I'm the founder of the Tang Sect. These two are my disciples."
The words rang true, though his companions glanced at him with faint smirks knowingly.
As he finished speaking, Sea Horse Douluo stood utterly stunned, his expression caught between awe and disbelief. One powerhouse name after another—none of them ordinary.
Curiosity burned even stronger in his eyes.
"You all come from such different places, yet here you stand together… How did you meet? How did this group of yours form?"
At that question, every single gaze in the group turned toward Tang Yin. He broke into a cold sweat. There was no chance of escape.
Reluctantly, he scratched his cheek and finally admitted, "Actually… all of them are my lovers."
Hearing him admit it in public without a hint of denial, the women's hearts softened. One by one, they smiled at him warmly—some with quiet pride, others with teasing glints.
Sea Horse Douluo froze on the spot. His jaw dropped. The silence that followed was so thick you could hear the waves crashing against the distant reef.
Then his expression shifted. Awe gave way to bitter envy as his gaze swept across the group. Each woman was a peerless beauty, elegant and radiant, their talent and lineage second to none.
'Hmph! Letting all us single men suffer like this… spreading dog food right in front of me. See if I let you brats pass the Sea God's test so easily! You'll bear my wrath!!'
But just as the sour thought crossed his mind, Tang Yin's body shivered. A strange pressure surged from within him, one that felt utterly alien and divine at at once.
The Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud slipped out of his Spiritual Sea on its own, radiating a divine blue glow. It began rotating and resonated with the towering Sacred Totem before them, and in an instant, Tang Yin felt his body rise from the ground, weightless, suspended in midair.
Sea Horse Douluo's eyes widened in shock.
This aura… the Sea God's energy?! Why is it coming from him? Has Sea God recognized this kid before me?
A bitter realization dawned on Sea Horse as he bowed his head inwardly. 'I can't defy orders coming directly from the Sea God himself…!'
Helpless, he clenched his fists, resigning himself to the truth.