Chapter 363: The Sea God's Illusion Ends
As the saying goes, "Without comparison, there is no harm." Had Bibi Dong seen the Nine Core Competitiveness Theories of Martial Souls before taking this exam, she would have believed it to be the most standard, flawless answer worthy of full marks.
But now, after completing this test—a paper she had painstakingly crafted through extensive research in the Spirit Hall's library and the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan's archives, deliberated over, checked repeatedly, and finally written with absolute confidence in its perfection—she realized something horrifying.
When compared to her own nine principles, the Nine Core Competitiveness Theories—aside from the section on soul ring acquisition—were utterly crushed in every other aspect. Not even scraps remained. If her answers were a 100-point masterpiece, the Nine Core Competitiveness Theories wouldn't even pass, riddled with holes and logical inconsistencies.
Bibi Dong couldn't accept it. She refused to accept it.
She had loved Yu Xiaogang for two lifetimes, across multiple illusions. Why? Why had she fallen for him? Why had she abandoned everything for him? It was because of his theoretical knowledge, his unparalleled wisdom that no one in the world could match!
For Yu Xiaogang, she had even sacrificed her beloved disciple—her own daughter—in the first trial. In the second illusion, she'd been beaten to death by her descendants. In the third, she'd endured being turned into a "cream puff" daily, all because of him.
If she were to doubt Yu Xiaogang now, to question the very intellect she'd fallen in love with… then what did that make her choices? What did that make her suffering? Wouldn't that mean she was the greatest fool and lunatic in the world?
Tears streamed from Bibi Dong's eyes, soaking her exam paper.
No! This was just a theory Xiaogang summarized in three months! Flaws and imperfections are normal! He still has integrity! He still has the courage to persevere through adversity! The man I love is not a mistake!
Clutching this last shred of idealized virtue—her final lifeline—Bibi Dong submitted her paper, patching and revising Yu Xiaogang's Nine Core Competitiveness Theories where needed.
"The fourth trial of the Sea God's Ninth Examination is complete. Reward: All soul rings increased by 10,000 years. The fifth trial begins in one minute."
Hearing that each completed trial boosted her soul rings by 10,000 years, Bibi Dong felt as if her heart were bleeding. *One trial = 10,000 years.* If she cleared all five, her soul rings would each gain 50,000 years! By the end, her lowest-ranked soul ring would be a 100,000-year one! How magnificent would that be?
Now, having lost 30,000 years already, even if she passed the fifth trial, she'd never achieve all-black soul rings.
A minute later, Bibi Dong found herself transformed again—this time into an adorable six-year-old girl. But instead of being sold off by Qian Xunji, she was born within the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, the child of two inner-sect disciples. And she was the same age as Yu Xiaogang.
A resonant voice echoed, no longer mechanical but filled with reverence:
"For inheriting the Sea God's divinity, all soul rings increased by 10,000 years!"
"SEA! GOD! DESCENDS!"
A torrent of divine energy engulfed the Demon Spirit Great White Shark as the Sea God's mantle fused into its body. The shark's 20-meter-long frame ballooned to 100 meters—a living island—its aura barely surpassing Level 99, comparable to the original timeline's Divine Netherworld白虎 (likely the weakest tier of divinity).
If slain, it would yield a golden soul ring and a divine-grade soul bone.
A colossal golden pillar erupted into the sky, illuminating all of Sea God Island. The surrounding seas roared with 30-meter waves, celebrating their master's return!
Tang Tian and Tang Hu, having assisted in the trial, gained 10 soul power levels and received a God-Bestowed Soul Ring.
The four Sea Pillar Douluo (Sea Horse, Sea Witch, Sea Star, Sea Ghost) earned 5 levels and +4,000 years to all soul rings.
Bo Saixi stood frozen in grief and confusion. Why? Why would the Sea God grant his throne to Bibi Dong?
Suddenly, she turned—her replaced Rakshasa God Martial Soul was burning with unprecedented malice, its power surging violently.
"AAAAAAAAAH—!!"
A scream sharper than blades tore through the sky. Bibi Dong's voice, raw with insanity, pierced the eardrums of everyone present, including the celebrating Sea Pillar Douluo and Tang clansmen.
Ten soul rings hovered at her feet: two red, three black, one red, three black, and one violet-gold. Not a single one had reached 90,000 years. The resentment radiating from her body drowned the Sea God's sacred light, as if the two forces existed on entirely different planes.
In the final illusion, Bibi Dong had lived as a Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon inner-sect disciple—innate soul power of 7, though without the clan's signature martial soul. As she grew, she became the clan's "flower," its most beautiful maiden.
Yu Xiaogang, leveraging his status as the clan leader's son, hoarded cultivation resources—even stealing from other disciples—to force his progress. His actions sparked outrage among non-bloodline members, who hurled endless insults at him.
Bibi Dong, leveraging her talent and charm, secretly funneled resources to him.
When Yu Xiaogang hit Level 29 and stalled indefinitely, the marginalized disciples banded together to expose him. To quell the unrest, he planned to leave—both to appease the clan and seek breakthroughs elsewhere.
But Yu Yuanzhen refused to let his son go. Instead, he pinned the blame on Bibi Dong.
Her punishment? Forced labor in the spirit mines.
Yu Xiaogang said nothing. He only watched her go, his face etched with silent apology.
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