Tang Lan's soul manifestation at the Sea God Temple entrance—
🔹 Earned a satisfied nod from glasses-wearing scholar maid Shelley.
"As expected of the one chosen by Lord Sea God, truly impressive."
But then—
🔹 She hesitated, a hint of sorrow flickering in her eyes.
Yet, she quickly hid it away, waving her hand.
The side door of the Sea God Temple creaked open.
"From now on, I will open this door for you at sunset every day."
"It will close again at sunrise."
"Remember the timing."
"The High Priestess has been waiting for you inside. Enter."
Her tone was strictly businesslike.
But Tang Lan knew the truth.
Unlocking the Sea God's Nine Trials required Bo Saixi to sacrifice herself.
Shelley was simply heartbroken for Bo Saixi.
Tang Lan had no words to console her.
The "Complete Divine Inheritance Ceremony Encyclopedia" made it clear—
🔹 The sacrifice was necessary.
🔹 It opened the passage between the mortal world and the Divine Realm.
🔹 Without it, the god's position couldn't descend.
This was a deliberate restriction—
To prevent soul beasts from secretly ascending and causing trouble in the Divine Realm.
Only Divine Kings had the power to freely traverse between realms without assistance.
That was why the Sea God, as a first-tier god, needed Nine Trials—
While Destiny God (under Life God-King) was simply granted godhood at Rank 99.
Hah.
Classic case of "who sits on the throne decides the rules."
Tang Lan smiled at Shelley, then drifted through the side entrance into the Sea God Temple.
Inside—
Bo Saixi knelt before the Sea God's statue, deep in prayer.
🔹 Her flowing red robe spread across the floor like a blooming flower.
Tang Lan couldn't help but sigh—
"Damn it, Great-Grandfather Tang Chen…
…You really were a blockhead back then. Why didn't you just 'cook the rice while it was raw'?"
Not wanting to disturb her,
Tang Lan stood respectfully at the side.
By blood—
🔹 This woman was his Great-Grandmother.
By power—
🔹 She was a 99th Rank Sea God Douluo, the unrivaled ruler of the ocean.
🔹 With a single finger, she could crush him.
So, Tang Lan had no intention of being disrespectful.
After an hour,
Bo Saixi finally finished her prayers, rising gracefully to face Tang Lan.
🔹 "You are quite remarkable," she praised.
🔹 "At such a young age, to have such strength and character…
🔹 Lord Sea God's judgment is indeed exceptional."
Tang Lan grinned.
🔹 "As long as I haven't embarrassed Great-Grandfather, I'm happy."
Bo Saixi froze for a moment, lost in old memories.
She then snapped out of it, sighing with amusement.
🔹 "You sly little fox."
🔹 "Tell me, what do you understand about spiritual power and the soul?"
Tang Lan didn't hold back.
🔹 He condensed his understanding into a spiritual energy orb and sent it toward Bo Saixi.
Bo Saixi's eyes flashed with surprise.
🔹 "Oh? You've already reached this level?"
She lightly touched the orb, absorbing its contents.
Her eyes gleamed.
Ultimate Soul Attribute?
Soul Spirit Domain?
Direct spiritual communication techniques?
🔹 Each discovery made her feel as if she had unearthed a hidden treasure.
She nodded repeatedly.
In terms of pure spiritual energy usage,
🔹 Tang Lan already had unique and innovative insights.
Bo Saixi returned the favor,
🔹 Condensing a spiritual energy orb and sending it to Tang Lan.
Tang Lan absorbed it—
🔹 And a flood of knowledge surged into his mind!
Understanding dawned upon him.
🔹 "The soul and spiritual energy are like the body and strength."
🔹 "The soul is the container; spiritual power is the output."
Before, Tang Lan had focused too much on strengthening his soul itself.
But he neglected the development of spiritual energy techniques.
All of his spiritual applications came from his domains.
It was like a bodybuilder who never learned martial arts—
🔹 Relying purely on instinct in a fight.
Even against a weak but skilled opponent,
🔹 He could still lose.
Now—
🔹 Bo Saixi was going to teach him 'how to fight with spiritual power.'
Tang Lan comprehended the lesson all night.
When morning light refracted through the ocean,
🔹 Tang Lan snapped out of his deep immersion.
Seeing that the session was ending,
🔹 Tang Lan quickly spoke—
"West Sister, I have one more request."
He then tossed a spiritual energy orb forward.
🔹 —It was just easier than explaining with words.
Inside—
🔹 Was a shocking proposal.
What Tang Lan had just handed over—
🔹 Contained everything about the Thunder Hell Prison Vine, Ice-Snow Twin Emperors, and the Equal Soul Spirit Pact.
Bo Saixi took a few seconds to process it all,
Her eyebrows involuntarily raising!
She then took another long look at Tang Lan.
Her voice carried uncertainty—
🔹 "Has the Douluo Continent changed this much already?"
Tang Lan grinned cheekily,
He then pulled out two massive books—Volumes 1 & 2 of the Tang Sect Encyclopedia.
🔹 With a gentle wave of spiritual power, he floated them toward Bo Saixi.
"Junior is unworthy, but I have authored two books."
"Currently, I am somewhat well-known on the Douluo Continent."
"Many soul master academies use my first volume as their core curriculum."
"West Sister, if you ever get bored, you can read them to pass the time."
The two volumes of the Tang Sect Encyclopedia were nearly half a meter thick.
🔹 Bo Saixi's eyelids twitched.
He wrote this?
And it's part of official textbooks?!
At this moment—
🔹 Bo Saixi finally grasped just how much of a monster Tang Lan truly was.
Ordinarily—
🔹 This would seem impossible.
But since he was the one chosen by the Sea God…
🔹 It made perfect sense.
Bo Saixi didn't waste time.
🔹 "Speak. What do you want to do?"
Tang Lan grinned even wider.
🔹 "Heh! Junior would like to place the Thunder Hell Prison Vine inside the Sea God's Light."
"It will absorb lightning within the Light while having its soul power refined and compressed."
"This will also help it cultivate its soul realm."
Her lips twitched.
Really?!
Even the first trial is being exploited to the max?!
🔹 Letting Shui Yue'er sneak in?She ignored it.
🔹 Leaving behind 20 soul masters?She tolerated it for Tang Chen's sake.
🔹 Now he wanted to bring in a 100,000-year-old spirit beast?!
What next?!
Seeing that Bo Saixi didn't immediately reject the idea,
🔹 Tang Lan quickly added—
"West Sister, I have already made an agreement with the Thunder Hell Prison Vine."
"Once it reaches a certain cultivation level, it will sacrifice itself to become my Soul Spirit."
"Its ultimate goal is to ascend to the Divine Realm alongside me for eternal life."
"This will also increase my potential—helping me pass the Sea God's Nine Trials even faster!"
"Surely, even Lord Sea God himself would approve?"
"After all, the stronger I become, the more assured he will be about his successor, right?"
"And besides…"
🔹 Tang Lan's expression became more serious.
"If I grow stronger, my chances of saving Great-Grandfather from the Slaughter City will increase."
Bo Saixi: "…"
She exhaled deeply.
🔹 He already had all the justifications prepared.
What else could she say?
Finally—
🔹 She just waved her hand dismissively.
"Go."
Tang Lan's eyes lit up with joy!
🔹 No rejection meant silent approval!
He immediately placed something down—
"Thanks, West Sister! This is for you to play with~"
Then, without hesitation,
🔹 He left behind a storage ring and a spiritual energy orb…
🔹 Before running away at top speed.
Lest Bo Saixi reconsider!
Bo Saixi chuckled softly,
🔹 Her lips curving into a rare smile.
She absorbed the spiritual energy orb.
🔹 A flicker of curiosity flashed in her eyes.
Then, she retrieved the storage ring, sending a wisp of spiritual energy into it.
Inside the storage ring—
🔹 Was a massive pile of Soul Communication Devices…
🔹 And a literal mountain of Storage Rings!
So many?!
On Sea God Island,
🔹 Storage Rings were extremely rare, with fewer than ten in total.
🔹 Here was an entire stockpile!
For Bo Saixi herself, these items weren't that valuable.
🔹 But for Sea God Island as a whole, they were a tremendous boon!
At first—
🔹 Bo Saixi intended to refuse the gift.
But then—
🔹 She noticed a sheet of paper tucked inside.
She pulled it out and read it.
And in an instant—
🔹 Her emotions surged violently!
Her grip tightened involuntarily…
And—
🔹 CRACK!
She accidentally crushed the Storage Ring in her hand!
(End of Chapter)