As for Ning Rongrong failing the Top-tier Eight Trials?
Sea Dragon Douluo knew that for trials at black-level and above, the higher the tier, the higher the pass rate—not the reverse. A lofty tier reflected strength and potential. Could a heaven-favored one really lack aces up her sleeve?
In fact, the most failure-prone tiers were the in-between ones: purple and the lower end of black—only two or three in ten passed.
Besides, a Top-tier Eight was once-in-a-century. Would the great Sea God really allow such a candidate to wash out?
And who, after all, set the trial contents if not the Sea God himself?
To his knowledge, every top-tier trial in Sea God Island's history had been completed. None had failed. This time should be no exception.
Poseidon: you know too much.
"Senior Sea Dragon, what tier did you get back then?" Ning Rongrong pressed.
"Not comparable to yours. I only had a black-level Six Trials."
His tone was modest; his spine was not. As he spoke, he tossed a provocative glance at the six other Sacred Pillar Douluo on the shore.
What could he do? They'd only had black-level Fours, while he'd "reached" a black-level Six.
Even the great Sea God had judged Hai Yi two full tiers above the rest. A little pride was natural.
Of course, the seven were close. But even brothers compete to play "Dad," don't they?
The Six Pillar Douluo: "…"
"Eh? Senior Sea Dragon, only black-level Six?" Ning Rongrong blinked, surprised.
Brother Zhou had just said few Titled Douluo on the continent could beat this man—yet his tier was two grades lower than hers?
Didn't that mean this young lady's talent exceeded his by two whole notches?
Ning Rongrong: delightful~
Sea Dragon Douluo's mouth twitched.
"Only" black-level Six? Across Sea God Island, that had once been the second-highest… well, third now. Still top three, all right?
Top-tier Eight, huh?
On the shore, Chu Chengzhou nodded, satisfied.
In the original timeline, Ning Rongrong had Top-tier Seven. Clearly, this Ning Rongrong's displayed talent was a cut above.
If Xiao Wu hadn't bound the Sea God's Heart ahead of time, this girl might even have landed the Nine Trials.
"Zhuqing, Nana—your turn!" Riding her Top-tier Eight high, Ning Rongrong beckoned Zhu Zhuqing and Hu Liena.
As for Xiao Wu? Having already bound the Sea God's relic on the continent, she would go last.
The two exchanged a look. Zhu Zhuqing stepped to the pillar.
"Senior." She bowed.
"Mhm." Sea Dragon Douluo nodded lightly—far cooler than he'd been to Ning Rongrong.
Surely this girl couldn't also pull a top-tier?
Sea Dragon Douluo: impossible. Absolutely impossible.
Moments later, when the blue beam descended, his face was slapped.
The Sea God's light skipped white, yellow, and purple without hesitation, shot straight to black—and kept deepening.
Black sigils climbed in a straight line, hit two-thirds up the pillar, and didn't stop.
The next second, the now-familiar crimson spear punched into the heavens.
Heavens! A top-tier trial only the Great Priestess had ever received—twice in one day? And again Top-tier Eight?
Were continental prodigies this common now?
Rubbing his eyes to be sure, Sea Dragon Douluo sighed inwardly.
He wasn't alone. The other six Pillar Douluo, Bo Saixi before the Sea God Hall, and thousands of sea soul masters across the island all wore the same incredulous look at that second red lance.
The crimson faded. Eight red light screens sank into Zhu Zhuqing's brow, leaving the same mark as Ning Rongrong's.
In canon, Zhu Zhuqing only got black-level Five. But this Zhu Zhuqing wasn't that Zhu Zhuqing.
Sixteen years old at level 68, with Indestructible Golden Body and One Thought Eternal, soul power and physique far beyond peers, a ring setup past the usual "optimal" limits, plus a domain—how could she not merit Top-tier Eight?
Even Bo Saixi at sixteen wouldn't outstrip Zhu Zhuqing in raw fundamentals—Sea God Island only began trials at eighteen. Without Top-tier Eight, Bo Saixi might still become a rare top expert, but not to this degree, and not vastly above other innate-full-spirit prodigies.
"Miss, may I have your surname?" Sea Dragon Douluo's attitude flipped to respectful.
As a "pure-blood" sea soul master who'd never left the island, he couldn't place her martial soul. He'd only caught her given name.
"Senior Sea Dragon, Zhu—Zhu Zhuqing."
She returned the salute.
"Hai Yi greets Miss Zhu. It is an honor to examine you and Miss Ning.
As you proceed, if you require anything on the island, come to me. I'll do all I can."
He couldn't help glancing at the yet-untested Xiao Wu and Hu Liena.
Top-tier, too?
Having been slapped once, he wouldn't underestimate again.
He was half-right. When the light faded on Hu Liena, seven red screens sank into her brow, forming a seven-pointed crimson star.
Hu Liena, now twenty-two and newly advanced to level 68, bore a top-tier spiritual mutant martial soul—the Star-Moon Nine-Tailed Fox. Her spiritual power neared the Titled Douluo realm; her physique and soul power quality exceeded her peers; she had the Killing God Domain. Hardly ordinary.
By age and level she couldn't match the sixteen-year-olds, but compared with Sea God Island's historical Great Priestesses—including Bo Saixi—she wasn't unworthy of Top-tier Eight. So why Seven?
God Realm, in a vast and solemn temple—
"Killing God Domain? So she's Asura-brother's person. Hm. Make it Seven. Otherwise he'll say I lack divine decorum."
The majestic figure muttered.
Divine trials have rules: God-tier Nine marks a successor; Top-tier Eight is the highest beneath it—typically the god's lower-realm agent, the legacy's helmsman.
With the Killing God Domain, Hu Liena clearly held the ticket to Asura's trials, pass or no. Given that, whatever Asura thought, Poseidon wouldn't rashly grant Top-tier Eight.
As expected! Seeing the seven-pointed star on Hu Liena's brow, Sea Dragon Douluo nodded inwardly.
Though not Top-tier Eight, Top-tier Seven still qualified—absent an Eight—to inherit the Great Priestess's mantle.
After the formalities, he drew down the Sea God's light for Xiao Wu.
He was right—half right. Hu Liena's was top-tier. Xiao Wu's wasn't merely top-tier.
The light descended. Blue, white, yellow, purple—each flashed by. Even purple to black was a blink.
The pillar's black sigils then raced upward—clearly faster than Ning Rongrong's and Zhu Zhuqing's triggers.
So fast? Sea Dragon Douluo's heart tightened.
In a breath, black crossed two-thirds. Black turned crimson. The blood-red climbed straight to the top.
A low hum like the ocean's lament rose from the pillar, and a blood-red beam—far mightier than the earlier two—speared skyward.
The inner sea boiled. Hundred-meter waves heaved, suffused with hazy blue.
Nor did it stop. The whole island seemed to tremble with the red beam's rise.
Suddenly, six more colossal blood-red pillars blazed in the distant sky—the other six sacred pillars.
The seven beams converged. In the next heartbeat the blood faded, and from their nexus a resplendent golden pillar descended.
In that instant, everything stilled: the seven pillars, forests, hills, inner sea—everything was cast in gold. Even the sea soul masters, and Chu Chengzhou and the girls, were bathed in that light.
And all that gold had a single destination: Xiao Wu, standing straight before the pillar, a touch proud.
Under the beam, the Sea God's Heart in her brow stirred.
So Little Chu Scumbag was right—the Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud was the Sea God's divine tool. Binding it had earned his recognition before she ever set foot on the island!
Nine square golden screens appeared before her.
The first shone brightest; the other eight were dimmer.
Before she could study them, they drifted like shooting stars and slipped into her brow.
A vast flood of information poured into her mind. Gold filled her consciousness.
Then came a special, enlightening energy—cool clarity washing through her, unspeakably comfortable.
Subtly, she sensed minute changes within her body—hard to define, wondrous, as if her inner mechanisms had been straightened out.
At length, the golden pillar faded—from sky and sea first, then from all directions—until Xiao Wu alone remained the end of all light.
At last, all the gold sank into her brow. What it left wasn't a star like the others', but a golden trident.
That faint trident lent her a lofty majesty—like a sovereign heroine. She merely stood there, yet the mark seemed to gaze down upon all beings.
"What a beautiful trident. Xiao Wu, you look even prettier!" Zhu Zhuqing praised.
"Say… could that mark be the Sea God's own divine weapon?" Hu Liena ventured.
"Ah—does the Sea God fight with a fish spear?" Ning Rongrong blurted.
In her mind, the mighty Sea God hefted a big fish spear, skewering hundred-thousand-year sea beasts in one poke.
Xiao Wu, Zhu Zhuqing, Hu Liena: "…"
Sea Dragon Douluo: "…"
Fish spear? The great Sea God wields the Sea God's Trident!
These little girls—everything's fine except their mouths.
If Ning Rongrong hadn't just received Top-tier Eight, he'd have scolded her.
"Senior Sea Dragon, red is top-tier. What does this gold mean for me?"
Chu Chengzhou had briefed her beforehand, but Xiao Wu wanted it confirmed.
More than the others, she grasped how hard godhood was. With a pie this big dropping from the sky, it felt unreal.
"I don't know either!" Sea Dragon Douluo shook his head hard to be sure he wasn't dreaming and forced out five words.
"You don't know?" Xiao Wu blinked. The four traded looks.
"Girl, I'll tell you." A gentle voice drew near. By the last word, a noble, elegant figure with an ocean-deep aura stood before the pillar—Bo Saixi. "Since Sea God Island's founding, this is the first time. What you must complete is—the Sea God's Nine Trials."
"Greetings, Seagod Douluo!" The four bowed.
"Great Priestess, I failed to follow the Sea God's guidance. Please punish me," Sea Dragon Douluo said, ashamed.
"This isn't your fault. It's my first time seeing this as well." Bo Saixi waved a hand, her gaze settling on the golden trident at Xiao Wu's brow.
She hadn't expected these four "freeloaders" to bring surprise after surprise.
Along with joy came a sliver of dread.
Joy, because three top-tier candidates at once meant the island's strength would surpass the past.
Dread, because the Nine Trials had appeared. As Great Priestess, her foremost duty was to assist Xiao Wu to complete them and ascend.
But that ascent would require her to sacrifice her life.
If not for that unforgettable figure in her heart, she felt she would be the Sea God's most pious believer—willing even to offer her life.
Now… she did not know what choice she would make when the hour came.
She set the thoughts aside and spoke solemnly: "Xiao Wu, from this moment on, remember—on Sea God Island, no one merits your salute, myself included."
Xiao Wu stared, surprised.
Chu Chengzhou had said Bo Saixi, "Invincible in the Ocean," was half a step from level-100 godhood. She hadn't expected such a figure to say this.
It seemed the Nine Trials truly conferred godhood on completion—else even Bo Saixi wouldn't speak so.
Bo Saixi turned to Sea Dragon Douluo. "Hai Yi, pass my order. Until they complete the Sea God's trials, they are honored guests of the island. No one may slight or offend them.
They'll stay in your Sea Dragon City for now. Aside from directly aiding their trials, satisfy their requests as far as possible.
Also, the seven of you will convene at the Sea God Hall tomorrow."
She glanced at the other six Pillar Douluo.
"Yes!" the seven answered.
Her eyes returned to Xiao Wu. "Xiao Wu, I believe you will pass the Sea God's trials. If you need anything, ask Hai Yi.
But remember: in your Nine Trials, you must complete at least one task each year, or all will be for naught."
Xiao Wu nodded gravely.
Perhaps the Nine Trials were hard—but she believed she would finish them.
Sea God… Tang Chen…
With mixed feelings, Bo Saixi cast Xiao Wu one last look and took to the air.
After she left, deep blue light rose from Sea Dragon Douluo's hand. With a light wave, water from one side of the inner sea surged up and solidified in the air, forming a bridge that linked the platform to the shore.
"Honored guests, please follow me," he said respectfully.
His deference wasn't only because of Bo Saixi's words. As head of the Seven Sacred Pillar Douluo, he had guessed something.
When Ning Rongrong and Zhu Zhuqing received Top-tier Eight—the Great Priestess's heir—Bo Saixi hadn't appeared. When Xiao Wu drew the Nine Trials, she appeared at once.
What did the Nine Trials signify? How could he not suspect?
"Thank you, Senior." Seeing the others look her way, Xiao Wu dipped her head.
As they stepped ashore, Sea Dragon Douluo couldn't help glancing at Chu Chengzhou.
With the girls so exceptional—lowest at Top-tier Seven, one even at Nine Trials—if the lone young man had tested, would his tier have been higher still?
Might he have displaced Xiao Wu for the Nine Trials?
That evil-aura black tiger summon of his had left a deep impression.
Er… proximity matters. The Sea God is merciful and righteous; perhaps he wouldn't favor a youth who commanded such an evil beast?
On the shore, the other six Pillar Douluo saluted the four and left.
Led by Sea Dragon Douluo, they set off for Sea Dragon City.
He didn't walk in front. At his firm insistence, Xiao Wu—the Nine Trials candidate—took point, while Chu Chengzhou, a mere "miscellaneous companion," brought up the rear.
Chu Chengzhou: "…"
As they walked, Sea Dragon Douluo smiled. "Honored guests, welcome to Sea God Island.
There aren't many rules. After settling in Sea Dragon City, you may choose when to begin—but you must complete one trial each year.
You can sense the tasks the Sea God has assigned. They proceed in order: finish one for the next to appear, until all are done.
If you need anything, ask; I will do my best.
One more thing: aside from the central forbidden grounds, you may go anywhere—but do not cover the mark on your brow. It's your badge of identity."
"Thank you, Senior Sea Dragon. Please look after Xiao Wu and the others," Chu Chengzhou said.
Sea Dragon Douluo waved. "You're too polite, Little Friend Chu. It's my duty. Also—if you wish to begin the Sea God's trials, you may come to me at any time."
Chu Chengzhou smiled and nodded.
T/N: For up to 30 chapters ahead on my translations, become a p@tron at [email protected]/LordHipposApostle