Half an hour later, the group walked out of the forest, and a city appeared before their eyes.
It was only a small city. The walls were about five meters high. Because the ground where they emerged from the forest was slightly elevated, they could see the whole city at a glance.
Compared to cities on the continent, this one was much smaller. The most eye-catching feature was a tall building in the center that looked somewhat like the Sea Dragon Sacred Pillar, only much broader, and on its roof stood an enormous sea dragon statue.
Small as Sea Dragon City was, it had everything one might need.
Upon entering Sea Dragon City, Chu Chengzhou and the others noticed that the not-so-wide streets were very clean. The buildings on both sides were not tall, mostly wood and stone. There were not many shops, but there were indeed some.
Looking at the shops in the city, it was hard to imagine they were on an island. It felt as if they were back on the continent.
Strictly speaking, it was the four girls—Xiao Wu and the others—who drew a lot of attention.
The earlier phenomenon in the sky had long since spread across Seagod Island, and the first sign had appeared in the direction of the Sea Dragon Sacred Pillar. Xiao Wu and her group could not avoid becoming the focus, especially with the marks on their foreheads, which were too conspicuous.
Without listening carefully, they could already hear the exclamations of sea spirit masters in Sea Dragon City.
However, with Sea Dragon Douluo accompanying them, the sea spirit masters in the city did not dare approach. They only discussed from afar.
Sea Dragon Douluo settled them in the City Lord's Residence.
The City Lord's Residence was even smaller than they had imagined. Besides Sea Dragon Douluo Hai Yi, who lived there, there were a dozen sea spirit masters who had passed the purple-level trial. They were the backbone of Sea Dragon City.
The residence had three floors. At Sea Dragon Douluo's strong insistence, he vacated his own room on the top floor, the only room that symbolized the highest status in Sea Dragon City, and gave it to Xiao Wu.
In fact, the third floor was not small, even quite large, but it had not been divided into many rooms. The huge living room was over two hundred square meters, and the only bedroom was about fifty square meters.
Seeing that the bedroom was not small, Xiao Wu planned to have Ning Rongrong and the other two stay with her.
At first, Xiao Wu only planned to live with her two close sisters, Ning Rongrong and Zhu Zhuqing, but she felt it would be too blatant to exclude Hu Liena, so she let Hu Liena move in as well.
As for Chu Chengzhou? An "irrelevant outsider" on Seagod Island. There were plenty of rooms on the second floor. The second floor would do.
Strictly speaking, Chu Chengzhou, who had no trial on him, could stay in the City Lord's Residence only thanks to Xiao Wu, who had obtained the Seagod Nine Trials.
After settling everyone, Sea Dragon Douluo left. As a Sacred Pillar Douluo, he could not leave the Sea Dragon Sacred Pillar for too long.
In the third-floor hall, Chu Chengzhou and the four sat around on a soft sofa.
"I didn't expect everything to go so smoothly, and Xiao Wu really obtained the god trial. My good Xiao Wu, you're amazing. Muah\~"
Ning Rongrong hugged Xiao Wu and kissed her several times on the face.
"You got drool all over me."
Xiao Wu pushed the playful Ning Rongrong away with a look of disgust.
"Although everything went smoothly, the later trials will not be easy."
Zhu Zhuqing spoke solemnly.
On the way to Sea Dragon City they had asked Sea Dragon Douluo many things about Seagod Island. He said directly that in the past hundred years there had been thirty-one black-level trials on Seagod Island, but only seven people passed, namely the seven Sacred Pillar Douluo. The rest all died.
And the red-level trials must be even harder than the black-level ones. That said enough about the difficulty they faced.
Hu Liena nodded in agreement.
"The trials on Seagod Island will not be easy. Tell me what your first test is."
Chu Chengzhou spoke to the four.
Hearing this, Hu Liena said in a low voice, "My first test seems a bit strange. It's called Traversing the Seagod's Light. You?"
Zhu Zhuqing was stunned for a moment and said, "Mine too. Looks like our first test is the same."
"Uh, mine is also Traversing the Seagod's Light. Xiao Wu, what about you?"
Ning Rongrong turned to Xiao Wu.
"My first test is also the Seagod's Light, but I have to traverse double the Seagod's Light."
Xiao Wu spoke with a slightly odd expression.
"Double?"
The four looked at each other.
"How many steps does each of you need to climb to complete your trial?"
Chu Chengzhou asked.
He remembered this trial well. Though it was called a test, to him the Seagod's Light was more like a reward.
"My trial prompt says to go to the central core forbidden area of Seagod Island and climb the first one hundred and fifty steps at the entrance of the forbidden area. That counts as passing. You can withdraw midway. Time limit is one year."
Glancing at the first prompt on her Top Seven Trials light screen, Hu Liena spoke.
Zhu Zhuqing and Ning Rongrong both nodded. Clearly their first test was the same as Hu Liena's.
"Seems we all have the same test. Xiao Wu, yours is double, so three hundred steps?"
Zhu Zhuqing looked at Xiao Wu.
Xiao Wu shook her head, looking a bit distressed. "I have to climb the first three hundred and sixty-five steps within one year to pass."
"Uh, wasn't it supposed to be double? Did Lord Seagod forget how to count?"
Ning Rongrong blinked and asked in confusion.
"Idiot. Your strengths are different. Xiao Wu's spirit power is at seven rings. Yours is six rings."
Chu Chengzhou flicked Ning Rongrong lightly on the forehead.
"Let's rest one night. Tomorrow we go take a look at that Seagod's Light."
Glancing at the darkening sky, Chu Chengzhou spoke to the four.
"Mm. A year sounds long, but it can be short. We don't have much time."
Xiao Wu nodded.
Just then a purple-robed sea spirit master came up to the third floor to inform them that dinner was ready and invited them over.
They ate on the first floor of the residence. Giant lobsters, king crabs, all kinds of fish, shellfish, and low-year sea spirit beasts were all present. There were also some vegetables and staples. Dinner was very plentiful.
After eating and drinking their fill, the five returned to the third floor to meditate and cultivate.
"Brother, it's late. We're going to sleep."
In the hall, Xiao Wu spoke to Chu Chengzhou.
It was late and time to rest, but Chu Chengzhou stubbornly refused to leave the third floor.
No way. All four of my wives are on the third floor. You want me to sleep on the second floor? Is there any law, any justice?
"It's fine. You sleep. New environments lack a sense of security. I'll put in the hard work tonight and be your protector."
Chu Chengzhou patted his chest and spoke righteously.
Ning Rongrong curled her lip. "Tch, it's only with you here that we have no sense of security."
Seeing this, Zhu Zhuqing nodded solemnly, and Hu Liena covered her mouth, laughing.
Chu Chengzhou: "."
"Xiao Wu, take out that Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud."
After thinking a moment, Chu Chengzhou spoke.
"The Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud? What about it?"
Though puzzled, Xiao Wu's brow flashed. She took out the Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud and handed it to Chu Chengzhou.
Taking the shroud, Chu Chengzhou put it into the drawer of the table in the hall.
"???"
Xiao Wu was a bit confused.
Chu Chengzhou smiled wickedly, licked his lips, and activated the illusion ultimate art: Void Illusion Realm. With triple activation, his consciousness split into four, dragging the consciousness of Xiao Wu, Ning Rongrong, and Zhu Zhuqing into illusion realms. Then he stood up and carried the three into the bedroom.
"Nana, come."
With everything ready, Chu Chengzhou winked at Hu Liena.
Hu Liena: "."
Soon, in reality, within the bedroom covered by a layer of spirit power barrier, beside Xiao Wu and the other two, Chu Chengzhou and the little fox were engaged in fierce battle.
At the same time, in three separate illusion realms, Chu Chengzhou was also taking care of each girl.
Truly, a technique of splitting yourself.
As for why he asked Xiao Wu to take out the Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud?
Chu Chengzhou had not forgotten that inside it was the divine sense of a more than twenty-thousand-year-old perv. If he hadn't taken it out, and the guy happened to come out for some air, wouldn't that be a live broadcast?
Early the next morning, after breakfast, the five gathered in the first-floor hall and summoned a purple-robed sea spirit master.
At first, when this purple-robed sea spirit master in his forties saw Chu Chengzhou's dark, swollen eye sockets, he laughed inwardly. No need to ask, that was the work of Xiao Wu and the other two, and they wouldn't let Chu Chengzhou heal himself, only recover naturally.
But when he heard that they intended to head to the central forbidden area of Seagod Island, surprise flashed across his face, and he couldn't help asking, "Honored guests, you are going to the forbidden area?"
"Mm. The first test bestowed by Lord Seagod is Traversing the Seagod's Light. We have to go to the central forbidden area. Sorry to trouble you."
Xiao Wu nodded and spoke.
The purple-robed sea spirit master understood at once and hurriedly said, "Alright, I will take you there now. Do you have any other requests?"
Xiao Wu shook her head.
Led by the purple-robed sea spirit master, they left the City Lord's Residence and headed out of Sea Dragon City.
After leaving Sea Dragon City, the purple-robed sea spirit master said, "From here to the forbidden area is nearly two hundred li. Honored guests, shall we speed up?"
At once, the four looked at Chu Chengzhou.
The True Spirit Banner martial soul manifested in his hand, his seventh spirit ring shone, and Chu Chengzhou summoned the Dark Devilgod Tiger spirit, Xiao Hei.
The instant Xiao Hei appeared, it gave the purple-robed sea spirit master a fright.
What a huge winged black tiger.
Its aura was extremely sinister and terrifying. This evil black tiger felt stronger to him than the invincible Grand Worship.
Of course, he also knew this black tiger could not be a match for the Grand Worship, but to a seventh-ring Spirit Sage like him, there wasn't much difference.
No, this black tiger was even more terrifying. At least the Grand Worship didn't eat people.
"Don't be scared, uncle. Xiao Hei doesn't eat people."
Chu Chengzhou spoke to the almost frightened purple-robed sea spirit master.
Purple-robed sea spirit master: "."
Doesn't eat people? Hearing you say that makes me even more scared.
"Uncle, hop on. Xiao Hei flies fast."
With the four girls mounted on Xiao Hei, Chu Chengzhou beckoned to the purple-robed sea spirit master.
After hesitating three seconds, the purple-robed sea spirit master leaped onto Xiao Hei's broad back.
Though this winged black tiger didn't look like a good beast and radiated an evil, terrifying aura, he couldn't refuse.
For no other reason than this: he was just a small seventh-ring Spirit Sage. To have the chance to "stand on" a spirit beast this terrifying would give him bragging rights for life.
Since these were Seagod Island's honored guests and they had said the black tiger didn't eat people, there shouldn't be danger.
Xiao Hei was fast. Before long they reached the forbidden area at the center of Seagod Island.
It was a small island encircled by a ring-shaped sea.
Under the morning sun, the rippling water threw off multicolored light. A small island sat in the center of the ring.
The terrain on the island was high, about five hundred meters. Most peculiar was the faint golden glow shrouding it. Though the glow was not strong, they could tell it did not come from the morning sun but from the island itself.
At the summit stood a structure like carved white jade. From where they stood, they could only see the outer ring of huge white stone columns. The material was as white as jade and seemed filled with sacred radiance.
"Honored guests, this is the forbidden area of our Seagod Island. The only structure on the summit is the Seagod Hall, which worships Lord Seagod.
This small island is the true Seagod Island, also called the island within the island.
Please look. Directly ahead is the staircase up to the island. That is where you will undergo your trial. There are one thousand and one steps in total.
Only Seagod Island guardians who have received purple-level or higher trials from Lord Seagod are qualified to step onto the steps and enter the Seagod Hall to pay respects, otherwise they will be blocked by the Seagod's Light.
If you want to attempt the trial, you can go now. I will wait here for you.
But please do not make noise on Seagod Mountain, so as not to disturb Lord Seagod."
Outside the ring sea, the purple-robed sea spirit master jumped down from Xiao Hei at low altitude, gazed devoutly at the Seagod Hall on the summit, then turned and spoke to them.
They followed his gesture and saw that from the front of the Seagod Hall a stone stairway extended downward. Under the morning sun the white stone reflected a faint light, like a ribbon of jade draped over Seagod Mountain.
The purple-robed sea spirit master then added a line to Chu Chengzhou alone, "Sir, you have not joined Seagod Island, nor accepted Lord Seagod's trials, so you cannot set foot on Seagod Mountain.
Also, please do not harm the sea spirit beasts in the ring sea. They are also guardians of Seagod Island."
"Alright, I understand."
Chu Chengzhou nodded.
He had originally planned to see if he could freeload on the Seagod's Light, but now he had to drop the idea.
Perhaps Xiao Hei's strength deterred the sea spirit beasts in the ring sea. As they flew over the more than two-hundred-meter-wide ring, there was no foolish spirit beast launching a surprise attack.
At the foot of Seagod Mountain, looking at the stairway dozens of meters away, the four who would take the trial exchanged glances. Xiao Wu spoke first, "I'll try it first."
With that, Xiao Wu rushed straight toward the steps up Seagod Mountain.
She was the big sister, the strongest among the four, and had the toughest trial. It was only right for her to test the Seagod's Light first.
"Wait."
Chu Chengzhou had been about to explain the specifics of the Seagod's Light, but his expression changed and he called out quickly.
He was too late. Just as he spoke, Xiao Wu reached the steps.
Bang!
A muffled sound rang out. The moment Xiao Wu reached the steps, it was as if she had run into something. She was bounced back, spinning as she flew more than forty meters.
Fortunately, Xiao Wu's skills were good. She twisted several times in midair and landed solidly on the sand beside the others, not plunging into the ring sea behind them.
"What just happened?"
Ning Rongrong blinked and asked.
"It felt like I hit a springy wall. All my impact bounced back. I couldn't resist it at all."
Rubbing her slightly dizzy head, Xiao Wu spoke in annoyance.
"Walk up slowly and you'll know."
Chu Chengzhou smiled.
Xiao Wu nodded slightly, returned to the steps, and slowly raised her right leg to step onto the first step.
As soon as her right leg entered the area of the steps, Xiao Wu immediately sensed a force pushing against the front of her leg, resisting her advance.
But the resistance was not large. Her left foot followed and she stood steady on the first step.
Once she stood fully on it, she felt a pressure surge over her, pressing against her body from all directions.
At the same time, a golden mist appeared around her. Xiao Wu clearly sensed her spirit power start to drain continuously.
However, in her lower abdomen, her spirit core kept devouring the external heaven and earth energy to replenish her. This level of consumption was not much. The core's recovery far outpaced the drain.
Without much hesitation, Xiao Wu braced against the pressure and took her second step.
When she stepped onto the second step, the pressure clearly increased, about ten percent higher than on the first, and the rate of spirit power consumption also went up.
She took a deep breath and began to speed up.
Before long, when she reached the thirtieth step, the golden mist grew denser. Xiao Wu sensed that her spirit power consumption had caught up to the recovery rate of her spirit core.
At once, Xiao Wu actively ran the Nine-Breath Breathing. Her recovery rate outpaced the drain again.
Still far from her limit, Xiao Wu continued forward.
As she moved, the pressure from the Seagod's Light kept growing.
When she reached the sixtieth step, watermarks began to appear on the steps, formed by Xiao Wu's sweat. Each new step was difficult.
Sixty-one, sixty-two... sixty-five. Sweat poured like a spring. With her consumption rate once more surpassing recovery, Xiao Wu clenched her teeth and pressed on.
Sixty-six, sixty-seven... seventy, seventy-one... seventy-five. Finally, upon stepping onto the seventy-fifth, Xiao Wu had to stop.
A pink-white phantom flashed. Xiao Wu's Soft Bone Rabbit martial soul possessed her.
Even without activating spirit skills, a beast martial soul's possession boosted her resistances.
After martial soul possession, Xiao Wu took two more steps and reached the seventy-seventh.
Then blue light flashed around her, and the gorgeous Azure Silver Radiance Armor manifested.
The Seagod's Light brought pressure, not gravity. Xiao Wu's difficulty moving forward was not due to powerful gravity, but to immense pressure squeezing from all sides. Though the Azure Silver Radiance Armor had some weight, it would not burden her much.
In fact, not only was it not a burden, it gave her a noticeable boost.
Because it was forged from soul-forging grade fused Bluegold, and for a seven-ring Spirit Sage like her, soul-forged Bluegold could increase spirit power by 30 percent. With stronger spirit power, her ability to resist pressure also increased.
It could not compare to Ning Rongrong's buffs, and the armor's increase was limited to spirit power attributes, but it was enough to help her advance under the Seagod's Light.
Soon, Xiao Wu climbed three more steps in a row, reaching the eightieth.
Sensing that her remaining spirit power was low and that the pressure from the Seagod's Light had reached the limit of what she could endure, Xiao Wu showed a discouraged look.
She needed to reach the three hundred and sixty-fifth step to pass this trial. Now she could only reach the eightieth, still two hundred and eighty-five steps short.
This was only her first attempt, but even with her sisters' support a year from now, could she really reach the three hundred and sixty-fifth?
Suddenly Xiao Wu's eyes lit up. She thought of a good idea.
At once, her spirit power fluctuated. Above her head a pink-white flower of spirit power condensed.
As a petal drifted down, a faint pink-white protective divine light fell from the flower and enveloped Xiao Wu.
All at once, all the pressure vanished. She felt indescribably comfortable.
Defensive ultimate art: Bloom in an Instant. The protective divine light isolates inside and outside. As long as the flower of spirit power above the head does not break, one becomes a body untouched by all methods.
Although Xiao Wu's mastery of this ultimate art could not match Chu Chengzhou's, she could use it.
With the pressure gone, not to mention the three hundred and sixty-fifth step, even all one thousand and one steps would not be a problem, right?
Xiao Wu: with a "divine skill" in hand, no worries about the trial.
But then Xiao Wu sensed her spirit power draining at high speed.
The protective divine light from the flower did isolate inside and outside, but it was founded on consuming her own spirit power.
It blocked the tremendous pressure, so naturally it consumed a great amount of spirit power.
She did not dare linger. She lifted her long legs and sprinted forward at top speed.
Ninety... one hundred... one hundred fifty... two hundred. Xiao Wu shot forward like an arrow loosed from the string, racing up the steps.
T/N: For up to 30 chapters ahead on my translations, become a p@tron at [email protected]/LordHipposApostle