Chapter 137: The Sea God's Trident
"Sea God's Trial, Sixth Trial Complete: Commanding Sea God's Island.
Reward: 20% Sea God Affinity, Soul Power +1 Level, All Spirit Ring Ages +20,000 Years.
Sea God's Trial, Seventh Trial: Retrieve the Sea God's Trident."
With his soul power surging, Ye Wen's level, already at an impressive 97, surged further to 98. As he let the immense power settle within him, a momentary daze washed over his thoughts.
"Retrieve the Sea God's Trident... they might as well have handed it over," he thought, slightly amused.
The reason Bo Saixi had failed to retrieve it was simply because, as the Sea God's High Priestess, she was restricted from wielding it. But now, Ye Wen had both the qualifications and the physical strength to exceed even the required limit of 100,000 pounds. For him, pulling out the trident would be effortless.
The Trident was located in the inner sanctum of the Sea God Temple, encircled by seven miniature pillars on a massive central pedestal. Since Poseidon himself had placed it there as part of the trials, it had remained dormant, shrouded in grime, like some discarded old weapon.
The sight of the neglected, soot covered trident made Ye Wen twitch with faint disdain. "The Sea God really did just abandon it here to gather dust. Just my luck…"
Despite his inner grumbling, Ye Wen reached for the trident's handle, and Bo Saixi watched from afar, a distant yet warm expression in her eyes.
"Rise."
With minimal effort, Ye Wen lifted the trident, which, at his touch, shed its tarnished exterior layer by layer. A radiant golden light burst forth, shooting into the sky. The Sea God's Trident emerged, resplendent and worthy of a deity, its light covering the entire island.
Golden and magnificent, Ye Wen nodded approvingly. "Now this is a true god's weapon. Way better than those weak, makeshift tools some gods use."
Everyone on Sea God Island knelt in awe, offering prayers. They had all heard of the new Sea God successor, but witnessing this miracle firsthand moved them beyond words.
At that moment, Ye Wen's mind began to fill with knowledge the Thirteen Sea God Techniques. These techniques, forged through Poseidon's battles across the ocean, represented the pinnacle of close combat mastery.
"A Sea God worthy of his rank. The Thirteen Techniques cover almost every angle of battle, finally filling in my melee gaps," Ye Wen thought, satisfied.
In the original story, Tang San used these same techniques as his primary weapon against the Spirit Hall, setting aside even the Haotian Nine Absolutes. This alone was proof of their potency.
"Sea God's Trial, Seventh Trial Complete: Retrieve the Sea God's Trident.
Reward: 15% Sea God Affinity, Soul Power +1 Level, All Spirit Ring Ages +20,000 Years.
Sea God's Trial, Eighth Trial: Find the Lost Heart of the Sea God and Complete the Trident.
Hint: The Sea God's Heart is in the Heaven Dou Imperial Capital."
Feeling his soul power ascend to level 99, Ye Wen could sense the vast potential that lay within. He had only just entered the pinnacle realm of a 99th level Douluo, yet he felt confident he could stand against almost any of the divine attendants.
As for the Sea God's Heart, he knew from the original story that Tang San had destroyed it by his own recklessness, later necessitating a divine trial to recreate it. This was not a mystery to Ye Wen: it was well known that the heart was the Heavenly Dou Empire's national treasure, the Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud. With his stealth abilities and unmatched strength, retrieving it from the imperial treasury would be effortless.
Days passed quickly, and Ye Wen realized it had only been a week since his arrival on Sea God Island. With his trials nearly complete, he mused to himself with a touch of nostalgia.
Bo Saixi's voice brought him back to the present. "Will you be leaving?"
"Yes," Ye Wen replied. "The eighth trial requires me to return to the mainland. But with my level, it shouldn't take long. By the way, Bo Saixi, with my current status, am I permitted to bring others here for the Sea God trials?"
"Of course," Bo Saixi replied, inclining her head respectfully. "You are but two steps from the Sea God's mantle. The island will now abide by your every command."
Her deference caught Ye Wen by surprise, and he made a hasty exit to avoid the intensity of her gaze. Wearing the Three Word Battle Armor, he traveled swiftly back to the Heaven Dou Empire. With only a few stops for rest, he reached the capital within three days.
High in the sky, concealed from sight, he watched the lives of the city's residents unfold below the arrogance of the nobility, the struggles of the commoners. A chill ran through him.
"Your days of luxury are numbered," he thought.
Unlike other fantasy worlds, Heaven Dou's imperial city had no defense barriers. Ye Wen easily slipped into the palace undetected. The royal treasury was heavily guarded, with multiple Soul Douluos and active soul arrays. Though the Soul Tool civilization had faded, the remaining relics still served a purpose.
Upon reaching the treasury's core, he spotted what appeared to be the Sea God's Heart. Yet something seemed off, and he scoffed inwardly.
"Imposter. They must have set this up as a decoy for would be thieves."
One of the trident's abilities was its resonance with the true Sea God's Heart. A faint, directional pull from the trident soon led him away, and after a few hours, Ye Wen uncovered a hidden chamber within Emperor Xue Ye's private quarters. There lay the genuine Sea God's Heart.
(End of Chapter)
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