Six months later…
By now, Zhuqing and Xiao Wu could endure more than twelve hours against the Wrath of the Ocean. Trailing behind them were Erlong, Zhuyun, and Dugu Yan, who had reached twelve hours—a remarkable improvement in just six months.
Meanwhile, Huo Wu, Bing'er, Yue'er, Xiao Mei, Bai Chenxian, and Meng Yiran were able to endure the grueling training for eleven hours, marking a solid Three-hour increase in their endurance.
Surprisingly, Rongrong, Lingling, and Yuehua could already endure the Wrath of the Ocean for ten hours straight. At this rate, completing the task set by the Sea God seemed entirely within reach.
At the moment, Tang Yin had been enduring the Shock from the Tide for twenty-one hours once again, and he had long since abandoned any thoughts of trying to outdo his trail.
Until now.
This grueling routine had haunted him for the past six months, each session more painfully boring than the last. Thankfully, he had plenty of lovers to accompany him for half the time, which somewhat eased the torment and made the ordeal slightly more bearable.
But today was different.
Baam—!
Today, Tang Yin pushed forward, determined to witness the true fruits of his suffering. He braced himself against the wrath of the sea refusing to falter.
Even the tide roared louder, as if enraged by the mortal daring to challenge it.
The girls, already awake from their exhaustion, watched anxiously from the sidelines, their hearts tightening with every blow he endured.
Even knowing how strong he was, they still couldn't stop themselves from worrying.
Bo Saixi's clear blue eyes rested on him, her expression wavering. His unyielding will stirred some old memories—so achingly similar to someone she once loved—that for a moment, echoes of Tang Chen resurfaced.
Her eyes locked on him, and for a heartbeat, her mind betrayed her. Was it… Tang Chen? No, it couldn't be. And yet… she could have sworn she saw his shadow in Tang Yin—
"So similar…" she murmured, dazed.
TEN hours later…
Whoosh—BAAM!
The Tide slammed relentlessly into Tang Yin, finally knocking him off his footing as he lost conscious before the chains caught him.
He had withstood the ocean's wrath for thirty-one grueling hours before finally meeting his unavoidable defeat. Yet it was worth it—he could see the progress.
Even in such painfully boring training, visible improvement made the ordeal meaningful. After all, even the strongest Spirit could waver when progress remained unseen.
"Gasp—Tang Yin!" Xiao Wu's voice cracked with panic.
Her loud scream tore through the air, pulling Bo Saixi out of her daze. Reality snapped back instantly, and her eyes sharpened, every fiber of her being ready to act.
And she did.
Gracefully, she hovered above the Silver Pillar, her movements fluid and breathtaking, before releasing the chains that bound Tang Yin.
Unlike with the others, she didn't control the ocean to rescue him—she carried him herself.
Tang Yin stirred awake, realizing he was being carried like a princess. Heat flared across his cheeks, and a wave of embarrassment swept over him, impossible to ignore even amidst the chaos.
Ahh! It's embarrassing for a man to be carried like this… Tang Yin thought inwardly, though he kept up the act of being unconscious.
Bo Saixi could sense the subtle signs of his awakening, but with Tang Yin pretending to be unconscious, she still carried him on.
From afar, Xiao Wu and the other girls let out a collective sigh of relief, their tension finally easing as they watched Bo Saixi carry Tang Yin to safety.
Meanwhile—
"I have to make up for this… somehow," Tang Yin thought, as he subtly began to fondle the aloof priestess' boobs through the fabric.
Bo Saixi's breath hitched, feeling his hands cupping her boobs and flicking her sensitive nipples all while he still pretended to be unconscious.
For a heartbeat, she stiffened, surprised by his audacity, but she swiftly masked her reaction, maintaining a calm exterior as if nothing had occurred.
Slowly, His cock swelled, straining against the fabric of his pants, and the distinct bulge was impossible to miss from her vantage point.
Hmm? She's not rejecting… Then, let's take it up a notch, Tang Yin thought, tilting slightly.
Bo Saixi's eyes widened almost imperceptibly as she felt the rigid heat pressing against her stomach.
Vows of chastity and years of sacred duty as the priestess began to dissolv like salt in water, replaced by a wave of raw, sinful thoughts.
Aang~
The fantasy was so vivid, so potent, that a soft, involuntary gasp escaped her lips, and she felt a corresponding heat begin to pool deep within her panties.
"Priestess Bo Saixi!" Meng Yiran's voice rang out, pulling Bo Saixi out of her daydream, and she immediately quickened her pace, hovering towards the worried group.
Tang Yin's eyes widened as he heard her. 'Oh no, If the girls sees me… now… I'm doomed!'
"Shit! Shit! Grandma… Grandma…" Tang Yin muttered under his breath, flailing mentally as the absurd image of his past-life Grandma flashed in his mind.
—please just settle, please just settle!—
Somehow, it was the only thing that could calm his inner monster… until it finally decided to behave and settle back down.
He clenched his teeth and silently prayed no one noticed just how panicked and ridiculous he looked, being carried like a princess while trying to keep his embarrassing inner chaos under control.
I'm truly sorry, Grandma, for being such an unfilial child… Tang Yin mentally slapped himself, grimacing at the memory of his kind, long-suffering Grandma.
Nightfalls,
After the eventful day, Tang Yin sank into his quarters. Though the Thirty-one hours of Tidal Training hadn't left his body battered, his Spirit felt completely drained.
Then, chaos struck—
"Woo! Tang Yin! I just broke through Level 80!" Xiao Wu's squeal rang through the room as she cannonballed onto Tang Yin, tackling him mid-snooze.
"Ahh… hmm?" Tang Yin murmured, blinking groggily as he tried to process the sudden chaos—until his gaze found the hyperactive bunny before him.
"Hahaha… Xiao Wu, you really took your sweet time catching up with the others," Tang Yin drawled sarcastically, hair tangled up in every direction, a lazy smirk tugging at his lips.
Xiao Wu's cheeks puffed up in a perfect pout as she wiggled atop him, pressing her tiny toes against his chest like a mischievous little cat.
"Don't tease me! It's all because you showed pure favoritism and sacrificed soul rings for everyone else—what about me?" Xiao wu accused.
Tang Yin rolled his eyes, but a flicker of amusement danced in them as he braced himself for round two of her antics.
Aside from Liu Erlong and Zhuyun, who had already surpassed Level 80, Xiao Wu was the last of the group to break through.
Everyone waited eagerly for their soul rings, but suitable soul beasts were scarce in the ocean. Tang Yin planned to travel back to the Star Duo Forest after completing their Third Sea God Test.
Well… this might be the last time I take these lot out for soul beast hunting, he mused. After all, the Sea God will reward them with another soul ring once they complete their 7th Trial.
"Hmm… Hu Liena must've already reached Level 70. Let's pick her up as well," Tang Yin murmured, quietly missing the little fox.
"There's also Zi Zhenzhu… I should be able to find a suitable soul beast for her out here in the ocean." Soul beasts in the ocean weren't as scarce as those on land, thanks to the unique challenges of underwater hunting.
Spirit City
Inside the Spirit Hall, within the Pope's palace, Hu Liena busied herself making the bed for her master, though her thoughts kept drifting back to her lover, Tang Yin.
When will I see him again? She wondered. He promised to help me hunt for my next Soul ring
Her master had been urging her to obtain it as soon as possible, but Hu Liena didn't want to be a burden to Tang Yin. She wanted to be as strong as his other lovers, who would surely flourish under his care.
Bibi Dong had no idea that her sixth soul ring had come from a 90,000-year-old soul beast—and Tang Yin had already promised that all her remaining soul rings would come from beasts over 100,000 years old.
Unknown to Hu Liena, Bibi Dong had quietly arrived at the doorway and noticed her disciple once again lost in thought.
This had been happening for over a year. She knew exactly why Hu Liena was so distracted—after all, she herself had once been smitten with that waste, Yu Xiaogang.
But it ended in a tragedy.
Bibi dong promised herself that, no matter what, she would never stand in the way of her disciple pursuing her love.
Shaking her head, Bibi Dong let out a soft cough, startling Hu Liena, who yelped before bowing respectfully.
"Master! Your bed is ready," she said softly.
"Come, sit with me, Nana… Why don't we talk about your lover, Tang Yin?" Bibi Dong teased, a knowing smile playing on her lips.
She had observed Tang Yin enough to know that a man who was neither swayed by beauty nor frivolity, with his upright character and formidable strength, was truly worthy of her disciple.
If only she truly knew....
"Ah… Master," Hu Liena stammered, flustered by her master's directness. She still lacked the confidence to speak openly about their relationship.
"Don't worry. I'm not going to stop you from pursuing him. In fact, it's fine even if he doesn't join our Spirit Hall. But he shouldn't oppose us in the future," Bibi Dong continued, noticing her disciple's unease.
Hu Liena blinked, a smile lighting her face.
Tang Yin hadn't forbidden her from speaking of their relationship, and that small reassurance filled her with happiness.
"Yes Master... I'm already in a relationship with Tang Yin," she admitted softly. "It was in the Slaughter City that I met him again. And let me tell you—he's even more handsome now. He saved me from being poisoned by the Bloody Mary…"
She began to recount the story of how they had met, her cheeks tinged with a delicate blush. The night was long...
Tian Dou City
Inside the Royal Household, Qian Renxue—having shed her Xue Qinghe disguise—lay resting in her luxurious chamber.
Her breathing was soft, almost melodic, as she drifted in a deep, unguarded sleep. Moonlight filtered through the silk curtains, brushing her features with a gentle silver glow.
It was truly a rare moment where all the burdens of being the Crown Prince had slipped away, revealing the young woman beneath.
In Qian Renxue's arms, held with surprising tenderness, rested a black-and-white portrait of Tang Yin.
Renxue had drawn the portrait herself during rare moments of solitude, when she could set aside her mask and breathe freely, allowing her hidden emotions to surface without restraint.
Even in sleep, her grip on the portrait remained firm, as though letting go might cause the image—and the person it portrayed—to slip away from her completely.
"Chirp!—Clank Clank!"
A sharp tapping suddenly came from the window as a small Needle-Tailed Swift pecked at the glass with its tiny beak.
Qian Renxue awoke with a start, excitement flashing across her face. She sprang to the window as if she had been waiting for this very moment—but it wasn't the bird she was excited for.
Nestled in its talons was a folded piece of paper: her only means of communicating with Tang Yin, who had once again vanished on an adventure for nearly two years.
Renxue hurriedly opened the window, her gaze flicking straight to the bird's tiny feet before dismissing the creature entirely.
The Needle-Tailed Swift fluttered in protest, wings flailing indignantly, but she didn't spare it a glance as she eagerly unfurled the letter.
[Dear brother,
It's been almost two years since we last saw each other. I'm steadily growing stronger and have already reached level 87. It won't be long before I become the youngest Titled Douluo. Hahaha…
But honestly, it doesn't matter much to me, because I've lost too much time away from home. I miss the fresh air of Tian Dou City, and I miss your company the most. Hope you're in good health.
—Your little brother, Tang Yin]
"Kyaaa…!"
Qian Renxue squealed in happiness as she read the final line—him saying he missed her company.
Sure, he probably meant he missed Xue Qinghe, but she was Xue Qinghe, so it didn't matter at all.
With that comforting logic, Renxue kicked away the tiny doubt in her heart and practically skipped in place, her steps light and giddy like a girl who'd just heard her crush say her name.
Unknown to the rest of the palace, two Titled Douluo stood vigil in the shadows of the Crown Prince's chamber. Silent and unseen, their auras were suppressed so perfectly that even spiritual-type experts would have mistaken the room for empty.
Ci Xue, the Porcupine Douluo, and She Long, the Snake Lance Douluo, exchanged helpless glances at their smitten young master.
They had no idea what black magic Tang Yin had used, but ever since meeting him, their once-ruthless young master had turned into a love-struck, giddy girl.
They had seen Tang Yin themselves—talented, handsome, exceptional—but Spirit Hall was full of talented and handsome men. Why their young master was so utterly captivated by him… remained an absolute mystery.