Just two months after Yang Xiong's group arrived at the Sea God Island, everyone's strength had advanced by leaps and bounds.
Even Yang Xiong couldn't help but marvel at the innate talent of Feng Xiaotian, Shui Bing'er, and Huo Wu. While immortal herbs could enhance their potential, qualities like their inherent temperament and insight were beyond improvement.
Feng Xiaotian truly lived up to his reputation as a genius with full innate soul power. Not only was his adaptability incredibly strong, but he quickly mastered the method of cultivating under the Sea God's Light—far surpassing the others.
Huo Wu and Shui Bing'er were no less impressive. The two girls seemed to be in fierce competition, constantly switching to higher steps for cultivation and rapidly adapting to greater challenges.
Huo Wu's Body Martial Soul was within Yang Xiong's expectations, but Shui Bing'er revealed terrifying talent. Her Ice Phoenix martial soul was particularly well-suited to the Sea God Island, especially under the illumination of the Sea God's Light, where the Ice Phoenix seemed to grow stronger.
Every time Yang Xiong sparred with Shui Bing'er, he felt her ice attribute gradually growing more potent, which in turn enhanced her physical abilities.
Sure enough, after two months, Shui Bing'er had advanced one soul power level, reaching Level 60. She was the first among everyone present to hit a bottleneck—something not even Tang San's group had achieved.
On the very day Shui Bing'er broke through to Level 60, a figure descended from the sky.
The person wore a red robe and held a scepter. With breathtaking beauty, an impeccable physique, and an aura of perfection, they seemed almost godlike.
The Purple-Robed Administrator on-site immediately bowed: "Greetings, High Priestess."
Yang Xiong and the others also quickly bowed: "Greetings, Sea God Douluo."
The visitor was none other than Bo Saixi, one of the three Limit Douluo in the world—and the strongest among them.
Bo Saixi gave a faint nod: "No need for formalities. I am Bo Saixi, known as the Sea God Douluo."
She glanced at the group: "You are quite remarkable. Though you are land-based soul masters, your talents are extraordinary. Four of you have received Red-Level Trials—you are my successors and the hope of the Sea God Island. I hope you train diligently to meet the Sea God's expectations."
Facing Bo Saixi, even the usually arrogant Dai Mubai and Feng Xiaotian showed immense respect. In this world, strength commanded reverence, and Bo Saixi was the strongest being on the Douluo Continent.
Her expression remained impassive, as if she were an untouchable deity.
"I've come today for this young lady. According to the rules of the Sea God Island, every Black-Level Trial participant who encounters their first bottleneck will receive a divine-bestowed soul ring from the Sea God."
Everyone exchanged puzzled glances, unsure of what a divine-bestowed soul ring was—they had never even heard of it before.
Bo Saixi continued to explain: "A divine-bestowed soul ring does not require hunting soul beasts. It grants you the most suitable soul skill and the highest-level soul ring you can withstand. Each of you will have the opportunity to receive one. I hope you endure its baptism with the utmost perseverance—it may bring unimaginable benefits."
As Bo Saixi finished speaking, a golden orb appeared in her hand. The orb shimmered brilliantly, while its interior seemed to churn like turbulent waves.
Under Bo Saixi's guidance, the divine-bestowed soul ring swiftly approached Shui Bing'er. With a flick of her finger, the soul ring split open, and a dense golden mist enveloped Shui Bing'er's body.
Though Shui Bing'er looked somewhat bewildered, she quickly sat down in meditation and summoned her martial soul and soul rings.
Golden light enveloped her, and countless streams of golden energy surged into her body. Her face contorted in extreme pain, as if on the verge of collapse.
But Shui Bing'er displayed resilience far beyond ordinary people. Her massive Ice Phoenix let out a resounding cry, symbolizing indomitable spirit and tenacity.
After several hours, the golden light around Shui Bing'er gradually faded, replaced by a black soul ring. The Ice Phoenix cried out once more, and frost spread across Shui Bing'er's body, freezing the surrounding area within dozens of meters.
When Shui Bing'er opened her eyes again, her face was filled with joy. Clearly, the divine-bestowed soul ring had greatly enhanced her strength and her martial soul.
Shui Bing'er quickly bowed to Bo Saixi: "Thank you, elder, for your kindness."
Bo Saixi gave a slight nod: "As a participant in the Red-Level Seven Trial, your trials are more difficult than others. I hope you remain steadfast and strive to reach higher realms as a soul master."
With that, Bo Saixi departed, walking step by step toward the Sea God Temple.
The girls quickly gathered around Shui Bing'er, carefully sensing her changes and expressing envy.
…
The second person to break through their bottleneck was Huo Wu. Just one month after Shui Bing'er's breakthrough, Huo Wu reached Level 60.
Under the influence of the Sea God's Light, her Body Martial Soul exhibited incredible resilience. Huo Wu herself trained with unmatched effort, and her Body Martial Soul displayed extraordinary toughness.
After absorbing her own divine-bestowed soul ring, Huo Wu's soul power was now on par with Shui Bing'er's.
The two girls seemed locked in a fierce rivalry. Their cultivation speeds were neck and neck, and whenever Shui Bing'er advanced a level, Huo Wu would follow suit within a month.
Even Yang Xiong found it strange—Shui Bing'er's Ice Phoenix seemed even stronger than he had imagined, and her sensitivity to the Sea God's Light surpassed everyone else's.
Time flew by, and eight months passed in the blink of an eye.
In total, Yang Xiong's group had been on the Sea God Island for eleven months.
During these eleven months, Yang Xiong's soul power had increased by five levels, reaching the bottleneck of Level 80.
However, when facing Bo Saixi, Yang Xiong directly asked: "Elder, can I delay absorbing the divine-bestowed soul ring? I'd like to wait until my physical strength becomes even stronger before absorbing it."
Bo Saixi's expression shifted slightly. She was well aware of Yang Xiong's extraordinary physical prowess. This eighth soul ring would undoubtedly reach the level of a hundred-thousand-year soul beast, and based on Yang Xiong's words, it seemed he already knew the content of the next few trials on the Sea God Island.
Ultimately, Bo Saixi nodded: "It is permissible. The Sea God has decreed that you may absorb this divine-bestowed soul ring at any time, without time restrictions."
However, as Bo Saixi left, she cast a meaningful glance at Yang Xiong.
Meanwhile, after a full year of training under the Sea God's Light, Tang San's group had all experienced significant improvements.
In terms of soul power levels alone, each person had gained approximately six levels.
Tang San had advanced from Level 63 to Level 69, gaining six levels, though he had yet to hit a bottleneck.
Xiao Wu similarly gained six levels, reaching Level 68.
Dai Mubai, Yu Tianheng, and Dugu Yan all reached their bottlenecks during this period, with their soul power reaching Level 60.
After absorbing their divine-bestowed soul rings, Dai Mubai's soul power rose to Level 64, Yu Tianheng's to Level 63, and Dugu Yan's to Level 61.
Zhu Zhuqing had not yet reached a bottleneck but had advanced to Level 59.
However, for them, the biggest challenge wasn't soul power advancement or the divine-bestowed soul rings—it was the trials themselves.
Even though their soul power and physical abilities had improved significantly over the past year, the trials remained extremely difficult, especially for Zhu Zhuqing, a Soul King. With her current strength, passing the Sea God's Light trial was practically impossible.
Fortunately, Oscar and Ning Rongrong had also arrived at the Sea God Island. With their assistance, there was a chance to complete the trials.
Tang San and Xiao Wu passed their trials based on their own strength. Both possessed exceptional physical abilities and insight, and with great effort, they barely managed to pass the first trial of the Sea God.
The remaining four participants were all undergoing Black-Level Four Trials, requiring them to ascend 98 steps. Passing this trial on their own strength was virtually impossible.
However, with the support of Ning Rongrong's Nine-Treasures Glazed Pagoda, along with Oscar's Super Recovery Sausage and Hyperactive Pink Sausage, Dai Mubai, Yu Tianheng, and Dugu Yan managed to pass their trials.
As for Zhu Zhuqing, she was the most troublesome among everyone. To help her pass, Oscar specially crafted a Beyond-Limit Emerald Green Sausage using his fifth soul skill. Combined with Ning Rongrong's full support, Zhu Zhuqing finally succeeded in passing her trial.
After receiving assistance from Oscar and Ning Rongrong, the four were immensely grateful, especially the girls, who seemed to grow even closer to Ning Rongrong.
Even Dai Mubai, who had always been somewhat at odds with Ning Rongrong, expressed heartfelt gratitude.
Without Ning Rongrong and Oscar, these four would have surely perished. Such a debt of life was impossible to repay.
During the year, Yang Xiong had met Ma Hongjun several times. Ma Hongjun had only received a Purple-Level Three Trial, which was relatively simpler.
Ma Hongjun spent most of his time living in Seahorse City and had become one of the Seahorse Douluo's administrators.
Surprisingly, the Sea God Island did not reject fire-attribute soul masters. With the help of the Seahorse Douluo and others, Ma Hongjun obtained a fire-attribute soul ring from a volcanic island in the sea.
Moreover, Ma Hongjun's demonic fire had been somewhat suppressed on the Sea God Island, and he had noticeably slimmed down.
Dai Mubai personally thanked Yang Xiong. Had Yang Xiong not brought Oscar and Ning Rongrong, they would have all perished.
Dai Mubai even joked that if one day he grew tired of wandering and didn't want to return to the cold Star Luo Empire, he might consider joining Yang Xiong's Body Sect. He even asked Yang Xiong to reserve an elder position for him and Zhu Zhuqing.
Yang Xiong: …
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