In the Sun Moon Empire, among the Yue'nan Archipelago, the southern seas shimmered beneath a full moon.
Here, Jiang Nannan and Zhang Lexuan—ever in Zhu Ziyang's thoughts—were undergoing a most unusual trial. Each held a white net woven of luminous silver threads that glowed like strands of moonlight.
Focused intently on the water's surface, they suddenly saw a school of peculiar fish leap into the air. The fish traced arcs as graceful as crescent moons. Instantly, both girls moved, nets flashing as they sought to capture the elusive prey.
But these fish were no ordinary creatures. Known as Silver Moon Spirit Fish, they were unique to the seas of the Yue'nan Archipelago. Shimmering silver, no longer than half a meter, their sleek torpedo-shaped bodies granted them blistering speed. Their scales bore faint moon-patterns that allowed them to teleport under moonlight.
Legend claimed they were kin to the Silver Moon Goddess herself, and within the archipelago they were regarded as sacred. Fishermen and soul masters alike refrained from hunting them, lest they invoke the moon's wrath. Their race had thus flourished; whispers even told of a Silver Moon Spirit Fish King that had survived for over a hundred thousand years, though none had ever seen it.
What Jiang Nannan and Zhang Lexuan faced now, however, were no ordinary fish. Every one of these Spirit Fish was a ten-thousand-year soul beast, assigned as part of their divine trials.
Their first attempts failed, but neither hesitated. Both immediately released their martial souls. Under the moonlight, their spirit rings gleamed in dazzling hues. Behind Zhang Lexuan, three purple, four black, and one red ring rose; behind Jiang Nannan, two purple and four black. These new rings were the rewards of their divine assessments over the past year.
In that year, both had grown tremendously. Jiang Nannan's soul power had climbed to Rank 69, only a step from Soul Sage. Zhang Lexuan, however, had reached Rank 90. With but one more ring, she would ascend to Title Douluo. Yet she remembered Zhu Ziyang's advice and held back, awaiting his word.
As their martial souls flared, the Silver Moon Spirit Fish responded, flashing through moonlight in rapid teleports, dazzling to the eye.
Jiang Nannan acted first, her first and fourth abilities activating at once. Silver brilliance cloaked her body as she vanished from sight, reappearing amidst the shoal. Her net swept wide—three Spirit Fish were too slow to evade, colliding straight into its threads. Stripped of their moonlight teleportation, they fell easily into her hands.
Delighted, Nannan activated the second stage of her fourth ability, flashing back to her original spot. She released the fish at once with a cheerful smile. "Thank you for your help!"
The three Spirit Fish flicked their tails at her playfully before darting back into their school, ready to continue the trial.
Zhang Lexuan's task proved simpler. Her Silver Moon Martial Soul resonated with the moon above, casting down beams of imprisoning light. A dozen Spirit Fish froze mid-leap. With a graceful smile, she cast her net and secured ten in one motion. The osmanthus mark on her brow glowed faintly as she laughed, "Nannan, I'm done already!"
"What? So fast?" Jiang Nannan pouted in frustration. She had just managed to snare two more, bringing her total to five. "I still need fifteen more!"
"Then you'd better work harder!" Zhang Lexuan teased, laughing as she released her ten captives back into the sea. The playful fish flicked their tails before joining the others—and all of them swam toward Jiang Nannan.
Suddenly, Nannan found herself facing thirty Spirit Fish at once, all ten-thousand-year soul beasts. The task became drastically harder. Their combined scales reflected moonlight into a vast field of shifting brilliance, expanding their teleportation range. For Nannan, the challenge grew severalfold.
Lexuan watched her flustered junior sister with a helpless smile. She longed to help, but the rules of the trial required each to complete her own task unaided. All she could do was cheer from the sidelines.
When she was certain Nannan would manage, Lexuan sat cross-legged upon the sea, turning her focus inward to claim the reward for completing her fifth divine test.
"Red-Level Fifth Test complete. Reward: One God-bestowed Spirit Ring. One chosen spirit ring's age increased by one thousand years."
Without hesitation, she bestowed the extra millennia upon her third spirit ring, turning it pitch black. A marvel she had never imagined possible before beginning the divine assessments. Her heart swelled with awe and reverence for the Silver Moon Goddess.
Opening her eyes, she found a crimson orb resting in her palm—the God-bestowed Spirit Ring. She had gained one before, but Zhu Ziyang's words still rang in her ears. If he had told them to wait before absorbing spirit rings, he surely had his reasons. And so she chose to trust him absolutely.
Time flowed on. As the silver moon sank toward the horizon and dawn neared, Jiang Nannan finally captured her full quota of twenty Spirit Fish. She passed her trial at the last possible moment.
Sitting cross-legged, she received her reward:
"Taiyin Nine Trials complete. Reward: Godhood Affinity +10%, Soul Power +1 Rank, All Spirit Ring ages increased by one thousand years."
Her rank rose to 70, and though her rings' colors showed little change, the increase in Godhood Affinity left her ecstatic. Having reached sixty percent, she now understood fully what that meant for her future as the inheritor of the Taiyin God.
"Congratulations, Nannan!" Zhang Lexuan smiled warmly. "Eighteen years old and already a Soul Saint—you're stronger than me."
"No way!" Nannan grinned. "It's only thanks to the divine trial's blessings. You, Lexuan-jie, rely purely on your own talent! By the way, did you check the sixth test yet?"
"Not yet." Lexuan shook her head. "Shall we look together?"
"Alright!"
Both sank their consciousness inward, reading the contents of their sixth trials. Moments later, Nannan's eyes went wide. She leapt to her feet with a joyful cry: "Lexuan-jie!"
Lexuan too had seen her own instructions. Though stunned, she quickly realized their tasks were the same. Hiding her smile, she suggested, "Why don't we say it together?"
"Okay!" Nannan agreed eagerly.
They drew a deep breath, met each other's eyes, and spoke in unison:
"Assist Zhu Ziyang in completing the Death God's Seventh Trial!"
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