On the outskirts of the Demon Whale Sea, Xiao Bai's wide eyes stared, feeling as if all her years of cultivation had been for nothing.
"How is it? Didn't I say Yun would definitely win?" Dugu Yan lifted her chin proudly. "You lost, so you'll carry me over later."
"Fine, fine, I'll carry you." Xiao Bai huffed, then let Dugu Yan climb onto her back and swam swiftly toward Yang Yunhai's location.
At that moment, Yang Yunhai's voice rang out across the waters. "Yan'er, you can come over now."
Bo Saixi only shook her head with a small smile, but a faint sadness flashed in her eyes. She cast one last look toward the mainland before following after them.
A while later, deep within the Demon Whale Sea, Dugu Yan and the others arrived.
By now, the Deep Sea Demon Whale King's wounds had already been healed by Yang Yunhai. The giant beast was nestled beside his wife and daughter.
When Dugu Yan landed, Yang Yunhai inclined his head slightly. "Don't worry. Once my wife becomes the Sea God, you will ascend with her as a Beast God. There will be plenty of time to reunite."
The Demon Whale King turned to his wife and child. "Take the child and return. There will be other chances. I will find you again." Then, his gaze grew complicated as he looked at Yang Yunhai. "A loss is a loss. I will abide by our wager."
Yang Yunhai nodded, leaping onto the back of the Thousand Ton Ant Emperor, Tianjun.
Soon, the whale king's wife and daughter vanished into the depths. Dugu Yan raised her hand, condensing a thick sheet of ice across the sea's surface, stepping lightly upon it.
Without another word, the Deep Sea Demon Whale King's body glowed crimson as he began his sacrificial offering.
Because it was a willing sacrifice, there was no danger, and it did not take long. Within a few hours, the massive body dissolved into light, his soul transforming into a streak of red that sank into Dugu Yan's ninth golden spirit ring.
Yang Yunhai reached out, seizing the hovering blue-violet torso bone suspended above the waves.
"Welcome, newcomer!" A bright, lazy voice greeted as the whale king's soul entered the spiritual sea. Tianmeng immediately wriggled forward.
The whale king's vision cleared, and before him stood a massive iceworm and the Thousand Ton Ant Emperor, both in beast form.
"I am Tianmeng," the iceworm said smoothly. "Like you, I was once a near-million-year soul beast. And I am of the spiritual attribute. So… don't even think about possession." He inclined his head knowingly. "Be grateful. Xiao Bai said you stayed quietly within your domain, feeding only on those who strayed into your territory. You did not slaughter recklessly like the Evil Demon Orca King."
"Otherwise, you would already be dust, like him."
"Yan Yan has a god-level torso bone protecting her. If you know what's good for you, behave yourself. Lend your strength, and serve her well."
'…So that's how it is.' The whale king fell silent, realization dawning. This human had schemed everything. There had never been a chance for him to take over.
Humans truly were cunning beyond compare!
"Hmph." He snorted coldly, slinking to an open corner, closing his eyes as if to sleep.
Tianmeng only yawned, dragging the Thousand Ton Ant Emperor away to lie on the opposite side, ignoring the sulking whale.
In the outside world, Dugu Yan's mind rang with a voice:
"Sea God Nine Trials, eighth trial, complete. Reward: Sea God affinity +30%. Current affinity: 115%."
'So… what will the ninth trial be?' Dugu Yan wondered, casting a glance at Bo Saixi. She did not ask immediately, instead turning to Zhu Zhuqing.
Zhu Zhuqing's body was already enveloped in red light, her spirit rings resonating one after another.
Her third ring, once purple, swiftly deepened into black. That meant all of her rings had increased by 5,000 years. Dugu Yan knew Zhu Zhuqing's ring years perfectly; only the third would change color from such an increase.
"Hehe, Zhuqing, congratulations!" she said warmly as Zhu Zhuqing opened her eyes.
Zhu Zhuqing gave a faint smile. She had done nothing for this trial—she had merely benefited from her sister's victory.
"Come," Yang Yunhai said with a smile. "Let's return to Sea God Island first."
"Mm." Both women nodded.
On the way back, Dugu Yan turned to Bo Saixi. "Senior Bo Saixi—"
"No need to ask," Bo Saixi interrupted gently. "Your ninth trial requires my hand to initiate. When you are ready, come to the Sea God Temple. You will know then."
Though her heart still longed to see Tang Chen once more, she looked at the younger generation with warmth. Perhaps this was fate. After so many days of reflection, she had already accepted the coming end.
"…Understood." Dugu Yan nodded softly, asking no further.
Yang Yunhai only watched in silence.
When they reached Sea God Island, Bo Saixi turned to Dugu Yan with a smile. "Yan Yan, whenever you are ready, come find me at the temple." With that, her figure flickered into a stream of light, vanishing toward Sea God Mountain.
"Let's return to our quarters first," Yang Yunhai suggested. He turned to the sea. "Xiao Bai, I'll visit you again tomorrow."
"Alright." Xiao Bai nodded before slipping back beneath the waves.
The group took flight, returning swiftly to Sea Horse City.
Once inside their quarters, Yang Yunhai handed the torso bone to Zhu Zhuqing. "Zhuqing, take this into the room and absorb it."
With her spirit power at rank 89 after the eighth trial, this torso bone would surely help her break through to rank 90.
"Alright." Zhu Zhuqing accepted it calmly and stepped into the bedroom.
"…A loyal child," the Goddess of Life murmured softly in the God Realm, watching from afar.
The Sea God nodded, then glanced at the other two. "Destruction, Life—look, I'll soon descend to pass on my godhood. Time flows differently. One day here is a year below. It won't be long."
His meaning was clear: wasn't it time for them to leave?
"Hmph." The God of Destruction snorted coldly and turned away.
The Goddess of Life shook her head lightly, following behind.
Below, Yang Yunhai spoke again. "Yan Yan, stabilize your cultivation for now. I'll remain on Sea God Island until you complete your ninth trial. Grandpa, Teacher, Uncle—this matter is settled. Please return and continue watching over the children."
"Alright." The three men nodded. With Yang Yunhai's current strength, they no longer needed to protect him.
The next morning, they departed.
Zhu Zhuqing remained in seclusion to absorb the bone. Dugu Yan guarded her, consolidating her own level.
Yang Yunhai flew alone to the Devil Soul Great White Shark bay, spreading his Life's Light among them.
Meanwhile, far away—within the Slaughter City.
In the scarlet dimension, a beastly crimson shadow collapsed into a puddle of blood and dispersed.
A cold voice sounded in Bibi Dong's mind:
"Asura God's seventh trial—complete. Eighth trial: Defeat the Slaughter King, Tang Chen. Reclaim the divine weapon—Asura Demon Sword."
"Slaughter King… Tang Chen." Bibi Dong frowned, stepping through the portal without hesitation.
Inside the grand hall of Slaughter City, the Slaughter King sat upon his throne, brows tightly furrowed.
"Great King," the black-veiled maiden reported anxiously, "this past month, the citizens' afflictions have not lessened, but worsened."
'Fortunately, I stopped drinking Bloody Mary when I did,' she thought secretly.
The Slaughter King turned his gaze to Tang San.
Even he himself felt it—the creeping toxin within his body. A strange, slow-working poison he had never encountered before.
Truthfully, he suspected Tang San. After all, the youth's weapons in the Hell Arena battles had always been laced with venom.
Yet… within Slaughter City, many used poisoned blades. Some even possessed poison-based martial souls. Tang San's Clear Sky Hammer had no such attribute, and his Blue Silver Grass, even with the Man-Faced Demon Spider's external soul bone, should not have been capable of creating such a wide-reaching toxin. Something that could permeate the entire Hell Road was no simple poison. Could a junior like Tang San truly craft such a thing?
This doubt gnawed at him.
'Fortunately, I never revealed the Poison Corrosion Grass martial soul here. Slaughter King, in the end, your arrogance and underestimation of me will be your death.' Tang San's eyes gleamed coldly even as he feigned frustration, shaking his head. "I have no progress either. I stopped drinking Bloody Mary long ago, yet even breathing the air, I feel poisoned. My body is weakening. If this persists, I may leave Slaughter City for a time—perhaps outside, I can find a cure."
"As far as I know, among the Clear Sky Sect's four subsidiary clans, the Breaking Clan excelled in poisons and antidotes." This information had come from Tang Yuehua, who had also suggested the Speed Clan as a potential entry point to subdue them.
In truth, Tang San had been feeding on fallen soul masters' corpses, growing rapidly stronger. But for safety's sake, he planned to withdraw, waiting for the Slaughter King's poison to fully erupt.
The Slaughter King's frown deepened. Then—
"Argh!" He suddenly clutched his head as violet qi surged from his brow.
"King! What is happening?" The black-veiled maiden gasped.
'The poison… it's erupting!' Tang San's eyes sharpened.
But in the next instant, the Slaughter King stilled. Slowly, he raised his head. The red light in his eyes faded, replaced by clarity. His gaze was calm, touched with sorrow.
"Asura… so this is your test. I have failed in the end." His voice was low. "This is not right or wrong—perhaps it is simply fate."
He straightened, lifting his head toward the hall doors. "Since you are here, guest… come out."
"Hmph. Well played, Rakshasa God. To prevent me, you willingly erased the evil will from his mind, returning him to lucidity."
A cold voice echoed, and a flash of crimson light appeared. Bibi Dong's figure materialized in the center of the hall.
As the former inheritor of the Rakshasa God, none knew that aura better than her.
That violet mark at the Slaughter King's brow had been the Rakshasa God's remnant. And now, erased—deliberately.
'The Rakshasa God helped him? Interesting…' Tang San narrowed his eyes, silently stepping aside. His own strength was insufficient to face the Slaughter King head-on, even poisoned. But if Bibi Dong and Tang Chen clashed… he could reap the spoils.
Besides, he was certain Bibi Dong was also undergoing a god's trials.
"You have come for the Asura Demon Sword?" Tang Chen's tone was calm, eyes flicking to the Asura sigil at Bibi Dong's brow. "If I am not mistaken… I am one of your tests."
"That's right." Bibi Dong's voice was cold, her gaze sliding briefly toward Tang San. "Today, I shall wipe out the remnants of your Clear Sky Sect in one fell swoop."
(End of Chapter)
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