"They've already reached the five-hundredth step?!"
"Do I still have a chance to surpass them?"
"Can I do it? Can I really compete with them?"
"Is this possible? Is this really possible?"
"Five hundred steps, that's a height I can never hope to reach in my lifetime—it's too difficult!"
"Could it be that Su Ran set an impossible goal for me, and never intended for me to join Peach Garden Academy?!"
Another three months passed. Under the Forbidden Land of the Seagod Hall, Tang San was drenched in sweat, kneeling with effort on the one hundred twenty-seventh step. He was still about thirty steps away from passing the assessment. This achievement, on Sea God Island, would normally be enough to stand out from the crowd.
But looking up, among the Peach Garden Academy students who came to Sea God Island for Cultivation, even the last one had ascended over three hundred steps, which was double his own achievement!
And Dugu Yan and Shui Bing'er, at the very front, had already successively reached the height of five hundred steps.
The Cultivation Technique and unique skills they learned improved rapidly under the immense pressure after the two-hundredth step. The immortal-grade flowers and herbs they absorbed earlier had their medicinal effects stimulated to the extreme under the Seagod's Light, and their spirit power, in just these few short months, had increased to level sixty-eight Advanced Spirit Emperor!
Shui Yueer was even more of a rising star, surprisingly using the subtle force of Flowing Water Rock Shatter to find a breaking point in the Seagod's Light, following closely behind, landing on the four hundred seventy-eighth step.
Meanwhile, Meng Yiran, who excelled in spirit tool techniques and summoning Spirit Beast for combat, gradually slowed down considerably after ascending the four-hundredth step, eventually being overtaken by Shui Yueer.
At the same time, Meng Yiran and Xue Wu's spirit power also increased to level sixty-seven, Yu Hairou to level sixty-six, and Shui Yueer's spirit power increased to level sixty, obtaining a god-bestowed spirit ring for the first time, fixed at sixty-nine thousand years.
Qiu Ruoshui, Gu Qingbo, and Shen Liuyu's spirit power also stabilized at level fifty-eight. Using the subtle strength of their unique skills, they collided with the Seagod's Light, striving to reach the three hundred thirty-third step.
Even more astonishing was that all nine of them possessed more than two ten-thousand-year Spirit Bone, and their suitability exceeded ninety percent!
This greatly frustrated Tang San and dealt a blow to his confidence.
Tang San had thought that after two or three years of studying at Peach Garden Academy, Shui Yueer and Qiu Ruoshui might be even more outstanding than during the Soul Master Competition, and their strength should have improved by a notch. However, he hadn't expected them to improve to such a terrifying degree. As mere Spirit King, they were not inferior to Spirit Emperor, and even dared to contend with Spirit Saint!
He could see that each of them possessed Cultivation Technique and unique skills that complemented their own Spirit, allowing them to maximize their advantages and potential. Especially since they had Beast Spirit, which provided a greater boost to their bodies, giving them an advantage in the tempering of Seagod's Light.
Boom—
Unlike Shui Bing'er and Dugu Yan, who Advanced and retreated with grace and progressed systematically.
To prove himself, to catch up to their pace.
Tang San gritted his teeth, only able to push himself to the limit again and again, but the result was being repelled, losing strength, and rolling down the Sea God Profound Rank in a pathetic and miserable state.
Those were over a hundred steps. His body slammed against the edge of the steps again and again, resulting in torn skin, fractured bones, and blood clots. He could only lie alone on a nearby stone to heal, gritting his teeth, yet unwilling to admit defeat:
"Tang San, hold on, you can do it."
"The stronger they are, the more it proves that the path to joining Peach Garden Academy is the correct one."
"Back then, didn't Tang Sect also not accept us Outer Sect Disciple? But you still proved to everyone through your own efforts and Genius that you could do it!"
"Now, since even Shui Yueer can grow into a Genius who climbs five hundred steps, then if I can study at Peach Garden Academy and find a good teacher, I will have the opportunity to become even stronger than them."
"It doesn't matter, being temporarily behind doesn't mean being always behind. Even if I'm not as good as them in crossing the Seagod's Light, there are still five trials afterwards. As long as… as long as I surpass any one of them, even a support one!"
Tang San encouraged himself while healing his injuries with his Blue Silver Emperor Right Leg Bone.
Now, he had no foundation left and could only rely on himself. To make a comeback and gain Teacher Su's approval seemed to be the only shortcut.
…
"Too strong, this batch of examinees is truly too strong."
"I really didn't expect that some of them could actually ascend the five-hundred-step Sea God Stair. This not only surpasses the history since the establishment of Sea God Island, but it also doubles it."
"How many steps was the record of the first trial left by the Great Priestess back then? It seems to be one hundred sixty-eight steps? That is to say, if the Great Priestess were among this batch of examinees, she would only be slightly stronger than this black level six trial examinee?"
The situation of the nine top red trial candidates received close attention from the seven sacred pillar guardians of Sea God Island. Great Priestess Poseidon also constantly monitored their movements. The entire Sea God Island was anticipating: who among the nine red trials would finally stand out? That represented the future of Sea God Island.
Even Poseidon, who held a high position and was always composed, had eyes full of admiration for these students. She hadn't expected that not only did they all receive top red trials, but the assessment standards were so high, so high that she could hardly believe it.
"Could it be that this Peach Garden Academy truly possesses such astonishing cultivation abilities, and each one is so favored by the sea god? I am becoming more and more interested in this Taoyuan Teacher."
"The sea god's will has been descending somewhat frequently lately, even though they are still in the first trial."
Poseidon looked at the Sea God statue, a bit confused. If the Sea God had a favored successor, why didn't he bestow the nine trials?
Or was the sea god hesitating about something?
…
The sea god's first trial, crossing the Seagod's Light, was actually just the Sea God's will initially testing the examinee's willpower and potential.
As students of Peach Garden Academy, they had already endured high-intensity physical training and pressure, and had undergone immortal-grade transformation. Even when facing the high-intensity test given by the Sea God, they not only completed the trial on time but also over-completed it by 5-30 steps, reaching the end with effort.
Standing on the five hundred fifty-fifth step, looking out, one could overlook most of Sea God Island. Seagulls soared, and sea Spirit Beast swam in the island's rivers, a very peaceful scene.
At the same time, the rewards and evaluations for the Sea God's first trial were issued. Examinees who completed the red trial received an additional level of spirit power increase, and their full spirit ring lifespan was extended by five hundred to eight hundred years. This was the benefit of a top-tier red trial.
As for Tang San, who received the black level six trial, although he barely passed the first trial, he did not receive any spirit ring lifespan extension rewards.
"Alas~ It's a pity, I still didn't surpass Senior Sister's speed in the end. But I will work even harder next. Let's make a deal: whoever ranks higher in the assessment gets the first loving kisses and hugs from Teacher, okay?"
Receiving the warmth of the Seagod's Light, Shui Yueer's fatigue from climbing was somewhat dispelled, and her spirit power reached level sixty-three. Although she was still five or six levels behind her Senior Sister Shui Bing'er in spirit power, the gap was narrowing. Moreover, her Flowing Water Rock Shatter had Advanced at the last fifty-five steps, achieving the ability to condense water into a point and break it with a single strike, already reaching the power of flowing water shattering rocks and piercing mountains.
Shui Yueer also had an advantage that Shui Bing'er did not possess: by crossing the Seagod's Light, she gained the affinity of the Sea God, which was more conducive to her Cultivate her unique skill—Subduing Wave Technique.
The Subduing Wave Technique is a method of harnessing the element of water to stir up the power of rivers and oceans. Perhaps it was because Shui Yueer cultivated the Subduing Wave Technique that the Sea God's trial for her could be on par with the more talented Shui Bing'er and Dugu Yan.
"It seems Yue'er is very confident in achieving good results, huh."
"Yue'er, don't get complacent! For Teacher's reward, we will work even harder in the upcoming assessments!" Qiu Ruoshui said.
"Okay! When we return to the Academy, we all have to catch up to Rongrong Senior Sister and the others. We'll form the Academy's Water Department and show the Senior Sister our prowess!"
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