Chapter 195: The Sea God's Light Trial
After his conversation with the purple-clad sea soul master, Yang Potian turned to the five who still seemed lost in thought. "What are you all waiting for? Get moving and start training, or are you just waiting to die? Over this next year, you'll understand what I mean by 'hell.'"
The five swallowed nervously and quickly took their positions on the steps that suited their levels, beginning their meditation and training.
Yang Potian glanced at them and shook his head, feeling a slight pang of regret. If he had known the trial would be this challenging, he would have insisted on bringing Oscar and Ning Rongrong, the two supreme auxiliary supports. With them, everyone's trial might have been a bit easier—even if he had to sacrifice a couple of celestial herbs to do so. But now it was too late. Even with the use of celestial herbs, they would likely only reach the Soul King level, so their support would be limited. And besides, they were thousands of miles away.
Yang Potian looked up at the high steps leading to the Sea God Hall and steeled himself, beginning his first attempt at the steps.
For the first two hundred steps, Yang Potian felt little pressure, ascending slowly but steadily. When he reached the two-hundredth step, he called forth his martial spirit and soul rings. As the two red rings materialized, several observers hidden in the shadows were astonished—especially among the Sea God Island's Seven Sacred Pillars, who couldn't help but marvel at his soul ring configuration.
Using his soul power to counter the pressure, Yang Potian continued to advance with little resistance. But upon reaching the three-hundredth step, the pressure intensified. Still, Yang Potian pressed onward, undeterred by the increased difficulty.
At the four-hundredth step, the pressure increased significantly, reaching the level of a Titled Douluo's strength. But Yang Potian remained unfazed, inching his way forward.
By the five-hundredth step, the pressure was like a mountain pressing down on him, and he was beginning to feel the strain. His soul power was pushed to its limit.
Eyes ablaze, Yang Potian activated his Killing God Domain, allowing a radiant white aura to clash against the golden light of the Sea God's radiance. He continued to climb, albeit slowly.
When he reached the six-hundredth step, both his body and soul power were strained to the brink, and he struggled to lift his foot for another step. His eyes locked on the distant Sea God Hall, a fierce determination flaring within him. His two red rings appeared once again, and his entire body took on a metallic silver hue as his wings and golden tailbone soul bone emerged, supporting him like a pillar of strength.
With every ounce of power he possessed, Yang Potian managed to reach the six-hundred-ninety-ninth step. However, he could go no further. Reluctantly, he gazed at the Sea God Hall before shaking his head and descending, aware that his current physical strength, though exceptional, fell short—he had only one hundred-thousand-year soul bone, after all.
Observers from Sea God Island were left in awe, marveling at how Yang Potian, only a Soul Douluo, had reached the six-hundred-ninety-ninth step—a feat previously unheard of. Even Sea God Douluo Bo Saixi was visibly moved. She wondered why, given Yang Potian's immense potential, the Sea God had chosen the significantly less powerful Yang Tianyue as his successor.
Back on the ground, Yang Potian collapsed, exhausted. For the first time, he had pushed himself to the absolute limit.
He addressed his companions on the steps, "To grow stronger, you need to constantly push past your limits. The Sea God's trials aren't simply about strength—they're about the resolve to keep pushing forward. Without that determination, you won't be worthy of completing the trials."
His words struck a chord with the others, particularly Yang Tianyue, who bore the heaviest trial as the true successor to the Sea God.
In the divine realm's Sea God Hall, the Sea God observed Yang Potian with a hint of regret. "Asura, you're really going to leave this brilliant talent to me? How can you just let him go?"
Asura God replied with a cold smile, "I'm not ignoring him. He's currently refining himself on Sea God Island. Once he truly understands what it means to be an Asura, he will naturally receive my trial."
The Sea God chuckled. "Yang Potian's body is truly exceptional. If he reaches level ninety-nine and gains a full set of supreme-quality soul bones, do you think he'd be able to contend with gods? Might he even become a god on his own?"
The Asura God's expression remained indifferent. "Only those who are truly exceptional are worthy of inheriting my mantle."
In the following days, everyone adhered to Yang Potian's rigorous training plan. He himself trained on the four-hundred-thirtieth step, benefiting immensely from the Sea God's Light, which provided an ideal training environment, accelerating their soul power cultivation.
On average, each of them gained one rank every two months. Yang Tianyue's innate full soul power gave her an even greater advantage, enabling her to level up in just a month and a half. Each day, they pushed their limits on the steps until their soul power was exhausted, after which they would recover in medicinal baths before returning to training.
Their weekly duels with Yang Potian were brutal; each match left them heavily injured, only to be swiftly healed by Ye Lingling. Six months into the training, Yang Tianyue reached a bottleneck and achieved level seventy, prompting Sea God Douluo Bo Saixi to appear before them.
Seeing their confusion, Bo Saixi explained calmly, "All who receive the Sea God's trials are blessed with a God-bestowed soul ring when they reach their first bottleneck. This soul ring will grant the ideal skill for your martial spirit and rise to the highest level your body can withstand. Yang Tianyue, this is the Sea God's gift. Steady yourself and endure as best you can to gain the most from this opportunity."
With a wave of her hand, Bo Saixi summoned a small golden orb that floated above Yang Tianyue's head. She gestured, and the orb shattered, enveloping Yang Tianyue in a dense golden aura.
Yang Potian called out to her, "Tianyue, follow the same process you use to absorb a soul ring. Remember, push your limits as far as you can. The more you endure, the greater the soul ring's age."
Yang Tianyue nodded, sitting down to absorb the God-bestowed soul ring. Bo Saixi, her expression unreadable, gave Yang Potian a sly glance before departing.
Yang Potian's heart sank as he watched her go. There's no way Bo Saixi would make it easy for Tianyue to complete her trials, he thought grimly. This is Sea God Island, after all—anything can happen. I may need to use some of my trump cards.
Turning back to the others, he reassured them, "Don't worry; Tianyue will be fine absorbing the God-bestowed soul ring. You'll all get your chance one day. Now, back to training."
After Yang Potian's words, everyone resumed training. Around Yang Tianyue, the energy continued to intensify until it formed a golden sphere, enveloping her completely like a cocoon.
Half a year of intense training under the Sea God's Light had increased everyone's spirit power and significantly enhanced their physical resilience. Compared to when they started, all four had managed to double the height they could climb.
At this pace, Yang Ping'an and Niu Meng would likely clear their trials without issue. Dugu Yan would face more difficulty, but her Eight Spider Lances soul bone would prove a great help. The hardest trials awaited Ye Lingling and Yang Tianyue.
Ye Lingling's cultivation speed had nearly caught up to Tianyue's, thanks to the Celestial Herb "Yearning Heartbroken Red," which dramatically boosted her growth. With the addition of a new spirit ring, her chances were promising.
However, Yang Tianyue faced the daunting task of climbing 368 steps, the true hurdle.
Yang Potian himself had only gained a little over one level in these months, now reaching mid-86. With six more months, he might push to the peak of 87, though reaching level 88 would be challenging without another breakthrough under the Sea God's Light.
It took two full months for Yang Tianyue to absorb the God-bestowed spirit ring. When she finally emerged, her excitement was palpable, especially with the dazzling blood-red ring that left everyone in awe. Thanks to this spirit ring, her level rose to 74, igniting admiration in the group as they threw themselves into training, eager to build their strength and conditioning for future God-bestowed spirit rings.
Yet, despite reaching level 74, Yang Tianyue could only climb to just over 200 steps, still far from her trial's requirement.
After much deliberation, Yang Potian decided to give her the Star Luo Spirit Pearl, the only treasure that could aid her at this stage; other Celestial Herbs were ineffective as she'd taken Ink Jade Bamboo only a year ago.
Absorbing the Star Luo Spirit Pearl allowed Tianyue to form a spirit core, raising her to level 75. She could now barely make it past 250 steps, but her trial still demanded over a hundred more. Even with Ye Lingling's continuous healing and support, she struggled to cross even 280 steps.
Yang Potian felt as if he were missing something important. Although the Sea God's trials were difficult, they were never meant to be impossible. He realized his only option was to climb alongside Tianyue, using his Killing God Domain to aid her.
Suddenly, he recalled something curious about her spirit evolution. The Ink Jade Bamboo, her ideal Celestial Herb, didn't cause a full spirit evolution, unlike Ping'an's Nine-Grade Dragon Ganoderma. Reviewing the herb's effects, he noted that it boosted the strength and resilience of her martial spirit, especially in withstanding pressure. That explained her rapid progress—her climbing speed had already surpassed Tang San's in the original story.
Yang Potian also noted a difference between her and Tang San: a domain. Tang San gained a powerful Blue Silver Domain with his 100,000-year seventh spirit ring, yet Tianyue hadn't unlocked a domain despite possessing a 100,000-year ring. Though their martial spirits differed, the gap shouldn't be this large.
He still hoped that his own Broken Soul Spear would unlock a domain between his seventh and eighth spirit rings. Though it hadn't fully awakened, he had glimpsed two embryonic forms, which might distinguish his Broken Soul Spear from truly top-tier martial spirits. Yang Potian was confident that absorbing his ninth spirit ring would awaken both domains.
He turned to Yang Tianyue. "Tianyue, do you feel close to awakening a domain? Any sensation like that?"
Tianyue considered this before replying, "I feel something like that, but it hasn't fully formed. Something seems... missing."
Yang Potian thought it over and addressed the group, "Starting today, you'll train against my Killing God Domain. It's time you all experienced domain collisions firsthand."
Yang Tianyue looked confused. "Will that help, Brother?"
Yang Potian nodded. "I underestimated the Ink Jade Bamboo's influence. To oppose a domain, you'll need a domain. Repeated confrontations with mine might help you unlock yours."
After further reflection, he concluded that Tianyue, Ping'an, and Ye Lingling all had high chances of unlocking domains after absorbing their seventh spirit rings. After all, they had consumed powerful Celestial Herbs, and their spirits had been strengthened or evolved.
Potian pondered Tianyue's innate full spirit power; perhaps her spirit was only partially awakened, similar to Tang San's. A second awakening at a higher rank might trigger a domain, like Qian Renxue's Angel Domain at level 70. If so, they would need to reach level 90 to unlock their domains, but Potian was unwilling to wait. He resolved to expedite their second awakenings.
Ye Lingling, however, was likely to manifest her domain at level 70—and it could be a formidable life domain.
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