"Lifetime!"
Seahorse Douluo's eyes widened as he stared at Zhu Zhuqing. "You just said that the time limit for your first test is a lifetime?"
"Yes," Zhu Zhuqing nodded calmly.
"How could this be? You're a land spirit master. Logically, each test should last for one year. For sea spirit masters, each test lasts ten years. But yours is a lifetime?" Seahorse Douluo repeated, disbelief evident in his tone.
"Yes, Senior. I don't understand it myself, but the time limit for my first test is indeed a lifetime," Zhu Zhuqing affirmed seriously.
Phew~
Seahorse Douluo stood frozen, stunned.
The reason why land spirit masters had tests ten years shorter than those of Sea God Island's native sea spirit masters was because Sea God favored the latter. Yet now, a land spirit master like Zhu Zhuqing had a time limit longer than even sea spirit masters. What could this mean?
Seahorse Douluo came to a conclusion. "You are indeed honored guests of Lord Sea God."
In his mind, that was the only possible explanation for such an anomaly.
As for Ye Feng, he felt it was somehow connected to the system's earlier sense of jealousy. He had envied how the sea spirit masters on Sea God Island could receive divine tests unconditionally. It gave them many advantages. So, the system wasn't having it. Not only had it punished Seahorse Douluo, but it had also tweaked the test durations.
"Alright, next," Seahorse Douluo called out.
"I'll go!" Ning Rongrong stepped forward confidently.
After that, Ye Feng's companions began undergoing the Sea God's tests in an orderly fashion.
Qian Renxue, Ning Rongrong, Xiao Wu, Hu Liena, and Huo Wu received the Top Red Test; Xie Yue, Yan, Ma Hongjun, Oscar, and Huo Wushuang received the Six Black Test; Shui Yue'er, Meng Yiran, and Dugu Yan got the Five Black Test; Zhang Ping, Xu Yu, Li Kai, Tailong, Huang Yuan, Jing Ling, and Jiang Zhu received the Four Black Test.
"Bing'er, it's your turn now," Ye Feng said with a smile, turning toward Shui Bing'er.
"Mm," Shui Bing'er nodded lightly.
Seahorse Douluo's eyes studied Shui Bing'er seriously. After a moment, a flicker of surprise shone in his gaze. He could feel a powerful force emanating from her.
"What is your martial spirit?" Seahorse Douluo asked.
"Ice Phoenix," Shui Bing'er answered honestly.
"I see. Let's begin." Seahorse Douluo nodded, then activated his spirit power to trigger the Light of the Sea God for the penultimate time that day.
She should get the Top Red Test, Ye Feng thought silently.
When it came to talent and strength, Shui Bing'er was on par with Hu Liena, Xiao Wu, Huo Wu, Qian Renxue, and Ning Rongrong—all of whom had received the Top Red Test. She was just one level below Qian Renxue.
Qian Renxue didn't receive the Sea God's Nine Trials due to her martial spirit but had obtained the Top Red Test. She had the strength to inherit the High Priest position.
Shui Bing'er was incredibly talented. Even the protagonist Tang San once doubted whether he should continue cultivating the Clear Sky Hammer spirit. Ye Feng felt that Shui Bing'er might not just receive the Six Black Test. She might get the Top Red Test—or even the Sea God's Nine Trials.
The blue light illuminated everything, gently bathing Shui Bing'er. But strangely, the light didn't shift color as quickly as it had with the others.
Just as everyone was getting confused, the transformation started. The blue light turned purple, then black, then red, and finally settled into gold.
"Gold!"
Seahorse Douluo was completely speechless, eyes bulging.
Golden rays shot out from the Seahorse Sacred Pillar, forming nine radiant panels in front of Shui Bing'er. All of the light then surged toward her forehead, merging into a golden trident mark right between her brows.
"Sister..." Shui Yue'er rushed to Shui Bing'er's side, holding her arm. She reached out to touch the glowing trident symbol with curiosity. "Senior, what does this mean?"
"I... I have no idea."
"You're the guardian of the Seahorse Holy Pillar. How could you not know?"
"I really don't. I've never seen anything like this before," Seahorse Douluo said, shaking his head with a frown as he stared at the trident.
Ye Feng and Qian Renxue were just about to say something when a heavenly, ethereal voice echoed from the distance.
"Don't blame him. This is the first time such a thing has occurred since the founding of Sea God Island. What she has received is not the Top Nine Tests, but the Sea God's Nine Trials."
The voice lingered in the air, like a soft wind from the sea.
As it faded, a red light shimmered into existence above Ye Feng and the others. The space twisted, and a figure slowly appeared.
She looked to be around 1.8 meters tall, draped in a red ceremonial robe. Her sea-blue hair flowed behind her like a waterfall, nearly touching the ground. Her face looked no older than thirty, yet her beauty came from something deeper—her noble, elegant, and gentle aura.
In her right hand, she held a golden scepter over three meters long. It shimmered like sunlight on water, covered in intricate magical patterns. The tip of the scepter bore a spear-like point, and five inches below it was a diamond-shaped gem embedded in the shaft.
Her appearance alone was breathtaking, but it was her temperament that stood out. Even Bibi Dong, the Pope of Spirit Hall, couldn't compare. Most captivating of all were her eyes—deep, ocean-blue, ancient, kind, and filled with an eternal calmness.
She was Bo Saixi, the Sea God's High Priestess.
"Greetings, Great Priestess."
Seahorse Douluo bowed in reverence. "I failed in carrying out the Sea God's will. Please punish me."
Bo Saixi smiled gently, and the entire sea seemed to shimmer with her warmth. "It's not your fault. This is the first time I've seen this myself. Young lady, I've waited over a hundred years, and finally, before my time ends, I get to witness this. Can you tell me your background?"
"Greetings, Senior. My name is Shui Bing'er. I am the daughter of Shui Ruohan, head of the Shui Clan of the Heaven Dou Empire," Shui Bing'er answered. She was about to bow, but an invisible force held her upright.
Confused, she looked up at Bo Saixi.
"Shui Bing'er, remember this. No one on Sea God Island can bear your salute. Not even me. You are the descendant of the Sea God," Poseidon said solemnly.
"Understood," Shui Bing'er nodded quietly.
Bo Saixi stepped in front of Qian Renxue and asked softly, "And you? What is your name? I can sense an old friend's presence in you."
"My name is Qian Renxue. Grandfather Qian Daoliu asked me to greet you in his name when I arrived on Sea God Island," Qian Renxue said with a slight bow.
A hint of sorrow passed through Bo Saixi ocean-blue eyes. "Time flies so fast. I never thought his granddaughter would be this grown. Is he well?"
"Grandfather is doing fine," Qian Renxue replied.
"That's good to hear." Bo Saixi gaze finally shifted toward Ye Feng. Her expression lingered as she looked at him. Then she slowly walked to stand beside Seahorse Douluo, not in any rush to leave.
There was something unusual about Ye Feng—his aura was different, more powerful than Shui Bing'er's. She couldn't help but wonder if he too would receive the Sea God's Nine Trials.
Though it had never happened before, that didn't mean it never would.
Bo Saixi spoke calmly, "Let us continue with the Sea God's tests."
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