Chapter 168: Bo Saixi
"What? You actually came from the mainland?"
Upon hearing that Su Mo and his group were not only outsiders but had traveled all the way from the mainland, the secretary with glasses gasped in surprise.
Ever since she became the secretary of the Grand Priest Bo Saixi, she had never encountered anyone from the mainland before.
For a moment, she curiously studied the three before saying, "Do you not know that Seagod Island does not permit outsiders to land? You should leave immediately!"
The three of them had strikingly good looks, leaving a positive impression, so the secretary kindly advised them to leave.
"We came to participate in the Seagod Island trials. I know that Seagod Island allows mainlanders to take the test."
Of course, Su Mo had no intention of leaving, so he stated his purpose directly.
"You came to take the Seagod Island trials?"
The secretary looked at Su Mo in astonishment. She hadn't expected them to come specifically for the trials.
From his words, it was clear that Su Mo had some knowledge of Seagod Island.
"Our island does permit mainlanders to take the trials, but only if you prove you have the necessary strength!"
"Furthermore, even if you pass the trials, the difficulty for mainlanders is ten times that of those from the sea. Once you obtain the trial, you will not be allowed to leave Seagod Island!"
"Knowing this, do you still wish to proceed with the trials?"
Although the secretary acknowledged Su Mo's understanding of Seagod Island, she still attempted to dissuade them.
However, after she finished speaking, the expressions of the three remained unchanged.
Ning Rongrong and Ye Lingling had already heard about this from Su Mo beforehand. They had worried about it, but in the end, they chose to trust him.
If Su Mo said it wouldn't be a problem, then it wouldn't be a problem!
"Yes, we still choose to take the trials!"
Su Mo answered firmly.
"Mm!"
"We do too!"
Ning Rongrong and Ye Lingling followed suit.
"In that case, you need to select one of the sacred pillars and pass the trial set by its guardian before you can officially take the Seagod Island trial."
"The sacred pillars are positioned in seven different locations on the island. You can spot them easily from here."
Since Su Mo was resolute, the secretary no longer tried to dissuade them and instead explained the process of obtaining the trial.
"This is the Seagod Temple. Can't we take the Seagod Island trial here?"
Su Mo immediately asked.
"No, that's not possible. No one has ever taken the trial at the Seagod Temple before!"
The secretary shook her head.
"I see... Well, thank you for the information, Miss!"
Su Mo felt a little exasperated upon hearing this. He hadn't expected that they would still need to go to the sacred pillars to initiate the trials.
"Alright then, I wish you all the best in obtaining the Seagod Island trials!"
The secretary smiled in response to Su Mo's gratitude.
"Since you've come, just take the trial here. There's no need to go anywhere else!"
Before Su Mo and his group could head to the sacred pillars, a woman's voice suddenly echoed from within the Seagod Temple.
From the voice alone, one could sense the dignity and nobility of its owner.
"The Grand Priest!"
Hearing Bo Saixi's voice, the secretary gasped in shock.
She hadn't expected that Su Mo's arrival would actually alarm the Grand Priest. More surprising still was that Bo Saixi personally invited them into the temple.
This had never happened before.
The secretary couldn't help but take another look at Su Mo and his companions, wondering what was so special about them that warranted such preferential treatment.
"Since the Grand Priest has spoken, follow me inside."
She quickly addressed Su Mo's group.
"Thank you very much!"
Su Mo smiled.
Following behind the secretary, Su Mo, Ning Rongrong, and Ye Lingling stepped into the Seagod Temple.
Eventually, the group arrived before a grand statue of the Seagod.
Beneath the statue stood a silver-haired woman, her back facing them.
Even from behind, it was clear that she was an absolute beauty. Her figure and posture were simply unparalleled.
"Grand Priest, I have brought them in."
The secretary respectfully reported to Bo Saixi.
"Mm."
Only then did Bo Saixi slowly turn around to face Su Mo and the others.
"She's so beautiful, and she has such an air of grace!"
Even though they were both women, Ning Rongrong and Ye Lingling couldn't help but be captivated.
"Junior Su Mo greets the Grand Priest."
Seeing Bo Saixi turn around, Su Mo respectfully saluted her.
"Junior Ning Rongrong, Junior Ye Lingling, greet the Grand Priest!"
The two girls quickly followed suit.
"Mm."
Bo Saixi nodded slightly, her beautiful eyes sweeping over the three of them.
When her gaze landed on Su Mo's forehead, she paused slightly.
There was no mistaking it—this was the Heart of the Seagod!
Bo Saixi felt a wave of excitement rise in her heart. She hadn't expected that the Heart of the Seagod would truly reappear.
Earlier, she had sensed a trace of the Seagod's aura, which had made her suspicious. That was why she had allowed them to enter.
Now, after seeing the mark on Su Mo's forehead, she was certain.
It was indeed the long-lost Heart of the Seagod, absent from Seagod Island for many years.
"Since you have made it to the Seagod Temple directly, you have already proven your qualifications to take the Seagod Island trials."
"You are the first group in history to receive the trial within the Seagod Temple. I will personally guide you through the process."
"However, the difficulty and nature of your trials will ultimately depend on your own talents. The trials obtained here are no different from those granted by the Seven Sacred Pillars."
Bo Saixi gazed at Su Mo and his companions and spoke with a calm yet authoritative voice.
"Understood. We appreciate your guidance, Grand Priest."
Su Mo responded respectfully.
"Good. Stand still where you are."
Seeing Su Mo's polite demeanor, Bo Saixi nodded in approval.
Buzz—
The next moment, she waved her staff.
A beam of light instantly descended from the Seagod statue behind her, first landing on Ye Lingling.
Buzz—
As the white beam enveloped Ye Lingling, its color began to shift.
First, it turned yellow.
Then purple.
Finally, it settled into a deep black.
Around Ye Lingling, five shimmering cards flickered into existence before vanishing once more.
"Black-level Five Trials!"
"A Black-level Five Trial!"
Upon witnessing Ye Lingling's assigned trial, the secretary with glasses gasped softly in surprise.
It had been a long time since a black-level trial had appeared on Seagod Island.
Even the Seven Sacred Pillar Guardians—those Title Douluos—had only received black-level trials when they underwent their assessments.
The secretary herself had also received a black-level trial, but hers was only a Black-level Four Trial, the lowest difficulty among black-level assessments.
It was this very trial that had ultimately led to her becoming the secretary of the Grand Priest, Bo Saixi.
"A Black-level Five Trial... It seems your talent is quite impressive!"
After guiding Ye Lingling to receive her Seagod Island trial, Bo Saixi acknowledged her with a rare word of praise.
Receiving a Black-level Five Trial was proof enough of Ye Lingling's potential.
Su Mo was slightly surprised as well. He hadn't expected Ye Lingling's talent to be this outstanding.
In the original story, aside from Bai Chenxiang—who had no real qualifications and only tagged along with the Shrek Seven Devils—Zhu Zhuqing was the only one among them to receive the lowest assessment, which was also a Black-level Five Trial.
But that was after Zhu Zhuqing had consumed immortal herbs.
Yet Ye Lingling, without having taken any such herb, had still received the same level of trial. This was a clear testament to her talent.
Of course, it made sense—after all, she was the owner of the Nine-Hearted Begonia Martial Soul.
In the original work, Ye Lingling hadn't been given any real resources, and being a support-type soul master made cultivation even harder. As a result, she never really stood out, even by the end of Douluo Dalu.
Buzz—
Next, Bo Saixi waved her staff once more.
Another beam of light descended from the Seagod statue, this time landing on Ning Rongrong.
Since Su Mo bore the Heart of the Seagod, Bo Saixi had naturally chosen to test him last.
As the light enveloped Ning Rongrong, its color gradually shifted—
From yellow… to purple… to black…
"Another black-level trial?"
The secretary gasped again at the sight of the changing colors.
Two consecutive black-level trials—were geniuses really this common now?
Buzz—
However, in the very next moment, the secretary's eyes widened even further.
The color of Ning Rongrong's trial had shifted from black… to red.
"A Top-level Trial!"
The secretary exclaimed in shock.
Since Bo Saixi had obtained the top-level trial, no one else had ever received one—until now!
Bo Saixi, too, looked at Ning Rongrong with newfound intrigue.
Previously, most of her attention had been focused on Su Mo, but Ning Rongrong's exceptional result had forced her to take a second look.
After all, regardless of the circumstances, Ning Rongrong had received the same tier of trial as Bo Saixi herself.
Finally, seven shimmering cards flickered into existence around Ning Rongrong before vanishing.
"Only a Top-level Seven Trial?"
Bo Saixi murmured in slight confusion.
Although it was a red-tier top-level trial, Ning Rongrong's difficulty level was one tier lower than hers.
Back when Bo Saixi had received her trial, she had been given the Top-level Eight Trials.
Ning Rongrong's trial was only the Top-level Seven Trials.
Still, even this was enough for Bo Saixi to take her seriously.
"Congratulations. You have received the Top-level Seven Trials. I hope you work hard to complete them."
Bo Saixi offered her congratulations.
Finally, Bo Saixi turned her attention to Su Mo.
"Now it's your turn. Let's see what level of trial you will receive."
With that, she activated the assessment beam once more, directing it toward Su Mo.
Buzz—
A radiant light instantly enveloped Su Mo.
Everyone's eyes were locked onto him.
"Su Mo will definitely pass! His trial level will definitely be higher than mine!"
Ning Rongrong clasped her hands together, her expression filled with certainty.
"Yes, Su Mo will definitely succeed!"
Ye Lingling agreed without hesitation.
"This guy… Could he really receive a top-level trial as well?"
Hearing Ning Rongrong and Ye Lingling's unwavering confidence, the secretary looked at Su Mo in disbelief.
She found it hard to believe that Su Mo could also receive a red-tier top-level trial.
Having even one such trial appear was already a miracle.
However, seeing how much faith Ning Rongrong and Ye Lingling had in him, the secretary found herself hesitating.
If these two were so sure of Su Mo's talent and strength, then perhaps he really was far beyond their level.
Bo Saixi, on the other hand, wasn't as doubtful.
Her gaze remained fixed on Su Mo, watching the transformation of the assessment light.
Buzz—
Yellow.
Purple.
Black.
In an instant, the trial's color had already shifted to black.
Buzz—
Then, almost immediately, the black transformed into red.
"Ah…"
"Another top-level trial…"
The secretary stared in astonishment, feeling as though her entire worldview was collapsing.
Even purple-level trials were rare.
Yet today, not one, but two red-tier top-level trials had appeared—matching the Grand Priest's own.
If she hadn't seen it with her own eyes, she wouldn't have believed it, no matter what.
"That's amazing!"
"As expected of Su Mo! I knew he would be the best!"
Ning Rongrong cheered with joy.
Ye Lingling, too, was thrilled for Su Mo.
But deep down, she felt a bit of disappointment—compared to them, her black-level trial seemed underwhelming.
Only Bo Saixi remained calm.
She didn't react when Su Mo's trial turned red.
If Su Mo hadn't been able to receive at least a red-tier trial, then he would never have been recognized by the Heart of the Seagod in the first place.
"Could he be the one the Seagod has been waiting for?"
As the light around Su Mo continued to shift, Bo Saixi's heart stirred with emotions.
There was anticipation—
After all, this was the moment the Seagod had been waiting for.
Seagod Island's very purpose had always been to await the arrival of the Seagod's successor.
But there was also jealousy—
Bo Saixi had once yearned for the Seagod's inheritance.
Yet, she had never been qualified.
And then, there was fear—
Because Bo Saixi knew that if Su Mo truly was the chosen inheritor, then when he reached the final stage of the Seagod's trial, it would mean the end of her own existence.
She had always been willing to dedicate herself to the Seagod's cause.
But deep inside, there was still a part of her that resisted.
Why had she never been given the chance?
Why could someone else receive the Seagod's inheritance while she could not?
And there was another reason.
She had made a promise to Tang Chen.
She had yet to fulfill that promise.
She had waited for so long.
At this moment, a part of her hoped Su Mo would not receive the Seagod's full inheritance.
A red-tier top-level trial would have been enough.
Buzz—
But fate would not grant her wish.
The red hue surrounding Su Mo deepened further—
Until, finally, it turned into a brilliant shade of gold.
Nine golden cards appeared around him.
"A golden trial…"
"This is…"
The secretary stood frozen, completely dumbfounded.
(End of chapter.)
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