Cherreads

Chapter 265 - Chapter 265: The Trial! A False Alarm

This novel has been finished on Patreon! I sincerely thank everyone for being part of this journey, as a fan and avid reader, it's a privilege to be able to see the wonderful worlds that others have created. See you in other novels!

There's something for free patrons too! Free Patrons receive 1 chapter in advance :)

---------------------------------------------------------------------

"I am a soul master from the mainland, titled Atlas. Esteemed masters of Sea God Island, I greet you!"

Li Luochen immediately opened with a respectful gesture, leaving the Limit Douluo and seven Title Douluos of Sea God Island utterly stunned.

"Uh, oh, greetings to Atlas His Eminence!" ×7 The seven Holy Pillar Douluos simultaneously returned the salute, bowing deeply to show respect for Li Luochen, an extraordinarily powerful Atlas Douluo.

Bo Saixi also returned the double-fisted salute. Faced with someone as formidable as Li Luochen, she needed to make her stance clear. Although she could sense that his cultivation level was at 98, those fully red hundred-thousand-year soul rings weren't fake.

She had already placed him on par with herself.

"May I ask, what brings Atlas His Eminence to our Sea God Island?"

Bo Saixi's voice was soft and gentle—no wonder it left Tang Chen and Qian Daoliu in awe. Li Luochen gave Bo Saixi a once-over: *Beautiful!* On par with Bibi Dong, his mother-in-law—but still half a step behind his own little angel. Indeed, his little angel was the most beautiful on the continent—a truly profitable gain.

"Please wait a moment, Lady Sea God!" (T/N: Her Title is Sea God Douluo)

Li Luochen smiled as suddenly, over a dozen figures emerged from the beach. They appeared to be around twenty years old, with spirit power fluctuations generally at the Soul Emperor level, though a few had reached the Soul Sage level.

Even Bo Saixi, with her high standards, was somewhat shocked. Reaching the Soul Emperor level in their early twenties—and some even the Soul Sage level? Were their talents truly this terrifying?

Bo Saixi formed some guesses as she awaited Li Luochen's explanation.

"All are present now, Lady Sea God. We've come to participate in the trial bestowed by the Sea God. Please guide them through it."

Li Luochen directly stated the purpose of their visit. The seven Holy Pillar Douluos were once again stunned—how many times had they been shocked today?

They were well aware of the trials of Sea God Island—it was akin to courting death. While the rewards were generous, the dangers were immense.

"Very well, follow me."

Bo Saixi spoke indifferently, sensing that today might be an extraordinary day.

The seven Holy Pillar Douluos let out a sigh of relief. So much tension for nothing—it turned out they were here for the trials! What a false alarm!

The seven Holy Pillar Douluos led the way, guiding the Shrek team through a forest. If the air on the beach was humid and pure, then the air in the woods was filled with the freshness of nature. Breathing it in felt even more wonderful than in the Star Dou Great Forest.

With everyone's high strength, they moved quickly and soon arrived at a peculiar location.

What lay before the Shrek team was a large pond—like a "sea within a sea." Strangely, this inland pond, which should have been calm, surged like the ocean, moving without wind.

Surrounding the pond was dense forest. The pond itself was about 500 meters in diameter. At its center stood a triangular platform, atop which rose a strange stone pillar. The pillar was shaped like a sharp cone, with a special sculpture carved at the top and countless intricate patterns etched along its surface. It seemed to be a form of writing, exuding an intangible and mysterious energy.

One of the seven Holy Pillar Douluos stepped forward, leaping beneath the holy pillar. He addressed the Shrek team slowly.

"Welcome to the Sea Within a Sea! I am one of the seven Holy Pillar Douluos, Hai Ma Douluo. This is my Seahorse Holy Pillar. Whether or not you can participate in the trial depends on your strength!

The Sea God has bestowed divine power upon the seven holy pillars, spreading His will through them. Any of these pillars can test visiting soul masters. Here, you will receive the trial questions given by the Sea God."

The tall Hai Ma Douluo spoke. His appearance wasn't bad—at least among the seven Holy Pillar Douluos, he was the most handsome.

As he spoke, a blue glow appeared behind him, and his Seahorse Holy Pillar suddenly lit up. A deep azure light shot upward from the base to the top of the pillar.

Centered on the tip of the pillar, a ripple of blue light spread outward, forming a curtain-like barrier hovering above the Sea Within a Sea.

Since the Seahorse Holy Pillar was about ten meters tall, the floating barrier was also ten meters high. Clearly, this height restricted flight capabilities and movement space.

Li Luochen watched Hai Ma Douluo's actions and chuckled.

"Students, Hai Ma His Eminence is testing you. Show him what you're capable of!"

At Li Luochen's words, the eager members of Shrek Academy couldn't wait any longer.

Yu Tianxin took the lead, transforming into a humanoid tyrannosaurus rex and charging into the water.

Hai Ma Douluo murmured, "Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon? Interesting!"

Meanwhile, Hai Long Douluo, seeing Yu Tianxin unleash the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon, felt his own Sea Dragon martial soul stir with excitement, yearning to compete with the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon.

However, he quickly suppressed it—they were conducting a trial, after all, no need to rush.

Hai Ma Douluo waved his right hand, and the waves before him surged violently, reaching heights of ten meters and seemingly blocking all paths forward. The boiling waters roared like a tsunami but miraculously stayed within the bounds of the Sea Within a Sea.

However, the dragon-man form of Yu Tianxin charged forward fearlessly—the waves were no match for him. In no time, he reached the platform of the Seahorse Holy Pillar.

Next, Niu Dun, Yang Wu, Huang Yuan, Jing Ling, Jiang Zhu, and Dai Mubai each displayed their unique abilities, plunging into the Sea Within a Sea.

Jiang Zhu used Oscar's Mirror Sausage to transform into a Ghostly Spirit Cat, barely managing to cross.

Dai Mubai struggled a bit. Activating his three enhancement-type soul skills—White Tiger Protective Barrier, White Tiger Diamond Transformation, and White Tiger Demon God Transformation—he found it difficult to face the waves. He hid behind Niu Dun and slowly advanced.

The Holy Pillar Douluos marveled at the abilities of these young soul masters. Their strengths were extraordinary—but what about the others?

Now, only Dugu Yan, Zhu Zhuqing, Ye Lengleng, Ma Hongjun, Bai Chenxiang, Oscar, and Ning Rongrong remained on the shore.

Ma Hongjun smiled faintly—it was finally his turn to shine. When he was idly reading novels (mindless stories written by Li Luochen, where fun was all that mattered), he came across a line he liked: Heroes always appear last.

Ma Hongjun held Bai Chenxiang's hand and flew into the Sea Within a Sea at incredible speed. The waves couldn't catch up with them, and within moments, they reached the platform of the Seahorse Holy Pillar.

Oscar and Ning Rongrong also held hands, sprouting a pair of wings from behind them and flying across—a testament to the effectiveness of the Swift Rain Swallow Mushroom Sausage!

Now, only Dugu Yan, Zhu Zhuqing, and Ye Lengleng remained.

The three women simultaneously released their soul rings:

Dugu Yan: Yellow, Yellow, Purple, Black, Black, Black, Red, Red 

Zhu Zhuqing: Yellow, Yellow, Purple, Purple, Black, Red, Black 

Ye Lengleng: Yellow, Yellow, Purple, Purple, Black, Black, Black 

The configurations of their soul rings were absurd—one after another. Sixth soul skill—a hundred-thousand-year ring? Seventh and eighth soul rings, also hundred-thousand-year rings?

The seven Holy Pillar Douluos were dumbfounded. After so many years as Title Douluos, none of them had hundred-thousand-year soul rings. Most of their ninth soul rings were around ninety thousand years old.

This was because they had obtained the best possible soul rings for themselves through the trial rewards—divine-bestowed soul rings.

These individuals were truly terrifying!

After releasing their soul rings, Dugu Yan transformed into a golden-green dragon-human hybrid. Her draconic aura immediately suppressed both Hai Long Douluo and Yu Tianxin.

Though Yu Tianxin was used to being suppressed, Hai Long Douluo was visibly shocked.

"Such a powerful dragon martial soul?"

Dugu Yan took a single leap and landed on the platform, followed by Zhu Zhuqing and Ye Lengleng. Ye Lengleng also used the Mirror Sausage to transform into a Ghostly Spirit Cat, successfully reaching the platform.

After witnessing all this, Li Luochen remarked that the saying "Eight Immortals Crossing the Sea, Each Displaying Their Own Powers" had truly come to life!

------------------------------------------------------

Support my writing journey: patreon.com/EphemeralShadow

More Chapters