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Three Days Later
The Shrek team was ready to begin their trials. Since Ning Rongrong's assistance was required by everyone, her trial would take place later.
The order of the trials began with the lower-level tests, meaning Dai Mubai, who was undergoing the Purple Rank trial, would go first.
Dai Mubai was now a six-ring Soul Emperor. His sixth spirit ring had been obtained by hunting outside the island. Two purple-robed sea soul masters accompanied him on a Demon Soul Great White Shark that was over fifty-thousand-years-old.
On Sea God Island, the Demon Soul Great White Sharks were the closest allies of the residents. To hunt for spirit rings in the ocean, there was no need for boats—just ride the Demon Soul Great White Sharks.
Of course, they had to inform Xiao Bai, the King of the Demon Soul Great White Sharks, who held the status of the island's guardian beast.
Dai Mubai hunted an Endless Sea Urchin that was just over twenty-thousand-years-old, gaining the spirit skill Endless Thorn Spike.
Dai Mubai was about to challenge the sixty-fourth step. This trial wasn't particularly difficult for him.
After nearly a year of cultivation, he had regularly trained at the fifty-fifth step. Reaching the sixty-fourth step wouldn't pose much of a challenge.
He activated his three major enhancement skills: White Tiger Protective Barrier, White Tiger Adamantine Transformation, and White Tiger Demon God Transformation. With these boosts, Dai Mubai smoothly reached the sixtieth step.
For the remaining four steps, Dai Mubai gritted his teeth and pushed forward in one final burst, reaching the sixty-fourth step. He collapsed from exhaustion, but the Light of the Sea God didn't repel him.
[A voice echoed in Dai Mubai's mind: "First Trial of the Purple Rank Three Trials—Crossing the Light of the Sea God—Complete. Spirit power increased by half a level."]
After Dai Mubai completed his trial, it was time for the substitute trio—Huang Yuan, Jing Ling, and Jiang Zhu—to face their challenge: the eighty-first step.
For Huang Yuan and Jing Ling, eighty-one steps weren't overly difficult, but for Jiang Zhu, it posed a significant challenge. Fortunately, Oscar had given her three Mirror Sausages made with Yu Tianxin's blood, allowing her to temporarily gain the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon martial soul!
With the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon martial soul attached, Jiang Zhu managed to reach the seventy-fifth step. The last six steps, however, were strenuous.
"Nine Treasures, each with a name! The first is Strength, the second Speed, the third Soul, the fourth Defense!"
A nine-colored auxiliary halo descended upon Jiang Zhu. Feeling a sudden surge of strength in her otherwise exhausted body, she gritted her teeth and charged toward the final six steps!
Seventy-six, seventy-seven, seventy-eight, seventy-nine, eighty!
Huang Yuan and Jing Ling were waiting for her at the eightieth step. Jing Ling reached out to pull Jiang Zhu, and Huang Yuan, understanding immediately, also grabbed her. Together, they pulled her up onto the eighty-first step, completing the trial as a team.
(A/N: To avoid misunderstandings, there's no love triangle here. The three of them are close friends and form a small group. Jing Ling and Jiang Zhu are a couple, while Huang Yuan hasn't decided yet.)
[A voice echoed in their minds: "First Trial of the Black Rank Four Trials—Crossing the Light of the Sea God—Complete. Spirit power increased by one level."]
At this moment, Bo Saixi appeared once again, directly bestowing divine-bestowed spirit rings upon Huang Yuan and Jing Ling, who had reached their bottlenecks and could now obtain their seventh spirit rings.
Jiang Zhu's spirit power increased by one level, reaching Level 69, but she hadn't yet reached her bottleneck.
Next up were those undergoing the Black Rank Six Trials: Yu Tianxin, Yang Wu, Niu Dun, and Bai Chenxiang.
Yu Tianxin, Yang Wu, and Niu Dun were already Soul Sages, so the one-hundred-and-eight steps posed little difficulty for them!
The only one struggling slightly was Bai Chenxiang—not because she lacked ability, but because her Agile Attack-type Flying Soul Emperor body wasn't particularly strong, and her spirit power was at Level 65. Breaking through to the one-hundred-and-eighth step was challenging.
However, with the simultaneous support of Ning Rongrong and Ye Lingling, Bai Chenxiang had no issues.
Still, someone wasn't satisfied. Ma Hongjun decided to start his trial alongside Bai Chenxiang—he wanted to ensure she passed safely.
Thus, the trial was split into two parts. First, Yu Tianxin, Yang Wu, and Niu Dun began their trial.
Yu Tianxin and Niu Dun activated their true martial soul forms and enhancement skills, encountering no problems as they surged straight to the one-hundred-and-eighth step.
Yang Wu, being a tool-based soul master, didn't have the same physical strength as beast-type soul masters, but he still passed the trial just two minutes behind them!
[A voice echoed in their minds: "First Trial of the Black Rank Six Trials—Crossing the Light of the Sea God—Complete. Spirit power increased by one level."]
All three of their spirit powers rose by one level—saving countless hours of grueling cultivation.
After Yu Tianxin and the others completed their trials, Ma Hongjun and Bai Chenxiang set off. With her own enhancement skills and martial soul attachment, Bai Chenxiang surged all the way to the ninetieth step.
From the ninety-first step onward, things became more difficult. However, with the combined support of Ye Lingling and Ning Rongrong, Bai Chenxiang pushed herself to the one-hundred-and-third step.
Only five steps remained!
At this point, Bai Chenxiang was nearing her limit. She felt that taking another step might cause her to be repelled. Just then, a warm hand grasped hers.
"Xiang Xiang, I'll help you pass this trial," Ma Hongjun's voice reached her, filling Bai Chenxiang with newfound courage!
Her mental fortitude surged, and unexpectedly, her spirit power jumped by one level—from Level 65 to Level 66!
This boost replenished her nearly depleted spirit power. Grasping Ma Hongjun's hand tightly, Bai Chenxiang and Ma Hongjun charged together toward the one-hundred-and-eighth step!
Upon reaching the one-hundred-and-eighth step, Bai Chenxiang collapsed from exhaustion, lying on the stairs. Ma Hongjun gently moved her to the side and retrieved a cushion and blanket from his soul-guiding device to cover her.
[A voice echoed in Bai Chenxiang's mind: "First Trial of the Black Rank Six Trials—Crossing the Light of the Sea God—Complete. Spirit power increased by one level."]
Poseidon: 'Damn, even the trials are feeding me dog food! Unfair!'
After settling Bai Chenxiang, Ma Hongjun charged toward the one-hundred-and-thirty-sixth step. For him, reaching it was effortless.
Once there, a voice appeared in his mind:
[First Trial of the Top-Level Seven Trials—Crossing, Enhanced, the Light of the Sea God—Complete. Spirit power increased by one level. Spirit ring age increased by five hundred years.]
After completing his trial, Ma Hongjun descended the stairs, arriving at the one-hundred-and-eighth step where Bai Chenxiang lay asleep. He scooped her up princess-style and carried her down the Sea God Mountain stairs.
Next was Oscar's turn. This time, Ning Rongrong was also preparing to assist, along with Dugu Yan and Ye Lingling.
As support-type soul masters, their trials required extra care due to their weaker physiques. Their assistance was crucial for passing the first trial.
Dugu Yan planned to focus on helping the two women pass their trials. For her, the first five hundred steps made little difference—it was crossing the six-hundredth step that marked a qualitative leap!
Dugu Yan intended to first help the two women complete their trials, then, with their support, charge through her own trial in one go!
Her main challenge lay in the final six steps. Dugu Yan had previously reached a maximum of five-hundred-and-ninety-nine steps, but the pressure of stepping onto the six-hundredth step was immense and would continue to increase.
She believed that full support would be necessary for the final few steps—it was the safest approach.
After all, her trial was the most critical of all.
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