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After Zhu Zhuqing completed her first trial, Bo Saixi similarly bestowed her with a divine-bestowed spirit ring. She hadn't left yet and could see through the spirit power levels of everyone in the Shrek team.
However, what concerned her more now was Dugu Yan's trial. Her trial—the Nine Trials of the Sea God—was directly tied to the future of the entire Sea God Island, making it something that couldn't be ignored.
Moreover, Dugu Yan's trial required her to reach the 666th step—a task even more absurd than her own past trials. Bo Saixi truly wasn't sure if Dugu Yan could succeed.
Six hundred and sixty-six steps… Sea God, why did you give such a difficult trial to your inheritor?
And then there was another person who was even more terrifying. The aura he emitted was something not even a Limit Douluo had ever possessed.
Bo Saixi glanced upward toward the peak of the Sea God Mountain stairs. There sat a handsome young man, cross-legged, with a strange staff resting across his knees. The staff was entirely crimson, adorned with nine-colored dragon patterns.
Even Bo Saixi couldn't understand why this young man was pushing himself so hard. She had personally witnessed Lord Atlas, Li Luochen, completely fusing all his spirit rings into his martial soul.
No one had ever done this before. She understood just how important spirit rings were to a soul master, but she couldn't comprehend Li Luochen's actions—all ten-thousand-year spirit rings, and even golden ones.
Why strive so desperately? Even the Sea God Himself hadn't had such a spirit ring configuration back in the day. And yet, he intended to fuse his spirit rings into his martial soul? If the spirit rings disappeared, wouldn't that mean losing two hundred-thousand-year soul skills?
Bo Saixi stopped thinking about what Li Luochen was doing—it was giving her a headache. Instead, she focused her attention on Dugu Yan.
Bo Saixi had a favorable impression of Dugu Yan—a remarkably talented young female soul master who had reached the Title Douluo level at such a young age. She was definitely under thirty years old.
Even Bo Saixi couldn't help but admire her. At her age, Bo Saixi herself had only been a Soul Douluo. She had relied heavily on the advantages granted by the Great Priestess Trials. Without them, reaching the level of a Limit Douluo would have been extremely difficult for her.
To be precise, she was now over 120 years old. Among her peers, Qian Daoliu and Tang Chen stood out. Tang Chen had reached the Limit Douluo level decades ago purely through his own strength.
This was what Bo Saixi admired most about Tang Chen—he had surpassed her entirely as a soul master. Thus, Bo Saixi harbored feelings of admiration for him.
As for Qian Daoliu, he was a good man—upright, honorable, and straightforward. However, both of them were favored by their respective deities, achieving their current status through divine blessings.
With Tang Chen already occupying her heart, Bo Saixi naturally didn't consider Qian Daoliu. Moreover, as fellow divine worshippers, she understood the responsibilities tied to her position. Qian Dao Liu would never prioritize her.
She had subtly rejected Qian Daoliu, allowing him to leave with some dignity, while Tang Chen earnestly promised to marry her once he reached godhood at Level 100.
Bo Saixi deeply regretted her feigned reserve at that moment! Why hadn't she spoken her feelings clearly?
That was her regret. As a Limit Douluo, she could vaguely sense the presence of other Limit Douluos on the continent.
Recently, she had sensed the emergence of another Limit Douluo on the continent—one who bore divine favor, clearly a chosen inheritor of a deity.
As for Tang Chen, her perception of him was hazy, fluctuating between strong and weak. But she was certain that Tang Chen was still alive! That was her lingering attachment—she longed to see Tang Chen one more time!
She wished to prolong her life a little longer. Though she held high hopes for Dugu Yan, she didn't want Dugu Yan to ascend to godhood.
If Dugu Yan became a god, it would mean that Bo Saixi, as the Great Priestess, would have to sacrifice herself to help her ascend. With her attachments unresolved, she didn't wish to make that sacrifice.
While Bo Saixi was lost in thought, Dugu Yan had already smoothly reached the 600th step. Upon crossing the 600th step, Dugu Yan immediately activated her true martial soul form.
Dugu Yan's true martial soul form was a unique manifestation known as "True Body Possession." In this state, she retained her human form for combat, but a majestic azure dragon appeared behind her. This was an embodiment of her martial soul, the Golden Azure Dragon.
As a newly ascendant Dragon King-level dragon martial soul, the Golden Azure Dragon exuded an overwhelmingly powerful draconic presence, surpassing even the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon.
This true martial soul form required not only immense strength but also extraordinary mental fortitude to sustain.
In Dugu Yan's case, this state resembled wearing her martial soul like armor, combined with the secret dragon transformation technique, fully transforming her into a dragon-human hybrid. Horns sprouted from her head, a tail extended from her back, and her hands and feet turned into dragon claws.
Her entire body was covered in shimmering golden-green scales, sparkling like gemstones. In this state, Dugu Yan was at her peak fighting condition.
All attributes were amplified!
"Nine Treasures have names, each different! Seven said, the True Body of the Nine Treasures! Nine Treasures are named: one for Strength, two for Speed, three for Soul, four for Defense, five for Attack, six for Enhancement!"
Ning Rongrong's Nine-Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda, when used in its true martial soul form, halved the spirit power consumption of all enhancement skills.
It was well-known that the default enhancement effect of the Seven-Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda was 10%. For every additional spirit ring, it could enhance an additional attribute, and the enhancement effect of all previous spirit rings increased by an additional 10%.
The Seven-Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda's enhancement ignored the base stats of the target, regardless of the difference in strength between the target and the wielder—the enhancement magnitude remained fixed.
Ning Rongrong's Nine-Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda enhancements were even more potent. Paired with her current cultivation, the effects lasted significantly longer when applied to a single individual!
"Nine-Heart Begonia True Body! Fourth Spirit Skill, Nine-Heart Soul Ascension! Sixth Spirit Skill, Nine-Heart Protection!"
Ye Lingling and Ning Rongrong's support arrived, further amplifying Dugu Yan. She felt herself reaching her peak vitality, energy, and spirit. Now was the time to push forward!
Dugu Yan rapidly ascended, the pressure beyond the 600th step now easily manageable for her in her current state!
With the support of two auxiliary-type Soul Sages and their true martial soul forms' enhancements, the effects were staggering!
Though Dugu Yan was currently at Level 93, with their support, her effective spirit power was equivalent to that of a Level 96 Super Douluo, and her combat strength was even more terrifying.
659, 660, 661, 662, 663, 664!
Only two steps remained!
But Dugu Yan sensed that these last two steps wouldn't be so simple. She cautiously tested stepping forward with one foot, feeling the immense pressure.
Dugu Yan forcefully stepped onto the 665th step, but the sudden surge of pressure nearly caused her to lose her balance.
"Eighth Spirit Skill: Mirror Flower, Water Moon!"
{T/N: Fun fact: In Japanese, the same characters form Kyoka Suigetsu, the Bankai of Aizen from Bleach.}
The eighth spirit ring around Ye Lingling's body, her newly acquired hundred-thousand-year spirit ring, flashed brightly!
Mirror Flower, Water Moon: Ye Lingling's strongest spirit skill, capable of restoring massive amounts of vitality to all allied soul masters and granting the Nine-Heart Begonia's protective effect.
Consuming half her spirit power to activate, it restored not only vitality but also spirit power, bringing the user back to their peak state. Usable up to nine times per day!
The Nine-Heart Begonia's protection was another aspect of Mirror Flower, Water Moon. It greatly enhanced the recipient's vitality, defense, spirit power, and stamina.
Dugu Yan, whose strength had begun to wane, suddenly felt an overwhelming surge of power return. With a powerful stride, she stepped onto the 666th step and stabilized herself!
Trial complete! A voice echoed in Dugu Yan's ears:
[Sea God Nine Trials—Crossing, Ultimate, Light of the Sea God Complete! Rewards doubled! Gained 10% Sea God Affinity!]
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