Chapter 520.
With a gentle wave of her palm, Bo Saixi released the golden bead into the air above Zhu Zhuqing's head. In the next instant, the bead shattered, transforming into a mist of golden light that descended softly onto Zhu Zhuqing's body. As it enveloped her, the light began to condense and shift, gradually taking the form of a spirit ring.
The ring's color changed in sequence—starting from white, then yellow, purple, and finally black. It deepened and darkened, and there was even a faint hint of red in its final state.
"A ninety-thousand-year soul ring…" Tang San muttered, observing the black ring that pulsed with immense strength—almost red, just short of the hundred thousand year mark.
Though it was nearly a 100,000-year soul ring, it stopped just shy of reaching that legendary milestone.
"The strength of a person's body directly determines the soul ring they can endure," Dai Mubai said with awe.
"And Zhuqing's body, it's far stronger than anyone imagined. Especially considering she's an agility-type soul master."
Tang San nodded thoughtfully. Even after reaching the seventieth level, he wasn't confident he could withstand a 100,000-year soul ring himself. If he were to try, he'd want to absorb it personally and with complete preparation.
But just then, something unexpected happened.
A warm current surged from deep within Zhu Zhuqing's heart—unseen by the others—and flowed through her body.
In an instant, the fatigue and strain she had been feeling vanished.
Her body, which had been nearing its limit, was suddenly revitalized.
And just like that…
The soul ring evolved into a full 100,000 years.
The entire group was stunned.
Even Bo Saixi, who had seen countless miracles, froze in surprise.
"A hundred thousand years old soul ring?" she murmured, frowning slightly as she studied Zhu Zhuqing.
"Her limit should've been 90,000. How did she manage to endure this?"
Bo Saixi sensed it—a special force hidden deep within Zhu Zhuqing's body had awakened. It had instantly restored and elevated her physical state, allowing her to withstand the final leap to a hundred thousand years.
"This child... really does possess extraordinary talent," she said with a faint smile, turning her gaze toward Ning Rongrong.
Both Zhu Zhuqing and Ning Rongrong were undergoing the Black Level Seven Trials, which qualified them to potentially inherit Bo Saixi's position as High Priestess of Sea God Island. But in terms of pure potential, Zhu Zhuqing seemed to hold the edge over Ning Rongrong.
Bathed in the red-gold glow of the 100,000-year old soul ring, Zhu Zhuqing exuded an ethereal beauty. Her skin shimmered as if undergoing divine baptism, while her entire being radiated a refined, transcendent aura.
Her martial soul, the Moon Elf, floated gently behind her. Its body was lined with faint red markings, giving it a mysterious yet graceful appearance.
But something had changed.
Previously, the Moon Elf had been cold and elusive—steeped in aloofness and mystery. Now, there was something more—a breath of life pulsed within it.
Its golden eyes swept across the group, releasing a soft but undeniable pressure, like the silent gaze of a top tier martial soul but seems even more powerful than most top tier martial soul.
"Such a powerful martial soul…" Bo Saixi murmured, her tone filled with wonder. "It leans so heavily toward darkness attributes and yet it now possesses such a strong vitality?"
Everyone present was astonished. Zhu Zhuqing's martial soul hadn't been like this just a month ago. It was clear now–—something profound had changed within her.
Only Zhu Zhuqing knew the reason. It came from her heart, something that Wang Feng has given her.
The transformation began over the past month. It was the energy from within her that reshaped her—body and soul.
In truth, it was the power of Meteoric Tears.
While Meteoric Tears couldn't transform Wang Feng's martial soul—since his was already beyond the realm of transformation—it had played a pivotal role in refining his physical body, acting as the ultimate foundation.
For Zhu Zhuqing, however, her martial soul still had room to grow. During her relentless step-by-step climb up the Sea God's Stairway, her body was pushed beyond its limits repeatedly. In those moments of breakthrough, the energy from the Meteoric Tears flowed regularly, subtly transforming her martial soul—enhancing it and making it stronger each time.
That was how Zhu Zhuqing had kept pace with Tang San during the assessment.
And that was how she had endured a 100,000-year soul ring—because of the Meteoric Tears helping her enhancing her physical fitness over time.
This divine treasure's influence was clear: the sooner it was acquired, the more powerful its impact. It had helped Wang Feng establish an unshakable foundation in the early days. Now, it had reshaped Zhu Zhuqing into someone extraordinary.
The others stood in respectful silence, watching the transformation unfold.
It took two full days for Zhu Zhuqing to fully absorb the 100,000-year soul ring.
The changes it brought were immense—not just in strength, but in her presence.
She had always been cold and distant, like a moonlit shadow.
But now… she radiated the softness and vitality of life, as if she had merged both shadow and light. Her facial features became even more refined, and her skin seemed to glow with an otherworldly grace.
She was no longer just a talented soul master.
She had become something greater.
Zhu Zhuqing, already stunningly beautiful, now seemed to transcend her former self. Whether she liked it or not, she had stepped into a new realm of beauty—one that captivated everyone around her.
Ning Rongrong looked at her, visibly sour.
"Qingqing… I'm so jealous of you," she muttered while biting into a piece of fruit. No matter how sweet it was, it tasted bitter in her mouth now.
Shen Lingqi and Bai Chenxiang couldn't help but giggle quietly behind their hands. Among the girls of the Shrek Seven Devils—excluding Xiao Wu, who was still recovering—these three had grown especially close.
Ning Rongrong, in particular, wore her emotions on her sleeve. She was mischievous and unfiltered, never hiding her true thoughts. The others had heard –from Oscar and Ma Hongjun that when they first met her, Ning Rongrong had been quite difficult—very spoiled and high-handed, putting on a sweet front while acting like a typical bratty rich girl.
The change in her now was undeniable.
And everyone knew… only one person could have inspired such a transformation in her.
"Alright, I get it," Zhu Zhuqing responded softly.
Ning Rongrong pouted.
"That's it? You're not even going to comfort me?" She clung to Zhu Zhuqing's arm with a playful whine. "You're not just strong—you're gorgeous too! What am I supposed to do?"
Zhu Zhuqing opened her mouth to –speak, but no words came out. Instead, her hand instinctively moved to her chest.
"What are you doing?!" Ning Rongrong gasped. "Are you touching your chest to say I'm not as well-endowed as you in that particular area too? Qingqing! You're too much!"
"That's not what I meant…" Zhu Zhuqing quickly turned her gaze toward the sea, changing the subject. "By the way, have you noticed, the Golden Generation and their teacher? They went into the sea over a month ago—and they haven't surfaced since."
Everyone froze for a moment, suddenly realizing what she meant.
For the past month, they had all been immersed in training and climbing the Seagod's Stairway. No one had paid attention to anything else.
But now, with Zhu Zhuqing's words echoing in their minds, they suddenly understood.
"A whole month? Even for a sea soul master, staying submerged that long is impossible, right?" Ma Hongjun muttered, glancing at the calm sea.
"The deeper you go, the more dangerous the sea soul beasts become. Plus, the pressure is insane. Didn't they have to carry the Sea God's Locks for their test too? I remember a purple-clothed soul master mentioning that those locks are used to restrain powerful sea soul beasts…"
Remaining underwater for that long? Even their soul power wouldn't last that long!
"Heh, maybe they are already buried at sea," Ning Rongrong shrugged, her earlier jealousy replaced with curiosity. She stared at the endless sea. "The ocean's far more dangerous than our trial. The White Pontiff, he might've already been eaten by some deep-sea beast."
Zhu Zhuqing didn't respond. But in her eyes, behind the calm surface, a deep worry lingered.
She had been the only one keeping quiet watch on the ocean all month, hoping for a glimpse of a familiar figure.
But she never once saw it.
Sea God Mountain – Sea God Temple.
High atop the sacred temple, Bo Saixi stood with her red robes billowing in the sea breeze. Beside her was Seahorse Douluo, both gazing out at the seemingly tranquil sea.
"The Sea God's Locks haven't been retrieved," Bo Saixi said, her eyes narrowing. "–That means they're still sinking."
Seahorse Douluo's brow furrowed in thought.
"I sent someone to investigate. The three students have reached a depth of over 300 meters… which is frankly hard to believe. With their level of cultivation, they shouldn't have been able to reach that depth within just one month."
"As for Wang Wu," he continued, "my scouts couldn't locate him at all. That means he's descended to a level even purple-robed sea soul masters can't reach… at least 1,500 meters deep."
He shook his head.
"It's strange. The Sea God's Lock trial is far more difficult for land-based soul masters than the Sea God's Light is."
"He's gone even deeper," Bo Saixi replied calmly. "Over 2,000 meters."
Her tone turned serious.
"But here lies a problem. None of them are sea soul masters. It's impossible for land soul masters to cultivate effectively in the sea—especially not at those depths. Even sea soul masters can't remain submerged for long at such pressure. It's only possible if…"
She paused.
"...If they were sea soul beasts."
Seahorse Douluo's eyes widened slightly.
That was a frightening thought.
Training underwater was one thing—cultivating under such crushing pressure was another entirely.
"If they're not sea soul beasts, then there's only one explanation," Bo Saixi said as her eyes sparkled with insight. "They must be using some sort of artifact. One that allows them to cultivate while submerged. That would explain their rapid progress this past month."
"And that artifact, it must belong to him. Perhaps that's the very reason the Sea God chose him."
As she spoke, she suddenly turned her gaze upward.
The once-clear sky had begun to gather clouds.
"The deepest part of the ring sea doesn't exceed 6,000 meters. Wang Wu's target is 5,500 meters. At that depth, he'll encounter three extremely dangerous sea soul beasts…"
Meanwhile, at the bottom of the sea…
For Wang Feng, the past month's greatest gain wasn't an increase in soul power.
It was the exponential growth of his spiritual strength.
He discovered that under the constant pressure of the deep ocean, his spiritual power was improving faster than ever before.
Because in this abyss, there was no pause—no chance to relax. The unrelenting weight of the water and the resistance from the heavy chains meant he was always under extreme pressure. Not enough to crush him, but just enough to push him right to the edge.
And beyond the physical strain, it was the mental pressure that was most intense.
The ocean was vast, deep, and endless.
A dark, invisible abyss that offered no sense of time or space—just isolation, silence, and an oppressive weight that never lifted.
It was a challenge not just of strength, but of endurance, willpower, and the mind.
The deeper Wang Feng sank, the more suffocating and intense the pressure became.
In these conditions, it wasn't his soul power that improved the most—it was his mental strength that soared. With every passing day, the crushing weight of the sea and the psychological burden of isolation pushed his mind closer to its limits, yet also strengthened it.
Month Two
After two months, Hu Liena was the first among her group to reach level 70.
As per the rules of the Sea God's Black-level Trial, Bo Saixi descended into the sea and personally bestowed upon Hu Liena a God-bestowed Soul Ring. The one she received had an age of 60,000 years, which was the upper limit her body could endure.
By this time, the three of them—Hu Liena, Yan, and Xie Yue—had sunk to a depth of over 400 meters, progressing at a rate of just a few meters each day.
Meanwhile, Wang Feng had already approached 3,000 meters.
His rapid descent was possible only because he hadn't yet reached his limit. At this depth, he began using martial soul enhancements along with his own soul power to resist the immense pressure of the sea while dragging the three Sea God's Locks, each weighing tens of thousands of catties.
To make matters worse, his buffs—like [Deification], [Lotus of Thorns], and [Soul-Devouring Blood Wing]—had strict time limits, lasting only one hour each. Afterward, Wang Feng would have to reactivate them manually, consuming a significant amount of soul power.
Month Three
At –3,500 meters, even his soul bones began to activate passively, enduring some of the crushing pressure and providing him with some extra resilience.
By the time he reached 4,000 meters, Wang Feng had no choice but to activate his blood line like power—a hidden ace he had long kept dormant. It was only after doing so that he finally broke through to level 69 in soul power.
Meanwhile, Yan and Xie Yue also broke through to level 70 and received their God-bestowed Soul Rings. Xie Yue received a spirit ring over 60,000 years old. Yan received one of 70,000 years.
This was already far beyond the typical limit of a seventh soul ring, which for most soul masters caps out around 50,000 years. Their progress was astonishing.
Hu Liena, too, had continued to rise—now at level 73, averaging one level per month since her breakthrough.
The three of them had now reached a depth of over 500 meters, pushing themselves to limits they never thought possible.
Above the Sea – Shrek Seven Devils.
Up above, Tang San and the others had also made significant progress. The biggest change, naturally, came from Tang San himself.
Just before the third month began, Tang San reached level 70 and received his God-bestowed Soul Ring.
However, unlike Zhu Zhuqing—who had absorbed a 100,000-year ring with the help of Meteoric Tears, reducing the strain and completing the absorption in just two days—Tang San had to endure the full force of the ring's energy.
It took him nearly two full months to complete the process.
Though Tang San's body was stronger than Zhu Zhuqing's, the lack of divine assistance meant he had to endure far more pain and mental exhaustion during the absorption. Meteoric Tears had protected Zhu Zhuqing and helped her recover at crucial moments, Tang San had to rely on sheer willpower.
Month Four – The Deep Abyss
By the fourth month, Wang Feng had finally reached the five-kilometer mark—a depth where most living beings would perish instantly.
The ring-shaped sea area was terrifying at this depth.
Here, the ocean was no longer just deep—it was an abyss. The water was utterly pitch-black. Even light couldn't reach this far. In fact, from a thousand meters down, light had already begun to fade. Only near the Sea God Mountain, above one kilometer, was there still a dull glow that allowed Hu Liena and the others to barely see a few meters ahead.
But at five kilometers, it was complete darkness.
Wang Feng couldn't see a thing. The only reason he could still navigate and know his position was thanks to his incredibly powerful mental sense, which allowed him to detect the spiritual beacon of Sea God Mountain and estimate his sinking distance.
In this abyssal blackness, mental pressure was even more suffocating than physical pressure.
He had to, endure the crushing weight of five kilometers of sea pressure. Constantly drag three massive Sea God Locks. Remain mentally alert in a lightless, alien environment. Keep his spirit and will intact under constant psychological stress.
It was more than extreme training—it was pure torment.
More than four months in this environment... even Wang Feng's powerful mind began to feel the strain. His head felt groggy, the mental pressure never giving him a moment's rest.
Here, one slip in focus, one moment of mental collapse… and death would follow swiftly.
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