Chapter 202: Yang Tianyue vs. Sea Dragon Douluo
Against everyone's expectations, Niu Meng's spirit ring absorption took even longer than Yang Potian's, extending over a full two months. The ring's power reached the 100,000-year level, proving his impressive physical resilience. After absorbing his eighth ring, Niu Meng's spirit power surged to an astounding rank 83.
The Fifth Trial appeared manageable for everyone but Yang Tianyue. She faced the unique challenge of consecutively defeating seven Title Douluo, including the formidable Sea Dragon Douluo, her most daunting opponent. Meanwhile, Yang Ping'an and Dugu Yan's trials seemed simpler—they merely had to avoid drawing Sea Dragon Douluo, as they were confident in their ability to defeat any other Sacred Pillar Guardian with their current skills and with Ye Lingling's exceptional healing support.
The matchups were drawn: Yang Ping'an would face Sea Star Douluo, and Dugu Yan would face Sea Horse Douluo.
They decided not to engage in an exhausting series of continuous battles. With an entire year to complete their trials, they approached each fight as a valuable opportunity to strengthen their skills, even if they were initially defeated.
In the first match, Yang Ping'an and Ye Lingling took on Sea Star Douluo at the Sea Star Sacred Pillar. The battleground resembled a massive sea star spread over the water, with five symmetrical points around a tall, star-shaped pillar etched with cosmic patterns, as if woven from stardust.
Sea Star Douluo, clad in a worn black robe, stood out with his unnervingly long hair flowing to the ground. As a control-type Douluo, he presented a unique challenge for Yang Ping'an, though he maintained an advantage as an assault- and agility-type quasi-Soul Douluo. With Ye Lingling's advanced healing, as long as he had a breath of life, he would be difficult to bring down.
Before the match officially began, Sea Star Douluo launched an attack, targeting Ye Lingling to diminish her potent healing capabilities. His limbs and hair transformed into tentacle-like starfish appendages, creating an unsettling sight. But Ye Lingling, stronger than Sea Star Douluo expected, countered with a massive sphere of wood-element spirit power, a type of "spirit-power Rasengan," forcing him to back off.
Despite matching spirit power levels, Ye Lingling could easily rival Yang Ping'an in strength thanks to her Life Domain and defensive skill, Life Guardian.
Failing to take down Ye Lingling with a single strike, Sea Star Douluo faced Yang Ping'an, who wielded his Soul-Breaking Spear with blinding speed, outpacing Sea Star Douluo's reactions. His opponent's five tentacle-like limbs moved independently, two intercepting Yang Ping'an's spear while the remaining three lashed from different angles with a draining effect, absorbing life force and spirit power—a particularly tricky ability to counter.
However, Yang Ping'an's advantage in speed and raw attack power allowed him to break through Sea Star Douluo's defenses. He was unafraid of trading blows, knowing that with Ye Lingling's support, he could withstand even severe injuries.
The duel turned into a tense back-and-forth, with Sea Star Douluo's control skills and Title Douluo-level spirit power granting him an edge but not enough to secure a swift victory. Yang Ping'an's powerful strikes forced Sea Star Douluo into a defensive stance, each move leading closer to his defeat.
In a decisive moment, Yang Ping'an unleashed his seventh spirit skill, Soul-Breaking Spear True Body, activating all seven of his spirit rings. The first five rings merged into the sixth in a family technique called Ring Fusion. His sixth spirit skill, Silver Moon Dragon Destroyer, inherited from a Silver Moon Dragon, filled the battleground with an ominous black light, powerful enough to rival the strength of Yang Wudi at Jialing Pass.
Sea Star Douluo retaliated with his ninth skill, Thousand-Tentacle Devour, absorbing energy from all nearby sources—even the energies within spirit domains. Their clash of extreme offensive and extreme absorption created a brief stalemate.
At the climax of the battle, Yang Ping'an's right arm shone, summoning the shadow of a White-Eyed Demon Tiger. This spirit bone skill delivered a final blow, forcing Sea Star Douluo into retreat. With one last burst of energy, Yang Ping'an drove his spear through Sea Star Douluo's defenses, leaving his opponent collapsed on the ground, a deep wound in his shoulder from the Soul-Breaking Spear.
Yang Potian, observing the battle, felt reassured that his investments in Yang Ping'an had paid off, as the two spirit bones he provided had elevated him to a level nearly on par with a Title Douluo.
Next up was Dugu Yan's battle, which proved relatively easier. Though her spirit power was only at rank 79, Sea Horse Douluo's bestial spirit form posed minimal threat to her. Equipped with her Eight Spider Lances spirit bone and potent poison skills, along with Ye Lingling's support, she had a clear advantage.
Dugu Yan transformed into a colossal Jade Phosphor Serpent, engaging in an intense close-quarters fight with Sea Horse Douluo's giant seahorse form. The arena soon filled with her venomous aura as her Eight Spider Lances struck with deadly precision. After a grueling hour, Dugu Yan, though exhausted, emerged victorious as her opponent succumbed to her toxins.
With Yang Ping'an and Dugu Yan's victories secured, only Yang Tianyue's trial remained. Her strength, coupled with five top-grade spirit bones and powerful domains, gave her the edge against most Title Douluo. Ye Lingling's extreme healing further enabled her to fight with reckless abandon, knowing her injuries would be swiftly tended to. Within Ye Lingling's Life Domain, Yang Tianyue's spirit power recovered rapidly, and with the support of recovery elixirs provided by Yang Potian, the first six matches proved manageable.
After 30 hours of intense combat interspersed with brief rests, Yang Tianyue triumphed over six Title Douluo. Now, she faced her final opponent: Sea Dragon Douluo, the most formidable of all the Sacred Pillar Guardians.
Sea Dragon Douluo couldn't hide his surprise as he appraised Yang Tianyue. "Incredible. Despite your young age, you're remarkably powerful, wielding a domain and so many high-quality spirit bones. With your teammate's healing, you've managed to defeat six Title Douluo in succession within such a short time."
Yang Tianyue quickly bowed in respect. "Thank you for your praise, Sea Dragon Douluo. I was simply striving to show my full potential."
Sea Dragon Douluo nodded. "You've demonstrated impressive skill, indeed. To defeat Title Douluo as a Spirit Douluo yourself is a rare feat, and you have no apparent weaknesses—speed, strength, attack power, recovery—all comparable to that of a Title Douluo. It's no wonder you're Sea God's chosen successor."
He continued, "However, even though you've bested the previous six, I will not hold back. Only by truly defeating me can you earn my approval. Let's begin the final test of your Fifth Trial."
Yang Tianyue's expression turned serious. "Please, guide me, Sea Dragon Douluo."
With that, she summoned her Soul-Breaking Spear, accompanied by her eight spirit rings. Sea Dragon Douluo, noting the configuration of her rings, raised an eyebrow. "Your spirit rings are impressive—even I'm surprised to see that you possess two 100,000-year spirit rings at such a young age."
Yang Tianyue chuckled. "My spirit ring configuration doesn't match my brother's, though. And it's thanks to his guidance that I've come this far."
Hearing this, Sea Dragon Douluo shot a curious glance at Yang Potian in the distance, pausing briefly in thought before summoning his own spirit and spirit rings. Sea Dragon Douluo's spirit was a sea dragon—a top-tier beast spirit that, in the ocean, was nearly as dominant as the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon.
As his spirit activated, Sea Dragon Douluo's body became covered in scales, his form growing sturdier, with a massive sea dragon projection forming behind him. His physical and spiritual power were both formidable, befitting a top-tier dragon spirit.
Yang Tianyue met his challenge without hesitation, charging forward with her Soul-Breaking Spear.
Their first exchange was an explosive clash, with both combatants retreating five steps from the sheer force of the impact, a testament to their raw physical strength.
Sea Dragon Douluo let out a hearty laugh. "Well done! Sea God's successor indeed!"
With a shout, he activated his spirit rings, morphing into a massive sea dragon and lunging at Yang Tianyue. She responded in kind, fearlessly countering with her spear.
The two unleashed a barrage of spirit abilities, each move matched by the other in a relentless back-and-forth. Yang Tianyue's spearwork was fierce and precise, her attacks imbued with all eight of her offensive-focused spirit rings. In terms of raw offensive power, she was Sea Dragon Douluo's equal. Moreover, with five top-tier spirit bones, her physical resilience rivaled his own.
Blow after blow, the spear and the sea dragon's claws clashed like a violent storm.
As their duel intensified, both fighters activated their seventh spirit skills: spirit avatars. Sea Dragon Douluo transformed into a 30-meter-long sea dragon, while Yang Tianyue's true form emerged as a colossal figure wielding the Soul-Breaking Spear, both preparing to risk everything for victory.
Sea Dragon Douluo then unleashed his ninth skill, Sea Dragon's Sky-Breaking Strike, along with a unique self-created skill, Desperate Sacrifice, temporarily abandoning all defense to maximize his offensive capabilities.
Yang Tianyue steeled herself, pouring all her spirit rings' energy into her eighth ring using the Ring Fusion technique. Her eighth skill, Soul-Breaking Devastation, was a terrifyingly powerful 100,000-year spirit ability.
As she activated her ability, the sky was filled with a blinding red light. The massive sea dragon charged at her, bolstered by the boundless power of the ocean, indicating a ring that was likely over 90,000 years old.
But Yang Tianyue's Soul-Breaking Spear was even fiercer, cutting through all in its path. In one final, decisive move, her spear pierced the incoming sea dragon.
After the powerful strike, Sea Dragon Douluo collapsed to the ground, barely alive. Gasping from his injuries, he looked at her and managed to say, "Impressive—a 100,000-year spirit skill wielded with such determination. You have my respect."
Yang Tianyue, leaning on her spear for support, replied, "Thank you, Sea Dragon Douluo, for your guidance." She then dropped to the ground, her spirit power thoroughly depleted.
The other six Title Douluo rushed over to support Sea Dragon Douluo and tend to his wounds, while Yang Potian's group hurried to help Yang Tianyue. Ye Lingling quickly began healing her.
Yang Potian, observing Sea Dragon Douluo, couldn't help but admire his warrior's spirit. In terms of attack power, Sea Dragon Douluo was a match for the legendary Sword Douluo in the sea.
"Lingling, could you also heal Sea Dragon Douluo? His injuries are severe," he requested.
Ye Lingling nodded, activating her spirit avatar and directing her healing powers toward both combatants.
In less than an hour, Yang Tianyue had nearly fully recovered, and Sea Dragon Douluo, now conscious, found his wounds significantly healed. The sight of Ye Lingling's miraculous healing impressed all seven Title Douluo, with Sea Dragon Douluo himself remarking, "I never imagined such potent healing. It's almost divine—a fitting gift for the High Priest's successor."
With this, everyone had completed the Fifth Trial.
Author's Note: I won't spend much time detailing each fight against the Sacred Pillar guardians in Sea God Island's trials. The focus will shift soon to other plot points and surprises back on the mainland to keep things moving along.
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