As Li Xun's Spirit Rings emerged one by one, the previously monochromatic beach instantly transformed into a dazzling display of colors.
Xiao Bai stood frozen, staring blankly at the four 100,000-Year Soul Rings.
When she had sensed Li Xun's aura earlier, she had been too overjoyed to investigate deeply. Only now did she realize Li Xun had already reached the human Title Douluo level.
She knew Li Xun's Spirit Ring configuration was outrageous, but during the previous God Trial hunt against the Evil Spirit Tiger Whale Group, he had only possessed two 100,000-Year Soul Rings.
How could he have hunted two more 100,000-Year Soul Beasts in such a short time? Were there really that many 100,000-Year Soul Beasts in the mainland?
This was the first time Xiao Bai carefully sensed the fluctuations emanating from 100,000-Year Soul Rings. She discovered that aside from one ring whose power was similar to hers, the remaining three were actually stronger than her.
"See? Is this enough to help you achieve godhood?" Li Xun extended his index finger, gently poking Xiao Bai's forehead. "If it's not enough, there's more."
As he finished speaking, the nine Spirit Rings beneath his feet vanished, replaced by three blood-red Soul Rings.
A transparent ice sword, radiating bone-chilling cold, materialized in Li Xun's left hand, which was draped over Xiao Bai's shoulder.
"Three more 100,000-Year Soul Rings! You have Twin Spirits!" Xiao Bai couldn't help but exclaim, quickly covering her mouth with her hand.
Xiao Bai hadn't been present when Li Xun obtained his God-given Soul Rings, so this scene struck her with tremendous impact.
"So? Tell me, can I achieve godhood or not?"
"..."
It took Xiao Bai a long time to calm her emotions. She couldn't help but think of the Sea God. She remembered that even the Sea God hadn't possessed such a Spirit Ring configuration before achieving godhood.
"You... probably can..." Xiao Bai swallowed hard, her voice strained.
Li Xun nodded with satisfaction. "To prove I'm not deceiving you, let me introduce two more companions. This will show you that you're not the only one who made this choice."
With that, he summoned the Sky Dream Iceworm and the Ice Emperor Scorpion.
The two Soul Beasts naturally welcomed Xiao Bai enthusiastically, since the stronger Li Xun became, the greater their chances of achieving godhood.
Skydream immediately launched into his chatterbox mode, excitedly circling around Xiao Bai while rambling nonsense.
Even the Ice Empress occasionally added cold remarks.
Xiao Bai was completely bewildered by this spectacle. She had never witnessed anything like it and was astonished that Soul Beasts could retain their consciousness after sacrifice.
The three Soul Beasts quickly fell into conversation.
Zhu Zhuqing and the other two women approached as well, and soon a joyful atmosphere enveloped the beach.
After a long while, seemingly filled with confidence by everyone's encouragement, Xiao Bai flushed red and declared: "Fine! I'll take this gamble with you."
"Come on, Li Xun. Let's start the sacrifice now before I change my mind."
Seeing Xiao Bai's determined, martyr-like expression, Li Xun laughed and quickly pulled her back. He turned to Dugu Yan and said: "Don't rush, Xiao Bai. Sister Yan, come sit here. Otherwise, you won't be able to move once the sacrifice begins."
What did that mean?
At that moment, not only was Xiao Bai confused, but the three women, Skydream, and the Ice Empress were all equally baffled.
Xiao Bai looked at Li Xun with a dazed expression: "You don't want me to sacrifice to you? You want me to sacrifice to Dugu Yan instead?"
"Exactly." Li Xun smiled and nodded.
"..." Xiao Bai was speechless, the fervor that had been stirred up moments ago beginning to cool.
"Don't worry, would I ever trick you?" Li Xun patted Xiao Bai's shoulder. "I'll be finding a Godhood Inheritance for Sister Yan next. Following her to godhood is just the same."
"Forgot to mention - after achieving Godhood, you can bring mortals to the God Realm. Besides, Sister Yan is my woman. Even if she ultimately doesn't achieve godhood, I'll still bring her along."
"You won't face any danger regardless."
"Think about it - when the Sea God achieved divinity, didn't he bring others along too?" Li Xun's voice remained gentle as he patiently reassured: "This is also an opportunity for you. After all, even the Sea God didn't bring you to the God Realm back then, did he?"
At this moment, the others present also reacted and began chiming in.
Beneath the Seahorse Holy Pillar, Seahorse Douluo had been waiting here for an entire day.
The sight of Li Xun's harmonious foursome relationship affected him deeply, leaving him unable to calm down for a long time, even developing jealousy toward Li Xun in his heart.
Glancing at the sky, he was about to return to the city lord's mansion when he saw Li Xun's group returning. Seahorse Douluo quickly stopped in his tracks.
"Are you ready?"
Seeing that Ning Rongrong had finished applying her Amplification on him, Li Xun cupped his hands: "Naturally. Please grant me your guidance, senior."
All distracting thoughts instantly cleared from Seahorse Douluo's mind, leaving only Li Xun in his vision.
The rules of the Sea God's Fifth Trial had long been imprinted in his mind - defeat seven Sacred Pillar guardians within twenty-four hours. Although Li Xun had just stepped into the Titled Douluo rank, he presumed the Sea God must recognize Li Xun's strength.
Otherwise, such an almost impossible task wouldn't have been assigned.
Thinking this, Seahorse Douluo erupted with powerful aura around him, nine Spirit Rings appearing in sequence: yellow, yellow, purple, purple, black, black, black, black, black.
Although Li Xun's sixth and seventh Spirit Rings were 100,000-Year Soul Rings, such luck couldn't last forever - after all, 100,000-Year Soul Beasts weren't as common as cabbages.
And as an established ninety-first level Titled Expert, how could he not have his own methods?
Holding such thoughts, Seahorse Douluo extended his hand. The Seahorse Holy Pillar behind him and the other six Sacred Pillars across Seagod Island immediately emitted towering golden light.
Signaling he was ready to begin at any time.
Li Xun didn't stand on ceremony either, nine Spirit Rings leisurely appearing beneath his feet one by one.
Indeed, revealing them slowly had been the right approach.
Seeing Seahorse Douluo's stunned expression upon spotting four 100,000-Year Soul Rings, Li Xun curled his lips. The Soft Bone Rabbit Right Arm Bone emitted a faint glow as his body suddenly vanished from where he stood.
In just three Teleportations, he appeared behind Seahorse Douluo: "Wood Release: Disturbance of Hell."
As Soul Power surged into the ground beneath his feet, the floor around the Seahorse Holy Pillar was instantly torn up. Hundreds of thick vines and branches burst from the earth.
They spiraled upward at extreme speed, wrapping around Seahorse Douluo and trapping him within.
Since he still needed to challenge the other six Sacred Pillars, Li Xun chose not to deploy energy-intensive skills like True Several Thousand Hands.
Now at ninety-third level Titled rank, with numerous 100,000-Year Soul Rings and Soul Bones enhancing him, going all out against an ordinary Titled Douluo would be like using a cannon to kill a mosquito.
Seahorse Douluo hadn't expected Li Xun to be so dishonorable, attacking while he was stunned. But anyone who could cultivate to their current level was undoubtedly exceptional.
He reacted instantly: "Spirit Avatar!"
Seeing the vines wrapping around him and tightening relentlessly, Seahorse Douluo's sixth, seventh, and ninth Spirit Rings lit up in quick succession beneath his feet.
A layer of blue aqueous light surged from his body, barely holding back the constricting vines as a set of pale white armor enveloped him. Simultaneously, streams of ink-black water appeared, ultimately condensing in the center of his palms.
Seahorse Douluo had completely shed his arrogance as a senior expert. The moment he saw the four red Spirit Rings beneath Li Xun's feet, he knew he had to go all out.
"Ninth Spirit Skill, Whirlwind Giant Wave Nirvana Fist!"
Seahorse Douluo abruptly clenched his fists, shattering the black water spheres gathered in his palms. Instantly, towering waves surged around him, spinning rapidly like blades of water that sliced through the surrounding vines.
Though he lacked a 100,000-Year Soul Ring, his ninth Spirit Ring had already reached ninety thousand years, and its power was extraordinary.
"Ninth Spirit Skill, Thousand Hands Buddha Suppressing Dragon Soul, Thousand Hands Buddha Locking Dragon Chain." Just as Seahorse Douluo broke through the vines, Li Xun's attack arrived.
The sky suddenly darkened with dense clouds, and twelve small, ethereal Azure Dragon shadows shot out from the clouds, instantly piercing through the rapidly rotating water curtain.
"Break~!"
Seeing the phantoms suddenly penetrate the water screen, Seahorse Douluo's heart tightened. Swinging his Dragon Claws, he shredded two of the small Azure Dragons in an instant.
Despite his desperate resistance, he had already lost the initiative.
After destroying seven of the small Azure Dragons, a momentary lapse allowed the remaining ones to entangle his limbs, dragging him into mid-air.
Above, the sky was shrouded in dark clouds, with golden flashes of light flickering incessantly.
Suddenly, the clouds parted, and a glint of golden light emerged as a golden spear dozens of meters long revealed its sharp tip from within the gloom.
Roar—
Immediately after, an Azure Dragon soared out, coiling around the golden spear as it descended in a steep dive toward Seahorse Douluo.
(End of Chapter)