As Ossel, the God of the Vortex, vanished, the dense, seemingly eternal dark clouds above Sea God Island began to slowly writhe and disperse.
A long-lost ray of warm, golden sunlight, like the triumphant blast of a horn, stubbornly pierced the gaps in the clouds and shone straight down, landing precisely on Bo Saixi's face, which, although pale and exhausted, was still resolute and dignified, plating her with a sacred halo.
She slowly lowered her Scepter, her gaze sweeping across the chaotic battlefield, finally resting on the three unfamiliar guests who had offered crucial aid. Taking a deep breath, her voice carried the post-battle weakness, yet still maintained the majesty and sincerity expected of the High Priest of Sea God Island:
"Three honored guests, we owe this victory to your assistance. Please follow me to the island for a conversation, allowing Sea God Island to offer its humble hospitality."
Upon hearing this, Helektra's slender eyelashes trembled slightly. She withdrew her gaze from the now calm sea surface and gently nodded to Bo Saixi.
Her long black hair shimmered in the increasingly bright sunlight with a soft, mysterious luster like deep-sea pearls, the purple gradient at the tips making it look even more dreamlike.
Cerydra carelessly flicked the sleeves of her clothes, which were soaked by seawater and battle aftermath. There was no particular expression on her small face. She seemed rather indifferent to the earth-shattering battle that had just occurred, more displaying a hint of curiosity toward the ensuing conversation.
Skirk had already put away her frigid ice sword, resuming her detached and otherworldly appearance.
Bo Saixi led the three guests and the King of the Demon Soul Great White Sharks, Xiaobai, transforming into several streaks of light, flying onto Sea God Island, and landing on the plaza in front of the Sea God Temple.
After the fierce battle, although Sea God Island was not directly attacked, the pervasive divine pressure of the Demon God still left the island residents and Soul Masters with lingering fear.
In the plaza, the light of the Sea God gently fell, attempting to soothe the post-battle trauma and unease.
The group had just landed, and before Bo Saixi could make arrangements, Cerydra, playing with an obsidian-like chess piece in her hand, broke the brief silence with a casual yet irrefutable certainty, without fully lifting her eyelids:
"Don't celebrate too soon. That big fellow was only beaten back into the sea to temporarily slumber; he is not truly dead."
Her words were like cold water splashing onto hot oil, instantly making the slightly relaxed atmosphere taut again.
"A Level 100 true God is not so easily killed completely. It's only a matter of time before he absorbs enough deep-sea power, repairs his damage, and returns."
Bo Saixi's beautiful face did not show much surprise upon hearing this. Instead, a deep sense of gravity dawned on her.
She sighed softly and nodded:
"How could I not know what you speak of, esteemed guest? With the aid of the Sea God's power, this is not the first time I have repelled him. However, it will not be long before he appears again."
Her gaze swept over Helektra and Skirk, finally returning to Cerydra, her tone conveying sincere gratitude and inquiry.
"Even so, Sea God Island will remember the kindness of your aid today. Had it not been for the three of you, Sea God Island might not have been able to endure this time."
She paused slightly, then skillfully shifted the conversation to the core question:
"However... please forgive Bo Saixi's lack of insight. Your power is extraordinary, your realm profound. Especially this young lady who controls an extremely pure Ocean Authority, which is homologous yet heterogenous to the Sea God power I inherited. It is absolutely not something ordinary Soul Masters can possess. In this Douluo Continent, people like you cannot possibly be unknown. May I ask... where exactly did the three of you come from?"
Bo Saixi's question was tactful yet direct—it was something she, as the High Priest of Sea God Island, had to ascertain.
The sudden appearance of three powerful strangers was a blessing, but it could also be an unpredictable variable.
Helektra and Cerydra exchanged glances, having no intention of concealing the truth.
Helektra's voice was clear and pleasant, like her music: "High Priest, there is no need to be suspicious. We are not people of this world."
"Not of this world?"
Bo Saixi was slightly taken aback.
"Correct."
Cerydra interjected, the chess piece flipping deftly on her fingertip.
"We were unexpectedly swept in by a space-time vortex and ended up here. To use terminology you can understand, we are... travelers from beyond the world."
This explanation caused both Bo Saixi and Xiaobai to look astonished.
Beyond the world? This concept far exceeded their understanding.
Just then, Skirk's clear, cold voice rang out. She looked at Bai Xiuxiu, who had been quietly following them but now appeared somewhat nervous due to the mention of their origin:
"Xiuxiu, since it has come to this, tell them the truth. This matter concerns you, and it is most appropriate for you to speak."
Skirk was not good at communication, and had Bai Xiuxiu not pleaded with her, she would not have rashly interfered in the conflicts of another world.
All eyes instantly focused on Bai Xiuxiu.
The girl, who possessed the same deep blue eyes as Xiaobai, took a deep breath, as if making an immense decision.
She stepped forward, facing Bo Saixi and Xiaobai, her voice trembling slightly, yet clearly reaching everyone's ears:
"Just like the two esteemed seniors... I, I am also not from this world. The world we came from is also called the Douluo Continent, with similar oceans, lands, Soul Masters, and Soul Beasts... but, that is the Douluo Continent ten thousand years in the future."
"Ten thousand years?!"
Xiaobai exclaimed in shock, and Bo Saixi's pupils also abruptly contracted.
Bai Xiuxiu struggled to calm her agitated emotions and continued:
"Yes, the timeline is different, but in essence, it is... a parallel world. And I... my true identity is..."
She raised her head, bravely looking directly at Xiaobai, who was currently in human form and full of surprise and uncertainty, stating word by word:
"I am the daughter of Xiaobai, the King of the Demon Soul Great White Sharks, ten thousand years in the future. I am the princess of the Demon Soul Great White Shark clan, Bai Xiuxiu."
"What?!"
The announcement was earth-shattering!
Bo Saixi suddenly turned her head, looking incredulously at Xiaobai beside her.
And Xiaobai herself was utterly struck by lightning, freezing entirely in place.
She widened her beautiful blue eyes, her mouth slightly agape, staring at the girl who resembled her by six or seven parts but whose temperament was more melancholic and delicate. Her mind went blank.
Dau... Daughter? My... my daughter? From ten thousand years in the future? Another world?
This information was too shocking. Even with Xiaobai's hundred-thousand-year Soul Beast intellect, she was momentarily unable to fully process it.
She felt only absurdity, astonishment, bewilderment, and an indescribable, subtle tremor originating from deep within her bloodline, making it impossible for her to immediately deny the claim.
The plaza in front of the Sea God Temple was silent, with only the faint mournful sound of the sea wind blowing past the pillars.
Bai Xiuxiu looked at Xiaobai's bewildered and helpless appearance, and the tears that had been accumulating in her eyes finally slid down.
She began to recount her story, one filled with sadness and despair.
Ten thousand years later, the Demon Empress, the wife of the Deep Sea Devil Whale King, seeking revenge, launched a bloody massacre against the Demon Soul Great White Shark clan... her kin were tragically killed, her mother died in battle... the entire clan was almost wiped out, leaving only her to survive by chance.
Her voice choked, the narration fragmented, but the descriptions, each word heavy with blood and tears, the profound sorrow that permeated her bones, moved everyone who listened.
Bo Saixi looked sorrowful. She could sense the genuine, undeniable despair in Bai Xiuxiu.
Pity flashed in Helektra's eyes. Cerydra's movement of playing with the chess piece also slowed down.
And Xiaobai, listening to the tragic fate of her counterpart and kin in another world, listening to the heartbroken weeping of the girl who claimed to be her daughter, the initial absurdity and awkwardness in her heart were gradually replaced by a strong empathy and an unspeakable heartache.
Despite feeling incredibly abrupt, and even though her rationality was still reminding her of the incredible nature of this relationship, the tremor stemming from their shared clan, and perhaps from some kind of connection across time and space, made it impossible for her to remain a cold bystander.
She hesitated for a moment, then finally took a step forward, walking up to Bai Xiuxiu.
Looking at the girl who was tear-stained and looked utterly pitiful, Xiaobai awkwardly reached out a hand and gently patted her shoulder, her voice not as brisk as usual, carrying a rare hint of softness and awkwardness:
"Don't... don't cry. That... although it sounds very... very strange, if it's true, it's too miserable... I, I'm here, aren't I fine? Our kin are all here too... don't be too sad."
It was not the most eloquent comfort, but it carried Xiaobai's characteristic straightforwardness and warmth.
Feeling this unfamiliar yet long-awaited care, Bai Xiuxiu first froze, then her suppressed emotions burst like a broken dam. She could no longer hold back, collapsing into Xiaobai's embrace and crying loudly, as if pouring out all the grievances, fear, and sorrow she had held onto at this moment.
Xiaobai's body stiffened slightly but quickly relaxed, gently wrapping her arms around the trembling girl in her embrace.
The sky above Sea God Island completely cleared, and the sunlight bathed the mother and daughter, who embraced across time and space, in warmth and serenity.
Just as Bo Saixi's mind was filled with complex thoughts, watching the embraced Xiaobai and Bai Xiuxiu with both relief and a heavy sense of responsibility, a majestic and vast will, like warm seawater, quietly permeated her heart.
This was an aura she was extremely familiar with—the Sea God's divine sense.
The will did not speak much, merely transmitting a piece of information to her.
"Helektra possesses the authority of the pure ocean, with an extremely high compatibility with my divine seat. Should she agree to participate in the trials, the Sea God Nine Trials will not be difficult for her. She can inherit my divine seat, and at that time, the plight of Sea God Island will naturally be resolved."
The divine sense paused, carrying a hint of solemnity:
"That Sea Demon God was born from the resentment and chaotic aspect of the Great Sea. As long as the sea does not dry up, it is nearly indestructible. Repelling it is easy, sealing it is difficult, and completely eradicating it is even more challenging. External aid, in the end, is not a long-term solution. To root out this disaster, a new Sea God must be born, wielding complete divine authority to govern the ocean and purify the defilement."
The divine decree descended, instantly clearing the anxiety in Bo Saixi's heart, but also making her feel an overwhelming sadness.
She understood the Sea God's meaning.
Helektra and the other two had intervened out of kindness this time; it was impossible for them to permanently remain on Sea God Island as guardians.
Relying on outsiders was merely a temporary expedient.
The long-term peace of Sea God Island and the entire ocean required the birth of its own true God, one who could wield the authority.
And the final trial of the Sea God Nine Trials... required the High Priest to use her life and soul as a guide, sacrificing herself to open the path to godhood.
This was her ultimate destiny, one she had known since accepting the position of High Priest.
A complex emotion flashed in Bo Saixi's beautiful eyes—there was attachment to life, regret for unfinished business, but more so, a sense of relief and resolute finality, as if everything had settled.
Having lived for over two hundred years, guarding this island and her faith for a lifetime, perhaps... it truly was time to welcome this predestined end.
She recalled the man who had been hailed as invincible across the sea, land, and air alongside her, the one who wielded the Clear Sky Hammer, the one full of heroic spirit, Tang Chen.
A subtle premonition had long told her that he had likely perished long ago.
And the aura of Qian Daoliu, the High Priest of the city that worshiped the Angel God, had also completely dissipated from the world not long ago, presumably sacrificing himself for the inheritance of the divine seat as well.
Among the three former peak powerhouses who had dominated the world, only she truly remained alive.
Contemporaries had either passed away or gone into seclusion. This magnificent sea, this island she had guarded all her life, seemed to be gradually moving beyond the need for her, a guardian of the old era.
Rather than waiting for the end in lonely longevity, it would be better to use this remnant body to ignite the flame for a new God, securing a truly bright future for Sea God Island.
Having understood everything, the last trace of hesitation in Bo Saixi's eyes vanished, replaced by unwavering resolve.
She straightened her slightly disheveled priestly robe and solemnly turned to Helektra.
Under the slightly confused gaze of the others, Bo Saixi performed the Sea God Island's highest-level salute toward Helektra.
"Esteemed Helektra."
Her voice was clear and solemn, echoing in front of the Sea God Temple.
"I, Bo Saixi, the High Priest of Sea God Island, in the name of the Sea God's representative in the human world, implore you—to accept the Sea God Nine Trials and inherit the Sea God's divine seat!"
Upon these words, everyone except Cerydra, including Bai Xiuxiu who had just stopped crying and Xiaobai who was still digesting the information about her daughter, showed shocked expressions.
Helektra herself was slightly stunned, a trace of surprise flashing across her eyes, which resembled the deep sea embedded with stars.
She did not answer immediately, subconsciously turning her head to look at Cerydra beside her.
Although she possessed great power, in major decisions concerning her future path, she preferred to listen to the advice of the wise and decisive Empress.
Cerydra received Helektra's gaze, her exquisite chin lifted slightly, and the flame on her crown seemed to flicker with greater condensation.
She had just sensed someone contacting Bo Saixi. The only one who could bypass them and communicate privately with Bo Saixi could only be the deity worshiped by this island. Combined with her knowledge that this was the Sea God's inheritance ground, the truth was easily guessed. Sea God Island was targeted by the God of the Vortex, constantly at risk of being overthrown, but a new Sea God could not be born in time. It was precisely at this moment that she brought Helektra here.