With just one sentence, Tang Lan completely broke Oya's composure.
"Brother Oya, I have nine more people with me. Their talents are also quite exceptional—please help them undergo the Sacred Pillar Trial first."
Oya was stunned.
He glanced around, confirming that there was no one else present.
Tang Lan had arrived as a streak of red light, moving so fast that even he, a Title Douluo, had only sensed it after the Sacred Pillars reacted.
Clearly, Tang Lan had some rare special technique, but such a method should be incredibly uncommon.
Could his companions all have the same ability?
"Are your companions still out at sea?" Oya asked. "I can send men to retrieve them."
"However, for land-based soul masters to take the Sea God's trial, they must pass through the 'Sea Within the Sea' and reach the Sacred Pillar on their own."
"Even though you are a Sea God's Nine Trials candidate, your companions are not exempt."
Tang Lan nodded in understanding.
"That is only fair."
"But my companions are not in the sea. They are…"
Tang Lan raised his hand.
In the next instant, Xiao Wu and the others appeared mid-air, suspended by Tang Lan's spiritual power as he lifted the Boundless Sea Sealing Soul from them.
One by one, they awoke from meditation.
The moment they sensed Oya's Title Douluo aura, their eyes sharpened!
But then they relaxed.
His aura wasn't as strong as Tang Hao's.
If their Sect Master could hammer Tang Hao, what was this guy?
Oya, on the other hand, was filled with confusion.
Where did these people come from?
Sea God Island was isolated from the outside world, with little knowledge of external advancements.
They knew about storage soul tools, but had never heard of higher-grade living storage tools.
"This is an upgraded version of a storage soul tool," Tang Lan explained. "It can hold unconscious living beings and herbs."
Oya nodded in realization, but showed no further reaction.
Without questioning further, he flew downward.
"Follow me."
Farming Sea God's Wool!
As Tang Lan led the nine companions, he briefly described Sea God Island's unique nature and his Sea God's Nine Trials.
The three Sea God marks on him were still unknown even to Xiao Wu, Zhu Zhuqing, and Ning Rongrong.
For a moment, everyone was stunned.
"But brother, wasn't the Sea God's Nine Trials given to you?" Xiao Wu asked. "Why are we taking the trial?"
Tang Lan glanced at Oya, then switched to spiritual link communication.
🔹 Tang Lan:"We're here to milk benefits, of course!"
🔹 Tang Lan:"We can't get the Nine Trials, but with your talent, you'll easily get at least the Black-Level Six Trials or higher."
🔹 Tang Lan:"Every trial rewards you, increasing at least one rank. If you hit a milestone level, you even get a God-bestowed Soul Ring, perfectly suited to your body's endurance and martial soul's compatibility."
"Hiss—"
This wool was that thick?!
Not taking advantage would be a crime against heaven!
🔹 Oscar:"Uh, Sect Master… If we exploit the trials like this, won't the Sea God be angry?"
🔹 Tang Lan:"An old god who has wanted to retire for ages? He's probably worried that no one is milking benefits from his trials."
🔹 Xiao Wu:"Brother will become the next Sea God anyway. He's just claiming early employee benefits. What's the problem?"
🔹 Dai Mubai:"No problem! Absolutely no problem!"
Tang Lan gave Xiao Wu a thumbs-up.
Her comprehension was flawless.
Xiao Wu proudly crossed her arms and tilted her chin upward.
The "Sea Within the Sea" Trial Begins
"We're here." Oya stated. "Wait here. When I give the signal, your goal is to cross the sea and stand before the Seahorse Sacred Pillar."
Everyone followed his gesture, looking at the Seahorse Sacred Pillar 500 meters away.
Between them, a circular current formed the "Sea Within the Sea."
Though the seafloor looked deep, Tang Lan's team had undergone plenty of underwater training.
Swimming this distance?
Piece of cake.
Where was the challenge?
Oya remained silent.
He stepped across to the opposite side, sitting on the throne beneath the Seahorse Sacred Pillar.
Behind him, a blue radiance flared.
The Sacred Pillar shone, sending a beam of azure light upward until it reached the top and erupted outward.
A blue ripple spread, forming a towering light screen over the "Sea Within the Sea."
The light barrier was ten meters high, the same height as the Sacred Pillar.
Whether walking, flying, or swimming, it was unavoidable.
This—
Was the true trial.
Oya's calm voice followed.
"The Seahorse Sacred Pillar is one of the Seven Sacred Pillars of Sea God Island."
"The Sea God bestowed divine power upon the Sacred Pillars to spread his will. Any one of them can administer a trial for outsiders."
"It is here that you will receive your trial's instructions."
"The prerequisite is to cross the 'Sea Within the Sea' and stand before the Seahorse Sacred Pillar."
Mysterious and dramatic.
Tang Lan casually said, "I'll wait for you all on the other side. Hurry up."
As soon as his Soul Spirit Domain opened and closed—
Tang Lan instantly appeared before the Seahorse Sacred Pillar!
Leaving Oya stunned.
How did he get here?
Teleportation?
But why wasn't there any spatial fluctuation like when the High Priestess moved?
"It's a domain." Tang Lan grinned. "I have the Ultimate Soul Attribute, and my domain is soul-based. I can merge into it and appear anywhere within its range."
Oya: "…"
Among the Seven Sacred Pillar Douluos, only four had domains.
Unfortunately—
Seahorse Douluo Oya was among the three who did not.
So aside from envy, he had no further comments.
Dai Mubai Steps Up
As the spearhead of the team, Dai Mubai took the lead in testing the Sea Within the Sea.
Standing before the water,
Oya raised a hand—
Immediately, the waves surged to ten meters high, completely sealing off all paths forward.
Dai Mubai remained unfazed.
He didn't even activate his martial soul—he simply jumped into the water.
No matter how the waves churned, since he had already entered the sea, the most they could do was carry him away—they wouldn't cause physical harm.
—The biggest challenge? Neutralized.
As the strong currents surged, Dai Mubai responded effortlessly.
The Nine Yang Divine Art's internal energy gathered in his limbs,
And with each movement, he released bursts of heated energy,
Using it to propel himself against the water's force, shooting toward the opposite shore.
With ease, he crossed the Sea Within the Sea and landed before Oya and Tang Lan.
Dai Mubai clasped his hands.
"Sect Master, Your Eminence—mission accomplished."
Oya was visibly surprised.
He crossed without activating his martial soul or using any soul skills?!
"A land-based soul master with such mastery over water?"
"That's rare."
"But the true key to your success is your soul power control. Even some Soul Douluo lack such precise mastery."
"Impressive."
Then—
Zhu Zhuqing followed suit, using the exact same method to cross the Sea Within the Sea.
Oya scratched his head unconsciously.
Wait… do they all have such good water control?
And such advanced soul power manipulation?
But then—
"What?!" Oya suddenly stood up in shock. "Impossible!"
The remaining seven members didn't pass one by one—
Instead—
They charged in together!
Underwater, they formed the True Martial Seven-Segment Formation,
Linking their internal energy into a unified flow,
Countering the turbulent currents,
And—
Blasting through the Sea Within the Sea in one go!
Landing firmly on the triangular platform,
They bowed respectfully to Oya.
Oya: (●—●)
Today—
He had been shocked more times than the number of fish he had eaten in his lifetime.
What the hell…?!
(End of Chapter)
Notes-You can read advanced chapters in patreon.com/Shadow_D_X