Three days passed in solemn silence. During those days, the sky over Sea God Island was covered in a heavy mist, and the sea itself remained unusually still—as though the entire world awaited something extraordinary. The preparations for Shenling's hunt were sacred. He trained under the strict observation of Sea Fantasy Douluo and Sea Spear Douluo, learning how to control the Siren's spiritual resonance without overwhelming himself.
Each night, Bo Saixi sat beside him as he meditated, her presence like a shield against the overwhelming echoes that often leaked from his first soul skill. And though she said little, her hand always rested gently on his back, like an anchor keeping him tethered to reality.
When the tide finally aligned and the spirit formation shimmered to life, Shenling stood at the edge of the Spirit Beast Lagoon. The sacred lagoon, hidden behind the towering cliffs of the island's northern coast, was surrounded by jagged rocks and coral-encrusted pillars that rose like guardians from the water. A powerful barrier sealed its depths—a formation woven from the spiritual essence of generations of Sea God High Priests.
Bo Saixi stood beside him, garbed in robes the color of the midnight sea. Her eyes, usually so calm, now held a trace of fear.
"Are you certain you're ready, Ling'er?" she asked, her voice soft but serious.
Shenling looked up at her and nodded. "I have to be. I need to understand the Siren. I need to face this power... not just for me, but for everyone."
Sea Fantasy Douluo stepped forward. "The Lamenting Ocean Wraith is not a beast of brute strength. It feeds on regret, sorrow, and longing. Your spirit will be tested more than your body."
"Good," Shenling replied quietly. "That's where I'm strongest."
Bo Saixi gave him a faint smile and then channeled her energy into the barrier. A luminous web of symbols shimmered into view, parting like curtains before a stage. The pathway ahead glowed with faint blue light, illuminating a submerged trail lined with moonstone and coral.
"Go," Bo Saixi whispered. "Let the sea be your guide."
Without hesitation, Shenling stepped into the water. It lapped gently at his ankles, then his waist, and finally submerged him entirely. The barrier sealed behind him with a soft hum.
As Shenling descended into the lagoon's depths, the world changed. It was a dreamlike space—vast, dark, and ancient. Shafts of light pierced the water above him, illuminating massive coral towers, sunken ruins, and schools of glowing fish that shimmered like lanterns.
Each step he took along the submerged path stirred the water. His heart beat in time with the ocean, slow and steady. The Siren's presence within him stirred with anticipation.
Then, it began.
A whisper.
A haunting melody, as fragile as glass and as deep as sorrow, crept into his mind. It wasn't heard with ears but felt in the soul. The song seemed to weep for something forgotten, and with each note, Shenling's vision blurred with foreign memories—tragedies, shipwrecks, lost children calling out for mothers who would never come.
He gritted his teeth and pressed forward, guided by the melody. Deeper. Colder. Until he reached a place where no light touched, where only the distant sound of sorrow remained.
The trench.
At the bottom of the lagoon lay a narrow crevice flanked by collapsed pillars and jagged stone. From within, a ghostly figure emerged—the Lamenting Ocean Wraith.
It was beautiful and terrifying.
Its form was ever-shifting—like silk in water, pale and luminous. It had no eyes, no mouth, no limbs—just flowing ribbons of spirit energy, pulsating with grief. Its song echoed like bells ringing from beneath the waves.
It turned toward him.
And screamed.
The sound pierced Shenling's soul. He cried out, clutching his head as waves of raw memory flooded him—some real, others false. The weight of a thousand drowned regrets crashed into his heart.
"No... I won't break!"
The Siren's voice echoed inside him.
"Sing, child. You cannot command the sea until you learn to cry with it."
Shenling forced his trembling body upright. He extended his hand.
"First Soul Skill: Siren's Echo!"
From his body, a pulse of energy spread. A second melody joined the first—his own sorrow, his longing, his love. The trench trembled. Coral broke. The Wraith recoiled as illusions burst into being—scenes of peace and grief, of children smiling, of lovers drowning. Two songs collided, weaving a tapestry of memory so intense the sea itself seemed to hold its breath.
The Wraith screamed again and lashed out.
Tendrils of spirit energy sliced through the water like blades. Shenling twisted mid-current, barely avoiding a direct hit as one strike grazed his shoulder. Pain exploded across his back.
Blood clouded the water.
But Shenling didn't stop. He summoned the Siren's power again. The illusion of a weeping mother formed beside the Wraith.
The beast froze.
Its song changed—turned pleading.
For a brief second, it hesitated.
Shenling reached into the depths of his soul.
"Bind it... Now!"
The water twisted around the Wraith as ethereal chains—woven from melody and memory—erupted from the trench floor. They wrapped around the beast like silken ribbons, each link a note from Shenling's soul.
The Wraith shrieked. It fought. It burned. But it could not escape.
And then—light.
A brilliant purple glow emerged from its chest. With a final scream, the Lamenting Ocean Wraith dissolved into radiant energy.
A spirit ring descended.
Shenling floated unconscious, surrounded by violet light. The spirit ring slowly wrapped around him, carving its power into his very being. Visions danced through his mind: the cries of the Wraith, the embrace of the Siren, the quiet strength of Bo Saixi's hand on his shoulder.
When he opened his eyes again, they shone with a soft amethyst glow.
He rose from the water like a being reborn.
Far above, Bo Saixi and the other Douluo felt it. They gathered as he emerged, and the moment his feet touched the coral shoreline, the waves around him calmed. The ocean seemed to listen.
Shenling took a slow breath and said, "Second Soul Skill: Soul Lure Mirage."
With a wave of his hand, the world shimmered.
Bo Saixi blinked—and found herself back in the temple, holding a baby Shenling in her arms.
"I'm scared," the illusion murmured.
She gasped.
Then the scene changed. Sea Dragon Douluo saw his lost brother. Sea Spear Douluo saw a battlefield long past. Each Douluo was caught in their most powerful memories.
Sea Ghost Douluo stumbled back. "This isn't just illusion. This is... influence. My will trembled."
Sea Fantasy Douluo bowed slightly. "This power... if matured, can deceive even the soul."
Shenling ended the illusion. The images faded like mist. He looked tired, but calm.
"I don't want to control people," he said softly. "Only to understand... and protect."
Bo Saixi pulled him into her arms.
"You will, Ling'er," she whispered. "And we will be with you every step of the way."
As the sun dipped below the sea, the waves hummed—not with sorrow, but with hope.