As dawn painted the sky with a hint of oyster white, the Shrek Seven Devils stood in formation before the ascending stairs, ready to embark.
Bai Chenxiang, not needing to climb with them this time, watched the spirited group and couldn't help but feel a knot of anxiety for them, silently cheering them on.
Step one, step two...
Their pace was steady and consistent as they ascended the stairs leading to the island.
After nearly a year, the Shrek Seven Devils were no longer the same people who had knelt on the initial dozens of steps.
"Don't worry, my brothers will succeed."
Lost in watching them, Bai Chenxiang felt a pale, slender hand rest on her shoulder.
Startled, she reflexively used the divine speed of her Min Clan, evading to the side. She looked at Tang Sui, who still held her hand outstretched, her face breaking into a joyous expression, "Sui Sui! You're back?! That's great, you can make it for..."
"I'm not participating, Xiangxiang," Tang Sui interrupted gently, lowering her hand.
Bai Chenxiang didn't understand. "Why? With you here, their success rate would be much higher."
Tang Sui looked at Tang San and the others climbing with effort, a light of trust in her eyes. "My joining would indeed increase the success rate, but it would also go against the original intention of us coming to Sea God Island. Xiangxiang, this is their trial. Your and my trials have both completed their first stages for now."
Bai Chenxiang blinked, quickly grasping Tang Sui's meaning. Her gaze shifted from confusion to understanding as she looked at the group, who had already reached the thirtieth-odd steps. Her eyes were firm, "I'm sorry, I misunderstood. Sui Sui, you're right. Now is the time to put the results of everyone's year-long efforts to the test."
She had almost forgotten that their initial purpose for coming to Sea God Island was "trial."
If the path ahead were already paved for them, what would be the value of their efforts and so much sweat?
If Tang Sui joined now, it would be disrespectful to the hard work they had invested.
Seeing that Bai Chenxiang had come to understand, Tang Sui leisurely drew two folding chairs from her soul tool, along with a high-legged table and snacks she had exchanged with the islanders in Sea Horse City yesterday.
"Come, let's eat some melon. This Jin melon is a specialty of the island, it's purple and very sweet. Just peel it and eat it directly." Tang Sui placed the pear-sized purple Jin melon on the table and beckoned Bai Chenxiang.
Bai Chenxiang watched Tang Sui, who was completely unhurried and even had the leisure to munch on a melon, "..." For some reason, she suddenly didn't feel nervous anymore.
Infected by Tang Sui's laid-back attitude, Bai Chenxiang also picked up a Jin melon. She clumsily peeled off the outer skin, revealing the plump purple flesh. A sweet aroma wafted towards her.
Even without tasting it, she knew it would be delicious.
Thus, while Tang San and the others shed sweat on the sacred steps, Tang Sui and Bai Chenxiang, two newly minted sloths, sat below and watched, like tourists enjoying a show, completely devoid of tension.
Bao Xi Xi, observing the situation through a crystal ball: "..."
The maids, who had witnessed Tang Sui's actions, "..."
The other Seven Sacred Pillar Douluo guardians, who, by virtue of being one of the Seven Sacred Pillar guardians and blessed by Sea God, had a clear perception of the situation with the Sea God's Light: "..."
Their hearts were filled with confusion.
Tang Sui and Tang San were siblings, right?
Although the Sea God's Light was the least dangerous of all the assessments, if the assessment wasn't completed within the last minute of the year, even the inheritor of Sea God would be annihilated. Was she that confident that Tang San would succeed? Not worried at all, and even having the mood to invite her companion to sit and eat melon together?
A normally passionate scene suddenly turned calm.
They didn't understand, but they were greatly impressed.
Were they really siblings?
Could it be that they were half-siblings, or had different mothers?
Tang Sui, who had just finished a Jin melon, felt a tickle in her nose but managed to suppress the urge to sneeze.
Strange, the "sickly" buff was gone, yet she still couldn't escape the "sneeze" buff?
Tang Sui, alert, jpg.
...
Time ticked by second by second.
This highly anticipated assessment finally drew to a close.
Everyone who had come here had their own obsessions, which were their infinite driving forces.
Bai Chenxiang's attention was captivated by the tenacious backs of the Shrek Seven Devils as they stepped onto the hundredth level one by one, forgetting the Jin melon in her hand.
Tang Sui also stopped eating melon and watched as Oscar and the others achieved their goals one by one. Finally, only Ning Rongrong, whose goal was the 136th step, Xiao Wu, whose goal was the 220th step, and Tang San, whose goal was the 333rd step, remained.
Xiao Wu, like herself, was not human. Although the former had already begun cultivating as a human and was no different from a pure human, even those special cultivators who had transformed from soul beasts and reached the Titled Douluo level could still be sacrificed and refined into soul rings.
Therefore, Xiao Wu's assessment level was also very high.
At the 130th step, Ning Rongrong, soaked in sweat, could no longer walk.
She stood there with vacant eyes, as if lost in another illusion, motionless. No matter how Oscar and the others called out to her, they couldn't wake her.
Her soul power loss intensified. Even with Tang San's Devouring Golden Thread supplying her with soul power, it only served to alleviate her condition.
Tang San and Xiao Wu, who were five levels below Ning Rongrong, watched with concern as she fell into some state, knowing that this stalemate had to be broken by her herself.
As time passed, everyone's hearts grew more anxious. Bai Chenxiang even stood up from her chair, her hands clenched into fists, pressed against her chest, praying silently for success.
Fortunately, Ning Rongrong finally regained her spirit and took slow, heavy, yet determined steps onto the 136th step.
Ning Rongrong, the first trial of the Top Seven Trials, passed.
"The final highlight has yet to arrive."
Tang Sui's gaze fell upon Xiao Wu and Tang San, who exchanged a look and then began to climb forward with determined effort.
Dai Mubai and the others, who had already completed the first trial, did not stop to wait but continued to ascend with their companions who were still taking their exams.
Even Ning Rongrong, after completing her trial, resumed her full strength and continued to follow Xiao Wu and Tang San's pace.
Bai Chenxiang had been anxious at the first step.
But she knew her limit was fifty steps, and Tang San's goal was higher. She couldn't reach the steps they were aiming for. She could only stay below with Tang Sui...
"Let's go."
Tang Sui's calm voice sounded beside her ear.
Bai Chenxiang blinked and turned to look at Tang Sui, who had stood up, and asked dazedly, "Go where?"
Tang Sui looked at the thousand and one steps ascending in layers. "Do I need to ask? Of course, we're going up together."
They were companions, and they should bear and walk together.
—Author's Notes—
Watching the Genshin Impact 3.3 preview livestream today, Mo Li's eyes went dark at the changes to the new artifact set. She thought of the over a month she spent suffering in the grass domain. Good heavens, this non-European player can't handle this!