Dai Mu Bai's expression turned serious, and he was about to step forward to see just how impolite the other party was.
However, as soon as this thought arose, Tang San reached out and stopped him.
Dai Mu Bai glanced at Tang San, who had taken a step forward, and retreated slightly, leaving the stage to Tang San.
Facing the middle-aged man's indifferent attitude, the gentle and elegant expression on Tang San's face remained unchanged. He politely asked, "Isn't it possible to join Sea God Island by passing a trial? Why are you rejecting us from afar, senior?"
The middle-aged man looked at Tang San, whose face was sincere. He shook his head, his tone slightly softer than before, but still cold. He stated, "The trial set by Sea God for land soul masters is not something you can pass. If young people are reckless, they will only lose their lives in vain."
He was indirectly advising Tang San and the others to turn back.
The curve of Tang San's lips remained unchanged. "You are right. But if we lose our courage, we are also unworthy of being soul masters."
The middle-aged man swept his gaze over Tang San and the others, whose expressions were resolute. His gaze lingered on Tang Sui, who had her eyes lowered and her expression unreadable, for two seconds. Then he said, "You must know that once you accept the trial of Sea God, you cannot withdraw midway. Even if it costs you your life, you must participate. Have you truly thought this through?"
Tang San and the others looked at each other. Tang Sui, who had been looking down, also lifted her chin, revealing her delicate and serene face. She listened as her companions said in unison, "We wish to accept the trial."
The middle-aged man, who had subtly paid attention to Tang Sui, naturally noticed that Tang Sui hadn't spoken. However, seeing her equally unwavering gaze, he assumed she was simply introverted and shy, not good with words.
The middle-aged man's eyebrows rose. He turned around, and the yellow-clothed soul master beside him consciously moved to the sides, clearing a path.
"Very well. I hope you will not regret it. Follow me."
The group followed the middle-aged man into the forest. The salty air gradually turned into the freshness of plants as they ventured deeper. It was slightly humid but lacked the saltiness of the sea, as if it had been magically filtered to the perimeter, making them feel as if they had returned to a land forest.
Along the way, Tang San was surprised to find that Blue Silver Grass also grew everywhere on Sea God Island. As he quietly activated his Blue Silver Domain to probe the environment of Sea God Island, his spiritual power was pushed back by another invisible and strange force, and the connection with the Blue Silver Grass was also blocked.
The middle-aged man at the front looked back as if sensing something and mildly warned, "Young ones, this is Sea God Island. Everything here is under the protection of Sea God."
Tang San's expression shifted slightly, and he reassessed the middle-aged man's combat power in his mind.
Tang Sui remained very silent throughout the journey. Unlike her companions who were warily observing their surroundings, she seemed a bit absent-minded.
After passing through the vibrant forest, they were greeted by a vast pool of water.
It was like a miniature ocean, with waves even rising on its surface like those of the sea.
In the center of the immense pool was a triangular platform, upon which stood a stone pillar with peculiar markings.
It was cone-shaped, with a strange pattern carved at its very top. The patterns on the entire pillar seemed chaotic, yet they formed a special ancient script, emitting a peculiar and sacred energy. However, it did not make Tang Sui feel suffocated; it was within her acceptable range.
"Welcome to the Sea within the Sea." The middle-aged man gazed at the standing stone pillar, his eyes reflecting a look of reverence and faith that was not unfamiliar to Tang Sui. His tone became more respectful and solemn as he introduced, "This is one of the symbols of Sea God's power, the Sea Horse Sacred Pillar. The Sea Horse Sacred Pillar is one of the Seven Sacred Pillars of Sea God Island."
As he finished speaking, he, along with the three accompanying yellow-clothed sea soul masters, bowed together, performing a peculiar and solemn ritual of worship towards the Sea Horse Sacred Pillar. Only then did they straighten up and say, "Sea God conveys his will through the Seven Sacred Pillars. You will receive the trial's questions here."
Upon hearing this, Tang San looked towards the distant, towering Sacred Pillar, his eyes narrowing. A layer of purple-gold light flashed.
Through his Purple Demon Eyes, Tang San could clearly see a man in black tight-fitting clothes sitting cross-legged beneath the massive stone pillar.
The man had his eyes closed, his back to the pillar, seemingly in meditation.
As Tang San's gaze fell upon him, the other man, as if sensing it, opened his closed eyes. Two distant gazes, like the deep pool before them, emanated a powerful aura the moment his eyes opened. Just an inadvertently released aura caused Tang San's condensed spiritual power to dissipate instantly, and he even suffered a slight backlash, causing him to feel dizzy for a few seconds.
This is… the aura of a Titled Douluo?!
Tang San was shocked, but the middle-aged man and the others seemed oblivious to the subtle movement over there. He injected soul power into his voice and transmitted it towards the central platform, five hundred meters away: "Reporting to Lord Sea Horse, there are land soul masters from outside who have come to accept the trial."
"Oh? Land soul masters, wishing to accept Sea God's trial?" The man in black raised his hand and activated his soul power. The massive sacred pillar behind him began to glow with dark blue patterns from bottom to top, illuminating the peculiar statue at the top of the Sea Horse Sacred Pillar.
At the same time, a circle of semi-transparent blue light spread out, enveloping the entire Sea within the Sea. A special pressure descended from above. Bai Chenxiang, whose soul power level was the weakest, was the first to feel this heavy pressure, and her expression became solemn.
"If land soul masters from outside wish to accept Sea God's trial, they must first cross the Sea within the Sea and reach the Sea Horse Sacred Pillar to be qualified to accept the trial," the man in black, the Sea Horse Douluo who guarded one of the Seven Sacred Pillars, said calmly.
Tang San's gaze became serious as he observed the situation. "Must we accept a Titled Douluo's trial before we can accept Sea God's trial?"
The middle-aged man spoke like someone who had been through it before, "It's normal, young man. The trials for land soul masters are indeed different from those for sea soul masters, but all of this is done according to Sea God's will."
Dai Mu Bai rotated his neck, making crisp cracking sounds. He stepped forward and said, "Then I shall be the first to experience it!"
As the eldest brother of the Nine Monsters, he naturally had to be at the forefront.
"Go, Dai Boss!" Ma Hong Jun made a gesture of encouragement.
Dai Mu Bai's lips curved upwards, his eyes fixed forward. The next second, the peaceful aura around him changed. A powerful, intimidating king-like aura radiated from him. With a roar, his Evil Eyes White Tiger spirit attached itself, and six imposing soul rings also floated from beneath his feet, proclaiming his formidable cultivation as a Soul Emperor.
The Shrek Eight Monsters all cast supportive and encouraging gazes, unlike the middle-aged man and the others, who were surprised by Dai Mu Bai's cultivation at such a young age.
The Sea Horse Douluo, located more than five hundred meters away (including the diameter of more than two hundred meters and a pool depth of about three hundred meters), also showed a surprised look after seeing Dai Mu Bai's soul power level.
But Dai Mu Bai didn't care what others thought; his entire attention was focused on the Sea within the Sea before him.
"I'm starting!" Dai Mu Bai slightly bent his legs, exerting force with his feet. As his third soul ring lit up, he suddenly sprang forward more than ten meters from his original position.
"Third Soul Skill, White Tiger Vajra Transformation!"
— Off-topic —
Deep Sea Demon Whale King, filtered. Traveling smoothly is so good, fighting and killing is so tiring (～￣▽￣)～